THE VAMPYRE HUNTER

Chapter Six

AFTER SUCCESSFULLY TAKING A FALL getting back up quickly was the problem. Jake told me it was wrong to roll up or get up by turning my back on the attacker. He told me I needed to get back up by pulling my legs in and propelling myself onto my feet. That was easier said than done.

After getting knocked onto my back several times, I finally learnt that I needed to roll onto my shoulders and gain enough force when swinging my legs back down to propel myself up. Jake made me do this continuously till I perfected the move. After that we moved on to defensive techniques and hand-to-hand combat moves.

During one of our runs,- Royce and Jake made me run five miles because they believed it would easily build up my endurance that way- Jake couldn't help complimenting me over and over and his continuous compliments made me look like a tomato.

"I've never seen a human learn so quickly. It usually takes most of them a little over two weeks to learn how to fall properly and another two weeks to learn how to get back up quickly. You're incredible, at this rate you'll end up surpassing your mates even the Dhampyres and witch half bloods."

"Thanks Jake. I probably got it from my mom. I heard she was one of the best hunters". I still found it a little difficult to talk about my mom in the past tense.

"I think you're going to be far stronger than your mom. I think you're already stronger". And I blushed even more.

"Jake?"

"Hmm?"

"Royce never told me why you all dress up like Knights and why he doesn't and what's with the sword?"

"The armor is to protect us from the vampyres. Their fangs aren't strong enough to bite through it so it gives us an advantage in battle. Also as you already know Vampyres are quite fast; the sword also gives us an advantage mainly the humans and witch half bloods actually. The Dhampyres don't need it because they're equally fast but they wear it just to be on the safe side".

I noticed he didn't answer the part about Royce but I didn't push it.

"Are you human or a half blood?"

"I'm a Dhampyre pure-blood", he replied and I looked at him in shock.

"Seriously?, But..... I haven't seen you move or fight like one and based on what I hear about Dhampyres, they're closer in strength with the vampyres and you're not even pale skinned".

Jake chuckled, " Not all Dhampyres are pale skinned and I don't use my full strength on you because I don't want to hurt you".

"That's not fair. The vampyres won't go easy on me".

"So what you're saying is you want me to use my full strength on you?"

"Yes!". Before I knew it, Jake was already way ahead of me and I didn't even see him move. "Hey!, I wasn't talking about now", I yelled and heard him chuckle.

He appeared by my side.

"Just so you know that was just half of my strength", he said with a smirk.

"Show off", I murmured and he laughed.

While in the shower, I couldn't stop thinking about Jake. The way his brown eyes shown when he appraised me, the sound of his husky voice when he laughed. I imagined the feel of his lips on mine his strong hands wrapped around me while we kissed under the stars. I placed my hands on my lips, slowly moving my hands down before a knock on the door jarred me out of my reverie.

"Just a sec!", I yelled, hurriedly finishing up. "I can't believe I was having such thoughts about Jake. He's my instructor for goodness sake", I thought out loud.

***********

I opened the door to find Dave standing there with a crooked grin on his face.

"Hi Maisie", Dave said his grin widening.

"Hey Dave, are you supposed to be in the girl's dorm at this time of the night?" I asked with my eyebrow raised.

With a scoff, Dave said" I doubt they care about that, moreover they trust us enough to not make babies. I'm actually here to invite you to a late night party being thrown by one of the seniors, a Dhampyre pure-blood actually. You in?"

"I- I don't know Dave, it's kind of late".

"Come on it will be fun. If you get bored I promise to bring you back. Just take this as a way of getting to know the rest".

"Dave", I sighed heavily.

"Please Maisie", Dave pulled the puppy eyes on me and I just laughed.

"Fine then but if we get caught I'm ditching you". I said jokingly.

"No problemo".

Dave and I snuck out of my room, pausing whenever a guard passed by. He led me to a place a little bit far from the Academy but still within. There was a bungalow with students of different ages around it. Some of them held a red cup in hand talking among themselves.

"I thought Dhampyres live in the school?", I asked Dave

"Not all, some are extremely rich that their parents can afford to get them a place. Only the seniors are allowed to live outside though". I nodded in understanding, my eyes darting around; taking it all in. I've been to lots of parties back at home so I'm not freaked out much. The only difference was that I never stayed out this late because of my mom's weird rules and that I wasn't surrounded by supernatural beings who are supposed to be myths.

"Maisie!, Dave!" Kate yelled, waving us over. Dave and I walked towards them. They were seated by the lake situated opposite the house, the clear blue water reflecting the moon; it was a full moon. We took a seat, forming a circle around the fire, each person holding a marshmallow on a stick over the flames. While I sat down, Sophie rolled her eyes at me and didn't bother greeting like the rest did but I honestly didn't care. Whatever her problem is she'll figure it out one way or the other.

"Who's the senior throwing the party?", I ask while roasting the marshmallow given to me by Luna.

"Bryan Goode, his parents are extremely rich and he's a Dhampyre pure-blood from both sides. I heard his parents are high ranking officials so he's usually given the liberty to throw these parties as long as no junior is caught so we try to be careful". Chris explains.

"The seniors don't even mind us like that anyway", Harry said with a shrug. "They see us as babies and we try to stay away from them as much as possible"

"Yeah and their quite advanced in their class which means they're way stronger than us so...you know, being careful is the only option we have". Matt adds.

"Who knows she-pointing to me- might be able to take them. If she was able to kill a Vampyre, the seniors probably don't look or sound scary", Sophie said with menace in her voice.

I pretended not to hear her and instead focus on my marshmallow. Dave squeezed my shoulder gently and I look up to give him a small smile.

"What are you guys though?, I mean I'm human, Dave's human the senior throwing the party is a Dhampyre...you guys are?", I asked curiously.

"I'm a witch half-blood", Harry says with a smile.

"What element do you control?", I asked.

"Fire". He replied and stretched his hand forward towards the flames making them burn brighter and grow bigger.

"Whoa!" , I said with awe in my voice. "I wish I could do that". Harry just shrug.

"I'm a Dhampyre half-blood", Kate said. "Actually a Dhampyre descendant".

"I'm human", Matt said with a pout on his face.

"I'm human too", added Luna.

"I'm a witch half-blood", said Edna. "I control the water element". She demonstrated by making the water in the lake rise higher and then making it bubble.

"Dhampyre half-blood", Chris said and winked at me. We all turned to stare at Sophie but she remains silent.

"She's a Dhampyre pure-blood like Bryan", Edna said, breaking the silence. All of a sudden, Sophie stood up, the force of it toppling her chair over and walked away.

"What's her problem?", I asked exasperated but they all remained silent. I looked down at my marshmallow and realized it had gotten burnt. I threw it away in frustration.

While we were relaxing and having small conversations, a fight broke out between two seniors. From where we were seated, we couldn't quite hear what they were yelling at each other but we knew that was our cue to leave. Dave, having promised to escort me back, walked with me to the dorm while the rest went together.

While we were walking, Dave slipped his hand in mine; swinging it. I knew it was wrong but I couldn't help imagining Jake holding my hand instead of Dave, a happy smile on his face while he tells me his life as a pure-blood. It was a lovely imagination, one that I had a feeling might never come true.

"So do you like it here", Dave asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah. I enjoy the training. Jake's a good instructor". I said, a blush creeping up my face. It was dark so I doubt Dave noticed. "Royce's been absent a lot though and I kind of miss him and apart from the b***h attitude I get from Sophie it's not so bad here". And I meant what I said. The kiss with Jason seemed like a long time ago and I didn't miss it or him or anyone. Not even Lena, which I felt guilty about. She was like a sister to me.

"Sophie's just envious, don't let it get to you”, Dave said, squeezing my palm.

"I honestly don't care". I said with a shrug and that's when we heard it; a loud howl sounding really close by.

"Are there wolves here?", I asked, turning my head around to figure out where the sound came from.

"No", Dave said, shaking his head. "At least none that I know of". Then we hear the howl again this time much more close. We were walking through a thick forest because that was the only way we could sneak out unnoticed.

To my right, we heard the sound of a tree snapping and when I turned, I was staring into two red eyes and it was staring right back at me.