maggieveach@g*******m

Hunter's Choice Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Bloodied Deeds 

--------Mal's Perspective------

It has been two weeks since my mate closed her eyes. She has woken from time to time. Mostly she has been unconscious. I do not know what to do. I have consulted Charles and every healer I know of. All of them say it will take time. This is his fault. He did this to her. I know she would want to punish him herself. It is taking all of my being not to go to the dungeons and torture him. He will bleed for this. My mate will make him bleed once she is healed. She will heal. I know it. I need to be patient. 

"Master, I am sorry to disturb your thoughts. The Head Huntress is at our gate with her hunters." I look up and see Charles. My mind has been solely focused on my mate. The hunters have been in the city and the supernatural community has been skirting around them. So far, no blood has been spilled. This is what Cassandra would want. 

"Fine. I will take care of it." He bows. I walk out. I am currently dressed all in black, including a black coat. I wear one in honor of my mate. She always looked so good in her coat. No. I will not think on that. She will recover. I have to have faith. She is strong. She will pull through. I stride towards the gate and the hunters on the other side take their stances. And there is her Mother. 

She is dressed in camo and has her hair up in a bun. Her cold blue eyes jolt at my appearance. 

"Oh, it's you. Where are Cassandra and Julian?" Rude. 

"Hello, Head Huntress. It is none of your concern. You may leave. Now." I look down at her through the gate. 

"I'm not intimidated by you, vampire. I know Julian and Cassandra are in there. And I won't hesitate to attack your castle to get to them." She puts her hand on her sword pommel. 

"Your Julian has committed a crime and so is being held. Cassandra is none of your concern." 

"Cassandra is my daughter and so she is definitely my concern. And what crime?" Oh yes, I see how she became Head Huntress. 

"Cassandra renounced her hunter title. She is no longer under your jurisdiction. As for the crime, he harmed my mate. That is a high crime in our society." 

"Cassandra is mine to punish. She has killed many of my hunters and so she is mine. The same way Julian is yours to punish. We both have laws we must follow. Give me Cassandra and I will leave without Julian." Interesting. Not going to happen. But, interesting. 

"No. I do not believe you understand. Cassandra is my mate. Therefore, she is mine. Mine to care for and mine to protect. Julian will be punished for harming her. There is no changing this. And you will never take this castle. My men will cut you down." Her eyes sharpen. 

"I will use every man I have to take this castle. Then, I will kill Cassandra and rescue Julian. Even you will not be able to take on 10,000 men." 

I flash my fangs. "Try me." I turn back towards the castle with my coat billowing around me. I will protect my mate. No matter the cost. I enter the castle. 

"Ready the men. The hunters will attack soon. There will be 10,000 of them. Do not underestimate them." 

"Yes, Master." Charles bows and goes out. And so it begins. 

----------End of Mal's Perspective------

---------Julian's Perspective--------

I am so damn bored. It's been two weeks in this stupid f*****g cell. Someone comes to bring me food and water. But I have nothing to do but think. Think about all the things that lead to this. I don't understand why they haven't just killed me. Or tortured me? It's not like Cass to wait around. No, she's direct. She doesn't play mind games. She always knows what she wants and then she does it. That's how she's always been. 

It's probably him. Yeah, he seems like the kind of vamp who does mind games. He's probably trying to psych me out. Well, it won't work. I'm a hunter. I don't fall prey to vamp mind games. No, I remain strong. No matter how bored I may be. What's really strange though, is that I don't have a guard. The only time anyone comes is to bring food. That's it. 

There's a toilet in the cell. Thank goodness. I would hate to have to s**t in a bucket like some animal. Still, someone should be watching me. Making sure I don't escape. But, there's no one. They don't even close the door when they bring me food. Almost like they want me to try and escape. Damn mind games. No. I won't fall for it. I just need to be patient. Yeah, wait them out. Right. I hear a loud sound from above. 

What the hell was that? I look up and the castle seems to be under some kind of attack. It's the hunters! It has to be. Yes!! Take that you son of a b***h. They'll be here any moment. And then I'll kill him and take Cass home. Of course they took time to think things through, plan their attack. Right. Everything's gonna be alright now. Just need to be ready for when they come. 

I hear some shouts from above. Wait, more like screams. What is going on? Are we winning? I wish I could be there. Dammit! 

--------End of Julian's Perspective------

--------Mal's Perspective--------

I pull my hand from the chest, the heart no longer beating. The hunter falls to the ground. Two more come for me. Fools. I quickly rip off one head and throw it at the other hunter. He ducks and I rip through his body like cutting paper. The blood spraying everywhere. The sounds of battle are white noise in my mind. Cassandra is safe, being guarded by Charles. I know he will not let any hunter near her. Ten of them surround me. I hear a laugh. 

"You can't win. You know it. Surrender and I might give you a quick death." I see the Head Huntress. My vampires are engaged with the other thousands of hunters. I am on my own. 

"No." I move faster than they can see. I rip through their throats in an assembly line fashion. So easy. I stand in front of her. I hear the last one fall behind me. Her eyes are determined. Everything centers on this. I move before she takes her next breath. I break her arms, her sword clashing to the ground. I break her legs. She falls to the ground. I pick her up. I can feel the victory as my men swarm the enemy. All they needed was my signal. The hall is littered with bodies and blood. I know exactly where to put her. 

---------End of Mal's Perspective--------

---------Julian's Perspective--------

I really wish I knew what was going on! Are we winning? We have to be, right? They're just vamps. They can't beat us. I see movement and I know someone is coming. I go towards the bars. 

"Hello, Julian. I have brought you a friend." He whooshes in and drops someone on the bed. Wait, no! It can't be. It just can't. The door closes. 

"Have fun." 

"Wait!" He turns back and I see the blood on his fangs. 

"Yes?" 

"Why haven't I been punished? I need to know." I don't care if I'm playing into his hands. I need to know. He smiles. 

"You do not know. Cassandra will be the one to decide your punishment. Until then, farewell." He whooshes out. What the hell?! I hear a groan. I go back to the cot. It's Cass's Mom. This can't be happening. 

"What happened? I heard fighting." 

"Yes. He did it. He beat us. He's won." I can see the defeat in her eyes. No!! Wait, Cass has to know what happened. She may have killed a few hunters. But, she had reasons to kill them. She won't like this. Now, she'll see. She'll come here and help us escape. She'll come home. I know it. We just need to be patient. 

"It's okay. Cass will come. We just need to wait." 

"You really are an i***t. A wonderful hunter and a good boy. But, an idiot." 

"What do you mean?" 

"Cass has chosen her side. She's sided with the monsters. When are you going to realize that your friend is gone? She's his now." 

"No! He's just seduced her into doing what he wants. The second she finds out what he's done to innocent hunters, she'll come for us. I know it." 

"Oh, she'll come for us. But, not in the way you think. Didn't you hear him? Cassandra is the one who will be deciding how we're punished." 

"She won't do it. She won't. She's not a monster. Not like him. She'll let us go and then come home." 

"You're really delusional. I guess you won't believe it until you see it for yourself. That's fine. I've made my peace with it. You need to as well." No, she's wrong! Cass will come and set us free. She won't side with monsters. She'll finally see him as the monster he is. I know it. We just need to wait. 

"Can you at least pop my arms and legs back in?" What? 

"He broke your arms and legs?!!" 

"Yes, hurts like a son of a b***h. Now, help me." s**t, that bastard. 

"Of course." I set about popping them back in. 

------End of Julian's Perspective-------

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

I feel sluggish. Slow. I've felt this way for so long. I'm in and out. Can't seem to break free of this. I hear some sounds. Sounds like.....screams. What the hell? 

I open my eyes. My head isn't throbbing anymore. Thank goodness. I slowly sit up. Woah. Kinda dizzy. But, much better than before. I wonder how long I was asleep? I look over and see Charlie. Huh, wonder what he's doing here? 

"Hey Charlie." He turns to look at me. He's completely shocked. 

"Miss, you are awake. This is wonderful!" Yeah, super great. 

"Um, yeah. It's great. So, how long was I out?" 

"You were gone from us for two weeks." What. The. f**k?!! 

"Two weeks?!!!!" 

"Yes, Miss. Two weeks. The Master will be overjoyed to see you awake. How are you feeling?" 

"I got a bit dizzy sitting up, but I feel fine now. I don't even have a headache." 

"That is wonderful, Miss. Simply wonderful." Charlie's smiling. I don't think I've ever seen him smile. Weird. Can't believe I was out for two weeks!! So much has probably happened. I need to catch up on things. I see the door open. Charlie tenses up. He immediately releases and bows. It's.....Mal. 

He's looking at me as if I've grown a second head. 

"Is this real? Are you really awake?" 

"Yes. I'm awake." 

"I will leave you two to catch up. Miss. Master." Charlie bows and exits. Mal comes to me and hugs me tight. Wow! 

"Hmm, I missed this." He pulls back and kisses me. I can feel his tongue on mine and he tastes....coppery. What? I pull back and see the blood on his clothes. What the hell happened while I was out?! 

"Um, Mal, why are you covered in blood?" He looks almost scared. What could scare him of all people? 

"You will not like this. All of the hunters attacked. We slaughtered them all. Every last one of them is dead." No. This can't be real. 

"You're joking, right? I mean, all of the hunters can't be dead. You had to have missed one or two." 

"I am so sorry, love. They are all dead. Well, all except your Mother and Julian. They are awaiting your punishment in the dungeons." Every hunter is dead. They're all gone. I never wanted this. I wanted everyone to work together. To live in peace. Now, it's all shattered. 

"Please forgive me, love. I did not know what else to do. You were unconscious and they were attacking full force. Please say something." I can see the worry in his eyes. 

"It's a lot. To process. I need a minute." 

"Of course, love. Take all the time you need." My people are dead. They're gone. Well, not all of them. Mom and Julian. Julian. He's the reason I was unconscious all this time. He hurt me. Not just physically but in my heart, too. Damn him! And then, there's my Mother. She wanted me dead. She was gonna kill me herself. She probably staged this attack with that in mind. She sacrificed countless hunters lives just to kill me. How f*****g selfish! 

"Okay. I've processed. There's nothing to forgive. You did what you had to do. I understand." He looks relieved. 

"Thank you, love. I will understand if you need time to grieve." Do I? No, I don't feel sad now. I feel....fucking enraged. 

"No. No grief. Just rage. Take me to them." 

"Are you sure, love?" 

"Yes." I slowly get up from the bed. 

"Alright. But first, you need to eat. We have been giving you sustenance in IV supplements. You need proper food." I can feel how thin I am. He's right. 

"Fine. But, then we go." 

"Of course." 

--------End of Cassie's Perspective-------

---------Victoria Ventner's Perspective-------

Dammit! That hurt like hell. Pain is a lesson learned. And I have learned so much from this. I should've known we wouldn't win. I shouldn't have attacked. But, I needed to. Cassandra is a threat to all hunters everywhere. Hell, to people everywhere. Doesn't matter that she's my daughter. Doesn't matter that I remember when she was just a little girl. Crying over her Father. 

She looked so small that day. So small and weak. And here was this weak creature coming towards me. I thrust her away. I should've held her. I should've comforted her. I didn't know how. Her Father was the one who hugged her. He was the one who could feel things. I can't afford to feel. I can't afford to be weak. I need to be strong. 

Doesn't matter now. I am going to die. I know she'll kill me. I tried to kill her multiple times. She won't show me any mercy. I know it. Julian is deluded. He's just a simple boy. He doesn't understand that Cassandra has switched sides. He wants to believe that she is still good. That she can be saved. But, she's been damned from the start. And it's all that vampire's fault. I hear a door open. I can't sit up to see. 

"Cass." 

"Julian. You're gonna pay for what you've done." See, I knew it. 

"Cass, please. Let's talk. You don't have to listen to him. Can't you see he's manipulating you?" Such an i***t. 

"No. We aren't doing this. Now, what should your punishment be?" 

"Would you like some help, love? I have some ideas myself." 

"No. It's okay. Just need to think about it." 

"Please, Cass. Don't let him turn you into a monster." She already is. You just can't see it. Poor foolish boy. 

"I know! We can turn him." 

"What do you mean, love?" 

"You know, turn him into a vamp. It'd be poetic justice. Turning him into the thing he hates the most." 

"I had no idea you had such a dark mind, love. Are you sure of this?" 

"Yes. I'm sure." I can practically hear the rage in her voice. This is worse than any torture she could have thought up. She's turning him into a monster. This isn't the daughter I know. He never would've done something like this. 

"You know, your Father would never have done something like this." I hear the door open. 

"Oh, Mother. Didn't see you there. I see Mal already started punishing you. That's fine." I see her come into view. She's thin. Her eyes are rimmed with rage. Those are her Father's eyes. He never had that rage in him. Never. 

"Your Father is rolling in his grave right now." 

"I'm sure he is. Especially after what you've done. You led innocent men into a slaughter. You tried to kill me, several times. You are evil." I can hear the turning. The disgusting sucking noises. 

"I know. You will be Julian's personal blood bag. That'll be your punishment." No. This can't be my fate. 

"He'll kill me." 

"No, we'll make sure he doesn't." 

"It is done. And this is really what you want for your Mother?" He appears behind her. He is her shadow. Always has been. He's the reason for all of it. I hate him. 

"Yes, I'm sure." They start to leave. 

"Wait." She turns back to me. 

"I love you." She comes back into view. 

"No, you don't. You never have. I loved you once. I truly did. But, that died the moment you turned on me." She walks out and I hear the clang of the cell door. But, I do love you. Even now, when you are leaving me here to be fodder. You are my little girl. That crying little girl. If only I could reach you. But, you died. You died when he did. And now, I live in Hell. 

---------End of Victoria's Perspective-------

End of Chapter 21