Red and Silver

Chapter Twelve- Giving Up Is Just Step One

Hunter

I trudged back to The House. I could of caught the bus, or drove over, but I wanted to spend every second I could away from her.

Quinn was elsewhere, thank God. Things were about to get ugly.

I slammed the front door shut, the sound echoing through the sterile, empty halls.

I could hear low chatter coming from the tea room, so I squared my shoulders and walked down to the room, ignoring the dozens of pairs of eyes from old portraits. Their blank but stern stares always made them feel alive, and they used to terrify me as a child.

But I wasn't a child anymore.

I didn't even bother knocking, I just swung it open, facing the figure sat in the farthest armchair.

"Oh Hunter, I see you're back." Her mild tone concealed dangerous threats. I should of been back sooner.

"It's done." I spat, not caring that I would definitely be reprimanded for this outburst later. "I terrorised a child, and I confronted Alex. And no, he didn't break."

"How unfortunate." She murmured thoughtfully.

"Unfortunate?" I laughed without humour. "This is downright insane! Not to mention against everything that we stand for. Is this what we do now? Lie and manipulate and abuse our power so we can get our way?"

"I would watch your tongue Hunter. We wouldn't want Quinn to have any more......incidents, now would we?"

I stiffened at Quinn's name. One day we would get out of here, away from this bitch. But today was not that day. And now wasn't the time for arguments.

"Do all of your subordinates act like this? He's very exciting." A sly, slow voice spoke from behind me.

I turned around and without hesitation I trained my gun on the man sitting lazily in the armchair behind me.

Ashy skin, silver hair and and a face that looked like it had been sculpted out of marble. If the unnatural stillness wasn't enough of a pointer, the irises drained of colour and the long fangs were. Vampire.

"Put it away Hunter. He's our guest."

I slowly lowered it, but I didn't put it away.

"This is Aristarchus, he is here to help us with our Werewolf problem."

Aristarchus, one of the oldest vampires alive. He was a key player in the Unspeakable Wars. Aristarchus wasn't his real name, legend had it that he was cursed by a witch. The same witch who had cursed Werewolves. If anyone was to address him by his real name, he would die. Or so the stories say.

"So, oh ancient and powerful one, tell me how many people you've killed this week." I mocked.

"Oh I like him. Please do keep him, it's been so long since I've had someone so bold or so stupid as to talk to me like that. It's very refreshing." He grinned like a cat with a canary, flashing his primary fangs at me with a menacing gleam. "Anyway, Ciarán's been giving me a bit of trouble, along with his hotheaded groupies, but nothing major."

"Very well." She smiled in return. She knew that even though he was thousands of years old, with unique power, she could kill him in an instant. They were unlikely equals. "How's your progress with the old woman?"

"She isn't budging." He sighed dramatically. "I tried to convince her, but she won't agree. And you know the rules, I cannot get to the girl unless she allows it."

The girl? The old woman? Scarlett.

"What's Scarlett got anything to do with this?" I asked nervously.

"She's just a little insurance. I don't want Alex getting to invasive, if you know what I mean." She addressed me. "Which is why I need you to do something for me."

"And why should I do anything for you bitch?" I snarled.

"Because it is only by my good graces that Quinn stays alive. And you want to keep it that way."

"I fucking hate you."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Affection is for lovesick puppies, hating one another is the only way people survive." She smiled coyly.

I could barely see her in the dim light. The dark hair streaked with grey, the proud nose and the brown eyes. They were all so familiar, and I hated all of her so much.

She handed me a slip of paper and I snatched it out of her hands.

Skimming the page, I began to exit the room to gather the hellish supplies.

I paused at the doorway, looking back at the room. Aristarchus had moved over to the window, gazing at the surroundings. She was sitting facing me, watching me with a guarded expression.

"Be back before dawn." She sighed calmly.

"Will do." I waited for a moment, thinking over the conversation.

I spat back another reply sarcastically, taking my last opportunity to insult this bitch.

"See you soon Mom."

Of course, that didn't faze her in the slightest, and I left the room feeling as useless and as wretched as I did when I had entered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know it's a short one, and I know it took a while, so I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry. But I really like how it turned out. Aristarchus is a weird name, I must admit, but the other potential name was going to be Alexi, and it was too close to Alex. Anyway, how do you think of Hunter now? And what about Aristarchus? Talk to you all soon. Bye!