Chương 14: Hunter's Dilemma
The night exploded with a scream that shredded the silence. In a grimy alley, a young man huddled in a corner, his terror a palpable presence. A hulking figure loomed over him, its form a grotesque tapestry of twisted bone and taut flesh.
"Please," the man whimpered, voice thick with fear. "Let me go."
The creature's forked tongue snaked out, a macabre prelude to the feast to come. But before its claws could find their mark, a flash of white light erupted from the shadows. A young woman, clad in darkness, materialised beside the man. Her movements were a blur of lethal grace as she intercepted the creature's attack. A sickening crack echoed through the alley, followed by a wet thud. The monstrous creature crumpled at their feet before disintegrating into dust.
The young man gaped, speechless, at his savior. Her crimson eyes held him captive, their depths seeming to pierce his very soul. Before he could stammer a word of gratitude, she vanished like smoke on the breeze.
"Callista," Indigo's voice crackled in her ear, a hint of disapproval lacing the static, "a word with the young man wouldn't have hurt."
Callista tapped the earpiece. "Motivational speaking isn't exactly in my job description, Indigo. And seriously, is it a zombie apocalypse out there?"
A flurry of frantic tapping filled the line, followed by a frustrated sigh that seemed to crackle through the technology. "Indeed. I have forwarded the coordinates of several additional sightings. It appears there has been an alarming proliferation of these… unfortunate entities."
"The Queen, you suspect?" Callista raised an eyebrow, though her gut feeling disagreed. Eydis wasn't exactly known for unleashing mindless hordes on the city.
"Perhaps, so…" Indigo trailed off, hesitantly, "…about that 'second date' of yours." The line went dead with a click. Callista, with a hint of a scowl, had ended the call.
"Second date, my ass."
*****
Cracking her knuckles, Callista stretched and pulled on her running gear. Last night's ghoul takedown had been a decent workout, but morning jogs were a habit she couldn't kick. Thankfully, the academy was a ghost town at dawn, granting her precious solitude.
Except for the ever-present ghost in the machine, the princess. That woman had a knack for appearing out of thin air, leaving Callista feeling perpetually off-balance. Speaking of phantoms…
For the past week, she had been playing detective on Amelia, the school's resident Casper. Rarely seen in class, she flitted in and out as she pleased, like she was leading a secret life beyond the school walls. The possibility of Amelia being Eydis grew stronger with each sunrise, sending the Watchers into a tailspin.
As Callista sprinted through the Spring gardens, the sweet scent of lilies filled the air, a fragrance that inexplicably tightened her chest. It triggered a forgotten memory – a stolen glance with Athena amidst these very flowers, a moment of unexpected warmth.
The hunter finished her final lap, sweat beading on her forehead. The once peaceful solitude of the Spring gardens was shattered by the rising murmur of students – a cacophony signalling the start of another undead school day. A flicker of… irritation? Flitted through her as she scanned the area for a certain vampire princess. Another absence.
A week, give or take. Not that she was counting, of course. Not that she was particularly… disappointed. More like… curious. Usually, Athena would materialise out of thin air like a mischievous genie, spouting cryptic messages that left Callista with a churning mix of revulsion and… something else entirely. Something she was fiercely trying to ignore.
A hand clamped down on Callista's shoulder, Natalia's chirp grating in her ear. "Spill, roomie! Who's got you looking like a kicked puppy?"
Melissa snorted beside her, adding, "With your sunshine-deprived charm, who could resist?"
Callista swatted at the arm, a growl rumbling in her chest. "No one," she snapped, quickening her pace.
The unwelcome duo shadowed her, Melissa's grin widening as she leaned in. "Uh-huh, and pigs fly. You've been scanning the gardens like a lovesick..." the nymph trailed off as Natalia elbowed her, chirping about grumpy Smurfs.
Heat flooded Callista's cheeks. "Don't you dare..." she choked, before breaking into a frustrated jog, leaving the giggling pair in her dust.
Fine. Maybe a flicker of...hunger gnawed at her. Perhaps Athena's daily lunch dates weren't entirely unwelcome. The prospect of witnessing the bizarre spectacle of vampires and humans consuming their meals, however unappetizing, was a small price to pay for some decent... protein. After all, a girl needed a good steak every now and then.
Duty and hunger, a perfect match.
****
Callista pushed open the opulent crimson chamber, bracing herself for the usual assault on her senses. A cacophony of moans and gasps assaulted her senses – the unmistakable sounds of bloodsucking. Even the expensive perfume couldn't mask the primal revulsion that clenched her gut. Her eyes bypassed the feast table, scanning for a secluded corner where she knew Athena would be.
Athena sat alone, her expression a mask of icy disdain as a particularly bold human approached for a "pleasure bite." The sight sent a jolt through Callista. This wasn't the usual playful predator Callista knew. An impulse tugged at her, and her feet carried her through the throng, stopping short in front of the aloof princess.
Athena barely acknowledged her with a curt, "Can I help you with something, Astra?"
The icy demeanour stung. Callista, already questioning her impulsive arrival, muttered a half-hearted excuse and turned to leave, only to be yanked back by a strong hand on her wrist.
Athena pulled her down onto her lap, the unexpected closeness sending a jolt through Callista. Warm breath tickled her ear as Athena murmured, "Here to join the feast, or..." a playful tongue darted out, teasing the hunter's earring, "...be the feast yourself?"
Heat flooded Callista's cheeks as Athena's fingers dipped below her waistband, tracing a teasing pattern. Despite the indignation that flared, a strange sense of relief washed over her at the shift in Athena's mood.
"Just came to return these."
Athena's eyebrows shot up in surprise as Callista disentangled herself, tossing the bottle into the princess's lap. A genuine smile, the kind that could light up the room, curved Athena's lips. "Only a week late, Astra, or..." she rose, her voice a silken caress as she leaned in, her body brushing tantalisingly against Callista's, "was it an excuse to see me?"
Callista cursed inwardly, the heat in her face refusing to subside under Athena's unwavering gaze. Was there a flicker of hope in those golden eyes? Before she could respond, Athena grabbed her hand and led her through another doorway.
Stained glass windows cast a mesmerising glow on the polished wood floor. The noise from outside was completely muffled as Athena shut the door. Callista's breath hitched as she took in the opulent bedroom, dominated by a large, king-sized bed draped in scarlet silk sheets.
Athena pulled out a chair at her tea table, a subtle nod summoning a maid who materialised seemingly out of thin air. Callista reluctantly sat, meeting the princess's mischievous smile. "Why do you seem disappointed we're not…" Athena drawled, her gaze flickering to the opulent bed.
"In your dreams, Athena. Not interested," Callista scoffed.
The princess's laughter echoed in the room, the earlier iciness melting away completely. A flicker of surprise crossed her features, however, as Callista asked, "How's… your burnt hand?"
"You noticed?" Athena murmured, extending a perfectly healed hand. "How clumsy of me."
"Hard to miss you when you're always so…" Callista stopped herself from blurting out "dazzling." The infuriating princess knew exactly what she meant anyway.
"So all…?" Athena arched an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "So you admit you've been watching me, Astra?"
Callista opened her mouth to retort, but before she could dig herself a deeper hole, the maid returned with a plate piled high with a juicy ribeye and a glass of red wine for Callista, while Athena received a simple salad and a steaming latte. As the woman scurried out, Callista blurted, "How did you know I was…"
"Please, I see the way you look at those foods. Though, I was hoping you might direct that hunger towards something more…" she trailed off, her voice dropping to a husky purr, "...stimulating."
Callista scoffed, the sound laced with a defensiveness she couldn't quite hide. She dug into the steak, the savoury taste a welcome distraction from the heat rising in her cheeks. "Don't flatter yourself, princess," she challenged, her voice clipped. "One thing I don't get – why hold these feasts if you look like you want to be anywhere but here?"
Athena's surprise deepened. "Perceptive, aren't you, Astra? And curious too. I thought your dislike for my kind would blind you to… questioning things."
Callista couldn't deny it. A part of her loathed vampires, everything they represented. Yet, here she was, captivated by this enigmatic princess.
"The room outside," Athena explained, watching Callista devour the steak with amusement, "was a judgement-free zone. A place where humans and vampires could indulge without… consequences. Isn't that the beauty of it?"
The explanation left a bitter taste in Callista's mouth. "But you don't seem to participate," she murmured, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features as she remembered the werewolf by Athena's side, the only source of sustenance she'd witnessed. "Then why stay and watch?"
An enigmatic smile played on Athena's lips as she sipped her coffee. Instead of answering, she purred, a question laced with a dangerous undercurrent, "Why the sudden interest, Astra? Curious how it felt to be… devoured?"
Callista choked on her wine, the sound ripped from her by the sudden intimacy. Athena was already upon her, a crimson blur, her thumb wiping the red droplets from Callista's lips. The touch lingered, sending a jolt through Callista. Athena pulled back slowly, her tongue darting out to lick the wine off her thumb, all while holding Callista's gaze with an intensity that stole her breath.
The hunter's heart hammered against her ribs, her throat suddenly dry. The half-eaten steak sat forgotten on the table as the image sparked a primal awareness within Callista.
"And what if I am?" she murmured, the words tumbling out before she could stop them, shocking them both.
A fleeting blush dusted Athena's cheeks, a flicker of something akin to surprise battling with a steely resolve. She rose, her movements swift and decisive. "Then I can find a more… willing participant to satisfy your curiosity. You can stay and eat, Astra. I have...other commitments."
With that, Athena turned and walked away, her retreating form surprisingly reminiscent of flight.
Alone in the opulent bedroom, Callista grappled with the whirlwind of emotions – confusion, arousal, and a strange sense of loss. What had she just done? And more importantly, why did a part of her yearn for something more from the very creature she was sworn to hunt?
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