Hunters

Rescued

The smile vanished from Eric's face and although she didn't see it coming Dani sure felt it when Eric slapped her.

Her head rocked sideways and that side of her face instantly numbed .
Water filled that eye only to leak down Dani's cheek unheeded.

Had he used his full vampiric strength the blow would have pulverized Dani's cheek bone.

"Never speak to me like that again." Eric snarled.

Dani's response was a chilly smile that gave him pause.

"I see that you enjoy living dangerously?" Eric observed with a hint of astonishment.

"But please believe me when I say that I'd like nothing more than crushing and draining you dry.
And your brother and sister too."

His tone was absolute and without mercy and it convinced Dani to bite her tongue the next time that she wanted to curse him.

Fear of what he'd do to her family was the only thing preventing Dani from cursing Eric out.

She wasn't in the slightest worried about her own survival.

Dani glanced to where Jonas and Violet were slumbed against the wall and her anxiety level cranked up another notch.

"I see that you understand." Eric said with a nod of his head.

Both looked up when the African vampiress hurried inside the chamber.

Even in her distressed emotional state Dani could admire the quality and expensive cut of the

earth toned silk tunic dress which seemed to cling to the vampiress' tall, lithe form.

She had symetrical bone structure and midnight skin that gleamed like polished marble.

"What is it Akume ?" Eric impatiently asked.

"The daywalker is here." Akume said breathlessly.

Eric jerked to his feet , flaming eyes widening but before he could react Stefan Vasiliev sauntered through the doorway.

"Release the Anderssons or suffer the consequences." He said.

Dani couldn't believe her eyes.

Stefan shot her a gaurded look and subtily nodded his head as if telling her to be quiet.

Dani could hardly recognize this heavily bearded and roughly

dressed man as the same one who had kidnapped her family all those months ago.

Yet her body seemed to know because her pulse had accelerated and she was trembling.

"Who sent you here ?" Eric demanded wild eyed and furious.

"I am here at the request of the Romanian Council." Stefan said blandly.

"This is not their concern or yours." Eric hissed.

"I think that you should listen to what Stefan has to say." Akume said. "He's already killed Kimba and everyone else."

Eric was momentarily stunned speechless.

Kimba St. Jean had been his best fighter.

Rage suffused Eric's entire being and snarling he attacked the daywalker.

It happened so quickly that Dani wasn't fully able to comprehend what was going on.

Stefan stood perfectly still as Eric darted toward him.

He reached out with his right hand and caught Eric's fist just as it flew toward his face and using

Eric's momentum as a leverage Stefan flung the vampire across the chamber where he slammed into the wall.