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Dhampir Hunter - Chapter Six
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They had abandoned their vehicles almost a mile back, having easily picked up on the trail of the dhampir and her captive. Cirrus and Eve had gone the rest of the way on foot, moving swiftly and silently through the darkness. With his crossbow drawn Cirrus took the lead, approaching the campsite with a stealth born from years of practice.
The fire is still going? Cirrus smirked to himself as he silently loaded a bolt into his crossbow. Stupid dhampir. She won't know what hit her. Ever so quietly he aimed the crossbow, setting his sights on the sleeping creature. This is too easy. Takes the fun right out -
He stopped thinking all together when he felt the cold, sharp tip of a steel blade gently kiss the warm skin on the back of his neck. "Drop your weapon and you can keep your head."
He took a sharp breath inward and slowly lowered his weapon. After a moment the blade was removed and a hand reached out to take hold of his shoulder and turn him. A pale feminine face then confronted him. Crimson eyes traveled over Cirrus, examining him quickly. She released his shoulder and rolled her dark red eyes, sheathing her sword. "I thought you were a demon." She shook her head. "All I get is a hunter, and an amateur at that."
"Don't write me off just yet, dhampir," he growled, slowly reaching for his sword. In reaction, the female drew her own swords again, the blade of which was against Cirrus' throat before his hand could reach the hilt of his own weapon.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she murmured, a smile in her voice. "Because I can and will kill you."
Suddenly the blade was removed and the dhampir jumped back, her lithe form silhouetted against the moonlight. The small silver flicker of throwing knives followed her as she leapt back. As the dhampir landed by the fire, Cirrus once again raised his crossbow and took aim, firing at the now exposed half-breed.
Didn't know about the second one, thought Arcane, cursing her own miscalculation. She could clearly see that the hunter wielding the throwing knives, wherever he or she was, was more experienced than their young male partner. A click-swish caught her attention and in one swift movement she caught the crossbow bolt only inches in front of her face. Close.
Shifter sat up, his hair messed slightly from sleep but guns drawn. "What's going on?" he asked, glancing sleepily at Arcane.
"Oh not much," she replied, casually tossing the crossbow bolt into the fire. She turned her focus back to the darkness, eyes searching for her adversaries.
Shifter pushed herself to his feet, his eyes still trained on Arcane. "You know you have a knife in your shoulder, right?"
She glanced at him then let her gaze travel to her right shoulder, where there was indeed a small throwing knife protruding from the flesh just beneath the collarbone. Exasperated, she quickly drew the knife out of her shoulder and was about to toss it away, when the design on the handle caught her attention. She bowed her head slightly and started to laugh, ignoring the rather confused look she received from Shifter. It would seem her sudden change of mood confused her attackers as well because neither attacked during her fit of laughter. Finally she gained control of herself. "In the shoulder? Surely I would have thought Melissa imparted better accuracy skills to you, Eventide," she called out into the darkness.
Cirrus froze when the dhampir spoke. Unconsciously he held his breath. Who is Eventide?
Eve's attention was grabbed immediately and she stood, weapons ready just in case. She walked towards the fire to where the dhampir stood, keeping her stride slow and steady until she reached the small campfire. She studied the dhampir for a moment then sheathed her knives, offering the dhampir a small smile. "You haven't aged a day in the past twenty years. You look exactly the same as the last time I saw you, Serenity."
Arcane smiled at the hunter, shifting her weight into a more casual posture. "You have. Look at you, all grown up. What happened to the skinny little ten year old I used to know?"
Cirrus was too far away to hear what they were talking about but he was beginning to worry about his partner. The dhampir must have bewitched her. The mental image of the female dhampir seducing Eve into a risqué position was somewhat attractive, but he quickly pushed it away. He loaded another bolt into his crossbow and took aim.
"Cirrus, stay your hand." Eve's voice rang out, crisp and clear in the dark night. "They are not enemies."
"She is a dhampir!"
Eve turned towards him, anger in her voice. "I said stay your hand. If you don't I will cut it from your body."
In the firelight he could see her palming one of her throwing knives and he quickly lowered his weapon. "Why do you protect that creature?" he snapped, obviously annoyed at Eve's actions. Her response, however, quickly caused his annoyance to grow into a much more violent emotion.
"She's my sister."
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