PREVIOUSLY: After toying with Ian a little, Hunter throws an extremely forceful punch in Ian’s direction. Ian had no chance of blocking it whatsoever, he gets hit squarely in the stomach and gets thrown into a nearby tree. The back of his head slams against the bark of the tree with so much force, I could actually hear it. Ian slides down and looks like he’s passed out.
My stomach clenches with panic.
SUNDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER: Hunter utterly disregards Ian, and bends over the pier reaching his hand into the water. He uses the icy water to wash off the blood from his face.
Out of nowhere, I hear a thud of feet right by the pier, running in Hunter’s direction. Duke appears holding a baseball bat, apparently his baseball practice had just ended, and uses it to strike the back of Hunter’s head as he is bent over the pier. Before Hunter was even able to dodge the blow, he splashes into the icy water.
‘How could you just sit there and watch as Ian gets banged up by that stranger?’
I was still so stunned, I couldn’t even answer that question. I just sit there my head shaking from left to right. Ian seems to be regaining consciousness and sits up, he seems disoriented, but the moment he remembers what was happening, he’s back on his feet and in a defensive stance looking around for Hunter.
Duke approaches me, so angry that he’s actually quite scary. He grabbed me by my shoulders and roughly shoves me into a tree. He lifts me up until we’re eye-to-eye. His body pins my body to the tree and my thrashing seems utterly pointless. I can’t seem to summon any strength above that of a typical human girl. Tears are streaming down my face, and still I can’t speak.
He takes one hand off my shoulder and I think he’s about to release me. The pressure of his body against mine is so much, that it actually hurts. Before I know it, his hand had shot up and slapped me across my face, I feel my lip split, and my right cheek burns.
‘How dare you? Duke! How could you slap her?!’
I see Ian running towards me shouting at Duke. I feel in utter shock. I can taste blood in my mouth, and it’s got me into a kind of high.
In the next moment, Ian reaches Duke and grabs his hand before he manages to land the second slap on me. At the same time, Hunter is at my side, soaking wet, and giving Duke a look so violent, that he involuntarily lets go of me. Ian pulls Duke off and drags him as far from Hunter as possible, he seems to realize that Hunter has just passed the point of no return. In the same moment that Duke released me, Hunter’s hand replaced his on my shoulder, this time not intended to hurt me, merely to keep me upright. He holds my waist and supports the majority of my weight. He looks down at me, runs his cold hands over my quickly bruising face, and that violent look returns to his face.
I know what he’s thinking. Hunter will go after Duke and make him pay for what he did to me. Hunter was so engrossed in his planning on how to make Duke suffer the most, that he didn’t seem to notice himself shivering in the cold night air.
‘Hunter, don’t. He didn’t mean to hurt me. He was just upset over what happened to Ian.’
I notice Ian suddenly seem to lose his balance, looks like his adrenaline rush is over. Thankfully, Duke catches him before he hits the ground. Duke swings one of Ian’s arms over his shoulder and supports his weight and starts walking toward Ian’s house. He throws a backward glance at me in Hunter’s arms.
‘Welcome home Era! Hope you see the kind of problem you cause. Why don’t you do us all a favour and run off again, but this time, take that psycho with you. He isn’t welcome here.’
‘Oh yeah? Why don’t you come and say that to my face, chubby! And if I were you, I’d learn to show Era some respect.’
‘Well, you aren’t me. And I’d rather die than show respect to that little tramp.’
Hunter gently lays me on the ground, and walks over to Duke. As he’s walking a group of Duke’s baseball buddies enter the area, they look perplexed, seeing Duke supporting an unconscious Ian, Hunter looking utterly terrifying, Duke looking like he wanted nothing more than to beat Hunter up, and me sitting stunned on the ground.
Before anyone can react, Hunter stops right in front of Duke, pulls back his fist, and punches Duke in the face. Duke immediately falls down and so too, does Ian.
‘That’s for slapping Era. I would rip your hand of your body generally, but I reserve killing you for another day.’
And with that Hunter walks back towards me and gently scoops me up in his arms. He looks down at me and the violent look disappears, replaced by the most earnest of concern.
‘I’m sorry Era. I never meant for you to get hurt. Please forgive me!’
‘Hunter, it isn’t your fault at all. It’s mine, Duke was right, what kind of friend allows her friend to be beaten up in front of her, and yet does nothing at all to stop it?’
‘Era, don’t you dare blame yourself! I swear I will make that boy pay.’
‘Hunter, are you okay? He hit you pretty hard. And you fell into that freezing water, and you’re shivering. Do you have a coat? You should get out of that shirt before you fall sick.’
‘Don’t worry about me, I’m tough, a little cold isn’t going to make me ill. By the way Era, I know this isn’t a good time to point this out but, because you refuse to drink any blood, you’re weak. Had you the strength of a normal vampire, Duke would never have been able to pin you to that tree. Please reconsider your diet, for your own good.’
‘No, Hunter. I don’t want to drink blood, I can get by on human food and I will. Besides, I have you around to protect me, right?’
I smile up at him, and he returns one of his dazzling smiles back to me. By this time, he’s carried me to the nearby parking lot and stops at a gorgeous, red Ferrari.
He places me on my feet, and holds the passenger door open for me. I climb in and immediately am encompassed in a delicious smell, a combination of something spicy and very appealing.
‘My new ride, like it?’
‘Definitely.’
The next thing I know, Hunter is carrying me up a familiar flight of stairs, into a familiar room and places me on a familiar bed. As he tucks the quilt around me, I hear another pair of feet in the room.
‘What happened to her?’
I recognized my father’s voice, and I can hear the concern in it, it makes me feel remarkably better.
‘I met Ian today, Jason.’
‘Ah, tell me everything’
And the last thing I remember is falling into the pure bliss that only sleep can give.
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
Sunday, September 6, 2009
One more time (10)
PREVIOUSLY: Oh no! Hunter sounds like he’s done with talking. I recognized the tone from every other time he got into a fight with someone. By the time he ended his sentence I was standing a little way away from the pier, but I could see the two of them facing each other clearly, I could see the anger on Ian’s face and the cocky smile on Hunter’s...
And I knew this could only end badly...
SUNDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER: I couldn’t make my legs move. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t move. I couldn’t put myself between the two of them, I just wasn’t able to protect my best friends from each other. So I end up on the floor, my legs tucked under me. I feel completely disconnected from my body, and I watch in complete horror as Hunter and Ian begin to size each other up, I can almost see what’s going to happen next, and yet, I’m incapable of stopping them. Tears roll down my cheek in a steady, silent stream and I watch transfixed.
‘I made a mistake, so sue me! I’m allowed to make a bloody mistake, Hunter! Are you telling me that you have never done anything to hurt her?! ‘
‘Unlike you Ian, I care for her too much to hurt her. Perhaps you don’t understand though...’
Which was not true. Hunter had hurt me. Not emotionally, the way Ian did, he hurt me physically, on the night he turned me into a vampire. But Hunter had never meant to hurt me, I couldn’t bring myself to think that Hunter had meant to hurt me.
‘How dare you?!’
And I can see Ian completely lose it. Ian has never been in a fight before, but I see an adrenaline rush in him, he seems to move more fluidly then I’ve ever seen him move before.
In a split second he had shoved Hunter backwards with his full force, and Hunter barely budged. Ian probably didn’t realize that Hunter wasn’t human, and that’s why he barely budged. Ian’s adrenaline rush seemed to have pumped him up, and I have to admit, I’m not so worried about him anymore. And then I look at Hunter and see a flash of red in his eyes and my dread returned. How could Ian match Hunter, Hunter who was a skilled hunter himself (no pun intended), Hunter who was supremely fast and tough.
‘Is that all you got, pretty boy? Even Era could shove me harder than that! How do you plan to win her over, when you aren’t even as strong as she is? How are you supposed to protect her?’
Ian’s face turns red, but I can’t be sure whether out of fury or embarrassment. He aims a punch at Hunter, but Hunter dodges it easily.
‘Come on, Ian! You said you wanted a fight, now you have one, and you’re not even trying to hit me, are....’
Before Hunter could finish his sentence, Ian aims a swift jab right at Hunter’s face, and Hunter goes down so fast. I stare open mouthed. Hunter had underestimated Ian, he had talked too much.
In the next instant, Hunter was back up, looking absolutely livid, his nose looks broken and blood is dripping down his chin and staining his crisp white shirt. Hunter drops into a defensive stance and is now at the exact same height as Ian.
I could see the smugness in Ian’s face.
‘You were saying Hunter? For a pretty boy, I sure made you look a hell of a lot uglier!’
‘Insolent child’
Ian goes on the offensive, throwing punch after punch in Hunter’s direction. Hunter blocks each and every blow. And with every blow he blocked, the smile on his face grows, and Ian’s face gets more and more tensed.
After toying with Ian a little, Hunter throws an extremely forceful punch in Ian’s direction. Ian had no chance of blocking it whatsoever, he gets hit squarely in the stomach and gets thrown into a nearby tree. The back of his head slams against the bark of the tree with so much force, I could actually hear it. Ian slides down and looks like he’s passed out.
My stomach clenches with panic...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
And I knew this could only end badly...
SUNDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER: I couldn’t make my legs move. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t move. I couldn’t put myself between the two of them, I just wasn’t able to protect my best friends from each other. So I end up on the floor, my legs tucked under me. I feel completely disconnected from my body, and I watch in complete horror as Hunter and Ian begin to size each other up, I can almost see what’s going to happen next, and yet, I’m incapable of stopping them. Tears roll down my cheek in a steady, silent stream and I watch transfixed.
‘I made a mistake, so sue me! I’m allowed to make a bloody mistake, Hunter! Are you telling me that you have never done anything to hurt her?! ‘
‘Unlike you Ian, I care for her too much to hurt her. Perhaps you don’t understand though...’
Which was not true. Hunter had hurt me. Not emotionally, the way Ian did, he hurt me physically, on the night he turned me into a vampire. But Hunter had never meant to hurt me, I couldn’t bring myself to think that Hunter had meant to hurt me.
‘How dare you?!’
And I can see Ian completely lose it. Ian has never been in a fight before, but I see an adrenaline rush in him, he seems to move more fluidly then I’ve ever seen him move before.
In a split second he had shoved Hunter backwards with his full force, and Hunter barely budged. Ian probably didn’t realize that Hunter wasn’t human, and that’s why he barely budged. Ian’s adrenaline rush seemed to have pumped him up, and I have to admit, I’m not so worried about him anymore. And then I look at Hunter and see a flash of red in his eyes and my dread returned. How could Ian match Hunter, Hunter who was a skilled hunter himself (no pun intended), Hunter who was supremely fast and tough.
‘Is that all you got, pretty boy? Even Era could shove me harder than that! How do you plan to win her over, when you aren’t even as strong as she is? How are you supposed to protect her?’
Ian’s face turns red, but I can’t be sure whether out of fury or embarrassment. He aims a punch at Hunter, but Hunter dodges it easily.
‘Come on, Ian! You said you wanted a fight, now you have one, and you’re not even trying to hit me, are....’
Before Hunter could finish his sentence, Ian aims a swift jab right at Hunter’s face, and Hunter goes down so fast. I stare open mouthed. Hunter had underestimated Ian, he had talked too much.
In the next instant, Hunter was back up, looking absolutely livid, his nose looks broken and blood is dripping down his chin and staining his crisp white shirt. Hunter drops into a defensive stance and is now at the exact same height as Ian.
I could see the smugness in Ian’s face.
‘You were saying Hunter? For a pretty boy, I sure made you look a hell of a lot uglier!’
‘Insolent child’
Ian goes on the offensive, throwing punch after punch in Hunter’s direction. Hunter blocks each and every blow. And with every blow he blocked, the smile on his face grows, and Ian’s face gets more and more tensed.
After toying with Ian a little, Hunter throws an extremely forceful punch in Ian’s direction. Ian had no chance of blocking it whatsoever, he gets hit squarely in the stomach and gets thrown into a nearby tree. The back of his head slams against the bark of the tree with so much force, I could actually hear it. Ian slides down and looks like he’s passed out.
My stomach clenches with panic...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
Saturday, September 5, 2009
One more time (9)
PREVIOUSLY: Hunter gave one of his radiant smiles, which was at a huge contrast to Ian's glower. Ian clenches his fists, and takes a couple of steps closer to Hunter, and Hunter sensing the challenge, rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, and walks ever so cockily until he and Ian are nose-to-nose.
Oh god! Boys...
SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER: ‘What you going to do? Hit me, Ian? I dare you to!’
‘Stop it, Hunter!’
I finally regained my voice. In the time that Hunter and Ian had been exchanging their asinine banter, I had completely lost all ability to speak. I couldn't believe how fast their meeting was escalating into what would surely become a fist fight.
‘No, Era. There’s no need to stop him. I can take him! Bring it on Hunter!’
‘Shut up, Ian. Don’t taunt Hunter, you have no idea who you are messing with!’
‘See, Ian. Era knows which one of us will be limping out of this little brawl. Era knows I’m stronger than you, Era knows that you will LOSE!’
‘Stop it Hunter, you idiot! If you lay a finger on Ian, I’ll tear you up. Do you understand me?’
‘Hah! Obviously Era doesn’t like you very much, now does she, Hunter? I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m the favourite here. She didn’t say she would do anything if I laid a finger on you!’
‘Well, that’s because she knows that that finger would be broken way before it came close to me! She doesn’t underestimate ME! Plus, you must be a real pussy, why else would Era be so worried about you? She needs a man, Ian, not a boy who can’t even look after himself!’
‘Stop it both of you! Have you guys ever considered my feelings? Both of you claim to be my best friends, but you can’t even bare to do the one thing I ask you to! Both of you are jerks, completely and utterly.’
I stormed off, too worried and angry to stand on that tension-filled pier. Hopefully the moment I leave, the both of them will back off and leave each other alone. I needed to clear my head, I needed fresh air in order to figure out what just happened.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
‘Wait for me Era!’ Hunter called out.
‘You?! Why would she wait for you?’ Ian retorted.
‘You’re lucky I’m going to go check up on Era, Ian, otherwise you would be in a sorry state the moment I were through with you.’ As he said that, Hunter began to head off in the direction Era had taken.
‘If you loved her Hunter, you would want what’s best for her. And I’m best for her. She loves me, she said so herself. Don’t you want Era to be happy? Leave her alone, if you loved her, you would.’ Ian had caught up with Hunter, and placed his hand on Hunter’s shoulder.
Hunter immediately grabbed Ian’s wrist and twisted it, bringing Ian inches away from his face.
‘And what makes you think I would just stand here and let you go after Era? Do you know how much of her precious tears she has wasted on you? Do you know how hurt she was? Do you know the state she was in, the moment she stepped off the plane 3 years ago? She was devastated Ian, because of you! And now, you have the nerve to say that you’re what’s best for her? Don’t make me laugh!’
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I had been walking for a few minutes before I realised that I could still hear Hunter’s voice in the distance. He sounded pissed, which meant he was still with Ian. I suddenly felt a strong desperation to get back to the pier. I knew without a doubt that this could only end up in a fight.
I turn around and run as fast as I can back towards the pier.
‘And what makes you think I would just stand here and let you go after Era? Do you know how much of her precious tears she has wasted on you? Do you know how hurt she was? Do you know the state she was in, the moment she stepped off the plane 3 years ago? She was devastated Ian, because of you! And now, you have the nerve to say that you’re what’s best for her? Don’t make me laugh!’
Oh no! Hunter sounds like he’s done with talking. I recognized the tone from every other time he got into a fight with someone. By the time he ended his sentence I was standing a little way away from the pier, but I could see the two of them facing each other clearly, I could see the anger on Ian’s face and the cocky smile on Hunter’s...
And I knew this could only end badly...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
Oh god! Boys...
SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER: ‘What you going to do? Hit me, Ian? I dare you to!’
‘Stop it, Hunter!’
I finally regained my voice. In the time that Hunter and Ian had been exchanging their asinine banter, I had completely lost all ability to speak. I couldn't believe how fast their meeting was escalating into what would surely become a fist fight.
‘No, Era. There’s no need to stop him. I can take him! Bring it on Hunter!’
‘Shut up, Ian. Don’t taunt Hunter, you have no idea who you are messing with!’
‘See, Ian. Era knows which one of us will be limping out of this little brawl. Era knows I’m stronger than you, Era knows that you will LOSE!’
‘Stop it Hunter, you idiot! If you lay a finger on Ian, I’ll tear you up. Do you understand me?’
‘Hah! Obviously Era doesn’t like you very much, now does she, Hunter? I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m the favourite here. She didn’t say she would do anything if I laid a finger on you!’
‘Well, that’s because she knows that that finger would be broken way before it came close to me! She doesn’t underestimate ME! Plus, you must be a real pussy, why else would Era be so worried about you? She needs a man, Ian, not a boy who can’t even look after himself!’
‘Stop it both of you! Have you guys ever considered my feelings? Both of you claim to be my best friends, but you can’t even bare to do the one thing I ask you to! Both of you are jerks, completely and utterly.’
I stormed off, too worried and angry to stand on that tension-filled pier. Hopefully the moment I leave, the both of them will back off and leave each other alone. I needed to clear my head, I needed fresh air in order to figure out what just happened.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
‘Wait for me Era!’ Hunter called out.
‘You?! Why would she wait for you?’ Ian retorted.
‘You’re lucky I’m going to go check up on Era, Ian, otherwise you would be in a sorry state the moment I were through with you.’ As he said that, Hunter began to head off in the direction Era had taken.
‘If you loved her Hunter, you would want what’s best for her. And I’m best for her. She loves me, she said so herself. Don’t you want Era to be happy? Leave her alone, if you loved her, you would.’ Ian had caught up with Hunter, and placed his hand on Hunter’s shoulder.
Hunter immediately grabbed Ian’s wrist and twisted it, bringing Ian inches away from his face.
‘And what makes you think I would just stand here and let you go after Era? Do you know how much of her precious tears she has wasted on you? Do you know how hurt she was? Do you know the state she was in, the moment she stepped off the plane 3 years ago? She was devastated Ian, because of you! And now, you have the nerve to say that you’re what’s best for her? Don’t make me laugh!’
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I had been walking for a few minutes before I realised that I could still hear Hunter’s voice in the distance. He sounded pissed, which meant he was still with Ian. I suddenly felt a strong desperation to get back to the pier. I knew without a doubt that this could only end up in a fight.
I turn around and run as fast as I can back towards the pier.
‘And what makes you think I would just stand here and let you go after Era? Do you know how much of her precious tears she has wasted on you? Do you know how hurt she was? Do you know the state she was in, the moment she stepped off the plane 3 years ago? She was devastated Ian, because of you! And now, you have the nerve to say that you’re what’s best for her? Don’t make me laugh!’
Oh no! Hunter sounds like he’s done with talking. I recognized the tone from every other time he got into a fight with someone. By the time he ended his sentence I was standing a little way away from the pier, but I could see the two of them facing each other clearly, I could see the anger on Ian’s face and the cocky smile on Hunter’s...
And I knew this could only end badly...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
One more time (8)
PREVIOUSLY: 'Era...?'
I know that voice...
SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER: Dammit, what is HE doing here?!I can't allow him to meet Hunter...
'Hunter, I have a bad feeling about this. Can we please leave, now?'
'Era, it's just some random human boy. We can take him...Or if you're scared, you can sit this one out, I'll handle the boy, then we can get back to our conversation.'
'I am not scared! I'm just saying, this is my hometown, I don't want any blood on my hands. So, let's just leave, please!'
'No worries then, no blood, I promise. I'll ask him nicely to move, and if he doesn't I will forcefully remove him from your presence, okay?'
'Hunter, I think I'm about to pass out. Help me get back to my father's house.'
I'm a bad actress, I know it, Hunter knows it. But I just couldn't help but to try to act like I was about to pass out, I sway a little, try to make myself look weak and pale, slur my words...Hunter just gives me a look, one that says he knows that I'm acting, and very badly at that. He even has the nerve to chuckle at me, I mean, I know I'm bad, but what happened to common courtesy?! Ugh...
'Era? Who's that with you?'
That voice again.
'Who's there? And how do you know Era?'
Hunter calls out, while giving me a questioning glance since I've really turned quite pale, I would imagine. That voice belonged to Ian, and it would be a matter of minutes before he reached us here, and then he'd be facing Hunter. Hunter who had spent the last three years needling me for information on Ian, Hunter who was and still is supremely pissed that a human had beaten him out, and a Hunter who seemed to need no excuse to pick a fight with a random stranger, what more with a person he truly disliked?
'The question is, who are you? I've lived here my whole life, and never have I heard your voice before, which means you're an outsider. An outsider has no right to demand answers to his questions.'
'You are awfully virtuous for an itty-bitty human, aren't you? It's no wonder why Era blew this joint, with people like you around, I'm surprised she managed to remain sane for the 18 years she was here.'
'What makes you think you know Era so well? I'm her best friend after all...'
As Ian said that last sentence he appeared on the edge of the pier opposite us. My heart lurched. Ian came to find ME. Ian was picking a fight with Hunter about ME. I had to actually tell myself to get a grip. I thought all these hormonal imbalances were reserved for teenagers?! This is so unfair!!
'Ah, so you're the amazing Ian, huh? I have to say, I'm not impressed.'
'So you know me then? In that case, you should know that no one knows Era better than I do, I've known her my whole life, we've been best friends for ages.'
'Era's best friend? I think you gave up that title the day you drove off without a backward glance, the day she told you she loved you, and you didn't reply. The day you didn't even have the decency to say "bye" to your so called, best friend'
Ian visibly paled, and I'm sure he was thinking about the ride in his car earlier today, or actually yesterday.
'How rude of me. I know all about you, but you know nothing about me. I'm Hunter, I'm Era's new best friend and so much more. Pleased to meet you, Ian'
Hunter gave one of his radiant smiles, which was at a huge contrast to Ian's glower. Ian clenches his fists, and takes a couple of steps closer to Hunter, and Hunter sensing the challenge, rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, and walks ever so cockily until he and Ian are nose-to-nose.
Oh god! Boys...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
I know that voice...
SATURDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER: Dammit, what is HE doing here?!I can't allow him to meet Hunter...
'Hunter, I have a bad feeling about this. Can we please leave, now?'
'Era, it's just some random human boy. We can take him...Or if you're scared, you can sit this one out, I'll handle the boy, then we can get back to our conversation.'
'I am not scared! I'm just saying, this is my hometown, I don't want any blood on my hands. So, let's just leave, please!'
'No worries then, no blood, I promise. I'll ask him nicely to move, and if he doesn't I will forcefully remove him from your presence, okay?'
'Hunter, I think I'm about to pass out. Help me get back to my father's house.'
I'm a bad actress, I know it, Hunter knows it. But I just couldn't help but to try to act like I was about to pass out, I sway a little, try to make myself look weak and pale, slur my words...Hunter just gives me a look, one that says he knows that I'm acting, and very badly at that. He even has the nerve to chuckle at me, I mean, I know I'm bad, but what happened to common courtesy?! Ugh...
'Era? Who's that with you?'
That voice again.
'Who's there? And how do you know Era?'
Hunter calls out, while giving me a questioning glance since I've really turned quite pale, I would imagine. That voice belonged to Ian, and it would be a matter of minutes before he reached us here, and then he'd be facing Hunter. Hunter who had spent the last three years needling me for information on Ian, Hunter who was and still is supremely pissed that a human had beaten him out, and a Hunter who seemed to need no excuse to pick a fight with a random stranger, what more with a person he truly disliked?
'The question is, who are you? I've lived here my whole life, and never have I heard your voice before, which means you're an outsider. An outsider has no right to demand answers to his questions.'
'You are awfully virtuous for an itty-bitty human, aren't you? It's no wonder why Era blew this joint, with people like you around, I'm surprised she managed to remain sane for the 18 years she was here.'
'What makes you think you know Era so well? I'm her best friend after all...'
As Ian said that last sentence he appeared on the edge of the pier opposite us. My heart lurched. Ian came to find ME. Ian was picking a fight with Hunter about ME. I had to actually tell myself to get a grip. I thought all these hormonal imbalances were reserved for teenagers?! This is so unfair!!
'Ah, so you're the amazing Ian, huh? I have to say, I'm not impressed.'
'So you know me then? In that case, you should know that no one knows Era better than I do, I've known her my whole life, we've been best friends for ages.'
'Era's best friend? I think you gave up that title the day you drove off without a backward glance, the day she told you she loved you, and you didn't reply. The day you didn't even have the decency to say "bye" to your so called, best friend'
Ian visibly paled, and I'm sure he was thinking about the ride in his car earlier today, or actually yesterday.
'How rude of me. I know all about you, but you know nothing about me. I'm Hunter, I'm Era's new best friend and so much more. Pleased to meet you, Ian'
Hunter gave one of his radiant smiles, which was at a huge contrast to Ian's glower. Ian clenches his fists, and takes a couple of steps closer to Hunter, and Hunter sensing the challenge, rolls up the sleeves of his shirt, and walks ever so cockily until he and Ian are nose-to-nose.
Oh god! Boys...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
Phase Two
Seeing everyone still panicking, I opened the front door of the ballroom, and to my relief I found Kenneth waiting.
I got to know him better after that, and we thought of the "business" together: He would go in, and plant himself in the crowd. One of us would create a scene, I would go and provide an alternate solution, and he would second that opinion. That was all that was needed for the crowd to agree. There was usually one bonehead who had a loud voice and could lead the mob to do something completely unnecessary, like search the basement, or the ceiling, or the underneath the tables.
That was our cue to swipe as many valuables and vehicles as possible. We did make a tidy sum. And we did enjoy ourselves tremendously.
Doing so, we did make a name for ourselves, and soon we were in more and more dangerous as we pulled off more jobs. Even getting some of our friends to work with us in our "venture" wasn't enough. So we had to wear disguises. So no one could tell it was us. I was an expert at that. I had my share of running away from the authorities, so I was an expert at creating a completely new identity for myself. So I taught Ken how to do the same, and he picked it up quickly. He was my fastest friend, my closest pal. I'd trust him with my life.
So why was he pointing a gun at me, right now?
Part 2 of 3
Editr.
Friday, September 4, 2009
One more time (7)
PREVIOUSLY: As you've probably guessed, the man was Hunter, and he DID quench his thirst that night.
FRIDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER: After that night, I went back to the hotel, pretended that I was extremely sick, made sure that Carolyn had to get her own room, and just stayed in the room, weeping all day long. Hunter stopped by very often, and as weird as it may sound, I felt comforted by his presence. We had a connection, that was undeniable. He would just sit patiently and allow me to weep, he wouldn't even try to stop me, he would let me get everything off my chest. It felt good.
Anyway, after that disastrous holiday, I tried to forget as much about Ian as possible, I had decided that I would give up his friendship, I would make him hate me or something. Weirdly enough, the harder I tried to forget about him, the more often he crept into my life. The more often I would run into him at school, the more often I would get the feeling that he might possibly like me too...
So that was basically what my life had become, I avoided Carolyn, who officially started seeing Ian. I tried to avoid Ian, but failed, miserably. I was basically on autopilot for the most part of my life, all until I turned 18 and left this stupid island. And now, here I am, back again, and my life is falling apart again...
'Era, are you thinking about the past again? Are you thinking about Ian? Are you thinking about how similar you are feeling to the previous you, the old you?'
Hunter's questions disturbed my reverie. I looked up and saw him watching me, he was watching the way the tears slipped from my eyes and entered my mouth, making a salty taste in my mouth. And the look in his eyes, it was pure tenderness. I loved Hunter, definitely, but not in the way I was supposed to. He's my comrade, my confidant and my partner-in-crime.
'Hunter, have I ever told you how annoying this connection between us is?'
'I recall you mentioning it...perhaps 20 times a week.'
He gives me one of his full, beautiful smiles, and I cant help but to smile back at him, I see a small pinprick of light amidst the darkness. At the very least, I still had Hunter. No matter what my father told me about my mother, no matter whether it was true or not, no matter that Ian had said he loved me, all of that didn't matter, I actually managed to smile, even through my depression, and that's all that mattered to me at that moment.
As I contemplate this baffling thought, Hunter and I both tense at the same time. I look at Hunter, and he at me. And I know he heard it too, he heard someone approaching us.
'A man'
'Young'
'Dangerous?'
'Not for us, Era'
Another brilliant smile, and he stands up in a movement so fluid that it took him less than a second to do it. In the next instant I was next to him, my body tensed, not knowing what to expect, and that adding to my tension.
'Era...?'
I know that voice...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
FRIDAY, 4 SEPTEMBER: After that night, I went back to the hotel, pretended that I was extremely sick, made sure that Carolyn had to get her own room, and just stayed in the room, weeping all day long. Hunter stopped by very often, and as weird as it may sound, I felt comforted by his presence. We had a connection, that was undeniable. He would just sit patiently and allow me to weep, he wouldn't even try to stop me, he would let me get everything off my chest. It felt good.
Anyway, after that disastrous holiday, I tried to forget as much about Ian as possible, I had decided that I would give up his friendship, I would make him hate me or something. Weirdly enough, the harder I tried to forget about him, the more often he crept into my life. The more often I would run into him at school, the more often I would get the feeling that he might possibly like me too...
So that was basically what my life had become, I avoided Carolyn, who officially started seeing Ian. I tried to avoid Ian, but failed, miserably. I was basically on autopilot for the most part of my life, all until I turned 18 and left this stupid island. And now, here I am, back again, and my life is falling apart again...
'Era, are you thinking about the past again? Are you thinking about Ian? Are you thinking about how similar you are feeling to the previous you, the old you?'
Hunter's questions disturbed my reverie. I looked up and saw him watching me, he was watching the way the tears slipped from my eyes and entered my mouth, making a salty taste in my mouth. And the look in his eyes, it was pure tenderness. I loved Hunter, definitely, but not in the way I was supposed to. He's my comrade, my confidant and my partner-in-crime.
'Hunter, have I ever told you how annoying this connection between us is?'
'I recall you mentioning it...perhaps 20 times a week.'
He gives me one of his full, beautiful smiles, and I cant help but to smile back at him, I see a small pinprick of light amidst the darkness. At the very least, I still had Hunter. No matter what my father told me about my mother, no matter whether it was true or not, no matter that Ian had said he loved me, all of that didn't matter, I actually managed to smile, even through my depression, and that's all that mattered to me at that moment.
As I contemplate this baffling thought, Hunter and I both tense at the same time. I look at Hunter, and he at me. And I know he heard it too, he heard someone approaching us.
'A man'
'Young'
'Dangerous?'
'Not for us, Era'
Another brilliant smile, and he stands up in a movement so fluid that it took him less than a second to do it. In the next instant I was next to him, my body tensed, not knowing what to expect, and that adding to my tension.
'Era...?'
I know that voice...
TO BE CONTINUED
pseudonym
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
NIGHT HUNTER(3)
Chapter 3
Alas the city of Gravia, the sun is ready to set. Soon I will have to execute my plans with the utmost precision especially since Dorian the DeathWatch elite will be in this city as well. First of all I will have to get a room to unpack my weapons, also I will have to look like an ordinary merchant as well. People rarely travel the city at night, so I will use that as an advantage for my hunt. The countess will surely be cautious as well because just by entering the city I could feel the holy stench of vampire slayers. The aura is simply overwhelming. It reminds me of my old self where fear was still a factor. Now I simply feel uneasy. Enough with that, I will have to be ready, the faster I finish this hunt the faster I can get away from the vampire slayers.
“Rokem, prepare the other servants for battle and get me a room. Any tavern will do fine as long as no one disturbs my preparation for tonight.”
“Right away, my lord. Also, my source tells that the countess was last spotted in a tavern called Drunken Boar.”
“Before midnight strikes, send our fastest servants as bait to lure her into an open space. I would like to do this discretely but I would prefer to be able to see the horror on her face when I strike the final blow.”
“Very well, most vicious of lords.”
After renting the room, I made sure that no one would suspect that anything unholy was being done inside the room. Of course I had to pay the bar tender quite the amount for this silence but it would be most worth the price. I will have to start quickly now before the moon shines full. I draw a pentagram with my blood, invoke the incantations and recite the words that I have memorized just for today. This ritual must be done precisely or else everything will go wrong. Slowly the room darkens with shadows. With this ritual I will summon a denizen from the dark planes of the Shadow Realm. Shadows emerge from the pentagram and form into a single entity.
“WHO DARES TO SUMMON THE ALMIGHTY DRENON, MASTER OF SHADOWS AND DEATH! MORTAL, I WILL TEAR YOUR SOUL AND DEVOUR YOUR HEART BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES!”
“You need not bother yourself with the seals, I can assure you they will not break. You must also know that if you continue to threaten me, I will simply send you back with a thought and summon someone else that is more likely to cooperate.”
The fury on the demons eyes were baleful to look at, even painful at times. Clearly the demon does not like being treated like a slave by a mortal but I am no mortal. I would have to be careful with this one, the moment I let my guard down I believe full well that it will commit to its words. But of course every demon would not let go at a chance to be released into this realm.
“Very well mortal, state your business….”
“I AM NOT A MORTAL, I AM THE MASTER OF THE NIGHT! HUNTER OF ALL! IMMORTAL BEING OF THE UNDEATH! YOU WILL RESPECT ME DEMON BEFORE I BANISH YOU BACK INTO YOUR GOD FORSAKEN REALM!”
Looks like now I got its attention. That ruse of an outburst has taken most of my courage to act out. Hopefully the demon will not see through it. It seems to calm down and even hold a measure of respect in its eyes now.
“Work for me tonight, succeed in this mission and I will assure you will not go unrewarded.” Silence continues as the demon listens intently.
“I will take that as an agreement. Tonight, when the moon shines fully on this city, you will find another one of my kind. With her are two giant guards, when you are given the signal I want you to take out those two guards. However, I warn you not to take them lightly. They may not be immortals like me but they hold hidden powers.”
“Is that all, night hunter?”
“Yes, leave now. Remember though, the moment I think you threaten the success of this mission, I will be sure to banish you.”
The entity dissolves into dark smoke and the room regains its light. I breathe out a sigh of relief. This may not be the first time I deal with demons but it is the first time I had summon one as powerful as this. With this, hopefully those two servants of hers will be taken care of. Then I will have the countess to myself. For now I gather my strength for the hunt.
Commisar
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