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“Erik, please tell me what’s going on.”
“Life.” he answered grimly
“Erik!”
“You and I were only an inch away from death.”
“What are you talking about?” Kara said, worried.
“You are a witch, the most powerful witch I’ve ever seen, that anyone has ever seen. Your sister and her boyfriend are hunters, mercenaries basically. Karo kills everything her type of hunter hunts, except humans. Her specialty is vampires, like me. Arric specializes in witches. Neither would hesitate to stick a knife in Siete, the first and most powerful vampire.
“The 2 deadliest hunters on earth on your doorstep, and one of them was paid to kill you. You won’t be called innocent anymore. Anyone can kill you. Any hunter will, if just to prove they are more skilled than either Arric or Karo.” Eric explained
“You sound scared.” Kara was getting more and more scared.
“I’ve made plenty of enemies. The only reason I’m still alive is my blood sister was one of Siete’s fledglings. No one - except your sister and maybe Arric - would dare kill someone that close to having Siete’s blood.”
“How come it’s my life that has to get ruined? It looks like I have no choice but to die.”
“Well you really have a few choices. You can get someone to train you, then you’ll only have to really deal with hunters. Or you can become a hunter, but then you may die on the job.”
“Is there any ways without almost certain death?”
“Striping your powers might, but it can also make you easier to kill.”
“That’s just great.”
Karo and Arric drove the 300 miles back to Burgandy in silence. All the while Arric was starring at Karo to see any further reactions. Nothing. Her face was emotionless. She was as emotionless as ever. She was somewhat tense, but no more or less than every other day. She was never very talkative, but she did speak constantly was she was concerned, exited, or even scared. She looked just os she did every other day, nothing different, nothing special.
When they drove up to Arric’s house Karo broke the silence. “Are you getting out?”
“It’s my car.”
“I’ll bring it back later.”
“Karo, do you want to come inside?”
“I want to do something where I won’t see metal flashing every second.”
“Well that’s going to be hard. Metal is used everywhere these days.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Then can I come with you?”
“Arric I want to be alone.”
“Unless you go to a deserted island you’re not going to be alone. So why don’t you go with someone who doesn’t hate you.”
“Maybe.”
“See you tomorrow then.”
“Sure” Karo said not really paying attention.
Than Arric stepped out of the car and went to the other side. He opened the door and hooked his arm around Karo’s waist. He pulled her out and kissed her softly. Then he whispered “I’ll see you tomorrow.” into her ear and walked into his house.
“Erik, don’t leave me.” Kara pleaded
“I have to Karaline.”
“I’m scared.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”
“Promise?”
“Babe, I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Hurry back.” she said
“It’ll be ok, no one’s going to attack you.”
“See you later.” Kara said as Erik walked out of the house.
She went over to the phone and dialed Taylor’s number.
“Hello?” the voice was definitely male.
“Is Taylor there?”
“Ya. Who is this?”
“It’s Karaline.”
“Taylor it’s someone named Karaline!” I heard the voice yell.
“Karaline are you okay?”
“Ya I’m fine. For now.”
“What happened?”
“Karolee showed up,” she started to explain “at 2 am, and she knew Erik.”
“Really?”
“Ya, apparently the reason she went missing was because of his sister. Oh, and the scars! There was a snake wrapped around a dagger, and the name ‘Erin’ and another snake wrapped around each other wrists.”
“Oh. My. God.”
“So they said that Karo killed Erin just after she gave Karo the scars, 5 years ago.”
“God.”
“It doesn’t finish there.”
“What else can there be?”
“Erin and Erik are vampires.”
“Sure.” Taylor’s response dripped with sarcasm.
“Karo and her boyfriend Arric, spelled A-R-R-I-C, are vampire/witch/shapeshifter hunters.”
“You’re crazy.”
“I’m still not done.”
“Oh please, share more of your insanity.”
“They both say that I’m a witch and abnormally powerful.”
“That’s great, now you have magical powers-”
“And Karo was hired to kill me.”
“What?!”
“I told you Karo is pretty much a mercenary that only hunts witches, shapeshifters and vampires. She was sent to kill me by some powerful vampires.”
“Oh my god!”
“And Erik doesn’t think there’s much chance I’ll live very long.”
“Holy crap.”
“Now my inconceivable story has officially ended.”
“How’s Karolee?”
“She’s the best hunter ever to live. I’m not really sure how to answer that.”
“Do you want to come over?” Taylor asked thinking her friend was insane.
“Sure. oh, was that Mike?”
“Ya. I’ll see you soon.”
“Karo, you coming to hunt?”
“Maybe.”
Karo’s main hunting guild, Burgandy, had two divisions. Fire and Ice. Once every 5 years every willing hunter in Burgandy would go out and attack the others in their division to see who would be the next leader. The rules were simple. you attack and don’t get hit. If you start to bleed for any reason you are out. If you Kill or severaly injure another hunter or go out of the “Blood Forest” you are disqualified. Fire, the more being advanced group got the honor of fighting first. They would go out at dusk and once they were done (usualy not until dawn) Ice would “Hunt”.
Karo was by far the best hunter and many other Fire hunters did not want to press their luck if Karo was there, she never lost. Plus Karo injure if she couldn’t kill, on the first attack. The next blow was garentined to kill. Once Karo strted a fight it wasn’t over until her opponate was dead.
“It’s tomarrow.”
“I know.”
“You have to choose soon.”
“I’ll go if I feel like it tomarrow night. If not I’ll do something else. I don’t need a fancy title to prove I’m the best.” “You’d get more jobs.”
“Shut up Tailor.”
“You should think about it.” the vampire continued to prod. Karo pulled a splended dagger off a chain from around her neck and put it against Tailor’s throat in one unbelievingly quick and fluid movement. “I said shut up. I’ve got plenty of money, publicity and work. I’ve no reason to go to hunt execpt what I fell like doing. If you don’t stop bothering me before hunt.”
Tailor backed away slowly starring at the other hunter in horror. She didn’t think Karo would draw weapons, expecialy not that weapon. The blade was enhanced silver and inlaid with a single red jasper the color of blood. The hilt and crossguard were made with the bones of her first three victims, one from a vampire, one from a witch and one from a shapeshifter. There was a shrunken skull where the blade hilt and crossguard conected. It was the skull Karo’s first kill, Erin.
“I’m sorry Karo, I won’t bother you again.”
“Get out of here Tailor.”
Tailor turned and ran. If she had a tail it would have been between her legs.
“So are you going to hunt?”
“I don’t know Arric.”
“Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“You going to win?”
“Only if you don’t come.”
“You’re over confident. You’ll make a mistake and think it doesn’t matter, then do something you really can’t handle and get yourself killed.”
“You’re unusually sadistic today,” he sounded surprised.
“You relment you wanted to stop hunting.”
“You didn’t think I was serious?”
“I think you’re always serious. It just didn’t sound . . . you.”
“Why doesn’t it sound like me?”
“You’re just very passionate about hunting. I can’t picture you doing anything else.”
“What do you picture me as?”
“When I think of you I see you in black clothing with knifes in view and the dagger around your neck.”
“Is that all?”
“Then I then I think of how much I would hate for you to get hurt.”
“Really?” there was a softness in his vioce Arric had never heard before.
“Then I wonder why I worry because if anyone gets hurt hunting or anywhere else it would be me.” He continued “But I’ve finally figured it out. I love you Karo. I love you like I didn’t know posible.” Karo smiled. It was a warm, passionate smile that hadn’t been on her face in 7 long years. “Good night Arric.” Her voice reflected the warmth of that smile.
It was Saturday, March 17th. The Fire division of Burgandy gathered. Many people were worried, no one knew if Karo would show up or not. Karolee Green was the best hunter by far. She was probaly the best hunter when she came to Burgandy - a thirteen year old girl who could barely stand up striaght from blood loss. Everyone but a man 19 years of age standing in the corner hoped Karo wouldn’t show. Nothing hurts a vampire’s witch’s or shapeshifter’s ego then being beaten by an eighteen year old human girl. That’s what the Fire division was made of. Humans were to easy to kill to be leaders of the largest hunting guild on Earth. Only two humans were thought to have get in, Karo and her boyfriend, Arric.
Someone came through the door into the main meeting chamber. Everyone turned to see who it was. They only saw Tailor, a weak vampire but superb hunter and by tomarrow the previous leader of Fire and the United States Burgandy leader. The hunters went back to their talking. They didn’t see a girl with striaght light brown hair with black and red streaks enter the room.
“Everyone quiet!” Tailor yelled. “Dusk is in less than an hour. The bout is to first blood, with daggers and dikes only. If you kill or severly injure an opponate you are disscualified.” someone groaned. “If you attack before dusk you are disqualified. Now all of you take out one of your blades.” She took out a fairly large vial and went around to every pretisipant and took a single drop of blood. “If you cheat or are disqualified I will know. Now go take your place in the forest.”
The girl to sneak in was the first to silp out, and again no one saw her. “Time to Hunt.” She said jumping down from her perch in the tall sycamore.
“Hunt!” Tailor called right as she hit the ground.
The girl walked around the forest looking more lost then you would think possible. As she wondered around aimlessly 20 Fire hunters surounded her. She acted as if she didn’t notice, like she really was some innocent girl who wandered here on accident and couldn’t find her way out of the forest. Someone was foolish enough to attack.
Next thing anyone one knew that vampire was bleeding and glowing an eary red colour while Karo held a dike in each hand.
“You can’t bleed all of us actress.” a witch said.
“I’ll remeber that when I’m saving your life.” Karo said srangly calm. “Like that will ever happen!” a vampiress laughed.
“I killed Erin when I could hardly stand up right, what makes you think I can’t take a little blood!” Quiker than even the vampires could follow those two hunters were glowing that otherworldly red colour and it looked as if Karo had not even moved. “Any more worthless commets?”
“Are you really human?” a shape shifter dared to ask.
“Just as much as you are.” She whispered too soft for any to hear before she eliminated yet another challenger.
“Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”
“Nothing’s wrong Karaline.”
“Erik what are you hiding from me?”
“Nothing you don’t already know.”
“Which is what?”
“You’re in danger.”
“So?”
“They want to kill you slowly and painfully. They don’t want you to find your power. They won’t stop until they succed, which is usualy quickly.”
“Who’s They?”
“The vampires who fell your power growing.”
“What power?”
“Your magic.”
“Vampires, witches, magic. You can’t really believe in all that stuff can you?”
“Do I have to spell it out for you?You are a witch and a very powerful one. So powerful that some doubt that you are even human, your sister’s talents probably contribute to that. the power that you posess put others in danger, so they want to get rid of you. They want you dead at al costs.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Kara, I don’t want to show you the truth, but if you don’t start believing me you’re going to see one of the reasons your sister hates me.”
“I thought I could trust you, but really yu’re just as bad as my otherworldly sister.” Karaline’s voice sounded hurt.
“Karaline, come here.” Erik’s vioce was comanding, forceful.
She looked towards him and had to fight back a smile. “What?” she couldn’t resist looking at the pale, dark haired, young man staring back at her.
Before she could blink his teeth pierced her throat. Strange. You would expect it to be painful, or atleast uncomfertable. Not intoxicatingly sweet. Karaline as the blood rushed through her veins. “Erik?” she whispered hoarsly and Erik lifted his head, panting.
“Huh?” he repiled groggily.
“Are you okay?”
“Ya, its been a while since I drunk witch blood, and yours was so sweet. I almost lost control, I thought I would suck you dry.”
“Oh my God.”
“What do you else do you have to say?” the hunter inquired. She felt none of the adreiline from the fight, like she was fighting an imobilzed opponate. It was too easy.
“b***h.” a witch accused. Next thing she knew she was a b***h, well a female dog.
“Witch!”Some one yelled thinking Karo had transphored her.
“No, actualy that was me.” a girl who looed like Karo, but with naturaly curly barely blonde hair sliped out from under the trees.
“What the hell?” a few hunters swore “Now there’s two of them!”
“Kara? What the hell are you doing here?” karo was surprised. How had she found me? she thought.
“Ya, what’s the bitches witch doin’ here any ways?”
“Shut up Alec.” Karo snaped. Most of the other hunters - including Alec and many other vampires - knew that Karo was truly angry, which was anything but safe.
“I need to talk to you - privatly.”
'Bad timeing' “Can it wait?” 'I’m kinda busy.'
'Do you really want to be here? the thoughts intruded hers. Do you really think you can block me out? We need to talk. Now.'
'What’s so important that you have to inerupt Hunt?'
'Come and you’ll see.'
'Tell me!'
'Elves in my apartment. Waiting.'
'What?'
'Apparently we’re elves, now come on!'
I already knew that. So what’s new?
'Karolee there are elves at my apartment waiting for us.'
“Geesh, how much blood did Eric drink?”
“How did you know about that?”
The vampires laughed. They could all tell taht a vampire had blooded her recently, all they had to do was read her aura. Plus after spending so much time with someone their aura starts to rub of onto yours.
“You’ve got a lot to learn Sis.”
'Just come with me. I wouldn’t be here if those elves didn’t want to bring us back to where ever it is they - us - come from.'
“Really.” Karo said sheathing her blades. “That sounds interesting. And fun.”
Most of the hunters retreated a few steps, their eyes filled with fear. Those who’s resolve broke compleatly had turned tail and ran.
“I can’t believe they’ve finaly come.” Karo sounded sad, regretful.
“Who?”
“The elves.”
“Huh? What do you mean by finaly?”
“Um, I’ll tell you later.
“Karo!”
“Kara, just trust me.”
“They have arrived.” the lead elf said as she felt their presense.
“Good.” another one said
“Finaly.” the last elf said, obviously bored.
Just then Karo and Kara walked in.
“Perfect time to ruin our lives.” Karo muttered loudly.
“You are of age, it is a perfect time to improve your lives.”
“What if I don’t want to be your prinncess? What if I would rather here, were I’ve my own place?”
“You cannot stay, you have no choice.”
“What the hell is going on?” Kara almost yelled.
“Don’t you know?” the bored elf siad .
“Would she be asking if she did?” Karo asked “Of course not! She knows about as much about elves as she does about vampires, which is next to nothing!”
“You didn’t tell her?”
“Why would I tell my sister that our parents - who were oh so dear to her - adopted us! Why would I tell her that she was the heir to a kingdom of what she considered lies! I thought elves were supost to be wise, but it turned out they don’t even have common sense.”
“Did you come here just to mock us.”
“Pretty much, ya. Arric?”
“Huh?” three elven voices asked.
“Arric came here. Again.”
“Your Arric or my Erik?”
“Mine, yours has been out there all along.”
“Oh, thanks for telling me.”
“Spillings just not my thing. Secrecy is just more natural for me.”
“Someone’s at the door.” one of the elves anounced, apparently not unterstanding what they were talking about.
“Karaline, Karo are you there?”
“Where are you going?”
“To let Arric in.”
All there elves groaned, what a strangly musical sound.
“Hi baby.” Karo said flirting very uncharacteristicly.
“Arric smiled “You look - what the hell?”
“Long story. Come sit, while I continue arguing with some of the most stubborn creatures to bless me with their presence.”
“We cannot have humans listening in!”
“Oh give it a break, it’s not like he’s going to kill you - though he probably could kill one or two of you.”
“No he must leave!”
“Then I leave! Take your pick, but I’m not goinig to let you control me.”
“You are too much like your mother.”
“No I’m not. I’m nothing like her.”
“A love of adventure, a loathing of royalty. Your exactly like her.”
“You know nothing of me. Arric, you ready to go?”
“Sure.” Arric answered, more confused then he was when he first saw the elves.
“What was that about?” Arric asked after driving for about ten minuets.
“I told you it’s a long story.”
“We’ve got time Karo.”
“I’m an elven princess.”
“What?” it was his turn to stomp on the breaks to avoid crashing.
“I’ll explain when we get home.”
“Okay, but can you drive?”
“Sure baby.” Karo said already getting out of the still moving car.
“So I’m a princess?”
“Yes, of course.” the lead elf said.
“And aparently a Magi.” anther elf added.
“Magi?”
“Elven mages.” the lead elf said as if stating the obvious.
“Oh. So why are you here?”
“Why? To take you bake to Igrida of course!”
“Igrida?” Wow this just keeps on getting more and more compicated.
“Our country!”
“Oh.”
“Don’t you know anything of us?”
“No, not really.”
Erik was worried. Karo had left half an hour ago and since then Karline had been in with the elves otherwise alone. Who knew what they would do to her! At last he could stand it no more and went into the house without knocking or so much as hesitating to barge in.
All the elves were staring at him. “What is he doing here?” the lead elf asked.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
“Your what?” all three elves chanted in unision, astounded by this even more than by Karo’s additude.
“My boyfriend.” Karaline was getting bored with the elves beening surpirsed by allmost every aspect of her life.
“This cannot be! You’re mate must be an elf! You cannot leave us rulerless.”
“I don’t even know you. And I’m starting to see why Karolee hated you from the started.”
“You done staring at me yet?” Karo said pulling into her driveway.
“Almost.” Arric said.
“Come on, lets go inside.” Karo said getting out of the car.
Arric followed her in, still not taking his eyes off her.
Karo sat on the couch. “I love you.” she said quite simply while pulling Arric onto her lap and kissing him passionatly.
Arric was stunned for a second, than kissed her back just as hard.
A few minuets later they broke apart, gassping for air.
“Will you marry me?” Arric said as he grabed a small box from his pocket and stuffed into Karo’s hands.
Faey Master · Sat Apr 12, 2008 @ 04:20am · 0 Comments |
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