Awakening, Glenda ^^ [summer books txt] 📗

Awakening

Prologue

The silver mist around Gladr mansion wrapped its cold fingers around it once again as night fell, cloaking the run-down mansion with a mysterious glint. The wrought iron gates slammed shut into place, as the gargoyles on the pillars kept a look out for intruders. Their eyes glowed ruby red. The windows, lit by candle light, cast long shadows on the untrimmed lawn. A shadowed figure peeked out of the window, in his hand an unmistakable shape.

Chapter 1 _ Hunting
Hydra crouched down besides a Dumpster, her eyes never once leaving her prey. Running her tongue over her hidden weapons, she knew that she would not have to wait long to feed. Her newly selected prey wandered along the secluded streets of Chicago, possibly a drunkard, by his swagger. As silently as the night, she pounced and sank her fangs deep into her prey. He let out a short howl but soon succumbed to her poison. Hydra savored the sweet taste of blood exploding and empowering her body, pounding into her veins and enriching her with strength. She drunk her fill and licked his wounds clean with one clean precise movement. The man would live, she thought, with no memory of what happened that night.

Hydra paused, and placed the man against the wall, she whispered silently, “Suffering is not necessary.” Glancing back to make sure that there were no witnesses she left as quietly as she came. Minutes later, a figure in the shadows lowered his crossbow; he arched his eyebrow in curiosity. Staring at the unconscious but unscathed man at the corner of his vision he agreed silently with her, it wasn’t.

~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~

“She really did let him off!” Adrian retorted, as he gripped the side of his chair. The panel of Elders at the side barely filched at his outburst, but instead patiently waited for him to regain his composure.

Shedia, the first female vampire slayer of her time stood, her voice rasped but shook with power and authorization. “Vampires, never leave their kill alive,” she stated her beady eyes trained on him. Softening her gaze, she continued, “It was your first hunt; it was no wonder that you were mistaken,” Adrian Van Helsling, nodded squirming under her gaze. Seeming satisfied with herself, Shedia, inclined her head and declared meeting adjourned.


Adrian stumbled out of his seat, his expression a stark mask of confusion. In his whole life, he had trained and studied about the world of Vampires, he knew by heart the best ways to kill a vampire, to single one out among a human environment, the ways and methods to identify the predator no matter where it was. He was by far the most learned hunter, but the situation had left him dumbstruck. Something about that particular vampire had left him intrigued, the very way she moved, she spoke, the controlled hunger that he had felt radiating from her. The very image he had of her circulated in his mind as he journeyed back to his room.

In all the books he had seen, vampires were full of bloodlust. Their eyes were scarlet red, clouded by hatred. They would take what they wanted, when they wanted, their victims never saw the light of day after any encounter, the new knowledge of the vampire confused him as much as it triggered his curiosity.


Retreating from the iron bound gazes of his teachers, Adrian fled to the library, the only safe haven for him. Settling down at his usual table, he unbuckled his crossbow from its sheath and unloaded all of his armory. A million thoughts ran through his mind. Just about a week ago, he would have killed any vampire easily, but now…

Adrian closed his eyes, the image of the vampire was burned into his mind. He murmured to himself, “I will find you,”

The moon shone down on Hydra, encasing her in a moonlight embrace. The trees scraped at her, their vicious talons reaching out to wring her neck. Hydra smiled, just a few hundred years ago, that would have frightened her, but not now. Now, she was the predator, not prey. Starting to sprint, Hydra turned towards her destination. The Halo. It was the the scared haven for the vampires, old or new. Suddenly Hydra turned, her ears perked at the very sound of rustling leaves. Something was wrong, very wrong.

The scent of fresh blood hit her at full force, sending her stumbling. She spun around, this was not ordinary blood, it was vampire blood. They were coming.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Bracing herself, Hydra leaped herself into the trees, diving through the ornate entrance of the Halo at the last minute before the doors slammed shut.

"Did they catch your scent?" barked the guard next to the door as she picked herself up. Hydra grunted and pointed towards the window in the corner of the room. They were cornering a new born.

"Van Helslings," spat an old one, glancing outside, anger boiled through her. The name was bitter in Hydra's mouth, her fangs curled in disgust as well. Besides werewolves, the van Helslings were their only enemies. For centuries the Van Helslings had hunted and killed their kind, until the remaining few had retreated into seclusion.

"Do we attack?" asked Hydra, her fangs inched forwards in the anticipation of driving of the unwanted visitors, but her self conscious pushed it back. Her eyes lingered on the poor newborn, crouching in the shadows, pure fear shadowed his face. "Don't leave a single one alive,"he grunted.

A cold hand brushed against her shoulder as she stood. A pair of indigo eyes stared back at her."Miss me?" He asked, his eyes flashing mysteriously. A snarl ripped from Hydra's throat as she stared at the very vampire who had turned her.

"Andrea," Hydra voiced, an old emotion roused inside of her.

Drawing an arrow, Adrian separated from his group. Fanning out in all directions, they searched. Unaware of the eyes trained on them from a distance...

A twig snapped. The cold wind howled like banshee in the dept of the night. The hunter held his bow at ready, an arrow strung. The young vampire in the shadows hissed silently, his tattered cloak flying in the wind as he blended into the trees.

Publication Date: 04-23-2012

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