Leonaira: Tales of fallen kings

"The Hunter Lies":- Chapter 7

The next morning myself and Mia stay in bed, my hand still slightly aching from the silver but it still burns none the less perhaps my healing might not do much at the moment within the sunlight but it still is stopping the wound from getting worse. Only then I realized the ice melted on the bed around my crotch. Feels like I've wet myself. Perfect another funny thing that's not nice or comical. I sit up almost instantly. Mia's on the edge of the bed almost falling off. As I open my eyes the sun shines in my eyes. I forget how awkward the window is as we can't place anything near it.

+++

"mph... James?" Mia mumbles half asleep.

"Shh...we have company" I get out of bed shirtless grabbing a fresh pair of trousers putting them on almost immediately. rustling outside creaking of the floorboards outside on the porch. Multiple heart rates. Beating loudly, quickly yet one is oddly calm.

Mia instantly goes quiet, she gets away from the bed, ducking under the window.

I grab my cane keeping it that way. Also pacing my belt over my chest so it's across it. There are only 2 knives upon the belt. I walk out the front door. The leather belt still sticks to my skin from the heat. Almost instantly after putting it on its oddly uncomfortable. I look around, two kids stumble back from the door. A couple others further back.

They look up at me "I thought you said a monster lives here?" one says the other questioningly. They look back at my belt looking at the blades and cane and runoff. I don't have to say a word. Perhaps Orc has been bothered by the kids nearby. The kids at the back look at me before running again.

The last remaining is a girl. Looking young enough yet old enough to be a hunter. Her face rings a bell and I don't know where. Looking at her, even more, the memories flood back. She doesn't run, just stands there. No fear, nor anything.

She was the young hunter girl. The one who was interested in my "Stories". I walk over to her. She doesn't budge nor move. "seems as if you heard what I said" I look down at the young girl. "so, did the others... I mean I looked into it but why tell us something we wouldn't listen to?" She questions.

"We all know they were... lies" It's like she tries to convince herself of what she was taught. Almost a personal filter. making sure that all the "good" things out weight the bad. Yet me telling the truth makes all the good irrelevant.

"so, you think after all this time, they have been lying to me. My own family?" She looks at me. She's around 17. Seems as if she has no clue for why she's fighting too.

"Well, lying is one big thing. But what it is. Is when you're actually going to believe those lies are real." I tap my nose still looking down at her.

"no, it's true you have a shapeshifter right under your nose." She goes on as if she's about to rant.

"I know and whilst she is with me she is protected by me. Plus, in all this, I was there. Twelve years ago. During the meeting between all the species of shapeshifters, vampires, and humankind. Even the Jaguar tribe was there. Probably a tribe you never knew existed." I smirk

She looks at me "Jaguars?" As she looks at me. She seems as if she loses a little about herself.

"only a young boy but a prince. None the less. My father Clinton the rogue, my uncle Victor the black, then more leaders who again I won't mention." I keep my eyes on her then she snaps.

"you're the prince?!?" She almost shouts.

"yes, you know long lost Prince James. Plus, I'd rather you not shout it out. Victor is still hunting for me but then again if he does. I will only say that his head will no longer be attached to his body along with his legs as they will be gone faster than... " I stop clenching my fist, my hate and anger towards Victor shows to both the girls. Scaring them both.

"so anyway, you're a good tracker able to track us all the way here through the debrief and trees." I go on looking at her.

"...wha, yea I-" she's left speechless. "still don't believe me?" I smirk looking around. "no. I don't think I do." She looks at me bluntly but there's doubt there. "you better do" Mia stands in the doorframe, in her human appearance. "have you never seen a painting of the last vampire king?" Mia asks the young hunter.

"no, of, of course not all I know about him was that he made his peace with most if not all of the shapeshifters" she looks at me and then Mia.

"the guy that died was the ambassador for humanity. I lied about the bite marks back then they we're another creatures" I look at the girl.

"what do you mean you lied about the marks?!" She slaps me. I keep a straight face. "it was victor the false king who killed your man, along with him killing my father and possibly my mother in the process." I look at the girl.

Mia watches the both of you clearly "huh, do you guys know each other?"

"...one of my students" I look at Mia.

"students?" I feel the jealousy, again almost oozing out of Mia. She must have been very lonely. "yes, well I needed to put on a front for the hunters" I respond bluntly to her infatuated jealousy.

"oh" I stare at her as Mia knows I can feel her emotions.

"I've lied both times. But Victors sitting High and dry in my father's fucking thrown." I look at the pair pointing at myself.

"now both of you get your shit together and firstly, shapeshifters are non-hostile, they show all the traits a normal human would. As for vampires, we took a more parasitic role if humans were to be afraid of another evolution type it would be us. Your kind have no clue how to kill vampires, relying on silver and weapons but never the strength nor speed to do it. Your kind have become lap dogs to Victor doing "deals" with him yet if he stopped selling you weapons that he makes with silver blades with steel. You'd be none the wiser." I look at the young girl, seems as if she's slightly more understanding than before.

"I know" Mia nods. I look at the girl "go back to your camp and get ready. Tell the hunters exactly where we are." I smirk.

The girl nods before walking off. "oh, what's your name anyway?" I ask before she leaves.

"Elena" she smiles as she walks back to the small path hidden within the brush.

"what the hell do you want to get us killed?!?!?" Mia looks at me, fear struck in her eyes. I look at Mia "hmm, nope, but I'm going to enjoy turning a few heads" I smirk. I open the door shutting it behind me.

"They will kill me and put you into chains you idiot, fuck that, I'm leaving!" She shouts walking back in behind me. probably wanting to grab the stuff I borrowed her. "fine, enjoy walking around aimlessly" I roll my eyes leaning against the bedside next to where Mia is packing the small bag.

"if anything, you'll die tired. However; you trust me. You won't be a prisoner You'll survive it and I'll show them what true damage I can do." I grin.

"what, the hunters will keep me safe? are you that naive?" Mia grabs my second backpack. "I'm not going to get myself killed because you want to go on a missionary trip"

I roll my eyes. "that lack of faith may get you killed"

"Then why would they keep me alive?" she questions still doubting me/

"as a bargaining chip with me" I look at her "ever played card games, Mia?" I ask getting up off the bed leaning against the far wall at the top of the bed.

"rarely" She keeps packing her bag, then stops turning around "why?"

I smirk "simple enough well, in this case, I'm the ace, you're a jack inseparable and strong, normally when people get confident they lose the game yet, those two cards simply walk out. You lack faith in me and that's what we'll do if you trust me. Walk out on the hunters and be one step closer to killing Victor and anyone who will protect him" I smirk even more so.

"I don't care about victor" she sighs going back to packing her bag.

"you should. He's the reason your family. Or half of it is dead." she stops as I stare at her.

"It's the hunter's fault, not Victors the hunters they killed them" her hands start to tremble with both terror and anger.