Prologue

What happens when the vampire hunter falls for the vampire she is hunting? Kyla Tyler has been hunting vampires since she was old enough to shoot an arrow, and when she finds out that one immortal in particular has a very high price over his head, she decides that it’s time to make some serious money. She immediately begins searching for him, but when she finds the vampire whose name is Pearce, she realizes that it’s the exact opposite of what she wanted. Kyla can’t find the strength to kill Pearce, and tries her best to avoid him. You’d think that having your life spared would make you grateful, and keep you away from the person who had tried to kill you, but instead, Pearce finds himself drawn to Kyla, who resists the attraction. Where Kyla comes from, fraternizing with a vampire is the worst crime you could commit, but while trying to avoid friction with Pearce, is she actually encouraging it? Being around him is only making it worse, and while Pearce is a strong immortal, Kyla is only a human. And vampires are known for their beauty and the fact that they are irresistible . . .

Chapter One

 C’mon, just a little closer. I thought as I crouched on my branch, high up in the tree overlooking Pine Forest.

 

     He was right there, just a drop down, and about three feet away. Just move a few more inches . . .

 

     A smile spread across my face as the creature took three steps forward, directly in shooting range. I held my bow up, angled it toward the immortal, and drew back, feeling the tendons on the bow like an extension of my arm. I shut my one eye for better aim and released.

 

     Aha! Direct hit! The creature fell on his back, dead.

 

     I jumped from this branch to the lower one on its neighbor, then to the next lower, and then the next, until I was just five feet off the ground. I dropped and stuck the landing. I straightened up and headed over to my kill, getting down on my knees to pull the arrow out.

 

     The creature’s chalky skin was translucent with the moonlight, his eyes shut, his dark hair plastered against his forehead from the earlier rain, and his body limp. There was just a small hole in his chest from where the arrow had pierced his rock hard skin, no blood. But he was dead for sure, good old fashioned complete wooden arrows. They were the only things that got the job done, aside from stakes of course. But unless you’re able to get close enough to stake the creature, then arrows are the way to go. I shook my head and stood, pulling out my pack of matches. I struck one, then threw it on the vampire. The body ignited in seconds.

 

      I took off at a run, out of the forest, and to the Gathering Square, where I would be able to collect my money for my kill. Once I made it into town I slowed down, tucking my matches back into my bag.

 

     “Morning Kyla, how was hunting?” Mr. Bo, a man who sold specially made stakes, ones with designs on them that were mostly for the wealthy and for show, greeted me. I waved.

 

 

     “Good, got one.”

 

     He grinned. “That’s a girl, keep it up.”

 

     I nodded. “Will do.” I said.

 

     I made it to the area of the Square that was a market, where people bought and sold sought after goods. I myself bought my prized bow and arrows here.

 

     “Hey Sal”, I said, walking up to the booth where people would collect their earnings for their jobs. My job: vampire hunting.

 

     Sal, a man with greasy gray hair and pale blue eyes, cast a glance at the trees. Seeing the smoke, he nodded, reached under the counter, and placed three bags of coins in front of me. I swiped the pouches and dropped them in my bag, spun around and headed home.

 

  I was the only one in town who had rights to burn the bodies where I killed them. Other hunters brought the bodies to the counters to prove that they had actually slain the things. They weren’t much competition. I was the quickest and got to town the fastest. People favored me because of my swiftness and stealth. I could track a vampire through rain or snow, and still not be followed. My job paid very well, and supported my family.

 

     I came up to our small cottage and went inside, my two little sisters running up to me.

 

     “Kyla!” They squealed.

 

     I laughed and scooped them up in my arms, hugging them to my chest. “Hey munchkins.”

 

     They giggled as I twirled them around. They were twins, Michaela and Liana. They both had freckles, bright green eyes, and wildly curly red hair. No one would expect I was related to them, I had long straight black hair and dark blue eyes. They were only six, and I was almost seventeen.

 

     My mother stood in the corner, her thin frame shaking with effort as she scrubbed the dishes. She turned around, wiped her hands on her dishtowel, and smiled when she saw me.

 

     “Kyla”, she said, coming forward and giving me a warm hug. I hugged her gently back.

 

     The twins got their looks from our mother, she had long curly red hair, kind green eyes, and freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose and cheeks just like them. I looked like my dad.

 

     Mom brushed some of my too long bangs away from my face, tears glistening in her eyes. She always did this when I came back from a hunt. She hated my job, the same job as my father had had. If she would have it her way, I would be a stay at home mother, cooking, cleaning, and waiting for my husband to come back from hunting. In our town, girls were to be married or engaged once they turned sixteen. I was almost seventeen, and many people whispered about what was wrong with me. Why was I not married yet? Simple, I didn’t want to get married. I didn’t want to be one of those girls who got pregnant and married in the same year. I wanted to take my time. Besides, I liked what I did. Vampire hunting was a tough job, but it paid well, and provided for Thing One and Thing Two, and my mother.

 

     I reached into my bag, pulling out the three sacks of coins. I handed them to my mother. She smiled sadly when she saw them, but touched my face in appreciation before turning around and dumping the bags’ contents on our small kitchen table. I usually didn’t keep any of my earnings. If there was some money left over after buying necessities, then I would be able to maybe buy a new bow or a few more arrows. Mom sat down at the table, grabbed her glasses, and began counting the bronze coins.

 

     After playing with the kids for a while I headed upstairs to my attic bedroom. I flung my bag into the corner and plopped down on my twin bed. I rested my head against my pillow, sighing with exhaustion and quickly drifting off to sleep. 

Chapter Two

When I woke up it was to screaming. I jumped up immediately, grabbed my bag, and rushed downstairs. Mom had the girls in her arms, trying to soothe them and get them to stop crying.

   

 “What’s going on?” I asked.

 

     She shook her head and jutted her chin towards the door. Without any questions, I flung the door aside and raced into the middle of the Square. When I got there I could see that there was a crowd of people gathered around something, and there was wailing coming from the center of it all. I shoved my way through the ocean of close-packed bodies until I came to the front. I froze when the scene opened up in front of me.

 

     A woman clutched a pale, lifeless body to her chest. It was a girl, two bleeding wounds stuck out in her neck. I knew what had happened at once. Vampire attack.

 

     I walked forward and crouched down next to the woman, who was crying senselessly. I placed my hand on her shoulder, but she was oblivious. I looked down at the dead girl the woman was holding. She was white as a sheet, even her lips colorless. Her eyes stared blankly up at nothing. I grimaced in disgust as my eyes traveled down to the two little holes in her neck. Whoever had done this had made a quick trip. Usually vampires tried to cover up their kills, only rarely did they leave them out in the open like this one did. I stood up abruptly, turning around to face the crowd.

 

     “Look!” I shouted to the people. “Look what this vile creature has done! He has killed one of our own! It is time to fight back!” I yelled. Shouts and screams of agreements followed me.

 

     “Tonight”, I said, “the hunt is on.” 

Chapter Three

Mom handed me one pouch of coins from the previous payment I had received just yesterday. She hugged me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. She pulled back, but kept her hands firmly on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes.

 

“Be safe. When things get too dangerous, I beg you, leave.” She said.

 

I nodded, however I had no intentions of leaving if things got too dangerous. If things got sketchy, then I would only fight harder. She hugged me again, then let go.

 

I crouched down so that I was at eye level with Michaela and Liana. They were both looking at us curiously, not understanding what was going on. I hugged them both, ruffling their hair as I gave them a smile.

 

“You two be good. I’ll be back soon.” I said, then stood and walked to the door. I didn’t look back as I left, feeling that it would only make things worse.

 

      In town, everything was in chaos. People were shrieking about the attack, breaking into shops and grabbing what they could. It seemed that my little rant had caused a spark that had ignited an uncontrollable flame. I had not wanted this, but at least people weren’t sitting around doing nothing like they usually did.

 

Sal’s booth was the only one not being looted, and I headed over there, leaning up against the counter. Mr. Bo was also there, along with Tirana, a girl who had been a hunter but had retired to a housewife. She nodded at me in acknowledgement.

 

“The urchin caused hell to break loose and spread like wildfire in our town.” She commented.

 

I pursed my lips, but nodded in agreement. I wasn’t going to bother to bring up that it was me who had screamed about needing to fight back.

 

Mr. Bo sighed, chewing on a piece of hay that he had probably swiped from one of the feeding quarters where we kept the animals.

 

“Ah, I remember back when the creatures kept to themselves and we were able to coexist fairly peacefully. It was nice, quiet.” He said, drifting off to a different time period that was as solid as vapor to us now in our current state.

 

Sal grunted, disappeared under the counter, and came up with three bottles of cider. We paid him silently. Even though Sal was quiet and often grouchy at times, he did have his soft side.

 

I took a swig of the sweet, thick liquid and stood away from the counter. “I have to go.” I said.

 

Tirana nodded. “Meeting the hunters at the edge of the forest eh?”

 

I shrugged. She gave another nod. “I was informed about it too. Since I had hunted before, they wanted me to come. I told them I couldn’t go. Not with my boy at home and my husband gone hunting with the rest.”

 

She shook her head. “Nah, but enjoy yourself.” She leaned in closer and lowered her voice so that only I could hear.

 

“Take a few of them out for me huh?” She whispered.

 

I nodded and headed off for the forest, away from the screams and shouts of my once calm village.

Chapter Four

Trine, an eighteen year old boy I often hunted beside, with ruffled black hair and focused brown eyes, came over and greeted me.

 

“Glad you could make it Kyla.” He said.

 

“Glad to be here.” I turned to see that there wasn’t a handful of people here to hunt like there usually was, but a crowd.

 

I swallowed as the hair on my arms prickled, so many people, so much competition. Their ages ranged from very old to very young. It seemed that the youngest was about thirteen years old, sharpening a wooden stake with a large knife.

 

Trine touched my arm, and I jumped. I was so absorbed in analyzing the group of hunters, some looking experienced and skillful, others looking awkward and off-balance. I bit my lip to keep from shouting at no one in particular. I should’ve expected this. However a lot of numbers would also mean a lot of causalities. People would be fighting each other more than they would fight the vampires.

 

I looked at Trine, in his intelligent eyes. He was a brutal fighter and could kill an immortal in record time. I liked him, and I would also need him. He seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. He nodded, patting my shoulder.

 

“I’ll watch your back.” He said.

 

“And I’ll watch yours.” I promised in return.

 

      The actual hunting didn’t start for about two and a half hours. No creature dared cross our paths, no wonder. We were making so much noise, not even I would’ve come near us if I would’ve been a vampire. Trine and I sat on large boulders and talked as we waited.

 

Trine’s fiancée Katina was pregnant with their child, if it was a boy they were to name it Tiran, and if it was a girl, they were going to name it Lilia. He told me how soon he would end his hunting days and become a blacksmith. I was sad.

 

I liked Trine and would miss his company while hunting. I told him about how mother was working on her artwork and sewing and how she was definitely improving. He said that he would have to look for some of her work the next time he visited the Square.

 

“I’m worried about Katina.” Trine said, ripping blades of grass out of the earth and tearing them into pieces as he spoke.

 

“I think she’s worrying about our unborn child, as well as I am. What will their future be like? Will they turn into a hunter, or a housewife, or someone who works at the square like Sal or Mr. Bo?” He sighed, looking down at his green fingers absently. “Sometimes, I wish I could move into the Outlands and raise our children there.”

 

I couldn’t help but blanch at his statement. The Outlands were a dangerous place, littered with foreign creatures, not to mention immortals that were out for human blood. I would never even consider moving there, let alone taking my family with me.

 

Trine chuckled at my ridiculous expression. “I know what you’re thinking, and no. I’m not crazy. I just figure that living in the Outlands would be a safer place for my family than the village, where vampire attacks occur regularly and fights break out simultaneously.”

 

“That’s not true”, I had to counter.

 

He was exaggerating. Fights did not break out often, and vampire attacks were a very rare occurrence. Our village was the safest place to live. Going to the Outlands was like committing suicide, where the unknown walks free and vampires roam wild.

 

Trine just shook his head. “It was just something that I was considering.”

 

I pursed my lips, casting a look out at the darkened trees. It was that kind of thinking that could get you killed. Trine opened his mouth to speak again but suddenly stopped, listening intently for a noise he had caught. I had heard it too. The slight rustle of a branch in the tree just a few feet away from us. It was a quiet sound, but it was enough to alert us that we were no longer alone.

 

I looked to Trine, who pressed a finger to his lips, signaling that we should say nothing to the others. A small smile spread across my face. This was a huge advantage, something that we would have to be very sneaky about in order to get a head start on everyone else.

 

We got up and walked over to the edge of the trees, where we had heard the noise. No one paid any mind to us. They probably expected for us to give some kind of signal to alert them if we had seen something, however, we had never agreed to anything. Trine clutched his stake in one hand, a hand crafted knife with a wooden blade in the other. I gripped my bow and arrows tightly, walking as quietly as I could. We crouched down on the ground, just as we had done over at the boulders.

 

Just as we were about to take off, a young boy, the one who had been sharpening his stake, pointed to us and shouted. “They found the vampires!”

 

We didn’t stick around for the abrupt explosion of activity, we just ran. Sprinting through the trees in no particular direction. Any immortal who had been hiding in here was long gone by now, but that didn’t matter. What mattered now was that we got away from the pissed off crowd before they skewered us like they were going to do to the vampires. 

Chapter Five

Branches and thorns scratched at my arms and legs like angry, clawed hands as we bounded through the forest. Trine ran with his arms pumping at his sides, his knife and stake still clutched in his hands. We ran blindly, not sure where we were headed. Footsteps thundered behind us, arrows shot dangerously near our shoulders and knives whistled through the air at our legs and arms. I winced as one arrow sliced through my shirt, cutting the skin on my arm.

 

“We have to split up!” Trine called over to me.

 

I nodded in agreement and cocked my head to the left, signaling that I would go in that direction, him the other. Trine nodded, then without hesitation, we crisscrossed through the trees and headed in opposite directions, away from each other.

 

The crowd wasn’t big enough to split off evenly and still have enough people to hunt any immortals in case they did come along. Of course, the people after us still had the huge advantage of numbers. However Trine and I were very skilled, and these people, while some were experienced, the majority were mediocre at best.

 

I picked up speed, moving deeper and deeper into foreign regions of the forest. I had explored the forest often, but never had I gone this far, and if I was confused, me, who lived in the town just bordering on the edges of Pine Forest, then people who came from villages over to hunt would surely be a bit jumbled here.

 

As I made an abrupt right turn, I could hear the shouts of the remaining crowd behind me begin to die down and fade in the distance until it was just a slight hum. I halted and doubled over, my hands on my knees as I  tried to get some oxygen back into my starved lungs. I just hoped Trine found someplace safe and away from the obnoxiously loud group of people.

 

Suddenly, a twig broke no more than five feet away from me. I straightened up normally, not wanting to alert whoever was skulking in the trees that I knew of their presence. I walked at a steady pace over to a tree which I leaned against, fiddling with my bow and one of my arrows, stringing it absently and turning to the section of trees where the twig had snapped. I spun around the trunk so that I was on the opposite side, and that’s when I saw him.

 

He was about three trees from me, staring in the direction of where I had just been standing. He was tall, lean, with shaggy white blond hair, and a boyish face.

 

I took aim with my bow, shut my eye and readying to hit my target, right in his heart, when he turned his head and locked gazes with me. His eyes were charcoal gray, staring at me with such intensity that I hesitated just a moment, but it was enough.

 

He sprung forward, slamming into my chest and causing us both to topple to the ground. I struggled underneath him, reaching into my belt for my stake.

 

“Oh no you don’t”, he said. He had a thick British accent. I hadn’t heard an accent like that in a long time.

 

He grabbed my wrist, and snatched the stake right out of my grasp. He tossed it aside, then pinned my arms down, his hands clutching my wrists roughly. He used his knees to keep my legs from lashing out and kicking him. My head fell back against the hard ground.

 

I could’ve kicked myself. This was it. This was the end. I wouldn’t be able to come back into town and say that I had proudly defeated the vile creature that had killed in our village. I wouldn’t be coming back at all.

 

What would happen to mother and the twins? Mother’s artisan job wasn’t enough to support them. They needed me and I wouldn’t be there to help them. Well, if I was going out, I was going out with a fight.

 

I wiggled under his grasp, rolling around trying to get out from under him, but it was no use. Vampires were the strongest beings alive, and he was very strong. I sighed, looking at him through my bangs falling in my eyes.

 

“Do it.” I said. He cocked his head, his eyes showing surprise and interest.

 

“Just do it and get it over with.” I said again, a bit of steel in my tone. Yeah, I was pissed, but only because I had lost and he had caught me off guard.

 

He chuckled, smiling slightly. When he smiled his boyish looks vanished, replaced by a devilish grin that hid many secrets.

 

“Oh, but where’s the fun in that?” He said in such a sultry, delighted voice that it was nearly a purr.

 

I spat in his face. “Go to hell.” I said with venom. He wiped off my saliva with another laugh.

 

“Oh, I already am, and”, he leaned forward, his lips inches from my ear. “I’ll see you there.” He whispered.

 

With a grin that showed his whole mouth, two rows of straight white teeth, I saw his fangs grow, peeking out of his lips. I swallowed my disgust, curled my knees to my chest, and kicked him in the gut, sending him flying across the forest. He didn’t stop until he hit a tree, snapping it in half.

 

Without wasting any time, I grabbed my bow and arrows from where they had fallen, ran after him, and jumped onto his chest. I pinned him down just like he had done to me. I pulled the bow back and grinned at him.

 

“Now”, I murmured, “go to hell you demon.”

 

I was just about to release when he chuckled again. I almost groaned. Enough with the delays. Just let me kill you and get it over with! I wanted to yell.

 

“What? That’s the best you got.” He said, looking up at me with an amused expression on his face. “No ‘you evil spawn of Satan’? No, ‘you devil incarnate’?” He sighed, his gaze shifting to the night black sky.

 

“I must say, I’m disappointed. I expected more from you people.” He said, then turned his attention back to me. “Well go ahead love, do it and get it over with.” He said, quoting my exact words. 

 

I swallowed, shifted the bow slightly, and released. The arrow pierced the earth near the vampire’s left shoulder. He eyed it oddly, then gave me a strange look.

 

“Well, not what I was expecting, but alright.” He said, flashing a smile, his fangs gone, and then kicked me off of him.

 

I didn’t go flying like he did when I had kicked him, but I went far enough that when I fell to the ground on my back, it hurt. A burst of pain started in the middle of my spine and traveled all the way up to the back of my neck.

 

“Damn it”, I cursed, struggling to get to my feet. All I had managed was to crawl onto my knees. I looked up, expecting to see the vampire coming over to finish me off, instead just seeing the dark of the forest. 

Chapter Six

I didn’t yell out for anyone to come and help me. I didn’t want to alert the other hunters of my location. I hugged the trunk of a nearby tree, using it as support as I stood up. I leaned against it, my back screaming in outrage.

 

Something moved nearby. I still had my bow and arrows in my hand, but my stake was lost somewhere in the forest where the vampire had thrown it. I angled my bow, deciding that since my cover was already blown, I might as well go ahead and speak.

 

“Who’s there?” I called out.

 

Someone peeked around a tree a few feet away from me, then hid back behind it. I caught a flash of dark hair and eyes. I sighed, dropping my bow. Trine came out from behind the oak.

 

“Kyla?” He murmured.

 

I nodded and sank to the ground, my back no longer able to keep me up. He ran over to me, throwing his weapons aside.

 

“What happened?” He asked urgently, getting down on his knees next to me. I shook my head.

 

“I was an idiot. There was a vampire right in front of me, I was positioned to kill, and I let him go.” I said, ashamed.

 

Trine scowled. “Why?”

 

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just weak.”

 

Trine’s eyes hardened and he vigorously shook his head. “No Kyla, you’re one of the strongest people I know. You’re fierce.”

 

I threw my hands up. “Then why did I let him get to me?” I said much too loudly.

 

Any immortals around here were long gone now, and any hunters around knew that their competition would be easy prey, since we had chased all the immortals within a mile radius away. I let my head fall back, thumping against the hollow trunk of the tree I rested against.

 

“I was a fool.” I murmured.

 

Trine shook his head, brushing some of my dark hair out of my eyes.

 

“You are in no way a fool. What did the immortal do to you?” He asked sternly.

 

“I was on top of him, he kicked me off.” I shifted, wincing with the pain in my spinal cord. “I landed on my back.”

 

Trine turned me over, the side of my face pressed against the rough wood of the tree as he examined me. “I don’t think you broke anything.”

 

I felt Trine’s soft fingers gliding along my back, gently prodding. “Just a sprain.” He confirmed.

 

“You’ll be sore for a while, but you’re lucky it’s not a break. You could’ve been paralyzed with the force the creature took knocking you off.” Trine turned me back around, giving me a kind smile. “You’re once badass hunter.”

 

I laughed lightly, because even laughter hurt to the very core of my bones.

 

“C’mon”, Trine slipped his arm behind my back, holding onto my waist and supporting most of my weight as we got to our feet.

 

We stumbled through the forest, the hunt forgotten, and trekked back to our village.

Chapter Seven

Mother was very angry with me when I came back with an injury. She sat me down at the kitchen table and ran some hot water. She lifted my shirt up, dipped a cloth under the steaming water, and pressed it to my back. I jumped when the scalding fabric touched my skin, but relaxed at the relief it brought to my throbbing back.

   

 “What were you thinking Kyla?”  Mother told me to hold the cloth there while she got me a glass of warm water. I took a sip gratefully.

 

     “This was just an accident, Mother.” I said after I had drunk about half of my water.

 

     She scoffed. “There are no accidents. While you’re out there, those creatures are trying to hurt you. I told you this would happen. You are not going hunting again.”

 

     I twisted around so that I could face my mom. I laughed. “You must be joking.”

 

     Mother shook her head. “I am completely serious.”

 

     She got down on her knees, she was very short. I was the tallest in the family, but with my hunched over figure, I was about as tall as mother. She sighed and caressed my cheek lightly.

 

     “Kyla, you are my daughter and I love you. Every time you go out to hunt I worry that you won’t come back.”

 

     I opened my mouth to speak but she pressed a finger to my lips, shaking her head. “No. I’m sorry, but this is my decision. You are to stay inside and watch the twins so that I can keep an eye on you.”

 

     She stood, taking the cloth and running it under the water to heat it up again. I was speechless. I wanted to fight back, to yell and scream that she was wrong and hunting was perfectly safe. It wasn’t perfectly safe, but this was a fluke. This had never happened to me before and it wasn’t going to happen again. Mother could delude herself with the idea of me not going hunting, but I’d just have to be sneaky about it and make sure not to get caught. No matter what she said, I’d never stop hunting. 

Chapter Eight

Mother watched me warily for about a week, waiting for me to do something to alert her that I was going out. However, I behaved and did nothing but sit around and play with Michaela and Liana. When she said she was going to the Gathering Square I perked up.

 

“You want to go to the Square?” She asked.

 

I nodded. Mother eyed me suspiciously. “Why?”

 

I stood up, my back still sore however I was able to walk straight again.

 

“What? I can’t leave the house anymore? Mother, you can’t keep me caged in like an animal.”

 

She still looked at me oddly, but opened the door with her purse slung around her shoulder.

 

“Alright. But you have to bring the girls.”

 

I nodded eagerly. I figured she’d want to bring the kids along, but I didn’t care. Hopefully I’d be able to hear what was going on with the hunting situation, since I was banned from hunting, at least, as far as mother knew.  

 

We walked out with the twins holding onto mother, while I trailed behind. We walked to the booth where vegetables were sold, and I wandered over to Sal’s, where I leaned against the counter. Sal nodded at me, and Tirana came up, paying Sal for cider that he didn’t sell but gave her anyway.

 

“Welcome back.” She said to me, taking a swig of her drink.

 

“How are things out there?” I asked in a low voice. Mother and the girls were just a few feet away, and if we spoke too loudly she would hear us.

 

Tirana shrugged. “I’m not particularly sure, dearie. But”, she leaned in closer, “I do know that the hunters have not been successful in catching any more of the urchins. Ever since you guys went hunting none of them have showed up anywhere near here. I think you might’ve scared them off.”

 

“Kyla!” Mother called me, and I backed away from the booth.

 

“Thank you, I’ll be back later.” I promised and headed over to my waiting family.

 

      We purchased fruits, herbs, and medicines while we were in the Square. I ran into Mr. Bo who asked me how hunting was going. I shushed him and told him that I was taking a break.

 

“Well, damn girl. You must’ve been hurt bad to not be hunting anymore. I wish you well.” He said, and then walked off to his booth, dumping newly crafted stakes onto the countertop.

 

I stared longingly at the designer weapons. I wanted to purchase a new stake badly. It was dangerous for anyone to be out without a stake, but I knew that I couldn’t shop for weapons with mother here. I would have to wait.

 

A few people were rushing by us and into the middle of the Square, near a post where ads were put up alerting us of sales or even wanted signs. A person pushed past mother, causing her to drop our bag of fruit.

 

“Well goodness, where’s the fire?” She grumbled, bending over to pick up the scattered apples.

 

I ignored her and ran after everyone else to see what all the trouble was about. When I came to the center where the post was, I froze where I stood. Wanted signs bearing the same picture were tacked all over the post. It read:

 

Wanted

Teen Vampire

Looted Village and Killed In Town

Dead or Alive

Reward: Name your Price

 

      I swallowed as my hands began to shake, not out of fear, but of anger. The picture below the writing was of a teenage immortal with flawless pale skin, charcoal gray eyes, and ashy blond hair shielding his eyes partially. His name was listed below, Pearce Grey. My lip curled up in a bitter smile. Pearce, no matter what my mother says, tonight the hunt is on, and it’s all or nothing. 

Chapter Nine

 “Did you see what all the fuss was about?” Mother asked me as we walked home, the twins skipping in front of us, their red curls bouncing. I shook my head.

 

“Just a sale on weapons. Nothing of importance.” I said absently.

 

She sighed, shaking her head. “Ah well, I was hoping it would be a sale on food or medicine. Something that we could actually use. Something vital.”

 

I bit my lip to keep my mouth shut. Mother thought of hunting and weapons as barbaric, however she had no idea how important they were. Hunting and weapons kept immortals from crawling around our village and picking us off one by one.

 

When we got home the twins ran up to their room, while mother set the groceries on the table, getting to putting them away. I headed immediately for the stairs.

 

“Where are you going?” Mother asked me.

 

I stopped. I had hoped she wouldn’t notice me, which was a long shot, I admit, but I had hoped.

 

“Bed.” I retorted.

 

Mother sighed, setting down a watermelon that she had been in the middle of putting away. “Kyla, please, don’t go off hunting. It isn’t safe.”

 

I sighed too. “Mother, I’ve been hunting for years and I haven’t gotten hurt.” I gave her a small smile. “I’m just going to bed.”

 

Her eyes showed that she didn’t believe me in the least, but I ran up the stairs before she could say anything more. I grabbed my hunting bag and hid it in the crack in between my bed and the wall. I shoved my legs under the covers and pulled them over my head. I knew that I would have to wait a while before I could leave, but at least I would be able to go hunting like I had been aching to for days.

 

*     *     *

 

        After about two hours of waiting in bed, dozing off every now and then and waking up to hear movement downstairs, everything was still. I got up, grabbed my hunting bag, and opened my window. The drop was about ten feet, not much. I could make it. Without hesitation, I jumped. As expected, I landed on the balls of my feet with my knees bent to absorb the fall. I straightened up. Don’t be so surprised, I had jumped from trees taller than ten feet and had stuck those landings to. I hate to disappoint.

 

I took off at a sprint into the Square. I went straight to Leone’s booth. He sold quality weaponry, even though they might be a little overpriced, they were great and lasted a long time. Most booths were still open, and it was just pure dumb luck that Leone’s was. He nodded at me as I came up.

 

“Whatcha need?” He asked.

 

I got straight to the point. “I need a stake. And a good one, a real good one.”

 

Leone considered this a moment before reaching under the counter and slapping a large stake in front of me. It was made out of cherry wood, thick, strong, and very sharp. It was polished so that it gave off a faint shine under the moonlight.

 

“It’s beautiful”, I said, gazing at the weapon in awe. “How much?” I asked.

 

“Fifteen gold pieces.” He said.

 

Ouch. That was rough. Fifteen gold pieces could feed our family for a year. I had the money in one hundred silver coins, but it had taken me months to earn it. Swallowing my surprise, I reached into my bag and dumped two bags of fifty silver coins each onto the counter.

 

“There, a hundred silver pieces.” I said. Leone shook his head.

 

“Not silver. I said gold.” He shot back, putting emphasis on the word gold as if I was too dumb to understand him.

 

My lip curled in resentment. “I don’t have gold, just silver.”

 

Leone shook his head again. “Sorry, no gold, no stake.”

 

He reached over to take the stake away when I snatched it up in my hand.

 

“No. What’s wrong with silver? At least it’s money!” I burst out, angry that he was trying to strike a deal with me when I really wasn’t in the mood to haggle. I knew what he wanted, more money. I dipped my hand into my bag and dropped another bag of silver onto the counter.

 

“There. One hundred and fifty silver pieces, and that’s all I’m giving you.” Leone was unfazed by my anger. If anything, he seemed more interested in this exchange.

 

“That’s a mighty fine bow you got there. Want to trade?” He said, eyeing my prized possession sticking out of my hunting bag. I shifted the bag so that it was behind me, no longer in his view.

 

“Never. You can have your goddamned stake, if it’s that important to you.” I was going to toss the weapon at him, showing that I wasn’t interested anymore, however the truth was, I wanted that stake. But, it wasn’t worth my bow.

 

I placed the stake on the table, spun around, and began to walk away from him, realizing that I had forgotten my money. I turned back around to scoop up my change when he placed his hand on top of the loot.

 

“How about two hundred bronze coins, and you can have the stake?” He offered.

 

“Deal.” I said abruptly and threw three bags of bronze pieces onto the countertop, swiped the stake, and shoved it into my bag.

 

I spun around heading for the trees, hearing Leone calling, “nice doing business with you”, behind me.

Chapter Ten

It was around one a.m., moonlight shining and glistening off the leaves of the trees and the dewy grass. I sighed, leaning against a balsa and twirling my new weapon around in my hands.

 

Nothing had come my way all night.  I was getting tired of waiting. I had moved at least two miles into the woods and had still gotten nothing. This was ridiculous. I wasn’t going to wait much longer. I was itching to use my new stake, and even better, use it on Pearce, the vampire who had mocked me and made me look weak. Well, I was the complete opposite of weak, everyone knew that. And soon, Pearce would know it too.

 

After about twenty more minutes of more of the same, I decided to use a different tactic. I began walking, not bothering to cover up my footsteps. I ripped off a branch and began hitting every tree I came across with it, making as much noise as possible. No, I’m not stupid. It was part of my plan, using myself as bait to attract an immortal. Now, vampires aren’t stupid, easy prey. However, they can’t resist a human pumping with blood walking into their territory. I kept trailing the stick across every tree, rustling leaves and stepping on twigs as I went. Vampires had to be hiding out in here, and at least one of them had to notice me at some point. However, I wasn’t going for just any vampire. I was going for the one with a huge payment hanging over his head. If Pearce knew about the reward for his capture, then if he was smart, he’d be in hiding.  But if the people of my village were smart, then they’d keep the knowledge of Pearce’s wanted sign to themselves and not go parading around shouting about capturing him.

 

I heard someone take a step to my left, and I had about a minute’s notice to jump to the right before a knife went whistling past my left ear. I expected the knife thrower to be a hunter, but when a tall, pale body stepped out of the trees, I wasn’t surprised.

Chapter Eleven

“We meet again, love”, Pearce said with a sly smile. He had something in his hand, not a knife but with a closer look I saw that it was my stake. The stake that he had taken from me the first time we had fought.

 

The knife he had thrown at me was stuck in a tree just to my left. Without taking my eyes off him, I reached over and extracted the weapon from the tree. Knives were useless against vampires. However it did slow them down if they had a piece of steel lodged in their chest. I tossed the knife into my bag, coming back out with my new stake. Pearce’s gray eyes rested on the weapon in my hand for a moment and his smile widened. Before his gaze could return to me, I took quick aim, pulled my bow back, and released.

 

The arrow flew through the air for about two seconds before it sliced through Pearce’s shirt. He had moved a fraction of an inch away from the arrow within the two second time slot he had had, but it wasn’t enough to completely dodge the shot. I grinned in triumph as he howled in pain, gripping his wound and baring his teeth. When he turned back to me his eyes were ablaze with fury.

 

“So it’s going to be that way, eh love?” A sick grin twisted his unnaturally perfect features. He tossed the stake aside and straightened up. “Well, you need two to play this game.” He shifted into a fighting stance that was barely recognizable to the human eye, but I caught it from years of experience. I changed the way I was standing as well, my knees slightly bent, bow ready.

 

“You haven’t been playing this game fair.” He said, much too full of himself.

 

I took a step to the right. “Haven’t I? Terribly sorry.” I mocked him.

 

He let out a flat laugh. “No need to apologize babe, you’ll be sorry enough soon.” He lunged forward but I was quicker. With the end of my bow I struck him under his chin. His head flew backward as he stumbled a few feet away from me. I knew that he wasn’t afraid or had been hurt, now, he was just pissed.

Chapter Twelve

Pearce stared at me angrily, his lip curled with fury. “You’re a feisty little girl, are you not?” He snarled.

 

I smirked. “I’m glad you finally noticed.”

 

Pearce’s twisted grin relaxed into an easy smile. His ashy blond hair falling in front of his eyes and covering half of his handsome face. Yes, he was handsome, but all vampires were beautiful. It was unnatural beauty, beauty that should not be possessed by any living thing. Pearce cocked a pale blond eyebrow.

 

“You find me attractive, eh love?” He asked, amused.

 

My cheeks grew hot with embarrassment and anger. “No, I find you vile. You’re a despicable creature. You deserve what you’re going to get.” I shot an arrow at him, but he was ready this time, and dodged it expectantly.

 

He shook his head, almost as if he pitied me. “My dear, you should not envy beauty. You are quite lovely.” He said calmly.

 

I scoffed. “Thank you for the gracious compliment.” I sneered, releasing another arrow. It didn’t hit him like I had hoped, just glanced off his shoulder like the last one. He winced, but controlled his reaction this time.

 

“Ah love, jealousy does not look good on you.” He said, humor bright in his gray eyes.

 

I had had enough of this. I gritted my teeth and jumped on him. We both fell to the ground, my knees digging into his legs and my hands gripping his wrists, shoving them to the ground above his head.

 

“Shut the hell up!” I shouted in his face. He laughed, looking up at the dark sky with the moon bright.

 

“You do not believe me when I tell you of your beauty?” He asked with a smirk. “That is sad. What is your name?”

 

I could’ve killed him right there, my stake was in my belt, within my reach. I could’ve killed him and gotten it over with, brought his body into town, and collected my reward. But for some reason, I didn’t. I just stared at him like the idiot I was. I swallowed and thought for a minute, realizing what he had asked. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to give him my real name, but what would he do with knowing my name anyway? I decided there was no harm in it.

 

“Kyla.” I said. He smiled at me.

 

“A gorgeous name.” He said warmly.

 

I decided to play dumb right then and there. I wouldn’t let him know that he was being hunted and a huge reward would be given for his capture. I was just going to let him figure it out on his own. I pursed my lips, considering what I was about to do, and jumped off of him. He looked up at me in shock for a moment, before getting to his feet.

 

He dusted off his dark shirt. I looked at what he was wearing for the first time then. Dark jeans, a black turtleneck, and checkered tennis shoes. A little fancy for an immortal who lived in the woods, but I didn’t say anything.

 

“Well, I guess it’s only fair you know my name. Pearce.” He said, and gave me a wink. “Nice meeting you love, now if you’ll excuse me I must be going.” He said, and with that, took off in the opposite direction. I could’ve shot him then, his back was to me, it would’ve been an easy shot. But I didn’t. I just stood there, like the dumbass I was, and watched him run away. 

Chapter Thirteen

I walked home in a daze. So many questions were on a reel playing constantly in my head. Why did I let him go? Why did I tell him my name? Why did he want my name? Why was he toying with me? When I got home, I scaled the side of the house and wiggled in through the window, back into my bedroom. I listened closely for a moment for any sign that mother was awake, but only silence greeted me. I sighed and fell back on my bed, tossing my hunting bag aside. The only good thing that came out of this night was a new stake. Now, Pearce knew my name, he knew I knew him, and I had let him go. Why?

 

*     *     *

 

 A few weeks passed with no sign of Pearce and no killings in the village. Mother had also dropped the no hunting rule. I was allowed to go out again. Michaela and Liana’s birthday had passed, they were now seven. My seventeenth birthday was just around the corner as well. Mother had a few suitors lined up for me, all of which I had scoffed at and turned down.

 

“Mother, I don’t want a husband!” I had exclaimed one afternoon when I had had enough of boys showing up at our doorstep asking for my hand.

 

Mother sighed. “But Kyla, you are so beautiful and almost seventeen. It’s time for you to settle down and have children of your own.”

 

I huffed, gripping the edge of the fragile wooden table, my knuckles white. “What if I don’t want to have kids? What if I want to be a hunter the rest of my life?” I said with a smirk, leaning forward slightly.

 

“What if I don’t want to be poor, alone, and shoving all of my beliefs and what I think is right onto my children? What if I don’t want to end up like you?” I seethed, then bounded up the stairs. Let’s see what she thinks of that.

 

I threw myself onto my bed, shaking my head at my mother. I wanted a husband just about as much as I wanted to be bitten by a vampire. I looked out my window, seeing darkness, the full moon in the sky, casting an eerie glow on our small garden. I sighed. Oh, how beautiful it would feel to be bathed in that silver light. Sometimes, I wished I could live in the woods, away from mother and the stresses of life in the village. I shook my head. That life was just a dream that would never come true.

 

I moved away from my window, but just as I did I saw something that shouldn’t have been there, a flash of gray. I jumped up, staring outside. I grabbed the sill, and yanked the window open all the way. I stuck my head out, feeling the chill of the night air. So far I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I looked around, looked up, then down, and that’s when I saw the ashy blond head ducking into the trees. My eyes widened. What the hell? 

Chapter Fourteen

When I woke up the next morning I heard mother yelling for me to get up. I groaned, rolling over and pulling the covers over my head.

 

“Kyla! I’m going to the Square and the girls are coming with me. Do you want anything?” She shouted up to me.

 

I didn’t respond, I just shut my eyes tight and hoped that if she was leaving she’d get on with it. I heard her sigh.

 

“Alright then. We’ll be back soon.” She yelled. I heard the door open, then close behind them as they left.

 

I opened my eyes and peeked out the window, wondering if I’d see anything odd when there wasn’t darkness to play tricks on me. I saw nothing that shouldn’t have been there. There was our small garden where mother grew her herbs for tea, and then there was the trail of a few trees leading to the forest beyond that. I sighed, then got out of bed. I showered, got dressed, and took another look outside.

 

It was a cloudy day, with a fog setting in over the horizon. The sun was nowhere to be seen. The clouds were a dark gray, chasing each other around as if they were angry. I immediately thought of Pearce’s intense eyes. I blinked a few times and shook my head. Why would I think of the vampire who had tried to kill me? I shook my head again and grabbed my bag, sliding down the railing of the stairs then heading out the door. Looked like a good day to go hunting and besides, I needed something to keep my mind off of everything going on.

 

       Walking into town I heard whispers that last night the vampire who had trespassed in our village had been spotted. I slowed my pace, hoping to catch more of the conversation. “. . . he was seen over by that girl’s house. The hunter.”

 

I stopped in my tracks, my heart picking up speed, thundering loudly as if it was going to jump out of my chest. I knew they were talking about me, and I was going to hear the rest. I listened closer.

 

“I wonder if she noticed him there.” A boy said.

 

A girl shrugged, joining in. “I wonder if she led him there on purpose.”

 

“Why would she do that?” The boy asked quizzically.

 

The girl gave another shrug. “Why else? To capture him and collect the reward for herself. I heard her family’s really poor.” Her voice dropped to a whisper but the boy just snorted.

 

“Yeah, she needs the reward just as much as anyone else in our village does.” He said and she nodded in agreement.

 

I walked away from them, fuming. I guess I could rule coincidence out of seeing gray eyes and a blond head last night near my house, since apparently Pearce had been spotted. Damn it. When I got to the edge of the forest I saw that I was not alone in my idea to go hunting. Trine was also there, polishing off his stake and knife.

 

“Hey”, I said, sitting down on the ground a few feet away from him. He nodded, not looking up from his shining.

 

“Did you hear?” He asked.

 

“What?” I asked absently, distracted by the few birds that were nesting in the nearby trees above us. Trine looked at me, abandoning his weapons.

 

“That the vampire was spotted near your house last night. Did you not notice him?” He asked sternly. I shook my head. “No.”

 

Trine sighed. “Well, I suppose you didn’t considering he’s still alive. If you would’ve caught sight of him, then he would be dead by now.”

 

He gave me a smile, I supposed that was meant to be a compliment. I smiled back. “Yeah.”

 

Trine shook his head. “Nope. The game’s just begun now, and I have a feeling it’s going to go on for a while.”

 

I scowled, standing up and moving towards Trine. “What game?” I asked seriously.

 

He shrugged, turning his attention back to his polishing. “Oh, some of the hunters in town are placing bets on who’s going to capture the immortal that raided our village first. I wasn’t surprised when I heard your name come up a few times. To them, this is all a game.”

 

My scowl deepened. “Do they not understand how deadly this is? That more people could die with the high stakes from hunting with so many? Not to mention that since the vampire has been spotted in town, it seems he’s having no trouble getting past our meager defenses?”

 

Trine looked up at me, his brown eyes emotionless. “It just makes the game more interesting.” 

Chapter Fifteen

It was a slow hunting day, and we only caught a girl and a boy, mates, traveling through our forest. Trine hauled them both onto his shoulders, telling me that it was fine and he could carry them by himself. While he walked, we discussed plans for tomorrow night. We figured since it was so slow today tomorrow hopefully we’d get more purchase. After we collected our earnings from Sal we went our separate ways, Trine to his house and me to mine.

 

When I came inside the house was empty. Mother and the twins must still be shopping. I wasn’t surprised, I had only been gone for about three hours. I headed upstairs, tossed my bag in the corner and removed my hunting boots. I laid down on my bed, staring up at my ceiling.

 

We usually got more than just two vampires a day. Why the flow of immortals has suddenly slowed is a hard question for me. I heard something tap against my window pane. I paid no attention to it. It was just the tree outside, being rustled by the wind. So when the tapping became a steady knocking you could imagine my surprise.

 

       I jumped up from the bed, snatched my bow and an arrow from my bag, and flung the window open. All that greeted me was the chilly night air and darkness.

 

“No use hiding.” I called. “I know you’re out there.”

 

No one but the howling wind answered me. I gritted my teeth, my temper rising. “Come out.” I yelled, my voice louder this time.

 

I saw the top of his head first, and then he came all the way up so that I could see his whole face. His hands rested on the sill, supporting him. At the sight of the vampire I jumped.

 

“Ah shit”, I cursed, coming forward with my bow still poised. “What the hell are you doing here?” I said, softer so that the people in the homes around us wouldn’t hear.

 

Pearce smiled his devilish grin, beginning to climb through the window, into my room. I had a few options. I could shoot him, which would mean he would either fall or die instantly from the impact of the wooden arrow in his heart. I could just shove him away from the window, which was appealing. And then the last and possibly the most idiotic choice I could ever make, I could let him in. I considered all of the choices I had, wondering why I had even come up with the last one. Vampires were the prey, and I was the hunter. But I felt so small and insignificant. So much like our roles had been reversed. I shook my head.

 

“I must be out of my mind”, I mumbled as I dropped my weapons. Pearce looked at me, waiting for an answer. I waved my hand. “Just come in before I change my mind and shoot you.” I said uneasily. Pearce’s grin widened almost in triumph as he pulled himself all the way into my bedroom. I had a vampire in my room. Yep, I was crazy. 

Chapter Sixteen

Pearce stood with one hand leaning against the window sill. He was really tall, his head almost hit the ceiling. He was taller than me, which was saying something, since I was the tallest in my family. His ashy blond hair fell over half of his face, only one gray eye peeked out from behind his curtain of hair. He was smiling at me, a sneaky grin that said he knew something you didn’t know.

 

“Nice seeing you.” He said. “Why, I’m surprised you didn’t shoot an arrow into my heart on the spot. What brought on this sudden burst of kindness?” He asked, the eyebrow that I could see raised.

 

I swallowed, my hands feeling horribly empty without my bow or stake in them. My stake was in my bag, all the way across the room next to my bed, where Pearce was standing. And I had dropped my bow to my side, but still it was inconvenient. I swallowed, realizing that I was completely defenseless. Pearce could be across the room in one minute and kill me the next. I was such a dumbass! Pearce chuckled.

 

“Ah love, why would I kill you?” He asked, amused.

 

“Because you’re a freaking vampire and I hate your kind!” I spat, shaking my head. He shrugged.

 

“So? You hate my kind, however you never said you hate me.” He pointed out with a smirk.

 

I snickered. “My mistake. I hate you Pearce. I hate you because–”

 

“Because I get in your head?” Pearce cut in, taking a step towards me. I took one back. “No, I–”

 

I began again, but he spoke over me. “Because you can’t kill me? Because you don’t find me revolting like the rest of my kind? Or is it because I talk to you like you’re a real person, not a hunter?”

 

I swallowed roughly, gripping the edge of my bedframe, feeling my head swim with Pearce’s words. He was wrong. He had to be wrong. No, he was wrong. I hated him, he was a vampire. I hated him and all of his kind. It wasn’t that I couldn’t kill him, of course I could. But I didn’t want to. The thought ghosted through my mind quickly, but before I could catch it and banish it, it stuck. That was the difference between him and the other vampires, those immortals I wanted to kill, but Pearce, I didn’t. My shoulders slumped, feeling my insides squirm as Pearce strode forward until he was just a foot away from me. He wouldn’t stop talking, why wouldn’t he stop talking? Right now, I just wanted him to shut up.

 

“You don’t want to kill me and I don’t want to kill you. That’s why this time is different. Because this time, this isn’t just a petty game between the predator and the prey.” He touched my arm, and my eyes went immediately to his face, showing nothing but stony seriousness.

 

“This time, there are feelings and there are emotions.” Pearce’s fingers traveled down my arm until he came to my hand, which he grasped firmly. “This time, I care.” He said. The walls spun with Pearce’s words, and my ears began to ring. The last thing I saw was the floor careening quickly towards my face. 

Chapter Seventeen

“Kyla? Kyla honey, wake up.” I heard mother’s voice near my ear. I opened my eyes to see her sitting on the edge of my bed, a cool dishcloth pressed to my forehead.

 

“Mom?” I mumbled as I struggled to sit up. Mother shushed me, forcing me back down. I obeyed weakly, falling back onto the bed.

 

“What happened?” I groaned, shutting my eyes again so that all I saw was sweet darkness.

 

“When your sisters and I got home it was late, I came up to check on you and you had fainted. You were on the floor and your window was open.” She said. I felt the brush of the cloth against my forehead again. My eyes opened slightly.

 

“Oh?”

 

Mother nodded. “Yes. I had never taken you for someone to be afraid of heights.” She said. I nearly sighed in relief. Thank God she thought of heights so that way I wouldn’t have to construct some reason as to why I had fainted.

 

What had happened just a few hours ago came rushing back to me so quickly that my head began to throb. Pearce sneaking into my room, our argument, my fainting. My eyes traveled around the room, my bow was gone. Shit. Where was Pearce? I sat up, and this time when mother tried to get me to lay back down, I stayed up. “I have to go.” I said, and grabbed my hunting bag, descending the stairs and walking out the front door before mother could say anything against me.

 

       When I got to the forest I dropped my bag, looking around and surveying the area. “Pearce?” I called softly. When nobody came and I heard nothing, I called louder. “Pearce!” Movement to my right.

 

I spun around, but instead of Pearce coming out of the trees, a blonde girl did. She was a vampire all right, from her perfect light blond hair, petite body, and flawless white skin.

 

I snatched my stake out of my bag, the next best thing to a bow and arrows. At least it was a weapon. The girl bared her teeth at me, exposing her delicate fangs. Her eyes were what startled me. They were gray, just like Pearce’s. Ignoring her cutting gaze, I positioned my stake, ready to throw, when she changed her scare tactic. She pounced, slamming into me and sending us both hurtling to the ground.

 

I thrashed around, kicking her in the stomach and sending her flying halfway across the forest. She landed and was about to get to her feet, but I was too quick. I jumped on top of her, pinning down her legs and then using my hand to grip her wrists and dig them into the ground. She hissed and snarled at me, but I ignored her.

 

I was ready to impale the stake in her heart, when she knocked my arm off balance, and I ended up stabbing her just below her breasts, close to her heart but not close enough to kill her. With a bloodcurdling scream she slapped me across the face, then knocked me off with a punch to my chest. The breath was knocked out of my lungs, and I coughed and wheezed a few times before I was able to breathe again.

 

The girl had ripped the stake out of her chest and was doubled over on the ground, wailing. I stood up, retrieved my stake, and was walking over to her when she suddenly jumped up. There was still a large hole that hadn’t completely healed showing as a dark contrast against her pale skin from where my stake had hit her, but aside from that, she was raging mad, practically foaming at the mouth. With a cry that was more animal than anything else, the girl lunged, going for my throat.

Chapter Eighteen

Something barreled into the girl midway through her pounce, sending her flying off course and into the ground. I scrambled away from her and to my feet, gripping my stake with a shaking hand. Oh, I was just about as angry as she was, and as ready to kill her as she was me. I ran over to the girl, halting as I realized a few seconds too late that there was someone else there with her, apparently wrestling with her. And that someone was Pearce.

 

“Pearce!” I shouted, wanting to help him but not knowing how. His head whipped around and he caught sight of me. He gave me a wink, then threw the girl off of him, jumping to his feet.

 

“Well, hello love. Glad to see you’re here, and that my idiot kin hasn’t harmed you, well”, he reached out and brushed my cheek, when his finger came back, it was red with my blood.

 

I touched my face absently. I hadn’t realized that the vampire had gotten in a good swipe. The stinging of the cut on my cheek was barely noticeable. Pearce stuck his finger in his mouth, sucking the drop of my blood eagerly, then dropping his hand. He sighed.

 

“Ah, lovely.” He said, almost longingly, causing my face to burn, but then he seemed to realize that the girl was just a few feet away, and back on her feet. She snarled, baring her sharp fangs at me. She ran towards me, but Pearce stuck out his arm, which she slammed right into. When she backed up, she looked murderously at him.

 

“What the hell Pearce?” She screamed in his face. He just sighed.

 

“Kyla”, he turned and looked back at me. I tensed, the hand holding my stake ready. “I’d like you to meet my sister, Carline.” He said.

 

The girl, Carline, turned her heated gaze on me. “Kyla”, she sneered, making my name sound like a dirty word. “You’re calling it by name? Ah, how sweet.”

 

Carline had the same British drawl as Pearce, and the same eyes. I swallowed, shifting my weight uncomfortably. This was strange. Usually vampires didn’t keep family ties very strong, they mostly traveled alone or with their mates. Packs of immortals were very rare. However, Pearce and his sister did not seem like they got along very well.

 

“Shut the hell up Carline”, Pearce growled.

 

She just snickered. “The things mum would say if she could see you now. Involved with a human, eh Pearce?” She laughed, folding her arms over her chest. “Dear me, since you’re already going to hell now you probably have a first class ticket.”

 

Pearce’s lip curled with anger. “Well, since I’m already damned, I’m sure this won’t tarnish my record.” He sneered. Carline rolled her eyes.

 

Before either of them could turn their attention back to me, I took off in the opposite direction. I heard Pearce call my name, but I ignored him, rushing into town and back home. 

Chapter Nineteen

I ran up to my room, not listening to mother’s shouts about where I’d been or what happened. I slammed my door shut, throwing my bag and stake onto my bed. My bag toppled over the edge of the bed and hit something with a thump. Walking over, I jumped over the bed, reached down and removed the sack. Underneath my bag was my bow and arrows, tucked neatly in the crack between the wall and my bed. My face fell. Well, that eliminated my theory of Pearce being a thief and stealing my bow and arrows in an attempt to leave me defenseless.

 

I fell back onto my bed, my head hitting the pillow and flattening it. A million questions spun around and around tauntingly in my mind. Why did Pearce even bother helping me when his sister was attacking me? Why did I let him? I didn’t even bother asking myself why I didn’t kill Pearce or his sister. I simply can’t kill Pearce, because just like when we had talked, I didn’t want to. I didn’t kill his sister because I knew, no matter how much they disliked each other, Pearce would’ve been angry if I had killed Carline. My bedroom door suddenly flew open. Mother and the twins burst in, mother clutching them both tightly.

 

“Kyla we have to go!” She shouted, her voice colored with panic and worry. “The vampire’s here!”

 

       At those words I snatched up my bag without protest, following mother down the stairs and out the front door, where all hell had broken loose. And I’m not talking about mild chaos where people are running around screaming about God knows what, no. I’m talking about hell, like burning buildings, scattered people, and bodies. Bodies everywhere, littered all over the place. Mother covered Michaela and Liana’s eyes to keep the horrors of the streets away from them. I swallowed my frustration and confusion at what was going on and barreled into the crowds of people, rushing about with torches lit and held high up, pointing to the sky darkened with smoke.

 

“Kyla! Kyla come back!” Mother’s voice faded into the distance as I ran farther and farther away from her. I couldn’t’ stay with her, I had to find the vampire who had left these bloodless bodies on the grounds of our village. I had to find the immortal and end this.

Chapter Twenty

I saw Trine with his fiancée Katina being pushed through all the people, the girl’s belly bulging in her shirt slightly from her unborn baby.

 

“Trine!” I called. He looked up in surprise, waving to me and saying something that I couldn’t make out.

 

I shoved people aside with mumbled apologizes, getting a few fingers and being damned by at least five people. I grabbed onto Trine’s outstretched hand, coming forward and holding onto Katina’s arm.

 

“Are you alright?” She asked me. Katina had short burgundy hair and pale green eyes. She was short, much shorter than me and Trine. She had a kind, motherly instinct that at times got her into difficult situations. I nodded.

 

“I should be asking you the same thing. What happened?” I shouted over the noise around us.

Katina shook her head, clutching my arm almost as if she needed the support. “The vampire who had attacked our village just a month ago, he’s back. You see the bodies around us?” She made a sweeping gesture about the ground, as if there was a body at our feet. I nodded. “These are just a few of the poor souls unfortunate enough to cross paths with the unnatural creatures.” She said sadly, tears glistening in her kind eyes. There was something that she had said that had caught my attention.

 

“Creatures?” I asked her.

 

Katina’s delicate eyebrows pulled together in question. “What?”

 

“You said creatures. There is more than one?” I clarified.

 

She nodded. “Yes. There are at least two.”

 

My eyes widened in surprise. Oh God, this was bad. I touched her arm gently. “Thank you Katina, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. You go find shelter, Trine”, I said and his eyes rested on me for a second before his attention became diverted once again. I sighed. “Take care of her.” I said sternly. He nodded, still distracted, but I knew he’d heard me.

 

I bid them goodbye, then headed over to a group of people huddled together, discussing tactics, similar to like when Trine and I talk about hunting strategies. I ghosted over to the group, blending in easily.

 

“He’s over by the feeding quarters, killing our cattle and diminishing our food supply!” A man with a booming voice and graying beard at the head of the gathering shouted. He seemed to be the leader.

 

Many people grumbled and shook their heads at this news. I myself grimaced. Our animals were already weak, and now some were dead. We didn’t have a high number of cattle or crops, we were a fairly insignificant community, which means we didn’t have a huge supply of food or even basic necessities. With this attack, we were being hit where it hurt the most, which was a huge problem.

 

“The creatures”, the bearded man began again, “with the pale skin and soulless eyes, they deserve to be cast back to hell from which they came from!” He screeched. Shouts of agreement followed, along with fists of defiance raised high in the air. “Come men! Let us fight!” Old gray beard bellowed, throwing his own hairy knuckle above his head.

 

I moved away from this group, feeling that they were just a bunch of barbaric shit for brains deluding themselves into believing that they could take the immortals with their rinky-dink homemade weapons that their wives carved for them. The truth was, these potbellied men stood no chance against even one vampire, let alone two. They would serve as the creatures’ dinner, not assistance to our village. Oh God. My stomach did little twists and turns at the thought of our town being under attack once again. It wasn’t the attack that turned my stomach, but the worry of who was doing the attacking.

Chapter Twenty One

I hadn’t brought my arrows along with me for this, I had left them in my room since I figured a huge bow and arrows would be too recognizable if you’re going for the element of surprise. I wasn’t sure what I was going for exactly, but I knew where I was going. The feeding quarters were just up ahead. I could hear the pigs squealing from where I stood. I began walking towards the barn, gravel crunching loudly under my boots. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as I got closer to the animals.

 

I had never cared if I was to go hunting alone or with someone else. But this time, I desperately wanted someone by my side, whether it’s Trine or even Tirana, who retired years ago. I straightened up a bit, shoving my fear back down. I had no idea why this was getting to me. It wasn’t like I had never been in a situation like this one before.

 

Then, as I got to the entrance of the barn and pushed the doors out of my way, I realized that this time things were different, because I was different. The situation had drastically changed, because this time, I cared.

 

       The scene before me was grisly. Cows lying on the ground with their throats ripped out, chickens with their heads torn off, and even a few of the sheep had been bitten into and ravaged like another animal had attacked them. Bile rose in my throat at the slaughterhouse sight, but I forced myself forward, seeing as the immortals were on longer in this part of the barn. The only other section was the back, where we kept our horses.

 

I walked slowly, cautiously up to the doors to the stalls, hearing the squish of my leather boots in the mud beneath my feet echo all too loudly in the eerily silent barn. As I got to the doors, just as I was about to open them, the hinges creaked. My eyes widened and at the last minute I jumped back, away from the doors which were ripped away and disregarded randomly into the dimly lit barn a second later. My heart pounded wildly as I peeked around the corner I had ducked behind, seeing who the intruders were. All of my breath left my lungs in an instant at who I saw standing before me.

Chapter Twenty Two

Carline stood just a mere ten feet away from me, her blonde hair shining and gray eyes glistening. She would’ve been pretty, if it wasn’t for the smear of crimson on her lips and chin. The man who stood next to her, was not Pearce, which was the first thing I noticed. He had black hair and blue eyes, and he stood tall and angry with all his threatening muscles. He too had the same splash of red on his mouth as Carline. She turned in my direction, a smile curling her bloody lips.

 

“Kyla, I know you’re in here.” She called. Her voice was sweet, with a deadly undertone hinting at punishment, making her melodic tone of kindness false.

 

I stayed where I was, slowly inching my way around the corner of the barn where I knew would be another door leading outside. I wasn’t afraid of her or her partner, but I knew that if I killed either of them, and they were friends of Pearce, them he would kill me. An eye for an eye. I thought as I kept sliding along the splintery barn walls.

 

“Kyyyyllllaaaa!” Carline trilled in her high sing-song voice, sounding like a psychopath who just broke out of the institution coming towards me. I halted, waiting, listening to see if she was getting closer.

 

“Kyla!” Carline’s head poked around the corner just inches from where I was standing. I jumped backwards, snatching my stake out of my bag. She just laughed, but her partner remained serious.

 

“There you are. This isn’t a game of hide and sneak you know.” She tsked as if I was a child who had done something wrong. My lip curled.

 

“Get the hell out of my village before I send you back to hell, where you belong.” I growled.

 

Her high pitched laugh echoed off the walls. The man next to her stood still, in stony silence. “Ah but my dear, that’s not how this game works. In this game, you play to win. You lose, you die.” She said simply. I sneered.

 

“Go. To. Hell.” I said in the same simple tone as her. She smiled the smile of a joker, her red lips seeming to take up her entire face.

 

“I already am.” 

Chapter Twenty Three

She lunged, but I was too quick. I jabbed the end of my stake in her chest, so close to her heart, but not close enough. She screamed, and that’s when her beefy partner took over.

 

The man grabbed me by my throat and actually lifted me off the ground. And I’m not kidding. My feet were actually dangling beneath me. I clawed at his large hands clutching my neck, squeezing the breath out of me. I gasped, struggling to breathe while my head began to throb. Just as I began to teeter on the edge of unconsciousness, I heard Carline laugh, coming forward, almost healed, and placing her hand on the man’s shoulder.

 

“Release her Xian, she’s mine.”

 

The immortal dropped me instantly, taking a step back. I observed his movements, perplexed. He obeyed Carline almost as if he was afraid of her, which was strange since he was huge and she was about a quarter of his size.

 

Carline sneered at me, almost as if saying, I win. Which she basically already had won, considering I was all out of weapons and had a huge steroid-induced counterpart hovering over me. I stood tall, to my full height, so that I was looking down at the tiny blonde vampire. I smirked.

 

“I’m not afraid of you. Sorry dear”, and with that, I spun around, giving Carline a round house kick to her temple. A move like that would’ve killed a human, but it only stunned a vampire.

 

She stumbled off balance, probably seeing stars, as her partner Xian lunged for me. I ducked out of the way. However smooth I was, vampires no matter how huge and bulky were outrageously graceful. Even giant Xian caught himself before falling and straightened up a second later. Damn. Saying I was in trouble was an understatement.

 

       Carline had fallen on her side, groaning from the kick I had delivered to her head. Catching sight of his partner out of commission, Xian let out an animalistic roar that seemed to rumble the whole barn, and began to charge at me like an angry bull. Another little known fact about vampires, they were terribly fast. It didn’t matter how quick I was, I moved about a fraction of an inch before Xian’s rock hard skull slammed into my gut, sending me sprawling on the ground.

 

God it hurt. It felt like I had swallowed a rock and parts of it were still stuck, considering I was wheezing in order to get in short gasps of air. He was wasting no time, getting ready to take another pounce. My eyes surveyed the barn, frantically searching for a weapon. That’s when I realized that I was in a barn. A barn made out of wood.

 

I jumped to my feet and ripped a plank from the north wall. The end was jagged from the tear, perfect. This time when Xian charged me, I was ready, and was able to stab him right in his heart as he came within a few inches of me. A direct hit. He fell to the ground, dead instantly. I doubled over, panting, sweat dripping down my nose and neck. I heard Carline’s shriek of anger. I looked up to see her staring furiously at her henchman’s body. I grimaced, half a scowl and half a smirk. At least he didn’t have to listen or fear Carline anymore. The hole I had left in her chest was nearly gone, unbelievable. She glared at me, her eyes nearly all black like she was possessed. “You will die.” She said, and launched herself at me. 

Chapter Twenty Four

There was snarling, and the sound of rocks slamming together, and then Carline was on the ground, groaning. I looked to see who had interfered and saw Pearce, standing in all his glory, his hair straight and perfect, his body strong and poised, like a cobra ready to strike, and his eyes blazing. He looked at me, then at his sister, who was back on her feet. That girl just didn’t quit.

 

“Glad you could make it, brother.” She hissed at him, but he seemed oblivious to her, lost in his own haze of anger.

 

“Why are you raiding her village?” He said in a low voice. Pearce speaking softly was scarier than if he had started yelling.

 

Carline grinned a sick smile. Her hair was in tangles and blood was dried on her face and lips. She looked truly horrible.

 

“Dear brother, I raided her village because you led me to it.” She said sweetly.

 

I could see Pearce stiffen as if someone had slapped him. I eyed him angrily. “Did you really lead her here?” I asked.

 

He gave me a pathetic look, which was all the confirmation I needed. I couldn’t help but feel a hint of betrayal burning in my chest. It wasn’t like I had expected any more from him. I had to remind myself that he was a vampire, and he was the same as them all. Worthless, vile, and the last creature on earth to put your trust in.

 

“Kyla, you don’t understand.” Pearce began, but I just shook my head.

 

“I thought you were different, I was a fool.” I said to myself, disgusted.

 

He turned all the way to look at me head on. His gray eyes pleading. “Please, when you ran from Carline and I in the forest I went to your house to speak with you. She followed me, I swear. I didn’t want her to come along, and I didn’t lead her to your village. I promise. I wouldn’t betray you like that.”

 

I let out a laugh that was more of a snort. “Oh please, so you followed me? God, Pearce no matter what you say you’re still a vampire. You are disgusting. I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”

 

Peace’s face crumbled as if I had physically hurt him, but I didn’t care. He had hurt me. This was a waste of my time. I swallowed again, my throat dry. “Now, either control your sister or I’ll have to kill her.”

 

Carline had stood watching our conversation in amusement. She didn’t even flinch at my comment. Pearce spoke. “Kyla”, he began again, actually holding his hands out to me helplessly. I recoiled, my face pinched in disgust.

 

“Please” I looked at his shining eyes for the first time, a lump rising in my throat. “I don’t want to have to kill you too.” I said, my voice breaking. Before I could hear anything else, or get attacked by Carline again, I ran out the back. The last thing I heard was a snarl, either of anguish or of anger I could not tell. 

Chapter Twenty Five

Our village was in shambles for a few weeks, however we successfully built it back up at the end of the month. January was here, and after a dismal Christmas I was glad for the New Year. My resolution? Well, I was still hunting. And my New Year’s resolution was to put my feelings aside while I hunted because when you get right down to it vampires were not humans. They didn’t belong on this earth, we did. The only problem was I wasn’t completely comfortable with that. The way Pearce acted made me think differently of him and of vampires. It changed my view on things, and I feared that I would never be able to get my former viewpoint back.

 

I hadn’t seen Pearce or his deranged sister in the woods or in the village, which I was completely content with. I was leaning against the counter in our kitchen, watching mother fly around in a frenzy making dinner. My mother was a great artist, and a good cook. You could criticize her art, but not her food.

 

“Mikael asked about you.” She commented.

 

I cocked an eyebrow. Mikael was a hunter, very muscular, very tall, blond, and had sharp blue eyes that darted around the forest, catching all movement.

 

“He did, did he?” I asked.

 

She nodded, stirring sauce in a large pot over the cooktop. “Yes. He’d like to take you out. He’ll be in the Square tomorrow if you wish to speak to him.”

 

I frowned, my eyebrows crinkled in confusion. Mikael was handsome, why would he fancy me? I was plain, straight black hair, dark blue eyes, very tall, yeah I was thin but men in my village liked women with muscle. Mother looked at me when I said nothing, her eyes wide.

 

“Are you actually considering Mikael?” She asked in astonishment. I pressed my lips together, still silent, but her eyes lit up with joy despite my lack of an answer.

 

“Oh my goodness, Mikael is such a sweet boy! I’m so glad you like him!” She gushed, abandoning her stirring. I smelled the sauce burning.

 

“Mother”, I scolded, and she grabbed the spoon, picking up at a steady, quick rhythm.

 

“I’m sorry, it’s just I’m so happy for you!”

 

I rolled my eyes. “Mother, I’ve never even spoken to him.” I said cynically. She shook her head, her attention half on dinner and half on my nonexistent love life.

 

“Oh, it doesn’t matter, he’ll absolutely adore you when you two do meet.” She shook her head, her eyes bright and back on me. “You go to the market tomorrow now”, she said sternly. “Do not ruin this for yourself.”

 

I went upstairs then, feeling like whatever I’d say to her now would go in one ear and out the other. That was something I had grown used to in my family. 

Chapter Twenty Six

I sat in one of our kitchen chairs, curlers in my hair and mother fussing about my too long bangs hanging in my eyes.

 

“We must cut them.” She said. I shook my head.

 

“No. I like them this way.” I said. She sighed, shaking her head disapprovingly.

 

“Kyla, how can you possibly hope to make a good impression on Mikael when he can’t see your eyes?” She said, growing irritated with me. I rolled my eyes.

 

“For God’s sake Mother, do you honestly think Mikael’s going to care about my damn hair?” I said, my tone a bit colder than I had intended.

 

Dating was a touchy subject with me. The only person I had ever begun to develop feelings for had turned on me, but what should I have expected? He was a creature from hell anyway.

 

“Yes, he will care.” She hissed.

 

I sighed, propping my elbow on the table and my chin in my hand. I was just going to the market, I didn’t need mother fussing over me like she does dinner.

 

“Please”, I said, standing up before she could get the scissors and chop off my bangs. “I’d like to leave now.” I said.

 

Mother dropped her comb, waving her hands frantically. “No! We have to take the curlers out first.”

 

I huffed but realized she was right. Hey, I might not care about my hair but that doesn’t mean I’m blind. I plopped back down in my chair, allowing her to gently remove the hard plastic cylinders from my head. I felt my hair fall, mother gasp, and I jumped back up.

 

“What?” I asked, nervous now.

 

She just shook her head, her hand covering her mouth. She reached behind her, snatching a mirror and holding it up to my face, I blinked a few times, stunned at my reflection. My hair fell to my waist in dark waves, giving off a bit of a shine, even my bangs were wavy and had a bit more volume so even without being trimmed they didn’t fall in my eyes.

 

Mother squealed like a child and put the mirror on the table, gently hugging my shoulders as to not damage her hours of work. “You look so beautiful.” She said, tears in her eyes.

 

I couldn’t argue with her, my hair did look pretty fantastic. And trust me, I was the last person to be called conceded. I just wasn’t used to curls instead of flat hair. Good God, I sounded like such a girl! Another thing I wasn’t used to. Mother covered her mouth with her hands, shaking her head.

 

“Okay”, she said, then dropped her hands. “Go, Mikael is probably waiting for you.” I rolled my eyes, but grabbed my hunting bag and gladly left, standing a bit taller with my dark curls shimmering around my face.

Chapter Twenty Seven

I wasn’t going to search the market for Mikael, instead, I headed over to Sal’s where Tirana was once again leaning against the counter and downing a bottle of cider. When I got closer I could hear she was ranting about something no one really cared about. I greeted her and she barely spared me a wave before she began shouting again. I picked up the bottle she had been gulping and sniffed the top. I wrinkled my nose, set the bottle down, and waved my hand when Sal offered me a drink. Apparently Tirana preferred her cider spiked.

 

“I just wish the vermin would keep out of our damned village!” She screeched, grabbing her bottle and hanging on to it as if someone was going to snatch it away from her, like someone should. I turned to Sal.

 

“A vampire?” I said, deciding that asking Tirana would be like asking a wall, considering how tipsy she was. He leaned his elbows on the counter.

 

“Listen here missy”, he said in his very deep, gravelly voice which he didn’t use often, pointing an angry finger at me. “Don’t go looking for no trouble. When you look for it you’re bound to find it.” He growled at me.

 

I scowled. He was speaking to me like I was a child, not a sixteen year old girl. “I’m a hunter. It’s my job to look for trouble and come back with it dead over my shoulder.” I turned around, ready to leave just out of pure frustration. “I can take care of myself. If you’re not going to tell me, then I’ll find someone else.” I said.

 

Sal chuckled. “Oh, like this drunk bat over here?” He said, pointing to Tirana who was shouting about ‘those goddamned immortals’ to an old woman buying apples at one of the fruit stands. I shook my head.

 

“It’s none of your concern.” I said flatly, turning my back on him.

 

“You’re going out on a suicide mission girlie.” He called to me. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.” He said as I walked away, ignoring Tirana’s flushed shouts about the world ending with vampires taking over.

 

I scanned the crowd, not seeing Mikael anywhere. A sinking feeling began to fill my stomach, as if I had swallowed rocks that were settling at the very core of my gut. I shook my head, pressing my hand to my forehead. The sun was setting, turning the sky a creamy orange. I went to Mr. Bo’s, dropping my bag down on the ground and sitting behind the counter next to his feet. He looked down at me.

 

“Well hello there Miss Kyla, what can I do ya for?” He asked pleasantly. I covered my face with my hands, sighing.

 

“Nothing, Bo. Nothing at all.” I said, my voice hoarse.

 

“You okay there girl?” He asked, concern in his low voice.

 

I shook my head, realizing how pathetic I must look here on the ground, my hair tangled from the slight breeze combined with my slowly flattening curls, and my voice rough as if I had been crying, or about to.

 

“I’m fine.” I said, got up, and slung my bag around my shoulder. I brushed my pants off, giving Bo a weak smile. His eyebrows crinkled in concern.

 

“Are you sure you’re alright?” He asked again.

 

I nodded. “Fine.”

 

I left then, wiping away a single tear that had slipped down my cheek. Stood up. Was the first time, but I was sure it wouldn’t be the last.

Chapter Twenty Eight

When I got home mother wanted to talk about the last thing that I wanted to talk about.

 

“So, how was it? What happened? What did he say?” She said as soon as I walked through the door. I just shook my head.

 

“He didn’t show, Mother.” I said, my tone dead.

 

Shock crossed her face for a moment, but then she waved her hand dismissively as if to shoo away what had happened. “I’m sure it was a mistake.” She said.

 

I laughed humorlessly. “It was a mistake to think a guy would want to speak to me.” I said, then headed up the stairs, ignoring mother and the twins calling to me.

 

I slammed my door to my bedroom and threw my bag on the ground. I fell down on my bed, burying my face in my pillow. Yes, I was hurt, but only because I had actually been excited about this. I was such a fool. I couldn’t take this. I had to get out of the house. I snatched my stake out of my bag and slung it through one of the loops on my jeans, I wasn’t a total idiot. I wasn’t about to go out without any protection.

 

I opened my window, jumping out without hesitation. The drop was nothing, I landed easily. I jogged around the outskirts of the village. I didn’t feel like dealing with pitiful looks from Mr. Bo or sharp patronizing ones from Sal. I had no idea what he meant saying that I shouldn’t start something that I couldn’t finish. And whatever Tirana had been talking about was just a drunken rant. I slowed to a walk once I passed the Square. I walked slowly, dangerously close to the Outlands. I remembered the talk I had had with Trine just a month ago, how he had wanted to raise his family there, how the Outlands seemed like a safer place for his children than our village. I shook my head, picking up my pace a bit. I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I didn’t care, as long as I wasn’t holed up in that stuffy house. I stopped near an abandoned booth that used to sell equipment but was too far out from the Square to survive. I leaned against the rickety wooden walls, sliding down until I was sitting on the ground, the dirt showing up distinctly on my black pants. I let my head fall back against the wall, shutting my eyes.

 

I was stupid to expect Mikael to actually want to go on a date with me. Mother might think all these boys were fawning over me, but the truth was, the boys in our village didn’t like girls like me. They wanted broad, muscular women with strength and power. I had none of these things, no matter how I looked, without any of those qualities, I was found unattractive among the men in my village. I rubbed my tired eyes with my hand, regretting doing my hair and getting all excited about nothing.

 

“Well”, a voice purred from my right. My eyes snapped open, not so tired anymore. “Fancy seeing you here, eh love?” 

Chapter Twenty Nine

I shot to my feet, drawing my stake out of my belt. Pearce looked up at me dully, sitting down on the ground near where I had just been resting. He looked exactly the same as when I had seen him just a few weeks ago when I had nearly been killed by Carline. His pure white hair fell over half of his face, I could only see one of his dark eyes. His sensual mouth was turned up in amusement, his eyebrows raised tauntingly. He wore black jeans, and a tight blue shirt. On his feet were checkered tennis shoes. He definitely dressed oddly.

 

The people in my village wore much lighter clothing, unless you were a hunter like me, you wore all black. That was normally how people distinguished hunters from everyday folk. I scowled at him sitting so casually on the ground while I was poised for a fight. He cocked his head at my sour expression.

 

“Why the hostility? If you’ve forgotten I saved your life just a few days ago.” Pearce pointed out. My scowl deepened.

 

“Yes, you did. I’ve been meaning to speak to you about that. Why did you save me?” I challenged. Pearce’s face quirked in confusion, he got to his feet and I tensed, my hand clenching my stake tighter.

 

“Why wouldn’t I save you?” He asked.

 

I searched his face for any hint of a lie, or teasing, but there was only befuddlement. I swallowed, searching for the right words.

 

“I–because you’re a vampire. I would’ve expected you to go for my throat like your sister had.” I said, proud that my voice came out steady even though on the inside I felt weak, like I was about to sink to the ground in a heap. Pearce’s dark gray eyes narrowed in anger.

 

“You think I would kill  you? You think I’d go after you like a savage like my sister had done?” He shook his head. “I’m better than that Kyla, you should know that.” He said.

 

That was when I snapped. I just exploded. I had had enough of this crap. “I don’t know you at all! You’re a freaking vampire! I used to hunt your kind! But after meeting you now–now things are different.” My tone had started out sharp and angry, but now it was strained, weak. Like a child whining about something she didn’t get.

 

“Things are different because I’m different. You’re different from the others. The others I had no trouble killing because I wanted to but with you.” I shook my head as if to shake the thought out, but it was already there and tumbling carelessly from my tongue.

 

“With you everything’s changed. I feel different.” I said quietly. My gaze dropping from his sharp eyes to his tennis shoes.

 

“Is it a good different?” He asked, and by the closeness of his voice I could tell that he was just a few inches away from me.

 

I clenched my jaw, feeling my stomach begin to churn. I looked up, seeing Pearce’s penetrating eyes, so dark, holding secrets that you wished you could touch but were forbidden to. He touched my cheek with the tips of his fingers, I shut my eyes for a moment, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Pearce was so close, he smelled like mint or maybe pine . . .

 

I suddenly felt a light touch on my hips. My eyes snapped open to feel Pearce resting his hands on my hips, slowly bringing me closer. His eyes were approaching, almost hesitant, like if I said no he’d push me away and back off in an instant. I looked up into his eyes, lighter now, and the stake slipped from my hand, falling into the grass. 

Chapter Thirty

Pearce pulled me against him, his hands gently holding my hips in his palms. We were so close, our foreheads were nearly touching. He gave me a soft smile before kissing me, and I didn't stop him.

 

The kiss was gentle and soft, sweet. I pushed myself against him, my breasts crushed against his chest, my hands running through his silky white hair. My lips moved, our mouths opening. I knew I was asking for trouble, but I wanted more. Pearce understood this.

 

His hands slid up my back, and his lips began to move with mine. It was an amazing feeling, fire seemed to be shooting through my veins pleasantly. My blood boiled, and I gasped from the heat. Pearce stopped to let me breathe, but we quickly picked up again.

 

When our tongues began to touch was when we both pulled away, our foreheads resting against each other, both of us breathing heavily. I opened my eyes, seeing Pearce looking at me too. I laughed, my cheeks burning. Pearce grinned brightly. But the moment was gone, and the reality of what I had just done flooded my mind, leaving my head pounding. I swallowed, my smile gone and my lips stretched into a tight line.

 

“Oh God”, I said, stepping back from Pearce. The light seemed to be dawning on his face as well, for he looked just as concerned as I was. “Oh my God, they’re going to kill me.” I whispered, finally sinking to the ground. He looked at me,  concern shining in his eyes.

 

“Who is?” He asked. I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head.

 

“The people of my village. They’re going to kill me for this.” I said, touching my lips gingerly, still tingling from Pearce’s touch.

 

He sighed, pressed a hand to his forehead, messing up his hair that was already tousled thanks to me.

 

“They’re not going to find out.” He said firmly. His tone was so solid and straightforward that for a moment I believed him, but after a second of consideration I shook my head again.

 

“No. They will. News travels fast in my village. I can’t go back there. Oh my God”, I placed my hand over my mouth, speaking through my fingers. “Who’s going to look after mother and Michaela and Liana?” I asked no one, more talking to myself.

 

Pearce got down on his knees, taking one of my hands. “Do not worry, love. They’ll be fine.” He said soothingly.

 

I looked at him, dropping my hand. “How Pearce? How do you know?” I asked, my voice breaking as my eyes filled with tears.

 

Pearce brushed some of my dark hair out of my eyes, his eyes glistening with worry and concern, not because of the situation but me. “I have connections. I’ll send some to keep watch over your family. In the meantime, if you cannot go back to your village, then you’re going to have to come to mine.” He said calmly.

 

My eyes widened. His home? His home in the forest where the other immortals were? A sudden burst of cold fear filled my stomach and rose up in my throat. But I swallowed it, realizing that this was my only choice and the only way to keep my family safe. I looked at Pearce, in his deep fathomless eyes, his handsome face. I couldn’t believe what I was doing or what I had done. If you would’ve told me a month ago I would be running off with a vampire and leaving my family behind because I cared for that vampire I would’ve laughed in your face. Now, I’m trusting a vampire with mine and my family’s lives. 

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Bildmaterialien: Image Found On Google-All Rights Reserved
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 12.09.2013

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To all those vampire lovers out there who wanted something a little different :)