Prologue

Lilia had known that they would come for her. She had built her life on slaying the bumps in the dark. Yet she didn't heed her teachers warning of not getting attached to people, and went ahead and made a family for herself. Lila knew it was a bad idea so she vowed never to tell her husband what she did for a living. She also vowed for Henry not to know about it.

Three months later, Lilia's husband walked out on her. She found out later that week that she was three months pregnant and that she couldn't continue her job. Henry had come by often and this time when he came by he was furious, but that didn't change Lilia's mind about having a child. She had felt upset and abandoned after Henry stormed out of her house. She knew crying wouldn't solve anything so she didn't, she continued on and looked after herself and her unborn child.

Two moths had passed before Lilia saw her teacher again, she wasn't happy at first, but he didn't hinder her so she didn't kick him out. They co-existed for the following months. Henry began to take an interest in the fact that Lilia was pregnant, he had never taken on a female student before and didn't know why he had chosen to stick around except for the fact that they had grown into great friends. He started to help out around the house and take extra care of Lilia when she was having a bad day or not feeling alright.

One month after that and they were working in the kitchen, Lilia trying to cook something edible while Henry tried to help, but failed making Lilia laugh. Her laugh trailed off with a gasp and her hand flew to her bulging belly. Henry was instantly concerned and moved to help her sit down, but Lilia grabbed his hand in a gentle hold and brought it to her stomach instead. He was confused for a moment until he felt something tap against his hand. He was concerned for a moment until Lilia smiled at him, she had told him that it was ok, that the baby had just started to move around and kick a little.

Their daily lives continued for the remainder of her pregnancy. They didn't talk much about names or anything because Henry didn't want to get too attached. He had lived to long to watch another friend die and see her live on through her descendants. Then the day came where Lilia went into labour. Henry did his best in getting her to the hospital and making sure she was settled before he disappeared altogether.

He didn't want the attachment, it scared him and made him shake to the bone. He had to move on with his life. Yet when all was said and done, he took the time to stop and see Lilia's child. A beautiful baby girl wrapped in a pink blanket, with rosy, chubby cheeks and soft skin. The name on the side was Astrid, Norse for 'divine beauty'. With the quickness of a vampire Henry lifted little Astrid into his arms and rocked her back and forth. He said no words, then quickly put her back, rubbing her cheek with a single finger. Astrid opened her eyes and looked at the vampire making his breath catch. She had the greenest eyes he had ever seen. Astrid smiled a toothless smile then yawned, lips forming a tiny little o shape, falling asleep within seconds.

Henry left after that and only kept in contact when there was a target to be eliminated. Lilia always took the jobs when she could and Astrid grew up in a happy household. It was only when Astrid was nineteen that things started to go amiss. Her mom would disappear for days after she saw news programs for missing people or people found dead, suffering from blood loss. Astrid never questioned her mom about these occurrences because she never expected a truthful answer and Lilia was thankful for that.

When in truth Lilia was going out of her way to stop the rouge vampires that were coming to close to home. A large coven had settled to close to the city and were taking what they wanted, rising to power as Henry had described from back during the civil war. Henry was against the idea of Lilia going against a coven on her own, let alone a powerful one of this size, but his plea's fell on deaf ears and Lilia went about what she was doing.

That is what brought them to this point. Henry charged into her house without knocking and went right to the kitchen where Lilia sat at the table, silver sword in hand. She was looking down at the object knowing what was coming. "Hello Henry." She said quietly.

"Lilia, you have to go. They'll leave you alone if you leave them alone, I have their word." Henry asked, practically begged his friend.

Lilia shook her head. "It's too late for that now Henry." She looked up at him.

He knew it to be true, that the small flame had burned into a wildfire. Henry knew that the vampires would come for her anyway. He knelt in front of his soon to be gone friend. "What would you have me do?" He asked quietly.

She looked him in the eyes, the green eyes that Astrid had inherited, and spoke. "Watch out for Astrid please." Henry was taken aback and wanted to say no. "Please." Lilia said again.

Henry nodded and stood up. "Where is Astrid now?"

Lilia smiled slightly as a tear ran down her face. "Out with her friends, she's taking an art workshop today for school. Her friends that are also in that program went with her." She sighed. "Go Henry, they'll be here soon."

Henry took one last look at his student, his friend and then left through the front door. He stayed away from the group of vampires that was surly to come. He knew that they would strike hard and eliminate Lilia, but not before she took out as many as she could. He also knew that Astrid would be devastated about her mother's death and that it would take her a long time to come back from it.

It was an hour later when they came. It happened just like Henry thought it would, swift and destructive. They set the house on fire and it burned as a group of teens came around the corner. One of them stuck out to Henry as he watched from his rooftop perch. A girl with long light brown hair tied back and bright green eyes. Astrid.

She froze and watched the burning building for a moment before shooting forward on her feet on a dead run to the building. The teens she was walking with called out to her, but the words fell on deaf ears and she kept going. Henry knew she'd run into the building if it meant saving her mom, but he couldn't let that happen so he acted. He jumped down in a nearby ally and ran after to intercept the running teen.

Astrid screamed in protest as she was caught in the arm of someone. She called out to her mother, reaching for the burning building, but Henry would not let go. He watched the house continue burning as sirens could be heard in the distance and he knew it would soon be over.

As the fire raged the roof caved in making Astrid give a strangled cry and he knees gave out. Henry guided the distressed girl to the ground as she started sobbing. She didn't latch on to the arms surrounding her, in fact her eyes never left the house as the fire engines pulled up followed by the ambulances and police cars. Henry held her through it, worried that she would suddenly burst forward into the massive flames, but she didn't move. She had even stopped crying, which scared Henry more than he'd like to admit. He turned Astrid to face him and was knocked breathless by look in Astrid's eyes.

Her eyes displayed none of the life they had shown as a baby. They were unseeing nothing was displayed in them. Empty, broken, her breath hitched and she fell forward in Henry's arms passing out into the darkness. Henry was frozen for a minute then he got up and went over to the paramedics and told them that she lived here and that her mom was still in the house. He turned around and watched as the fire raged on. Then disappeared into an ally to off to the side.

He would do as Lilia asked and look after Astrid, till her dying breath he would. The problem now would be vampires coming for her because they'd think she's a hunter as well, when Henry knew that Lilia never told or taught the profession to her daughter. He'd take care of them. Over the years he had managed to train more hunters and they'd be willing to make sure that she stayed alive. With that thought Henry kept walking and didn't look back.

Astrid would never remember Henry ever being there and she would never forget the day that ruined her life forever.