Lovehunter II

Elias reached the gates of Castle Red Mercy just before full dark.

The last of the evening light had gone gray behind the trees, and the castle windows glowed one by one as if someone inside had been waiting for the exact moment he arrived.

That thought did nothing for his confidence.

He stood at the edge of the road with mud on his boots, rain on his coat, and his crossbow held across his chest.

The outer gate was already open.

Elias stared at it.

“Not good”

Nothing moved.

He looked up toward the castle.

“This feels like a trap.”

The gate remained open.

Elias rubbed rain from his face.

“You could at least pretend I’m breaking in.”

A raven called from somewhere in the trees.

Elias looked toward it.

“You stay out of this.”

He walked through.

The grounds beyond the gate were too well kept for an abandoned castle. Hedges had been cut recently. Dead leaves had been swept cleanly from the path, while ornate lanterns burned beside the stone walkway.

There were no servants.

No guards.

No chained wolves.

No piles of bones arranged in a warning.

Elias had expected at least one pile of bones.

The Academy manuals were very enthusiastic about piles of bones.

He continued up the path.

The front doors stood nearly twelve feet high, black oak reinforced with dark iron. Each door held a metal knocker shaped like a screaming face.

Elias reached for one.

The door opened before he touched it.

He closed his eyes.

“Of course.”

Warm light spilled across him.

He stepped inside.

The entrance hall was large enough to hold half the Academy. A broad staircase climbed toward a second-floor gallery, and tall candles burned along the walls. Heavy red curtains covered narrow windows. Portraits of severe-looking nobles watched him from gold frames.

The air smelled faintly of wax, old books, and roses.

Elias raised his crossbow.

“Lady Seraphine.” Elias called out.

His voice traveled through the hall.

No answer.

He took another step.

“By order of Monster Hunter’s Academy, I have been sent to investigate reports of predation, unlawful feeding, supernatural coercion, and the murder of licensed hunters.”

Still nothing.

Elias swallowed.

“I am also here to kill you.”

A woman laughed.

It came from above.

Elias looked up.

She stood at the top of the staircase.

Lady Seraphine wore a dark red gown with long sleeves and a high collar. Her black hair fell over one shoulder. She held a glass in one hand.

The liquid inside was red.

Elias noticed that first.

Then her eyes.

Red as well.

She looked down at him for several seconds.

Then she sighed.

“They sent a boy.”

Elias frowned.

“I’m twenty-three.”

“How reassuring.”

She started down the stairs.

He raised the crossbow higher.

“Stop there.”

She kept walking.

“I mean it.”

“I’m sure you do.” Lady Seraphine cooed.

“Another step and I fire.”

Seraphine stopped.

Elias tightened his grip.

“There. Good.”

She looked at the crossbow.

Then at him.

“That is your weapon?”

“One of them.”

“How many others did you bring?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Three stakes.” Seraphone stated.

Elias froze.

“One silver dagger.”

His jaw tightened.

“Twelve bolts. A bottle of holy water. Garlic.”

She smiled.

“Garlic?”

He shifted his stance.

“It was available.”

“It does nothing.”

“I know.”

“Then why bring it?”

“Dinner.”

She stared at him.

Then laughed again.

Elias disliked how much he liked the sound.

He corrected that thought immediately.

He disliked everything about her.

That was his official position.

Seraphine descended the final step.

“May I ask your name?”

“You may.”

She waited.

Elias waited too.

Her smile widened.

“This is going to be exhausting,” Seraphine noted.

“Elias Greaves.”

“Elias.”

“Hunter Greaves.” Elias corrected.

“No.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“No?”

“I refuse.”

“You refuse my title?”

“I refuse to call someone Hunter Greaves while he carries garlic for culinary purposes.”

Elias pulled the trigger.

The bolt flew.

Seraphine vanished.

Elias barely had time to register the empty staircase before fingers closed around the back of his coat.

He was pulled off his feet.

The crossbow fell from his hands, and he hit the floor hard enough to lose his breath.

Seraphine stood over him.

She held the bolt between two fingers.

Elias stared.

She examined the silver tip.

“Not bad.”

He coughed.

“Thank you.”

“The craftsmanship, I mean.”

“I know.”

She dropped it.

Elias rolled, drew his dagger, and slashed upward.

Seraphine caught his wrist.

He tried to pull free.

Nothing happened.

She looked at the blade.

“Silver.”

“Yes.”

“You came prepared.”

“That was the general idea.”

“Poorly prepared.”

“Still prepared.”

She twisted his wrist.

The dagger hit the floor.

Elias hissed through his teeth.

“Would you like to try the stake now?”

He looked at her.

“You know, I was considering it.”

“Please do.”

That irritated him enough to try. He pulled a stake from inside his coat and drove it toward her chest.

Seraphine stepped aside. Elias stumbled past her.

She tapped his shoulder.

He turned.

She punched him in the stomach.

Not hard.

At least he hoped not.

He dropped to one knee anyway.

Seraphine crouched in front of him.

“Was that your first hunt?”

Elias tried to breathe.

“No.”

She waited.

He sighed.

“Yes.”

“I thought so.”

“How?”

“You introduced yourself before attacking.”

“We have procedure.”

“You announced the charges.”

“Legal requirement.”

“You threatened me three separate times.”

“I believe in clarity.”

“You packed garlic.”

“Let that go.”

Seraphine stood.

Elias remained where he was.

His stomach strongly recommended it.

Lady Seraphine walked toward a small table beside the staircase and placed her glass upon it.

Elias watched her.

“You killed the other hunters.”

“Some.”

“How many?”

“I’ve lost count.”

“That is not helping your defense.”

“I’m not defending myself.”

She turned back toward him.

“They came here to kill me. I objected.”

“With murder.”

“With considerable enthusiasm.”

Elias slowly got to his feet.

“You admit it.”

“I rarely lie.”

“That seems unlikely.”

“I said rarely.”

He glanced toward his crossbow.

It lay several feet away.

Seraphine noticed.

“Go ahead.”

“What?”

“Pick it up.”

Elias hesitated.

“You’re mocking me.”

“Yes.”

“At least you admit that too.”

He moved toward the crossbow.

She did not stop him.

He picked it up.

Loaded another bolt.

Seraphine remained beside the table.

Elias aimed.

“Any final words?”

“For whom?”

“For you.”

“Oh.”

She considered.

“Yes.”

Elias waited.

“Your stance is terrible.”

He fired.

She moved again.

This time Elias had prepared for it.

He dropped the crossbow, spun, and slashed backward with a second dagger hidden behind his belt.

The blade touched fabric.

Seraphine stopped.

Elias froze.

A narrow cut appeared along the sleeve of her dress.

He stared at it.

She stared at it too.

Neither spoke.

Elias smiled.

“I got you.”

Seraphine looked at him.

He immediately regretted smiling.

“Yes,” she said quietly.

The temperature in the hall suddenly seemed to drop.

Elias backed away.

She moved.

He never saw the strike.

The floor met him again.

Something cracked near his ribs.

Elias cried out.

Seraphine grabbed him by the front of his coat and lifted him enough that his boots barely touched the floor.

Her face was suddenly close to his.

The amusement had left her eyes.

“You are either brave,” she said, “or incredibly stupid.”

Elias struggled to breathe.

“My instructors debated that.”

Her mouth twitched.

The anger passed.

That worried him more than the anger.

She set him down.

Elias leaned against the wall.

“You’re not going to kill me?”

“Not tonight.”

“Why?”

Seraphine picked up the damaged sleeve and examined it.

“You surprised me.”

“That is apparently my assignment.”

She looked at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

He straightened as much as his ribs allowed.

“So what happens now?”

“Dinner.”

Elias blinked.

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me.”

“I attempted to kill you.”

“Repeatedly.”

“I cut you.”

“My dress.”

“You punched me.”

“You were being annoying.”

She started toward a side corridor.

Elias did not follow.

Seraphine stopped.

“Well?”

“You cannot be serious.”

“I assure you, I can.”

“You expect me to sit down and eat with you.”

“Yes.”

“After this?”

“Yes.”

“I’m armed.”

“Not anymore.”

Elias checked himself.

His stakes were gone.

So were both daggers.

He looked at her.

“When?”

She smiled.

“That would ruin the lesson.”

He looked toward the front doors.

Seraphine followed his gaze.

“You may try.”

Elias considered running.

He considered dignity.

Dignity had not been particularly useful so far.

He ran.

He reached the doors and pulled.

They did not move.

He pulled harder.

Nothing.

“Locked?” he asked.

“No.”

He tried again.

Still nothing.

Seraphine leaned against the wall.

“The castle likes me.”

“The castle is involved?”

“In most things.”

“That is deeply unfair.”

“You came to murder me in my home.”

“Fair point.”

He released the handle.

Seraphine walked away again.

Elias followed.

Not because he wanted to.

Because his alternatives had become limited.

The dining room was smaller than expected.

Still enormous, but at least not offensively so.

A fire burned in the hearth.

Two places had been set.

Elias stopped beside the table.

“You expected me.”

“I saw you in the woods three days ago.”

He stared at her.

“You saw me three days ago?”

“Yes.”

“You could have killed me then.”

“Yes.”

“You watched me get lost.”

“Yes.”

“You watched me fall into the creek.”

Seraphine smiled.

“Twice.”

Elias pulled out a chair.

“I hate you.”

“You barely know me.”

“I’m efficient.”

Food waited under silver covers.

Elias lifted one.

Roast chicken.

Potatoes.

Bread.

Vegetables.

He looked across the table.

Seraphine sat with only her red-filled glass.

“What is that?”

“You know what it is.”

“I would like you to say it.”

“Blood.”

He sat slowly.

“Human?”

“Yes.”

Elias reached toward a stake that was no longer there.

Seraphine noticed.

“Donated.”

He paused.

“What?”

“Donated.”

“By whom?”

“People.”

“People donate blood to a vampire?”

“Some people enjoy money.”

Elias looked at his plate.

“People sell you blood.”

“Yes.”

“That was not in the Academy curriculum.”

“I doubt many things about me were.”

He looked back at her.

“They said you hunt villages.”

“No.”

“They said you kill travelers.”

“Occasionally.”

Elias stiffened.

“Kidding.”

He frowned.

“You make jokes about murder?”

“You make jokes about student loans.”

“That is different.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“Explain.”

“I don’t have time.”

“You are currently trapped in my castle.”

Elias looked around.

“Fair.”

He ate because he was hungry.

The food was excellent.

This irritated him too.

Halfway through the meal, Seraphine asked, “Why did they send you?”

“To kill you.”

“No. Why you?”

Elias stopped chewing.

“Because I’m qualified.”

Seraphine said nothing.

He put down his fork.

“I am.”

“Of course.”

“I graduated.”

“Wonderful.”

“I passed every field requirement.”

“How many on the first attempt?”

He stared at her.

“That information is private.”

She smiled.

Elias picked up his fork again.

“They sent me because it was my assignment.”

“They sent you because they expected you to die.”

He looked up.

Seraphine's expression had changed.

No teasing now or amusement.

“What makes you think that?”

“Because I have killed six hunters from your Academy.”

Elias said nothing.

“All of them had decades of experience.”

He felt cold.

Seraphine took another drink.

“And then they sent you.”

Elias tried to dismiss the thought.

Malvar's smile returned to him.

Consider it an opportunity.

“To surprise us.”

He hated that memory immediately.

Seraphine watched him understand.

“You’re lying.”

“Possibly.”

“You said you rarely lie.”

“I did.”

Elias pushed back from the table.

“I’m leaving.”

“No.”

“You cannot keep me here.”

“I already am.”

“I’ll escape.”

“I hope so.”

He frowned.

“You hope so?”

“It will give you something to do during the day.”

“And at night?”

Seraphine lifted her glass.

“You dine with me.”

“That sounds like a threat.”

“It is a schedule.”

He stared at her.

She smiled.

“Welcome to Red Mercy, Elias.”

He stood there, soaked, bruised, unarmed, and increasingly certain that Monster Hunter’s Academy had failed to prepare him for the most dangerous possibility of all.

The vampire seemed to like him...enough to let him live.