Merlin is not this or that. Is a strange way to put it but the young man could not put it any other way. He had told himself years ago, when he was just a boy, that when he gets older -then he would know. Years pass, but Merlin is still not sure. He is not this and he is definitely not that. Cold sweat drips down his neck and he can see the question staring to form on the older man's mind, in no time the question would reach his lips, and Merlin doesn't has time to lose by getting lost in his mind. The young man lightly struggles with the leather strips that tied his wrists together, but is only a show -Merlin knows he could never free himself from the leather cuffs, but it would be too unusual if he doesn't struggle. Merlin is on his knees and he slowly drags his feet under him. Merlin's heels ready to sink on the floor to allow the young man to jump with all his strength, but Merlin must wait until his target is close enough. The man moves closer to the younger trapped male. Merlin does his best to look scare, which is fairly easy when a federal looking man with blood all over his mouth and expense suit walks towards you. Vampires in suits, when regular vampires were not enough. He is too scare to stay concentrate, so Merlin thinks.
'I'm not this or that.'
Merlin is like a coin that can't rest on either of its sides, so it must awkwardly balance on a standing position that seems impossible most of the time.
"What are you?"
Merlin ankles hurt for keeping his position, but the man finally walks close enough for him to attack. The younger man springs from the floor and uses his head and all his strength to hit his target on an open trachea. The older man swings his body backwards at contact and Merlin loses no time on his second attack. The younger man knees the other on the stomach, but the other male responses by capturing Merlin's neck and lifting him from the floor.
"Hunter!" The vampire announces to the almost empty room, more surprise than anything. Merlin flexes his legs closer to his body but not to kick the other, but to be able swings his tied arms from the back to the front of his body. It requires a high level of flexibility but it was useful when Merlin keeps finding his hands tied behind his back. Merlin intertwines his finders and swings the two hands fist to the vampire, but it is easily catch by the other.
"Your first attack only work because I lower my guard." The man says and tightens his hand around Merlin's neck. The young man gasps for air. "Still..." The Vampire continuous, and drops Merlin on the floor. "Must hunters don't reach my office floor, impressive"
Merlin's lungs fish for air and the Vampire walks away.
"So tell me, boy. How did your clan got so far?"
Merlin say nothing first, busy refilling his lungs. His mind races for an answer. The vampire believes him a hunter, which is true to certain levels -but Merlin has no clan.
"I am waiting." Merlin knows that if he admits to work alone then he would be death within a minute. However right now the vampire, which with Merlin's luck is a direct Pendragon, is 'entertain' momentarily -it should give Merlin a few minutes.
"You had been observe." Merlin can't help his voice to sound so weak.
"I'm constantly 'observe'" The Vampire answers. "I'm the head of my clan. Now. Tell me little hunter. How have you gotten so far?" Merlin trembles at the voice of the vampire. There is not entertaining what the vampire seeks as Merlin thought, but answers. The vampire's words were fill with hatred and wariness that someone got that close to reach his kingdom, his family. Also, Merlin is in front of the infamous Uthor Pendragon. A merciless creature who's strategies had made the Pendragon Clan the strongest of all Vampire Clans.
"I can't" It is a simple whisper that escapes Merlin's lips, intended to no one but himself. Merlin lifts his head to face Uthor's red-angry eyes, and Merlin knows he will die on that monster's hands. However, Uthor though it was an answer to his previous question.
"You understand, you will die, I will kill you. If you don't answer?"
Merlin's options run through his young mind. Uthor will kill Merlin once the information, any information, is obtain. Uthor will kill Merlin if he lies. Uthor will kill Merlin for reaching for far. Uthor will kill Merlin for not answering...
"I...I already gave you an answer."
The vampire's poker face turns into a morose scowl as Uthor walks towards the man in the floor. Merlin breaths in and tries to reach for the sleepy magic within him, but his magic denies to obey. The vampire stops once he is on arm-reach distance from Merlin. The younger man looks up. It is then when the only pair of doors of the office are brutally open, each door slamming loudly, and a woman enters through them. Merlin can't help to stare at her, she is beautiful but so trouble, each of her features are a reflection of fear and desperation.
"Father!" The woman stops and tries to regain her calm, within seconds she looks so calm that Merlin questions if she was truly worry before –but Merlin knows better than to doubt such deep emotions.
The older man runs to the woman's side and tries to comfort her, but she only accepts to hold his hand for a brief moment.
"Morgana, are you hurt?" The young woman shakes her head.
"I'm fine, for now." Morgana stops and looks at Merlin. "What is that?" Uthor doesn't turn, fully knowing who Morgana refer to. Merlin is partially surprise that the woman had spot him as not human and not known magical creature so fast, but he is also unhappy to be refer as 'that' instead of 'who.'
"A hunter" Uthor tries to say with no challenge, but Morgana widens her eyes and repeats the older man's words.
"How have he gotten so far into the company?" Morgana unknowingly mirrors her father. "And the question of what is 'that'? Have not been answer"
"Merlin!" Merlin says before thinking, but now two pairs of red eyes are burning his face. Both figures process the name, but when they understand that is a name -not a spices- they return to ignore the young man tied on the floor.
"He denies to speak, so soon he would be death." Uthor makes sure to speak loud enough to startle the hunter.
"Don't" Morgana starts. "Uthor. I had a vision. A terrible vision." The words sink on the man as Morgana continuous. "We will be under attack soon, and today there must be no killing. We need him to speak."
Merlin whips his head towards the floor trying to avoid the two figures walking closer to him.
"Stand" Merlin obeys the male voice and follows the pair of feet in front of him. Their walk is short and a chair is offer to Merlin. The hunter sits and feel a delicate hand pitilessly pulling his chin to position him. Merlin faces Morgana's bloody red eyes. Merlin knows that her gaze is hypnotic and that is useless to resist, but the hunter has never feel that pull that forces you to obey. The intimidate glare of the werewolf that creates fear, the lethal curse of Medusas' daughters, the sirens' song, the vampires' hypnotic eyes…none had ever affect it Merlin. However, it would seem too unusual if there is no struggle on the hunter's part.
Morgana could see the hunter struggle, but more important she could see her spell taking no effect. The vampire claws Merlin's jaw, three small cuts start to bleed on Merlin's left cheek.
"He seems …immune" Uthor says, and Morgana growls on agreement.
"There are other ways"
Merlin breaths in and holds his breath. Morgana comes close and whispers in Merlin's ear an incantation. The hunter falls limp, acting as he has fallen sleep. Uthor picks the hunter by his jacket, Merlin's feet drag over the floor as he is carry out of the office. It takes the product of years of meditation to slow down his heart beat and keep it on a regular sleepy pace. Merlin counts how long each breath should stay inside his lungs before release it.
Hidden under Merlin's eyelids his eyes shine golden, and the leather strips that tied the hunter are softly cut. Merlin makes sure to keep his wrist close so the leather band doesn't fall.
It is strange to be carry like a dirty towel: by the end of the fingertips and as far away from the carrier's body as possible. Merlin can't say is the first time he finds himself on such situation.
The hunter can tell they travel left, stop, wait, walk inside an elevator, down -fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven... Morgana and Uthor converse about Merlin, but ignore the third body on the elevator … five, four... They decide that someone else should take care of it … one, the doors open.
Merlin returns to life and slips away from his Jacket, and runs like there is no tomorrow through the main doors. The hunter can see men already running to interject him, but Merlin has too much practice at running -far more than any office men or office vampires have at hunting. The young man would agree that many of his persecutors were too close to catch him, but Merlin keeps running into the street and attracting as much attention as possible. It is early morning and the present of the sun gives Merlin a slight advantage.
Merlin's mind runs faster than him, already thinking of what to do. The Prendragons are far too powerful -leaving the city, no. Leaving the state would not be enough either. A limousine barely stops in time to allow Merlin to continue, and the young man jumps in top of the nose of the car and then he jumps to the roof -the already disorient vampires following him disperses unsure of the hunter's next direction. Merlin barely notice the car's back doors opening as he jumps off the roof to the street. A strong hand emerges from the limousine and captures Merlin's ankle. The hunter falls from the car's roof face first, though he is able to break the fall with his hands he still ends kissing concrete.
Pain rings through Merlin's skull. Which is bad, it is really bad. The hunter tries to use a healing spell, hoping against all odds that his magic works twice on one day. Merlin's vision blurs, and he fills strong arms carrying him bridal style. There is blonde hair and a pair of blue eyes, and then Merlin drips into sleep.