Chapter 20 The Hunter
… Cassidy POV…
We have just arrived at Jacob’s pub when he pulls me to the side. He has not even shown Lucas the common courtesy and shook his hand. I have never known Jacob to be rude in any form or way, but what he has just done to Lucas is very unacceptable to me. Who does he think he is to tell me whose company I can keep. Even though he is a very dear friend, he has just overstepped a boundary.
Without even having to consider to think, I confronted him with his strange and unacceptable behavior. I need not even have mentioned the level of my irritability, for my desire to feed is clouding my brain. If he as much as says a wrong word to me, then I shall not hesitate to cause a scene.
“Jacob, how can you be so rude towards Lucas? You do not even know him.”
“I know enough of him to know he is trouble,” he shamelessly points over to our table. “Him and that brother of his, they only cause trouble as far as they go.”
“Lucas does not even frequent your bar, nor does he any other like these. You have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Trust me, Cassidy, you do not want to be around people of his kind.”
Jacob has now gone too far; he has no place to insult Lucas. Before I know what happens, my anger consumes me, and I slap him through the face with the flat of my hand. “You shall not speak of my love like that in front of me. In fact, you shall not speak of him in any way like that at all.”NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.
Forgetting the strength in my power, I slapped him one fraction too hard. His head snaps violently to the left, causing him to lose balance and fall to the floor. As soon as I realize my mistake, I reach a hand to him to help him rise again, but he only refuses my gesture and gets up himself. His voice is firm and with a warning when he finally composes himself to speak again.
“Don’t say I did not warn you, Cassidy.” With that, he turns and takes his leave.
Lucas, who has now joined my side, takes my hand, which is still stinging, and holds it protective in his hands.
“Are you okay, my dear Cassidy? I did not wish to cause you trouble? You should not have done all of that just to protect me.”
“Lucas, as horrible as this might sound, in fifty years, who is going to be there for me? You or him?”
… Lucas POV…
I have just witnessed my beloved taking my side, and in doing so, she ruined a friendship. And to further make me feel more awful about the situation, she chose me over a man she has known for far longer.
But there is something about this Mr. Hunter, something I cannot quite place. It is Damien who comes to put the real name to his face.
“Lucas, you do know who that is?”
“No, I fear I have no idea who the man is. The name rings familiar but not the face.”
“Hunter, Lucas, as in Samuel Hunter.”
In an instant, the need to protect and survive sets in, this place is no longer safe for us vampires. Not that true harm will come to us, but it is not a risk that I am willing to take.
“Damien, we need to leave at once; I beg do not tell Cassidy any of this.”
“You do know that he will come back for her.”
“Then come he must, but I fear he shall be pleasantly surprised.”
I need not even tell Cassidy that I wish to leave, as she and Eva are already out of the door. I do not think it is safe for her to go and feed any longer either. She is not going to be pleased with me at all; she shall just have to feed from me tonight. She looks at me in the most peculiar way; the next word that leaves her lips shocks me straight into the brightness of tomorrow.
“I am not feeding from you, Lucas, so do forget about that thought.”
“But my beloved, I have not said a word.”
“Your mouth might not have said it, but your head definitely did.”
Cassidy has just said the most strangest thing to me. I am sure she is only guessing what I was thinking; we do, after all, have a strong bond with each other. But this now begs the question, let’s test out this theory again. I turn and only but smile at her.
“No, Lucas, I am not having sex with you in an alley.”
“My god Cassidy, I did not even say that.”
“As I said, your lips might not be speaking, but your head just did. And right now, you are thinking if I read your mind.”
I stop dead for a second and pull her to the side. For but a fraction of a moment, we stand frozen in time. I don’t even know how to begin to ask her, but I am sure she has already read my mind.
“Cassidy, when did this happen?”
“It came to me all of a sudden since the last time a fed.”
“But my beloved, the last time you fed was from me.”
“I told you that you tasted like honey; there must be something in your blood then.”
A million more questions come bundled up in my head. Is this my power, or is my blood enhancing hers. Whichever way, though, not only her, but I too shall be in danger.
“My beloved, please do not tell anyone of this, not even Eva.”
“You need not worry, my Master; our secret is safe.”
“I do love it so when you call me that.”
“Oh, believe me, I know.”
“Can you not switch this thing off, you know this whole invading one’s privacy?”
“Now, where is the fun in that.”
… Cassidy POV…
I guess that was not a secret I could have kept away from him for too long. Indeed it is a powerful thing to have, but listening to all those drunk men and the things they wanted to do to me, left me feeling nothing but dirty. But one thing that does interest me is something he and Damien spoke about.
“Who is Samuel Hunter?”
I see him freeze, and all words completely escape his head; he cannot even utter a reply. Soon though, he composes himself, as he knows lying to me is only but futile.
“Samuel Hunter is Jacob’s father.”
“Yes, that I sort of gathered, but who is he?”
“Well, let’s state it like this. You never knew vampires existed, but they did. Now, if you listen to all your fairytales, you would know there is something like vampire hunters.”
“Sorry, just stop there for a moment. Are you saying that my friend Jacob is a vampire hunter?”
“I am afraid so, my beloved. And what I do also fear is that he will come to take you away from me.”
“Does he know I am a vampire?”
“No, he is just a plain mortal. He has no power but only the unmistakable skill to handle a dagger.”
“But why has not killed you before.”
“As with the wolves, we have a treaty with the humans too. We shall never take too much, and they shall mind their own business and let us go our own way.”
What Lucas does not know, and what I am not telling him, is that I had a very brief relationship with Jacob; that is partly why he is so overprotective of me. The thing is, what am I going to do when he comes for me?
… Lucas POV…
Somehow I don’t think Cassidy will need my protection from the likes of vampire hunters. She does require skill and training, but her power shall make up for the lack of that. What does worry me is what she is going to do when she is held to a stake by a friend. I hope this man shall not be foolish and come after us. He, of all people, should know that taking on the Master shall start a war.
After a quiet, much uneventful walk, we are finally home. Damien and Eva head off in their own direction, leaving us alone in the common room. I stretch out my legs and take a seat on one of the chairs. I call for my beloved to come to sit next to me, and she does.
“Cassidy, my love, you must feed. You shall have to take from me; it is not safe to go outside now.”
“But Lucas, it is not the same.”
“I know, but for tonight we don’t have a choice. Please, just for a moment, you are starting to look pale.”
I slowly start to roll the sleeve of my shirt; I watch as she watches me fold it up turn by turn. She gently takes my wrist in her now shaky hands. She is craving to feed; she desires the taste of blood. Without waiting for me to say so, she exposes her razor-sharp fangs. Then she pierces them fiercely into my wrist. At first, the sting shocks me, but then the ecstasy of tingly feelings consumes every corner bit of my body. Drop by drop, as my blood leaves my body, she sends her venom through me, only causing me to feel more pleasure than I have ever known. I know I need to stop her, but I don’t want this feeling to end. In between her moans, I can only hear her utter one word.
“Please.”
I know exactly what she is asking, and I need not even be given a moment to consider. She withdraws her fangs from my wrist. She moves a fraction closer and pulls her blonde locks of hair from her neck. As she goes to tilt her head to the left, I draw my fangs to her skin and deeply drive them into her. I pull her body closer to me and nestle myself firmly. I suck every glorious ounce of blood from her veins. That incredible power I feel when I am drinking from her only increases with every moan.
Then all of a sudden, there is a loud thud, and I am shaken back to my senses. For a brief moment, there is silence; then a voice echoes the hallways.
“Cassidy!”