Emilia took a shuttering breath while trying to snap her fingers. Her body refused to listen to her brain. I'm going to die here. Emilia willed herself not to cry at the thought.

Bres's feet stopped beside her. Emilia's body rose into a standing position with her hand held out. Horrified hazel eyes met gold as Bres held his hand out for the red ring to fly into it.

"For destiny," Bres whispered, slipping the ring onto her right ring finger.

Pain shot up Emilia's right arm causing a scream to leap from her chest. She pressed her eyes closed. Her body wanted to collapse to the floor, but Bres continued to hold it into the air. Emilia opened her eyes to see him smirking at her in a perturbing expression.

"Breathe," Troy whispered into her ear. "Please, breathe and focus on the power. Don't let it overwhelm you."

Emilia gasped for a breath. She could feel her power slowly seeping as the ring glowed brighter. Somehow, Emilia found a way to inhale deeply through her nose. She let the air ease from her mouth, and then she felt it, the power she could take from the ring.

Bres did not appear to notice her revelation as he looked at something behind her. "They are coming."

Emilia inhaled through her nose again and tugged on the power source. The pain ceased, and a lightness filled her heart. She then concentrated on her right hand and felt it begin to warm. Emilia glanced down to see a small energy ball forming. Air rushed through her nose and into her lungs again.

Emilia made a small motion, throwing the ball directly into Bres's mid-section. Golden-eyes widened.

"You just killed the savior.  There is no stopping them now," Bres whispered.  "No more love for humans."

A shuttering breath exhaled from Emilia's mouth as Bres's eyes dulled to black, and his body slowly turned to dust. Emilia turned to see four monsters walking to the arbor.  They ranged from small and cute to large and scary. She ripped the ring from her hand and ran for her sword.

The moment the hilt became secure in her grasp, she ran for the door.  Troy's voice halted her steps.

"Close the portal," Troy yelled at her.

Emilia looked back to see the monsters walking through the arbor and ten or more monsters now walking behind them.

"How?" Emilia panted. "There are more coming through!"

"Destroy the ring! And, control your damn breathing!"

Emilia clutched the ring in her hand for a moment before taking another deep breath through her nose. She placed the ring on the ground.  Emilia adjusted her hold on the hilt, then slammed the blade of her sword on the red stone. Power pushed her into the hallway as the room illuminated in a warm glow for a few seconds causing Emilia to cover her eyes. She dropped her arm while trying to control her breath.

Emilia stumbled to her feet and walked to the doorway. A small fire burned on the tabletop in the empty room. Her eyes scanned the damage of broken furniture and small fires until they fell on a passage she hadn't seen before on the back wall. A bloody paw print dripped on the wall beside the now open passage. Emilia breathed in through her nose and snapped her fingers, the door to the passage snap shut.

She placed her sword on her belt and turned to walk out of the room. "Hey, Troy."

"You good?" He asked.

"Yeah," Emilia sighed. "Somehow survived that."

Troy scoffed. "Of course, you survived that. You're a badass!"

"Vijay see anything?" She asked cautiously, staring at the closed passage.

A few moments of silence passed before Troy responded.  "He said it's all clear.  Anything we should be concerned about?"

Emilia shook her head. "I don't think so.  The thing probably died in the light.  Anyway, I need to call Ben to let him know it's done."

"But, he's such a wanker," Troy wined. "Fine, I'll connect you."

Emilia smirked at the sound of a click. The momentary silence became filled with the familiar ringing of a phone.

"It's Ben," his familiar voice greeted her.

Emilia rolled her eyes. "Just called to let you know that it's done."

"I know," Ben drawled. "The finding of the missing girls is all over the news. I'm on my way to Hyde Park now to help handle the press."

"Seriously?" Emilia scoffed, pausing her steps under the fluorescent lights. "I don't need to talk to anyone, do I?"

"No, try to stay in the shadows.  One of your associates is already having a field day with the news.  Your dad didn't look too pleased about it when the camera caught him helping one of the women into an ambulance."

Emilia nodded. The two fell into a familiar silence as she walked down the hallway.

"You did good, Emi," Ben whispered, causing Emilia to smile.

"Thanks. I—"

Ben coughed to cut her off before quickly adding. "I expect a full report by tomorrow evening."

Dial tone met her ears.  Emilia paused. I'm back in the Hunters Guild. 

Warmth surrounded her as a slow smile spread across her lips. Emilia jumped up and down for a moment in a silent cheer before willing herself to calm down. The work had just started. But, at least women were saved, and she killed a prince.

"Told you he was a prick," Troy whispered, making Emilia jump and curse.

"Did they find Jayden's sister?" Emilia asked.

"Yep, Alphie identified her," Troy replied before the beginning beat of Drowning Pool Bodies played in her ear.

"Fuck yeah," Emilia laughed.

She walked through the hallway and out the main door to the ladder. Emilia smirked as she climbed up the ladder. It is nice to feel appreciated and not die on a mission. Best to enjoy it while it lasts.

***

Dating Advice from a Hunter,

The best part about the ending of a bad relationship is learning from it.  No being is perfect.  We are all here trying to make it through.  The only solace that we have is that there is always a hunter there to take down the bad ones when they show their arse.  Let the monsters hit the floor, fuck yeah!

Happy Hunting,

E.V.

***

Outside of London in the Surrey countryside, a cottage sat on a plot of land. Rays of morning sunlight streamed inside as the morning news played on the TV.

"In other news," a female reporter started. "It has been three weeks since the missing women were found in Hyde Park. The Petrova family has been the only vampire coven found guilty of wrongdoings in the Bifrost kidnappings. Their spokeswoman reported that new policies would deter rebellious factions from acting against the codes.  This, of course, is to placate public outcry to banish the family from the UK and possibly other regions of Europe.  

Now, there are still questions surrounding that evening. For instance, what hunting group managed to save all these women? One survivor, Ellen Williamson, said the men had helped take them out of the underground passage, but a woman in all black killed a creature that kept the hostage. A video of a woman dressed all in black limping from the scene continues to circulate on certain forums, but no name has been provided.  Also, no clarification has been provided as to what monster one survivor is talking about.  What we can assume is that this rebellious band of vampires did not act alone.

So, what were they doing?  I, for one, think it would be too simple to say they were blood harvesting.  The small earthquake that shook London could be a sign that something else happened that night.  The Hunters Guild's only comment remains that a threat has been managed. 

The talks regarding the United Kingdom joining as an official member of the Hunters Guild continues with—"

A manicured hand turned the TV off with a click of the remote. The brunette woman brought the remote to her mouth and taps it to her lips for a few moments. She sat on the chair, letting her thin frame rest for a moment before she had to leave. Suddenly, a long, skinny tongue shoots out and brings the remote into her mouth. A series of crunching sounds follow before the woman swallows loudly.

"No need to watch that trash when my brethren still need to make it over," she muttered, standing up.

The brunette woman walked over to a small stack of bodies in the corner.  She dropped her hand into the puddle of blood on the floor.  

"Such weak things," she hissed.

The woman used her clean hand to open the door while letting the bloody hand hit the wall.  A large bloody paw print remained on the wall, slowly dripping down the wall.  She walked down the path and jumped over the small gate without missing a step. Her brunette hair tousles in the wind as she continued down the country path, not looking back.

***

Chapter WC: 1,518

Story WC: 27,333