The Dark Inheritance

Chapter 18

Asher felt like his insides were simmering over as he stared at Serah turning her back on him while talking intimately with that other guy. First those Valentine brothers and now that dude. She really didn't waste time. But why was this bothering him so much? He was barely holding back from going forward and slamming his fist into that guy's face. 

"Asher!" Cara's sharp voice broke through his trance.

He glanced at her, surprised to find her standing right beside him.

"Where did your mind fly off to?" She asked exasperatedly.

"Nowhere." He mumbled. "What is it?" He asked when she kept peering at him closely

Her eyes narrowed. "You're still having a fixation on that girl."

He shifted his gaze back towards where Serah disappeared. "It's not like that."

She raised an eyebrow. "Then what was that just now?" 

"It's just because that werewolf is getting involved with her." He only just realized that fact, but he'd use it to convince himself as well. "She's just a human and she's still under my family's protection. I don't want any of those creatures causing trouble around us."

Cara's expression remained skeptical. "Those 'creatures' have been getting involved with humans for decades and there has been no trouble at all. Our enemies are the vampires. The werewolves have never troubled anyone. In fact they could come close to an ally since they hate vampires as well."

"I know all this." He said impatiently.

"Then why are you behaving this way!" She railed. "Did you forget the strange circumstances through which that girl appeared? Even if she's only a human, we cannot trust her! You agreed with me on this!"

"What makes you think I trust her?" 

"Even if you don't, you've been bothered about her way too much! You actually used the council's power to send a threat to the vampires so that Owen would be punished for what he did to Serah! And I know you've been discreetly keeping tabs on her. You've been acting way too differently ever since she appeared!"

He stared at her perplexedly. It was the first time he had seen her getting so worked up over something. "I've just been closely observing her to know her true agenda. As for Owen, I don't want him causing trouble around anyone from my family. But why is this bothering you so much?"

She released a weary sigh. "Asher…" she murmured, moving closer to place her hand on his arm in an almost affectionate gesture. "We've been together for so long and I know you better than anyone else." Her eyes sparkled with myriad emotions as she stared up at him. "I can't help worrying about you."

"There's no need to worry about me." He said after several seconds. "I know how to take care of myself. And I won't let anyone fool me."

She kept peering at him, seeming unsatisfied with his response but eventually she sighed defeatedly. "If you say so. Don't forget we have an important meeting this evening. I think we will soon be facing an emergency situation."

He frowned. "An emergency? How?"

"I have no idea." She sighed. "My father refused to share too much."

Cara's father, Vincent Armstrong, was the leader of the vampire Hunters' association. He was also the head of the all-powerful Armstrong family. He helped Asher out when vampires attacked and killed his parents when he was still young, leaving him with nowhere to go. He was also the one who later helped Asher avenge his parents. Asher has been training to become a vampire hunter since then and that was how he met Cara. 

Despite Cara's announcement, Asher found himself still being primarily bothered by Serah and that guy. Even during the gathering of all the hunters, his mind could only replay the way they've been acting overly close, souring his mood. 

"The vampires have been acting strangely lately." He vaguely heard the leader, Vincent, saying. 

"Strangely how?" Chase, one of the fellow senior hunters asked. 

"Their movements are suspicious." Vincent explained, his forehead marred in a deep frown which highlighted the aging lines on his face. 

"Is it both factions or just the Tremere?" Another hunter asked.

The Tremere, led by the Constantine family, were the most dangerous vampires and their main targets. They refused to sign the peace treaty with the Hunters' association and took to preying on humans.

"That's the problem." Vincent said wearily. "Both factions have been acting strangely. I have a feeling they are up to something."

"Did you try discussing this with the leader of the Tremere faction?" Justin Armstrong, Vincent's oldest son asked.

"I did, but naturally Arnold Valentine shrugged it off as just a misunderstanding. They're being secretive about it and this is what's bothering me." He stared at them all squarely. "Hunters! I want you all to closely spy on the vampires and find out what they are up to. If it is anything which will put our people in danger, we won't hesitate to strike."

Everyone immediately shouted their approval. 

"You may now leave for the night's hunt. Remember to remain on the lookout."

"What do you think those bloodsuckers could be up to this time?" James, one of the fellow junior hunters as well as their classmate, asked as they set out into the night.

"Who knows?" Asher mumbled. "But it doesn't matter either way. We'll just stop them." Or better yet, get rid of them all. This could be the excuse he had been waiting for to start executing every one of them.

They had just started scouring the streets when a woman's scream suddenly pierced through the night. Asher, Cara and James shared a glance, then they were rushing forward at breath-neck speed. When they arrived near the woman, several other people had already gathered around her. She stood in an alley by a busy street, her eyes horrified as she stared at something on the ground.

Asher's teeth clenched when he took in the object of her horror. There lay a woman appearing dead to the world.

"This pale skin… there's no doubt this was caused by a vampire." James said, mirroring Asher's thoughts.

"He even took care to remove his puncture marks." Cara remarked. Indeed, the woman's neck was plainly revealed, leaving no doubt to them that she had been drained by a vampire. But the guy had healed up the puncture wound. Probably so that it wouldn't raise the others' suspicions. Shortly after, an ambulance came over to take the woman away.

"There's nothing we can do here." Cara mumbled. "We should report to my father soon."

Several minutes later, they all sat in the Hunters' headquarters, watching Vincent pace restlessly in front of them. Everyone's mood was dark. Each time the vampires manage to make a victim, it feels like a huge failure on their part. 

James spoke up first. "This is not how they usually act. They're definitely acting strangely." 

"Indeed." Cara added. "Leaving their victim's corpse in plain sight for everyone to see is just too weird. Almost as if they are trying to show something."

"That's not all." Vincent said. "I learned about the victim's identity… a teenager like you guys. It seems she had contacted her parents several days ago to inform them that she's going on a trip with her friends. They haven't seen her since then."

"And the trip was just a lie." Cara commented.

"Indeed." Vincent sighed. "They have been targeting her from the start. But I have no idea why."

A plunging silence ensued between them as each one tried to form their own deduction. 

"Anyway," Vincent said eventually. "I'll question Arnold Valentine about this matter and we'll all investigate it in depth. In the meantime you guys increase your vigilance. We cannot allow such an incident to happen no matter what."

As Asher was preparing to leave, Vincent called him over. “Asher… you’re our best hunter and I have lots of hope for you.” He said, his expression weary.

“And naturally, I’ll try my best to not disappoint you.” He replied.

Vincent stared at him deeply. “We’re relying on you a lot." his eyes glinted with a wise look. "Especially since you're the only one who has that special ability... so I hope you won’t ever let yourself be distracted.”

Asher frowned. “Why are you saying this?”

He sighed. “Cara told me you seem to be having an… unusual interest for that girl you found in the cemetery.”

A muscle ticked in Asher's jaw but he made an effort to school his expression. Vincent was watching him closely. "It's her misunderstanding." He said levelly. "I'm just observing her to make sure she's not a threat… she's living with my family, after all."

"I hope that's the only reason. You know as well as I do that the enemy can appear in front of us in the form of anyone. Even an innocent-looking young girl. No matter how beautiful she might be, you cannot trust her no matter what."

"Of course it's the only reason." Asher tersely replied, having a hard time to keep his mounting irritation at bay. "I didn't achieve what I did until now by letting myself be fooled so easily. I thought you knew me better, leader."

He smiled affectionately. "Of course, I know you well. You're like a son to me and I know you're more determined than anyone else here." He sighed. "It's not that I doubt you, but I wanted to clarify this to make sure."

"The only purpose I'll ever have in my life is to rid this world of all vampires." Asher said firmly. "The rest hold no meaning to me."

Vincent's gaze turned compassionate. "I understand your feelings, son. But as long as the Ventrue faction are upholding their part of the peace treaty, we cannot do anything to them."

"I know. Don't worry." Asher said reassuringly. "I won't try anything on my own."

Asher was about to head back but then he remembered something and turned to face Vincent. "By the way, my… pills have almost run out. Can you have some more prepared for me?"

Vincent frowned. "You've already run out of them? But the supply I gave you was enough to last till next month."

Asher gulped nervously. "I increased my dosage just in case." The truth was his condition has been getting worse lately, so that's why he needed to take the pills more than needed. But he wouldn't reveal this to Vincent. 

The latter appeared still suspicious, but he slowly nodded. "Wait for a bit." He headed towards his office, then returned shortly after with a small box. "Take these in the meantime. I'll send more sent to you as soon as possible."

Asher mumbled his thanks and tightened his fist around the box as he headed off. All this because of that accursed vampire who killed his parents. The guy also injected his venom into Asher that night. That was how he discovered his special ability. It seemed he was immune to vampires' venom. However, he still suffered from several side effects since that night. It was the medicine Vincent gave him which helped keep those side effects at bay. If it weren't for them, he'd probably have already died or worse… turned into a vampire. He shivered at the mere thought. That was yet another reason why he felt infinitely grateful towards Vincent.