oh sweetie, monsters are real, and they look like people

Chapter Seventeen:

The sky was blood red. The sun setting across the horizon. Gem was leaning against Hunter's shoulder, waiting for him to ask questions. He didn't say a word.

Sage glanced at them before waking over to Paige, who was deep in thought about the knowledge she had uncover.

"She didn't do anything when you were gone," Sage smiled, putting her arm around her little sister's shoulders.

"She won't be a bother to any of us anymore," Paige smile softly, her eyes sparkling. "I have  everything completely under control."

Sage nodded her head, walking beside Paige who walks much slowly that she used to.

"Oh, I also have a lead on another weapon we can use." Sage stopped, shocked and amazed. When did you get into weapon making?

"Paige, are you ok?"

Paige looked at the older woman. "Yes, why wouldn't I?"

Sage nodded her head, "It's just. I know you will never be the same Paige I first knew. Not that it's a bad or a good thing, but I want you to know that Hunter and I are here." Sage stepped in front of Paige, putting her hands on her shoulders. "We both are really proud of you, and we think it might be best if you take a little break from hunting. Just to make sure you are completely healed."

Paige stared at her, a frown forming on her blood stain lips. "What did Hunter tell you?"

"Paige, Hunter didn't force me to come over here."

"What did you two talk about when I was gone?"

"We both came to the conclusion that maybe you needed a little bit more healing time, away from this." Sage whispered, her eyes gaining a little tears.

She's trying to dominate you, Human.

You can't trust her.

Paige walked away, her mind fuming and her life forming a new mission. Alright then.

"Paige?" Sage called out, watching Paige walk into the forest, a place where she was constantly. She was gone in a blink of an eye, and Sage went after her.

As a vampire hunter, she was used to tracking things she couldn't actually see. Once she started looking for clues, obvious hints started to show. She squatted down. She couldn't believing she missed it.

A shedded fang. She cursed at herself. Judging by the size, it's around five or six blood moons. She looked up into the trees, cursing. A vampire was one the loose and she still hadn't found Paige.

Fuck, what if it's the same one as before. She looked around, trying to see if any figures were hidden. It's been watching me this whole damn time.

She picked the white tooth, stained with blood. She nearly gagged at the familiar smell. The light sent of blood, human blood, filled her nose. She shook her head before closing her fist around it and took off running into the forest.

A figure flew past her, a shadow. He was quick and to the point, throwing his arm up. Sage's neck snapped back at the contact. She tumbled.

"The little hunter is all alone," the vampire chuckled, waiting for the woman to stand up.

Sage looked up, coughing as she attempted to breath. She brought her hand up to her throat, massaging it.

"So are you." Sage pushed herself up, the dirt covering her pants and shirt. "You poisoned my milk," Sage pushed on. He went through my garlic.

The vampire smiled, his lips pointing upwards. "Little hunter, I'm not the biggest enemy anymore."

Sage glared at him. "You just clothed lined me!" Sage flicked out her knife before throwing it at his head.

"Silver?" He huffed, after catching it. "Training to be a werewolf hunter."

She ran forward, taking another knife out her ankle boot before driving her feet to the ground. Fuck! It's been a while since I hunted a vampire. She was slow, slow enough for the vampire to smile and side step her.

"Really lost your speed. Are you not doing your training?"

Sage turned around, after coming to a fast stop. She huffed, staying low in a fighting stance.

"I'm really mean no harm." He put his two hands into a surrendering position.

"Your kind means harm to humans," she shot back, glaring at him. "What purpose do you even have here?"

He chucked, keeping his hands still. "You haven't changed."

"It hasn't even been a year since I almost stabbed you in the heart."

He laughed, a good hearted laugh. He wasn't even terrified of the tall woman in front of him. He knew something she didn't. Really threw those memories away.

"Sage, you are a lot like him."

Sage froze, staring at him with curios his. He was typical vampire presence. Pale white skin, beady red eyes, smooth black hair. She found no trance of any lies. "I'm nothing like that coward. He couldn't do something he could and should have done."

"We are people too, Sage. He's a hero in our hearts."

Sage scoffed, "He is nothing. Why am I even talking to you about this?" Sage picked up a rock throwing it at the vampire before running past a tree.

The vampire turned his head, the rock flying past him. Stubborn. He said she would be stubborn. He watched as she ran through the trees, a smart thing to do. Sage was not in vampire training due to him escaping and the Kills coming with a huge attack plan.

"She's too stubborn for her own good."