Becoming the Hunted

Adelaide held her stance her arms remained over her chest as she searched his eyes. She listened to him, focused on his expression. It was like the night that she’d first met him, and their date night. She seemed to be studying him. “You’ve killed hundreds of those that quite possibly deserve to be labeled as the monsters that they are.” She spoke her brows pulled together slightly. “To be honest with you Henry I don’t know what it is about you...” She had stepped closer to him as she spoke and now she stood directly in front of him. “I should be terrified, yes. But on the other hand...look at what I have dealt with my entire life.”

She shifted slightly as she searched his eyes, “My grandfather has had me locked away, because he is afraid of the Bennett line being demolished by your kind, or even a strong Lycan pack….though now I wonder if him keeping me safe was more of a protection of his property. That’s what he acts like I am. Just a prized possession that he can toss around. I doubt my father would appreciate how my grandfather is handling things...” She sighed softly as she turned and drew in a breath. “Perhaps, Henry you should have just killed my grandfather like you do all of the others….rather than getting yourself involved...you could have easily left me with William whom I am certain would have killed me or turned me into a walking freak show if he hasn’t already.” She glanced to him a moment from the side, her body still turned partially away from him.

Adelaide then turned and stepped toward the door. “I’ll show myself home, thank you again Henry...” She spoke as she reached for the handle. Her grip upon the handle faltered slightly as a flash of lightened caused a loud rumble of thunder to rattle the windows of the home.

Adelaide glanced over her shoulder to Henry as he spoke, her fingertips still curled around the handle of the door. Then when he stepped close to her she took in a breath as her eyes pulled away from him and she stared to her hand upon the door. He was right. Her life would go back to the life that it was originally meant to be. She would be without choices once again, as she always truly was. There was always an illusion that what she did was her own choice, but deep down she knew that her grandfather had mapped every bit of her future out for the better of the Bennett family, even if it was not for the benefit of her.

His voice as he spoke of killing Vincent cascaded over her. It would have been the night of the masquerade. Surely. Or perhaps when Henry brought her home the next evening? Her thoughts stopped as she felt his hand upon her shoulder. Adelaide closed her eyes as she listened to him continue with what he had to say. Henry was right, Nicholas didn’t deserve her. But for the reason of power her grandfather would argue otherwise. That was all this whole mess was about. Nicholas on his own was a horrible choice, but because of his family it made him the only choice that her grandfather would consider. No matter the case, Nicholas was the choice in the end.

Adelaide’s grip dropped from the door handle as Henry spun her around. She gripped onto the front of his jacket her eyes stared up into his. “If it was my choice all along...why does it not feel that way?” She questioned. He’d decided that she didn’t want him in the running without asking her. Though, she doubted that even the contract from William would change Vincent’s mind. Though, if made public…

She gazed into his eyes a long moment, “You might see yourself as a danger that any of my kind would willingly kill or run from...but...you’ve stayed around. You went through the challenges...you’ve saved me from Nicholas and his schemes.” She cupped his cheek as she paused a moment. “If you’re dangerous.” She smirked as she paused another long moment. “I would rather take my chances with you. A man that finally sees me as something more than an item to be traded. Something more than just the Bennett girl and a chance for power….I...”

Adelaide paused then, she turned her head slightly and closed her eyes, “Someone is here….do you hear it?” She questioned, her breathing slowed. She looked up to him, her eyes golden once again. “Just one.” She spoke as she released her grip on his jacket and her hand fell away from his cheek. She reached to his hip where his blade was concealed and she slipped it from the sheath. She then turned as a rumble of thunder clashed. She listened as she held her breath. Adelaide gripped the blade as she turned the doorknob and stepped outside. She pulled the door closed behind her as she held the blade close to her body, concealing it.

“Lady Bennett!” A voice spoke up over the storm. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Her eyes moved to fall upon a man that she knew as one of Nicholas’ henchmen. “Oh thank goodness you’re here.” She rushed forward toward the man.

“Are you hurt, Lady Bennett?” The man questioned as he looked her over carefully. Rain dripped off of his hat. “Nicholas is worried sick about you. As is your grandfather.” He reached forward then and grasped her shoulder, his grip was not gentle like Henry. “Running off with that peasant. Huh?” He snapped, his brows pulled together.

Adelaide groaned as he gripped onto her more tightly. “Nicholas is a spoiled rotten brat. He doesn’t deserve me, nor does he deserve such power.” With that she moved swiftly, the blade glinted in a flash of lightening before it sank into his side as the man pulled back.

He snarled as blood leaked from his side. “You’ll pay for that girl.” He snapped as he rushed forward.

Something happened then. Adelaide slipped to the side and spun, the blade sliced down the back of the man. Her movement was unparalleled. Before she didn’t even move as quick. She snarled slightly, her fangs glinted in the dim light. “Oh? I’ll pay?” She asked as she rushed forward and drove the blade into his chest. She’d slammed the man against a wall with a considerable amount of strength. “I’m tired of you telling me that, Norman.” She twisted the blade within his body. “Always threatening me.” She twisted it again as she ripped it out. “That’s all you do.” She used her foot to push him to his side as he fought to breathe. Adelaide knelt down next to him, the blade against his neck. “I’m not putting up with being a puppet anymore.” She spoke before she pulled the blade across his skin quickly. Adelaide stood and walked back to the house, she was drenched from the storm now, blood and water ran over her skin as she wiped off the blade on her dress. She gave a soft almost uneasy smile as she stepped to Henry. She looked up to him with her golden eyes as she held his blade to him. “He deserved that.” She spoke softly. “Unfortunately most of my kind live such filthy lives that they deserve to be hunted. Killing innocents.” She shook her head. “I never understood it. We have the ability to not kill at all. Yet...some can’t seem to blend into society. My grandfather breeds that sort of mindset.” She sighed as she wiped blood on her dress from her hands. She fell quiet for a long moment before she lifted her eyes back to Henry. She looked as if she was at a loss of what to say. Her whole life she’d never had the choice, and yet her she was with all the choices in the world and she didn’t know what to do with it.

Adelaide looked up to Henry with her still golden hues. What he spoke of was against the coven’s strict rules. It was against anything she had ever been told to do. She was raised to follow each and every command of her grandfather. She was pushed around and made to do anything he told her because of this. Because her mother and father were no longer around, Vincent owned her. He didn’t raise her. He ordered her around like a puppet and used her for his own good. She was merely a pawn in his game of chess. She closed her eyes when he reached forward to brush the blood from her cheek.

As he spoke she gazed up to him, her eyes searched his. He was right, she was truly the only one who could make the change. She was the one that her grandfather least expected. She never stood up against him, she never fought against what he told her to do. She’d always been a good puppet. She seemed to think deeply as she reached forward. Her thumb ran over one of the buttons of his jacket, her eyes focused in on that. She would be abandoning everything she knew. She would be going against many of her kind that would not see it the way she did. It would be struggle, but she would no longer be merely an object.

“It will take time.” She finally spoke as she brought her eyes to meet his once again. “Patience.” She nodded as she reached up and cupped his cheek. “You’re more than merely a weapon, Henry.” She spoke with a soft smile upon her lips. The first true smile she’d given him since she was taken. “I think we can do this together.” She watched him a moment. Her fingers still curled around the material of his jacket as she gazed up to him, she could feel his chest rise and fall. “First you have to return me to my grandfather….” She pressed her lips together as she thought. “If I am returned in such good condition I’m certain that he will believe this was all a ruse to get Nicholas taken from the running.” She released him and her hand fell from his cheek then as she took a step back. “We have to come up with a plan. What if he does not accept that Nicholas traded me off with that contract? Then what do we do?” She watched Henry as she awaited his input.

Adelaide watched him curiously. “A hunt?” She questioned. She’d never been on one, he was right about that. She’d told him that she refused the human hunts that her grandfather put on as a game for the coven. “That certainly could be interesting.” She smirked to him. “I know a trick or two to the use of a blade, Henry.” She spoke with a smirk. “I’ve learned a few things over the years when my grandfather wasn’t watching.” She commented. Though most of the time she wouldn’t use such actions because it would cause too much attention to be drawn to her. She didn’t have enough backing to fight against some of the things that she was subjected to.

She took in a breath when he spoke of what was to come of Nicholas. He deserved it. He truly did. Part of her wanted to cheer for Henry as he marched Nicholas to his death before the coven...another part of her felt pity for the man. He was raised to be the way that he was. “There are plenty of reasons we could bring to the high council if it came to that.” She spoke, “For starters the fact that he took blood from me forcefully. That would be enough to warrant his death.” She looked outside to the storm. “Do we hunt in this weather?” She questioned with a raised brow. “And what will we be hunting?” She turned to him. “I’ve heard of those that hunt animals rather than humans.” She tilted her head slightly. “Do you have anything...less...” She looked to her dress. “Formal? Perhaps? I can’t see myself chasing after something in heels.” She gave a soft laugh. “I suppose I could run barefoot...” She spoke as she pulled her heels from her feet. “If we want to make it believable I suppose my dress has to be just as roughed up as I am.” She noted as she looked to the blood smeared on her dress.

Adelaide raised her brows when he spoke that the hunt would be with her bare hands. That was something she didn’t know how to do. She wondered if he was right that hunting in this fashion helped ease the frustrations of the beast. She gave a chuckle when he spoke of the clothing he would give her. “I’m certain that nothing would be very flattering for a hunt. Hm?” She followed him as he spoke of what to hunt. Predators...that would add to the mix of danger for this situation. Not only would she be going after the animal bare handed, but...it would be an animal that had teeth and claws of its own. That made her a bit fearful, but she also knew that Henry would keep her safe during this process.

“A mountain cat huh?” She spoke as she looked through the buckets of items and ammunition. She could gather how much time he spent here preparing to kill monsters like herself. “Or perhaps a wolf? It would feel more like going after a Lycan...hm?” She lifted up a revolver and turned it in her hands. Her eyes looked over the marble of the handle, it was hand crafted. She then wondered if he had created such a fine piece. Adelaide then looked to him as he offered up the long johns, a smirk curved up her lips. “I’m certain rolling up the sleeves a little will be just fine. Hm?” She set down the gun before she stepped over to him. “Quite the collection you have.” She noted other weapons as her eyes looked about the room.

Adelaide then turned and pulled her hair to the side. “Would you mind?” She asked as she glanced to him. She waited a moment for the corset to be undone before she stepped to the edge of the room where she saw a door. She held her dress up as she pushed through the door into the small bathroom. She looked about it a moment before she closed the door and slipped from her dress. When she emerged moments later she was dressed in the unflattering clothing. She chuckled slightly as she looked to him. “I must say this is the most atrocious thing I’ve ever worn.” She smiled as she rolled up the sleeves. It was rather large on her, but her feminine figure could still be made out beneath it. “How many do you kill each week?” She asked then as she looked to another gun, a crossbow...the knives laid out neatly. She then cleared her throat. “Sorry...I shouldn’t ask that should I? Shall we hunt?” She asked as she stepped to his side. She bent down and rolled up the legs of the clothing to meet her size.

Adelaide watched him as he smiled to her, stating that he might tell her one day how many monsters he killed. Though as he took off his jacket her eyes seemed glued to him. She took in a deep breath before she looked away, thoughts crossed her mind in that moment and she had to shake them from her head. She looked to him with a smile as he offered her the leather. “Oh yes, of course.” She spoke as her eyes once again stayed on him. She tied her own hair up as she followed him up the stairs. She listened to him as he instructed her on what not to do. Yet, he stated that her instincts would take over and guide her. She could only hope that was the case. “Fun...” She spoke her eyes looking to his bare back. She drew in another breath. “I seem to think of plenty of other options for fun.” She laughed as she spoke this nearly to herself as he’d already taken off.

She grinned though as she pushed herself forward. It wasn’t hard for her to keep up with him and even a laugh came over her lips as she zipped through the storm. She moved swiftly around trees as she looked about in the dim light. This felt free. It was the first time she’d ever done anything like this and it was an incredible feeling. Adelaide dodged left and right to keep up with Henry her eyes looked about, searching for anything that moved in the night. They drew deeper and deeper into the thick forest. The trees grew closer together the vegetation on the ground seemed to multiply. She felt this strange lust within her for blood. Stronger than she’d ever felt it.

Adelaide saw it then. A large wolf. The alpha. Away from its pack. She skidded as she changed directions swiftly. Something clicked within her then as she rushed forward and leaped into the air. It was as if the monster within her took over. She gripped onto the wolf and tackled it to the ground. It was a flurry of the two bodies as they rolled over the vegetation and rocks. The wolf was much larger than the rest of the pack that had already headed back toward the den. It snarled as it slipped from Adelaide’s grip and lunged forward at her. Adelaide slipped to the side as the claws of the creature sliced into her hip. Though this didn’t stop her, a snarl came over her lips as she lunged toward the beast.

The wolf snapped at her nearly biting into her arm as she gripped onto the side of its head. She slammed the creature into the ground harshly only for it to slip from beneath her. The wolf bit into her shoulder harshly and shook its head. Adelaide let out a cry as she kicked against it. As the pain spread through her body she reached forward and slashed into the wolf, claws had formed from her nails. This was not a normal trait for a vampire. This was something to do with the injection that William had given her. A lycan trait. She slashed into the wolf with her other arm as she moved herself from beneath the wolf. She snarled as she rushed forward and slammed the wolf against a boulder, the skull of the creature cracked from the harsh impact. Her fangs sank into the neck and she drew the blood from the body quickly. As she sat back from the wolf she turned her attention to the low growling that surrounded her. The pack.

Adelaide took in a breath as she stood to find herself surrounded by at least six other wolves. She gripped onto her shoulder from which blood leaked as she looked over the pack with golden hues. She took in quick breaths. Use the trees. That is what Henry had said. Where was he? Her mind wandered slightly though as this happened one of the pack leaped forward. Adelaide grasped onto the wolf and shoved it to the side. She was knocked to her back on the ground by the weight of the animal. Though she quickly scrambled to her feet just in time for another to lunge forward. She let out a cry as the wolf latched onto her leg. She brought her fist down onto the wolf causing it to let go before she rushed away from the pack. Her speed was compromised by the injury but she was able to break away. Adelaide glanced over her shoulder as the wolves rushed after her. Fighting off six angry wolves didn’t sound like a good idea. She wasn’t well versed in defending herself without a weapon. Though her fight with the alpha hadn’t gone over horribly.

Adelaide took in a sharp breath as she held her hands up just as Henry burst through the brush. With him in front of her she stared to the pack that surrounded them. It wasn’t going to be a pretty fight. “Henry...” She grit her teeth slightly, her fangs easily visible. She watched as the eyes of the wolves seemed to analyze the situation, they looked to her...the wounded...she was the easy target with her leg mangled the way it was. She threw her arms up as one of the wolves leaped forward, though Henry protected her. She watched as he took on the fight with the wolves. When he was knocked to the ground Adelaide rushed forward and slashed at one of the wolves, knocking it from his back. She slashed again and ripped into the wolf’s side, blood splattered across the ground. Her instincts once again took over and she drained the wolf, her fangs sank deep into its neck. She sat back as Henry came toward her.

“Are you?” She questioned as she looked to the blood that ran over his skin. Her eyes filled with worry. She drew her brows together slightly as she looked to the wolves. “I didn’t see the rest of the pack.” She spoke and shook her head. “Rookie mistake I’m sure.” She moved and looked to his back, she winced slightly as she leaned on her leg where the wolf had bitten into her. She touched a few of the bite marks and claw marks. “I’m okay...” She spoke finally answering his question. “I...I’ve never felt quite like this.” She let out a soft chuckle as she took in a breath. “We should do this again.” She grinned as she looked to him. She took in a breath as she looked to the wound on her leg. She looked to the deep gash on her shoulder from the alpha. “Though, next time...I should follow your lead, hm?” She chuckled softly.