Chapter 2

There were too many things to look at as I walked down the winding hallways with Creed. The paintings, vases, and strange-looking artifacts all called for individual specific attention which I couldn't give because my thoughts occupied all of my attention. "Are you going to tell me why you brought me here or not?" I asked impatiently. 

"Why tell you," he started and stopped at a door, "when I can show you." He pushed open the door and gestured with his head for me to walk in first. 

It was obvious I didn't trust him so I peeked my head into the room first before walking in. "The room is safe," he told me and he sounded annoyed. 

I rolled my eyes. He had no right to be annoyed that I didn't trust him. I walked into the room and there was a square mahogany table in the center with eight chairs around it, a large monitor on one wall, maps on another, an ancient armory in the corner of the room displayed on glass shelves, and weapons hanging on the wall next to it.  

The weapons drew my attention and I wandered over to it mindlessly. A silver sword and shield occupied the space on the wall.  On the shield was a gold C with a sword going over the letter. The weapons sparkled and I could see my disheveled reflection through them.

"Who are you, people?" I thought aloud.

"We are the Cacciatore's. A family that's been around since the dawn of time with the sole purpose of hunting all kinds of supernaturals that threaten the mortal world," he explained with a certain amount of pride in his voice. What kind of a fool did he take me for. 

"And I am lady pony here to tell you that I'm not buying your load of horse shit," my voice dripped purposefully with sarcasm.

He let out a breath and grabbed a remote from the table. He pressed a button and the monitor on the wall lit up with a big creature with yellowing skin and overhung teeth. "Recognize it?" He asked and it didn't take long for my thoughts to drift off to the man that attacked me in the diner. 

"What did happen to that man in the diner. How did he just burst into smoke like that?" 

"That my dear was no man. That was an ogre."

"An ogre? like Shrek?" I questioned and he quirked an eyebrow at me.

"What the devil is a Shrek?" 

I couldn't tell if he was being serious or pulling my leg. "Shrek you've never heard of Shrek. The cartoon with the ogre and donkey that go on a wild adventure to save a princess. Who by the way plot twist becomes an ogre when the sun sets." 

"Uh-huh," he nodded. "This explains why Dallas never allowed us to watch television growing up." He pressed another button on the remote and the image shrunk and words appeared next to the picture. Under the words, threat assessment were four skulls, and then there were more words like weaknesses, habits, and sightings.

"This can't be real," I said as my eyes scanned the screen. The image changed and it was a picture of what looked like a man with white long hair and glazed over white eyes. 

The words next to the picture were Warlock. I counted ten skulls under the word threat assessment. "Warlocks exist too?" I gasped.

"The things of storybooks are not simply just myth and legend. Just because you don't see them it doesn't mean they are not there," he explained. "This creature cursed me," he said through gritted teeth and then he changed the image on the monitor again. "He cursed me to become this disgusting creature," he spat. 

I turned my eyes to the screen to see a big obsidian wolf with red glowing eyes and razor-sharp teeth. My breath caught in my throat. "Why did he curse you?" 

"Because we did our job and killed his kind," I heard Dallas say nonchalantly and I turned to see her standing at the door. 

"You killed his kind?" I looked at Creed and his face was blank. 

"It's our job Elea." 

"What did they do wrong for you to kill them?" I further questioned and he looked at me like I was insane. 

"They monsters. Their mere existence is a threat to humankind," he defended in outrage and his chest began to heave. His eyes flickered from green to black and back in seconds that I thought I almost imagined it.

"Creed," Dallas called in warning, "control your anger. You feeding that beast inside you."

I couldn't care less if he was getting angry. What they did was wrong. "You know what if you told me this story for me to feel sorry for you. I don't. You got what you deserved. You're a monster on the inside and now you will finally reflect it on the outside," I said and turned on my heel to walk out of the room.

"Elea," Dallas called but I broke out into a sprint.

I made my mind up I would rather contend with whatever creatures that lived in the dark than spend another moment with monsters that mascaraed around in human flesh suits.

I switched on my phone torch as I ran out of the house. The cold wind hit me violently causing my flesh to prickle as goosebumps formed on my bare flesh and my teeth chattered. 

I looked around to get a better idea of my surroundings and the house was massive. It stood tall surrounded by large trees and long grass.  The pale moon hid behind passing grey clouds and there wasn't a star in sight. 

Since there was no trail I picked a direction and began walking into the thick cluster of trees without bothering to look back at the house. If mythical creatures existed and the Cacciatore's hunted them just for the sole purpose of existing then I wanted no part of their banana republic.

I took long strides into the forest desperate to put some space between me and the house. The long grass cut at my legs but I continued. Nothing was going to stop me.

As I walked my anger at the Cacciatore's only increased. What was wrong with these people couldn't they live in a normal house in the city or suburb? No, they couldn't they had to live in boondocks because they weren't normal and had a dungeon filled with heavens know what. 

I felt like I should alert the authorities about them but then again would anyone believe me when I said there was a family of supernatural hunters living in a jungle and was there any way I'd be able to lead them back to their house. 

I kicked at the leaves in front of me in frustration. I was cold, hungry and my feet started to cramp. I felt helpless and my adrenaline fizzled out causing my footsteps to slow.

A thought flashed in my head as I looked around. For the first time since I entered the forest, I realized how much noise its inhabitants made. Critters and all manner of creatures were chirping away lively into the night. 

Suddenly something ran past me in a flash of color and my body stilled. I wondered if my mind was playing tricks on me and then everything went quiet again. 

I continued walking and then I heard whispering. I stopped again starting to feel creeped out. My heart began banging violently in my chest as light sweat covered my forehead. I stood still paralyzed with fear. 

I looked around frantically. I was afraid to even breathe. I began turning in a full circle and there was nothing out of the ordinary. 

Deducing that it was probably my imagination getting the best of me I began walking fast. As I walked I heard a howl rip through the air and then I was almost certain I didn't imagine that and broke out into a run hoping to put some distance between me and whatever it was that was exploring the forest. 

I kicked a rock and my knee buckled causing me to fall to the ground clutching my leg. I felt around for my phone and then I felt that wind whip past me again but this time something touched the side of my face. "You smell so good chéri," I heard a woman say in a thick french accent and I sat extremely still.

I could feel her presence next to me and I was afraid to turn and face her. "So so good," she repeated and inhaled sharply as she ran her nose down the side of my face and neck. 

"What-" I tried to say and she shushed me.

"Shhh shhh shhh," she cooed in my ear, moving my hair to the side and kissing my cheek. Her skin was ice cold. It was like being touched with an ice cube and she smelled like she was rolling around on the grass. 

"I haven't had human blood in days," said another woman's voice, and my head whipped around in the dark. "I've almost forgotten what it tastes like."

My hands began shaking and I felt a hand wrap around my throat choking me. I gasped for air as I felt the thing pick me up from the ground. 

I heard a growling sound and then sharp teeth latched onto the side of my neck tearing at my flesh and I screamed out in pain as the woman began sucking hard on my neck. 

The women cackled in amusement and my struggling against them only seemed to encourage their sick behavior. I couldn't fight them that much was apparent. They were inhumanely powerful and even though I was about to die in the hands of the creatures I suspected were vampires I still didn't believe or respect what the Cacciatore's stood for.

Not all creatures could be bad. I refused to believe that all supernaturals were evil.

I whimpered as I felt my head go light and my limbs turn numb. My neck burned and all I could do was let out strangled sounds of pain. I closed my eyes tightly accepting that this was my fate and I would probably be drained of all my blood soon. 

Blinding white light flashed and I opened my eyes to see two figures walk out of the forest. It was Creed and Liam. They were both carrying green toy guns and the woman that was holding me up in the air dropped me to the ground and hissed flashing her pointy fangs. Her face was messed with my blood and her eyes were blood red. Her skin was pale and sickly almost looking grey and her brunette hair was wild. Her clothes were messed with my blood and dirt.

"Sister they hunters," the other woman cried and she looked like a replica of the woman that attacked me. 

"Why are you two here?" Creed asked in a deep strong authoritative voice. The woman remained silent. "Answer me and maybe I'll show you mercy and make this quick." 

The women hissed flashing their fangs and Creed and Liam looked uninterested and began spraying them with the water guns. 

I was confused as to why they were using water guns until the women started letting out shrilling cries that echoed through the forest. Their bodies started to turn grey, the flesh on their skin looked like it was peeling off into ash and then they finally combusted, exploding into red sparks in front of me. 

Creed threw the toy gun down to the ground and rushed over to my side. He crouched down next to me and placed his hand under my chin tilting my head up. I smacked his hand away not wanting any kind of help from him. 

He ignored my wants and brought his hand up again and tilted my head to the side. "This is quite the gash," he said and I remained silent. I had so many things to say and things to ask about the creatures that attacked me. "Are you okay? Can you stand?" He asked and I tried to stand so that I could get away from him but I stumbled and he caught me. "I got you." 

His eyes landed on mine and I saw how hard and cold they were. The eyes were the windows to the soul but Creed had shutters covering his windows. It was hard to read his emotions just by staring at his face. He was a closed book. 

I looked away from him and he wrapped one hand under my legs and picked me up bridal style.

I groaned not liking the idea of him carrying me. "No don't touch me," I tried to fight him hitting at his chest. My fists banged at his chest pathetically and did nothing to get him to stop carrying me. I felt horrible and my head fell to his chest as I clutched the thin material of his t-shirt collar. His body was warm and inviting and he smelled so good like musk and laundry detergent. 

"Women are a lot of work." I heard him grumble and it tickled when he talked because his chest vibrated against my cheek.

"You've only had this one for a few hours," I heard Liam chuckle, "this time don't put her in the dungeon." 

"Oh fuck off Liam," I heard Creed say in annoyance and Liam burst out into laughter. 

"I'm just saying girls don't like that sort of thing." 

"And you're suddenly a woman expert?" 

"Not an expert per se but I'd like to think I know how they tick." 

"You'd like to think," Creed said sarcastically and I kept on slipping between a state of consciousness and unconsciousness as the men bickered.