A man walked over the cobblestone street with determined steps. Behind him the air had a deep orange colour, in front of him it was already dark-blue. The sun had just set and dusk had set in. He had a big crossbow on his back and a sword on his side. In the leather band across his chest were several silver darts and some garlic hung on his belt.
His black curls had some grey in it and scars on his face were remnants of past fights. With is blue eyes he inspected the area, attentive of every detail.
When he spotted two teens goofing around he pointed at them. “Go home, now!” he ordered them curtly. “Vampires will come out soon.”
He had been appointed by the city council to rid the city of vampires, together with some other vampire hunters. They all worked alone, but each had a designated route through the city and they came together at dusk and dawn, to discuss the vampire activity.
This was just the next assignment for him and after he would collect his reward he’d travel to the next place where vampires were. His reputation made him a sought after man, he had overheard two men in a tavern once. ‘If you need to get rid of vampires Bolrug is your man, he has slain more than any other hunter,’ one of them had said to the other. That, of course, was pleasant to hear.
He was good in his job and people knew it, but he was careful. Pride came before defeat after all. No, he had to be realistic at all times, vampires were dangerous and strong and he had to be at his best at all times. No toying with enemies because he thought he was stronger, no pauses to have a chat with the vampire and tell it about its immediate defeat. Many hunters had died because they were too confident in their own skills and he wouldn’t make that mistake.
Bolrug noticed a small boy sitting on a staircase, his blond hair fell in front of his face as he faced the street, his arms wrapped around his knees. “Hey,” he said as he walked closer. “Are you okay? You need to go home.”
“I’m afraid…” the boy whispered.
The hunter crouched down next to him. “What is your name?” he asked him. There was a hint of impatience in his voice, but he did his best to hide it. People rarely complimented his empathy, only his fighting skills, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t do an effort when he felt it was needed.
“Josh,” the boy replied.
“Listen, Josh, you don’t have to be afraid. I’ll take you home, okay?”
“You don’t even know what I’m afraid for,” Josh replied.
“Okay,” Bolrug sighed, feeling his patience disappear rapidly, “what are you afraid for?”
“I’m afraid this is your last day on the job.” As he spoke the words he looked straight at Bolrug, showing his red eyes and the fangs in his mouth.
Bolrug grabbed the handle of his sword, but Josh jumped up and wrapped his arms and legs around him. A vampire, this boy was a vampire. He scolded himself for being fooled by the innocent appearance. He had allowed himself to get too close to a vampire and now he couldn’t even get his sword.
Josh tried to sink his teeth in Bolrug’s neck, but Bolrug grabbed one a piece of garlic and pulverized it in his hand, filling the air with the strong aroma. Josh’s face distorted in disgust and let go. He stepped back and glared at Bolrug, who now drew his sword.
“You will die here, vampire.”
“We’ll see,” Josh replied, running towards him.
Bolrug’s blade swung through the air, but Josh jumped aside just in time. Bolrug growled in disappointment and send the blade after Josh, but he evaded the tip effortlessly.
Josh was small and lean and with the high agility vampires normally had it was a deadly combination. Whatever Bolrug tried, Josh seemed to be just a little faster. Josh tried to attack, but Bolrug quickly moved his sword and managed to slice in Josh’s arm, who was just not fast enough to evade.
Josh hissed as the blade cut in his arm, the iron and silver mixture made a strong and painful blade. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Bolrug make a second attack, obviously he tried to put the tip trough his heart or cut his head from his body. The only two ways he could be killed by the blade. He wouldn’t let him. Josh jumped back, the tip of the blade narrowly missing his neck.
“I’m having fun,” Josh said. “It’s been a while since a hunter was this strong. Only Duncan ever managed to cut me.”
“Like I care,” Bolrug spat as he stepped forward to attempt another attack. “You will die.” Every vampire he had encountered had died at the end of his blade or with the use of his crossbow, this one would be no exception.
“Playtime is over,” Josh announced and he jumped forward when Bolrug’s blade came down.
Bolrug’s eyes widened when he saw Josh come straight to him, but he couldn’t stop him. Pale arms wrapped around his head and fangs pierced his skin. His fingers moved across his belt and folded around the handle of a silver dagger he kept there. He thrust the thin blade between Josh’s ribs, who’s muscles tightened and let out a smothered cry of pain when the silver pierced his flesh, but he didn’t let go.
Dizziness overcame Bolrug as the vampire drained his blood and he crumpled to his knees, his vision became blurry. He had always known he would die one day, at least he had killed many of those bastards before one finally got him.
He had no regrets.
The body of the strong vampire hunter went limp and darkness overtook him.
Josh stood next to the lifeless body of the vampire hunter. He looked at it, feeling no remorse about killing him. There was no chance of this one becoming a vampire, only the pure-blooded could turn someone. That is how he had turned in one.
He pulled the blade from his side and threw it away. After he touched the wound he grunted in displease, that would take a while to heal, silver always left nasty wounds that would turn into scars. Duncan had also left one, just under his heart. He recalled the fear in her eyes when she realised she had missed, but before he could kill her, Harry had distracted him with an attack of his own. That was the last time he had seen them, but he knew they were still in pursuit. They had taken it upon themselves to kill him. He recalled they had been brothers once, but friendship meant so little after he was reborn as a vampire. Now he was a predator and they were prey, filled with delicious blood.
When Harry and Duncan had discovered he was nothing more than a blood-thirsty monster who looked like their youngest brother, they had vowed to end his cursed existence, as that is what Josh would have wanted. And now they hunted him wherever he went.
Josh looked at the sky, he remembered how weak he once was. Weak and dependent. Not anymore. Now he was strong, stronger than them, but they were persistent. They would arrive in the city soon, if they weren’t already here. It was best to keep moving. He had had his meal, it was time to go to the next city. As he wiped his mouth he walked over the cobblestone street, his pace calm and determined, as if he didn’t have anything to worry about.
*** © Mariska Bekker ***