A Hunter's Heart

Chapter 4

Dr. Roberts sighed tiredly as he leaned against the Island counter of his kitchen. He stared at the mug in front of him, waiting for his tea to finish steeping. He had just finished a twelve hour shift at the Academy hospital in Charleston, and was hoping the Chamomile tea he had been steeping would help him get to sleep faster.

A zap from the phone in his pajama pants pocket jolted the half asleep man awake. He quickly pulled the device from his pocket, finding a text with Nathan's address and a message from Sean in all caps.

'GABE IS SICK. COME ASAP.'

Phil didn't even bother to change, simply rushing out the door in his pajamas and slippers, with only his phone, keys, and wallet in his pocket. The doctor drove like a mad man, taking all the roads he knew wouldn't have officers on them so he could speed as much as possible without causing an accident.

He was parking and running up the door ten minutes after he received the emergency message. He did a random knock on the door, which opened as soon as he hit the door the last time.

Marc Weiland quickly ushered the man inside. He was ashen, eyes wide and worried. Phil didn't even stop to greet him, instead running into the packed living room where he saw Gabriel and Luke sitting on the couch. Sean was kneeled in front of his sick brother, looking at a thermometer with concern in his eyes.

All eyes turned to him as he barged into the room.

"Report," He barked, rushing over to the young man who was clutching his stomach, eyes squeezed shut in pain.

"We were celebrating the completion of our last mission at the bar on King street. Mr. Coleman got a call from Pam and went outside to take it and when he didn't return after five minutes, Mr. Ravenstahl and Mr. Taylor Jr. went to check on him," Mr. Owen Blackbourne began, his silver eyes trailing over to the younger Taylor to continue.

"We found him pinned to an ally wall by some woman, who bolted as soon as she saw us. Gabe fell to the ground and when we saw him he was gagging and had blood in his mouth. We think she may have drugged him or something," North finished, his fists clenched at the memory.

"No," Gabriel muttered from his spot on the couch. All eyes turned to him when he finally looked up. Phil gasped at the red that was beginning to bleed into his eyes.

"Not a drug. It was her blood. She got mad when I wouldn't follow her and... she wasn't human, Doc," Gabriel whispered, tears dripping down his face. The young man shook, both in fear and pain.

Phil knelt down in front of his young friend," What do you mean?"

Gabe wiped at his eyes before the crystal blue irises began to dart around the room," She was strong. Stronger than Nate. She threw me against the wall with so much force," He winced as he moved to pull up his shirt. Gasps and curses rang out around the room when they saw the large still forming bruise on his back and side.

"She hissed at me, and her teeth," Gabe reached forward, gripping onto the collar of Phil's shirt," I'm going crazy, Doc. I've lost it."

Phil placed his hands over Gabriel's shaking ones, a calm and reassuring look on his face. He gently pulled the hands away from his collar, holding them tightly on his own.

"Gabriel, you are not crazy, I can promise you that. Tell me, what did her teeth look like?"

The group held their breath, as they had no idea what he was going to say. He had been quiet the whole way back to Nathan's house, the only sounds coming from him were gagging and dry heaving.

"They were normal, then they turned sharp, and jagged. Almost like they.."

"They appeared from her gums," Phil finished for him, surprising the young man.