The Ancient One

Chapter 11

That night, Jake and his team were called to a sighting. This one was to be a capture, which made it more challenging, but also more dangerous. Jake was worried this was another setup by the girl. He still couldn't get over the fact that they'd been used to capture a vampire for her, and he had to admit, he was impressed with it.

"We're set up, Jake. Snipers are in place, light trailers are ready. We're a go," Allen said, when he reported in.

Ten minutes later, the radio chirped, "One contact sighted. It's a small one."

"We're really going to capture a small one?" Mark said. Jake didn't even bother answering, pretty sure what vampire was coming.

When the vampire came into view, Jake's belief was confirmed. The girl that had worried them so much was walking into his target zone, and she appeared to be alone. However, Jake knew not to trust that. With her, appearances were most likely deceiving.

"Scouts, check the shadows," he radioed to his team.

"We have, sir," the scout replied, almost immediately.

"Either she's alone, or her guards are better than our scouts," Mark said.

"Yeah, that last option is the one that worries me," Jake said. Only a second passed, before he said, "Shall we?"

"Now," he said into the radio. The area became lit, like at noon on a sunny day. His team had her cornered, with the only avenue of escape being the capture box. Every man carried a cross, half of them with prods, the other half with light cannons.

"I hope you are one to come to me," she said, when he stepped out. She stood, rooted where she was. As with all of the previous encounters with her, the light didn't seem to be bothering her.

"Jake?" Mark asked.

"And why were you hoping I'd be the one to come?" he asked, unable to resist the question. He didn't deliberately ignore Mark, but his focus was on her.

"You still not answer question I give you when we first meet."

"Why do you wear that mask? Do you have some horrible scar you don't want people to see?" he asked, instead of replying to her statement.

"I have scar here," she said, putting a hand on her side. "That where I was attacked by creature that turned me into what I am. It was not fun time," she said, turning melancholy. Then her face lit up, and she said, "But I live and I am here to talk to you. Have answer for question?"

"To be honest, I haven't given it much thought," he admitted. She turned visibly disappointed. He suspected she was making a show of it, but he wasn't certain.

"You want me in the box, yes?"

"That's the idea."

"Your box not look...com-fort-able. Yes, comfortable. It does not look comfortable. Get nicer box. Maybe I will come, like I say in past."

"Actually, unless you brought your soldiers along, I think you'll come now."

"You see no soldier, yes? But I not come. Box is not nice. Remember, I have meeting tonight with 'vampire' council. I do not like that word, but that is what they call themselves."

"You're a vampire. What else would you call yourself?"

"That word is not what we call in home. We use porphyric. That word is Greek, and better describer of this that we have. I do not like this word you use." Jake was wondering why the lights weren't affecting her, as they stood there chatting, but they definitely didn't seem to be.

"It is nice talk to you, hunter. I go now. Do not want to be late to meeting. They want to betray us. I am not happy with them." He couldn't avoid the shiver that he experienced thinking about what she was planning for them, and considered allowing her to leave. She'd take care of a problem for them, and he had no doubt she would. Of course, having the council in place actually provided some restraint on the vampire population.