The Vampire Hunter

The tavern patrons whispered amongst themselves as Lightning passed them and took a seat at the bar. She'd become used to the murmurings over the weeks. In a way, she liked it. People were afraid of her, which meant she didn't have to endure anymore pointless conversations. She let them drunkenly gossip amongst themselves and move farther away from her in fear, enjoying the space. There were downsides however, as she noticed the bar tender pretending not to notice her waiting.

She cleared her throat and motioned the graying man over and he shakily obeyed. "Wh-what can I get you?" He barely managed the words.

"Ale."

With a quick nod he went about filling a wooden stein from a barrel behind the bar before shakily handing it over to the woman. She nodded her appreciation and the old man went back to pretending like he was busy.

The entire town had been terrified for weeks. The moment people had started going missing, Lightning was to blame. Her parents had just died of consumption and it was strongly believed that the Farron's oldest daughter was the cause. The strong, pale woman was outspoken and cutting, something the town wasn't used to. She defied centuries old expectations all her life, and now that people's friends and family were going missing, Lightning's differences were becoming more and more apparent.

The word "vampire" was tossed about a lot. The townsfolk all noted that after her parents had slowly been drained of their life essence over the months, the oldest Farron daughter never left the house during the daylight hours. Instead, she would only ever leave once the sun had gone down, but it wasn't until people had stared to go missing that people came to believe her to be at fault. Their evidence was mounting day by day but still, no one had the resolve to confront Lightning head on. The townsfolk had tried a few times to get rid of her, trying to slip garlic into her drinks, or placing crosses on their doors but Lightning would simply roll her eyes at the meek attempts.

She had always been a loner, choosing her solitude over conversation. Instead she listened to the buzzing of those around her, amused by their fears.

"She's no place here... What God would let that abomination walk amongst men?"

"Shhh! Vampires can hear a heartbeat from across a room!"

"... A- are you sure? I... " The man's voice trailed off, going quite. Though with his booming voice, one didn't need to be a vampire to hear his remarks.

"Look how pale she is... You think that's from being dead? You think she has a pulse?... How does staking their hearts work if they don't have a pulse?" One woman asked her husband as he quickly gathered their coats from the rack and ushered her out the door, fearing the vampire's wrath.

The whispering never failed to amuse her. She quite liked that she had a reputation.

"No, no... please... come in."

"Are you sure? I'd hate to cause a scene..."

"Please... We would all feel... safer with you around..."

Lightning quirked a brow at the odd exchange. She recognized the voice of Mr. Joseph, the bars owner, but the other voice was tinted with a strange accent. The rest of the tavern went quiet suddenly and Lightning turned on her stool to face the newcomer that had garnered everyone's attention.

A tall woman, dressed in a long black coat walked through the door. Bronzed skin almost seeming to glow in the lantern light as she strode with purpose towards the bar. Lightning knitted her eyebrows together as the woman sat down next to her without hesitation.

"It's rude to stare." The woman said and turned her gaze to Lightning.

Lightning didn't respond or turn away, but simply let her eyes wander about the strange woman. She was dressed entirely in black, even her hands gloved in a dark leather. A large dark spear sat strapped to her back, glinting in the lantern light.

"Can I get you anything?" the bartender asked but the mysterious woman shook her head, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.

The woman eyed Lightning up and down. "You must be Lightning Farron."

Lightning stiffened slightly. Even an outsider knew of her? "And you are?"

"Yun Fang."

"And how do you know of me?"

Yun Fang smiled slightly and cocked her head to the side. "I was paid to know of you."

"Paid? Paid by who?" Lightning knitted her eyebrows in confusion.

"The townspeople."

Lightning glared at her, realizing why the woman didn't fear her like everyone else. "You're a vampire hunter."

Yun Fang simply smiled in response. "Order of the Dracu."

Lightning clenched her teeth and sent a glare at the other patrons of the tavern for sending a vampire hunter after her, all of which averted their eyes. The legendary Order of the Dracu had been hunting Vampires for decades and their reputation had spread far across the lands. Most people weren't even sure if they were real, and yet here one sat, nonchalantly, beside Lightning.

"You're here to kill me, then?"

"I'd rather not do this dirty business around so many people... I'll give you a head start." Fang said as she casually fastened a cuff on her sleeve that had come undone.

Lightning glared at the woman in front of her. "What proof do you have that I am indeed a vampire?"

"Credible witness reports... and a pocket full of gold." It was clear that Yun Fang didn't care whether Lightning was a vampire or not, she'd been paid to do a job and she'd do it, so Lightning quickly changed her approach.

"You'd try it, wouldn't you? You realize I could kill a mere mortal like you in seconds, right? Don't be daft." She grit out through clenched teeth, trying to intimidate the vampire hunter. She didn't need to deal with this. The small, hilarious attempts on her life were fine. She could deal with pulling a clove of garlic from her drinks, or the silver jewelry that had been "gifted" to her, but to hire a vampire hunter to kill her... it was too much.

Fang simply smiled and pulled the spear from her back, running a hand over the silver tip. "We could do this here, if that's what you wish."

Lightning continued to glare before standing from her seat and walking out of the tavern and into the night, knowing that there would be no convincing the hunter to leave her alone. Yun Fang watched her go and leaned her back against the bar, staying true to her word to give the accused vampire a head start.

Lightning pulled a sword from the family crest that hung above her fireplace. She'd need some kind of weapon if she were to be hunted down by an experienced vampire hunter. She inspected the blade, making sure it was sharp before heading back out into the night, making for the forested area behind her house. If she could hide from her, then she wouldn't need to fight and gamble on her life. She set off into the deep of the woods, before finally coming to rest under a large gnarled tree where she would wait silently, listening for the vampire hunter.

She didn't have to wait long. A loud crunch echoed in the still night and Lightning got to her feet, scanning the woods around her, sword drawn and ready. "Thought you'd be faster than that!" Lightning called out, trying to intimidate the vampire hunter again.

"I like to savour these moments." Yun Fang said, stepping from the trees behind Lightning. Lighting quickly turned at the sound and pulled up her sword in defense.

Lightning hated to admit it, but Yun Fang worried her. The vampire hunter had found her incredibly quickly, and had managed to sneak up behind her with ease. Lightning backed up as Fang approached. She could feel her nerves firing rapidly with each step Yun Fang took.

The vampire hunter pulled her spear from her back and readied it. "Are you ready?"

Lightning swallowed hard but nodded her head. In a smooth and practice motion, Yun Fang had charged forward, thrusting her spear at Lightning. Lightning barely dodged the incoming spear and pushed the weapon aside with her sword. She charged back and Yun Fang easily moved to the side, avoiding her completely.

"Shit..."

"I thought you could kill us mere mortals in seconds... Isn't that what you said?" Yun Fang asked, condescension dripping in her voice.

Lightning turned back to her pursuer and held up her sword in defense once again. Their weapons clashed together again and again with speed and strength that rang out into the night. Over and over again the two would push each other's attacks back. In one flash, however, Yun Fang had tackled Lightning to the ground and straddled her waist.

Lightning felt the heavy wait and felt her muscles weaken with defeat. "I'm not a vampire!" Lightning yelled up at her hunter but Yun Fang simply grinned back.

"I know." It was then the vampire hunter grinned, flashing sharp fangs in the dim light.

Lightning felt her heart quicken as the vampire descended on her and bit into her neck in a fluid motion. She felt the blood draining from her as the woman atop her drank hungrily from her. She struggled briefly but was quickly subdued by the tightening of the jaw on her neck. Once the vampire had her fill, she released her neck and sat back up, admiring her handiwork.

"If they're going to accuse you of being a vampire, you might as well be one, don't you agree?"

AN: I would have just added this to All from Ashes but it felt out of place as it broke the cannon universes a little too much what with vampires and all, so I figured I'd start a new collection featuring the more mythical stories I'd like to write. This one was pretty short and I doubt I'll continue it, I just wanted to write a quick vampire story where Fang was the vampire instead :P There will be other stories though. I already have ideas brewing for some interesting things. It's just a matter of actually writing them, heh.