Chapter 2

The sun filtered through the trees, casting patches of light all over the backyard. A small breeze whispered through the grass and remaining leaves, bringing with it the pleasant smell of a barbecue. A few blocks away, children could be heard laughing with each other. The cold fall weather had decided to give the citizens of this city one more weekend for family gatherings and barbecues before the bitter winter bore down upon them.

Laying under a tree in the backyard with my arms behind my head, I wished the winter weather would hurry and make an appearance. The sun glowing behind my closed eyelids and warming my limbs was calming and the serene environment was too peaceful compared to the emotions that have been plaguing me since last week.

Every time I dare to fall asleep, images of the boy become nightmares. His scream of agony, his blood coating my hands, his innocent eyes full of horror and pain as he realizes he's dying...No matter how much I try, I can't suppress these memories. The grass rustles to my left, interrupting my thoughts, and I open my eyes and glance in that direction.

"Have you been hiding out here all day?" Caine's voice is accusatory, but there is a light smile on his face. A year ago, after his family was murdered in another city, the council handed this man over to my father so he could train him as a Hunter. Because he wasn't part of my family and because he hadn't grown up as a Hunter, he is the only person I can almost tolerate.

"Hiding would imply that I don't want to be found. As it is, I'm out in the open where anyone can find me, so no. I'm not hiding." I respond smoothly. I sit up and run fingers through my hair, combing out the leaves that had gotten stuck. "What do you want?"

He raises an eyebrow, striding over and sitting down next to me on the grass. "What I want is to get away from that stifling environment in the house. Your father is as cold as ice." He shudders to emphasize his point. It's not surprising that my father has the same effect on him as he does on everyone else. Being from outside the family, he's not immune to my father's temperament.

"He'd give you hell if he actually heard you say that." I say quietly, staring at him seriously.

He grins at me. Before I can ask him what's so amusing, he speaks. "I would never be foolish enough to speak like that in front of him. His training is brutal enough without pissing him off."

I nod in agreement, not having anything else to say. I've never been good at holding conversation with anyone. In fact, I've never had much interest in holding a conversation with people, but Caine hasn't caught onto that yet. Sighing, I stand up and brush the grass and leaves off my clothes.

"I came out here because he's discussing the attack on that child with the council." he suddenly states, his light tone darker. I pause, stomach twisting, and look at him with a frown. His expression matches the tone of his voice.

"Have they found who's responsible?" I ease myself back onto the ground, suddenly interested in the conversation.

He brushes auburn hair out of his face and shrugs. "From what I heard your father say on the phone, they only have suspicions. Some of them are kind of far-fetched if you ask me."

"Who do they suspect?" I ask, digging for information.

He shrugs and glances at me, one jade-green eye glittering in the sun. "I only heard them actually mention one name. But then they were discussing the details of the boy and I, uh, I didn't want to listen anymore."

I sigh, irritated because Caine has a habit of not answering questions directly. "What name did they mention?"

"Um, Salem Nox? That's what it sounded like."

The name sounds familiar. I dig through memories, trying to recall where I've heard of him before but nothing comes up. I sigh again.

"Familiar, but I don't know who it is." I stand up, brushing the grass off of my clothes once again. "If they truly suspect him, I imagine that we'll know soon enough." I give him a dismissive wave and head back inside to my room, hoping that the assignment doesn't fall onto my shoulders.

**

A few hours later, another assignment is in my hands. I read over the details with a somber expression. I want to throw the file down and tell my father that he's insane, that he should track the vampire himself.

While I didn't recognize his name earlier, his face is not one that I could forget. The man in this photo is quite lovely, his sterling silver eyes glimmering in the light, his light skin making them appear to shine. His lips are pulled up into a smirk, mocking and arrogant in nature. Raven colored hair frames his face, emphasizing how pale he is. Staring at the photo, I am completely baffled that I forgot about him. Salem Nox...

A few years ago, my father allowed me to accompany him at a meeting with the vampire council. Salem was the one who did most of the speaking on their end. I remember his voice and how smoothly the words rolled off of his tongue in a deep accent. He was intelligent and his presence demanded respect. Mostly, I remember how he remained calm despite my father's challenges to his authority. It was a brief meeting, but my father was seething by the end. In fact, I recall having a slight admiration toward this vampire simply because he pissed my father off.

I clench the file tightly, trying to rid the urge to shred it into pieces. Unlike most files, this file doesn't contain another picture of him committing some terrible crime. Details list that he's a Pureborn vampire, his age unknown. The little boy had lived and played in the area of town that Salem occupies. The assignment is to track him and try to catch him breaking the laws. Then the council could officially move forward and have him put down.

"A tracking assignment?" I look at my father blankly. "This is out of the norm."

My father glances at me and sighs. "Salem is under suspicion because of his behavior and his status. He's also smart enough to not leave behind any direct evidence leading to him. The only way to bring him down without breaking the alliance is by catching him in the act of doing something."

"So I attempt to catch him breaking a law and when I do, I report back on it?"

"You don't report back, Mystery. You kill him on the spot."

I gape at him, my eyes widening. "The file says that I'm only tracking him.'

His blank expression melts into a glare. "My orders are the council's orders, as far as you should be concerned." I look away, clenching my fists. You're wrong.

"Okay." I slam the file on his desk and leave the room before I really do tell him how insane he is. Tracking a Pureborn vampire with abilities that humans don't have the capability of understanding and then attempting to kill him? That's borderline impossible. And worse, they don't have evidence of him attacking little Jeremy, or even doing anything wrong at all.

My expression drops and I purse my lips. Salem didn't murder Jeremy. No vampire actually murdered him. It was me. I murdered him. Images of my hand driving the stake into his heart, followed by his screams flash through my mind. I clench my fists again, and change the direction I'm walking in, deciding that I need some kind of distraction.

Instead of going to my room, I go to the training room downstairs. Walking over to our punching bags, I start furiously pounding, ignoring the pain in my knuckles. Minutes later, I'm gasping and my knuckles are cracked and bruised. My teeth are clenched. I keep attacking the object, taking out my frustration and sorrow on it. Finally, I break down and start sobbing. Thankfully, the room is empty.

***

A few days later, I had managed to gather enough information on Salem to begin my assignment. My father had grown impatient, but I insisted that I wasn't doing this assignment until I had more information on the notorious vampire. I'd be foolish to walk in blindly and I like to believe that I'm not a fool.

Salem apparently spends much of his time in the Firehelm and Earthhelm neighborhoods. He dwells in the Earthhelm district in a large manor on the very edge. He travels to Firehelm because that is where many of the council meetings take place. In fact, Firehelm is an eerie district where many of the council vampires reside at so that makes sense.

I also researched his files to find information on his abilities. The information I found was vague, stating that his magical abilities involved casting illusions and changing perceptions. This information wasn't very comforting when combined with the simple fact that he's very intelligent and will likely see that I'm coming before I even know where he's located.

Walking through the Firehelm district is rather boring because of the lack of scenery. Most buildings in this area are abandoned because of a fire that wrecked through the neighborhood years ago. Ironic, considering the name of the district.

The street I'm walking on has buildings on either side with blackened bricks, shattered windows, and most of them are at least partly burnt down. It's no surprise that this district is where most of the vampires choose to stay. There's hardly any humans living in the area, so it's a perfect place for them to stay hidden away.

I left my house early, so the sun is just now fading in the horizon. The faint light casts an eerie shadow over the neighborhood. I feel myself tensing up, and focus on my surroundings more intensely, using all of my senses. I certainly did not want to come to this neighborhood first, but this is the quickest route to Earthhelm, while also avoiding the busier parts of the city.

.

I am purposefully trying to avoid being spotted in this neighborhood. A vampire hunter being caught in vampire territory, specifically vampire council territory, would be taken as a threat on their end. I most definitely do not want to deal with that outcome.

After walking for what felt like hours, with my senses on the highest awareness, I entered the district of Earthhelm where the burned or scorched buildings slowly faded into plain abandoned buildings. The striking contrast between the two districts being mainly that Earthelm is an area with parks, a grade school, and houses. This district is by far more modern than the rest of the city, even though they are connected on one side by abandoned houses.

Pulling a map out of my pocket, I gaze over it to make sure I'm headed toward the right area of the district. Salem's home is located at the very edge of town so I turn right to take a small pathway that leads toward his known dwelling. The closer I get to his home, the more reluctant I become. The sun has completely set at this point, but the area is faintly lit by streetlights. The pathway I take branches away from from the light, but the path is short and light from the streets emanate through the trees.

I sigh and walk down the street, scanning my surroundings. This area is not as populated, since it's on the very edge of the city. Trees line either side of the street, spread out and casting shadows across the street. This particular street is a dead end, leading to Salem's home.

"May I inquire on why a hunter is snooping around my territory?" A smooth, accented voice rings out through the night, startling me. I freeze momentarily before daring to turn around and witness who the voice belonged to.

Shining, silver eyes reflected back at me but the rest of his figure was hidden in the shadows. "Snooping? I believe that the word you're looking for is spying" I retort. The eyes indicate exactly who I'm speaking to but I hide my fear by standing straighter and staring straight into them, pushing my hesitance to the back of my mind.

He's silent, staring me down. I feel completely vulnerable as his eyes seem to pierce right through me, feeling as though he can read my every thought.. He straightens himself as I did, and steps out of the shadows of the trees. His expression is blank, unreadable. "Please do tell me, little hunter, why they'd send a girl to kill me?" His accent once again rolls smoothly from his tongue, alluring and dangerous. A shiver runs down my spine, and chill bumps raise on my arms.

The insult, so subtle and quick, causes me to gape at him before I narrow my eyes and glare at him. "I'm not here to kill you." I state simply.

He steps closer, the arms that were folded across his chest falling to his side. "Why are you here then?" His tone remains the same, also not revealing anything. Suddenly, I recall a training session with my father from when I was younger.

"A calm enemy is a dangerous one." My father says, twisting around and deflecting my clumsy attempt at attacking him from behind. "It means that he or she is assessing you, as you are them. They're calculating your next moves, reading you like a book and being unafraid." He once again blocked my punch, aimed at an exposed spot on his abdomen. Grabbing my arm, he twists it behind my back causing me to whimper, and forces my resisting form into the ground, pinning me with a knee to my back while grabbing my hair and pressing my face into the floor.

"And they can use your next move against you, instantly leaving you at their mercy." He yanks on my hair for emphasis, causing me to grit my teeth. " This is why you must always remain calm and calculating. You want your enemies at your mercy, not the other way around."

The memory fades and I blink, realizing that Salem is still waiting for an answer. I once again look him over, trying to read him. He raises an eyebrow at me, gesturing for me to answer him. "I already told you. I'm investigating." I can tell that he would be able to detect my lies, so truth is the only option at this point.

"Have I done something to alarm the hunter council?" He looks genuinely confused, but I believe it's an innocent act, meant only to make me believe he's not truly dangerous.

Once again, the truth spills from my lips. "You're under suspicion for the turning of a child, which resulted in the murder of a young woman." I stick my hands in the pockets of my jacket, trying to appear relaxed and unthreatening. Under the waistband of my jeans, right where my jacket's pockets are, there is a stake that I can grasp from within the pocket. My jacket is also unzipped, so I have moment to attack if needed.

His eyes turn glassy, the silver turning ice cold and his jaw clenches angrily. "The murder of a child is hardly something that fits into my morals." He snaps, his emotional cool melting momentarily before he recovers his emotional shield and his eyes return to normal. "The murder of the child is under our investigation as well."

I frown slightly, trying to remember if anyone in my family mentioned that the vampires were investigating the murder as well. "Have you spoken with the Hunter council?" I ask.

One side of his mouth turns downward. "I was in the middle of arranging a meeting. Hunters, specifically your father, can be seriously difficult to contact during such occurrences and they are so quick to jump to conclusions. But believe me when I say that I will not tolerate the murder of that child and when I find who's responsible, I can assure you that anyone involved will get the proper punishment." His eyes flash cruelly and another shiver runs down my spine as his lips curl into a snarl, his eyes once again the color of ice.

My eyes drop downward and I bite my lip, my guilt instantly rising to the surface. I hardly realize that more than a minute passes in silence. As I let my own sorrow consume me, I come to the conclusion that Salem Nox holds no responsibility for what happened that child. My hands drop to my sides and I can vividly remember how they looked, covered in the child's blood, so warm at first but cold and sticky as the morning drew closer.

"Little hunter?" I jerk as something gently touches my shoulder. My eyes snap up to Salem, and the vision fades away, returning me to reality. I open and close my mouth a few times, blinking away the images that threaten to consume me on the spot. Salem stares at me, his eyes full of pity, his head also turned slightly to the side. He had stepped closer to me, now standing within touching distance. I back away a few steps.

"I'm sorry. I got lost in thought." I mumble quietly. Distractions are your worst enemy, my father's voice reminds me. I shake my head a few times and look at him again. "I'll tell my father that there is nothing to report tonight."

He narrows his eyes. "How long am I to be under investigation?"

I shrug. "As long as it takes to prove that you are innocent. But don't worry, I will ensure that they won't find anything to use against you." The promise slips out on accident, but as I say them, I fully intend to make sure it comes true. This time, I will not bend to my father's will and take a life of another innocent. My jaw clenches in determination, and I straighten my shoulders.

Salem chuckles quietly, and an odd smile lifts the corners of his mouth. His eyes flash roguishly. "Don't worry about me, little hunter. You underestimate what I'm capable of. " Right before my eyes, he fades away. I blink and step back. When my eyes open again, multiple clones stand in formation around me. I tense up, glancing around me to see if I can locate his real location. "You should worry about taking care of yourself. Don't cross your father, or the hunter council. Fino a quando ci incontriamo di nuovo."

His voice is a whisper to my left, and just when I think I see his true walking away, the clones vanish.. I sigh and once I'm sure that he's truly gone, I rub the chills on my arms. Right. Like a fool, you forgot exactly what he's capable of. Illusions, changing perspectives. He could have killed me in one move, while I was careless and unthinking. Next time, I have to be more conscious of his actions when I'm around him.

However, I can't help but hope that there will not be a next time.

***

It is really hard for me to express how hard this chapter was to write. I'm trying to take my time to develop my character's personalities so the story is easier to connect with. I truly hope you guys like the chapter, and that the story is intriguing so far.

Some feedback is always appreciated when posting a new story, as it helps us writers shape up our writing and give everyone more of what they'd expect. So if you spot errors, don't hesitate to comment or send me a personal message so that I can get them fixed. It really would be much appreciated! I love you guys, and there's definitely more of this story to come!