Chapter 4 ∣  One in The Same

-Orion

As I approach the cell block door, I can sense Evicka's heart rate. It's beating at a much lower rate than when she'd first been brought here. Unlocking the door and closing it silently behind me, my eyes scan over her frail and fragile form. She's lying on her side, curled up in a small defensive ball.

I'm not sure of exactly what goes into a vampiric pregnancy and with her sudden deterioration in her health, worry begins to rise within me.

Unlocking her cell and pulling back the silver bar door, I glance over her quickly. Her breathing is uneven, and she appears to be in significant pain. A side of me I haven't been in touch with for a long time suddenly bubbles to the surface. I rush to her side, kneeling and lifting her white hair away from her face.

Evicka is much paler than normal and she's broken out in a cold sweat, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her closed lids.

"Evicka?" I ask, placing the back of my hand against her forehead. She's burning up. How can a vampire get sick, to begin with? It must be this pregnancy.

She exhales, the air leaving her lungs as I lift her up, placing her in my lap as I sit with my legs crossed. Her legs are bent over one of mine as I place one of my hands on her upper back, leaning her down just enough to see her face.

My eyes widen in shock, the pulsation of her heart comes to a sudden halt.

"You can't die unless I say so," I growl, my eyes shifting to a bloody red, taking my free arm and sinking my fangs into the inner skin. I bring my wrist to her mouth, tilting her head back and allowing the blood to slide down her throat.

My wrist stops bleeding, homing in on the connection to my blood. It branches off, absorbing into her system and racing through her veins. My hand hovers over her chest, my blood entering her heart, forcing it to palpitate.

This little being is taking all her strength, including her blood magic. That's why she can't use it. It also must be taking away her regenerative properties, using it to accelerate its growth at an exponential rate.

A soft moan escapes her lips, her heart returning to a normal, steady beat and her breathing evening out. It's only been a week, and as my eyes drift over her body, checking for any other harm she may be in, I discover the small raised bump that protrudes from her lower abdomen.

Yep, that little being is taking everything from her.

My blood magic will just barely keep her alive.

She needs her beloved. Only his blood will give her the strength she needs.

I take the key, gliding it into the locked cuffs she wears around her wrists, unlocking them and letting them fall freely to the floor.

At least I can help a little.

I slowly rise to my feet, standing with Evicka in my arms. Her head leans gently against my chest, one of her arms is wrapped across her waist as the other hangs down toward the ground. I exit the cell block, leaning back against the door and shutting it.

The hunters I pass by, have mixed emotions scrawled across their faces. I know they are wondering what I'm doing, after all, only Enock's hunting party knows of her presence. Yes, there have been rumors of a pureblood being held down here, but they weren't confirmed, until now.

I step toward my office, one of the hunters walking up beside me and opening the door. I nod a thank you as he shuts the door behind him, Evicka and I standing in the center of the room. I turn to my left, walking over and placing her gently down on the forest green couch with an ebony pillow situated under her head.

"Lucca..." she breathes, and it comes out as a delicate whisper. I feel something pull at my heart, second guessing my decision to have Enock bring her here.

It's due to my wishes that she's in a dangerous situation for both her and the unborn child...

...I had her taken away from her beloved.

Reaching down under the couch, I pull out a light blanket, covering her with it. She stirs for a moment, before clutching the blanket closer to her and rolling onto her side.

Evicka's heartbeat accelerates, sensing she's about to awaken, I pull up the spare chair Enock had sat in and place it a few feet away from the couch. Sitting down, her eyes flutter open, blinking a few times as she tries to take in her surroundings. She immediately sits up in a panic.

"Lie down," my hand gently reach out and firmly holds her shoulder from rising any further. She's bewildered, her eyes shifting around my office and then bringing them to rest on my own. Her breathing quickens as her whitish-blue eyes question me silently.

"Your heart stopped," my voice is calm as I inform her of the situation, "I found you near death and brought you here to my office."

"I-I didn't realize..." Evicka's beautiful voice trails off, her eyes lingering on mine, "t-thank you."

At my words, she seems to relax slightly, lying back down on the couch. I remove my restraining hand from her shoulder, resting it on my knees with my other one.

"Evicka?" I ask her.

"Yes, Orion?" It's different hearing my name leave her lips. She holds sincerity and complete recognition as to how I've aided her.

I breathe out, and continue, "Can I ask you some questions?"

"Do I have a choice?" She replies, arching one of her perfect brows.

"Yes," I answer her, "if you don't answer them, I'll lock you back in the cell. If you do, I will let you stay here in my office."

"Alright," Evicka nods.

"Why did you kill the coven leaders?" I ask curiously. I'd been wondering about this answer for a while now.

Evicka stares at me unsure and then sighs. "I killed them one by one, searching for the one that ripped my mother away from me when I was seven."

"What about your father?"

"He sent my mother and me away when I was two."

"Why?"

"He was afraid the coven leaders would try to take us away from him and use us against him to take the crown. I know that enslaving the world was wrong of him...but it seemed to stop the numerous deaths that were occurring between the humans and vampires."

"It was still evil," I retort.

"It would have been eviler if one of the other leaders had managed to overthrow him...like Ronan," she narrows her eyes at me, defending her father's actions.

I continue, "He sent you both away and your mother still managed to be found."

"Yes."

"Why weren't you discovered?" I ask her, watching the sudden sadness fill her eyes.

"Killian hid me away that night. I lost my mother and Killian raised me in secret, by himself until about four years ago when he met Kenzie, his beloved," Evicka seems distant.

So, she had been raised without her family.

"Enock mentioned to me, that you had a hunter with you. Care to enlighten me?"

"I protected them..." her voice trailing off, her eyes searching mine.

She didn't kill hunters? She provided them with a haven...like me.

"Who is your mother?" The question I've been longing to know the most.

Evicka states, "My mother, is Annika."

"Your mother...was Annika? Annika Larson?" I can't suppress the shock that sounds in my voice.

"Was?" She asks me, questioning me with those eyes, "My mother is alive. Ronan took her from me and I killed him."

Annika...alive? What happened to her parents?

"And, her parents?"

"Oh, hell if I know," Evicka shrugs her shoulders, "that was a very long time ago."

Locaine...you didn't kill your slave?

Annika was turned though. Although I don't know the circumstances, at least he hadn't killed her as we had presumed. This explains why Evicka has blood magic, her mother was a hunter before being turned.

I wonder if this little being will have blood magic as well.

My thoughts wander to that of the growing pureblood within her womb. Will it pose a threat to our two races? Evicka doesn't seem worried. She protected hunters and went after the coven leaders to set things right. She wanted justice for the crimes they had committed toward her family. It didn't matter that she is a vampire.

Evicka and I are one in the same.

**

-Lucca

Locaine and Annika are dashing off behind Darius and Henri, leading our small party in the direction of the hunters' location. Behind them, Rynn and Eryx have Kadessa restrained between the two of them. Even though she fears Annika, she isn't making it any easier to get to their location as quick as possible.

Zak and I bring up the back of the group, watching out for any sudden movements that appear suspicious. Surprisingly, we haven't run into any hunters, evidence of their presence is hidden well. We crossed into Canada not that long ago.

We come to a clearing, the trees breaking away. The snow drifts softly as the mountains edge into view. Locaine suddenly comes to a halt, Annika slowing beside him.

"It's very quiet here," I hear Annika whisper to him, slowly glancing around at the deserted town. It's very similar to Dyer, not that many people are around and the ones that are, immediately lock themselves into their homes as we arrive.

"I know," Locaine replies and then motions for Rynn and Eryx to bring forward Kadessa. He's face to face with her as he states, "I don't see any hunters, only those pathetic humans running in fear."

"Of course, you don't," Kadessa hesitates at first, "how the hell did you think we have survived this long?"

"Enlighten me," Locaine has the two commanders release her, taking hold of her upper arm and bringing her to the center of the town.

"Lucca?" My attention is drawn to Zak, as he glances around the town.

"Yea?" I ask, watching Locaine interrogate the huntress once again.

Zak walks around, looking at the buildings, "I don't think we are being too observant."

"What are you implying?" I ask him, taking a few steps over to where he's standing. I notice it then too. The ground seems to be more solid in some areas than in others.

Something's not right.

"What's wrong?" Eryx leaves Locaine's side, coming to see what Zak and I are engrossed in. I lock my eyes on him, Zak stepping toward one of the homes.

"The ground," I mutter, still trying to figure out exactly what this means. They can't possibly be underground? Maybe there is a large underground bunker...?

Eryx instantly notices what we are discussing now, walking around one of the buildings and feeling the ground shift beneath his feet. Rynn's eyes are questioning us from Locaine's side, Annika glancing at Rynn and then turning her attention toward us.

"Darius, Henri," I motion to the two vampires. They dash over, questions lingering in their eyes as I say, "I need you to sweep the area. Stay on the lookout. I don't think we were led here against Kadessa's will...they were planning this."

"If that's true," Henri says, caution wavering in his voice, "then we could be just walking right into a trap."

"Exactly," Darius turns to him and they both dart away in opposite directions.

What's strange, is that we can't sense any hunters. If they are underground, it's to be lined with silver and if that's the case, there's no telling how many of them are down there. We'll be walking in blind if we go beneath the Earth's surface.

Kadessa's hands are bound with rope, held in front of her body as Locaine throws her to the ground in frustration. She lands right near Zak and me, her heading whipping up as soon as she contacts the ground. Apparently...

...that's' Locaine's biggest mistake.

In less than two seconds, Kadessa pushes off the ground, runs head-on at Zak, launching off the ground and manages to wrap her legs around his neck. He's instantly brought to the ground, Kadessa taking one of his medium length daggers in her hands and slicing the rope free. Zak attempts to throw her off him, but she leans hard against his chest, taking his second dagger and pulling him to his feet.

How the fuck is she that fast? It's almost on par with our speed...

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Locaine lowers his voice, his tone becoming very dangerous.

Kadessa just rolls her eyes, "Oh really?" She places one of the blades at Zak's neck, the other is held with the blade running up the length of her arm, just like how he holds it, "What are you going to do about it? I know your blood magic user can't replicate what she just did. I'm not bleeding anymore."

Kadessa is right about that. She'd stopped bleeding a while ago, probably waiting for the chance to escape from Locaine.

She's very familiar with Annika's abilities. She mentioned that Orion has blood magic. I wonder if he can do everything she can, and if that is true, how many techniques has he mastered?

Annika grows very angry at her words, taking a step toward her. Locaine quickly stops her, his eyes noticing that Henri is wrapping around from the perimeter, heading directing for Kadessa's vulnerable back.

In the next second, her eyes narrow on Locaine, quickly placing both of her forearms on Zak's shoulders with the blades facing away from him. Kadessa pushes her weight on his shoulders, her feet landing on his back before propelling herself into the air as she backflips off him. Zak falls forward onto his hands and knees from the sudden impact.

Kadessa flips over Henri as he runs beneath her. Henri stops abruptly, swinging around and rushing in her direction as she lands solidly on the ground. She throws one blade at his stomach, rushing to meet him head-on. Right as Henri swerves to his left, Kadessa buries the remaining blade she has in her hand, the weapon going into his heart and out his back.

"HENRI!" Rynn screams, rushing toward his impaled body. The blood runs down his chest, Kadessa glaring at him before viciously removing both blades from her target. Henri's body collapses to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"Rynn, don't!" Locaine growls, rushing to grab her before she can reach Kadessa. Rynn's eyes are full of fury and hate, the feeling of another coven member dying is amplified through the rest of our bodies. It takes everything to restrain myself from rushing in after Rynn as well.

"No!" Rynn screams, Locaine holding both her upper arms, her fiery red hair falling forward over her shoulders. Her vibrant emerald eyes shift to a bloody red, wanting to spill Kadessa's blood.

"Oh," Kadessa's eyes are full of amusement, "you want to play as well?"

I don't understand exactly what she means. That is, until Darius sprints toward her from the right. They are being careless and letting their emotions get the best of them.

Eryx, stop Darius.

Right.

Eryx intercepts Darius, just in time as he nears Kadessa's twenty-foot range. He holds him still, looking toward Locaine and then to myself. Darius' heart falls as he sees the expression on Rynn's face.

Kadessa's testing out patience...why else would she not run? We can't kill her...

Kadessa sighs, shrugging her shoulders and spinning the right blade in her hand, "So, no one wants to play with me then?"

Zak had rolled away, angry with himself that he'd allowed her to surprise him. Taking his weapons and using them against our party was something none of us were prepared for.

It just cost Henri his life.

At this point, it appears only Annika might be able to subdue her. At least she has range on her side. My eyes lift to her, standing perfectly still as though Locaine is ordering her to stay out of it. He will never want to place her in danger, but she's much more powerful than Rynn, Darius, Eryx, and Zak combined. She is the only option and solution to this problem, regardless if Locaine wants to see that or not.

Kadessa's white irises spark with amusement as she kicks Henri's body. That sends Locaine and I both over the edge.

Locaine releases Rynn, moving much quicker than any of the other vampires. He's behind the huntress in a second. At the same time, he moves to her location, she breathes out, crossing one leg in front of the other as she spins around and lowers herself near the ground. One of the blades slices Locaine's right side, through his trench coat, shirt, and clear through his skin. The blood trickles down his side, quickly stepping back a couple of feet as she finishes her assault. It's almost as if she can sense some of our movements.

She's too damn fast.

Locaine, get Annika to help. She's the only one who can stop this ranger at this point without killing her. We're both ready to rip her throat out and we can't until we find Evie.

I know.

I glance toward Annika, her stance already changing as she pulls Henri's blood that soaks the ground, pooling it about ten feet behind Kadessa. Silently communicating with Locaine, her eyes shift, waiting for his signal.

Knock her close, Lucca.

In the next moment, I'm right in front of Kadessa. Her eyes show concern for a brief second before she regains her composure and rolls the daggers in her hands. As she blinks, I kick her forcefully toward Annika's trap.

Kadessa gasps, soaring back toward the blood pool. She throws the daggers in front of her, burying them into the ground to stop her flying body. The huntress manages to stop herself, only she's now situated in the pool of blood.

"Shit," She mutters under her breath before Annika envelops the blood around her, wrapping around her wrists and ankles. She screams when the hold on her limbs became too tight.

"Annika," Locaine's hands are resting on her shoulders, "stop, you can't kill her..."

"She doesn't need all her limbs..." Annika retorts darkly, "...she'll live without at least one of them."

The handles of the daggers leave Kadessa's hands, the pain searing through her body. I watch as Locaine nuzzles his head into the side of Annika's neck, not catching what he's saying. In the next second, Annika's eyes revert to the white orbs I have come to accept, loosening her hold on the ranger.

Locaine's hands lift from Annika's shoulders, walking toward Kadessa. He kicks both blades away from her reach and kneels in front of her, glowering, "As soon as I find my daughter, your death will be payment for Henri's life."

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Ascension of the Hunters by K. A. Young.

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