Eternal Huntress

Chapter 6

The night air was thick with the scent of rain, the sky above London churning with dark clouds that threatened to unleash a storm at any moment. I moved quickly through the streets, my wounds still fresh but already beginning to heal. My mind was racing with thoughts of Gabriel, of the rogues who had attacked me, and of the growing sense of danger that seemed to be closing in on all sides.

The city was a labyrinth, full of secrets hidden in its ancient bones, and tonight, it felt as though those secrets were pressing down on me, demanding to be uncovered. I knew where I needed to go—a place that had served as a refuge for our kind for centuries, where I could regroup and plan my next move.

The Catacombs.

They lay beneath the heart of the city, an old network of tunnels and chambers that had been abandoned by humans long ago. It was a place where vampires could gather without fear of discovery, where alliances were forged and broken in the same breath.

As I descended into the bowels of London, the sounds of the city faded away, replaced by the echo of my footsteps on stone. The air grew cooler, and the darkness thicker, but it was a familiar kind of darkness—one that I had known all my life. I didn't need to see to know my way; I had walked these paths countless times before.

The Catacombs were vast, a sprawling maze that twisted and turned in ways that made little sense to those unfamiliar with them. But for me, it was second nature. I could navigate the passages with my eyes closed, and in a way, I often did, allowing my instincts to guide me.

I reached a large chamber, the main gathering hall where our kind often met to discuss matters of importance. Tonight, it was empty, the silence thick and oppressive. I moved to the center of the room, letting my senses stretch out, searching for any sign of life. But there was nothing.

I wasn't surprised. Most of the older vampires had withdrawn in recent years, preferring to stay out of the escalating tensions that Gabriel and his followers were stirring up. They were content to hide in their sanctuaries, clinging to the old ways and hoping that the storm would pass them by.

But I knew better. This storm wasn't one that could be weathered by hiding away. It had to be confronted head-on, or it would consume everything in its path.

As I stood there, lost in thought, I heard the faintest rustle of movement behind me. I turned, my hand instinctively going to the hilt of my blade, but I relaxed when I saw who it was.

Marcus stepped out of the shadows, his expression grim. He was one of the few vampires I trusted completely, a warrior like myself who had fought by my side for decades. His tall, imposing figure was a comfort in these uncertain times.

"You're bleeding," he said by way of greeting, his sharp eyes taking in the state of my clothes.

"Just a scratch," I replied, though we both knew it was more than that.

He frowned, crossing the room to stand beside me. "I heard you ran into trouble."

"Gabriel's rogues," I confirmed, keeping my voice steady. "He's testing me, trying to rattle me. But it's going to take more than a couple of overconfident fledglings to do that."

Marcus nodded, but I could see the concern in his eyes. "He's getting bolder, Helena. We've been tracking his movements, and it's clear that he's planning something big. He's gathering more followers, turning them faster than we can deal with them."

"I know," I said, frustration creeping into my voice. "But we need to be smart about this. Charging in blindly will only get us killed. We need a plan, and we need allies."

At the mention of allies, Marcus's expression darkened. "Most of the others aren't interested in getting involved. They think they can sit this one out, let us handle it."

"Then they're fools," I snapped, anger flaring up. "If Gabriel succeeds, it won't just be us that suffer. The entire city will burn."

"I agree," Marcus said, his tone softening. "But convincing them is another matter. They don't see Gabriel as a threat—not yet, anyway. They're too wrapped up in their own petty concerns."

"Then we make them see," I said, my voice hard. "We don't have time to waste, Marcus. If we're going to stop Gabriel, we need every advantage we can get."

He studied me for a moment, his gaze unwavering. "What are you thinking?"

"We need to draw him out," I said, the plan forming in my mind as I spoke. "Force him to reveal his hand before he's ready. He's overconfident—he thinks he's untouchable. We use that against him."

Marcus nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"We hit him where it hurts," I replied, a grim smile forming on my lips. "His followers are his strength, but they're also his weakness. If we start taking them out, one by one, it will force him to act. He'll have to respond, and when he does, we'll be ready."

"It's risky," Marcus pointed out. "He might retaliate in ways we're not prepared for."

"We don't have a choice," I said, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders. "It's him or us, Marcus. And I'm not ready to die just yet."

He met my gaze, and after a moment, he nodded. "Then we do it. But we'll need more than just the two of us."

"I know," I said, already thinking of who I could call upon. "There are still a few out there who haven't lost their nerve. We'll gather them, form a strike team. And then we take the fight to Gabriel."

Marcus's expression softened slightly, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "We'll get through this, Helena. We've faced worse before."

I allowed myself a small, tired smile. "I hope you're right."

With the plan set, we wasted no time. Marcus would reach out to those who could be trusted, while I prepared myself for the battles ahead. There was no turning back now. The storm that had been gathering for so long was finally breaking, and I would be at its center.

As I left the Catacombs, the first drops of rain began to fall, the sky above opening up in a torrential downpour. It was as if the heavens themselves were mourning what was to come, but I couldn't afford to indulge in such thoughts.

I was a warrior, a hunter of monsters, and this was just another battle in a war that had raged for centuries.

And as I walked into the night, the rain washing away the blood and grime of the evening, I vowed that I would not stop until Gabriel and his rogues were nothing but ashes on the wind.

The storm was coming, but I was ready to face it head-on.

4o