Chapter 1 - Birth of a New Hunter

Today started like any other day. Grandfather got me up as the sun was coming up for our morning exercises. It seemed as though I had no use of this entire vampire hunter training he was putting me through but I loved him so I put up with it.

"Jessie! Pay attention! You never know when this will be useful against a vampire and they don't wait for you to day dream!"

I sighed. "Yes papa I understand." I looked up in time to block the sword my grandfather was swinging at me with my own. The morning continued on with my grandfather teaching me new moves to block, defend and attack my foe with. My mind continued to wander as the exercises continued on. Today was my high school graduation and I was not looking forward to it. College started in less than three months from my graduation and of course my family was happy that I was accepted into a nice and fancy college. Money of course was not an issue thanks to the work my family 'supposedly' did in the past in the old country killing vampires. The only problem my family had was where I was going. I was so sick of this little town we lived in. Athens, Vermont was where my family settled a century ago from Scotland. Oddly I did not know there were any vampires there in those times until my grandfather lectured me on our family history and why we live in our house and why we never moved out. I sighed again at that thought. My family knew they could not stop me from moving to Northfield where I would attend Northwich University. That probably explains why my grandfather has been training me so hard these last few months leading up to my graduation and then college.

"Jessie!" Saved by the bell. "Time for you to get ready for graduation! It's your big day! Dad leave her be already! You have three month before she leaves for college!" I shook my head and laughed to myself as my mother walked back into our huge house. I looked over my shoulder to my grandfather who sighed and walked to me placing his hand on my shoulder.

"She never did understand all the training that was necessary for a vampire hunter. Her family never did train the woman like the Owens did. Well my dear let's head on inside so you can get ready for your big day."

After my mother turned away the look on my grandfather's face was not one of happiness but the look he got when he knew something big was about to happen and it did not look good. It was a look I would never forget. Great, now what is bothering him? I never did like it when he got that look on his face. Something bad always seems to happen or I will get a lecture later from grandpa about something I forgot or did not do correctly. I chose to ignored the thought and moved inside to get ready for my big day. As I dressed I could not help think of what could possibly happen and why my grandfather seemed extremely upset. Nothing I can worry about now, though. As we gathered in my family's half-ton truck I looked over at my grandfather who seems to notice my concern.

"Do not fret now child. Today is your day." I watched as he gave me a half heart smile and then appeared to look out the window. I turned to my own window as I watched our house disappear in the distance and then the High School I attended here in Athens was coming into view. Today was a rather bright and sunny day and should have been perfect but what would come to happen this day was unknown and not at all what I would of expected.

Graduation though went off without a hitch and I was on my way home with my diploma in hand and my parents where just glowing with excitement. My grandfather's attitude did not change much that day however. He did act like nothing was wrong but in his eyes I could read that something was off, which neither of my parents noticed or didn't care to notice. When we arrived home grandfather did not go inside with my parents but instead went out back of the house towards the woods, which was something odd for him to do and I had no idea at the time why he was doing it. I watched him for a minute before my mom called to me to go change and get ready to head out for dinner in a couple hours. I knew that meant I would have a some of that time to spend with grandpa training before we went off to one of those nice restaurants that my parents would of reserved months ago for this day. While I went to change out of graduation gown and into my training clothes I heard a scream from downstairs. Now this was one of those ear-piercing screams you hear in the movies when something really bad was happening. I turned to my bed and pulled from it the sword I kept under there, as my grandfather expected me to, and ran for the stairs to the lower level of the house. Now what I found in the Living room was not something I expected to see or did I for much longer. As I attempted to attack the woman closest that had my mom she turned and pushed me back with such force I hit my head on the floor. Before the world went black all I could see was my mom's face in shock and her mouth open as though she was yelling something to me. Darkness came over me before I could even hear what she had said.

Who knows how long I have been unconscious when I slowly opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. The room was completely dark and I was lying on my back on a bed. My head was throbbing from the pain but I was able to push it aside. I realized at that point I was in a hospital bed and it was the middle of the night. I had no clue in how I got here but I had this feeling my family didn't make it out as well as I. How could such a good day turn out so bad? I wish I knew what was going on and where my family is, but maybe I don't want to know after all. My thoughts whirled through my head and sleep finally took over as the medicine from the machine hooked to me entered my veins.

It was over a week later when I was released from the hospital and on that same day I was to bury my father and mother's remains on our family burial site. Damn I never wished this would happen so soon. Where is grandfather I wish I knew what happened to him but I have this feeling he is just fine… I left the grave site and moved on to what was left of my home that I lived in all my life and the many Owens before me but what I found was not what I was expecting to see.

Death and destruction is all that was left to be seen as my home was laid to ruins. I could not stop what had happened to it and now I have to deal with it on my conscience. Mother…father….If I was only stronger and faster I could of.. What could I have done to stop this? I drop to my knees and look up my home with it fallen to the ground. Nothing I could have done to stop it. What am I to do now? With those thoughts I lay in the grass and before I knew it I had fallen into a deep sleep.

~Daylight~

I woke up to a to a bitter bright morning. My home was still lying in front of me in ruins and my parents were still dead. I figured it was time that I looked over what was left and see if there was anything I could save or use. I was lucky that our family's money was safely locked up in the old basement where only I knew it was beside my grandfather. Grandfather…where are you? I will go looking for him after I figure out where I am going to stay and how I am to get there. I started to look around the outside of the compounds hoping to figure out where the old entrance to the basement was as well as lead me to what happened to my family and home. Of course whoever did this was smart enough to hide their trail but what they lack to realize is that I am not hunter like they have ever met. I clenched my hands and vowed on my parents souls, Whoever you are I will kill you for what you have done to my family and home. Afternoon came and I still had not found a way into the old basement of my home. There was too much rubble for me to move with my own hands. I decided it was time to sit and eat some lunch since I avoided eating breakfast that morning in hopes to find the hidden door down to the place I seek the most.

"If only I could find this opening or something that can tell me what caused all this. And where in the hell is my grandfather now?" Damn him…he better have a good reason for leaving me behind…well at least he should be safe from whatever got the rest of my family. I sigh and finish eating the apple I managed to pick off a tree that somehow survived.

The apple did nothing to stop the gnawing hunger that was building but until I could get into the basement there was nothing I could do. "Well there is no point sitting her whining to myself about being hungry. Time to get moving." After brushing the leaves and gravel off my pants I went back to figuring where the side of the house I would need was located. "Okay the kitchen was here…living room there. Damn it where is that room. I know it was in this area." I climbed up into the rubble and slowly started to move it away. Hours went by and a few breaks during that time, I was growing tired with no luck into getting far enough down into the ruins of my home. I looked to the western sky and realized I had to find a place to rest for the night. "Well no point in sleeping in the lawn again. At least the barn is still intact." Slowly climbing down from the rubble, I headed off towards the barn to get some rest not knowing I was being watched the whole time. The barn had some hay left over from the horses we had. Either they ran off or were stolen, no one knew. I made up a bed of hay and slowly drifted off to sleep. I had a feeling of dred in my stomach but pushed it off as hunger. It was the last time I ever ignored that feeling again.