Token Vampire (Token Huntress Book 2) (20 page)

              “You said I needed someone to do the dirty work for me. So make it happen,” I said sharply. I would not allow him to try and manipulate me into guilt. I had seen enough of the humans to care for what happened to them. They went beyond measures to twist and manipulate their own kind; I was no worse a person then them. “Don’t kill anyone. What they choose to do with that member is consequence of their own beliefs and punishment. I can show you where to go, but you must open your mind to me,” I said. I scanned over his mind. He had done so, very easily. His mind was twisted and sick, it made me want to vomit, yet he was sane at the same time. I ignored the things that propped up and he openly wanted to share with me. The murders and pain he had caused in the past. This was one of the most twisted vampires I had ever met.

              “Yea my friends’ say I am a bit crazy,” he mused to himself. He stopped suddenly, serious. “Actually I don’t believe I have any friends. How pathetic.” Lincon was very receptive of my mind. Considering that his gift was mixing with one’s mind, it didn’t surprise me. “I knew you had a gift with your mind, I sensed it the day you walked in.”

              I conveyed to him images and direction as to how to get to the secret room that Kora and Kasey were in. I showed him the exits and how to leave the compound. I offered him both exits that I had been shown of either side of the wall. “Very detailed,” he mused. “When will I know its show time?” I sent a huge surge of motivation to him. Instantly he responded by standing. He looked at me with surprise and then smiled. He began lightly tapping his skin. “Well, I can say that no one has ever made me feel like that before,” he mused. “Consider it done. Call on me when you need me. I will be close afterwards.”

              “If you cross me,” I purred, domineeringly.

              “Little vampire, if you think I will take your threat seriously, you are sadly mistaken in the difference of you and I. You are not the superior one here. It just so happens, that I like you and want to follow these games you have,” he charmed. He continued to chat to me but I walked off. I sedated the next vampire, who looked as if she had been experimented on recently. Her face also had begun to look as if it were melting. What were they doing to these vampires?

              After sedating the last one, I left the room and the whistling Lincon, of whom I felt as if I made a deal with the son of all darkness.

I
returned the suitcase with emptied syringes, and signed off on it. I had every intention to desert Lincon once his goal was achieved. I couldn’t allow such a dark figure by my side. I did everything myself and I was already crossing over my own beliefs, to allow an outsider’s help. But in this case, to protect and not to risk those I cared about, I had no issue using a vampire that I had no attachment to. If he dies failing to do the task then he dies, I do not care. But if he can break Kora and Kasey out safely, then I do not have to involve Yolo as well. He had already showcased his hatred for them, because they were Hunters. I could now focus on Charlie’s, and how I will provide Tythian access to take his revenge. Would I lead Charlie out or will I bring Tythian in?

              I could use Lincon as a distraction. Amongst the chaos and confusion and attention Lincon draws to himself, I could summon Tythian into the Human Compound. It would go unsuspecting and when others found Charlies body ripped apart, they would assume it was the vampires who had escaped.

              I wouldn’t have to involve Teary and Tori, and create a plan. I could now focus on securely finding everyone a camp where they could rest, and be safe.

              I walked towards the residential area; I wanted to inspect its placement and resources. Sydney was crouched on one knee talking to a young girl. He blocked the open space that allowed me to inspect further in. The girl nodded to Sydney, and looked up at me with caution.

              “Ah, Ellie,” Sydney said, waving me over. I assessed the size of the small child which had tanned skin, dark midnight black hair and brown eyes. She appeared to be the age of six, at most.

              “Titan, this is Ellie. Ellie is new on my team,” Sydney said to the girl. “Ellie, this is my daughter, Titan.” I looked at her again, now surprised that he had a daughter. The child began to stare at me. “Titan don’t be rude.”

              “Her eyes are like Mommy’s,” the child whispered to him, but I could hear. Sydney looked at her and at my eyes for a moment, as if he too had just realized something.

              “Why don’t you go play for a little while; I have to go outside and do a few things, okay?” He said. He seemed fully exposed around this child. The hard exterior I had known only yesterday, vanished when he was with this child, his daughter. Titan gave him a hug and ran towards the residential area.

              “Sorry about that. Her mother died two years ago. She has been a bit funny around women since,” Sydney said, as he stood up and watched his daughter safely return to a group of male boys her age. “She seems to be growing into a bit of a tomboy,” he mused. He looked at my unaffected face, as if reminding himself who he was talking to. “Right, well I didn’t think you would make it today. Jenn usually comes and goes as she pleases. I am about to check some of the netting we have around the place. Want to come for a round? You will need to get used to the traps surrounding the compound, we race in and out, often. It would be an issue if one of our own members got caught in the traps.”

              “Have you hooked yourself a few times?” I mused.

              “Again, you have a big mouth,” Sydney retorted.

              “Or perhaps you have a big ego,” I counteracted. He clenched his jaw, as if to say something, but he said nothing. We collected extra weapons, which included the bow and arrows that was already strapped to my back. I grabbed another two knives. Sydney and I exited through the front wall, where Jenn and I always walked through. The sun wasn’t as strong today, which left me at ease. It was only another issue I would have to be concerned with. Today, I felt far more relieved and not tempted by the sweet smell of Sydney, to drain his entirety. After my feast yesterday, I was very content. I hadn’t even known I was so hungry, but Chase knew. When would I be able to measure my own hunger and cravings?

              We began to walk through the thick mist that pillowed around our ankles. For some reason it pillowed closest to the walls of the Human Compound, it’s thick like miasma smelt unbearable to my sensitive nose.

              “You don’t wear a mask or anything?” I asked Sydney.

              “Shit, I should have asked if you wanted one, sorry,” he said. “No I don’t, other members do. I don’t rely on them. My body needs to adjust to what the world is. Everyone keeps talking about it reverting to the days, before any of our time. I don’t believe in that. If the animals around us adjust, then so can we humans.”

              I considered this, which lead me to my next question. “So what do you think of all the testing and test subjects?” His expression snapped angrily on me, until he softened his expression and continued walking.

              “I hate them. I’m fully against it,” he said, pushing back a dead branch that was at his eye level. The branch made a clean snap.

              “So why do you capture them and bring them back?” I asked, curious as to why someone would help the very project they were against.

              “Because something has to change. Our resources and survival aren’t guaranteed. Fighting is the only thing I am good at. I would have no other role in the Compound and I need to guarantee Titan’s safety. So even if I am going against my beliefs, as long as she is safe, I will continue doing so until the day I die. We can’t live on the outside; I am not so narrow-minded, as to think I am all mighty and powerful. I am basically a piece of meat in the world full of beasts. She is safest behind those walls.”

              “The scar that is on your neck, was that from a vampire?” I asked. He was quiet for a moment and hesitated to answer.

              “I’ve been attacked by a lot of vampires and sabers. But this one, no. This one was by my father. He had an illness in his mind, which no one realized, until it was too late. He was in charge of the military force, like I am now. One night I checked up on him. He thought I was a vampire, and so he attacked and cut me from my jawline down. I was lucky to survive.”

              A high pitched squeal broke our conversation. I held my bow and arrow high into the direction it came from. Sydney held his two swords comfortably by his side as he walked slowly towards it.

              “It’s okay, we’ve snagged one,” he said, reassuring me to lower my weapon. I followed him closer to where the Saber squealed. It was high in the tree tops, where it had stepped into a trap. I could smell its suffering and burning from here.

              “Silver?” I said impartial. Of course the netting would be silver. I remembered its effects on my own skin as I tried to free Chase from it. It burnt at my skin, which is why I actively avoided it within the compound. That saber would have felt as if it were roasting alive.

              “Good eye,” he said with a smile. “Silver drains the vampires, it’s the only weakness they have. We will leave it here over night. The sun will exhaust it as well. It has probably been trapped here since last night; sabers rarely come out during the day. Hopefully it draws the attention of more and they will be caught as well.”

A flash of speed flew between us. Sydney was thrown back against one of the trees and knocked out instantly. I could smell the blood oozing out of his head. I raised my bow and arrow towards the vampire that lined him up, tempted by the wound. The smell of Sydney’s blood called to me. But I could not move from my spot, in case tempted. I could not attack Sydney. Still full from yesterday, I reminded myself, that I did not need to feast. That it were an illusion.

“Don’t go near him,” I said, still pretending to be human. I couldn’t take much damage if I continued to be human, even if I were attacked, I was immortal. The vampire teased and took another step. I shot an arrow, barely missing him.

“You are very strong, for only a young human girl,” another voice cooed out of the trees. There were now two vampires. Slowly, I circled them, so I could stand in front Sydney. The other vampire did the same, and walked towards the other. The vampire, who had first attacked, seemed to have a hunchback, his neck continued to click and his eye twitched. He continued to walk with his arms forward and his hands crunched over. His physical posture looked to be deformed. But he was definitely vampire.

The woman he walked to held her head high. Her long black hair cascaded to her knees. Her face was gaunt and ghostly white, against her dark brown almost black eyes. I couldn’t sense any other vampires around me. I searched further out, and tried to scan for other creatures. I searched for two in particular. I found them, Teary and Tori, whose mind patterns were so similar to their personalities. I slammed the sensation and urgency for them to run north towards the human compound wall. I knew they would find me, they were both fast. Teary could take them both on, without me breaking my fake identity.

The deformed male vampire clicked his tongue. “Not yet Spungee,” the woman purred. “You can’t eat them yet.”

“Who are you?” I demanded. I could sense that Teary and Tori were on their way. I doubt that they knew it was me. But, upon seeing me in my circumstance, they would summarize the situation.

“You are very daring for a weak little girl aren’t you? Don’t you fear vampires child?” She began to laugh. “Of course not. I can smell your familiar all over you. That vampire certainly has his way with you, doesn’t he? I wonder if he’s ever hurt you, while he forces you to please him.”

I shot an arrow at her, being the only way I could release my anger. I held in my other instincts, the ones that urged me to kill her. The ones that savored in the thought of ripping her head from her body.

“I’ve come to collect you. Do you know how long it has been since we first started hunting for our leader? He is very good at hiding. It was much to our surprise, when we smelt his scent amongst the assassination of Tracey’s Council
and then, poof, that scent suddenly vanished.”

Tythian had mentioned he had encountered Chase’s coven that day. So they were there, close by.

“You are Chase’s coven?” I confirmed.

“Ahh, she is cluey too,” she said, and clasped her frail hands together. “Did you see that Spungee? Clever. So, you can only imagine our surprise, when coven leader’s scent, continued to pop up here, on the outskirts of this Human Compound. And just like magic his scent disappears, what a greater treasure to know that it is you, instead. I am sure we can use you as bait, very nicely. We are taking you now child as bait. He will face what he abandoned those many years ago.”

“What do you want with him?!” I asked, bored of her theatrics. Vampires always acted in a way of superiority, as if they were toying with their prey. This had always happened to me, after my eighteenth birthday and my Hunter eyes vanished. It was an insult knowing I had the strength to kill them instantly. I found it harder to act weak and restrain myself from proving her wrong.

“That is not for us to discuss. Spungee, grab her,” she said and clicked her fingers. The timing of Teary and Tori’s arrival was exceptional. Flames swept between the two vampires and me. I grabbed Sydney’s body, fed up with my fake façade of being human.

“Are ye still playing that game Esmore, of being human?” she said between the crackles of the flames. The two vampires, who had spoken so confidently, vanished within the mist. They must have only been weak vampires, to have fled so quickly. Tori came and grabbed Sydney with no strain. He was a large and heavy man, but his weight was nothing for us Hunters.

“Thank you for coming. I have organized an escape plan for Kora and Kasey. I do not trust the person that is breaking them out. Make sure you are on the lookout for their escape. Tonight Dillian, Julia, my mother and I will be investigating the human camp near our old Guild. I need to find somewhere safe for them. If not, I am considering breaking out of our location and bringing them to you. I think in numbers we will be safe, even if exposed out in the open.”

“And that?” Teary asked in her thick accent, and pointed to where the vampires of Chase’s coven once stood.

“That is Chase’s coven. They left on bad terms. They are trying to take me and think of me as human bait. I need to keep up this pretense of being human, until this role serves me no purpose any longer.”

“Ye got a lot happening don’t ye, Esmore,” Teary said, and put her hands on her hips.

“If I am entirely honest with you Teary, this is the least of it right now,” I said. I looked at Tori who held Sydney and back at Teary expectantly. “Do you think you can carry me and take me back to the border wall? Just don’t get caught.” I had to fake human as well and pretend to have been rescued by the Hunters also.