Erlking

Five

I awoke to warmth; my skin was hot, sweat rolled down my back. My eyes snapped open, the memories of the night slamming into the forefront of my mind. I sat up, breathing away the emotions before they could take me. A large hand slid up my back to my cup my neck.

"Regrets?" Jackson's deep voice murmured. I smirked, looking back over one shoulder.

"Regrets are for young mortals with nothing to do but b***h about their mundane existence," I replied shrugging one shoulder. Laughing softly, Jackson sat up against the headboard. I turned on the mattress to see him better, not worried or embarrassed about my lack of clothes.

"You said you like Imp. I have an entire farm full of them. Shall we pick a couple off for breakfast?" Jack asked, my eyes lit up at the prospect. My smile broke through.

"You hunt?" I asked. He nodded.

"I do. The question is, why do you?" He asked, standing up. I admired the males physic as he drew on his jeans. The phone by the bed screamed. Firebrand cursed and picked it up.

"Yeah." He growled. I stood up and waved one hand, my body instantly covered in fresh underwear. Jack suddenly smiled, appreciating my choice. He lifted one hand to motion me closer when he froze, one hand in the air.

"Four, there are four more!" He demanded. His tone caught my attention. Putting aside my game, I clothed myself in jeans, a shirt and boots. I braided my hair with quick, nimble fingers, waiting for Fireband to finish his call. When he finally disconnected, he grabbed his shirt, jerking it on with rough movements.

"He took four more. The boy's bodies were found this morning in the centre of town. The ministers have authorised for you to hunt and kill the Erlking. His name is-."

"Jack. I do not need to know his name to kill him. I shouldn't know anything personal about him. It is the only thing which keeps me sane throughout the centuries as I hunt them. They are naught but meaningless faces in a crowd of millions. The first, he stood out. I do not know his name. However, I have carried him with me for centuries. They are all the same, at their core. Tell me, Jack, did he eat this lot?" I asked my tone calm, collected. Inside I was a raging monster, gnashing to be freed on the world to bring horror and chaos. Jack's huge body, lowered to the bed, his face dropped into his hands as he nodded. I sighed, moving to kneel between his knees. My hands rubbed his thighs.

"Listen to me. I want you to hear me, Jackson. Hunting an Erlking is not something you walk into blindly. They are strong, dangerous and cunning. They also have magic. As I told you before, there is something different about this one. He has escalated quickly. Usually, they draw it out over several months. They are intoxicated by the fear, their victim's produce during captivity.

"Amity, how do you know this? Your knowledge goes beyond the hunter, prey configuration." Firebrand demanded meeting my gaze. Pain flashed in my gaze before I could censor it.

"I was a child. Eight or nine, I think. I am not sure, centuries of knowledge tends to gloss over details, like that. My brother, Hugis and I were working with our father in the fields. I thought I saw something. Running over to him, I grasped Hugis hand. I told him we needed to get to our father. Hugis was six. The Erlking was on us before we could take a dozen steps. He grabbed us both, thinking I too was a boy. He took us to a willow grove; the sprites were laughing as he held us aloft, like his fishing catch. Upon noticing I was female, he snarled something over this shoulder. A female strode out of the forest. She dug into the damp earth, and he threw me in. I was stunned by the impact. The last sound I heard was my little brother's screams of terror. They buried me alive. I dug my way out of that grave, Jackson. The fear in my brother woke something dark inside me. The daughter who buried me was cleaning up the evidence when I emerged from the damp earth. I attacked her with all my strength, ripping her throat open to the bone. Elf blood is toxic to any other, with the exception of a Gloom. I had never ingested blood before. My parents yet to teach me the way of it. Within the blood of the daughter, lay a map to the others. I systematically picked them off, one by one. It took me three days."

"Oh, Amity," Jackson whispered cupping one side of my face.

"When I reached the King, it was to find my little brother's body on the dining table. He had an apple in his mouth, Jackson. They ate him. I was too late. I slaughtered the inhabitants of the castle, down to the last servant. I left none alive. My parents and the elite guard arrived to find me sitting on the front step of the palace. Beside me was Hugis, wrapped in a silken robe. The emotions caused by my mother's scream was something I never wanted to feel again, and I have not. I shut it out and shut myself down, so there is nothing but the hunt. Nothing, but the kill. To survive this, Jackson, you need to stop feeling, or it will destroy you." I explained climbing to my feet. Firebrand stood, he nodded once and motioned me toward the door. It was time to go.