The world, and small little chunks of it, is often saved in the dead of night. Protected by those that move through towns like ghosts. Interacting with many, but leaving a lasting impression on only a few. These phantom figures call themselves hunters. Nomads that rove the land, fighting the things that nightmares are made of. But even this bizarre realm has outliers. Beings so far outside the norm, they could even fall into the scope of things to be hunted. A terrible burden placed on a pair of teenagers. The tale of Kali and Mel would never show up in the history records. Even those that contain the words and exploits of fellow hunters. Because they are outliers. Half breeds by way of birth. Hunters and siblings by their own choice.
Hello Everyone. Thanking you for taking the time to read this work. This tale is a bit different than usual, as it is a collaborative piece between myself and the very talented princess-snow510. I hope you will enjoy.
Neither author's owns the characters of the show, or the situations of the show. This is simple a tale created by a few fans. However, several of the main characters are our own invention, as will be a good many situations in the story. Have fun.
County road 357. A small patch of dirt that stretched on for unending miles. A mostly forgotten, yet strangely worn, path than an actual road. Situated between two vast sections of very dense forest. Located in what could only be described as the middle of nowhere. Few souls wandered the desolate strip even under the best of conditions. Even fewer strolled its compacted dirt trail that particularly dreadful evening. The air was filled with an unnatural chill. Powerful gusts of wind randomly slapping at the slightly cowering trees. The heavens unleashing torrents of violent rain, as if it meant to drown the unsuspecting world. Not a single one of the usually brilliant stars managed to shine through the ominous back clouds. It was a night greatly reminiscent of the biblical floods. A night where all but the bravest of souls simply gathered around a warm hearth and prayed for the sun to once more shine. Yet the extraordinarily harsh environment seemed to do little to dampen the spirits of the lone traveler. Sauntering down the path as though without a care in the world. A young teenage girl. Dancing across the area. Sloshing around in the ankle high muddy water, seemingly oblivious to the gushes of water currently attacking her umbrella. She whistled a random tune as she walked, sparing occasional glances at the shadows over her shoulder. After the third look, her footsteps slowed before ceasing all together. She stood silently in the downpour, waiting patiently. The straggler trotted out of the shadows. A massive wolf that easily came up past her hip. Its dark grey fur dingy and matted from rain and sludge.
"What's wrong girl? Getting slow in your old age?" The girl teased playfully. Taunting the beast that routinely instilled heart stopping terror to even hardened warriors. The animal shook its head and gave a barking laugh. One that gave the impression of a sarcastic response. The human just chuckled softly, a wide smile situated on her pretty face. "You're right. Tonight wasn't exactly the best night to walk. But you know how I feel about Jake. That guy gets much too handsy."
The wolf seemed to sigh deeply, and once again resumed walking. Apparently agreeing with the assessment. Or at least accepting the situation. Suddenly the heavy rain stopped slapping at her fur. The sky had yet to cease weeping, but water was no longer pelting her hunched form. Looking up, the wolf noticed the dark blue fabric now situated above her head. A quick glance to the side revealed a now soaked human. A few unshielded moments in the harsh storm had left the girl drenched. Fabric clinging tightly to pale skin. Rivulets running down the feminine body.
"Woof!" The wolf barked in protest. A worried eye traveling over the exposed girl. She barked a few more times, letting her displeasure be known.
"You worry too much." The brunette laughed, folding up the umbrella. After the object was once again its compact size, she slipped it to a belt loop. "Now we can both just be miserable." The wolf seemed to roll her eyes, accepting the decision. They continued on their way. The girl resumed whistling a favorite song, with the beast at her side joining in. Halfway through the much sung chorus, the wolf's howls ceased. The human instantly froze, eyes darting around suspiciously in the darkness. A practiced eye searching for any movement in the shadows. Waiting patiently for the wolf's next sign. Rather than the expected directional growl, she began to whimper. The girl's jaw dropped at the unorthodox antic. But before she could voice a single question, the animal darted off into the night. With a shout of surprise, the human followed. Giving chase down the flooded path. She caught up to the animal at least a dozen yards down the road. Her whimpering continued as she began nudging a patch of tall grass on the side.
"What is it?" The girl raised an eyebrow in question. Stepping to the area when the animal began to paw impatiently at something hidden by the vegetation. The girl knelt down, ignoring the mud caking onto her bare knees. She pushed aside several blades of grass and gasped in surprise. A girl around her age lay curled up in the grass. Wet clothes clinging to the ragged figure. Despite the wolf pawing worriedly at the prone form, she didn't stir. With much worry, the brunette moved to examine the figure more closely. A sigh of relief passed through her lips as she detected a feint pulse on the neck. It wasn't much, but at least it was an indication of life. With great care, the girl was gathered up in her arms. She stepped lightly to avoid jostling the unconscious girl. There hadn't been any apparent broken bones, but she didn't want to chance any further damage. Cradling the new cargo, she continued down the path. To the dark car waiting patiently near the dead tree.
"I guess maybe it was a good night to walk after all."
The gravel crunched loudly as bare feet struck the hard wet stones. Tears continued to slide down already wet cheeks. Falling to the ground as the girl continued to flee her past.
"I'm so sorry Carson." She whispered softly to the frigid air. Ushering an unheard apology for what had to have been at least the millionth time. Despite how hard she tried to keep it from her mind, the memories continued to surface. That horrible night playing over and over in a loop. Flashbacks to the wretched day when her idyllic life came to an end. Plaguing her vision with images too horrible to comprehend. As if her mind itself was mocking her mistake. Something that would never have happened if she had just been born normal.
"What have you done Kali? Kali, what have you done!" The voice screeched in an almost unbearable cacophony as grey eyes bore into the girl. Angry and accusing. "You bitch, you killed him!"
"It…It was an accident. I didn't. I swear I didn't mean…" The words soft and broken. The voice of a frightened child. But it did little to calm the rage boiling in those cold steel irises.
"You're nothing but a monster. A freak!" The voice sneered coldly. "An abomination that needs to be destroyed."
Part of her had agreed with the voice. She was an abomination. If she wasn't, Carson would still be alive. It was her fault his life was cut short. Her responsibility. She didn't deserve the beautiful and normal life he had blessed her with. She was nothing but a monster. Despite wanting to be punished for her transgressions, a large part of her still favored self-preservation. It forced her to flee into the night in a desperate attempt at hiding.
"You little bitch! I will kill you. Do you hear me!" The snarling voice echoed in the shadows. Somewhere behind the frantically running girl. "You can't hide from me! No matter how far you run I will find you! I don't give a damn what you are! You are fucking dead!" The words slowly faded into the background, replaced by the less jarring sounds of nature.
The woman would come for her. Seek her out to exact vengeance. To get revenge for her beloved, and the life that was stolen. But this wasn't actually anything new. The hatred or the threats. Regina had hated her from the moment they met. Despised the five year old child that had wandered onto the porch.
"Regina darling come out here for a moment." Carson called into the house. The screen porch opened and an imposing figure stepped onto the porch of the man's estate. She was beautiful, in a professional sort of way. A tall but fragile looking figure. Yet her face was rigid in its angular beauty. Her shiny ebony hair hung loose around delicate shoulders. It's deep color a perfect backdrop to the creamy pale neck it surrounded. Her purple skirt and top clung just tight enough to her soft curves. A perfectly tailored piece. Gold was everywhere on the woman. The hoops in her ears, the chain around her neck, and especially the multiple thin bracelets worn on her left arm. But the most magnificent piece of jewelry was the diamond ring on her hand. The flawless stone sparkling in the sunlight. She oozed an aura of wealth. With quick steps she made her way to the duo standing just at the stairs. Soul shattering gray eyes ran over the figure before her. Her sneer hidden behind a fake smile. Immediately her gaze clashed with delicate hazel irises. A battle that went unnoticed by the man. He simply continued to smile at the pair. "Darling please meet my lovely niece. She is going to be staying with us from now on." Carson beamed with pride at the announcement. Again missing the slight frown that touched across the woman's delicate lips.
"I see." The woman replied, her tone coated in a layer of ice. Her eyes slid over towards her husband. "So, does she have a name?"
"Oh yes of course. Her name is-" His words were cut off by the child next to him.
"Yes I have a name. And I would greatly appreciate it if you didn't talk as though I wasn't here. If you wanna know something about me…ask me yourself." Her tone was very cordial, but mimicked the ice the woman had shown.
"Well aren't we bold." Gray eyes sparkled in malice, mouth taut in annoyance.
"Very." Hazel eyes gazed right back, glowing with amusement.
"Well Regina, what do you think? Isn't she just positively lovely?" Carson asked excitedly, oblivious to the jealousy currently being stirred in his wife. Regina's eye twitched in irritation. Her steel gaze once again fell to the child. Searching her face in a desperate attempt to find a flaw. Any flaw, no matter how miniscule. As long as it ruined the picture of unspoiled beauty. But there was none. Despite wanting to criticize nonexistent blemishes, words of admiration were forced roughly through narrow lips. She commented on the flawless skin. The lovely and absolutely to die for hazel eyes. Soft supple raspberry lips that were full and perfectly colored without a touch of cosmetics. But Kali new these were not words of praise. They were anything and everything but the compliments they were masked as. Callous eyes and bitter tone made it apparent the woman thought these were traits that she shouldn't possess. A miscarriage of justice that she was allowed to bare them.
"My, she is just…a pretty little thing." The words came out in a half sneer, half smile. Eyes narrowing in anger.
"Of course she is. After all, she does look just like her uncle." The man chuckled at his own quip of vanity. "There is no doubt she is going to be beautiful."
"I never said anything about her being beautiful." Regina scoffed in words so low; her husband couldn't possible hope to hear them. But Kali did.
"Oh, I'm sorry dear did you say something?" Carson asked his wife curiously. She pasted on a fake smile.
"Nothing dear. Just thinking about how much Kali will enjoy the trees when they bloom." Her voice was soft and sweet, completely at odds with the malice that danced in her eyes.
"You're right. The place will be stunning Kali. Now, how about I show you to your room?" He offered, giving the child a beaming smile. The gears in Kali's head were spinning. She was very enlightened on human interaction. On seeing what people hid beneath the thin veneer they pasted on the surface. And she could see through Regina as if the woman was made of cellophane. The moment the woman had stepped off the porch, Kali knew they would be enemies. Regina was a very typical gold digger. She craved constant attention. Wanting to be showered in lavish gifts and praises. In her mind, Kali could only be a threat. A younger and far prettier girl brought into the household. Capable of stealing valuable resources away from her. Stealing attention and money from Carson. It didn't matter that Kali was his niece. Or that she was still just a child. In the older woman's view, Kali was now the enemy. A bemused smile fell on the young girl's face. Was Regina right to fear? Could she ever truly be a threat to this woman? Hell yeah she could.
A darker, more sinful, part of Kali arose in that instant. Lips twitching into a mischievous smirk as her gaze was leveled at the woman. Eyes wide and darkened. She jumped into the arms of her uncle. Wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek affectionately. "Thank you so much Uncle! I know I am just going to love it here."
"Of course you will princess." Carson practically squealed at the adorableness of the girl. He wrapped his arms tighter around the child. "Anything you want is yours sweetie." He walked into the house, without even sparing a glance at his wife. Too busy focusing on the child in his arms. He chatted with such animation. Telling Kali about all the fun they were going to have. All the things he would buy just for her. As they passed, Kali threw a knowing look over her uncle's shoulder. Smiling as Regina tried to regain her composer, while still throwing a hateful glare at the child. Kali's eyes darkened another few shades.
"He's mine now." She mouthed to the very shocked woman.
Everything in her body ached. Even her eye lids were tired. Her eyes focused on the long stretch of road, the darkness doing nothing to dampen her vision. She had long since adapted to the shadows of the night. Having run a great many of them. Truthfully, running seemed to be the only thing she ever did anymore. Quite frankly, she was getting tired of it. But there was no other choice. She hadn't eaten in days. Her last meal a chocolate bar she managed to steal from a little no name shop. She couldn't remember the last time she had actual food. Her ribs were beginning to protrude from her sides. The soles of her feet were also beginning to bleed. The skin long ago cracked. The flimsy shoes she had on long since destroyed. But it didn't matter. Her wounds would heal whenever she got the chance to rest. She just didn't know when that would be. She was a hunted animal at the moment and didn't have time for things like rest.
She forced herself to run faster, to try to escape the thoughts in her mind. Her heart began to race painfully, the beats echoing out into the darkness. She passed by an old sign. The words County Road 357flashing out at her as she ran by. It felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest. Finally, against her will, her legs began to falter. Her body collapsed as what little energy she had evaporated into the air. To make matters worse, the sky decided to break open and douse the entire area with a heavy rain. It was as if the heavens themselves were mocking her. She was soaked and freezing in a matter of minutes. Her eyes closed and once again she began wondering why things had turned out this way. Why they happened as they did. Every second that passed, her body became more and more numb. Both mentally and physically she was shutting down. But that was ok. She didn't want to feel anything anymore. Not after what she had done.