Denizens of the Darkness

Between the shadows of the night lay a hidden world of monsters, prey, and those who hunt the hunters. This story was written as a periodical when I was writing it.

Lightning streaked across the darkened skies, flashing shadows over the alleyway before the crack of thunder rumbled against those same dirty walls. Would the rain finally come to beat back the insufferable heat? Reaching up to shade his eyes against the flashes, a lone wanderer shook his head. No relief would be found this night, at least not from nature.

Shrugging in his too warm leather trench coat, the man shambled deeper into the shadows, scurrying away from the light of the street that tried vainly to hold back the darkness. With his shoulders hunched over, it was hard to tell the height or build of the man. He could have stood anywhere from five feet ten inches to six and a half feet tall. Nothing of his build could be seen through the bulky clothes. Nothing to identify him past his clothes. He preferred it that way. Preferred when no one knew who he was. Or better, what he was.

There was little pleasure in what he did. It had to be done. That much he knew. The act though, the darkness, the blood. Those were things he could have done without.

Pausing in his thoughts, he cocked his head to the side, catching the scent on the heavy winds. The scent of blood, the scent of death. They were nearby.

Picking up the pace, he sprinted down the alleyway, turning the corner in time to catch sight of something that always brought bile to his lips. There, hunched over some poor soul, was one of the undead, a dark being the fed upon the life of those that dwelt in the light.

With a snarl, the man leaped at his foe, light glinting from the blades that sprung into his hands. It was time to slay another vampire.

*** Scene Break ***

Leaning against the wall of the alleyway, he tried not to sink to the ground. Besides the fact that it was filthy, which usually wouldn't matter to him, it was also a very good way to end up dead should something else come to check on the commotion. With a grunt, he pushed away from the wall, wiping the blades on his pants to clean off the blood before slipping them back into his sleeves.

With a groan, he reached for the small of his back, leaning back to crack his back. "There has got to be an easier way of doing this." He started and spun around as someone answered him from the darkness.

"There is, boy." Stepping from the shadows, a rather non-descript man in a black business suit lifted an unlit cigarette to his lips, brown eyes considering the other man. The stranger's hair was dark, clean and well cut, just brushing his shoulders where it settled behind his ears and along the back of his neck. He looked to stand just over six feet tall.

"You've much to learn if you're going to keep killing vampires."

Thunk thunk thunk. The wooden dummy quivered for a moment as the trio of heavy wooden darts sank into its surface roughly where a heart would be, clustered in an area the size of a fist. Slipping the mini crossbow back up his sleeve, the man walked over to the target to consider his results. How many days had he been doing this? Every day seemed to blend into the next, training followed by hunts to put his training into use then back for more training. It never ended.

Shaking his head, he turned away and back towards the range. He had to admit that everything the man had taught him had only made him a more efficient hunter. Not to mention making it less likely for him to bleed on the hunts, since he was mostly staying out of melee range of the vampires. Things worked out so much better when he could get the drop on a target from range, piercing them through with reinforced darts or shots from the overlarge handgun that he'd taken to carrying.

The ones that weren't put down from range were the ones that really worried him. They tried to literally rip his head from his shoulders. Those were the ones that caused him to bleed, though his skill with a blade continued to save his life. It was those that got away that really had him worried. The ones that got away learned and were always harder to kill the next time.

Then again, he was getting harder to kill and better at killing vampires. It was only a matter of time until every vampire in the city was gone. Then he'd find that one, the one that started it all. The one that killed his brother.

*** Scene Break ***

The soft tink of ice against the glass sounded loud in the unnatural silence of the bar. Glancing around the room, the vampire hunter considered the few patrons sitting in their private alcoves, shaking his head. Turning back to the barkeep, he shook his glass. "How bout another?"

The bartender chuckled softly before reaching over to refill the glass with a jack and coke. "Isn't it a bit early for you to be getting heavy in the drink, Marcus? You're usually in here much later than this, looking exhausted." Handing the refreshed drink to the vampire hunter, the bartender added, "I bet there is a story behind this."

The newly identified Marcus nodded with a chuckle of his own. "Normally you'd be correct but for once, I'm taking a night off. No, I'm still not going to tell you what I do." Downing the drink in a single go, he stood as he placed the glass back on the bar top. "Decided to treat myself to an early night and get some sleep."

Not that that was entirely true. He'd just managed to get done early. For some reason, he'd stumbled upon a vampire that was trying to feed during the day. The monster had dragged a girl into a dark warehouse. It was only luck that Marcus had managed to spot the two and jumped the vampire, stalling him long enough for the girl to run away. Afterwards he'd made swift work of the beast before making sure the girl got home safely.

Nothing like a good days work.

*** Scene Break ***

The sharp ringing of the bells over the doorway marked his exit as Marcus waved over his shoulder at the shop keeper. The number of people who carried his specialized ammo could be counted on one hand with fingers left over. Not that it made them friends. Far from it. However, having a steady, human contact wasn't something to sneeze at either.

Striding down the hallway with the silver briefcase in hand, the vampire hunter hummed happily to himself. Things had been going well of late, the hunts getting easier. Still, there was an itching between his shoulder blades that he couldn't explain. Like being watched. It was different from when the vampires were around though. A subtle difference but still there.

Stepping out of the building and into the sun light, Marcus shielded his eyes for a moment as he adjusted to the brightness. This was the best time to shop but getting out this early really made for a long day. Especially after he'd fully adjusted to his nocturnal schedule. Fighting back a yawn with a hand over his mouth, he made his way back to his car.

Tossing the briefcase onto the passenger seat, he paused a moment to check the rear view mirror when he jumped at the sight of a man in the backseat. "God damnit, David, that is a good way to get shot." Turning in his seat, he growled at the other man.

"Most of what we do is dangerous, boy. Especially you. You've gained the attention of some beasties other than the vampires..." He trailed off at Marcus's incredulous stare.

"What others?"

*** Scene Break ***

Werewolves, ghosts, goblins, and so many other creatures that skittered around in the dark. What world had he gotten himself into? Marcus sat on his sofa, staring at the turned off television without really seeing it. Before, it had just been vampires. Sure, his life had been in danger the entire time but it was something he'd been used to and something he could manage. This... was something entirely different.

How many weapons would he have to carry now? How did you even kill a ghost? Or goblins? The man had been very vague on the details. What else was waiting out there for him, waiting for him to fail or... worse, allying with the vampires for an ambush?

Slamming back another shot, he growled low in his throat. Well, there was no point brooding about it further. It was time to do something about it. Standing up, he made his way into the kitchen. Picking up the phone, he dialed a number he'd committed to memory though he'd hoped he wouldn't have to use it.

The phone rang twice before it picked up. There was no sound on the other end but he knew he was being listened to. He spoke just three words.

"Alright. I'm in"

*** Scene Break ***

Wrinkling his nose at the musty smell of age and decay, Marcus looked around the room that he'd been led to. There was an unmistakeable feeling of antiquity to the entire room, from the ancient oak furnishings to the faded portraits adorning the only wall that wasn't covered in bookshelves. A fine layer of dust coated the entire room, undisturbed for who knows how long.

Turning around, he looked at his companion. "Are you serious?"

The man just chuckled. "You're the first person I've brought here since I found it all those years ago, Marcus. Yours are probably the first human eyes to ever see this collection, outside the original writer of many of these tomes." Stepping past the monster hunter, the mentor strode across the room to run his fingers along the spines of several books. "They've been here, forgotten and abandoned, like all too many things in this world."

Blowing out a breath, Marcus shook his head. "Look, I appreciate all you've done for me, really I do. It's just... what do you expect me to do with all of this?" Waving his hand around the room, he added, "Between training and hunting, I really aint got time for studies."

The mentor considered Marcus for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "I don't expect you to do this alone. I've got some... plans in the works that should bear fruit quickly. Not to mention I've called in some... associates, who can help with the work load. At least long enough you to be brought fully up to speed."

Raising an eyebrow, Marcus pursed his lips in thought. A slow frown drew down the corners of his mouth before he grabbed firm hold on his anger. Still with the secrets. To be expected of someone dealing with the darkness but still... other than the information that had made the vampire hunts easier, what else had the Mentor truly given him.

"How long have you had backup available?" Raising his hand quickly, Marcus interrupted any argument the Mentor might have had. "Know what, never mind. I'm sure you have your reasons.." Adding under his breath, "Not that you'd ever tell them to me." Continuing in a louder voice, "So someone picks up the slack for a bit so I can get my Monster 101 training done, then what? They leave again and it's back to me versus the darkness?"

A low chuckle escaped the Mentor before he replied in a cold voice, "Oh no, Marcus. There is more... so much more going on. We're just barely getting started."

Marcus rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to work some of the tension from his eyes. How long had he been leaning over this particular tome, scouring it for information? There was no sense of time here in the library. Every hour blended into the next in a blur of study and training.

Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the aches throbbing in his back and shoulders. At least his legs didn't hurt. You gotta take the good when you can, after all.

Pushing away from the desk, he stood up. Stretching his arms overhead, he winced as a particular knot pulled loose in his shoulders with a pop. Shaking his head in resignation, he turned to leave the room. Making his way down the hallway, he was still surprised at the condition of the house. Even after being here for a week, it looked like no one lived there. There was no feeling of being a "home". It felt empty and abandoned without any of the normal run down appearance. Franky it was creepy, and that was saying something coming from the guy who hunted monsters as a job.

Turning the last corner towards the room he was sleeping in, he had to duck back to avoid a kick to the head. Darting around the corner, he twisted to wrists slightly to drop the blade into his hand, slashing around for a moment before having to check his slash. "D****t Janna, you can't be doing that!"

The girl in question smirked back at the man. Standing five feet eight inches, she was adorned in a black hoodie that covered short black hair and shadowed mischievous hazel eyes. "Bah, you've got better control than to attack me. Besides, it's not like I wouldn't heal." For a moment, her eyes flashed golden before returning to their normal hue.

Marcus stared at the girl for a moment before shaking his head. "Are all half breeds as annoying as you, or is it a special power all your own?" Sheathing the blade back up his sleeve, the man brushed past the girl, intent on seeking his bed. The girl had only been here for two days, one of the backup that the Mentor had brought in to help him, and she was already adept at annoying him.

Point in case, as she continued to follow behind him. "It's a special power actually, one all my own." She smirked at him again. Really it was too easy to rile the man up. "Besides, it's my job to keep you on your toes, right?" She threw a jab at his back which he easily dodged. "Can't let you get rusty with all this time off."

Pausing just outside his room, Marcus turned to look at the girl, one eyebrow up. "Rusty, am I? Let's get you down to the training room and we'll see just how rusty I am." A low growl escaped him as he stared down the girl.

Janna had to suppress a shudder at the sound before taking control of herself. "Fine, I'll meet you down there." So maybe she did walked with a bit more sway in her hips than usual.

Too bad for her Marcus had already turned away with a smirk and entered his room. Closing the door behind him, he chuckled softly before hitting the bed.

Marcus slammed into the wall with a grunt, breath steaming in the still night air. Reaching up to wipe the blood from his lips, he growled at his foe, the beast growling right back with an added bestial snarl. Neither combatant had come out of that last exchange unharmed, though the monster seemed to have gotten the better of the match.

Tightening his fist around the blade, Marcus never let his eyes leave his target. One slip could cost him his life. The monster had already taken so many lives, some even tonight before he could be tracked down. Unless he was stopped here, he would continue to hunt and kill.

Even crouched as he was, the monster easily topped six feet, grey fur matted with blood and seeming to steam in the moonlight. No one remembered his real name but they called him The Silver Fang. With his lips pulled back into a snarl revealing gleaming fangs of white, Marcus noted idly that he really didn't see how the name fit. It was one of those strange, random observations you have when your life is on the line.

Pushing off the wall, Marcus darted towards the werewolf, blade flashing for a moment as it darted towards the equally charging beast. Spinning out of the way, the hunter brought his other hand around in a snapped backfist, the armored back of his glove slamming into the side of the werewolf who merely grunted in annoyed before slashing back with a claw that Marcus just barely managed to parry with his blade.

Snapping out a kick, Marcus grinning in grim satisfaction at the grunt of contact before pushing off into a backflip, just in time to miss being impaled by the trio of silver bolts that slammed into the side of the werewolf. For a moment, Silver Fang whimpered in pain, a light hissing from burning flesh mingling with the sound, before an enraged snarl cut off the sound.

Crouching onto all fours, Silver Fang coiled his muscles before launching himself at the hunter. Just as he was about to reach him with outstretched claws a slim weight landed on his back, a buzzsaw of flashing blades that bit into his back before being thrown off.

Janna tumbled for a moment before rolling into a crouch of her own, fangs barred at the werewolf, eyes glowing golden in the light. The snarl of her challenge echoed through the still night air, answered by one from Silver Fang. With a growl, the werewolf launched himself at the slim girl before grunting to a stop.

Looking down in shock, the werewolf found a silver blade embedded in his chest, held by the steady hand of the hunter he'd allowed his anger to forget for a moment. A single whimper escaped him before the knife was twisted in place, the beast dropping bonelessly to the ground.

The halfblood looked at the mass of grey fur for a moment before turning to Marcus. "You sure know how to show a girl a good time."

Reviews

[Celie Rose]

I liked your story. Vampires, werewolf, half bloods. mentor and his students. You described each character in good detail. I got a real feel for the story as I read along.I especially like Janna and Marcus' character. Good theme. Story is well expressed and written. Keep up the good work!

[Sargon Dorsai]

Thank you for the review. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. It's always nice to see a story being appreciated. I'm hoping that I can visit this world again and reviews like this really help inspire the writing.