Gazelle

Prolouge

~Simon~

I made my way out of my hometown and into the woods, zoning out to the clapping of my mare's hooves.

"Good luck, bring us that loser's head!" I heard my older sister calling after me.

You would never believe what kind of creature's head I was after. In this day and age, cars were common and phones were popular. There was an old legend that never changed, there were ancient creatures that lurked still. Creatures of evil, as old as time itself. The one I was after was their ruler, yes, the King of Vampires. Today was meant to be his end. My sister looked forward to it. I did not. I, despite being educated as a monster hunter, had yet to ever kill anything. What a disgrace I am. Today, it might have to come down to just that. I had to finish the menace of my town, the reason for many people going missing, even children. It ended for good tonight. Especially before something happened to my nephew. No one ever knew who would be struck next. It could not go on any longer.
   
A howl piercing the night brought me back to face the woods. Screeches of owls, crying crows, and the snapping of branches surrounded me, along with unrecognizable, terrifying sounds. Despite a sliver of fear deep down within me, I pushed on. Was I prepared enough for this?
   
I cried out suddenly as Whisper reared. As I had not been paying much attention to my surroundings, I stumbled off. "Wait!" I called after my mare, watching her bolt away back towards the town. Strong and loyal, but full of cowardice all the same.
   
I grunted as I pushed myself up from the ground and brushed the back of my pants off, glancing around in hopes of discovering what might have frightened her. Red eyes gleamed from within the branches. I stared back into them, frozen with fear, until they quickly ducked away.
   
I let out a sigh to relieve my developing anxiety, pulling a small gun out from its holster. If it got too close, I would be ready to fight back.
   
I pushed forward. I knew I was on the right track when I spotted a looming castle. I didn't have to second guess myself. There was no doubt that would be where he had hidden himself away. The closer I got to the impending towers, the more I had to mentally prepare myself for what might go down. Would I actually have the guts to take him? I trudged on despite fear overwhelming me at this point, yet I knew I could not back out.
   
A reverberating growl caught my attention, followed by many more surrounding me. Before I could take another step, I was surrounded, black wolves with icy eyes circled around me. My gun swung upwards and around as I struggled to pick a single wolf to aim at. A feeling of doom and dread crossed my mind. Before I could dwell on it, a booming voice shook me to my core.

    "What are you doing here?" The wolves parted and a man entered the circle, coming towards me. A tall, scrawny man trapped me, sporting a cloak darker than the night sky.
   
He's shown himself at last, again no need to second guess. It was too obvious this was the monster I had been looking for. He seemed too calm for someone meant to face their death. There was no way I was not recognized by him as a hunter, if he had any sense.
   
"Answer me, why are you here?" His voice sounded tense and angry.

    "I think you know." I slipped the gun back into its holster. I hated the fear overwhelming me, but I managed a steady voice. I could not kill, even a monster as bad as him. I just needed to stop him, keep him from harming my town any longer. I put up a fake threat, hoping somehow it would be enough, "I demand you stay away from the town near here. Quit tormenting it, or else I will have to end you."
 
  "Just a threat? No fancy gun fires, or stakes through my heart?" His voice was a hissing sneer.

I tensed as he slunk closer, slipping out my second best option, my dart gun. I struggled to sneak a dart into it, from behind my back. An obnoxious wolf began barking as if to alert his king. I had to move quickly.

   
The ruler risked another step. " Don't hunters usually hunt in packs, where are your others?"
   
Then he gave me my chance, swiveling his large, pointed ears and then turning his head to the side. I took it, firing at him with the gun I had been hiding. The dart struck him in the shoulder.
   
His head swung back towards me and then his eyes shot downwards. "What the hell is this?" He plucked the dart out and observed it, giving me the chance to shoot him again. I took it without hesitation. I got him this time on the opposite shoulder.
   
He glared coldly at me. "What are these, you don't think these will kill me, do you? They sting no more than a mosquito bite," he hissed in annoyance.

"They'll knock you out in a moment, a special serum in those darts, made stronger to knock out your kind, a hunter specialty," I explained to the vampire. It would only take a moment.
   
"I-" his eyes widened and his mouth opened to say something. It didn't make it all the way out of his mouth before his eyelids dropped heavily and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. He spat out some incoherent words before his eyes rolled to white and he finally collapsed.
   
I wished he had died, for the sake of my town and my reputation, but, no, it would only make him sleep for a long while. I could've ended it there, I should've. Yet it did not feel right, even despite how monsters have abused my family. I hated myself for my weakness. I stared back down at him, then around me, noticing the wolves had fled. Scared dogs without their master to command them. Now what to do with the king, if not kill him?