Chapter Two

A Vampire Hunter

5 Years Later

"Ethan? Sweetheart wake up," Serenity shook the small boy before her. His ebony hair falling in to his eyes; she brushed back the locks and smiled sweetly to him. She tried to tamp down the fear that was growing inside her and show only the good. If nothing else but for the boy's sake, he was already frightened enough.

His small hands fisted and rubbed at his eyes before looking at her. Still groggy from the short nap it was taking a while to process everything. Time was something they didn't have. They needed to leave and now. Serenity shook him a bit more before lifting him to her and motioning for him to be quite. He nodded, and tucked his head beneath her chin to hold on tight. She felt her heart contract, softened by the trust the small boy gave so willingly and by the love she had felt from the fist moment she had seen him.

Her bare feet slid softly on the stone floor as she moved towards the wooden door. Not for the first time she thanked the moon for her family and the teachings of the gypsies. Perhaps they did not always make the right decision, but at least picking a lock had come in handy when escaping from a monster. Pulling the boy closer to her body, she twisted the handle of the door, flinching when a sound came from the rusty hinged. She didn't have time to worry about the noise; instead she needed to be outside. In the stone walls, that harbored no windows there was no moonlight and with out it she couldn't protect herself or Ethan as effectively.

Peaking out the door, she found the halls empty. Breathing a sign, she checked Ethan, far from surprised to find him wide eyed and watching her intently. Moving down the hall, she tired to be as quite as possible, terrified to face the monsters with Ethan in her arms. They were not interested in her, but in the boy they were more than willing to die for. She had to wonder why? What did he have that they desired so badly?

Opening the last of the door she pushed through and in to the night. The moonlight found her immediately, and circled them in the protecting light. The wind whipped past them, and Serenity felt the child shiver in her arms. Turning around she surveyed the area, from the tower they had come from there was only one way out, the small wooden bridge that looked less than sturdy in the violent wind.

Setting Ethan down, she tried hard to keep the tears from coming to her eyes at their predicament. She was terrified of heights, and had never done well with them. But there was no choice, the bridge was their only way across to the other tower that would lead them to firm ground and a chance to escape in to the night. The moonlight swirled around her feet sensing her fear, it tried to offer comfort.

Feeling Ethan pull on her skirt she looked down, and offered a small smile to his scared features.

"Are we going to be safe?" he asked, the child's innocences in his eyes reached out to her and the moonlight reached for him, giving him a mother's love.

Serenity swallowed her fear, "Of course, my angel," grabbing his hand she moved towards the bridge, suppressing the rolling of her stomach and the urge to empty what meager meal they had been given over the side of the stone walls. Her feet moved slowly on the stone walk way and on to the bridge, the wind took her skirt and blew it to the side, taking her off balance.

Ethan gasped as she righted herself, but it wasn't fear for her. It was fear of the man that had appeared in middle of the bridge. Grabbing his hand again, she pulled Ethan backwards to hide him behind her. If he wanted the child, then he had to go through her. Wary, her eyes brightened and glowed sacred silver, the moonlight danced about her feet, ready to be called in her moment of need.

- - - - -

Endymion slipped between the shadows, moving from the open field to the side of the castle. Like many he had seen in the past few years there was something he could count on. Minions…men who wanted to be close to power with the hope of becoming it; they lived to serve and died to become like their master. Two were stationed outside the side entrance, and by the looks of them they hadn't slept or bathed in days. Exhaustion and filth rolled off of them in waves, a scent that could hardly be missed.

Pressing back against the stone wall he moved forward, inwardly mocking himself that it was a blessing that he no longer needed to breathe, or in times of stress his heart no longer raced in his ears. With a thud the first dropped at his feet and the second turned the shock and action came too late. He also dropped…unconscious next to the other. Endymion dragged their bodies to the side, hiding them beneath the over grown bushes. He didn't need anyone alerted to his presence.

Opening the door, he stepped in to the dimly lit hallway. The light was of little matter to him, a well known fact that vampires saw all to well in the night. A musty odor filled his nostrils and his ears picked up on the speedy steps in the floors above him. If he could hear the pitter pat of little feet, then he had no doubt that the master of the keep could as well.

The door creaked behind him, and he quickly melted in to the shadows. He recognized the two men immediately as they came through the wooden door. They were men from his past and he made a mental note to eat Artemis on the first occasion that presented itself, certain that with out the old man's help the two generals would not be walking past him. Generals Malachite and Nephrite…expertise on war, tactics, weapons and the commanders of the royal guard.

Endymion flinched at seeing them, the memories of their last encounter rushed forward to flood him with shame. He knew all to well that Artemis had kept in touch with this family, if the old man hadn't then he wouldn't be here now. Stalking through the distasteful hallways of a vampire that had grown to big for his teeth. He was here out of honor and the sense to repay a man he had once called friend. Listening he noted when their footsteps move far away from him, he took the opposite corridor and followed the sounds above him.

- - - - - - -

"Stay behind me Ethan," Serenity ordered, watching as the vampire before her come closer.

"Your cleverer than I gave you credit for," he snarled, advancing towards them and coming to a halt on the stone floor.

Serenity eyes narrowed, but she said nothing, instead the moonlight shimmered about her body giving her an eternal glow, she concentrated on the power and an arch of light surrounded them, promising to bring pain to whoever dared to cross it. She flinched slightly, aware that the shield before the quivered in her weakened state. Even with her ties to the moon there was only so much power she could hold like this and she was quickly reaching her limit.

She felt Ethan pull on her skirt, demanding her attention with urgent tugs. "Yes?" she asked in a soothing voice, her eyes never left the threat in front of them, terribly mindful that he could kill them both if her failed to keep the moonlight around them.

"There's more," his small voice trembled. Flicking a glance behind her she noted the three younger vampires closing in, ready to leap. Calculating her odds she took a deep sigh and prayed to the goddess that she wasn't killing them both. Absorbing the moonlight back into her soul she pushed the power outward, the moonbeams struck the three in the heart, leaving their dust to be blown away by the howling winds. Ethan moved closer to her, frightened now that the shield was gone, a comfort he had grown used to in their confinement.

The vampire in front of them clapped his hands, and gave a mocking salute. "Perhaps I should have paid more attention to you," he watched the moonbeams dance about her feet, and noted the amulet that hung about her neck, "Gypsy!" he spat out the word in distaste.

She struggled to say standing, knowing she had his attention and wrath, in a flash he was upon her, the speed of the soulless at his disposal. His cold hand wrapped around her slender neck and lifted her high; Ethan was knocked backwards dazed by the impact. Gasping for breath she tried to break his grip, her feet slipping on the stone floor for her efforts. She closed her eyes to block out the sight of his fangs and concentrate on moonlight that tugged at her heels. Reaching in side her soul and heart she looked for the knowledge to save them both and the strength handle the powerful magic. Her eyes opened and glowed silver light, her voice echoed the words of the ancients calling on the moon and its blood to keep her alive. With the last of her strength she pushed the power out of her soul, sending the monster flying backwards into the stone wall. She crumpled to the ground with out his support, her breathing shallow but steady and her body shaking from the effort to remain alive. Her eyes closed in exhaustion, the last sight of dust as the vampire was washed away in to the night from which it was born.

Endymion stepped out of the night, brushed off his jacket from the dust and walked towards the two figures. In boy jumped in from of the fallen woman, his chin titled at a stubborn angle he growled out, "Who are you?" Endymion had to admit he was impressed, few in the past years had managed to speak to him in such a way, and the child before him did so with out trembling.

"I know your father."

"Know doesn't mean friend," the boy pointed out, allowing Endymion a rueful smile.

"True," he acknowledged, "I owe your father a debt, returning you safely is my way of repaying it."

Ethan nodded, "You won't leave Serenity will you?" the worry evident in his young voice.

Endymion shook his head, and bent to pick up the silver haired beauty. She weighed next to nothing, her beautiful face fit against his shoulder and her tiny hands grasped at his shirt, a reflex he was sure but a fact he couldn't say he didn't like. The boy grabbed on to her skirt, and together he led them over the bridge and through the castle. The moved at a slow pace, the child's exhaustion was evident, and Endymion was certain that the hallways were no longer infested with those that go bump in the night. With the exception of himself that was.

They turned the corner in the old castle, and he barely managed to suppress a groan of distain at the sight of the new hallway. His past stood in front of him, shocked and slightly nervous…the fear was easy to smell…but it was hard to tamp down the monster that relished the taste. Ignoring them both he walked by, leaving them to trail after him if they wanted the child back.

- - - - - - - -

"Artemis!" Endymion called as he stepped in to the small manor he had rented for the last few months. They had barely made it to safety before the rays of light had begun to kiss the mountain tops and if that hadn't put him in a sour mood, the two men dogging his heals was soon going to. He walked right past the old man, snarling, "Deal with them,"

Artemis turned and gave an apologetic grin to the generals and boy.

Endymion laid the young woman down on the bed, her small body sank deep into the mattress. Laying his hand on her neck, he checked her pulse, worried it would be shallow after the amount of power he had seen her display. She moaned softly, turning her ivory face into his large palm. Quickly he moved his hand away from her, the feeling of guilt over took him. She was pure, and it was wrong of him to touch her, to damage her soul the way he had been damaged. Still he couldn't keep himself from watching her. She was the moonlight itself, the way her silver hair spread on the bed, surrounding her. Her skin was smooth, as the color of fresh snow, almost as if it had never been touched by the sun. She was frail from the keepings of a vampire, but still her body was firm and well rounded. He jerked his gaze away and left the room, allowing one last look at the beauty before leaving. After all it was probably going to be the last he would ever get.

Ok so I said it would be a slow up date, but then I got an idea and just had to write the next chapter. One of those I got up a 3am and wrote to 6am…so I hope its good and that everyone likes it. Just remember to review. I love the, and I don't care if their good, bad, or indifferent

Love,

Danielle