FINAL FANTASY 8 – The demon hunter
Very little changes through the years; desires, hates fears, loves, and passions. These all remain unchanging and unaltered. The desires of men lead to wars and death, wars lead to hatred. Love and passion leads to unobtainable desires which leads to pain and strife. It is a never ending cycle that will continue until the final days of mankind, an event that may be sooner that one may think.
'Who am I to talk', you may be asking yourself, and that is a valid question. I am Hunter, but I was once known by another name, but that life, and that person are now dead, a memory of those who once knew him. I was an average student at the local university, one of those undecided students; I had no real career path. But that all changed the day my life was turned upside down.
Now, I won't bore you with the details of that life changing event, at least not yet. But I will tell you that now I have a path that I must follow to its bitter end, whether I like it or not, for you see, I am now a Demon Hunter, I hunt the children of the night, I hunt Vampires. This is my story, and the story of a girl that will forever change the shape of civilization as we know it, this is our story.
Chapter 1: The Girl in the Park
The battle raged on as the fighters moved to attack again. The metal of their blades shining in the streetlight, their clothing blending into the shadows as they circled one another in the mixed darkness.
They lunge and parry, each deflecting the others blade, two skilled opponents fighting to the death.
One lunges with a killing blow but is stopped short by the loss of his head. His scimitar falls from his hand as his head and body hit the ground. As quickly as he had struck, his opponent and the victor moves to sprinkle holy water on the body and perform the last rights, at which point the body burst into flames and vanishes into ash.
Following that impromptu funeral ceremony, the victor moves from the site of the battle towards the street, in the process sheathing his sword in its hidden scabbard on his back.
Making his way towards the street, he had just enough time to disappear into the shadows as the first of the police cars started to show, the DC Police were fast this month. Another night, another evil destroyed, life was good for the man known only as Hunter.
"Good morning, its 6:00 and here is a look at your overnight headlines. Yet another head without a body continues to baffles police as they search for the killer, it is believed that there is a serial killer on the loose in the Upper East Side where the beheadings have taken place. In more happy news, the President will…." The anchor didn't get a chance to finish as the set was turned off by the impatient yet smugly satisfied viewer.
Hunter pursed his lips in a small grin as he recalled what the news had said with some happiness; however the head had proven to be a problem. No matter how skilled he was with the disposal of vampires, the cops always seemed to find some evidence.
"Do the damned things get up and walk away? I thought the head landed no more that 3 feet from the body." He thought to himself as he moved towards the refrigerator to get something to eat before bed. Hunting both gave him an appetite and exhausted him; today sleep would be pleasant. Being a night hunter, he was only able to sleep in the day, and that's when the nightmares started, when he was allowed to sleep that is.
Getting a half eaten ham sandwich from the fridge, Hunter made his way to the couch to listen to some 'dinner music' picking up the remote and pushing a button filled the room with the sounds of soft jazz.
Finishing the sandwich and lulled by the music, Hunter made his way to the makeshift bedroom to sleep. Laying down and closing his eyes, he enters into the dreamless sleep of the night hunter.
Awaking with a start, Hunter awakes from his once dreamless sleep now turned feverish. Looking at the clock on his nightstand he sees that it is 5:30 in the afternoon. The sun would be setting into the autumn sky soon.
As he prepares for this night's hunt he invokes all the teachings of his teacher, Cid Kramer.
"Remember Hunter, you can't kill them when you're dead. You must use their weaknesses against them, counter to their attack. Thrust to their parry. And always, always, always, go for the head. Then you move on to the next attacker."
Kramer's words came back as the lessons flashed through his head. The hours of intensive drills, and training with weapons of both the old and new ages. The skills passed on in those lessons have been passed on since the first hunter killed the first vampire. Knowledge, to the hunter is meaningless, although properly applied it is the one thing that will allow him to continue to hunt.
Gathering his tools, Hunter prepares to hunt that night, moving across the city, hitting the local vampire hangouts.
Having gathered his tools and various items he'd need for a night hunting the undead; his Katana, a vial of holy water, and several wooden stakes. He then studies a map of the city, the main nests both known and destroyed and undestroyed marked by pins. The majority of the 'hotspots' are clubs and bus stations.
Finally deciding, he heads off for the bus stations, going by way of Central Park. There were always a few vampires lurking there.
Hunter's apartment was at a prime location in the business district, the property having been in his family for years. The apartment was really just a converted warehouse with a living space and a training area. There was also a collection of items gathered from vampires over the years. Some of these items dated back thousands of years.
Making his way through the city, he silently approached the park, the wind in the trees the only noticeable sound. He began stalking the shadows, staying where he wouldn't be seen.
He became alert when he heard the sounds of rapid breathing, there was someone running towards him in a panic. Looking from his place amongst the trees he saw a young girl running as though the devil were after her. In a way she was, for behind her were two vampires with fangs extended. Hunter smiled when he saw this, his first kills of the night.
The girl was being chased by two young vampires, sired within the last few months no doubt, judging by the way they acted, inexperienced, cocky, and arrogant. Hunter stalked them in the shadows as they chased the girl; he waited until they had cornered her before making his move.
"Please don't hurt me," the girl begged as the two closed around her, the fear evident in her stance and her eyes. The two vampires could taste the fear emanating from her and it invigorated them.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt, we're just going to take your life's blood, you know, a little 'bloody Mary' before bed, that's all," the leader said, licking his fangs in anticipation.
"Yeah, you won't miss it when you're dead," his companion agreed as they both reached for the girl. Hunter shook his head in shame, these two were almost like kiddie show freaks and not vampires, who ever sired them must have had mush for brains, and these guys were morons. Hunter decided to intervene and end their pathetic existence as quickly as possible.
"She may feel otherwise," Hunter said from the shadows behind them, causing the vampires to turn towards him.
"Who the hell are you?" the leader spit out, angered at his meal being interrupted.
"Just a concerned citizen, that's all."
"Well, in that case we can both feed tonight," the underling said as he lunged at Hunter while the leader held the girl, waiting for his companion to feed.
Hunter stood his ground as the vampire lunged at him, he didn't move a muscle until the vampire was directly in front of him. When he did he quickly unsheathed his sword and in one movement separated his attacker's head from his body. He slowly stepped from the shadows, his sword gleaming in the scattered light as he approached the leader.
"Don't come any closer," he hissed, holding a small knife to the girl's neck. "I'll kill her."
"Go ahead, I really don't care, but think of it this way, you kill her, I kill you, you let her go, I still kill you. Either way you die, so let her go and accept the end gracefully, unlike your headless friend here," Hunter said as he pointed to the body laying behind him.
Seeing that there was no way out, the vampire dropped the knife, and sunk his teeth into the girls neck, drawing blood from the puncture wounds, Hunter merely took out his knife and threw it directly into the vampire's neck, severing the veins and arteries within, spilling the life giving blood down his neck, forcing the fangs to retract back into his mouth. Reeling back in pain and shock, he released the girl, who fell to the ground, while he clutched at the knife lodged into his throat. Hunter stepped towards him, his sword resting on his shoulder. The vampire looked up into Hunter's blue-gray eyes and saw only his death approaching. Accepting that which he couldn't change the vampire kneeled before Hunter and waited as the blade swung through the air and removed his head, much as it did his friends.
Hunter kneeled and removed his knife, sprinkling holy water on the body and head and gave last rights, the body burst into dust as he did the same to the other body. Hunter moved to the girl, she was a brunette with her hair curling at the ends; she was wearing a short yellow dress that almost left nothing to the imagination, almost. He kneeled beside her and felt for a pulse, there was one; her attacker didn't get much blood. He gently picked her up and carried her through the alleys back to his apartment, he could hunt another night, and this girl needed help.
I placed her on my bed and went to the bathroom to gather the medical supplies I'd need. One of the lessons Kramer taught me was how to save a biting victim and prevent them from becoming a vampire themselves.
I returned to the girl, materials in hand and set about saving her life. Her blood had seeped from the bite on her neck and into my shirt and parts of her clothing; they'd need to be cleaned before she left. I began with a disinfectant to kill any vampiric germs, I didn't want to have to hunt her down later and kill her. I quickly dressed the wound after making sure it was cleansed with a formula that Kramer had developed. I asked him about it once and he replied by saying; 'I make good cocktails, this is one of those pleasant surprises that you can dispose of by drinking.' After that he'd shown me how to make it and then he disposed of it by drinking a glass full, needless to say he didn't die.
His 'cocktail' as he called it, was also useful in helping to revive the victim's strength once they were awake, that and it could strip paint from a wall in nothing flat. I sighed as I finished putting the bandage on the girl's neck, she'd need a few hours sleep to recover the lost blood, I decided to train until she awoke, and it was after all almost Sunday morning.
I managed to get in a few hours practice and meditation when she began to stir, I quickly moved to her side, but only after taking the room to a low light, she didn't need to see my face.
"Ugh," she said as she slowly regained consciousness.
"Take it easy, you've have a hard night," I say as she slowly opens her eyes.
"Who are you, where am I?" she asks in a frightened tone.
"My name is Hunter, I saved you from the vampires that attacked you, and you're safe in my apartment. What's your name and where are you form, why were you out so late?"
"My name is Selphie Tilmitt and I'm from Balamb. I was visiting my boyfriend, Irvine Kinneas, he invited my to a party but I got lost on the way. Then those vampires's attacked me and you saved me. What happened?"
"You were bit by a vampire, but there was no harm done, you only lost a little blood. But I will need to wash your clothes before you leave, no sense walking around with dried blood on your dress."
"Oh, yeah, you're right. But do you have something I can wear?"
"Yeah, hold on, I'll go get you a shirt and shorts."
Hunter then moved to his closet where he removed a shirt and shorts that she could wear. When he returned he found the lights back up to their normal level, making it difficult to stay in the shadows.
"Here," he said as he threw the clothes to her from the shadowy hallway.
"Aren't you going to come in? I can change in the bathroom, this is your apartment after all," she said when he began to retreat.
"No, I can't let you see me, it's safer that way, safer for you, I'll be back when you've changed, and I'm going to make you something to eat."
Selphie nodded as he closed the door; once he was gone she quickly changed out of her clothes and put the blood covered material in a pile on the desk. There she noticed a pin, it was small and of a beautiful design, one that she'd never seen before except in ancient books about demons, witches, knights, sorceresses and kings. Yet here was one that didn't appear to be ancient at all. The design was a diamond set on top of a square at the top and a triangle at the bottom, inside the diamond was separated almost in the middle into 2 sections. In the top section there was a marking that looked like a half arrow pointing up and down with a line drawn under it. The bottom section was a symbol similar to a "
Selphie stared at the pin, trying to remember where in the books she had seen that design, she was startled to hear a voice behind her.
"Beautiful, isn't it? That is the design of the Hunter, what they hunt is all speculation. That particular pin is the design for the Vampire Hunter, at least that's according to some scholars."
"Why, why…"
"Why do I have it?" Hunter asked as Selphie backed away from the desk, suddenly afraid of the man before her. "You could say that I specialize in ancient myths, like the Vampires that attacked you."
"What are you?" she asked, trying to see his face past the hair that hid it in shadows.
"What am I? I wish I knew," Hunter replied with a laugh. "What I am is a Vampire Hunter, that's what I do. I hunt down the night hunters and destroy them, aside from that I am nothing, a mere shadow of a person."
"But Vampires aren't real, that's just old superstition."
"The ones that tried to kill you were pretty real weren't they?" he asked as he picked up her clothes and left the room.
Selphie sat at the desk chair and thought over what he said; she didn't have much time to muse as he returned shortly.
"What do you want to know?" Hunter asked as he leaned against the wall, shrouded in shadows once again.
"Are you the only one?"
"There are others, but not many. There are only a handful of people chosen by Hyne to rid the planet of the undead."
"What do you want from me?"
Hunter gave a laugh before answering.
"Nothing my dear Selphie, absolutely nothing. But I do ask one thing; tell me about yourself and your boyfriend, Irvine."
"Why do you want to know about us?" she inquired.
"Im just curious" he replied with an indifferent shrug "One of my many character defects"
"Oh, well Irvine is a sharpshooter for the Galbadian Army, I'm a student at Balamb Garden, there's not much more to tell."
"Hunter," he stopped at her voice, "let me see your face; I want to know what you look like."
"Selphie, it isn't wise for you to see me, once your clothes are cleaned I'll take you where ever you need to go."
"Please, consider it a token of trust in return for our future help."
Hunter sighed, knowing he had to show her his face, and by doing so it endangered her life ten-fold. Reluctantly he stepped from the shadows into the light, causing Selphie to gasp.
"I know you," Selphie began after her shock wore off, "I know you, you're…"
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He raised his head as he passed through the main gates; the site of the massive complex still gave him a slight sense of awe. Releasing his breath he entered the main building, yet another day at Balamb Garden.
Entering his first class, the young man looked around the room, his friend was late again. Just as he began walking towards his seat he was slammed into from behind. He turned to speak to his assaulter only to find his best, and only friend Zell grinning at him.
"Hey man! How was your weekend?"
"Same as always, got another dozen or so," he replied as they both sat in the back of the class, waiting for the ever tardy teacher to arrive.
"Cool, that's good to know. Hey, did you hear about the new student?" Zell asked as the bell rang, with the teacher practically falling through the door several seconds later.
"Good morning class, I'm sorry for being late," the teacher Ms. Bertram said as she placed her lesson books on the desk, out of breath.
Ms. Bertram was a young woman, around 25 who had just received her teaching certification the previous year. She had brownish-blonde hair that came to her shoulders, which she wore pulled back in a pony-tail. She had brown eyes that sparkled with innocence and youth. She was constantly late for class, having to take the bus while her car was fixed; the buses never ran on time.
"No, I haven't," the young man replied as the teacher settled herself.
"I hear she's from Galbadia, that she's the daughter of some bigwig general there. But that's just a rumor. She is from Galbadia though," Zell replied with a smile.
"Hmmm," was all his friend would say, he was watching the teacher write the day's lesson on the board.
Zell took this as his sign to shut up and focused on the teacher and what she was writing.
"Today class," she began as she shuffled her papers, looking for the handout. Finding it she began passing it out as she resumed speaking, "we will learn about various aspects of ancient mythology. For the next few weeks we will be focusing on the various appearances of vampires in the folklore of various countries and people."
Hearing this both Zell and Mark cringed, knowing that whatever she taught it would be inaccurate and absolute boredom
With a sigh, his friend settled back in his chair and waited for the lecture to begin so that it could end just as quickly. Zell decided that he would follow this example and settled back for the long haul.
"Man, I thought she'd never stop," Zell complained as he took a seat next to Mark in the courtyard just outside the cafeteria. They didn't like the company of the other students, so they sat outside, away from the noise and prying eyes of their classmates.
Mark just shrugged as he picked at his food; he rarely ate what he bought.
"You know, you will waste away to nothing if you don't eat something."
"I'm just not hungry, and you know I won't waste away. I have good genes," Mark replied with a small smirk at Zell.
Zell looked at him a moment then gave a short, yet hearty laugh.
"True, very true, but you do need to do it for show at least," he said as a group of female students walked past, their eyes fixed on Mark. Zell watched them go by.
"You know, the girls really seem to dig you. You really should consider dating; it'll make you appear more normal."
Mark sighed as he pushed his plate away from him and sat back.
"Zell, why would I want to appear normal, why pretend to be something I'm not? Besides, if I did start dating they would find out the truth. If they found out the truth what could I do? I couldn't kill them, and they can't disappear. Anyway, nothing about these girls attracts me.'
"Wow," Zell said in awe, "that's the longest I have ever heard you speak. No seriously I've not …"
Zell was cut off as a girl appeared in front of them.
"Excuse me, but can you point me to the office? I'm new and the campus is so big I got lost," she said as she smiled shyly.
"Yeah, sure, same thing happened to me. Go down this corridor until you see an elevator. Take the elevator to the 2nd floor, the offices are located there," Zell replied as he pointed the way.
"Thank you," she said to Zell as she started walking away, "bye."
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(So readers what do you think so far? I hope you like it because it's gonna be a lot of fun from here!)
Mark: They don't care about this crap Author! Just get on with the story!
(For that you will suffer in the next chapters! MUHAHAHA!)
Mark: (snorts and walks off in a huff)
P.S Please send long reviews
