The Hunter

In the dead of night, Vampires and Werewolves used to be the hunters. Now they are the hunted.

       April 1, 2011

 

       Rain pelted the windows of Count Skylar Rain's manor like hail.  Many of the guards, though among the ranks of the undead, were by bothered by the rain. They did not mind the rain itself but by how low the rain made visibility.  So bad was their sight that none of them saw the figure creeping along the roof of the manor, even as the lightning dancing across the sky illuminated the figure's shape.  The figure moved along the rain covered rooftop, not once losing their footing. Their cloak flapped around in the rain and their boots splashed in puddles on the stone roof. A deep hatred drove them, it drove them so far that it made sneaking into a highly secured manor during a thunderstorm seem like the best idea. 

       The Hunter moved along the narrow walkway, a slanted, shingled, roof on his right and a five story drop to his left. While the guards had difficulty seeing in the rain he had no problem with his sight; especially the light of the flashlight a guard was carrying coming towards him. He saw a gargoyle statue to his left and crouch behind it.  Despite the fact that his feet were precariously perched on the narrow ledge, he managed to remain still as the guard walked by.  He then slipped out from behind the statue and hurried down the walkway.  The door that led down from the roof was always guarded by two guards and had a keypad lock.  The Hunter smiled though, knowing that there was always a back door.

       The Hunter ran up the slanted roof and leaped on to the roof of a window that was jutting out.  The Hunter peaked into the window and saw three guards talking to each other.  Deciding that that was one-to-many he continued to run along the roof towards his destination, a tall black spire.  When he made it to the base he looked up, judging how far he'd have to climb.  He took a breath and started his climb up.  The rain made the climb treacherous and several times he almost lost his grip, one leaving him dangling by one hand. When he made it halfway up the spire he spotted a dimily lit window and kicked out its panel.  He climbed into the window and landed in a what looked like an old storage room.  There were several wooden crates and old furniture that looked like they hadn't been touched in decades.  The single lamp that had been illuminating the room had been knocked over when he had kicked out the window.

       The Hunter started to move through the room when he heard a click and the creaking of a door opening.  A light started to sweap the room and the Hunter dived behind a wooden crate as it swung towards him.  His back was against the crate and sweat was starting to trickle down his face.  He heard the creaking of the wooden floor boards as the guard started to walk towards where he was hiding. He peaked around the crate and saw that the guard was a rather large male who at this moment was crouching beside the broken lamp that the Hunter had knocked over.  The Hunter cursed himself under his breath and started to weigh his options.  The guard got up and started to walk over to the window when the Hunter caught a break.  Lighting flashed across the sky and illuminated the entire room.  In that brief moment, the guard's attention was drawn else where and that's when the Hunter struck.  The guard's back was facing him making it easier to get the drop on him as he charged.  The guard must have heard the Hunter because he turned around, trying to bring the assault rifle he was carrying level with his attacker.  The Hunter used his left hand to hit the rifle aside and at the same time drew out a knife with his right.  He plunged the knife into the guard's heart and then covered the guard's mouth with his left hand as the guard tried to scream.

       The rifle skidded across the floor as the guard and attacker landed on the floor with a Thud! The guard's breathing became erratic as the Hunter started to plung the knife deeper into his heart.  Lightning flashed across the sky once again and revealed the face of the Hunter to the dying guard.  The guard gasped and the Hunter leaned in closer to the guard's face.  "Yes, look at me. See the face of the one that killed you."  The guard's eyes were bulging in fear and then the Hunter plunged the knife into the heart all the way up to its hilt. The guard's body started to disintegrate and soon all that was left was a pile of ash in the clothes the guard had been wearing.  The Hunter put the knife back into its sheath at his hip.  He then went over to the door and walked down the stairs of the spire.

       When he reached the bottom of the spire the Hunter slipped through the door there and saw that he was in a rather large, decorated hallway.  There were suits of armor lined up along the sides and tapestry that held the coat of arms of the Rain's family.  Vampires, so typical. The Hunter thought with disgust.  He moved through the hallway, looking out for any patrolling guards.  He turned at another hallway and froze when he saw two female guards walking towards.  They hadn't seen him yet and he turned into a nearby staircase.  When he had climbed to the top he ended up in another storage room, but this time it looked more modern and well kept. The Hunter looked around, not sure if he should go back down stairs or find another way out.  He looked around the room but did not find any other entrance that he could use.  He had almost given up when he spotted an airvent.  It was on the wall located low to the ground.  It was just big enough for him to squeeze through and the Hunter smiled at having found a much easier of traveling through the manor.  He kicked it open and managed to squeeze his frame into the vent.

       The vents where narrow at points and at others they shot straight up or down. The Hunter started to realize the problem with his plan.  While traveling through the vents made getting through the manor easier, it was impossible to tell if he was heading in the right direction. He silently thanked the fact that his still wet cloak made his journey through the vents a bit easier.  As he neared another vent that seemed to be supended in the air, he started to hear voices.  At first they were distant but as he neared a grated vent he started to pick up some of the words.

       "...I don't care if the guards are having a hard time standing outside in 'a little rain'...Why? Because we can't let him get into the manor that's why!..."  The Hunter recognized the voice as Lee Rain, head of security and cousin of Skylar Rain. 

       "...But sir, we can barely see out there! If he wanted too he could walk through the front door without us even noticing!..." A female voice spoke, the Hunter not recognizing it.  He crawled over to the the grated vent and looked down to see both Lee and the female guard arguing.

       "We should pull all the guards inside and have them patrol the rest of the manor.  Better we catch him inside where we can box him in then look for him half blind outside!"  The female guard continued.

       Lee obviously didn't agree, "Absolutely not! If we let him enter the manor we put Lord Rain at risk!"

       "But the letter never specifically said that Lord Rain would be the only one attacked. He could be targeting the other family members for all we know!"

       "Lord Rain and his oldest son have been placed in a secure location. The others are acceptable losses."

       "Acceptable losses? Do you even hear yourself? If Countess Rain or the children are harmed Lord Rain will-"

       "Lord Rain will understand that what I did was necessary.  The others knew the risks and accepted what things were."

       "But-"

       "Lieutenant! I suggest that you get back to your post before I have to detain you."

       "For what?"

       "For interfering with my duty. Now go!" Lee was yelling in the Lieutenant's face by now.  She looked at Lee for awhile then finally nodded and walked away.  Lee walked in the other direction, neither aware that both of their fears were becoming reality. 

       After awhile the Hunter moved on, reveling with the new knowledge.  It seems that his letter did exactly as he intended; create a panic and focus all the attention on Skylar Rain.  Now to find his true target.  He moved through the vents with a renewed vigor.  As he neared a crossway in the vents the Hunter paused.  He looked looked at each of the vents and then closed his eyes.  He was waiting for something, something that would lead him in the right direction.  He waited in that position for what seemed like an eternity before he finally felt it.  It felt like a pulse radiating throughout his entire body, pulling him in the direction he needed to go.  He opened his eyes and turned left, moving closer to his target.

        After countless twists and turns and pausing to check his direction, the Hunter finally managed to reach his target.  He was nearing a one way grated vent when he sensed it, the pulse stronger than ever before.  He looked out of the grate and saw the person he sought.  Countess Elaine Rain was sitting in her study, calmly reading a book.  The Hunter's breathing quickened and he felt an anger he knew all too well run through him like fire. He kicked open the grate and slid out of the vent.  The Countess closed her book and looked up at the Hunter. He look at her and brushed himself off.

       "Have you come to kill me?" Elaine asked him, remaining seated in her chair.

       "Yes, I have." The Hunter said.

       "It seems that the letter was a trick then?"  The Hunter nodded. Elaine sighed and got up from her seat.  The Hunter moved back a bit and changed his stance so he could dodge any of her attacks.  Elaine merely smirked at this and walked over to a desk that had multiple books on it and placed the one she had been reading on one of the piles.  She then looked at the Hunter with a curious look.  "And who exactly are you?"

       "You don't recognize me?"  The Hunter asked, a slight irritation in his voice.

       Elaine shook her head, "No I don't."

       The Hunter pulled by his hood.  "Do you remember me now?"

       Elaine's eyebrows went up in surprise but that was all the expression of surprise she gave.  "Ah, I see. I knew we'd pay for what we did that day. I just didn't think that it'd be you who'd do it."

       The Hunter laughed at her. "Yeah well you know what they say, 'Payback's a b***h.'"

       "So I take it that Soren, Augustus, and Caesar was your doing?"

       "Yeah, Augustus was a real pain in my a*s though. It's not easy fighting a fully transformed Werewolf with just a single clip of silver bullets."

       "I see."  Elaine moved over to the fireplace were a fire was still roaring.  She stared into its flames before turning to him. "I may accept my death but that doesn't mean that I won't give up without a fight."

       The Hunter drew two short swords that he had kept sheathed on his hip. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

       Elaine flexed her arms and shoulders a bit and then tore a side in the dress she was wearing. "I've locked the door and made sure that no one will interrupt us."

       "Thank you. You know your probably the only one I'm going to regret killing."

       The Countess smiled. "Enough talk, I'm not getting any older."  The Hunter smiled back and then they charged at each other.

       

       Count Skylar Rains stormed into his wife's study with a dread that only the thought of losing one you love brings you.  He stopped when he saw what he had dreaded and almost collapsed on the spot.  His wife's body had multiple cuts and stab wounds and her throat had been slashed open.  Her body was sprawled out on her reading chair.  He looked on in pain, having no words to described his anguish.  He moved towards her body but stopped when he stepped in something moist.  He looked down to see a bloody letter under his foot. He picked it up and opened it.  There, written in blood, were the words APRIL FOOLS.  The Count crumbled the letter and tore it in half.  He then let out an agonizing cry that even reached the ears the Hunter as he ran through forest, making him pause for a moment before smiling and continuing to run through the forest.

Author's Note

Possible chapter for an idea I've been working on. Tell me what you think.

Reviews

[Ace D Portgas]

After reading this all I can say is Wow...This was an excellent write. It was very easy to visualize all the things that were happening...I'm not sure what this was intended to be, like a chapter or a introduction but I think this would make a great prologue, like how they do in the movies, show this part and then the title of the movie would show up. I like the quote at the top, it's very fitting and The Hunter seems to be bad a*s and on a quest for revenge

There were some spelling errorss and then there was one part that was a bit confusing. When Elaine had said "So I take it Soren, Augustine and Cesar Was You As Well" I think it meant to say was with you cause at first I was thinking he had different aliases until I read further on...Aww Soren, we got the same name for one of our characters

But overall I liked it a lot and hope there is more to come