The Rise Of The Daywalker

KAREN'S POV. "Karen, shoot him. Now!!! My grandfather's voice echoed from a distance as he watched me from the mountaintop, waiting for me to take action on the prey. We had been training for this moment for months. I had my eyes on the target. All my life, I have been taught and trained to kill vampires on sight, especially the ones who feed on vulnerable humans in my community. I was a trained killer, to kill and hunt them down without mercy, and that day was no different. His name is Cassian Dracul, the prince of the House of Vaeloria. My fingers were wrapped around the bowstring, drawing it back until the wood creaked in protest. The arrow was hand-carved from ancient ash and soaked in holy oil. I stretched my fingers, but I couldn't release my hand from the bowstring. There he was; he stood tall and regal, cloaked in the silver mist of the moonlight. I have never met any of their kind this beautiful. His hair cascaded over his shoulder. But he didn't move. He was looking at me dead in the eyes as if he knew that I wouldn't hurt him. Usually, when they see deadly hunters like us, they flee because they know they are no match for us, but this one stayed in the middle of danger and looked me dead in the eyes. It felt like my heart unintentionally imprinted on him. "What is happening to me?" I whispered to myself as I watched my hands shake. Before I could say anything else, he vanished. I heard my grandfather's footsteps running behind me; he was shooting his spear towards Cassian, but it was too late. “You are just useless!! Useless!!!” My grandfather yelled at me, but I deserved it, I let him down and his anger was justified. I saw the anger in my grandpa's face, we drove home quietly, and by the time we got home, Grandpa slammed the door and went straight to the bedroom, ignoring my grandma, who was calling him for dinner. "Hey! How did it go?" She gave me a soft peck on my cheek and handed me a glass of warm milk. "Not too well, Grandma. I missed the shot. I didn't know what I was thinking. Please talk to Grandpa. I promise to do better next time." "But what happened? You never miss a shot." "I know, I was just distracted, and I don't think Grandpa will ever forgive me." "I understand why it is hard on him. The council placed a $100,000 bounty on that clan, and this hunt would have made your grandpa win the money so he could settle the house mortgage. The fridge and the store are almost empty, and my food stamps cannot last us for another week." I saw her eyes, and it wasn't anger; it was worry. "I promise, I will fix this." I dropped the glass of milk and held her hands to reassure her. She only patted my cheek and smiled. "Let me go check on him; he needs me." I knew I had messed up; Grandpa was counting on me so he could win the bounty, but I messed up. I picked up my coat from where Grandma had kept it and headed upstairs, my boots hitting the staircase hard. As soon as I opened my room door, there was a familiar scent, as if someone had just left. It didn't take long; I heard my grandparents arguing. My grandpa was flying off the handle. "Don't tell me to calm down. I told you 19 years ago that she was going to bring trouble to the family someday, but you never listened," Grandpa yelled. "It was a mistake, and she said she would fix it! No need to get worked up over this!" Grandma defended. I picked up my coat and left the house; I couldn't stand the disappointment in Grandpa's voice. I was going back to the woods, and this time, I would get the head of Prince Cassian. I took my weapons and lodged into the forest. I ran to the heart of the forest, but the only sound I could hear was the crickets. Out of anger, I yelled. "Come face me!! I dare you! I missed the first time, but I won't miss this time." I looked around for a while, but there was no one there. "Come out! I know you can hear me!" I yelled again, this time with so much disdain in my voice. "You're back? So soon? I must be unforgettable." He smirked. "Don't worry, I missed you too," he said with so much sarcasm in his voice. I turned, and there he was, like an angel who had just descended from heaven. I was speechless. "I hear you look for me; kill me now or forever hold your peace," he said. I stretched out my spear, about to strike, but yet again, I couldn't. "I only came here because I owe you the truth. The truth your selfish grandfather has been hiding from you for 19 years." "What are you talking about?" I stuttered, and Cassian moved towards me with the speed of light and held my arm. His presence was so peaceful, and I felt no threat. His hands were the softest thing I had ever felt, and I was vulnerable. "Close your eyes," he whispered and as soon as I did that, I had a quick vision that almost took my life. I was gasping for air because of the intensity of everything; it felt like a mighty wave of electric current was passing through my brain and as soon as Cassian disconnected, I inhaled aggressively because I was almost losing oxygen to my brain. But the truth is, what I saw was more deadly; my whole life was a lie, and I had been killing my kind all along. "No! No! No! This is impossible; I am human! I can never be your kind!" I yelled as I moved backwards. "The vision doesn't lie, your grandparents did."