Chapter 3 ∣  The Life of an Innocent

-Lucca 

"Where's Evie?!" I yell at Annika and Kenzie. The attack from the hunters is sudden and swift. They didn't come to destroy our coven, as there only appear to be about fifteen of them. Kenzie has a hunter by the jaw and his shoulders, viciously snapping his neck. The hunter falls to the ground, Kenzie's eyes red with anger.

"She went inside, right after Janie finished," Kenzie yells back to me.

That's when I catch the hint of lavender as the sound of breaking glass meets my ears. My eyes scan the area, sprinting in the direction of the home Evie and I are residing in. I run around the back, the glass from our bedroom window littering the grass.

Evie...

Her body is held in the arms of a hunter, taking off north, toward Brewster. I can still catch the hunter. Closing in at about seven yards, the hunter pushes off the ground, spinning in mid-air.

Enock.

He withdraws a pistol with his free arm, aiming it directly at me before firing. I shift away just in time, the dart hitting the ground instead of my shoulder. I slow, smelling my own blood. A searing pain comes from my left side, right between two of my ribs. Looking down, I pull the silver dagger from my side, my eyes falling on the form of another hunter standing on a tree branch.

Enock is still within my reach. I kick off the ground, as I make another attempt to bring him down. The sound of something clicking into place draws my attention immediately. The hunter emerges from the tree, the arrow pulled back in their compound bow. Aiming directing at me, the arrow is loosed, crossing in front of my path.

I land on the grass, the arrow sticking out of the ground in front of me...a deadly warning shot?

"The fuck you think you're going?" I growl, throwing the dagger with all my strength and striking the hunter in their upper right back as they attempt to escape. The hunter hits the ground hard, struggling to get to their feet.

Huntress...

Her scream echoes out from under her hood as I appear behind her, gripping the handle of the dagger and twisting it hard. I can sense Locaine and Rynn approaching, along with Zak right at their heels.

The huntress' blood trickles down her back. I have my free hand wrapped around the front of her throat, slowly cutting off her airway.

"Wait!" Zak yells.

I narrow my eyes at him, "She was protecting that son of a bitch, Enock while he took Evie away. Why should I show her mercy?"

Zak halts just beside Locaine, panting hard after the hunters had descended. "C-check behind her ear."

"Are you serious right now? I don't give a fuck if she passed her challenge," I'm beginning to wonder if Zak really is on our side. She cries out again, trying desperately to pull away from me as I push the dagger in further.

"No! No!" Zak begs me, "Just do it. Please."

I rip the hood back from her head, her golden blonde hair falling free. I do exactly as he asks, tilting her head to the side and noticing a marking behind her right ear. It isn't a cross.

I state with a hint of confusion, "It's a target?"

"She's a ranger," Zak enlightens me.

"Then why was she protecting Enock?" I ask, not completely following him.

"He's my brother you asshole leech," she spits with venom at the way we're talking about Enock.

"So, she speaks," I throw her hard onto the ground in front of me, yanking the dagger from her back in the process. She immediately reaches for her fallen compound bow, swiftly nocking an arrow and pulling it back.

Rynn kicks her in the face, knocking her flat on her back as the bow flies from her hands once again.

That ranger is unbelievably fast.

Locaine crouches onto the ground, grabbing the front of her jacket and pulling her upright. I barely notice her left hand move behind the small of her back. As Locaine brings her to her knees, she quickly reveals the concealed dagger from her back, slicing open his cheek and then stabbing him in the arm that restrains her.

Locaine has enough, pulling the dagger from his arm and tossing it onto the ground. He locks both of her wrists in front of her, dragging her to a standing position.

"Disarm her," Locaine commands and Rynn quickly goes about uncovering hidden weapons on her body. The huntress just continues to glare at him, her white irises full of hatred. When Rynn finishes, Locaine asks Zak, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill her."

"If she's Enock's sister and a ranger, they won't kill Evie...if you keep her alive," Zak motions to the huntress before continuing, "plus, she can lead you to her. What is your name?"

The huntress replies, "Kadessa. You're just as bad as the lot of them. You're a traitor." She yells at Zak.

"No-" Zak is quickly interrupted.

She spits at Locaine and hisses, "Your reign is about to come to an end...Locaine."

"I suggest you become more cooperative," Locaine bears his fangs at her, his eyes shifting to a black rose, "or I'll just kill you now."

"Do it," she smirks at him. When he doesn't more she rolls her eyes, "oh, that's right...I'm the only one who knows where your precious daughter is."

Locaine brings one of her wrists away from the other, snapping in downward. She screams in pain, her footing faltering.

"That doesn't mean I can't break every bone in your body, heal you, and then do it all over again. Fucking bitch," Locaine cracks her forearm to the side, another bone snapping at his fingertips. Locaine suddenly glances up at me, throwing the huntress into my arms. "I'm perhaps her father," Locaine states, her eyes drifting up to meet mine, "but he is her beloved. So, I suggest you don't piss him off any more than you have me."

**

-Evicka

My eyes slowly slide open, my body lying on its side against the cool damp Earth. The silver cuffs are clasped tightly around my wrists. As my eyes adjust, blinking away the sleep a few times, I notice the cuffs are linked to a chain that is embedded into a stone wall.

I sit up onto the side of my legs, my hands balancing me on the floor.

Where am I?

Glancing around, I notice that I'm in a small cell-like room, with bars on three sides of me, save for the stone wall directly behind me. I don't see anyone else, as there are two empty cells one located on either side of me. Outside of the cells, is a stone room, with one door leading out. The LED light that hangs from the ceiling, flickers on and off.

Lucca...where are you?

The silver prevents me from communicating with him. But, even if I'm not restrained, I don't think I will be able to contact him anyway. He didn't hear me when I was taken, so I doubt he would be able to now.

"He has Kadessa," I hear Enock's familiar voice resonating from the opposite side of the prison door.

An unfamiliar voice answers him back stating, "It doesn't matter, we can assume he killed her. I won't let him use a hostage against us."

"If she's alive?" Enock's voice teeters.

"Then she'll lead them right to us...we'll be waiting," the voice reassures Enock. A key is placed in the lock, the sound of a click echoes into the prison room. The door opens inward, Enock stepping into the fading light, followed by another man I can't see. I push myself away from the bars of the door, my back pressing against the stone wall.

Enock unlocks the door, stepping into my cell and reaching down for me. I immediately lash out at him, my fangs inches from his bare hand. Enock recoils instantly, almost angry with himself as he put his gloves on. He smacks me across my face, my head shifting to my left. The throbbing pain lingers, Enock taking hold of my chained wrists and yanking me to my feet.

I push against him, the back of my head cracking against the stone wall as he punches me in the face.

"I don't think that's all necessary," a deep voice slips from the other side of Enock.

"She doesn't like to behave," Enock keeps his eyes on me, my vision crossing briefly before correcting itself.

The voice replies, "She'll learn."

Enock sighs heavily before releasing his hold on me, my arms hanging in front of my body, bound together at my wrists. He steps away, revealing another hunter, his white irises gazing deeply into my eyes. His eyes make me squirm, as I drift my gaze to the ground in front of me.

"So," he speaks, "we finally meet."

"I'm sorry?" I ask, my eyes lifting back up to see the hunter move closer.

I can't believe I didn't sense it before. Then again, I don't know how I can trust myself right now.

"Y-you're a vampire?" I ask, unsure of my instincts, as my power is floating in and out of the connection.

He nods and replies, "Yes, I am. But, I wasn't always like this."

"You were a hunter...someone changed you," I notice the tips of his fangs peeking out from between his lips.

"Your uncle," he states flatly.

My...uncle? Oh-oh! I just remember after reading Erebus journal, that Theo had two sons, Enos and Locaine. Locaine is my father, making Enos my uncle...

"My name is Orion," his eyes search mine before he states, "I'm the son of Gage and Vera. I was the first child of two hunters."

My blood runs cold...

...Gage killed Elora...Enos and my father's mother. Enos killed Gage in return to exact his revenge.

"Your father," Orion continues, "suggested to Enos that he bite me. He didn't care if I died, they were hoping I would survive."

"Why?" I hesitate.

Orion glares at me, "So I would be rejected by both hunters and vampires alike. To live forever. Alone. Just for what my father did."

"I-I'm sorry..."

"You'll pay for your father's sins," Orion states, "just like I did."

**

"Stop!" My voice is barely above a whisper, even though I imagine it as a scream. Orion accepts my plea, releasing his hold of my wrists as I collapse onto the ground. Blood comes from my mouth and nose, my face feeling like a punching bag.

"I-I know we are the same," I cough out. My head lifting slightly, Orion's boots are occupying my field of view.

"What did you just say?" Orion questions me, kneeling in front of me.

My breathing evening out, I reply, "I know how the hunters came to exist."

"Everyone's forgotten," Orion's eyes meet mine, "why do we fight then?"

I must be extremely careful with my answers. If Orion really is Gage and Vera's son, he is a very old and powerful vampire. I slowly begin with, "Your grandparents were Erebus and Saphira. Hunters...they were the cross between a pureblood and a human and since there have never been too many purebloods, that would make the hunter race very rare."

"Go on," Orion is intrigued with my knowledge, sitting down on the ground with his legs crossed.

"Hunters have a mortal soul...so they feel for humans, knowing the monsters that vampires can be, killing them without a second thought; just because they can," I continue, Orion still listening to me, "your father, Gage, didn't like that very much. So, he decided with his siblings to guard the town, killing vampires only if they killed a human."

"Correct, I don't really care if they feed...obviously," Orion motions to himself, "the killing has always been what's bothered me."

"A rogue vampire killed your grandmother..." I pause, seeing the flicker of hate cross his eyes. I take a deep breath and state, "...that's what started the spark for your family. Your father met your mother, Vera...she felt the same way. Seeing as how you are here," I nod at Orion, "hunters can procreate on their own...thus continuing the race."

"And?" He arches a brow.

"Your father killed Theo's wife, Elora...that put a target on not just your father's back, but every hunter living," I finish, waiting for him to speak.

Orion's eyes flicker to mine, narrowing them as he asks, "How do you know all this...you're Locaine's daughter. Even he can't remember everything about the hunters."

"I-I found your grandfather's journal," I reply hastily, "he wants the fighting to stop. For us all to come to terms. Hunters are a sub-race...their kin are vampires, whether they like it or not."

"And you," Orion asks, "what do you want? Obviously, your father wanted to enslave humanity. But not you?"

"I want everyone to live together...somehow, someway. I know it can happen," my voice is much braver now, seeing that Orion holds very similar views.

"Where is this journal?" Orion questions.

Goosebumps cover my arms at the sudden realization...I left it in California.

Stupid me!

"It's at my father's old residence," I inform him.

"She's probably lying to you," Enock's voice speaks for the first time since Orion had begun his conversation with me. He leans up against the cell bars, glaring at me, "She's probably set a trap with some of her coven. They moved to Dyer, Washington...this is a setup."

"It's not!" I growl at him. Orion just glances from Enock and then back at me.

"She's probably lying about everything else as well," Enock pushes away from the bars, coming to stand next to Orion, "she's a pureblood...her word means nothing. They were the ones that caused the other vampires to turn their backs on us. If order had been set up back in your day, Orion...none of this would have happened. They want power...they always will. Once every one of them is dead, then and only then, can we maybe coexist."

"That's not true!" I snarl at him. I can see what he's doing. He's trying to turn Orion against me at even the faintest glimmer that Orion understands. This might be our only chance to come to some agreement, and he's messing around with it.

"Stop being seduced and lied to by her!" Enock steps toward me, grabbing my chained wrists and pulling me to my wobbly feet. He places me firmly against the stone wall, the coldness seeping into me as my heart begins to accelerate.

Orion appears to snap out of his thoughts, rising to his feet. His once white irises are now bloodstained as he growls, "Kill her."

Panic courses through my body as I struggle hard against Enock, watching the blade he draws from his belt.

"Wait! Wait, please!" I cry out, Orion turning his back on me and walking toward the cell door. The cold silver blade is placed against my neck, bringing tears to my eyes as I blurt, "I-I'm pregnant!"

Enock hesitates, the blade lingering against my skin as Orion turns around, watching me carefully. Enock glances down at my flat stomach before he breaths out, "Probably another lie..."

"This, I can discern for myself," Orion stalks toward me, coming to stand right in front of my fearful form. His hand is gentle, as he places it flat against my stomach. His eyes locking with mine as he asks, "Who's the father?"

"L-Lucca," I reply, my voice faltering as Enock presses the blade harder against my neck.

"Then it will no doubt, be a pureblood," Enock replies rudely, breaking Orion's eyes away from me, "let me kill her...I-I'll end two pureblood lives for the price of one."

"No," Orion orders. My eyes widen as I exhale slowly, his voice taking on a new tone, "It's innocent..."

That's right...the hunter in him won't kill an innocent.

I can even hear it in Enock's voice, that he's unsure if he can even kill me now, knowing that I harbor an untainted life.

"What do you want me to do with her?" Enock asks, his blade leaving my neck slowly.

"Leave her here," Orion commands, "as of this moment, she is my prisoner. Through her, Locaine will abide by my rules."

"Someone once said that before," I whisper quietly, "I killed him."

"Well, he was just a pureblood...obsessed with power," Orion replies as Enock releases me entirely, walking out of the cell in a huff. "I, my dear," Orion takes hold of the chain linked to my wrist cuffs, pulling me closer to him, "want to set things right, not take over the world."

"What would you become?" My voice holds fear.

"Basically, supernatural police...if you will," Orion has my wrists against his chest, "now, if you don't want to die while you are being held hostage," Orion pulls back his dark sleeve with his teeth, offering me his wrist, "I suggest you feed. There is no one else for you to bite here and I won't let anyone bleed for you...not that anyone would be willing to of their own accord."

He's right if I don't...the baby and I will die. I really don't want to feed off him now, as he would have me dead if it wasn't for this little life.

My fangs elongate, pressing against his inner wrist before sinking them into the vein. I sigh out as his blood trickles down the back of my throat. He groans against my bite, feeling his heart speed up through his pulsating vein. I dislodge my fangs from his wrist, pulling back away from him.

He has so much pain...left alone to die...not being accepted by anyone.

At least, I had had Killian with me from the very beginning. I've never been truly alone or isolated, not like Orion.

**

-Lucca

"Where did he take Evie?" I ask Kadessa once again. It's very strange, she's not once begged me not to hurt her. She sits silently bound to a chair in the underground training room of a spare home not being used for a living space, surrounded by Locaine, Rynn, Eryx, Zak, and Darius. The blood trails down from the corner of her mouth, hitting her chin, and beading onto her cargo pant leg.

We had been at this for over an hour.

Eryx walks up behind her, taking hold of her shoulder and collarbone. She tenses momentarily, preparing for the sudden impact. It still doesn't stop the scream that echoes in the room as Eryx breaks her collarbone.

"Let me try," Annika's voice announces her presence as she reaches the landing from the stairs. I'm starting to get frustrated with this ranger. I didn't think it would be this difficult to get information from her, then again, I'd never interrogated a ranger before this moment.

I step out of her way, Annika coming to stand a few feet in front of Kadessa.

"Why did your brother take my daughter?" Annika starts with the most basic question that none of us had seen results from.

Kadessa speaks for the first time since we brought her down here, "If I'm not telling them, why on Earth do you think I would tell you?"

Annika's eyes shift, Locaine becoming slightly uneasy.

What is she going to do?

Clasping her hands together, Annika's eyes are transfixed on Kadessa. The sudden gasp that emits from the huntress' lips shocks Eryx, Zak, and me. Locaine, Rynn, and Darius seem to be unfazed, as though they have witnessed this first hand before.

Kadessa's screams pierce my ears, watching as she writhes in agony under Annika's harsh gaze. Her chest heaves up and down, her forehead perspiring. Her veins creep to the surface of her skin, pulsating and threatening to break through, but they don't. The screams seem like they will never end until suddenly, they cease altogether.

Annika's eyes revert to normal, while Kadessa's eyes are filled with a new horror, something none of us were able to bring out of her.

"Y-y-your j-just like h-him!" Kadessa cries out, trying to get out of the binds restraining her against the chair as Annika edges toward her, bringing her face eye level.

"Just like who?" Annika whispers.

Kadessa's eyes flicker from ours and then rest back on Annika, "O-Orion...you were a h-hunter...bitten by a pureblood...b-but