The Hunt

Chapter 29

Alesco:

I'm standing there, hands on his shoulders. I feel his body reacting to my touch, see his expression change and I know he will follow me. The heat has been extinguished from his body and it feels like it should. I feel my own body responding, drawn to his. It feels like being sucked in.

I feel the master staring at me, feel his gaze on my back and the power pulsing from him. I am beginning to feel uncomfortable at his presence like I am his puppet. I am no one's puppet.

I turn to the master and face him. "Alesco. Time to go to war. But I must feed again before we leave."

Of course. He needs the humans to grow his strength. If I block his consumption of the humans, can I overpower him? No. He's too strong, even when he's weak. I will have to obey. For now. We need his strength to win the war, to block the darts. "Yes, master. I shall have one brought to you at once." I say, bowing slightly.

"Yes..."

"Brendan, Draven, bring a human for the master." I say. They nod, each in turn.

"Yes, my lady." They say, and run from the room in a blur of movement. I look at Darren, try to gauge his expression. How does he feel about this? These companions of his now being used as food. Has his attachment for them worn off? His face is unreadable.

"Stand up," I say. He stands up, moving smoothly and gracefully, without any of the unsteadiness that the other human, Frank they called him, showed when transformed. I suppose Darren has had more time already, and blood to strengthen him. I don't know what it feels like to change from one form to the other, I was born this way.

Darren is looking at his hands, moving them round and round, taking in the details of his pale skin. "Alesco, what service can I be?" He asks me. His words bring a sensation to my chest, though my heart is dead it seems to be reacting.

"Follow me when the time is right. Fight with me." I look into his eyes, saying nothing more, communicating with my eyes what I cannot bring myself to say in the company of the master. Take my hand and walk with me through life. Laugh with me, love with me, stay by my side.

Where are these thoughts coming from? Another sensation strikes my face, like heat rising. I raise a hand and feel the skin. It's as cold as ever. There cannot be heat. I look away from him with effort.

I hear the dragging, the ragged breathing, smell the scents of life. Brendan and Draven appear through the doorway, pulling another of the humans towards us. Towards the master.

Darren moves in a blur of motion, launching himself from the platform, colliding with Brendan before he can react, causing him to let the human go. Brendan flies backwards to the ground and Darren is already on Draven, pulling him off and throwing him backwards. The human drops to the ground, released from their hold.

But Brendan is back up and he rushes Darren. Darren doesn't move as I expected he would, he stands there, ready, and blocks Brendan's blows easily, dodging and dancing around his jabs and kicks. Draven launches himself at his side and is met with a kick to his chest. He can fight!

Brendan lets out a growl of rage, but before anything else can happen, Darren is lifted from the ground by an invisible force, stopping the fight. I look at the master and see his arm outstretched. With a motion of his other hand, the door slams closed, locking out the night and any prying eyes.

"You interfere with my food, my strength..." says the master to Darren. The quiet hissing voice seems to fill the room.

Brendan and Draven are staring up at the suspended figure, rage burning in their eyes.