Bound In Blood: Order of the Hunters
Hunters are not allowed to get close to any supernatural creature. If they do, it's a likely death for you. A hunter in training would know this, but how could she resist those green eyes? Or even those blue ones? How could something that feels so right, be so wrong? Set after season 3 - does NOT follow season 4 story line!
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Josephine's POV
"What's wrong, Josephine?"
"Nothing," I said, zoning back in. My father was now looking up from his newspaper, his glasses falling to the middle of his nose. "I'm just thinking . . . "
"Oh, no," He said, then added, "That's dangerous."
"Father," I sighed, smiling small at him. That was one of the rare times he'd make a joke.
"I'm sorry, Josephine. Continue,"
I nervously rubbed my fingers over my glass which was filled with orange juice. This was a huge risk, talking to my dad like this. "Well . . . W-why do we continue to m-move around?"
He sighed, leaning back in his chair and taking off his glasses. He covered his face with both hands for a long moment before uncovering them to look at me. "I've explained this to you, min engel. This is for the good of all, and you. You are out in the field now, for the first time. You should be happy, you've been complaining for years about being stuck in a room at a desk, learning ways to kill vampires but not actually killing one."
I nodded, thinking silently, No, Dad, you are the one complaining about it, not me. But I would not dare speak to him that way. "Y-yes, but Mystic Falls, Virginia? Why h-here?"
"There's been a lot of animal attacks. Constant ones. Now, it could just be a messy werewolf, but it has to be dealt with, nonetheless. So, we have been called in," He explained. "Our family name is well-known in circles."
"Advantage of the job, huh? Having people scared to death of your name . . . " I murmured, drinking the last sip of my orange juice. "And me going to public school for the first time—"
"Well, our informant said that there are a couple, he suspects, that are posing as high school students,"
"So . . . I'm playing 21 Jump Street except I'm the actual age of a student and not a cop?" I questioned, thinking back to that old TV show, one of the few I was actually allowed to watch.
He nodded as he looked back at his paper. "Yes, you could say that."
I nodded. "Okay, so . . . so I should just look for warning signs? And then report back to you once you pick me up?"
"Yes, min engel. Why don't you go get your bookbag and we'll head on out?"
"Yes, sir," I stood, placed my glass in the dishwasher and left the room and headed up to my room.
My entire family are hunters, we are apart of a bigger organization. An organization which hunted the creatures of the night; better known as vampires. That's why we moved around so much; because my father is hunting them. Sometimes my uncle Makon would join us on more difficult hunts, but it was mainly just us together. My mother had left years ago, claiming she loved us both but that she couldn't handle the life of being a hunter's wife. She didn't take me, though, for some reason. I didn't know if it was because of me as a person or because she was just that horrible of a mother who left without a proper goodbye, but left only a note which I still haven't opened to this day. She probably wrote it to me in French, seeing as that was her native country. My father's naïve homeland is Denmark, but he's part Italian. This meant I was fluent in English, French, Danish, and Italian. I even knew some Latin. Sometimes my father would just begin talking in a random language, and I'd respond back to him in the same language.
Anyways, from the moment I was born, it was drilled into me that vampires were bad and that spending my life hunting them was a noble thing to do. My father's trained me in combat and a vampire's weaknesses as well as how to kill them. After seventeen - about to be eighteen - years, I was thrown into public school - for the first time ever, which was a decision by our Order - and in the field to kill vampires. I wasn't ready, by any means, but my father seemed convinced I was so he convinced the Order I was. I've never even seen a vampire.
The Order was the organization we belonged to. They were dedicated to destroy every single vampire, and they were very religious. I was submerged into all of this from the moment I was born. Always, I'd been told my dad and uncle are the best hunters that they've ever had, thus giving me big shoes to fill. It frightened me to think about it, and my future. I wasn't going to ever be able to go to college, which is something I'd always longed for. But it wasn't meant to be, I guess.
"Josephine!" My father called, pulling me from thought, from downstairs just as I picked up my bag.
"Coming!" I called before running out of my room. First day of high school. First day of public school.
* ° • ° * ° • ° * ° • ° *
I walked down the hall, my head hanging. This was what high school was like? People crowding around in cliques and not socializing with anyone else? I've discovered that this - public school - is overrated. Why was I told I was missing out on thus experience? I feel as if I've missed nothing, but I guess I can't really judge, my first class hasn't even started yet.
My father's words rang out to me, "Be friendly, but do not make friends. Do not trust a soul." He had told me this right before I headed the school. Which was fine by me not making friends because I was not a social person or could never start a good conversation with a stranger.
I had found my locker pretty easily, but getting it open was the most difficult thing I've ever done. I'm a trained hunter, and I didn't even have the strength to open a locker!
I sighed, giving up and hitting my head against it. "Stupid locker,"
"Do you need some help?"
I looked over to see a guy that had to be younger then me. I studied his features very careful. The guy had brown hair and eyes, boyish features which were definitely one day going to develop more, and making him handsome. He was slightly above average height, probably about 5'11". He would be considered a cute guy to other girls, I, however, did not have the time nor the life to have a boyfriend. Not only that, but it was just something I had never wanted. The male population just didn't seem too smart, and I had always loved intelligence.
I cursed myself mentally. It was what I did in these situations. I always sized people up, it was the hunter in me. And the girl, of course.
Clearing my throat, I spoke up. "Um, it won't open,"
"I see that," He smiled at me, obviously mentally laughing at me. "Which is why I asked, do you need some help?"
"Uh—" I looked to my locker and debated it for a moment. I didn't know him, why should I trust him? I stopped thinking right then. I was thinking like my dad. All he did was offer to open my locker! I was over-thinking this! Better than to under-think it, I reminded myself. Finally knowing my answer, I looked over to him with a small, wary smile. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"
"Of course not," I punched in the combination again before taking a step back. He walked closer and grabbed ahold of the handle. Instantly, he opened it.
I exhaled, closing my eyes for a moment. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate that,"
"No problem," He gave me a smile, then looked me over for a moment. "I don't recognize you . . . "
"Oh, I'm new," I said. "I, uh, I just moved into town."
"Why would you want to move here?"
My smile faltered. "Uh—"
He shook his head and laughed ay my sudden nervousness. He held out his hand with a smile. "I'm just kidding. I'm Jeremy Gilbert,"
I shook his hand reluctantly. "Josephine Cacciatore."
"Cool last name,"
"Thanks. It's Italian," I gave him a half smile before turning towards my locker. I put everything in there which was needed before I glanced over to see the guy putting his things in a locker about three down from mine. I shook my head and finished with my task. Now it was time to find American History.
I looked at my map and tried figuring out which way. This map was too confusing. How could I figure out a map of the Appalachian mountain trail but not a high school map?
"You need some more help?" The guy, Jeremy, asked as he walked over to me once again.
"Uh, I think I'm good, but thank you," I smiled at him.
"What class are you going to?"
"Um . . . American History with . . . Mr. Saltzman," I read off the paper and noticed him tense up. "You okay?"
"Uh, yeah," He said, even though he now looked uncomfortable. "Mr. Saltzman's no longer here, Miss Harper is . . . Anyways, I'm going past there, I can show you."
I exhaled, looking at the map. There was no way I could figure this out myself, so I gave up. "Alright, fine. Show me the way."
"Come on, this way, Josephine," He nodded and started going left.
We walked in some silence, until he tried coaxing me ot of my shell.
"So, where did you move from?" He asked.
"Uh, New Orleans, actually," I said, keeping my eyes on the ground to make sure I didn't make any unnecessary eye contact with anyone.
"Is it nice there?"
" . . . It's interesting,"
He laughed, and I looked over at him. Why was he laughing? Did I have something on my face?
"What do you laugh at?" I questioned, my tone puzzled.
He looked over at me with a smile. "Just the way you said it, it struck me funny."
"You're not going to be one of those guys who laughs at everything I say, right?" I cast my eyes back down. "I've seen those in movies and—"
"I know, they're annoying. I swear to you I won't,"
I nodded and we fell under silence. He tried starting up other conversations, but they fell flat when I didn't help it along. He was still friendly, though, despite my coldness.
"Here we are," He said as he stopped in front of a class door. "If you need anything, just find me later, okay?"
"I will," I lied. I wouldn't need him for anything. "Thanks for showing me my class."
He was about to say something, but the bell interrupted him. He sighed. "Gotta get going, see you later?"
"Maybe," I told him before taking a deep breath and going into the classroom. This was going to be an interesting, scary experience.
* ° • ° * ° • ° * ° • ° *
The first classes went by smoothly. I observed my peers very carefully, but no one stood out. This was going to be a lot more difficult than I initially thought. No wonder it usually took my father months on cases where he himself had to figure out the vampire or vampires.
At lunch time, almost exactly the same time I exited my class, Jeremy came up to me.
"Hey, how are classes going?" He asked.
"Uh, good, I guess. Boring," I ran my hands over my ponytail to check that it was smooth. Everything that they had spoke about was something I'd learned in my seventh year.
"So, I was wondering since you don't know many people here yet, if you want to, you can come sit with me at lunch," He said.
"Uh, I don't know—"
"Come on, it'll be fine," He said. This could be a useful opportunity to find some information. Plus, it beats during out on the lawn, working on homework that I would have tonight.
I sighed reluctantly. "Fine,"
"Awesome. Follow me," He motioned me forward. "So do you go by Josephine?"
I told him as I caught up to his side. "My family calls me Josephine."
"Oh, can I call you Joey?"
"Sure," The only person ever to call me that was my mother.
"Is it a family name?"
"No, I was named after the character in Little Women," I admitted.
"Really? You seem shy. Shouldn't you be . . . May, I think her name is?" He looked confused.
I laughed softly. "No, it's not her you're thinking of,"
"Oh, shows you how much I know about those novels," He shrugged. "I only saw the movie, and it was because my mom made me." He got a slightly distant look in his eyes.
"It might worry me more if you did know that novel," I pointed out to him as I saw him return mentally. "It is more of a girly novel."
"Right," He laughed, shaking away whatever he was thinking of.
We got to the cafeteria and he opted for the school's meatloaf while I just drank an orange juice and a protein bar from home. We sat down at a table and he looked at my meal.
"Not huge on meatloaf?" He questioned.
"I'm on a strict diet," I admitted reluctantly.
"For what reason?"
"To keep up muscle strength,"
"Why?"
"My dad is huge into protecting yourself, so I automatically am, too. I'd rather take care of myself than let someone else do it," I said, looking down at my orange juice. "Enough about me, though. Gilbert, you said that was your last name, correct?"
"Yes,"
"So you're apart of a founding family," I pointed out.
"Yes," He nodded. "So you know about the history here?"
"Oh, of course. My father would never move anywhere without any background information on the town," I opened the protein bar.
"Your dad sounds . . . serious,"
"It's just the way he is," I tensed up slightly.
"I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry," He apologized.
Shaking my head, I kept my eyes down. "No, it's f-fine. You didn't s-say anything w-wrong." Ugh, stupid stutter! Whenever I got nervous, I'd stutter like crazy.
"Hey!"
I looked up in fright to see a whole group of purple sitting down around us. One was tan guy with dark features, another guy blonde and blue eyes, a blonde girl, a dark skinned girl, a brunette with doe eyes, and finally a guy with spiky hair. I instantly became uncomfortable with this huge group.
"Hey, Jer," They all greeted him before looking over at me. The brunette with doe eyes spoke.
"Who is this, Jeremy?" She asked.
"New girl," He answered. I could see him watching me, but I tried keeping my eyes from making contact with any of them.
"Oh, well, what's your name?" The blonde girl questioned me.
"She's Joey," Jeremy answered for me.
"I asked her," The blonde said, annoyed, but smiled at me. "I'm Caroline Forbes. That's Matt Donovan," She pointed to the blonde guy. "That is my boyfriend Tyler Lockwood," She pointed to the tanned guy. "That is Bonnie Bennett," Next was the dark-skinned girl. "And that couple is Elena Gilbert and Stefan Salvatore. Elena's Jeremy's sister."
I hid my shock. Almost all these people were apart of a Founding Family. Did they flock together or something? I forced a smile. "Nice t-to meet you all,"
Tyler looked over at me, surveying my features. "So where did you move from, Joey?"
"Uh, New O-Orleans," I answered.
Stefan stepped into the conversation. "Really? I love it there,"
I looked over to him. "I o-only lived there f-for a couple of months before we m-moved here,"
"Army brat?" Matt questioned.
"No, my f-father's a writer,"
"What does he write?"
I looked over at Caroline and inhaled. "Books on p-places we live. Once he's got all te information he needs, we leave."
"Sounds boring as hell," Tyler said.
"Tyler!" Caroline chastised.
"Joey," Jeremy begun but I gave him a faint smile.
"It's fine," I waved him off and glanced at the time. "I've got to g-go make a phone call, actually. Excuse me." I stood and grabbed my two items.
"Who do you have to call?"
"My father," I admitted, nervously rubbing my knuckles. "He gets worried very easily, and if I don't call him he'll search every class until he finds me."
"That's creepy," Tyler looked over at Matt and Jeremy.
"I think it's sweet," Elena said, her first words in a while. She seemed cold when addressing me, though. "That he gets so worried about you, I mean."
I half-smiled at her despite her coldness. "It was nice to meet you all," I walked away and exited the cafeteria, a fear filling me as I considered the fact that they might be talking about me.
I pushed the thought out of my mind as I walked out into the courtyard and dialed my father's number. As always, he picked it up on the first ring.
"Hello, Josephine,"
"Hello, sir," I responded, leaning against a tree. "What are you doing?"
"Research, and writing to your uncle,"
My father always loved writing letters, something he got me into as well. "Please tell him I said hello, and to respond to my letter as quickly as possible,"
"Of course,"
"Thank you, sir," I said, and then there was a long pause where he was no doubt writing to my uncle.
"How has your day been?"
"Uneventful," I sighed. "I can tell you more of it later. I find myself kind of missing New Orleans a little."
"You become too attached to things, Josephine. You must learn to let go of things,"
"Yes, sir," I swallowed. He always had told me this. I didn't like letting things go, though.
Another long pause. "I will pick you up in the spot where I dropped you off,"
The line went dead and I exhaled, closing my eyes. My father had never once said 'I love you,' not even to my uncle nor I. It was how he was, detached from any emotional feeling. I was more like my mom in that aspect; she loved feeling emotions, which always made me believe that's what drew my father to her. Opposites attract, right?
My father had always tried to do the same to me, to get me to be like him. He didn't want me to get attached to anything, which is why I think he brought me on the road with him; to ensure that I'd never be like my mother. But my uncle's even commented on my spirit being my mother's, which made my father more determined to turn me into—
"Hey,"
I opened my eyes to see Jeremy standing there. I took a step away from the tree. "Oh, hi,"
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm f-fine, but thank you for asking," I smoothed my hair and gave a convincing smile. "I'm just dreading Calculus next period."
Jeremy then offered to show me where that was as well, so I allowed him to.
* ° • ° * ° • ° * ° • ° *
At the end of the day, I made sure to flee from Jeremy. I did not want him meeting my father for multiple reasons. One being how my father was, and the second being that Jeremy seemed like a nice guy and I didn't want him to be scared off. He still could know something useful.
Like my father had promised, he was waiting in his black SUV right in the same spot as this morning. I got in and closed the door.
"Hvordan var din første dag?" He asked, his Danish accent clear in this sentence. Meaning, "How was your first day?"
"Godt, sir." I buckled my seat and looked straight ahead. I had said, "Good, sir."
"Good," was his only response, but in Danish, of course, as he started the car and pulled off.
As we left, I saw Jeremy walk out of the school, looking around for something, or someone.
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The End of Chapter I
Please review, let me know what you think!
~ The Onceler's Unless