The Hunter's Vampire {Re-writing}

Chapter 28 More to Question

Previously with Leeland and Marissa...

Marissa had a death grip on Leeland's hand as they weaved through the throngs of people, debris, and horse-drawn carriages. She could not believe how bad the village had been wreaked and neither could Leeland who just took in what they saw as they raced by. Marissa grunted and yanked him towards a narrow alleyway between two older brown brick houses. "This way is faster." She declared as she kept pulling him after herself. Marissa herself knew these narrow alleyways better than any robber or store worker or beggar, especially because she tended to use them more than the main streets while she was on her private search for... things that she would rather keep to herself.

She was quite fast for her small stature Leeland thought as he followed along after her with ease. Her strides were nothing to compete with his so he did the only thing he could. He stopped, causing her to jerk backward, where she yelped as he caught her in his arms. She shoved away from him and in frustration but he kept her hand in his as she glared at him. "What the hell, Leeland!" She asked. She was fighting to free her hand, but it was pointless.

"I'm faster. Supernatural speed remember?" he said simply. Her bright eyes widened, filling with joy. "Point me in the right direction and I'll get us there quicker."

She took a second to think then she grabbed one of the cloths that she used to wrap the pies. "Smell this. I live in a bakery, these are my father's, my mom made them they should smell like his bread." He bent then buried his nose in the cloth, her cheeks going a soft pink as his face met her hand. Leeland inhaled deeply, catching the scent of fresh strawberries and the powdery dough that still lingered in the fabric... he smelt Marissa's sweet aroma and sweet bread... then... he finally picked up a male's scent. His eyes glowed topaz and he could see where the trail of the scent led to. It must be her father's. It was faint but it smelt of the bakery, nonetheless. He would be able to track it, he was certain. He lowered his hand and looked back at Marissa. "Can I pick you up? You'll have to hold on tight if I do."

"Yes, you can. Please hurry." He nodded and turned around, hunching down to allow her to climb onto his back. She got onto his back without hesitation, the cloth still in her hand as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He hooked the basket around one arm and then held her under her bum with the other as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Leeland ignored their closeness and took off for her home. No other humans seemed to be using these alleyways so he was good to run as fast as he could without tossing her off by accident. He felt her arms tighten around his neck, her fingers gripping at his blouse as she bowed her head to the crook of his neck. His body shivered just as Marissa's heart began beating faster. Leeland could smell her fear, something familiar mixed in with it and he made it out to be... a sweet lustful aroma, one that he guessed was caused by their closeness. It was more than they expected, so he wasn't surprised because she was still such a young and untainted woman. He didn't stop though; he had to get her home and make sure that her family was okay. Marissa would be devastated if they were harmed while she was safely being protected by him.

The bakery's scent that he picked up from Marissa's clothing was getting stronger and stronger the closer that Leeland got to the end of alleyway turns and twist. He was relieved and Marissa was both nervous and happy.

Leeland could smell her joy tiptoeing on the edges of her fear. He quickened his pace a little more but then stopped with a sudden jerk that nearly sent them both flying forward, his hands gripping the side of the brick building to his left—the only force holding them back for tumbling into a pile of flailing limbs.