The Hunter Becomes The Hunted

Chapter 15

A/N: Major violence and blood towards the end.

Sorry Jesse, it had to be done.

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"I am coming with you."

"Darlin', that ain't a good idea."

"What is not a good idea is making me worry. The last time you went off for the Count, you came back to me a lycanthrope. Gods know what could happen to you next."

You shivered underneath the layers of furs piled on top of you and wrapped around your goose-fleshed skin. Your teeth chattered, jaws feeling as though they would crack apart like the ice crunching below your feet at you all continued up the mountains, your teeth feeling like icicles as your tongue keeps sticking to them in an attempt to warm your mouth up.

Even with the furs and protection that the warriors had left behind in your tavern, you were freezing cold. Even with Jesse pressed behind you, one of his large leather-clad hands covering your smaller one, you couldn't help but shiver at the mountain's cold. Your village never got this freezing even in the worst of winters. Jesse's body heat, although, was a great inspiration to keep marching forward, following Reinhardt's large figure through the snow blasting you all in the sides of the faces.

You mumbled prayers under your frosted breath, eyes squinting as the cold wind kiss your lashes and bit at your lips you swore were going to turn blue any moment.

In the distance, you could see a large, dark, looming shadow through the thick snowfall. Tall, large, built long and strong to survive even the toughest of storms up here in the mountains. The closer you all got, the more and more you saw. Snow displaced by an army of footsteps, black sludge splattered about here and there (you did your best to avoid it all), skulls kicked up from the dirt, bones broken and protruding from the ground.

And then suddenly, the smell hit you worse than alcohol catching up to you.

Your head flew back, the crown of your skull hitting against Jesse's chest as you silently gagged into the cloth that covered your mouth. One of your gloved hands came up to pinch your nostrils, but you sadly had no luck. The stench was awful, horrid. It reminded you of when your mother had accidentally left meat sitting alone in your moist cellar, and when you accidentally stumbled upon it trying to find an unopened bottle of wine, you nearly threw up on the spot.

Jesse shushed you, one of his warm, rough gloved hands came up to your shoulder where he gently squeezed your clothed skin.

The closer you neared Dracula's castle, the heavier the silver stake in your pocket felt. Your unoccupied hand reached into your clothing and furs to grasp at the stake, it felt deathly cold in your gloved hand. Your hand did not leave the silver stake, instead, your arm slouched as you all stepped forward towards a sewage drain, unknown liquids frozen over. Your nose instinctively scrunched up knowing you would be walking over frozen urine and sludge in only a matter of seconds.

You eyed the curve of the bricks above, noting damaged wooden planks barred on the edges, looking as if something had smashed their way through. Nails cracks, bolts busted, screws loosened. You eyed Reinhardt before you, knowing only he could do such a thing and reach just as high.

You closed your eyes, braced your nose and toes for the unholy glory that were these monster's bowels and walked quickly, the rest following in suit until you pushed past an old oak door and were quickly inside a cobblestone hallway.

"None of his minions are around?" Hanzo mumbled, his eyes narrowing and thick black brows furrowing.

"Not that I can hear," Jesse grumbled. The rest started to trek forward, leaving you and Jesse behind. Jesse grabbed your arm, pulling you back. You turned to look him in the eye, his eyes were soft and worried, looking like the puppy he really is. "Darlin', please, be careful. These things, the doctor, the Count, they're fuckin' dangerous doll." He lifted your gloved hand and felt around your ring finger until his nails dug into the metal. "I wanna be with you so bad, darlin', please, just be careful. I wanna live a life with you when this is done. I'll quit huntin' if ya want me to, just, dammit doll, please-"