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Dhampir Hunter - Chapter Fifteen
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Eve opened her eyes slowly, almost hesitantly. The dim light of candles stung her vision and her head throbbed as if she’d come into very violent contact with a blunt object. Groaning softly, she sat up and rubbed her temples, trying to get her bearings. She was in what appeared to be a large bedroom. The bed she was on was covered in a thick, soft bedspread of the deepest blue she had ever seen.
It was when she looked down to inspect the bed that she realized that she was no longer wearing her hunter garb. She was dressed in a dark green gown that traveled the entire length of her body, fanning out at the bottom across the luxurious bed. The top of the gown was low cut, exposing more of her endowment then she was entirely comfortable with. Her hair, which had been braided before she’d been captured, had at some point been brushed out and now lay prettily on her shoulders. She didn’t realize her feet were bare until she swung her legs over the bed and stood up, the cold marble sending shivers through her entire body.
She had to hold the bed for support. She felt drugged, sick, and groggy. That was never a very safe combination, especially in her line of work. After taking a few deep breaths, she dug her nails into the palm of her hand, blood oozing out from the shallow but stinging cuts she created. The pain was enough to bring everything around her into sharp focus, and it was then she realized that she wasn’t alone.
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When are the bad guys going to learn not to be so stupid?
Shifter couldn’t help but smile to himself as he sat in the corner of the dark dungeon room, keeping up his unconscious act. Deftly he slid his fingers into the pouch on his waist, withdrawing four very special bullets and loading them into his guns, two in each. Finally he brought his head up and looked around. The shadow demon was nowhere to be seen.
Shifter stood and grinned, sauntering over to the door. Taking careful aim, he fired at the lock and the door practically exploded outward. Splintering wood shot everywhere as the chunks of metal and iron slammed against the opposite wall.
Almost immediately Shifter could hear the hiss of the shadow demon as it approached. He took a few steps back into the cell, waiting oh so patiently for the guest of honor’s arrival. He wasn’t disappointed.
Roan swam up from the shadowy darkness, rising in front of the drunkard like a demon sent from hell to snatch his soul. He grinned evilly, exposing his rows of sharp teeth in a sinister gaze that had frozen even the most passionate of resolve in the past.
Not this time. “F*ck off,” murmured Shifter, and fired one of the bullets into the demon’s face. The bullet was absorbed and after a brief second the demon laughed. Then its laughter faded and the smile on its face eroded. The flesh, if one could call it such, on the demon began to swell, pustules bursting in a mixture of black-red blood that ran down its swiftly disintegrating form and puddle around him. His crimson eyes sought those of Shifter and it screamed, a cry that sounded wet and garbled in his throat. Seconds later, the shadow demon known as Roan was gone and nothing more than a puddle of blood marked his passing.
“One down, two to go.”
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“So this is the place?”
Arcane glared at Cirrus. “Would you shut up?” she hissed, her crimson eyes moving from Cirrus’ form to the castle they were headed to. Not that she sensed any danger in the near vicinity, but the last thing she wanted or needed was Cirrus stirring any up by opening his mouth. “There’s probably going to be a guard. At least one or two demons, maybe even one of the two that you and the others met up with.”
“Not a problem,” announced Cirrus, arrogantly. “I can handle it.”
“Like last time, right?”
That remark earned her a glare. She ignored it. “So here’s the plan. You go around the side, I just walk in through the front gates. Hopefully I’ll draw the main guard’s attention and you can attack from behind. Deal?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Before he could change his mind, he drew his sword and headed off to the east, leaving Arcane alone to approach the castle.
The closer she got to the castle, the more ominous the building looked. All of a sudden she wasn’t quite so sure that her idea had been a wise one. No turning back now. Shaking off the insecurity, she drew her dual swords and kept walking, keeping the swords at her side but ready should the need for them arise. So far it seemed like the coast was clear. In fact, she got to the front gates of the castle before anything threatening happened.
She put her foot on the first step of the stairs leading to the entrance and a fire flared up in front of her. Surprised, she jumped back, raising her weapons and glancing around to see who or what had started it. Then she saw the girl.
She couldn’t have been more than eight. An angelic face, beautiful eyes, a tattered dress, bare feet and flames glowing around her hands. This was the firestarter that Cirrus had spoken of. Arcane knew at once that the girl had died a long time ago. She could sense the magic from the necklace. She knew that it was the only thing keeping the young girl on the mortal plane.
“Pretty dhampir, don’t you like fire?” asked the girl, grinning. “Don’t you like the pretty flame?”
“Not particularly,” answered Arcane, unimpressed by the girl’s show of power. “Fire doesn’t scare me. The burns heal. You won’t heal though.”
The girl’s face suddenly contorted, cycling through a plethora of emotions before Arcane had time to recognize them all. Sadness, anger, horror, rage, disgust. “The pretty dhampir has come to kill me. Yes she has. She has come to hunt me as others hunted me. You cannot kill me, pretty dhampir. You cannot kill me, but I can kill YOU!”
Flames exploded around Arcane, flaring up high and almost completely blocking out the world around her. She tried to shield her face, coughing. Oh yeah…I breathe oxygen. This could cause some problems.
Trying not to inhale too much of the smoke, she jumped upwards and over the flames, flipping backwards in the air and landing further away from the small pyromancer. Taking careful aim, she flung one of her blades at the girl, only to watch it hit whatever barrier the firestarter’s necklace created and bounce off. It clattered across the ground. Good move. Now you’re one weapon short.
Then she saw Cirrus approaching from the back. Only he no longer had his weapon drawn. And he wasn’t approaching in a ready stance, but more in a casual, nonchalant manner that made Arcane question his sanity. She was so entranced by his behavior that she almost missed when the firestarter raised the flames again. It cost Arcane a burn on her hand and arm, but other than that she was able to move.
What is he planning? wondered Arcane as she watched him. I hope he knows what he’s doing.
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