Chapter 4
The picture is of the young hunter, Ayden***
Nissa led the young hunter out the door, and into the hallway beyond. She didn't look at him as she spoke. "Come. We have someone to see before we talk." He followed her in silence. She set off down the hallway, and in less than a minute was standing beside the door to Sebastian and Scarlett's room. Opening it, she motioned for Ayden to follow her.
As soon as he was through the door, his eyes shot to where the small family was sitting on the bed, talking. He turned to Nissa, "The father and daughter that we followed here?"
She nodded. "Yes. This is Sebastian and his daughter Scarlett." Upon hearing their names, the two looked up from their conversation and saw Nissa standing there unharmed. Sebastian seemed relieved, but his daughter was another story: her face showed only pure hatred. Nissa explained, "The Hunters attacked, but they were unable to harm me. This is their leader, Ayden. There is nothing to worry about at the moment, so I have come to let you out of your cell for the night."
She grabbed the key from its place on the chair beside the door and proceeded to unlock the door. The two humans walked out from their cell gratefully, which she closed and locked behind them. "Let's go into the parlor."
They walked in silence until they came to the room in question, whereupon Nissa sat the father and daughter in nearby chairs, while she herself sat with the hunter on the couch. Turning to Ayden she said, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but as of yet I can't bring myself to be outside three feet from you, as I don't find you trustworthy."
He mumbled under his breath, "The feeling is mutual, believe me." He stared at the floor for a time, before his eyes began to drift around the room. He was silent until his eyes landed upon something in the doorway he just couldn't stand. In a fit of rage he turned on Nissa, "Are you just going to leave Jack like that, or what?"
She looked toward the doorway, where the other hunter — Jack's — body still lay. Sebastian and Scarlett followed her gaze.
Scarlett almost vomited, and fell out of her chair. Sebastian looked at Nissa in disgust. "You killed him?"
She shrugged. "Hey, I had to get their attention somehow; I couldn't control them all without getting a little blood spilled in the process. Besides, I told you how the law works. What did you think I'd do when they attacked me?"
"I don't know, spare their lives like you did mine?!"
Nissa sighed. "I only killed one of them. The other five I spared." She looked at him, at the outrage on his face, and added, "I will hear no more of this. You may leave, but do not exit the house. If you do, an alarm will sound, and you will face a far greater punishment than Jack did. Now go, and leave us." Knowing a dismissal when he saw one, Sebastian balled up his fists, nodding tensely, and picked his daughter up off the floor. They turned, and were gone within moments.
As soon as they were out of hearing distance, Ayden turned to the vampiress. "You're just going to let them have free reign of your home? What kind of vampire are you?"
She smirked. "I know one will keep the other in line, and the death of your companion, Jack, will be more than enough to scare them into staying inside the house. It isn't as stupid a move as you might think." She waved his objections aside. "Now, what is it you wished to speak with me about?"
His eyes were locked on Jack's body, and his voice wavered for the first time as he spoke. "Can we at least move away from his body?"
"No, I think it reminds you of what your fate could be in a moment's notice if you try anything."
"Please I —" He started, but was silenced with a look. "Fine," he said, but his gaze kept darting back to his friend's body.
Nissa sighed. "You are a hunter, are you not? You have seen dead bodies before."
"Yes, but none of them have been good friends of mine!" Finally, he tore his eyes away from his friend and took a deep breath. "But... I didn't come here to talk about him. I came to ask: what will happen to my men, or to me for that matter? You know the Hunters will come for us tomorrow."
"If I'm being honest, I'll keep you hidden away somewhere, while I bring the others with me to the battlefield. If the Hunters wish to attack, they will have to do so through their own people."
He looked at her, disgusted. "You actually think the Hunters care if we live or die? They would kill us in a moment's notice if they thought it might lead to your death. Our lives are meaningless to them."
"And yet, when I started to hurt one of your soldiers, you gave up your freedom and that of your men's to save him."
"But you can't expect that all hunters will —"
"Be like you? No, I am not naive enough to think that all leadership in your society will be as selfless and soft as you are." He started to object, but she cut him off. "What do you expect me to do, lock up my potential bargaining chips so that they can be rescued in a moment's notice? No, I won't do that."
Seeming conflicted, he said, "But you at least don't have to —"
Her voice hardened. "I said no, and that is final. However, if you would like to switch places with them, that can be arranged."
"No, I didn't mean —"
"Oh yes, I quite like that idea. For I'm starting to think that you might just be a bigger bargaining chip than they ever were."
His eyes widened for a second, before he resumed his poker face once again. He looked everywhere but at her. "How could I possibly be more of a bargaining chip than they are? The Hunters don't care about me. I'm just a lowly —"
"Why don't we cut the crap. You think I don't realize how all of your men — even though they're pathetic weaklings — are all older and more experienced than you are? Or how quick you were to surrender when one of their lives was on the line? You are unlike all the other Hunter commanders I have ever met. You are not ruthless in any way, and you value life above all else. This can only mean one thing: you did not earn your post; it was given to you at birth. You are a member of the original family, the very same family I have fought many times in the past."
Ayden seemed surprised at her conclusion, but didn't argue it. "You've fought us many — you're an original vampire, aren't you?"
He met her eyes, and she could see a twinge of fear in them. She laughed, "Hon, I'm not an original vampire. I'm the original vampire."
Ayden's eyes widened and his heart began to race. He backed up in fear, moving as far away from her as possible while still staying on the couch. "Narcissa," he whispered.
Throwing back her hair, she said, "Yes. I am Narcissa van Altena, the original vampire, though I go by Nissa nowadays."
"So it doesn't matter how many waves of hunters they send, as they'll never be able to take you down. But answer me this: how many waves do you think those innocents you have prisoner will survive?" Under his breath he added, "How many will I for that matter..."
Her face softened, and she replied, "I will do all I can to protect all of those under my care, including you." She was silent for a minute or so, thinking. "If I truly wish to protect you all, I know what I must do." She paused, steeling herself. "I must break the oath I made two centuries ago, and leave this place. But in order to stay alive, I will need blood on the road, so I will bring one of you with me..."
"Please, leave Sebastian and his daughter out of this. They have suffered enough at your hand already."
"I would prefer to bring Sebastian with me, but I am loath separate him and his daughter. They will remain here to be rescued."
"And my men? What will their fates be?"
"As long as they do not learn of my identity, they will remain here as well. I would rather not bring them with me, as they seem dimwitted and I feel like one would try something stupid."
"Then I —"
"Yes, I will take you with me." She looked him in the eye before adding, "Unless of course you need a hostage's life to be threatened in order to follow my instructions."
Ayden quickly said, "No, that won't be necessary. I will do as you ask."
"And for that I am grateful, though once we are on the road I fear that your blood alone will not be enough to sustain me. For you will need to rest in between feedings, or you will die from blood loss. No, I must take two of you with me, which means I must capture another."
"Capture another?"
"Yes, that's what I'll do. When the next wave of hunters appears, I will capture their leader, and then take him with me, as long as he doesn't do anything stupid."
"Please don't do that." His eyes plead with her, and he actually begged.
She looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Why not? It's the best play, and you know it, so why are you so opposed to it?"
Sighing, Ayden said, "Because my brother always shows up when he thinks I'm in trouble. He'll be leading the hunters trying to rescue me."
She was silent for a little while, thinking. "Your brother, hmm? Is he like you, or is he more of the typical Hunter captain?"
"He's like me; he's kind, passionate, considerate, although he can be ruthless, especially toward vampires."
Nissa laughed. "He sounds like quite the charmer."
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