Hunted

Chapter 9: The Pantheress

I was awake..

Or at least I think I was.

Everything around me felt off, and things blurred into light when I looked around. I was still in the forest,  but as I glanced at my body, there were no gashes. It was as if the panther never existed... and of course I had to be corrected on my judgement.

The panther emerged from the trees, smiling at me again. I felt my boot for my knife, slowly bending down to grab it, never taking my eyes off of it. I poised, ready to attack with my knife, but the panther turned around and walked back into the forest. I peered around the trees, trying to see it, and jumped back, startled at the figure emerging from the forest. It was a woman with dark, olive skin, hair even darker than mine, in short waves to her shoulders. Her eyes were the same piercing yellow as the panther's; her dress was as black as the panther's fur. She smiled at me and came closer, her feet stepping lightly on the grass echoed in my ears. I reluctantly lowered my knife.

"So you're the panther?" I asked. Pantheress, I mentally corrected myself. She nodded, smiling and moving to me gracefully and elegantly.

"Your friend, the pale one. He is a vampire no?" She asked. Her accent was heavy, yet light and graceful and easy to understand as her soft voice was easily understood by my ears. I nodded.

"Your wolf friend, he does not trust the pale one?"

I nodded uncertainly. "The first time we met him, yes. After a while he warmed up to him, but I don't know if he trusts him."

She pursed her lips into a sly smile. "He doesn't want you to trust him, no?" I nodded again. "But, you do trust him anyways?" I hesitated.

I guess in a way, I did. We formed a bond as quiet as the forest was, silently anticipating my reply. I shrugged, looking her in the eyes. I did trust Elliot, more than I probably should considering he is a vampire, and is considered dangerous, but I found comfort with Elliot, and that led me to give a small timid nod.

"Why do you trust him? He locks more than he releases." She tilted her head questionably.

I couldn't deny this. I knew he was hiding something, and yet I go along with him. Caden looks worriedly between us during travels, uncertainty and blood lust to kill a vampire certain in his eyes. I bit my lip, pondering her questions.

"The huntress in you, she has been idle since he arrived. I could have easily killed you on the spot." She smiled innocently at me, stepping closer holding my hands in hers. "Maybe you shouldn't trust him so much, Violetta. You know what his kind is like, you know trusting him goes against the huntress' instinct." She looked me gently in the eyes, while mine strained to break eye contact.

I looked behind her, as images of Caden appeared. I watched as images of us appeared.

""He's a vampire. Everything about him is supposed to lure pray in Vie." I watched the scene unravel before me. "I think he should stay, but I want you to keep your bow armed and with you at all times. Focus, okay? If he makes any sudden move towards you, kill him." I watched as Caden's voice echoed at 'kill him', and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elliot staring at me. Did I notice this when I  talked to Caden?

I blinked as the image of Caden came towards me, putting it's faded, ghostly arms around me, his hand trailing down my arm to my knife. "Kill him," he whispered softly in my ear. I looked at him gently, then looked at the Pantheress who was slowly morphing into someone else. She took on the form of Elliot, when we first met. "Come closer. I won't hurt you. I promise." he whispered mockingly.

Shocked, I took a step back, passing through the image of Caden, who turned and lunged at Elliot. "Kill him!" Caden shouted, as I stood there, rooted to the ground. Caden pinned Elliot against a tree, his arm against his throat. I watched in horror as the scene flipped, and Elliot pinned Caden on the ground.

He looked at me mockingly. "Kill me Violetta. Kill. Me." He laughed menacingly as he tossed Caden's body to the side, and came for me. I watched Caden helplessly crawling towards us, and I looked into Elliot's eyes as he came closer. Our bodies were barely touching, my back was pressed to a tree. We looked straight into each other's eyes, and I watched his eyes widen as I drove my small knife directly into his heart.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered faintly, as I automatically moved towards Caden to help him. As I came closer to Caden, I dropped to the ground, the knife falling out of my hand, my eyes fluttering shut as I saw Caden and the Pantheress smiling down at me.