maggieveach@g*******m

Hunter's Choice Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Lion's Jaws

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

I'm standing here with my breath in my chest. s**t, I had no idea how hard this was gonna be. Everyone is staring at me. Of course they are. All they know is that I renounced my hunter title and that I've killed several hunters. My Mother walks in. She has her hair in her typical bun and she's wearing hunter garb. 

"So, are you here to die or to come back into the fold?" Yep, that's my Mom. Direct as hell. 

"Cass is back. She regrets what happened." 

"I want to hear it from her, Julian." s**t. 

"I'm sorry. I realize now who I was siding with. I'm here now to make amends." I feel like I might throw up. I just need to get through this. 

"See, Cass is with us." 

"I accept your apology. But, you will need to win back my trust. Until I know you can be trusted, you will be under my watch 24/7." f**k! The last thing I want is to spend time with my Mother. Just get through this. 

"Headmistress. May I have a word?" 

"Of course, Julian." Jules and Mom go off to a corner. I bet Julian is trying to convince her to ease up on me. My Mother will never do it. But, it's nice of Julian to try. I just have to grin and bear it. Until I'm able to convince my Mother to change how hunterdom works. Right. Don't take any unnecessary risks. Don't do anything stupid. 

"So, you're the hunter killer." I see a big dude come up to me. Dammit. 

"Yeah." 

"That's all you have to say? Those were good men and you butchered them. You really are a monster." 

"No, I'm not. But, no matter what I say, you've already made up your mind. So, why bother trying?" He throws a punch and I dodge it. s**t. I don't want a fight. I can feel the other hunters surround me. I don't want this. 

"I don't want to fight you." 

"Right, because I'm too much for you. You know you'll lose." He's just baiting you. Don't rise to it. He gives out another punch and I dodge it. I'll just keep dodging him until he tires out or until my Mom comes in. He punches and I roll out of the way, s**t! I feel a kick to my stomach. Where the hell did that come from? I look up and see another hunter above me. The hunters surround me now. I have to take this. I can't fight back. If I do, then I'll be what they think I am. I am not a monster. More kicks to my stomach. A kick to my face, I can feel the sting coming through. 

"What the hell is going on here?!!" The hunters disperse and I catch my breath. 

"She started it. We were just finishing it, is all." The original asshole is lying through his teeth. My Mother looks down on me. 

"Is this true?" 

"Believe...what...you....want." I slowly get up. Damn, this f*****g hurts. 

"Cass, are you alright?" I can see the concern in Julian's eyes. 

"I'm......fine." s**t, I can barely talk. I feel everything begin to sway and swirl. No, I can't. I'm surrounded by enemies. Can't...pass...out. Darkness takes over. 

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

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

"Headmistress, may I have a word?" 

"Of course, Julian." I head over to a corner with Cass's Mother. 

"What do you need to say?" 

"I convinced Cass to come back under false pretenses. She thinks she's here to convince you to change how hunters work. But, really, I just wanted to get her back here. Those monsters are manipulating her and her emotions. That vampire is seducing her into taking his side. We need to purge her of them and their influence." 

"I see. Good work, Julian. I knew I could count on you to take care of Cassandra. So, what's the next part of your plan?" 

"Simple. We need to confine her to her room. Then, I'll seduce her back to our side. I know I can get through to her. I know that she's being manipulated by that vamp. I won't let them use her like this. I won't let them hurt her. I know she objected to being with me. But, I think I can change her mind." 

"Alright. We'll do your plan." 

"Good." I hear a ruckus behind me. What the hell?! 

"What the hell is going on here?!!" The hunters disperse and there is Cass lying on the ground. Oh God, what have they done? 

"She started it. We were just finishing it, is all." No way. Cass wouldn't start a fight. Especially not with the plan we were doing. 

"Is this true?" 

"Believe...what...you....want."  Cass slowly gets up. I see the blood on her face. She's barely standing. 

"Cass, are you alright?" 

"I'm......fine."  She starts to wobble. s**t! I move towards her and catch her in my arms. I look over to her Mom. 

"Take her to her room. We'll take care of her there." 

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

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

Hmm, ow. Everything hurts. I open my eyes and Julian is sitting on the bed with me. 

"How are you feeling?" 

"Like I got my ass kicked. But, not bad." 

"Right, the pain is a lesson learned." 

"Don't know about that. Speaking of, where's my Mother?" 

"She's handling the hunters. I'm charged with watching you and taking care of you." Wait, really?

"I'm surprised she trusts you with me." 

"Your Mother and I have a good relationship. Always have." 

"Right." 

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to remind you." 

"It's okay. So, what now?" Julian moves closer to me. 

"I just need to assess your injuries. Make sure nothing's broken. Didn't want to do it while you were out." 

"Of course. Inspect away." Julian moves over me. His hands go on my stomach. I wince. 

"Sorry. Must have really hurt." 

"I had no choice. I couldn't fight back. Not if I want our plan to work." 

"Right." His hands go lightly up along my stomach. Huh, this doesn't hurt. He goes further up towards my chest. 

"Don't remember getting kicked in the chest. The face, yeah. Nowhere else." I look into his eyes. There's something not right here. I can see the shadows in his grey gaze. 

"Just want to be thorough." He moves his hands onto my breasts. What the f**k?!!! I roll off of the bed. s**t, that hurts! 

"Cass." 

"Don't 'Cass' me, you son of a b***h. I thought you were over me. I thought you understood that I don't want you. Then you go and do that." 

"Look, I just wanted to show you the tenderness you deserve. I can't imagine that vamp is too gentle with you." I can see the anger in his eyes. No. No, it can't be. I thought he was on my side. That he understood me. Not again. I should've known. It was too easy to get him to turn. It was too damn easy. 

"I should've known. I should've known you'd turn on me. But, I trusted you, again. I trusted you and your plan. Dammit, you f*****g played me." 

"Cass, they're the ones playing you. That vamp is seducing you into agreeing with him, into killing your own people." 

"Mal isn't seducing me into anything. I've just learned what being a hunter really means. I see it now. I see the injustice and the cruelty. I won't be a part of it. I won't. Not anymore." 

"Dammit, Cass. Why can't you see that they're the monsters?!! He killed your Dad. He killed him. How in the hell can you possibly be with him?!!" He'll never understand. 

"You'll never understand. You can't change. You'll never change. Neither will the other hunters. I should've known that you wouldn't. But, I thought you understood. You don't. You can't. So, I won't even bother trying. I'll just go." I turn towards the door. I feel him behind me. What? 

I'm pulled back onto the bed. He pins me down. I have my arms held above my head and his other hand is grabbing handcuffs. No! I can't let this happen. I won't let him do this. I struggle against his hand. Putting all of my weight into it. s**t! I can feel the pain in my stomach, the burn in my sides. He grips me tighter. No. His other hand goes to place the handcuffs. I look into his eyes. I breathe in. I scream into his face. 

His gaze is lightning shocked. I push him off of me. I run towards the door. I exit and keep on going. I run down the halls, passing other hunters. I can feel Julian behind me. Can't let him catch me. Can't let up. I feel the burn in every part of me. I really wish I hadn't been beaten up. It would make this so much easier. I keep on weaving through the labyrinth that is hunterdom. I can't let myself get caught. I get to HQ. I see my Mother at the helm. I barrel past her surprised eyes. 

I can feel everyone jump to full alert. I can still feel Julian behind me. Now, there are more hunters trailing me. I need to get out of here. I shove open the doors, my breath coming in heaps. My lungs pumping nothing. The burn in my sides is excruciating. I can't keep going like this. I can't. I have to. I can't let them take me. Take me, and I die. I promised him. I promised him I would come back. 

I run past the trees and towards the city. Need to make it. Gotta make it. The whoosh of coats billowing around me. Need to get away. I burst onto the sidewalk, not many people out tonight. I keep on going. I can't keep this up forever. I can't go on. Have to. Have to go on. Can't think. Just do. 

Running. Running. Running. Running. Running. Running. Running. Run. Run. Run. Run. Vision blurs. No! Darkness. 

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

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

Shit!!!! I see Cassie running up ahead of me. Why can't she see that monster for what he really is? Why can't she just be with me? I would treat her with such gentleness if she'd let me. I know she objected to the proposal, but I always thought she had an attraction for me. Hmm, touching her breasts felt so good. I would give her such pleasure if she'd let me. That monster has her so mixed up inside. I won't let him hurt her. I won't let him manipulate her. 

Cass turns towards the city. She's going to that castle. At least, that's what she's trying. I know it. She won't make it. Her injuries from the earlier fight will cause her to slow down. She'll need a place to rest, that's when I take her. Then, I'll tie her to her bed. I'll explain to her that he's a monster. I'll convince her to be with me. And then, I'll kill that son of a b***h for everything he's done. 

I see the other hunters with me. Hopefully they won't hurt her. She's just confused. She needs guidance and perspective. I know I can give that to her. I know it. Things will go back to normal. I know it. 

I see Cass up ahead of me. I can see her start to slow. Here it is. The moment where I can grab her. She only made it halfway into the city. Pretty impressive, actually. But, that's Cass. When she's determined, she can practically do anything. I see her start to fall. s**t! I feel the hunters start to move in. 

I see her being held by an elderly woman. What the hell?! We surround them. The old woman is holding Cass in her arms like it's nothing. She's a monster. 

"I won't let you hurt this girl." The other hunters laugh. 

"Come on, lady. You can't take us all." 

"I don't plan to." I look at the crazy old woman. There's a smile on her face and glint in her eyes. She's gone. What the f**k?! How did she? 

"f**k!" I take off towards the castle. I know that's where she's going. Maybe I can catch her. Just maybe. The other hunters follow my lead. I can start to feel the burn in my legs and the breath in my lungs. No, can't let up now. Not now. I look up ahead and there's the castle and its gate. And there they are heading towards it. 

Just need to catch up to them. Need to. I feel my legs heave and I trip. I collide and roll on the ground. Dammit!!!! I look up and see the woman inside the gate. Other hunters are gathering around. They try to get in. There's some kind of force field. I see him coming out of the doors. Dammit. I was so close. So close to saving her. No. I'm sorry, Cass. I'm so sorry. 

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

End of Chapter 16