Blood Thirsty #Wattys2024

Chapter 1 (Jasper POV)

The faint smell of water wafts through the air as I sprint through the edge of town. I've always preferred traveling in the brush outskirts rather than directly near London. Though my kind generally prefers teleporting, I enjoy the art of the hunt. As I slow to a walk my mind drifts to earlier that evening, the activity that built my hunger in the first place.

I retrieved an arrow from my quiver and slid it against the smooth hickory of my bow.
As I blink I let the red night vision film seep over my eyes. My gums sting slightly as my canines slip into their natural spot. I scan the woods, covered in its -now pink- film, and pop my neck. Then I spot Fredrick. I'm not entirely certain who he is or why he's wanted dead; but I do know it's my job to kill him. Inhaling I stilled; with my exhale came the release of the sleek silver arrow.
For a moment the wolf's heart continues to race and then comes to a halt. As the body crumbles I straighten off my perch. I watched the outline of the figure fall to the ground. Velma will be very pleased. Time to report back to the castle and return my equipment.

One foot in front of each other, slowly, and slower yet. The brick ally clicks underneath my boots. This side of town was rundown, filled with drunks and addicts. You would think since it was 18031 that we would've advanced further than homeless slums but the apparent greed and power hungry means of their race make it nearly impossible to just live in peace equally. They're hardly human and hardly missed. Then, with one deft movement, the teenagers' neck was snapped. I feel my face shift as my teeth change, my fangs enlarge and I pierce her neck. The sensation is memorizing as her honey like blood slips down my throat. I absorb her sweet blood, as my lips pass over her soft skin. I used to get flashes of their lives as they drew cold in my arms. Over time I suppose it's faded. I see nothing but her skin turn pale and hard. I pull away from my prey and slowly wipe my bloody mouth; my teeth make their way, painfully, back into their human formation. I don't bother doing anything with the body, I'm far enough from my home clans that I won't get involved in any trouble. This city was apart of a rare group of free for all hunting ground.

At the end of the alley, I check for other humans, seeing none I teleport to a nearby rooftop. Not all vampires are gifted with the art of shapeshifting but I'm lucky enough to be a hybrid. Nights like this are one of the few times I'm grateful for that. Opening my arms and stepping onto the lip of the building, the wind rustles through my shirt. As I plunge off the building I shift into my favorite form - a raven. 

There is no better feeling than the cold, fierce wind pushing against your skin. I feel less like a trapped animal and more like I'm the only one on earth. I'm on the other side of England now - I get to my apartment in Haltwhistle and circle for a moment.  I swoop down to my balcony and land gracefully on my human feet.

Making my way to the sleek sliding glass door I notice a bulge on the knob. Its a rose with a card pinned to it. Must be from Queen Velma. I snatch it from the knob and go inside. After I plow onto the couch, putting my boots against the wall, I open the black card.

Jasper my dearest knight,

Do come visit me; I have a new assignment for you to complete. I think you will find the idea intriguing.

Yours ever so dearly,

Velma Dean.

I was sorta wanting to have a relaxing night but I suppose that it can wait.

"Jasper Braeden Kyran Silver!" Goddammit, I forgot about my sister Melissa. To be honest my day has been so long I can't even remember what I did to make her upset today. I could either face her  or Velma. As much as I would've enjoyed another flight tonight  Mel's agitated stomping down the stairs would prompt me to just teleport to the courtyard. She couldn't follow me that way. She wasn't nearly as strong. Hopefully Freya - Velmas daughter - wouldn't be present today... I'd hate to escape Melissa's patronizing just to find hers instead. I wince slightly at the thought of Freya, I hated the dirty mutt. My foot narrowly misses the step up to the broken concrete and I stumble a little. Mel is upset, which means her anger would have been spent quickly. Giving her time to think might've been a worse idea.