When the Hunter becomes the Hunted

Chapter One

Nothing but the ticking of the old grandfather clock and my quiet footsteps disturb the silence in the 'La Cruz' mansion, my heart pounds in my chest so hard i gear it will break free of its boney confines, clutching the wooden stake close to my chest i can hear my fathers orders ringing loud and clear in my mind.

"The La Cruz family are cursed, vermin of this earth that must be eradicated. You are the only one with the stealth and skills to destroy them. Use your skills wisely and do not return until every last one of them is dead."

Entering the magnificent hallway i head straight to the cupboard under the stairs, the door i have seen the figures disappearing into as the sun rises, slipping the door open silently i peer into the darkness, fear creeps up my spine but i force my body to relax as i quietly slick on my torch, illuminating a small stone staircase curving round and heading deep into darkness, my instincts tell me to run fast and run far but i know i must prove myself to my fathers group, already they think i am too weak, too compassionate. They dont believe i can take down the 4 most powerful vampires in this state, i must prove them wrong, so i can start to take my rightful place at my fathers side as leader of his faction of the 'blackbloods'. Taking one last glance at the warming midday sun streaming through the windows bordering the front door i start my descent down the old stone steps, the stones are smooth under my fingertips as i run my hand along the wall as i keep heading into the unknown, the air around me becomes oppressing and smells musky, my whole being wants to turn around and run but i refuse to let my body do what it wants. The weak light from my torch illuminates my way, bouncing off the stone walls, i almost stumble as i reach the bottom of the steps, shining my torch around it illuminates small sections of a room, with 4 adjacent doors, pulling the stake from my belt i grip them both tightly before heading towards the nearest door, slowly pushing the door open i grimace as the door squeaks loudly, holding my breath i freeze, every nerve in my body stands to attention, fear causing my heart to race, listening for any sounds but none greet me except for my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Stepping into the small bare room i head straight to the still, silent figure on the bed, reaching the side of the bed i look down at the man laying on his back, dark hair is styled perfectly, honey kissed skin combined with pink lips pursed slightly, his eyes closed, to anyone it would look just like a man sleeping but i know better and the lack of rising and falling of his chest to indicate breathing is all the knowledge i need to assume this is one of the La Cruz brothers, placing the torch on the small side table i climb onto the bed, straddling the man i position my stake over his heart before raising my arms above my head, my stomach revults at what i am about to do but i know i have no choice, swinging the stake down the man suddenly opens his eyes, his lips pulling away from wicked looking fangs, his eyes blood red and angry as a strange voice explodes through my mind.

Stop!

The voice commands, the sudden distraction of the voice and the vampires eyes causes the stake to meerly skim the vampires arm before embedding deep into the mattress, snatching the torch i leap from the bed but the vampires cold hand catches my ankle, hitting the ground hard i kick back rewarded with a crunch, my ankle released i half stumble, half sprint from the room, only to skid, falling back onto my backside as a figure looms in the opposing doorway, a terrifying growl fills the air as i shine the torch directly at this new threat, messy honey blonde hair, tall, well built physique, wearing only a pair of slacks, slung low on his hips, a suicidal part of me admires his body, heat blooming where it shouldnt. As my gaze collides with his deep red eyes, filled with murderous rage, aimed at me, my heart leaps into my throat, terror giving me the adrenaline i so desperately need as i leap to my feet, racing for the staircase just as the stranger launches at me with a speed i didnt know he could possess in the middle of the day, ducking and rolling out of the way he crashes into a wall, giving me a second to reach the stairs, climbing them swiftly my leg is suddenly captured, my momentum slams me down onto the cold hard steps, all the air is knocked from my lungs painfully, i am deftly rolled onto my back, the stones digging into my spine as the blonde vampire glares down at me, sweat beading on his brow, his breathing laboured but two very sharp, wicked looking fangs capture my full attention. I start struggling in earnest, not caring about the pain the stairs are causing my body, my self preservation demands me to escape and i am willing to follow its command this time, managing to gain possession of one of my hands i swing quickly, my knuckles colldiing with his face, a fang splits my skin but adrenaline numbs any pain. He releases my other wrist suddenly, before i can react his fangs sink deeply into the tender skin on my neck, my scream of pain bounces off the unforgiving stone walls, my fingers search for anything to use as a weapon as i feel him taking my blood into his body, my blood will make him stronger and i will stand no chance if i dont escape right now, my fingers brush the torch, quick as lightening i grip it tightly before slamming the metal against his head. His fangs rip from my kin as he falls back roaring, slamming my feet into his abdomen causes him to crash back down into the darkness as i launch to my feet, scrambling up the stairs, feeling warm liquid running from my neck, throwing my body through the door i land in a pool of warm sunlight just as i feel the whisper of movement behind me, spinning quickly i glimpse a large blistering hand reaching for me before disappearing back into the dark abyss. Slamming the door shut with my foot all i can do is lay on the soft warm rug, the heat of the sun chasing away the chill that has spread through my bones, slowly i become acutely aware of the sticky liquid seeping from my neck, as my fingers brush the torn skin the pain explodes through my body like a battering ram. Pressing my palm tightly to my neck, trying to ignore the warmth spreading between my fingers before running down my arm, i race back through the rooms, exiting the same door i came in, my feet fly over the grass as i race into the forest, surrounding the mansion, i cross back on myself a few times before i tear off my shirt, wading into a freezing stream. Washing my neck quickly, the cold water numbing the pain, rinsing all the blood off of my hands as best as possible i roll my shirt into a ball and hold it tightly to my neck as i wade up the stream, my feet feel leaden like blocks of ice. Dragging myself out of the stream i trudge towards the sheer cliff face where i made camp, i glance up at the 10 metre free climb that i have to do to reach my vantage point, i grimace before sliding down the rock, laying my head against the solid mass i take a few minutes to breathe, but the setting of the sun spurs me into action, standing on shaky legs i quickly tie my shirt around my sore neck as tight as i dare. Using a natural crack in the rock i place my hands carefully, pulling myself up as i slot my feet, climbing up slowly, finally i graze the ledge of my camp as my limbs become completely numb. Once i've managed to pull myself up all i can do is lay on my back breathing heavily as every inch of my body aches, the sky above me merges from blue to burnt orange to dark blue then to black, the sprinkling of stars and the crescent moon illuminate the sky. Crawling into the small cavern i grab my bag, making quick work of bandaging my sore neck, eating a couple of energy bars i take a couple of painkillers with a bottle of water, curling up at the back of the cavern, hidden from any prying eye, my eyes drift shut as a low growl sounds in the distance as the hunters trail runs cold.