Becoming the Hunted

Adelaide stood and watched him as he surveyed the room. She raised a brow slightly. “Of course not. No one challenges him.” She took in a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “If you’re not looking for weapons...” She watched as he looked out over the city. “What are you trying to find exactly?” She stood in the center of the room. She had a look of curiosity when he mentioned how many hunters he knew in his previous life. “Did you ever partake in a hunt with one?” She asked her eyes never left him.

When he looked to her bed she brought her eyes there as well. “It depends. I’m not really sure.” She seemed to think deeply about it a moment as she walked over to his side. She placed her hands on her hips slightly as she stared to the bed. “I suppose...I like to sleep on the far side.” She walked around the other side of the bed and looked to him. “Though, sometimes I stare at the stars before I fall asleep, once the moon has disappeared. That short time before daylight comes. When I do that...” She walked back around to him. “I lay here.” She raised her eyes to meet his. “I’m not much help...am I?” She let out a soft laugh. “Why don’t you just stay and protect me? Hm?” She grinned then. “Just win the competition and we won’t have to worry about a thing.” She let out a soft sigh. “At least, I hope we won’t.”

Adelaide watched him from where she stood. He seemed to still be analyzing things as she spoke to him and as she had walked around the room back and forth. Though now she stood close to him and he stated that he didn’t have much to offer on ways to help her escape. She already knew that. Her room was strategically chosen by her grandfather, to keep danger out and to keep her in. She laughed lightly when he spoke of the window. “Ah yes, well. I’ve thought of that already. If I were to jump out the window I would risk the possibility of becoming more entrapped than I am within the walls of this room. There isn’t a safe way to jump. I’d risk injuring myself which would make it impossible for me to run away...” She had tried to the window idea when she was younger, she had a scar on her right shin to prove it. She’d broken her leg, clean through it had snapped like a twig. That taught her that the window was of too great a height to just leap out.

Her eyes settled in on him as she crossed her arms over her chest. When he began to answer her question she had a smile upon her lips. He was toying with her. He asked if she would fear him. Was she afraid? Her smile faded as the wicked grin turned up the corners of his mouth. In that moment she realized something, he wasn’t joking. She took in a breath as she took a step back from him her eyes watched his every move. “If...what you are saying is true.” She took another step, a few feet between them now. “Then, you were never interested in any of this.” She meant the competition to gain her hand. She began to form her own story in her mind. That was why he never truly expected to gain her attention. “You were looking at the estate. That’s what you said. That we never allowed guests inside and you couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” She backed up again her hazel eyes watched him closely. She still didn’t have her full strength back yet. She couldn’t fight off Nicholas, how was she supposed to defend herself against a hunter? Which was worse? It came down to if she would rather be killed quickly or wilt away at the hands of a greedy vampire that would use her to his advantage. Neither sounded preferable.

She didn’t know his motive. She didn’t know what he wanted. But certainly if he was a hunter...it wouldn’t be anything good. Especially because he stated just earlier that he was still quite furious about being turned unwillingly. Did he think of her as a monster? Of most of the nobles she was the most tame. In fact, she even frequented many human establishments, without a single human kill under her belt. She refused the hunts that the coven participated in. Her grandfather would call her weak. But she did not believe that the humans should be treated like game. Her breath shook slightly as she stared to him, her hazel eyes had melted into the golden color. Fear. Her eyes gave away many things. That was one of the downfalls of a pure blood. It was dangerous for them to get close to humans due to their traits that would easily give them away. Even the most controlled pure blood could not keep his eyes from changing at certain moments. Emotions. Blood. Injury. It was a dead give away.

She had backed herself against the wall by this point, her eyes not moving from him. She drew her brows together. “Why would you tell me that?” She questioned then. “There is no reason to tell me….if you plan to kill me...why would you lay your cards out in the open and reveal yourself?” She didn’t move now, there wasn’t much else she could do. The balcony was close yes, but as they had just discussed it wasn’t a good option. He was between her and the door. The corner had been her only place to retreat and that didn’t offer her any protection. “I’m not a monster like the others, Henry.” She spoke then, her expression softened. “Even a hunter can see that...can’t you? Or do you just kill anything that is not a human?” She half expected him to lunge forward, and she had no where to go.

Adelaide didn’t take her eyes off of him as he spoke. His voice took on a completely different tone, it was soft, calming. She pressed her back against the wall as he closed the distance. “Henry.” She spoke, her breathing had quickened. When he reached forward she tensed and closed her eyes, as if she expected a knife in his hand to slice her throat. She knew she was in no condition to fight back against him and she’d accepted that reality. When his hand simply cupped her cheek her eyes opened once again and she stared into his eyes. The closeness was something she’d become familiar with during their past interactions. His smile, that was something she found to be one of the most lovely things about him, it was warm and welcoming. She took in a shaken breath, her mind still raced quickly as he spoke. If he wanted to kill her, he would. But why hadn’t he? If he was a hunter? She was no different than the others. Most hunters would have killed her quickly just for being a Bennett. That strength behind her name made her a perfect target.

As he spoke of the betrayal and the things that he’d been through she let out a soft breath. It wasn’t a life that anyone deserved, even a hunter. If vampires were meant to not be monsters….hunters must not be the monster that she was grown into hating. When he slipped his hand from her face her muscles loosened, she released herself from the wall, though she still didn’t appear entirely comfortable. That was when he let the next bit of news drop. Vincent, her grandfather was his sire. That wicked chuckle came back again. She pressed her lips together in a flat line, the practiced smile long gone. “What were your plans Henry?” She questioned softly. “To marry me to smite my grandfather?” She questioned softly. Her voice had a bit of a quiver to it. “Did you plan to kill him?” She searched his eyes. “I know he...isn’t the best of men...” Her eyes lowered. “He’s no better than any other vampire in power. How do you think it came to be that way?” Her voice was a whisper then. “I’m less afraid of you, than I am of Nicholas.” She spoke and lifted her eyes to meet his. Her expression still flat, her eyes still golden. “Though, I’m not sure what to say...” The playful Adelaide had seemed to disappear. This was the true Adelaide without any walls, without alcohol. Without anything to keep her from showing her true self. "I..." She pressed her lips together and then looked away from him, she was at a loss for words.

Adelaide watched him as he seemed to rethink his actions. The way he retreated to the chair and rubbed the back of his neck as if he was trying to rid himself of the frustration. She remained in the corner. She had her arms crossed over her chest as she watched him, though her eyes had melted back to a hazel color once again as she listened to him speak. Her expression began to soften as he spoke of the memory of her grandfather. What happened to him was horrible. No one should have to live through that. No one should ever be turned against their will. It was torture. Horrible. It was something that a true monster did. Her arms came from her chest and she stepped forward slowly. “You….you’re not rambling.”

She stepped to him and reached forward, her browed were pulled together, a sense of worry filled her expression. “That...should have never happened to you, Henry.” She cupped his cheek and gazed into his eyes. “My grandfather has been known for doing things...horrible things...some of which I am not even aware of. Like what he has done to you. He’s done many things that I don’t wish to repeat. Things that I don’t plan on carrying on...” She searched his eyes a long moment. “You’re allowed to be angry. You have every right to be.” She took in a deep breath before she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “Thank you for telling me.” She spoke as her hand fell from him. She stepped to the window that looked out over her balcony. Her arms crossed over her chest again as she turned her back to him. “What do you plan to do, Henry?” She questioned. “Did you plan on killing off the Bennett line? Was that what sparked this in the first place?” She asked, though she still didn’t look to him. Of course she was afraid. She had a hunter in her room. He was very capable of killing her, and she knew it would be before she could even react. “Or do you plan to take my hand when you win the competition?” She seemed to be making more of a statement with the way she worded a question. “You’re a hunter, there is no excuse for you to lose to a bratty vampire like Nicholas.”

Adelaide glanced to him when he laughed. A slight curved turned up the edges of her lips, but she didn’t follow in his laughter. She turned and leaned against the trim of the door that led to the balcony as she listened to him, her brows tucked together. He spoke the truth of his purpose there. He was there simply to kill her grandfather. Her only family. She took in a breath as her eyes shifted away from him. Did she want to scream? Yes. But something stopped her. Something told her he could in fact keep her safe from Nicholas. From the dreary future that was set for her.

When he finished Adelaide placed a well practiced smile upon her lips. “Doesn’t every lady of nobility marry a man that she’s just met?” She questioned, she raised a brow. “Do I have a choice in the matter?” She stepped toward him, her eyes fixed on him. “Maybe. But perhaps I do not. I’ve never truly had a choice, the choice was made for me.” She cleared her throat and walked away from him. “You. Were my choice.” She had slipped effortlessly around him, placing herself closer to the door of her room, rather than in the corner trapped. She turned with her arms crossed over her chest. “But you don’t seem to want to be my choice.” She shrugged slightly. “It also seems I have rather poor taste.” She gave an almost pained laugh. “I chose, out of all the men...a hunter turned vampire. By my grandfather no less...” Adelaide didn’t lift her eyes from him. “But you’re still a better choice than a vampire that will bleed me for his own power.” She let out a soft sigh. “But if you’re not interested...perhaps it would be in your best interest to leave now before I come to my senses?” The practiced smile once again. She placed her fingertips around the handle of the door and gave a nod. “I can show you out, if that is what you would like, Henry.”

Adelaide had pulled the door open to take Henry from the estate. Though as she turned she saw the shadow that crashed through the window and before she knew it Henry was on the ground. She took a step back, her eyes had turned golden as she peered upon the creature. She’d read stories. But not once in her lifetime of nearly a century had she run into a gargoyle. She was already turning to run as Henry told her to do so. She rushed into the hall followed by the stone beast. It roared from behind her and chased her through the back side of the house and into the gardens.

The trouble was, she wasn’t fully recovered from Nicholas drinking her blood. By the time she’d made it to the gardens her vision had begun to blur and tunnel. “No...” She breathed, she could feel her muscles becoming heavier with each step. In that moment she felt the beast collide with her. She was sent forward and onto her back beneath the creatures. Adelaide let out a scream that echoed through the sleepy night in London. She fought to pull herself from beneath the creature, just the weight of the stone felt as though it was going to crush her. Then suddenly the gargoyle wrapped its arms around her tightly. Her body pressed against the massive chest of the creature, she could barely breathe, a whimper came from her lips as she fought to draw in a breath.

“Stop!!” Shots were fired. “Unhand her!” Another shot. The pellets ricocheted off of the stone body of the gargoyle, though a few sliced into the side of her calf muscle and she winced to the burning sensation of the metal within her flesh. She would have screamed...but she couldn’t do such a thing with how tightly the gargoyle held her. The voice that was yelling was none other than Nicholas. “Beast!” He called out as he loaded in another shot.

“What are you doing you fool?! You’ll kill her!” Vincent rushed forward, his fangs bared. He was prepared to place his life on the line for his grand daughter.

The gargoyle let out another roar that echoed through the city before it thrust the stony wings toward the ground and took to the skies. Adelaide watched as her grandfather sprinted forward, his hand reached up and grasped upon her shoe which slipped easily from her food, it had her blood upon it from the gunshot wound, the light color was now speckled in the dark liquid. Adelaide let out another whimper as the beast thrust higher into the sky as if flying toward the moon. As they flew on her eyes fluttered, the creature was still crushing her with its strong grip. By the time they landed Adelaide fell into a heap upon the floor of an old abandoned home. Dust covered the furniture around them. She rolled to her side as the creature growled, its red eyes upon her. Was it summoned by someone? It seemed to have some purpose by taking her from her home.

“Ah a round of applause.” Clapping came from a single set of hands. “Good boy.” A man spoke as he stepped to the gargoyle whom growled to him. “Run along now.” He snapped his fingers with a wicked grin upon his lips. The man came to Adelaide’s side, a wicked grin upon his lips. “Miss Bennett. You are quite the hot commodity.” He smirked as he brushed a bit of hair from her eyes. “Ooph, where did you get that from?” He looked to her leg. “Did someone miss?” He raised a brow as he poked at the wound, which caused Adelaide to whimper. “Well. Not that you asked.” He looked back to her. “But I am William. It’s simple. Don’t forget it now.” He chuckled as he seemed to examine her blood upon his fingertips. “Nicholas said he could stop my gargoyle.” He laughed as he stayed crouched, balanced on his heels. “I bet him your life that he couldn’t.” He had a giddy smile now. “He wanted to be the knight in shining armor. Kill the competition. Blah blah blah.” He licked the blood from his fingertip and seemed to sample it. “Hm. I never quite understood what it is about blood that you vampires like.” He wrinkled his nose before he stood. “Now then. I’ve won.” He let out a laugh. “He’s clearly lost.” He shrugged as he moved and sat in one of the chairs that lacked dust, the only chair that didn’t have a spec of dust upon it. “So, you’re my prize dear.”

Adelaide winced as she took in a breath, she could feel the crinkle in her ribs, many were broken from the gargoyle’s grip. She needed blood to heal. She needed rest. Yet, the sun would soon be upon them.

“No, no no don’t worry dear.” William stood with a smile, “I’ve got a basement. You’ll be safe.” He reached down and grabbed her under her arms and lifted her up. Adelaide leaned heavily against him, her skin pale as a sheet. “You don’t look so good. Hm. You also don’t seem to speak much.” He giggled again as he lifted her up and carried her along. “Come on then, time to sleep before the sun rays come.” He began his way down into the basement. There were creatures in cages. Lycans that snarled as they passed. Other experiments and inventions. Adelaide let out a whimper as she tried to turn from his arms. “No, no no.” He giggled as he set her down on a bed. “This, is your home now.” He tilted his head with a smile. “I’ve got the contract.” He pulled the page from his pocket and unrolled it before her. “See? Signed. Dated. Sealed. Even a bit of blood for authenticity.” He giggled again before he slapped a cuff on her wrist and then secured it to the bed. He then looked to her, a shocked expression on his face. “Just for….safe keeping. Wouldn’t want you running away on me.” He smiled before he stood and slipped from the dimly lit basement.

Adelaide let out a cry as she pulled against the shackle. She was locked up like a monster. Sold like an animal by Nicholas to this crazy wizard in god knows where. She used what little strength she had to pull against the cuff as she grit her teeth. “You won’t get out.” A voice came from near her. She turned slightly to see a young woman locked within a cage. “You’re the first vampire he’s brought here. He usually experiments on Lycans and the like.” She spoke with a soft voice. “I would save your energy.” She nodded. “No one is going to come for you, girl.”

Adelaide shut her eyes as she took in shaken breaths. “Someone will.” She spoke, her voice filled with pain.

Adelaide lay against the bed, she could feel springs poke up through the mattress beneath the sheet. Her body ached as she tugged at the cuff. Blood had crusted beneath the metal of the shackle. Her mind was becoming a fog rather quickly without blood to fuel her recovery. “You need blood don’t you?” The girl spoke from the cage as she watched Adelaide. She shifted and gripped onto the bars to get a better look. “You’re white as a sheet...” She commented. Though there was no response from Adelaide as her eyes had slipped shut. “Hmph.” The girl turned and pressed her back against the bars.

**

William dressed in his long coat and top hat walked through the city of London. He tipped his hat to a woman to say hello, a smile upon his lips before he continued on. He wasn’t from London, he lived in the old mansion north of the city. he’d come into the city to listen for those asking around for the Lady Bennett. He also aimed to find a human for his newly acquired vampire to feed from.

“Have you seen this girl?” A man approached William with a picture of Adelaide held in his hands.

William looked to it and tilted his head slightly. He took in a breath. “You know. I think I may have seen her last night.” He offered a smile. “I could show you where.”

The man grinned, “Oh good. Yes! Let me just let my boss….”

“No, no there isn’t time for that. She looked in trouble. We should hurry. Don’t you think?” William nodded quickly before he led the man away. This was exactly what he wanted. An easy victim for the vampire. He led him from the city and into the country north of London. It was quite the trek but nothing out of the ordinary. “This way, I swear I saw her in here.” He walked up the stairs of the old mansion.

“Um...y-you’re sure?” The man questioned as he looked to the old home that seemed to be long abandoned.

“Yes, yes. I swear it. I live just across the valley there.” He pointed to another home. “Come on.” He jiggled the door handle and pushed it open. “Let’s have a look.” He walked inside. He looked to the man and nodded. William glanced about as he allowed the man to get a bit in front of him. “Ah, uh...hm sir?” He asked with a wicked grin upon his lips. “My mistake.” he spoke as he grabbed a vase and smashed it over the back of his head.

William whistled as he pulled the body down the stairs, it thudded with each step before he pulled the unconscious man across the cold basement floor. He shackled the man to the metal frame of the bed and tilted his head slightly. “I brought you dinner, Lady Bennett.” He spoke, the sun was just setting over the horizon.

Adelaide moved slightly her eyes fell upon the unconscious man. She shook her head. She wasn’t one to drink from live humans, she would drink bottled blood. But just like she wouldn’t hunt, she did not drink from humans. It was something she’d decided against years ago. She didn’t like the idea of it at all. It set her apart from most vampires. She’d only drink from humans if they willingly offered themselves to her. Which, had only been a few over the years and they were all paid by her grandfather to do such things.

“Not hungry?” William tilted his head. “Look at your wound.” He reached forward and gripped onto the gunshot wound upon her leg. Adelaide let out a cry and gripped onto his wrist. “Why don’t you drink up? It’ll help you heal. Won’t it?”

Adelaide looked to him with her golden eyes, she took in quick breaths. “No.” She growled, her fangs showed as she spoke.

He chuckled as an amused look came over his face. “No?” He asked and then giggled as he pulled a knife from his pocket. “How….about…..now?” He drug the blade across the side of the man’s neck. Blood began to pool from the wound. It wasn’t deep enough to kill the man, but enough to draw a vampire’s attention. Adelaide’s jaw clenched, her muscles tightened. She didn’t have much of a choice in the condition she was in. She reached forward and gripped onto the man as he started to come to. Just as he woke her fangs sank into his flesh. The man let out a groan and gripped onto her to try to fight against her. There was no turning back from this point though. Adelaide needed this blood to heal. “That’s it.” William spoke with a snicker. He watched as Adelaide gave way to the monster within her. She was weak and injured enough that placing a fresh meal before her didn’t give her much of a choice. When she pulled her fangs from the man William stepped forward and assessed the situation. “Hm.” He scoffed slightly, amused. “You didn’t kill him? Interesting.”

Adelaide looked to him with her golden eyes, “Let me go.” She growled as she pulled against the shackle, the metal strained against her strength. The wound upon her leg was already mending.

“I showed you the contract, Miss Bennett.” The man giggled. “You’re not going anywhere.” He smirked before he turned to leave. “Hm.” He stopped before the Lycan girl and stared to her a moment. “I think we may need to experiment with something.” He grinned maliciously. He walked over to the wall and flipped on the lights before he went to a desk and sat down. He immediately began writing in a notebook and humming to himself.

Adelaide growled as she pulled against the shackle again, the metal frame of the bed was beginning to bend to her strength. There was a growl from the corner as the gargoyle came to life for the night. The red eyes stared to her and she immediately stopped pulling against the frame. “Nicholas doesn’t own me. He can’t auction me off in a bet.” She snapped at the warlock. “So that contract is void.” She snapped.

William stood a giggle came over his lips. He had a liquid drawn up in a syringe. “Oh.” He laughed then as he approached her. “Ah well. I suppose I must let you go then.” He smiled as he watched her. “But….I’d rather not.” He gripped onto her, “This might hurt.” He grinned as he inserted the needle into her arm and pushed the dark liquid in. Adelaide tried to pull her arm back, but she found an overwhelming sensation that she couldn’t move. William giggled, “There.” He stepped back and smiled to her. “Try that out. Hm? We will see how you do with it.” He turned and walked away.

“What did you just do?” Adelaide groaned as she watched dark line scrawl up her arm. It burned as though her flesh was lit aflame. “What was that?” She snarled as William climbed the stairs to the upper story of the home. “Get back here! What have you done?!” She sat down as the world spun slightly, a snarl came over her lips.