Becoming the Hunted

Adelaide grinned against his neck as he spoke of Fran having quite a bit of work with him. “Don’t worry...she’ll iron you right out. Though...” She allowed him to shift her from him and she yawned slightly as she snuggled into the blankets and watched him as he pulled his dirty coat from his body. “I kind of like this side of you...the finely polished Henry isn’t nearly as attractive as this version.” She giggled lightly.

She lifted her eyes to him as he spoke of the contest, “Hm, my grandfather is a wise man, even if he does things wrong sometimes...he’s been around for a long time...he knows how to manage the coven to keep from starting a war.” She snuggled against him and hugged herself to his body. She then sighed happily. “Yes, what he is doing will keep the coven from turning against us. At least the coven will follow us, rather than Nicholas’ family.” She traced along his jawline as she looked to him. “You never answered Fran’s question...what was in that vile?” She asked curiously then. “Was it what I think it was?” She asked with a bit of worry in her voice. She had come down from the high now and was simply relaxed against him.

Adelaide took in a breath as he spoke of what it was. She knew that would be the answer somehow. She lay her head against him as she traced along his chest. When he turned on his side she lifted her eyes to him and she gazed into his eyes. “It’s hard...not to worry about something like that...Henry...I’m a pure blood...that is my claim, it is what the Bennett line is built upon. If I am tainted...I...” She paused as she thought deeply. “I don’t know what will happen to me...or what is to come. That warlock didn’t think of all of the repercussions of doing this...the things that will fall apart because of it.” She pressed her forehead against his as she closed her eyes. Her fingers curled around his bicep gently. “What if...I get injured and there isn’t a drop of Lycan blood to be found?” She asked as she pulled back and looked into Henry’s eyes. “I healed as quick as my grandfather before this...I could get shot by a bullet and the wound would close before the bullet hit the wall behind me.” She gave a soft laugh. “Now, I’m weak. There is no place for the weak in a war.”

She paused then as she closed her eyes again, she seemed to be thinking deeply. “But I have other strengths that I did not have before...” She thought quickly. “My blood.” She looked to Henry then. “The other coven...if...they were to wage war against us.” She smirked slightly. “We could encapsulate a few drops of my blood into a hollow tip. We have to discover how poisonous it truly is...It isn’t as strong as pure Lycan blood...but we could slow them down. We could overpower them easily if they were weak.” She grinned then as she seemed to flip the coin in her mind. “We will make it through this Henry...I still have to give you the chance to win my heart...and if we fall to this how would I ever be able to give my heart to you?” She cupped his cheek as she said this. “Though, you won’t have to try too hard.” She leaned forward and kissed him then, it was sweet and gentle. Her lips lingered there for a long moment before she pulled back and gave him a smile. “Hopefully, we don’t have to worry about a war.” She whispered softly.

Adelaide laughed lightly with him as she listened to him. Her eyes were becoming heavy from exhaustion. “No...no Fran is my best friend.” She whispered softly. “I can trust her with anything. I trust her with my life.” She snuggled against him a bit more. Her body threatening to cast sleep upon her. “That just means we can go on more hunts. Hm?” She hummed with a sweet smile upon her lips. She leaned into the kiss and let out a content sigh as her muscles relaxed more. “You should rest too...” She muttered softly, her words almost incoherent. Soon enough she’d fallen into a deep sleep.

**

The day passed without a sound in the home. The Bennett estate was nestled away from the ho hum of the city, so the humans didn’t cause much noise near the home to be accounted for. Though, every now and again the sound of pacing footsteps could be heard, Vincent’s office was above them and a room over. Adelaide didn’t move much from where she slept, she curled against Henry, her face nestled into the nape of his neck. Her breaths were even and deep. She mumbled slightly in her sleep a few times. Though the words were impossible to make sense of.

When the sun finally set over London there was a light knock on the door. A moment later Fran pushed the door open. She had a tray with two glasses of blood. She smiled as she came into the room. “She really did take a liking to you, hm?” She chuckled as she noted how close Adelaide had pulled herself to Henry’s body. She moved to the curtains and drew them, allowing the dim light of the night into the room. It was a normal routine that she went through with Adelaide every day. She smiled as she looked to the two once again. “I’ll...let you wake her.” She looked to Henry again and gave a nod. “Lord Bennett worked through the day to assure our safety...He would like to speak with you, as well as Addie whenever you get around.” She slipped from the room without another word.

Adelaide turned her face against him a bit more as she drew in a breath. “I would rather just stay here.” She replied in a sleepy voice. “If only we could ignore the reality that we live in.” She lifted her head and smiled to him before she kissed his cheek. “I hope that my grandfather has good news.” She stretched slightly and hugged herself back to his side. “I’d hate to leave this for him to tell us that we are going to be waging war with the other coven.” She then relaxed and rolled to her back. She stared up at the ceiling and let out a long breath. There was something she couldn’t stop thinking about. The woman in the cage in the basement of William’s home. The lycan that was no longer able to take on her lycan form. She’d promised to rescue her. She drew her brows together slightly as she thought of this. She then turned back to Henry, she lay on her side and propped her head up with her hand.

“Henry...” She spoke as she caught his eyes with her own. “There is something that we need to do. War or not.” Her expression was serious. “William has a lot of prisoners in his basement...caged like animals. He even has a Lycan that can no longer take on her form because of the tests that he’s done to her...I promised her I would save her if I ever got out of there...” She lowered her eyes slightly and then rolled away from him. “I feel connected to her somehow...” She shook her head. “Maybe it was her blood?” She asked as she hung her legs from the side of the bed. She stretched once again before she stood and made her way to the tray. She grabbed both glasses and carried one over for Henry to drink. She handed it to him before she lifted her own glass to her lips. She took a sip and then let out a breath. “Is it even possible to rescue her?” She asked softly.

Adelaide frowned slightly as Henry spoke. He was right. It was a losing cause. They didn’t have the army he was speaking of to get into William’s home. She thought deeply for a moment as she took another sip from her glass. “So we lie.” She spoke her eyes locked on his. “You promised William that you would bring me back for more injections...that is how we get in.” It was a dangerous plan. One that could end up with them both dead if they were not careful. “I just….I promised her that I would come back for her...she can’t even defend herself. Whatever he’s done to her...” She sighed heavily as she realized just how crazy she sounded. “I...” She drew in a long breath and shook her head. “It’s not a good idea...” She nodded, as if he’d already given her his answer.

She took another sip from her glass. “Let’s go speak with my grandfather then...” She set her glass down as she looked to herself, the shirt reached just low enough to be almost midway down her thighs. She gave a soft laugh, “Fran found quite the clothing for me….or lack there of.” She walked over to the closet and rummaged through it a bit before she found a pair of leggings to pull on. She stared to an image of her parents for a long moment before she turned back to Henry. “Alright, dressed enough, hm?” She grasped her glass and then opened the door to the room. Adelaide walked down the hallway and up the stairs. She was quiet as she walked, as if she expected the news that Vincent would give them to be a nuclear explosion. She knocked upon his office door before she pushed the door open.

“Addie.” He spoke with a warm smile as he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed the side of her head as he squeezed her tight. “It is so good to see you on your feet my dear.” He held her another long moment before he nodded to Henry. “It was only possible because of this fine gentlemen here.” Vincent had a totally different attitude with Henry. He pat his shoulder and then walked over to his desk where he sat down. “I managed to get the body far enough out that Nicholas’ coven will not suspect foul play. I have put word out that tomorrow night the competition is to continue, and that you were found safe. This will give the illusion that we do not know that Nicholas is dead. We will manage it.” He smiled as he looked to Adelaide. “I’m certain that Henry has already told you that I wish for him to take your hand.” He watched her closely as if to see what her response would be.

Adelaide gave a smile to her grandfather, “Yes, he did.” She replied before she sipped her blood. “I fully accept this choice, grandfather.”

“Good. I had a feeling you might.” He then sipped on his own glass of blood. “So long as you do not change your mind Henry you are a part of the Bennett family.” He smiled to him then. “Now...Addie...” He looked back to his granddaughter. “I need to speak with Henry.”

Adelaide hesitated a moment before she nodded. “Of course grandfather.” She stood and walked from the room.

Vincent’s smile seemed to fade slightly as he looked to Henry. “This isn’t going to be easy, Henry.” He spoke as he swirled the blood around in his glass. “I noticed something strange about Nicholas’ body...” He commented. “The way he died, it even looked like a hunter killed him.” He kept his eyes on Henry, “I thought I recognized you dear boy.” He grinned then, his fangs clearly visible. “Your face had familiarities about it, yet I could not place the reason.” He took a long drink from his glass before he set it down, empty. “You are a hunter, to be more specific you are the hunter that I turned.” His words were like daggers as he spoke. Though he still sat completely calm on the other side of the desk from him. “Did you come here to kill me? Hm? Now you’ve fallen for my granddaughter.” He chuckled lightly. He leaned back in his chair with his hands upon the arm rests. “This may be a bit easier of a war with you on our side, Henry.” He smiled again. “Nicholas’ coven, even if a hunter killed him...they will eventually attack our coven. It is a lost transaction and they wanted the power over our coven. It’s a war that I didn’t want to fight. You understand? I didn’t want to send Addie away with that brat, but I was backed against a wall. If I told his family no, it was war. I didn’t want to send Adelaide off into life amidst a war, Henry.” He chuckled lightly. “That isn’t why I’ve protected her for nearly a century. No.” He shook his head. “But now, we will be faced with war...” He nodded. “What do you propose? You’re a hunter. You have tricks up your sleeve. Hell...you nearly killed me. You’re the only one that came so close.” He chuckled once again.

**

Adelaide walked to her room. She pushed the door open and glanced around. It was as if nothing happened the night before. She lay on her bed with her legs hanging over the side as she stared up to the ceiling. It was frustrating that her grandfather never included her in the family business. He was protecting her, but now more than ever she needed to know what was happening...

Vincent watched Henry with a sort of knowing smile upon his lips. “It isn’t that I didn’t recognize you, Henry.” He spoke and tilted his head slightly. “I was dealing with quite bit back then. Adelaide’s mother and father had just died...” He leaned forward. “Want to know something that Addie doesn’t even know?” He questioned. He lifted his glass and swirled the few drops of blood that remained within it. “They were both killed by a hunter….it wasn’t an accident like I’ve told everyone. That was something I created because...Adelaide was too young to understand.” He let out a soft sigh. “I’ve searched for that hunter day in and day out since it happened, but no luck as of yet.” He shook his head. “That’s when you began to trail me, because I was being careless. I wanted to rip that hunter to pieces for what he did to my family. Liliana was much like Adelaide...she was the sweetest thing...she begged my son Xander to turn her.” He had a soft smile upon his lips. “I didn’t approve of it, of course. But, they were quite the pair.” He set his empty glass down and relaxed back.

“That is what we don’t understand about each other. There are some of us vampires that have not acted as the monsters that we are painted to be. Adelaide, for example.” He didn’t pull his eyes from Henry as he spoke. “Me on the other hand. I’ve done my fair share of things that are beyond the law. Though most of the killing I do is of my own kind, or filthy lycans.” He smirked then. “We can both agree that Lycans need to be scraped from the face of this planet. They are nothing but animals. I’ve tried to give them a chance over the years and the filthy mutts always prove me wrong.” He took in a breath. Keeping that Adelaide was not a pure blood anymore and that her blood was tainted by Lycan blood...well that seemed to be the right idea with how strongly he felt.

Vincent relaxed once again back in his chair. “The coven that Nicholas was a part of is as old as my own, however the Bennett line holds...royalty so to speak. Our line is of much stronger vampires than that of Nicholas...so we have that.” He smirked slightly. “I will get you a map of the city and each home that has members of high stature in his coven...they tend to hunt their humans almost nightly. They capture a few and hunt together as a game of entertainment….” He clenched his jaw slightly. “The only hunt that our family has participated in is in celebration once per year to truly be ourselves. Generally I find the worst piece of trash human that I can that has committed crimes and murdered...they would die in their cell so why not be a part of something?” He grinned then and seemed to think once more. “I will gather more information for you, Henry.” He then stood and extended his hand forward. “As much as I do not want to trust you. I am giving you my trust that you will keep my granddaughter safe. She is all I have.” He shook his hand and then walked around his desk. “We must prepare for the worst. I will be working on that...now go spend some time with Addie….and enjoy yourself Henry, I’m not going to kill you. If I wanted to kill you I would have done it years ago.” He smirked then before he turned and walked from the door back to his desk.

**

Adelaide still lay upon her bed, her eyes closed. She was rather comfortable outside of her normal attire. It was nice to be able to take in a deep breath without a corset to restrict her. She began to wonder what her grandfather and Henry were talking about. What sort of difficult struggles would they have ahead of them? Questions bombarded her mind to the point that it made her head spin. There were too many questions. So many variables that could change...

Adelaide lifted herself to sit on the edge of the bed as Henry came into the room. She drew her brows together as she looked at his expression, he seemed overwhelmed. Or at least that was what she thought. When he began to speak she had made her way over to him and stood at the balcony window to gaze outside. As the words came over his lips she turned to him, her own face filled with confusion. “He knew?” She questioned softly. A look of shock washed over her expression. “He knew and he...gambled that you wouldn’t harm me...” She let out a laugh and shook her head. “It just gets better and better doesn’t it…?” She questioned.

She stepped to his side and placed her hand upon his shoulder as she leaned down to look into his eyes. “That’s good right?” She asked. She cupped his cheek and then kissed his forehead. “At least we don’t have to worry about him finding out.” She thought a moment as she moved and sat at the edge of her bed again, though this time she faced the balcony near where Henry sat. “I’m surprised that he welcomed you into the family...he must feel that you are an asset to have around. You did save me...” She lay back again with her legs hinged over the side of the bed. She crossed her arms above her head and cradled her head in her palms. “I’m...curious as to what else he knew...” She muttered softly as she thought of Nicholas and how he had drained her for nearly a year. Did Vincent know about that? Did he care? It was always hard to feel out a noblemen...especially her grandfather, he knew how to play his cards right, that was for certain. “What else did he tell you?” She asked, though she wasn’t sure how much of a response she would get. Maybe Henry would let her in more on the family workings. But then again, maybe Vincent told him not to talk to her about it.