I jump down the side of the stone building just as the clock tower above me signaled midnight, the rain pattered against my black hood, I could feel the thick droplets fall against my covered head as I made my way through the darkened alley. A lock of my hair had slipped out of it's short pony tail and fell wet against my face though I paid not attention to it, keeping my eyes on the figure far enough from me to not realize that I was following him. My boots fell as silent as they could while making their way through the puddles against the cobblestones under my feet. The creature pauses then stiffly looks behind him to see nothing but shadows before he continues his brisk walk as I slowly pull myself out of the darker parts of the alleyway that I've began walking through to tail the thing that I have been tracking for the past few months. I hadn't been able to pin it down until just a few days ago after he had killed a young woman, the scene was ungodly so much so that they still can't identify her.

My gloved hand grips the handle of the curved object deep in my coat pocket as I turned into an even darker alley before stopping.

The monster infront of me glared with yellow glowing eyes, it's posture telling me that he was ready for a fight, well... so was I.

" I've heard about you," he spoke gruffly, he cracks his neck, " Killing off little pest, I have to say you've helped me out quite a lot, something I guess I should thank you for. Though I should say that with the get-up you're waering, I think you've watched too much television." In what little light that slipped into the closed area, my eyes take in his slow and slight transformation, his fingers turned into clawed points, ears begin to tip and move closer to his head as to not get caught, and the most noticeable was his face as it molded from the face of an innocent bystander to the face of a killer... one that had a row of fanged teeth just waiting to rip me apart just like all of the other humans that have come into his line of sight.

" Trust me, I wasn't killing them for you so I'd just hold onto that note of appreciation." I pull out the sharp blade that I had been hiding until this moment, I hear him growl out a laugh.

" That little toy isn't going to do much damage to me, hunter, I suggest you run away now and save yourself from something that's really going to hurt." I take a stance that readies me for what's about to come as I decide to not answer and hear a low deep growl come from the beast just feet away from me.

His quick leap catches me off guard, my knife clatters to the ground as the vampire presses me into the brick wall of one side of the alley with a small laugh, digging his claws into my shoulder.

" Good thing I brought a spare." I say before pulling a blade from my belt and stabbing the creature in the stomach which makes him pull away as he holds onto his stomach, black tarry liquid escapes through his fingers.

" You little bitch!" he yells before lunging at me once again, only this time I'm ready for his attack. I dodge to the side in time for him to slam into the wall that only moments ago I was pinned to. He is quick to turn around right as I slide my blade across his neck leaving a gash that bleeds but he continues to come at me. He throws a punch that I catch with my empty hand that I then use to my advantage and twist behind his back and stab him to the right of his spine just to weaken him. I get an elbow in my stomach that sends me flying to the opposite wall.

" I am going to take my sweet time with you. Ripping off the things that don't kill you first, then your skin..." He decides to change his tactics, he tries to get my legs out from underneath me but only catches air as I slip past him to stab him first in the shoulder; not pulling the knife out, I leave it there and grab the one that had been left on the ground.

Just as the creature gets a hold of the blade, I stomp on his leg, he yells before kneeling as the other leg is kicked from under him. Grabbing the dirty blond hair on his head, I pull his head back to reveal his neck that was still oozing the creatures blood down his chest.

" Please! Please don't I'll do...huckkghhhhuu" After a minute or two, I serrate the head from his body and watch as both fall to the ground. I take the pouch of black salt out of my pocket and begin to spread it over the form on the ground before I pull out a packet of matches and light the body on fire. It glows a bright purple as it eats away the vampiric flesh before it goes out in a pool of damp ashes as the rain contiues to fall.

" I'd like to see someone do that on television." I say to the pile of what use to be a monster but was now back where it belonged... where ever that was.

I felt the chill of the night finally hit me so I decided to go home for the time being. Maybe I could get some sleep...

Yeah right.

I hadn't had a good night sleep in five years... since... no, I'm not bringing that up.

It took around twenty minutes to get to my apartment, which wasn't anything amazing, just something to keep a roof over my head and where I could work in peace and quiet.

I sigh as I turn the key in the door and was met by the dim red blinking light of my incorrect alarm clock, turning on the lamp beside my front door, I am met with the sight of a home that looked... vacant, no pictures, no signs of life, nothing but a few cheap pieces of furniture.

Just then a small black cat slinks into the living room and nudges my feet, the small ball of fur made a slight smile grow on my face.

" Hey there Salem. How's my girl?" I ask only getting a meow in return as she looks up with her blue eyes, knowing what she was asking for, " Alight, I get it." I close the door, locking both dead bolts and sliding the chains in it's place before removing my shoes on the mat then making my way deeper into the room to get to my quaint kitchen. The black cat quickly jumps up on the counter behind me as I place a small bowl in front of her, she licks her lips. Ready for the best part of her day to be poured into it.

Bending down as I open the fridge, the only thing in it is milk as I grab it to turn and give my girl what she wants. My stomach growls though I pay no mind to it as I watch the critter drink her milk quickly as she hunches over the saucer.

After putting away the milk, I open a cabinet to find a loaf of bread and after toasting it, I eat the plain toast with a heavy stomach, not really wanting to eat but forcing myself to either way. Glad that the blood of that monstrosity had washed off in the heavy rain during my walk here.

Once Salem and I had finished our meals, I moved into the bathroom, slowly I take off my coat that I would have to fix as I looked at the five rips in the fabric at the upper arm of the piece of clothing. Forgetting that I had been wearing my hood up ever since I got home, I pull it back and begin to unbutton the shirt that was heavy with water and splattered with blood from both myself and the vampire.

I gasp in pain as the article brushes up against my sore arm before I throw it into the hamper beside me.

With difficulty I finally take a look at myself in the mirror, My hair was buzzed on the sides and back, short hairs tickled my finger tips as I moved to take the rubber band out of my hair that kept the longer locks of hair that laid against the top of my head in place so that it wasn't getting in my way during myhunting. My dull brown eyes almost matched the dirt and grime laying against my skin from tonight's events.

I quickly assessed the damage of my arms, it would need stitches, good thing I knew how to fix it up.

My muscled build stared back at me through the mirror along with the scars that riddled my body, no where was safe from the grotesque markings that were light pink against my pale skin. Especially the one that ran from my left eyebrow down to my lower lip.

Funny... you're starting to look like the monsters you kill... what would she think?

" She would run away, scared, they all would." I answer with my tired voice as I started on my arm, the pain didn't bother me; not like it did the first few times and thankfully my skills had become better in these last few years. I had thought about going to a doctor in the beginning but they would ask too many questions and the thought of a doctor... made me think of her.

I take a quick shower to wash the grime off of my body, remembering when I used to love the feel of taking a long shower after a long day; now it was just too long for my mind to keep to any tasks at hand and to not go wandering to places that I didn't want it to go near.

Laying on my bed... well futon actually, I think about the fight that I had only hours earlier. He reminded me of Jasper, if he was a vampire that was murdering innocent humans but the friend I left behind was nothing like that, he was loyal and honest; he could always tell when something was wrong. I guess now I know why that is, because of his powers of empathy.

As I thought about the family I ran from my mind turns to the one I missed the most. A sharp pain stabs through my heart as the hole in my chest throbs making its presence known.

Before I can regroup, a pained sob shoots through my throat and out of my mouth scaring Salem who had been laying beside me; who now was in the window as I had my breakdown. The veins in my hands and arms began to glow green as I shook in pain. Unwillingly I began to force my breathing to slow, pulling my thoughts towards my hunting and away from sensitive memories from my past. I watched as the color began to backtrack and fade.

Want to hear what I was listening to while writing this chapter? Well check these songs out:

Mother- Lissie . Gravity- Sara Barellis

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