The Hunter

Chapter 2

    I made my way into the kitchen, grabbing an ice cold water from the fridge, and then down the stairs on the left to the basement where my father’s office was located.  His office was more of a workshop. He did have an old wooden desk in the far right corner, where his desktop computer was set up. He rarely sat at it, unless he received a ping from a program, designed by one of our fellow hunters, to inform him of suspicious supe activity.  All along the walls were shelves full of different weapons. Various types of shotguns, rifles, and hand guns. Some modified by my father or other hunters to be used against certain types of supes. He also had a section of crossbows and smaller hand held bows that I found more useful than any old gun.  Although you have to keep reloading, they were quieter and less messy. You could take out a target quietly. Without alerting others who may be around, of your presence. I know, guns have silencers, but bows were less messy and fun.  

     My favorite part of his office was in the far corner where his work bench was located.  It was where he spent most of his time fiddling with new ways to make more efficient weapons and ammo.  All along the wall there were various knives, daggers, and swords. My specialty. I looked around and found him and momma huddled together, whispering to each other and fiddling with a couple items on the table in front of them.  

“Daddy.  Momma. Dom said you wanted to see me” I said as I interrupted their conversation.  

“Oh my baby!” my mother practically screamed with tears in her blue eyes as she moved around the table and over to my spot at the bottom of the steps.  

“Calm down Momma.  Everything will be fine.  Just gonna bag me a couple mutts and be home by the end of the week.  Nothing I haven’t done before with dad and Dom.”

“It’s my youngest babies first solo hunt!  You’re choosing to chase a pack of rabid dogs, alone, and you are telling me to calm down!”  

    She wailed on as I just hugged her close.  Her shoulder length blonde hair falling into my mouth causing me to choke a little.  

“Diana, please love, she will be ok.”  My father said as he pulled my sobbing mother from my chest and held her close.  I was still spitting her golden hairs from my mouth as my father looked at me smiling, but with sadness in his eyes.  

    My father was a handsome man, with his six foot, lanky, yet muscular figure, and his sharp jawline.  Dom looked like the spitting image of him at eighteen. Except Dom had mother’s bright blue eyes, and my father’s were a deep, dark brown.  Like mine. He and my mother complimented each other perfectly. The love they shared was something I’d hoped myself to find someday. In the far future of course.  

“Lydia, baby,” my father looked at me sadly, “you know she is just worried about you.  We all are. I’ve always hated this tradition, but your grandfather is so stubborn. We just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know daddy.” I sighed out. 

    I hated that they treated me like a child sometimes, but I guess I can understand where they are coming from.  I walked over to where they stood. My father holding my still sobbing mother in his arms, and wrapped my arms around both of them.  Squeezing tightly.  

“I promise I’ll be extra careful, and if it looks like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew, I’ll call for reinforcements.  Olivia’s family is only about 45 minutes away from Bradbury. They can come help, and I’ll face grandpa’s wrath and pick another task.  Sound good?” I stated as I stood there still holding on to my parents. 

    Olivia was one of my closest friends.  We met at a summer camp for hunters children when we were five.  We immediately clicked during combat training. She was only other hunter, girl or boy, who could match me throw for throw.  Hunters tend to start training their children early. Unlike most young girls, I wasn’t much of the dancing type. I quickly picked up on boxing and karate while watching my brother.  Before I was seven, I was taking down kids almost twice my age in the ring. I was a force to be reckoned with, and Olivia was the only one who would meet me toe to toe in a fight. She was one inch shorter than my five foot, six inch height, with a slightly stubby frame.  No doubt she was gorgeous though. With her bright, hazel eyes, porcelain skin, and brown hair that flowed down past her shoulders. All the boys adored her, and all the girls hated her. Except me of course. She was my best friend. No. More like my sister. If my brother had his way, she would be officially be family one day.

    My mother began nodding her head in agreement, and I released them both from my hold.  They both began walking back towards father’s work bench. My mother still sniffling from her breakdown.  When my father waved for me to follow.  

“Alright, now, for the real reason we wanted you to come down here.  We got you a few new toys to take with you. First, we have this.” He states holding a small vial containing a vibrant purple liquid inside.  “I assume you know what this is.” He says with a smile.  

“Yes, I do daddy!”  I state with a huge smile.  “It’s liquid wolfsbane.”

“Correct!  I’ve supplied you with three vials.  You can use them to coat these,” he states while pulling out a brand new set of chinese ring daggers from under the desk, “in case it comes down to a little hand to hand tussle with one of those mutts.”  He finishes with a smile. 

    I was ecstatic to say the least!  The daggers were gorgeous. With dark green handles, and what looked to be a ten inch steel blade attached.  In the case they were contained, I also noticed two brand new leg holsters i would use to attach both daggers to my legs for easy access during my hunt.  

“Chris, I think it’s safe to say she likes them.”  My mother said through a sad smile. Tears still slowly streaming from her swollen, red eyes.  

“Like them?!  I freaking love them!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I screamed as I ran around the table to hug them as fiercely as I could before grabbing my new toy and running to show Dom at my car.  

“I see you liked your gifts.”

“I love them so much!  I can’t wait to take out some filthy mutts with these babies.  Did you see how gorgeous they are?!”

“I helped dad dad pick them out.  I knew green was your favorite color.  So we went with it. The wolfsbane was actually mom’s idea.  That woman is scary with her herbs. Makes me glad I aint no filthy supe.”

    I nodded with agreement as we continued to load my new gifts into the secret compartment in my trunk.  My mother may look like the dainty, damsel in distress type, but she could really kick some major ass when she wanted.  She was also very knowledgeable with her herbs and what was toxic to which supes. Like wolfsbane to werewolves, salt and rosemary to destroy a lamia, and so on.  She was scary good. About the time we are closing up the trunk to my car, we hear our parents finally walking out of the house and down the path towards us. 

“Alright, I think that about covers everything.”  I say, looking around at everyone smiling.  

“Good luck sis.  I know your gonna kick some major ass out there!  You know how to reach me if you need me though. I’m always just a call away.  I don’t care if its against gramps rules. He can kick my ass later” Dom says hugging me tightly.  As I start to pull away from him, my mother grabs me and starts sobbing again into my shoulder. 

“It’s ok momma.  I love you too.” I chuckle a little at how ridiculous she is being as my brother prys her off of me to hold her.  

    My father then walks toward me.  Sadness, but also a hint of pride showing in his deep brown eyes.  I was always a daddy’s girl. He was always there to teach me how to fight, how to properly tend to my weapons, and to help me learn about all the beasts my family kept records of in a book we liked to call the Monroe Family Bestiary.  We would spend hours in his office learning about different creatures and their weaknesses. We’d search for hunts together, and spend hours planning our mode of attack. Not exactly your typical father daughter bonding activities, but it was what we enjoyed.  He stopped a couple feet in front of me and placed his hand on my cheek.  

“I can’t believe this day is actually here.  Feels like just yesterday we were having your first training session in the backyard.  Remember when you upper cut your brother when he pushed you to the ground?” We almost couldn’t contain our snorts of laughter, as Dom stood behind us pouting at the memory.  

“Well, he shouldn’t have pushed me down while you weren’t looking!” I exclaimed as we continued laughing at my brother’s growing embarrassment.  My father then bent down and softly kissed my forehead, pulling me in for one last hug.

“Now, get out of here before I change my mind and lock you in your bedroom or something.”

    With one last wave and a few more goodbyes, I got into my vehicle.  I set the GPS for the town of Bradbury, which was a near 3 hour drive from our home.  I then switched on the playlist I had made for my road trip, listening as the sweet sounds of Gin Wigmore’s Written in the Water began flowing from my speakers.  I gave one last wave goodbye to my family and headed down the driveway and pulling on towards my destination.