maggieveach@g*******m

Hunter's Choice Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Huntress 

-------Cassie's Perspective-------

I wake up to the smell of bacon. Hmm, yum. Hey, I didn't have any more weird dreams! Awesome. I still have a lot to deal with. For starters, my new life. I'm a hunter for supernatural kind now. Which means, I need to start hunting. I know, it's daytime. So, how the hell can I hunt during the day? Hunting doesn't happen during set hours. It takes reconnaissance and time. It also takes a full stomach, so first breakfast. 

I turn towards the smell. Yep, bacon! And scrambled eggs with a water. Mal really knows how to treat a girl. There's a note on the tray. 

Dearest Cassandra, 

I hope you have slept well. Please let me know if you wish to leave the castle. I say this not to cage you, but for your safety. Undoubtedly there are countless hunters who wish you dead. I know you can take care of yourself, but for my peace of mind, please let me know your plans. For your life is essential to me. 

Ever yours, 

Malchior 

Wow. He really gets me. I didn't expect this. I mean, I expected him to want to know when I'm leaving and my plans. But, the way he said it. Damn him, he has a way with words. I munch on a piece of bacon. Yummy! I mean, I don't want to disturb his sleep. But, I don't want him to worry either. Of course, the last time I went to his room, he was completely....naked. Dammit, Cassie, focus. I'm sure he just did that because he was mad at me. Right. First, we check in with Mal and then we go on the hunt. This is gonna be an awesome day. I can feel it. 

I just realized. I'm still wearing the same clothes I was when I made a break for it. s**t! I need new clothes. I wonder if Mal can help me? Probably not, but still, doesn't hurt to ask. I put on my go coat. I step out of my room and bump into someone. Whoa. 

"Pardon me, miss." He bows real low. He is dressed like a butler. Huh, wonder what he is doing here. 

"Sorry, didn't see you. Um, is there a reason you are standing in front of my door?" 

"Yes, miss. I am here to see to your needs." Um, okay. Weird. 

"Like a butler?" 

"Exactly miss." Yep, super weird. 

"Alright. Um, what is your name?" 

"My name is Charles, miss." He bows again. I really don't know what to do with this whole bowing thing. 

"Um, nice to meet you, Charlie." He looks a bit taken aback. Oh right, I gave him a nickname. I can't seem to help myself. 

"Is there anything you need, miss?" Wait a minute! 

"Yes, actually, there is. I was wondering if I could get some new clothes. I mean, my coat is fine the way it is. But, I've been wearing the same clothes for a bit." 

"I will get them for you right away, miss." He bows yet again. And he dashes off. Huh, I think I'm gonna like having a butler. Right, I need to see Mal. I go down the hall and knock on his door. 

No response. Weird. Wait, he's probably asleep. I crack the door open and he is sleeping on the bed. Oh. My. Goodness. His hair is completely undone. The black pooling around his shoulders. He is asleep on his back, the covers covering his lower half. His chest is bare. The muscles on him. Hmm, damn. Focus, Cassie. Write him a note. Just like he did for you. Right. I quietly open his bedside table. Pen and paper! Perfect. 

I quickly jot down a note detailing my plans. I place it on his table, right in front of his sleeping face. He is so cute when he's sleeping! Geez, I can't believe I just thought that. Still, he really is cute like this. I slip out quietly and go back to my room. There is a mountain of clothes on my bed. Woah! 

Charlie is laying out a dress on a chair. Man, I really like having a butler! 

"You outdid yourself, Charlie." 

"Thank you, miss. Is there anything else you require?" 

"No. Oh, um, can you make sure Mal reads my note?" He blinks at me. Oh right, me and my nicknames. 

"Sorry, Lord Everett. Can you make sure he reads the note I left for him?" 

"Of course, miss." He bows. 

"Thank you." He bows again and leaves. Alright, now to sort this mountain of clothes. Luckily there's a dresser in here. I pick out a green t-shirt, jeans, bra and underwear. I shove the rest of the mountain into my dresser. Phew! I look at the dress on the chair. That's nice. It's a red t-shirt sleeve dress, with a knee high skirt. Really nice. I find the closet and see a bunch of dresses. Ah! So, Charlie picked out this dress for me to wear. Interesting. I put the dress back in the closet. I put my go coat back on. Time to hunt. 

I look around and slip down the stairs. I actually make it through the front door. Success! Now I can go out into the world. I walk down the stairs and onto city streets. I'm so excited! I love hunting. Love it. It is my main passion in life. I take a right and mix with the crowd. I need to gain intel. I need to observe the world. Take in the feel of the city. I have hunt in the city before. But, before I had my eyes closed. Now, they're wide open. I take in all of it. The smell, the feel, the twists and turns of city life. 

I scan the crowd. About half of the people are supernatural. How do I know? I've learned to be able to tell that sort of thing. More importantly, I need to be on the look out for hunters. If a hunter spots me, I'm in deep s**t. I scan the crowd again. I see a few hunters on the outskirts. Figures. Hunters usually stay apart from the crowd. Hopefully they won't see me. I'm walking past an alleyway. I'm grab into it. What the hell?! 

Shit! I've been discovered. How the hell could I be so careless? Mal is never going to forgive me for this. Never. 

A hand is on my mouth. "Please, don't scream. You're safe, I promise." 

Wait. Julian?! He pulls me further into the alley. 

"I'll let you go if you promise not to scream or run. Can you do that?" I nod my head. He lets go of me. 

"What the hell, Julian?" 

"I know. I'm probably the last person you thought to see. I just need you to hear me out. I promise you, I don't want to hurt you." 

"Too late, jackass." 

"I know. I f****d up. Royally. I never meant to hurt you or to corner you. I know I did this wrong. I want to make things right. I have a plan. A plan where you can live." 

"Yeah, I already have a plan." 

"Is it to run around the city and hope to get caught? Cause if it is, then it's going great." Damn him. 

"I'm hunting, dipshit." 

"No, you're being hunted. You are just so damn stubborn. Here is my plan: we get married. It won't have to be a real marriage though. It can be fake. Just as long as it saves your life. You don't even have to live with me or see me. It's the perfect plan." Wow, I never thought Julian could be this dumb. 

"Are you crazy? What the hell makes you think I would ever even fake marry you? Especially after what you did?!" 

"I know. I know you hate me. I get it. But, you don't have a choice. Eventually the hunters will catch up to you. And even you can't fight all of them. You're outnumbered. So, my plan is your only option." f**k that! 

"No, it's not. You really don't know me, do you? I thought you did. I thought you knew me. I thought you understood my independence. I thought you supported me. Turns out you don't know a damn thing about me." I can feel the hurt coursing through him. All of a sudden, a shriek. What the hell? 

"Sorry, got a job to do. Goodbye, Julian." I run past him and further into the alley where the scream is coming from. Hopefully they're alright. If they aren't....no, can't think like that. I turn the corner and find a hunter threatening a child.  What the f**k?!!!

"What do you think you're doing?" The hunter turns around. 

"What's it look like, runt? I'm hunting." The child is a little girl, cowering at the end of the alley. Tears are streaming down her face. The hunter turns back towards the girl. Hell no! I un-sheathe my sword. 

"Hey asshole! Take on someone your own size." He looks back. 

"You really think you can take me, girlie?" Oh, he is the worst kind of hunter. I'm gonna enjoy this. Hesitate on a hunt and you die. That's hunter code. I side step to the right and shove my blade into his chest. I hear a gasp behind me. I can feel the weight of the hunter on my sword. I shove him off the blade. I turn to see if they're are more behind me. Julian. 

He must've followed me. 

"Cass, how could you?" I don't have time for him. I wipe my blade on the dead hunter. I sheathe my sword and go to the girl. She moves further into the corner. 

"Hush now. It's alright. He can't hurt you anymore. I'm not gonna hurt you, I promise." She looks up at me with ever shifting eyes. So, she's a witch. Witches can come in many shapes and sizes. Witches are the hardest to spot. But, sometimes there are tells. 

"It's okay. I'm not gonna let anyone else hurt you. I swear it." I reach out my hand. She thrusts into me crying. I rub her back and pick her up in my arms. I turn around and Julian has drawn his blade. 

"Put her down, Cassie. I'm taking you in." 

"Like hell you are." 

"You killed an innocent hunter." 

"He wasn't innocent. He was going to kill this child. She's a child, Julian. An innocent child. I will die before I let you harm her." 

"Dammit, Cassie. I don't care about the kid. Just put her down and come with me." 

"Then what? There's an order to kill me. Either way, I'm going to die. So, just do it." I put the girl down, she looks confused. Yeah, you and me both kid. 

"No! I won't let you die, Cassie. I'll just take you in. I'll put you in the dungeon." 

"And then what? Think it through, Julian. I'm never gonna marry you. Never. I would rather die. So, kill me. You have been given an order. Follow it." I stare into his shadowed grey eyes. I feel the earth begin to tremble. What the hell? I look to the girl. 

"You saved me. My turn now." The ground around Julian moves and he is pulled into a sinkhole. Woah, she is super powerful. I pick her up and move around Julian. I go towards the crowd. Poor Julian. He just doesn't see it. There is no future for us. None. Our paths were divided the moment he went behind my back. I emerge from the alley and spot the other hunters. f**k! I place the girl down and hold her hand. 

"Act natural. I need to get you to a safe space." 

"Okay." We walk back towards the castle. I just need to get there. Then I can figure out where her parents or her people are. Not bad for my first day hunting. I've always been good at hunting. Always will be. Still, don't count chickens before they hatch. I still need to get to safety. I shuffle through the mass of people. Hunters are all around. Who knows what they heard. Who knows what they know. Need to be alert. Ready to run if necessary. Just a bit further. Just a bit. I see out of the corner of my eye, a hunter coming towards us. s**t! 

I pick up the kid and make a break for it. I'm an excellent runner. I'll make it. I have to. If not for my sake, then for hers. I made her a promise. I intend to keep it. My feet eat away at the ground, my legs pumping blood, my lungs surging with air. The weight in my arms a warmth against my chest. Almost there. Almost. I can feel them behind us. I know they are coming. I am going to do this. I will not fail. There! 

The castle looms in front of me. Yes! I climb the stairs double time. s**t, I need to do more stair work. This hurts like a son of a b***h. I hurl myself through the doors. Slam them behind me. I gulp air into my lungs. 

"Care to explain the state you are in, Cassandra?" Oh f**k! Mal is standing in the foyer and he looks pissed. I put the kid down, I hear screams from behind me. What the hell? 

"I am waiting." Oh man. I am so in trouble. Big time. I look at him. He's wearing his hair in his trademark ponytail. He has on black pants, a blue button up and a black jacket. He looks fantastic. Focus, Cassie. 

"She saved me." I look down to the kid. Her blond hair is a mess and her clothes are ripped and dirty. 

"Yeah....I saved her." Damn, my body is tired. My legs feel like jelly. s**t! I'm buckling. I begin to fall and I feel his arms around me. 

"Dammit! Are you alright, Cassandra?" 

"Yeah, just need more stair work. That's all." Hmm, it feels good to have him hold me. He carries me to my bedroom. Wait, what about the kid? 

"What about-" 

"It is fine. Charles will handle it. You and I need to talk. Now." Oh yeah, I'm so in the s**t. At least I saved someone. He lays me down on my bed. Oof, I'm so tired. Comfy bed. 

"Now, Cassandra. Explain." Hmm, I love it when he gets like this. Focus, Cassie. Focus. Focus. 

End of Chapter 9.