A Hunter's Soul

Chapter 1

Artemis De Witte was the last remaining person in the family who knew about her father's line of work. This made it all the more tragic when he died.

The coroner ruled it down to an accident; a mystery, more so, but she knew better. In this world there were few accidents, and even fewer mysteries. There were only people and monsters.

Having just exited her teenage years and knowing nothing about autopsies, there was no way she could convince the coroner to let her near the corpse of her father - or much of a way to get in contact with the coroner, really. This left her with one option, and it was risky.

An open casket funeral. Her mother had warned against getting too close to the corpse for her own emotional sake, but Artemis was on a mission. He looked so peaceful, laying there, as though he had simply fallen asleep. It was as though a single touch could bring him back.

His hair was dark, short, just like Artemis'. And behind closed eyelids were mismatched eyes, one of blue and the other green, just like his daughter. So many similarities between them, though one was resting peacefully, while the other was reaching her hand out to gently tilt his head to the side.

Such an act did not go unnoticed. Her mother shouted out and relatives that she didn't know the names of grabbed her and dragged her away. Artemis' mother barely looked at her for the rest of the funeral. But that didn't matter, because she had the information she needed; puncture marks on his neck. Subtle, something a coroner could potentially pick up, but would put down to nothing more than a prior injury, or perhaps some kind of prank. Nothing trackable, not by anybody who wasn't in the know.

***

Artemis sat in her room, preoccupied with a sketch. A monster, nothing people would recognise.

'It might be tough to think about now,' her father had told her when she'd only been a child. 'Monsters seem scary, but you'll have to face them one day. How about you try drawing what kinds of monsters you think I keep off the streets? It might help you.'

She'd never seen any of the monsters her father fought, nor did he ever confirm or deny that what she'd been drawing was real or even close. Over the years her art had become more beautiful, and her pencil sketches were so life-like that she could convince most people that even the most absurd monsters were real.

A knock sounded from her door. 'Artemis?' Her mother opened the door. Artemis didn't respond. 'I know this might be a bit soon, but I have something to give you. From your father.' Only then did Artemis put her pencil down and look at her mother. In her hands was a box, red with gold embossing. Beautiful, and important looking. 'He told me to give this to you if anything were to happen to him. I don't know what's inside. I didn't want to betray his trust.' Artemis was handed the box.

'Thanks.'

Without another word, her mother left the room. Once the door was closed, Artemis unlatched it and gently removed the top. Inside was nothing more than a piece of paper. Slightly aged, but nothing she needed to be particularly careful with.

My beautiful Artemis,

If you're reading this, an ill fate has befallen me. It mightn't have been much, but I hope you enjoyed every moment we spent together.

We hunters are a dying breed. Without us, the streets will be overrun by vampires and werewolves and the regular folk will live in fear of what might attack them in the night. This can't happen. Humanity must be protected.

The burden falls on you now, Artemis. You must use what I've taught you to carry on our legacy. If not for me, then for the people you love. For your mother.