Hunters

"Why must we run away like cowards?" Dani demanded hotly. "This is our home and we should defend it."

"It's not about that." Karl said. "There is a time to fight and a time to walk away and this is one of those situations. Now go and get packed."

His children were packed within minutes and waiting for him in the foyer, each carried concealed weapons on their persons and black military style, duffle bags.

Karl sent Jonas back to his room for gloves and a tuque, because his hair was still damp and it was cold outside.

They rode the freight elevator down to the garage and Stefan was there waiting for them with four other men.

"Going somewhere?" He asked. "Now we can do this one of two ways. Either you can come with us peacefully or things will get ugly.".

Karl cut his eyes at his children as he made a difficult decision.

Their safety had always been his first concern however they were no longer novices requiring his constant supervision.

They were young adults now and well able to both defend and fend for themselves.

"Run!" He yelled and suddenly lunged at the Day walker.

The girls screamed as Stefan swiftly grabbed Karl by the shoulders and spun him around to position his body inside a strong choke hold.

Glowering at the Andersen family, the Day walker commanded, "Stand down!"

Then there was a loud crack as Stefan accidentally broke Karl's neck.

Momentarily too stunned to understand what had just happened, everyone had frozen into a perfect tableau of horror.

Stefan automatically released his hold on the white, haired man letting him drop onto the concrete floor and the solid, thump of Karl's body hitting the ground served to break their paralysis.

No one heard Stefan's horrified, whisper of regret. "It was a mistake."

Dani screamed, "No!!"

Jonas rushed the Day walker and
Ivan raised his Makarov pistol and fired one shot into his right knee and the young man went down with a surprised, scream of pain.

"Stop!" Stefan yelled angrily in Ivan's direction.

Ivan lowered his gun and warily eyed his leader who hurried over to Jonas and dispassionately looked his wound over .

"You will live." Stefan curtly announced and then pointed to Jonas and Violet, "Get those two inside of your truck."

Ivan and one of the Popov brothers took hold of Jonas and Violet and roughly dragged them away.

Stefan unkindly grabbed Dani by her wrist, jerking her flat against his hard body.

"You're coming with me".

Chapter 7 : Romania

Sometime after the flight, Dani was separated from her siblings and drugged.

When she came too many hours later she found herself handcuffed and blindfolded in the back of a speeding vehicle.

Panic set in and she began to thrash wildly.

"Calm down, kotyonok". Stefan murmured, almost sweetly.

Dani stilled at once, and her head jerked in the direction of his voice.

She was momentarily shocked into immobility by the proximity of the day walker as well as the sudden rush of memory.