Becoming the Hunted

Vincent stared to Henry now, his brows furrowed. He crossed his arms over his chest as he listened to the vampire before him. He couldn’t argue that the signature upon the page belonged to Nicholas. “A warlock.” He nodded, “Our coven does not deal in warlocks, Henry. They are very dangerous. You are in fact lucky to be alive...” He commented before Henry continued the story to tell him what happened. A bet. Vincent seemed to grow frustrated as the story unfolded from Henry’s mouth. “That rotten brat thinks he can do this to my granddaughter?” He scoffed. “Just because of his family...” He sneered. He was too busy stewing on this new found information that he didn’t realize that Henry was looking out the window. He lifted his eyes as the man rushed from the room.

**

“No I’m not going to allow you to hurt her again.” Fran spoke up, she stood just inches from Nicholas. He could snap her in two, easily. Just as Nicholas was about to strike Henry had come to the rescue.

Nicholas snarled in Henry’s grip. His hands gripped onto Henry’s forearms. “You think you can fight me?” He hissed, his fangs visible. His eyes had turned golden from the pain of being slammed against the wall. He snickered then as he licked his lips. “I’ll enjoy killing you, peasant. Vincent will understand. You caused all of this mess to happen. He will gladly allow me to rip your head off.” He chuckled at the end, his eyes were almost wild as he brought his knee into Henry’s side harshly. He still had lingering strength from drinking Adelaide’s blood...

Fran rushed to Adelaide’s side. “Come on.” She lifted her arm. “Get up.” She spoke quickly. “Come on, Addie.” She got her to her feet and held her arm around her shoulders. “Come on dear.” She rushed her from the room and down the hall. “Master Bennett!!” She cried out.

“No...we can’t leave Henry...” Adelaide pulled from Fran and turned to run back toward the room.

“You also can’t fight Nicholas...remember?” Fran grasped her shoulders. “Especially not now….”

Vincent ran into the hallway. “Addie.” He immediately pulled her into his arms. “Where is Henry?” He asked as he looked to Fran.

Fran glanced back toward the commotion of the bedroom. “Um….” She bit her lip slightly. “Nicholas was going to drain blood from Addie...Henry stopped him.” She looked back to Vincent whom growled lowly.

“Keep Addie safe.” He stared to her. He pushed a pistol into her chest. “Don’t let anyone near her, take her downstairs to the hidden room.” Vincent rushed forward then. He made his way into the room and grabbed a hold of Nicholas harshly. “You dare threaten my granddaughter?” He snarled. “You drink from her?!” He slammed Nicholas against the wall.

Nicholas fell to his knees as laughter came from him. “I’ve been doing it for quite sometime old man.” He cackled. “You can’t hurt me.” He smirked as a cut to his arm healed quickly. A benefit to drinking Adelaide’s blood. He gripped onto Vincent and spun him so that he slammed him against the wall. He then grabbed a piece of wood that had broken from the wall and thrust it through Vincent’s abdomen. He twisted it and chuckled. “How’s that hm? You signed your granddaughter over to me a year ago. She’s mine.” He turned and rushed from the room then.

Vincent pulled at the wood that was stuck through his body, he was lifted a good foot off of the ground. His body slumped forward as he groaned. “H….Henry...” He choked as blood leaked from his mouth. “Henry...h-help...” He grit his teeth. He no longer was the strong jawed leader of the coven as he hung from the wall. He was reduced to a pleading mess, fearful of the end. It wasn’t a wound that would kill him, but it was so painful that he wished it would.

**

Fran had Adelaide’s arm around her shoulders as they rushed down the stairs. She pulled her along. “Come on.” She spoke as she ran into the library and searched through one of the bookcases. She was searching for a particular title. “There.” She tugged on the book and the bookcase clicked and swung forward. “Alright Addie, get inside.” She pushed Adelaide forward into the room.

Adelaide glanced back as something slammed against the wall, the pistol that Fran had in her hand clattered across the floor. “Fran?” She stepped forward only for Nicholas to grip her around her neck tightly. She gripped his wrist and fought against him. “Nicholas….” She kicked against him, but it didn’t seem to do anything.

The door to the hidden room clicked shut, locking her in the room with him. “No where to go.” He spoke with a smirk. “Thought you could just get away? Hm? Spend the night with that fucking peasant.” He growled deeply. “Don’t worry. I knew. I just wanted to see how far you’d take this.” He slammed her against eh wall.

Adelaide let out a cry as she pulled as his hand that threatened to wield her unconscious. “Nicholas….stop...” She growled. “Let go.” She writhed in his grip. She brought her foot down against his shin harshly.

Nicholas snarled as he brought a fist into her side. “Stop fighting against me. When will you learn? You belong to me, Adelaide. Your grandfather sold you to me over a year ago.” He snapped before he slammed her again.

The air was knocked out of her lungs and her grip went loose for a moment as her vision swirled. He’d never been so aggressive before. At least...not that she could remember. He slammed her head against the wall once again and her vision blurred and threatened to black out. “Nicholas...” She breathed as her head lulled forward.

He gripped her jaw as he chuckled. “That’s better.” He smirked as he gazed into her eyes. He then turned her head to the side and in the next moment his fangs sank deeply into her neck.

Adelaide cried out as her hands gripped onto his shoulders. Her muscles tensed as she became unable to move. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she felt her blood pulled from her body swiftly. Too fast. He was taking too much. Then he ripped his fangs from her neck and he released her. Adelaide collapsed onto the floor in a heap. Her eyes looked up to him as she struggled to stay conscious.

Henry staggered back from her. He clenched his jaw. “What…..” He groaned as he fell to his knees. Black lines rushed across his skin. “What….did you...do?” He trembled. He shakily forced himself to his feet and he fell against the door that exited the room. He stumbled as the door pushed open easily and he fell to his chest on the floor. He took in gasping breaths as he made to push himself up again.

The sound of a gun cocking filled the air. “Don’t move.” Fran ordered. She had a black eye and blood ran from her nose from the impact against the wall. “Don’t fucking move.” She placed her boot on his back. “I’ll pull the trigger, Nicholas.” She warned. Her hands shook. She’d never killed anyone...she’d followed in Adelaide’s footsteps, she’d drink the harvested blood, but she wouldn’t kill for it.

Adelaide fought to keep her eyes open. Her breaths were heavy as she held her hand up to her neck, blood leaked down over her already destroyed dress. “F-Fran...” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Henry…” Her head lulled to the side, Nicholas had nearly drained her dry. If it wasn’t for his reaction she imagined that he would have killed her. Though, her blood seemed to act like a poison now that she had Lycan blood running through her veins. Luckily he’d released her when he did….

Fran looked up as she heard footsteps approaching. “Henry.” She spoke her eyes caught his, her hand still trembled as she held the gun aimed at Nicholas. “H-he...” She had tears rolling down her cheeks. She allowed him to move her, her body was stiff as a board as she took the small steps to the side. She watched as he began to drag Nicholas from the room. Fran flinched slightly as Henry called back to her to take care of Adelaide. “Addie...” She breathed as she spun around and rushed into the safe room. “Addie.” She knelt before her. “Hey….come on.” She tapped her cheek.

Adelaide’s eyes fluttered, she took in small breaths, blood dribbled over her lips from the deep wound that Nicholas had ripped into her neck. Bubbles came through the blood with each breath she took. “F-Fran...” She choked as her head lulled to the side.

“Shhhh don’t speak, Addie.” Fran quickly stood up and rushed to the trunk that was in the corner of the room. Vincent had stocked this room very well for a case like this. It had blood, medications, medical supplies...you name it. He had always been afraid of an attack on the Bennett family. Though, she was certain that he didn’t suspect that the attack would be from Nicholas. Fran brushed her red locks of hair from her face as she searched through the trunk. “Where is it?” She questioned, her hands trembled as she rummaged through the items until she uncovered a box with a medical cross on it. “There.” She pulled it out quickly. “Hang in there Addie.” She rushed to her side. She then rushed to a cabinet that was nearby. She pulled down an old bottle that looked to be a whisky decanter, but the liquid inside of it was dark and thick. She popped the cap and tipped the bottle. The glass rattled together from her shaky hands.

Fran then knelt before Adelaide. She set the glass on the ground for a moment as she straightened her friend. “Hey.” She tapped her cheek again. “You need to drink this.” She held Adelaide’s head up as her eyes fluttered once again. “Addie.” She spoke a bit louder. “Hey, look at me.” She brushed her hair from her eyes. “You need to stay with me. I need you to drink this.” She lifted the glass to Adelaide’s lips and tilted it slowly. Adelaide choked on the blood as it filled her mouth at first. Some of it leaked out the sides of her mouth, but then her eyes opened a bit more. Her hand weakly reached up to Fran’s as she drank the liquid. “There you go.” Fran spoke as she tilted the glass until it was gone. “Okay...” Her voice had calmed a bit now.

“He can’t hurt you anymore. Henry took him. I bet he won’t come back anytime soon. I bet he’s dead.” Fran spoke as she popped open the medical kit. She began to clean the wound, though it seemed to be a wasted effort as blood continued to flow from the wound. She grit her teeth slightly as she looked to her bloody hands. “Okay...” She nodded to herself as she began to pack the wound with the gauze. Adelaide whimpered slightly and weakly pushed against Fran as she pushed the gauze into the wound. “Shhh, I’ve got to do this.” Fran spoke as she focused on what she was doing. Before long she had the wound patched up, blood had soaked into the gauze but she knew that if she could get Adelaide to regain enough strength it would heal.

“Fran...” Adelaide whispered, her eyes heavy.

“Shhhh, just stay with me, don’t speak. You don’t have to.” Fran gave a gentle smile before she moved to the decanter again and poured another glass. Her hands were covered in Adelaide’s blood which smeared over the glass. She came back and held Adelaide’s head again, “Here you go.” She whispered as she once again helped her drink the glass. Adelaide took it more readily this time. Fran let out a breath. “Okay Addie.” Fran brushed blood from her lips and looked her over. “I’m sorry...If I would have stopped him...this wouldn’t have happened to you...I’m so sorry Addie.” Tears rolled over Fran’s cheeks.

Adelaide took in shallow breaths as she looked to Fran, her eyes threatened to close. “No...Fran...” She reached a hand forward, it landed on Fran’s thigh. “It’s...not your...fault...” She was hard to understand as she spoke, her voice barely a mutter. Adelaide lifted her eyes then, “Henry….” A weak smile turned up her lips. “You’re...okay...” She breathed her eyes once again threatening to close as her vision tunneled.

Fran glanced over her shoulder. “He….almost killed her...” She spoke her voice serious. “I stopped the bleeding, but she’s going to have to heal...” She shook her head then. “Are you alright Henry?” She looked to him, she noticed he was carrying himself a bit oddly.

“I owe you my granddaughter’s life, Henry.” Vincent spoke as he approached. There was a hole torn in his shirt along with fresh blood from where Henry had stabbed him. However, beneath the shirt his body had already mended. He stepped forward into the room and opened the cabinet that the decanter had been in. He reached up and pulled down a fresh glass and then he pulled down a beautifully crafted dagger that had wings upon the hilt. He held the blade to his wrist and cut into his flesh. His blood dripped and began to run down his arm and into the glass. He winced slightly as he pulled down another glass. He squeezed his arm and allowed his blood to flow into the second glass before he pressed his thumb to his arm. “Fran.” He spoke as he set the dagger down next to the decanter.

Fran stepped to him and watched as he removed his thumb from his wrist. His wound had healed already. “Lord Bennett?”

Vincent turned to her and held the glass toward her. “Give this to her.” He spoke and gave a slight smile before he grabbed the other glass. “Henry.” He stepped to him and held the glass forward. “If you want to stop hurting, I’d drink this. There is going to be a whole other war that we must deal with since Nicholas is dead within my home...” He let out a long breath. “I suppose family business now needs to become your business. Hm?” Vincent stared into Henry’s eyes.

Fran knelt and held Adelaide’s head once again. “Hey.” She spoke and brushed her thumb against Adelaide’s cheek. “Addie, wake up.” She drew her brows together. “Addie.” She spoke again and bit her lip slightly. Adelaide had fallen unconscious as everything played out.

“She needs to drink, Fran.” Vincent spoke as he turned to looked to the two.

Fran shifted slightly, “Come on.” She spoke as she lifted the glass to Adelaide’s lips. She tilted her head back slightly as she tilted the glass for her to drink. In her unconscious state Adelaide drank the blood. After a few moments the glass was empty and Fran shifted back to look her over. “Come on, Addie.” She brushed away a bit of blood that had leaked out of her mouth.

“Give her a minute.” Vincent spoke. “She was nearly drained dry...” He drew his brows together then looked to Henry. “Well my boy.” He spoke, “All competition aside, I believe you are suited to protect Adelaide better than any other man could.” He paused a moment. “If you’d like her hand and she agrees, then we have a lot to discuss.”

Vincent watched Henry as he awaited an answer. He could see the turmoil in the man’s expression. When Henry finally gave his answer he smirked. “That’s the spirit boy.” He spoke and pat him on the shoulder. “You made me nervous there for a moment.” He looked to Adelaide a moment and then to Fran. “Why don’t you get her cleaned up Fran? Adelaide has had a troubling few days...” He muttered, his brows furrowed as he looked back to Henry. “We must move the body from this house.” He spoke then. “There is a hunter here in London, at least one or two of them. If we stage it properly we will not start a war...I can only hope that we are able to do such a thing.” He drew in a breath. “I will take the body to the north side of town, that’s where a few of my spotters think the hunter is living. We haven’t been able to track him down quite yet, he’s the shifty type, they all are.” He cleared his throat. “Keep her safe, boy. I’ll take care of this.” He turned and walked from the room.

Fran tapped Adelaide on her cheek and frowned, “She’s out cold...” She muttered as she glanced to Henry. She reached forward and adjusted her limp body. “That’s um...big news huh?” She looked to him. “Is this what you really wanted, Henry?” She gave a soft laugh. “Most don’t realize how much trouble Adelaide can be.” She gripped onto Adelaide and lifted her, she staggered slightly and then gave a nod. Fran was stronger than she appeared.”Come on, Henry. I have a feeling that Addie is going to be looking for you when she wakes up. She asked for you when she was nearly dying...” She gave a smile to him as she shifted Addie into his arms. “You can carry her a lot better than I can.” She winked before she turned and led him from the room. She walked down the hall and paused as she stared to the blood pool on the floor where Henry killed Nicholas. She only paused a moment before she began walking once again. She didn’t take him up the stairs though. She took him down another hallway and pushed a door open to a nicely furnished guest room. “I’ll have to get someone to clean up Addie’s room.” She gave a soft laugh, “But she had plenty of clothing in here.” Fran walked in and motioned for him to lay her on the bed.

Fran then stepped over to a dresser and rummaged around in it until she found a simple button up tunic that would be easy to get onto Adelaide. It was long enough to be a short dress on her. Possibly her Adelaide’s father’s back in the day. Fran looked to Henry a moment, there was a picture on the bedside of a woman whom hugged herself to a handsome man, he held a child upon his hip that had beautiful brunette hair. “This was her parents room...before they died...at least that is what she told me.” Her voice was soft. There were picture frames upon the dresser as well. A wedding between the two. Photographs where Adelaide’s mother was not pale, it was before she had asked to be turned so that she could spend her life with Adelaide’s father. Fran all the while was moving about the room, she went into the bathroom that was attached as a suite and filled up a basin with warm water.

“She doesn’t remember them much, but you can see it in her eyes that she misses them. She was only 10 when it happened.” Fran spoke softly. “I can’t imagine losing family like that. It’s painful. My mother and father died of old age years ago...” She paused as she continued to clean the blood from Adelaide’s body. She cut the dress from her and lay a towel over her as she continued. She was careful to keep Adelaide modest in the presence of a man. “If you wouldn’t mind looking that way.” Fran spoke as she pointed away from Adelaide. She lifted her and slipped her like a doll into the tunic. Then she lay her down and she carefully pulled a blanket up over her body. “Alright, she’s descent now.” Fran spoke as she stood. She looked to Henry and stepped up to him, she reached forward and with a clean cloth she wiped away a bit of blood from his face. “You really surprised Lord Bennett.” She commented, “I would have never imagined him offering his blessing to a commoner to take Adelaide’s hand.” She gave a smile then. “I’m glad.” She smirked slightly as she took the bloody water to dump it.

Adelaide moved slightly, her teeth chattered from the chill in the room. Her eyes fluttered open as she shivered. “Henry?….” She asked in a soft voice that was barely audible.

Fran walked out from the bathroom and gave a smile, “He’s here dear.” She spoke and then she pushed him toward the bed. “You watch her while I clean up that blood hm?” She pat his back before she slipped from the room.

Adelaide gazed to Henry with her golden hues, she reached forward as he kelt before her and brushed her hair from her eyes. Her hand caught his forearm, her body was ice cold. Vampires weren’t inherently warm, but this was definitely much colder than her usual temperature. She took in a breath as she listened to his words. Her lips curved up into a smile as she shuddered from the chill that had overtaken her body. “It...was worth it then...hm?” She reached and cupped his cheek. Her eyes gazed into his a long moment. “And...Nicholas?” She questioned, “Is he dead?” She remembered the sight of the black lines spreading through his body like wildfire. “I saw...him...he was so weak after he drank from me...” She turned onto her side, her fingertips brushed through his hair and then her arm fell to hold onto his arm, she pulled it close to her chest. Her eyes were heavy though she held a smile upon her lips.

“Henry, I am willing. So long as you agree to it...there will be a lot of trouble to come...if you want to leave...now would be the best time...” Her voice was tired as she spoke, she shivered again and grit her teeth. The shaking of her muscles was painful, every muscle in her body felt as though she had just ran for hours on end without a break. Even breathing hurt. “I know this isn’t what you dreamed of...this isn’t your life...that you planned before he turned you.” She had closed her eyes now as she spoke. “Nothing has gone perfectly...” She let out a soft laugh, a smile remained on her lips. “But I want to do this with you, Henry.”

Adelaide opened her eyes to look at him, another shiver ran through her body, a look of pain came over her expression. “He deserved whatever you did to him, Henry.” She breathed after a moment of pause. She then fell quiet as she listened to him again, her eyes closed as she snuggled into the warmth of his arm. It reminded her of the night before when she had nestled her face into his neck. She let out a content sigh as she listened to him. “Life can be messy.” She smirked slightly, a soft chuckle came over her lips. Though the look of pain came back to her expression as she immediately regretted the laugh. When he lifted her hand and pressed it against his cheek she opened her eyes once again to look to him, a warm smile upon her lips. “You’re so warm.” She whispered softly.

Then he began to apologize. Adelaide pulled her hand from his and she placed a finger against his lips. “Henry.” She breathed, her arm trembled slightly. She grasped his hand and pulled his arm against her body again. “Please...don’t apologize. I knew it was a trap.” She had a soft voice as she spoke. “Remember...the man that I killed…?” She asked him as she opened her eyes again. “That was Nicholas’ man...he knew where we were...” She shivered again and she let out a soft whimper as she gripped onto his hand. Though even her grip was weak.

The door pushed open then, “All cleaned up.” Fran spoke as she stepped into the room. She drew her brows together slightly. “She doesn’t look so great...” She noted how pale Adelaide’s skin was still. “She should be healing with Lord Bennett’s blood...he is one of the most powerful of our coven...I don’t imagine anything else could help her...” Fran frowned slightly as she sat one the edge of the bed near Adelaide’s knees to give Henry plenty of room. “Henry, is there anything you know of that would help?” She asked softly.

Fran nodded to Henry as she watched him leave. She moved to a trunk and pulled out a think blanket and tucked it in around Adelaide. “He’ll fix this.” She gave a gentle smile as she tucked a lock of Adelaide’s hair behind her ear. “I know it.” She whispered softly.

Adelaide looked to her as she shivered again and let out a soft cry. “I...don’t feel well.” She breathed.

“Addie?” Vincent came back into the room. He’d changed clothing and cleaned himself up. He looked to Fran and then looked around the room. “Why is she not well?” He questioned with a worried expression.

Fran looked to Vincent and bit her lip slightly. “Lord Bennett...Henry has gone in search of something to remedy her. She’s freezing cold.” Fran tucked the blankets in a bit more.

Vincent came and knelt before his granddaughter. He took her hand in his. “We will get through this my dear.” He brushed her cheek. “If...I would have known about Nicholas...” He clenched his jaw slightly as he watched Adelaide slip into a slumber, she was unable to keep herself awake any longer. He drew in a breath. “Fran, she needs more blood. She needs stronger blood than I can offer.” He left the room and returned with a cup. “When she wakes...I have fires to put out before Nicholas’ family gets word of his death. There is plenty that I must get done. If I can steer the blame away from us...” He hurried off then.

Fran held the glass in her hand as she let out a sigh. She looked to Adelaide with worried eyes, she was trembling even more it seemed. “Oh Addie...” She set the cup on the side table as she heard Adelaide’s teeth begin to chatter. “This is worse than a fever...” She muttered as she went to the trunk and grabbed another blanket. She turned on the gas heater in the room as well. She knelt next to the bed and hummed a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her when she was a young child. “Just rest, Addie.” She whispered.

When Henry returned Fran stood and turned to him. She looked to the vial and popped the cap off of it. She sniffed it and her nose wrinkled. “What is this?” She nearly gagged. “I have better blood than Lord Bennett’s. He pulled something from the basement for her. Something that we do not have much of. But in dire times...” She turned to the glass as she dumped the vile into it. At this point Adelaide’s breaths were shallow and quick as her body shivered. “I hope this works Henry...If not I’m not...so sure she will make the night...” Her eyes were sad as she looked to Henry. Fran brushed hair from Adelaide’s face and tapped her cheek gently. “Addie.” She spoke, “Addie come on hun. You’ve got to be awake for this.”

Adelaide’s eyes cracked open and her expression immediately turned to pain. She might have been freezing but to her it felt like her entire body was on fire. She tried to speak as her eyes looked to Henry, though the words were so broken it was hard to make out anything comprehensible. Fran carefully lifted her up into a seated position. “Henry.” She pulled at him and pushed him toward Adelaide. “Hold her up, I can’t do both.” She gave him a soft smile. “Besides, she’s your future wife, right? So we have to save her to make that happen.” She lifted the glass. “You have to drink this, okay?” She held the side of Adelaide’s head just as she had in the safe room. She lifted the glass to her lips and tilted it back.

Adelaide reached up and placed her hand over Fran’s as she weakly drank the liquid. She choked slightly but after a few sips she drank the rest of it quickly. Her body continued to shiver as she reached and grasped onto Henry’s hand. She pulled it close to her as she shut her eyes. She grit her teeth from the pain.

Fran nodded to Henry as she watched Adelaide. She sat on the edge of the bed and waited. A silence fell over the room as Adelaide continued to shiver. She turned and curled against Henry, he was warm, soothing. It took several minutes but her trembling body began to calm. Her breathing leveled out and became deeper and a more even pace. Her grimace faded and she opened her eyes. She was holding onto Henry’s shirt, her fingers curled around it. “Henry.” She breathed. Her whole mind was a blur. She couldn’t remember exactly what happened. “What...” She found Fran with her eyes. “Fran…what happened?”

Fran gave a smile and a chuckle. “Ah that’s a good sign. Henry saved you.” She looked to him as she stood. “I need to inform Lord Bennett that she is awake. He’s rather busy...but he’s very worried about her...he just has to make sure that we stay safe now that Nicholas is dead...” She then looked to Henry. “What exactly was in that vial?” She questioned curiously.

Adelaide pressed her face against Henry’s chest as she closed her eyes to rest. “Magic.” She replied with a smile upon her lips. “That’s what that was.” She gave a giggle. She felt as though she’d drank several bottles of wine at this point. She had a goofy smile upon her lips. “That’s the only thing it could have been...right Henry?” She gave a soft laugh again before she sighed happily.

Fran chuckled and shook her head. “I’ll be back, enjoy your time. I”m glad you found that stuff.” She smiled as she left to inform Vincent.