Chapter 6 - Daniela

Well shit. I was not expecting all that. The Hunter just verbally spilled his guts and essentially bared his soul in one sitting. And of all the reasons he could be on the run, I hadn’t considered that he killed someone that high up in his guild, least of all his mother.  

But he did it for a good reason. He did it to protect his sister. As someone with a sibling, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Mariana. I would kill thousands if it saved Mariana. And I’d be more than happy to start with killing our father. His death has been a long time coming.  

My emotions got the better of me. I empathize and sympathize with The Hunter. I know how it feels to have to face family, fight a parent, to save someone you love. That’s the only explanation for why I sat beside him and squeezed his hand.  

He at least won. He saved his sister. I lost the one I was supposed to protect. I was too weak back then, too powerless to stop my father. But I’m not weak anymore. I’m finally strong enough that I can kill him. I can’t and won’t fail this time. I will have my vengeance. 

“I take it you are speaking from experience.” The Hunter sighed, turning his hand in mine to squeeze back. 

It was strange to have someone hold my hand. I’ve never been the hand-holding type. Thinking back, the last hand I held was his, in that one blissful moment we shared before my father snatched his life away. Before that monster left me broken, defeated, and worse immortal.  

And while I’ve had lovers over the decades, I don’t think I ever held their hands. And even if I did, it wouldn’t be like this. My lovers had been vampires or, in the rare case, humans that I turned into vampires, so their hands were as cold as mine. Yet here I am, letting this human, this Hunter hold my cold hand in his warm one.  

“Yes, I speak from experience.” I confirmed, watching our hands as this thumb absently stroked my hand. 

“Aww, you two are just adorable together. And while I don’t mind being a voyeur and seeing where all this goes. Khalid did fulfill his part of things. He told you why he’s being hunted and by who. It sounds like it’s your turn, Dani. Come share with us. This is a safe place.” Diana smirked as I became acutely aware of her sitting on my coffee table in a lotus pose. 

“Jesus fucking Christ!” I exclaimed quickly, taking my hand away while glaring at her. She had to go and make it all weird and put a spotlight on me. “You are seriously the weirdest and creepiest person I’ve ever met. You know that, right?” I rolled my eyes. 

“As uncomfortable as her methods are. She makes a point. I told you my story. So, it’s your turn in this game of show and tell.” Khalid, no The Hunter shrugged, leaning back, schooling his facial expression as he stretched an arm across the back of the sofa. 

I don’t care what his sob story is. I’m not going to use his name even in my head. I have to keep that in mind. I don’t want to slip again. It’s a slippery slope, and I don’t need any distractions. There cannot be any distractions this time. This time I will succeed and have my justice at long last. 

“Fine!” I threw my hands in the air in defeat. “A deal is a deal. You gave your story, so it’s only fair. The clan wants to turn me into their Ductus because I’m here to kill him.” 

“I guess that makes sense. Though why do you want to kill the Ductus? Looking to become Ductus in his place? Sent by another clan’s Ductus? A price on his head? Or is this a personal situation?” Kh…The Hunter questioned. 

“I don’t want to be a Ductus, certainly not of this clan. No offense Diana, but this clan can burn in hell.” I scoffed. “And while I’m sure many would pay a hefty sum for his head, this is personal.” I explained. 

He was pensive for a few silent moments before nodding as he came to some conclusion. “I see. So, he’s the monster you couldn’t stop in the past.” He concluded. “Who did he kill?” He cocked his head as he turned to question me. 

“The most important person in my life.” I answered, being vague. He doesn’t need to know the details. I will not share such private information with anyone, least of all this Hunter. Diana only knows about Agustín because of her gifts. If not for that, she’d never know as only my sister and our bastard father knows about Agustín. 

I could see Diana giving me the pleading, puppy eyes. She wants me to open up further—no way in hell. I’m not telling him about Agustín. He doesn’t need to know it was my infant son that my father killed. He also doesn’t need to know it’s my biological father that I’m here to kill.  

“Okay. So, a personal vendetta to avenge the loss of someone close to you. I can understand that. And you came alone? You plan to cut through the largest vampire clan in Mexico to kill their leader solo? Do you have anyone other than Diana to back you?” He questioned, furrowing his brow. 

“I can reach him easily enough. He’ll let me walk right in. He wants me in his clan, at his side, and I refuse. And he’s too full of himself to consider that someone could harm him. He doesn’t see me as the threat I am.” I scoffed. 

“Right. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Daniela. Don’t forget, if I weren’t around, those guys would have done worse than bring you to their leader. And something tells me you wouldn’t be amenable to a gang bang.” He pointed out. 

I narrowed my eyes before slapping across his face, sending him tumbling off the sofa into the coffee table. Diana winced on behalf as his head hit the edge. I could care fucking less. To think I’d felt empathy for this bastard.  

“You can get the fuck out of my house. Don’t ever assume I am some helpless damsel in need of saving. I am a vampire, a highly skilled one at that. A minute longer, and I’d have had them all dead.” I hissed, jumping to my feet. 

The Hunter groaned on the floor, holding his head as the scent of blood drifted into the air. It’s a good thing I recently ate because his blood reminds me of the smell of my madre’s Sopaipilla, something I haven’t been able to enjoy since she died, and I was turned. 

I tempted fate to glance at him just in time to see him take his hand away from his head to see it was a minor cut with a bit of blood. But I still wanted a taste, even if it was only a little. Usually, I’m in complete control of my hunger. But instead of walking away, I turned and bent down, licking the blood from his brow. 

He froze, heart racing. Good, it’s about time he realized he’s in a house of vampires. He needs to learn that being a hunter doesn’t change his designation as food. Just as humans keep cattle, chickens, pigs, and all sorts of animals as livestock, vampires keep humans for the same reason. 

“Diana… you can deal with your new pet. I’m going to shower and lay down as the sun will rise soon.” I instructed, standing. “And, Hunter, stay out of my way, or you’re my next meal.” I warned him as I stepped over him, heading to my bedroom. 

I can’t believe I did that. What in the name of Caine was I thinking!? I LICKED his blood! Shit, I can still taste it on my tongue. Of course, he’d be delicious. Fucking asshole. 

I surprised myself with how calmly I walked away and shut my bedroom door. I wanted to slam it. But I felt that I’d break something if I exerted any strength. And I do not wish to have a broken door. It’s my one guarantee of privacy since Diana volunteered my home as a safe house for him.  

Let her deal with him. I plan on limiting all my interactions with him going forward. Obviously, being around him pushes my buttons, and I lose my usual control. I cannot have that happen. I must completely control my emotions if I’m going to kill Toño. I need to be distraction-free. 

I stripped as I went to the bathroom, carrying my clothes in my arms and tossing them into the hamper just inside the bathroom. If I get into the shower quickly enough, I won’t have to deal with Diana coming in here wanting to discuss what just happened. I don’t want to recap the events in the living room. And I don’t want her to convince me to apologize; he doesn’t deserve one. 

I sighed as I stepped under the scalding spray of the shower. I closed my eyes as I leaned my forehead against the shower wall. I tried to clear my mind, but The Hunter was still there, probably because his blood was still dancing on my tongue.  

He needs to get out of my head and, better yet, out of my house. I knew he’d be a distraction, and he’s living up to my prediction.