The Hunter and the Hunted

Prologue: Levi

My hands tremble as I struggle to sort out my muddled thoughts. Everything blurs into one thing that just runs in circles, over and over again. Images of blue eyes and blonde hair framing a sweet angelic face with the most beautiful of smiles flash past my eyes. Soon the images begin to morph into one's of pure sadness. The eyes are clouded by tears and agony and the face is marred by a heartbreaking frown that strikes a shard of guilt that twists and cuts into my heart making it bleed all over again. I grip at my hair, trying desperately to block out the images of the girl I hurt; the girl I love so much that my emotions are forever painted on my skin.

My stomach churns painfully with hunger and guilt as I push away the thoughts of Dakota, the sweetest girl I know-knew. I force myself to stand from my bed, nearly losing my balance as my head spins with the overwhelming need for sustenance. My hands immediately clutch at the sides of my throbbing head as I stumble towards the mirror. From where I stand, I can see the way my eyes burn with a ravenous hunger. My pale cheeks are flushed from my racing heart pumping blood; dark bags seem to reside permanently beneath my eyes, showcasing my inability to sleep. My lips are dried and cracked from a lack of proper hydration and care. Something metallic hanging around my neck catches my eye and I pull my hands away from head to touch it.

It's cool to the touch, lacking the warmth that the real owner held. An ache tugs at my heart at the thought of the girl the ring was meant for, but instead hangs from a chain around my neck.

A soft knock at my door captures my attention, pulling it away from the necklace that lay against my chest.

"Come in," I call to the person on the other side. The door opens with a whiny creak and a head of short, blond hair peeks around the edge of the wooden surface. "Miles."

"I can't sleep and I heard your restless thoughts..." Miles mumbles, avoiding my gaze.

"What did I tell you about listening to my thoughts?" I hiss at the Irish boy, a small flicker of annoyance settling on my shoulders only to be crushed by the exhausted look in his eyes.

"I didn't mean to do so. It's just everyone else is asleep and I'm just too tired to ignore them."

I sigh. "It's my fault. Since you're awake and I'm starving, do you want to come with me for fresh air?"

The blonde's mouth twitch up at the corners into a gentle smile. "Sure."

"Go wait for me downstairs. I'll be down in a minute."

He hums before turning and closing the door behind him. I wait until his footsteps fade at the bottom of the steps before I turn to my bed and grab the jean jacket sitting on the bedpost. I also grab my phone from the messy sheets and shove it in my pocket, just in case. Just in case, she needs me.

Miles walks alongside me, quiet and lost in his mind. His hands are tucked in the pockets of his jeans as we stroll down the empty street- minus the few stumble down it, drunk or high. I study his expression, trying to read his thoughts like he reads mine but I come up with nothing. His lips are pressed in a thin line but show no signs of anger or sadness or even confusion. I sigh, giving up. It's not the same as reading Dakota's expression; I could always tell what she was thinking- I could feel what she felt.

Instead, I turn my attention to the few groups of people that mill about in search of someone who will satisfy my insatiable hunger.

"Levi," Miles' voice drags my attention away from the task of finding my first real meal in weeks. "What about him?"

I follow his gaze to a dark haired man, who slinks down the street trying to avoid attention. His shoulders are hunched to his ears and his hands crammed in his sweatshirt as he moves quickly. I can hear the way his heart thrums with nerves.

A smirk tugs at my lips as I look back at Miles. His eyes shimmer with the same excitement that seems to set my nerves ablaze. With that, we cross the street to follow him for a brief moment, just for the thrill of it.

My newest prey turns his head, sensing our presence following him in the shadows. My gums seem to ache with the desire to strike but I must wrangle myself in. He starts walking faster, still with his head turned. In that moment, Miles makes his move, speeding in front of him in a blur. A small gasp escapes his lips as the tall male bumps into the shorter blonde. I take his momentary pause as my chance to strike, moving faster than humanly possible.

Before he can take in another breath, I have him pinned to the wall. The sound of his racing heart drums in my ears louder than my own heart. The itch in my gums seems to grow stronger as I stand there, listening to rush of blood through his veins. I can't help but grin as fangs elongate from my gums, poking my lower lip. His eyes, a deep violet color, widen with terror. He squirms beneath my grasp; a whine slips past his full lips as he struggles to get away. I lean close to him. A low growl rumbles deep in my chest, urging me to give into my primal instincts and just lose control. Unable to hold back any longer, I sink my fangs into the nape of his smooth, pale neck. Air catches in my prey's throat like a mouse caught in the jaws of a snake. Sweet, sweet blood seeps from the bite marks, pooling in my mouth. It cools my heated nerves; satisfies my physical hunger but leaves the whole in my heart feeling even emptier than before. The metallic liquid coats my tongue; a familiar taste that I haven't had in what feels like months.

"Levi," Miles hisses. I groan in response to him, too engrossed in the idea of sucking the raven haired boy dry in attempt to satisfy my emotional cravings.

"Levi, you need to stop!" He warns. A peculiar tone seeps into his Irish accent as though he knew something. Something dangerous. Still, I ignore him- too enraptured with the thought of feeding.

Suddenly, a sharp pain spreads through my side. I growl menacingly as I step away from my prey with one hand wrapped around his fragile neck and the other pressed to my side. A warm, sticky liquid begins to seep between my fingers as I hold the wound.

Glancing down, I feel anger flood my veins at the sight of the blade sticking out of my shirt, stained with blood- my blood.

The boy studies me through half-lidded eyes that seem to burn with a hatred so strong that it reminds me of a pair of blue eyes that were once full of love and life. I drop my hand from his throat to wrap it around the dagger and pull it. I grit my teeth to stop any sound from slipping out and showing any sign of weakness to my predator.

"For a creature that's supposed to be smart, you sure are stupid." the violet eyed boy slurs while stumbling away from the wall. A vicious growl claws its way up my throat as I lunge at the raven-haired boy.

His moves are sluggish but he still manages to avoid my grasp that would snap that pretty little neck of his.

"Levi, don't!" Miles snaps at me while grabbing at my shoulder, forcing me to stumble back. I go to lunge once more but my housemate knocks me to the side, leaving the raven haired to slump against the wall, too weak from the blood loss. I huff in frustration, anger still boiling in my veins. "He's a hunter-"

"No duh, Miles," I gesture towards the wound that still drips with dark, sticky blood. I press a hand to it and instantly regret it as it sends a wave of agony throughout my body.

"No, he is Dakota's hunting partner!"

My heart instantly sinks, numbing the pain in my torso, at the thought of Dakota. I stumble back and shake my head. If Dakota finds out, she'll have another reason to hate me and I'm not sure I can handle that.

I watch as Miles growls in annoyance, fangs protruding from his gums. He sinks his fangs into his pale wrist while approaching the drained hunter. Dark, red blood drips down his wrist as he forces it into Dakota's partner's mouth. He crinkles his nose, pulling away from the blonde standing over him.

"Stop," Miles warns angrily. "This is going to heal you and you will not repeat any of this to anyone, not even your partner."

The hunter's violet eyes widen for a split second, registering the command and he nods his head slowly. With the sealing of his wound, the hunter starts to stand before running off.

"Let's go back before you do something else stupid and need to be stitched back together." Miles grumbles while walking towards me and offering a hand. Placing mine in his, he yanks me abruptly to my feet and throws an arm around my waist to keep me from falling over.

Slowly, we begin the short walk back to the house; neither of us speak another word, lost in our own worlds.