Rachel's stomach tightened into a knot and a bitter taste settled on her tongue as the three vampires approached. They could barely pass for humans. Long hair twisted in wild, dirty tangles around their feral, too sharp faces, and each vampire wore a battered leather coat sweeping his ankles. Rachel swallowed. Meeting these three in a dark alleyway would be scary enough if they were humans, never mind vampires.

Grinning, they closed in, fangs glinting menacingly. One of them said something and his companions roared with laughter. Daniel's arm twitched, still outstretched to contain her. The vampire spoke again, creeping closer. Daniel grabbed her wrist.

They have no idea you're a Hunter, too. They think you're my dinner.

Rachel fought not to frown in confusion. How come? Now that she stopped to think about it, it took the vampires in Paris a long time and a lot of sniffing to realize what she was.

I have no idea, but it suits us just fine. I'll push you away and draw them to me. Shoot the bastards in the back.

Putting on a mask of terror and forcing her knees to shake, she pretended to yank herself out of his grip. I have the pathetic crossbow on me.

Perfect. Daniel shoved her to the ground and leaped back.

Gravel scratched the skin on Rachel's palms as she landed, but she disregarded the pain. Two of the vampires sneered at each other and jumped over the bench, after Daniel. The remaining one strolled toward her, as though he knew she had no chance to escape him. She scrambled back, whimpering, while her hand slipped under her own overcoat and tightened on the handle of the mini-crossbow.

The vampire blurted something out, something that sounded offensive. For the first time, she didn't mind not understanding the language. She hated being taunted by any man, especially filthy, ugly vampires.

"Oh, chica don't understand." His laugh sounded like a car unable to shift into gear.

Rachel whipped out the crossbow and pointed it at the vampire's head. His eyes widened for the fraction of a second it took her to press the trigger. The silver-tipped arrow sank into his forehead. He roared and fell back. Rachel dropped the crossbow and pounced on him, pulling out a stake. She stuck it through his shoulder and pulled out another one.

"I'm a Hunter, too, chica." She impaled his other shoulder, pinning him to the ground.

"Rach, cover me!" Daniel called from behind her.

She jumped over her vampire and grabbed the crossbow off the ground. Daniel ran toward her, his two opponents in hot pursuit, one of them limping, with a stake sticking out of one of his legs. Rachel fired at the other, hitting his stomach. He tumbled to the ground, and his limping companion tripped over him. In the meantime, Daniel inserted the rest of the stakes into her vampire.

Rachel loaded and shot again while Daniel took out his lighter and set fire to the vampire. The other two pulled themselves together and soared toward her and Daniel, their coats flapping in the air like capes.

Rachel placed another arrow in her crossbow, but had no time to fire. Just as the vampires were about to land, Daniel got in front of her. With a swipe of the hand, he sent both of them flying backward. Rachel's jaw dropped. How the hell did he do that?

"Take one. I wanna try something."

Before she could ask, he rushed away and caught one of the monsters in a headlock. He kicked the other one in her direction. The vampire growled and turned back to Daniel.

"Hey, asshole!" Rachel picked up a rock and threw it at his head. "What? Are you scared to fight a girl?"

The vampire snarled something in his language and turned his attention to her. Hand tight around the crossbow, Rachel glanced over her shoulder. The burning fire was just what she needed to end this fast. She backed away toward the flames, making a mocking, come-hither motion with her crossbow-free hand, until she felt the heat right behind her. The vampire ambled toward her, pulling the arrow out of his stomach. Rachel bent her knees. 

For a moment her latest failure in jumping came to mind, but it was quickly replaced by her determination to pull this off. She propelled herself backward, high, over the flames and landed on the other side. The vampire followed, his claws out and ready to slash. While he was still airborne, Rachel aimed the crossbow and sent an arrow straight through his heart. A choking sound escaped the monster's throat before he landed in the bonfire.

"Booyah!" She threw her fist in the air. What a clean kill!

"Rach, let's go." Daniel materialized by her side. He picked her up with one arm and slung her over his shoulder. He sprinted off, running so fast, it made her dizzy. She turned her head and her heart skipped a beat. Hanging over his other shoulder was the remaining vampire, only he appeared to be knocked out.

"What's this monster still doing here? Why didn't you throw him in the fire?"

Don't talk. We're amongst humans. They can still hear you even if they can't see.

He navigated through streets so dark, they would've probably gone unseen even if Daniel moved at normal speed. They came out onto a street showered in light, but before she could tell exactly where they were, Daniel jumped. Her stomach sank as air rushed around her. The three of them landed on the roof of a really tall building. He set her down gently the dropped the vampire as though he were a sack of potatoes.

"Daniel, what's going on?" she asked, watching the unconscious vampire. "How did you knock him out?"

He pulled out a gun with a silencer mounted on the barrel. "The darts the Hunters used on you in the Vatican. I still had two left, and I wanted to see how they affect vampires ever since I got my hands on them." He holstered the gun and brushed his jeans. "So far, it knocked him out."

"Good idea." She came closer to the body and nudged it with her boot. "Do you think it's gonna kill him?"

"I hope so. If it does, we're going back to Italy and raiding the Hunters' storage. This could finally put burning out of practice." He walked to the edge of the building and looked down.

She joined him and gasped. They were on top of the Intercontinental Hotel, right across the street from the University. In a very populated area. Rachel cringed. They'd left a huge bonfire in the park. Good thing vampires didn't leave any trace once they burned. "Why are we here?"

"Closest and safest place I could think of." He turned back, walked to the vampire and pulled the stake out of his leg. "I can't believe they don't sense you."

"It's happened before, but I just thought those particular vampires were idiots. I didn't think it was a general thing." She crouched next to the vampire. "It's a good thing, right?"

"It's awesome. Imagine always having the element of surprise on your side." He smiled. "Told you there's something special about you. Your powers did evolve, just not the way mine did."

"Glad we got that out of the way." She grinned back then looked at the vampire. She fought the instinct to take his pulse. Even if he were perfectly fine, he didn't have a heartbeat. Something else flowed on the outskirts of her mind, a question which threatened to make all the difference. "If this thing kills him, do you think it will work on Vlad?"

Daniel sighed. "Hope so. I only have one left, anyway, and it's all Vlad's."

They watched the monster in silence, but he remained motionless. Daniel wiped the stake on the vamp's shirt and put it back in its compartment on his belt. Rachel dropped on her butt, her legs almost asleep.

"Rach, you did a really good job tonight." Daniel sat, too. "I was wrong to ever think you were helpless or in danger."

"I'm the master of danger." She giggled. "But it's nice to have you around. You know, just in case."

"I'd never let anything bad happen to you." There was the tiniest tinge of sadness in his smile.

Rachel guessed he was thinking about Cheryl, and for the first time, she didn't mind. It felt as if he'd finally let her go. Her heart prodded her to go into relationship talk. She bit her lip and played with the hem of her jacket. "Do you think it's time to talk?"

"About the whole us-making-out thing?" His tone was light, but he didn't look at her. "And the flirting, and me getting angry all the time and being an asshole?"

"Yeah, about that," she said, her tone wary.

"We do need to talk about that. I owe you an apology." His smile was definitely bitter now. "And I'm still not sure I'm doing the right thing. Thanks for putting up with me."

Rachel held her breath. She liked where this was going. It was like he was paving the way for a big confession, one she wanted to hear so much. But, instead of going on, a scowl spread over Daniel's handsome face. Oh, please don't tell me he changed his mind about this again.

He jumped to his feet, looking toward the sky. "Rachel, run!"

Rachel's gaze shot from him upward and then to the vampire on the floor, but he was still unconscious. Then it came. The pain in the temple as if a truck hit her head on. Her stomach twisted into a knot and her insides froze, leaving her paralyzed with fear. It was Vlad.

"My, my. Hunters play with their food now?" The vampire lord landed on the roof, dressed in the same medieval apparel as last time. His crimson eyes rested on the knocked out vampire.

Daniel reached out one arm in front of Rachel and took a stake out with his other hand. "It was about damn time you showed your ugly face."

Vlad took a short, graceful jump forward, shaking his head. "I thought you'd go mad after killing your fiancée. What kind of man sets fire to the woman he loves and then moves on as if nothing happened?"

Rachel took a step back. Her feet felt like lead. She could tell that Vlad wanted to wind Daniel up, and she prayed he wouldn't fall for it. He needed a clear head.

"Speaking of my fiancée, I've been waiting to pay you back, you son of a bitch." Daniel crouched and lunged at Vlad.

The vampire watched Daniel's approach with a bored expression, and stepped out of the way.

Daniel predicted his move and punched him in the gut. Vlad's eyes widened as Daniel landed hit after hit, pushing him to the edge of the roof.

Rachel urged her body to move. As much as she felt like retching, she had to get to Daniel. This could be their chance to finish Vlad off.

Vlad grabbed Daniel's wrists and pulled his arms apart as though trying to wrench them out of their sockets.

Daniel yelled in pain, then cursed. The stake fell out of his hand.

"You're much stronger than you were before." Vlad's voice came as a low hiss. A trickle of blood ran from his lip, down his chin. He pulled harder on Daniel's arms and a crack echoed in the night. "A bit too strong for my liking." He let go of his arms and grabbed the collar of his t-shirt, lifting him off the ground.

Daniel took advantage and kicked Vlad in the stomach. The vampire groaned and let him go. Daniel rolled on to his front, pawing the ground for the stake.

Rachel saw it and dove for it. Her stomach protested, but adrenaline started pumping, numbing all other feelings. Her fingers were mere inches from the weapon when Vlad landed between them. He kicked Daniel as if he were a football. Rachel's breath caught in her throat as she watched his body draw an arch in the air and disappear over the edge of the building.

Vlad turned to face her, an overly-satisfied grin on his face. His fangs glistened as if in anticipation. "And now, for you, my dear."

Rachel's insides squirmed. She had to get to Daniel. She jumped into the air, but he leaped and intercepted her before she could leave the roof of the hotel. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him, a twisted smile deforming his features.

"It's odd that I don't sense you as a Hunter. Are you that weak?" His gaze raked over her and a twinkle of hunger appeared in his eyes. "You are a beautiful woman." He caressed her cheek, his face moving closer to hers.

Rachel's skin crawled and she bit her tongue to hold back a whimper. Come on, come on, think of something! But her brain was too filled with disgust to work properly. Vlad's hand ran down her neck, on her chest and cupped her breast.

Oh, hell no! She backhanded him across the face with all her might.

Vlad flew backward, but landed on his feet, on the edge of the building. He stared at her in disbelief, his hand clasped over his bruised cheek. Red welts in the shape of her fingers glowed on his pale skin. Anger morphed his features and he leaped at her, his fingers spiked into claws.

Rachel tried to dodge, but he anticipated her move. His sharp nails slashed her face, sending a wave of blood into her eyes and mouth. The force of the swipe threw her to the ground.

"I'll teach you a lesson, you filthy little Hunter." Through the thundering pulse in her ears, she heard his heavy footsteps drawing near.

"Get your smutty claws away from her, you piece of shit," Daniel growled.

Rachel wiped the blood out of her eyes. He stood on the edge of the roof. Even if he was bruised and battered, the look in Daniel's eyes still seemed able to set a building on fire.

Before Vlad could snap out of his shock, Daniel tackled him to the ground. Rachel scrambled across the surface of the roof on her hands and knees, going for the stake. More blood obscured her vision, and before she could wipe it away, something soft collided with her, almost sending her over the edge. Daniel groaned next to her. His aura eased her pain.

Vlad appeared next to them and grabbed Daniel by the collar. "You just don't want to stay down, do you?" He tossed him off the building again. He then reached down and lifted Rachel's body off the ground. Her toes barely brushed the surface of the roof. "And you, little girl, why are you making this so difficult? You would enjoy afterlife even more as my bride."

Rachel kneed him in the groin. Vlad moaned and let her go. She shuffled away on all fours, trying to get as far away as possible. She'd die before becoming his bride.

Before she could reach the other side, Vlad was upon her. He stepped on her back, flooring her, then kicked her side. Her ribs caught fire and she curled into a ball, trying to block the hits. Vlad kicked her again, causing her body to roll. He stepped on her back and applied enough pressure to keep her spine on the verge of giving out. It felt as if some of her organs had shattered.

"It's a shame I have to break you." Vlad stepped harder on her back. She screamed. "But you won't sit still." Another push and another wave of agony tightened every muscle in her body.

She tried to tell him to go to hell, but blood came out of her mouth instead of words. Her head swam as every inch of her begged for this to be over.

"Trying to speak, my dear? Hold that thought." He took out a knife and sank it through her shoulder.

A ragged, tormented yell burst from her lungs and through her lips as the blade slashed through muscle and tendon. Her head hurt so badly, she feared it would burst, and blood flooded into her eyes, blocking her vision. She heard a noise, Vlad curse, Daniel groan. Daniel.

Her eyelids fluttered, clearing her vision enough to see Vlad and Daniel wrestling on the ground. Blood dripped down the side of Daniel's face. Vlad hit his side and the sound of his breaking ribs filled the air. Rachel wanted to scream at him to run, but the best she could do was a low moan.

Vlad grabbed the stake off the roof and impaled Daniel in the back with it. The sound of more shattering bones mixed with Daniel's scream. Vlad pressed his entire weight on the weapon and Rachel could hear the wood snap as its silver tip penetrated the roof of the building.

"That should keep you in place. You'll even have a decent view of me making a bride out of your partner."

Idiot, I'm a Hunter. But any other thought was smothered as her mind refused to process anything other than Daniel's impending death. He tried to move, but it was obvious that he had no energy left. He wouldn't miraculously come to her rescue this time. But her fate didn't matter anymore, not when he was bleeding away. Dying.

Vlad yanked the knife out of her shoulder, grabbed the scruff of her shirt and pulled her up. The collar dug into her throat, making her gag. Out of reflex, she reached out and tore the fabric. Her lungs filled with the needed air, expanding her ribcage into a pulsating, painful bubble. Vlad turned her around, his eyes bulging over her exposed bra.

Her arms fell slack along her body, and as they did, her hand brushed against the crossbow. She still had it. While Vlad was busy staring at her cleavage, she forced her muscles to respond to her command and eased her hand toward the weapon.

"You will be a good replacement for the blonde beauty I let slip away."

I'm not going to replace Cheryl. Ever! She pulled the crossbow out from under her overcoat and shot the silver tipped arrow straight into Vlad's stomach.

Eyes wide, he let out a muffled groan and jumped back an inch. He still held her up, but his hands shook. Rachel couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face. She was dizzier than ever and the crossbow clattered to the roof, but she'd gotten him.

Vlad's astounded expression changed to one of savage pleasure. He pulled the arrow out of his stomach and shoved it through hers.

At first nothing happened. She was so numb, she couldn't even feel the pain anymore. But then it started. A burning sensation spread from her stomach to the rest of her body, as if a million fire ants were making their way through her body, biting and scratching anything that got in their way. Rachel whimpered as Vlad let her go, and she fell into a pile on the roof.

Her vision became hazy, blocking Vlad's laughing face from view. The streetlamps threw a weak reddish light on everything, and she was reminded of Daniel's nightmare. Only the bed was missing. She hoped he couldn't see this.

She tried to scream, but it felt as if she were trapped inside her own body, forced to take the pain. A gunshot echoed in the night and Vlad disappeared from view, but everything was so distorted, she wasn't sure how much of what she was seeing and hearing was real.

A new wave of pain shook her body and she shut her eyes. Tears dripped down her face. Something warm and soft touched her cheek, and she opened her eyes.

Daniel was on his knees, next to her. She'd never seen him so scared, so desperate. This was surely not real. He was pinned down somewhere, probably dead. His panicked voice reached her, but she couldn't make out the words. It didn't matter. The sound of his voice and the inky blue of his eyes were enough to make even death a treat.

Come on, Rach. Don't die on me. His words rang inside her head.

You're so beautiful, she thought back. Her brain seemed to be on meltdown, and only a lone melody played inside her head; one she'd heard her mother singing a long time ago. 

We'll create innocence...we can still be innocent. Nothing's easy, and we falter. But does it matter?

Rachel? Rachel! No, please, don't...I couldn't... I love you, Rach. Hold on. For me.

She wasn't sure her body could, but she tried to smile. 

We falter. But does it matter?

🦇🦇🦇

Well, that went to shit fast...

Thanks for reading another chapter of Hunters. Hope you had fun! Leave a comment or vote in case you enjoyed it. And thank you for your support!