Entry Eight

The sun was just beginning to rise behind me while Melkan and I sat on the ground next tree. I held my crossbow tightly while my target was the elk in front of me. It was my seventeenth birthday and like every year Melkan dragged me in the early morning hours for a good hunting lesson. Only this time I knew that I could handle myself perfectly.

"That elk won't stay in that spot for long, little swan."

"Neither will my arm but I need a good shot."

Melkan knew that my crossbow was my expertise that my aim was just as good as his or anyone's for that matter. But I wasn't trying to rely simply on my own knowledge of my skills, I was relying on the fact that for one day, every year that I wasn't a vampire hunter, a lethal assassin or an orphan. I was just myself on this day, when I was away from the Sanctuary I was free to be whoever I wanted.

The elk had turned his head toward the pond. I had a perfect view of his chest, the perfect spot to strike. I watched as it turned his head to me. His brown eyes staring at mine with suspicion and curiosity. I could feel my hand beginning to shake and a great amount of guilt wash over me. I lowered my bow and watched as the elk quietly walked away.

"You let him go, little swan."

"I couldn't kill him, it didn't seem right."

Melkan turned his head to me with a raised eyebrow he stroked his braided beard. I knew that look in his eyes, he was surprised. It almost seemed that I was the only one to show emotion to recently. I knew I had lost my opportunity to boast about a good hunt but killing that elk didn't feel right to me.

"Are you sympathizing for this animal?"

"He is an innocent creature,"

"Aren't we all innocent creatures?"

I leaned back and began to play with the grass next to me. Something told me I was going to get a long life lesson from Melkan today. I wondered what he would have said if I did manage to shoot that animal. I could only hope that it wasn't a lecture. He leaned forward and stroked my face gently.

"Your sympathy amuses me,"

"Are you mocking me?"

"Of course not, my little swan. It's like a breath of fresh air for me; it makes me happy that I haven't raised a cold blooded assassin."

I turned my head to see him grinning ear to ear while I gave him a gentle shove. My sympathy toward that animal was just one of the many life lessons that I taught myself. Melkan didn't even have to say anything to me for me to understand the choices I made. Whether they were good or bad choices, I had always looked for the good in both.

Maybe that was my blessing or maybe it was my curse, I could never tell.

~~~/~~~

They all stood in the center of the Sanctuary; Emma could feel her heart racing and her stomach fluttering with uneasiness. She was debating whether to find someone to get Melkan or just yell for him herself. She didn't want to leave either of the two people next to her. She could see Elsa fidgeting next to her, was she feeling the same nervousness she was? She pondered for a moment.

"What a lovely place to get impaled," Killian muttered touching a stray steel bolt puncturing the straw dummies lined on the walls.

Emma chose to ignore his remark and took her step forward through the dead silent Sanctuary. It was past midnight when they had finally gotten into the place and everyone was either on their missions or resting. She knew only four people that would be up at this intolerable hour and she was decided on which person to go to.

Her feet made the choice before her mind could, however. Emma found herself going straight for the only person that would be rational in this situation. She knew that going straight for Melkan would have been the right choice but she needed someone to watch over Killian and Elsa before she stepped foot into his study. The door opened before she could even knock.

Emma faced an Orc woman with dark green eyes and piercing red irises. Her small frame was decorated in Orcish steel armor with the Sanctuary's insignia branded on the chest. She had two canine teeth sticking out over her mouth and hung by her chin. Emma gave her a small smile before the woman pulled her to her chest.

"Rebella,"

Emma breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled away from Rebella giving her a warming smile and turned toward Elsa and Killian. She watched as the Orc woman breathed in an air and made a disgusted look before her eyes set back onto Emma.

"Melkan wouldn't even let you have a pet dog!"

Elsa snickered and Killian jabbed Elsa in the side.

"It would seem she has one now and is stuck with it." Elsa chimed in causing a groan come from Killian. Emma watched Rebella's eyes hover from Killian to her eyes shot up in shock.

"He's imprinted on you?"

"It would seem so, do you know of any way I could remove this?"

Emma could see the disbelief on Rebella's face. She knew that it was animal instinct of him to imprint. She also knew that this wasn't something that could be removed and judging by Rebella's sympathizing eyes there wasn't any way to get rid of the imprint.

"I wish that it could be that easy but I'd suggest you talk to Melkan and bring him Elsa before you go searching for an answer to a small problem."

"That's what I've been telling her." Killian said exasperatedly.

Emma looked at Elsa who investigated the thick concrete walls that were decorated with all sorts of weapons and tapestries. She could feel her blood running cold at the thought of going to Melkan with a vampire. She was going to get a lashing and it wasn't going to a pleasant one.

"Go now. I shall take your – acquaintance somewhere where he won't be used as a crossbow target."

Emma eyes shot to Killian whom looked less inclined to leaving Emma by herself with Elsa. But for once she wouldn't have him right next to her. It felt relieving that she could progress further without Killian being right behind her all the time. The four of them parted ways as Emma led their way towards the study.

"You should really talk to him," Elsa mumbled next to her while they climbed the stairs to Melkan's office.

"Would you speak with someone if they've imprinted on you?"

"Vampires and werewolves don't mix, if you hadn't already noticed."

"I'm speaking theoretically."

"Well, I have a question for you then. If you had an arrow in your leg, would you ignore it?"

"Of course not, the pain would be unbearable and you can't ignore that."

They stopped at Melkan's door when Elsa gave her a knowing look. Emma bit back a curse word. She had proved her point. It would seem that avoiding the imprint was just as useless as ignoring an injury. Emma shook her head and opened the door to Melkan's study.

The smell of pine and lavender filled her lungs and she could already feel the nostalgia beginning to go through her. Her eyes set on a figure whose back was turned away from her but instead faced out the window. She came forward and cleared her throat, preparing for the worst to come.

"My little swan, it's been quite a while."

Melkan's voice filled the stilled room after a long moment of silence. Emma could feel her fingers itching to embrace Melkan. She had missed him terribly in her long months and to see him now was just as painful as not seeing him at all.

"And it would seem you have brought a friend along."

Emma watched Melkan turn around and his eyes land on Elsa that stood next to her.

Before she had the time to blink Melkan shot forward with a dagger going straight towards Elsa. Emma jumped between him hitting his elbow up and knocking the blade to the floor. Melkan stumbled back into his desk his eyes full of bewilderment at Emma's charge of fury. She knew that Melkan wasn't going to even let her take a breath before trying to decapitate her and she wasn't going to have it.

She could see the hurt in his eyes and she desperately tried to ignore it while standing between the two of them.

"Don't hurt her; she is not a threat to us."

"Of all my years being your guardian and your instructor I never thought I'd see you taking sides with vampire!"

"She is not like other vampires-"

"They are all the same; they are the ones that killed your own family!"

"We made a deal-"

"THAT SHE CAN EASILY BREAK OUT OF AND KILL YOU-"

"WILL YOU NOT LISTEN TO ME?"

Emma shouted, slamming her hand on the table. The table shook and creaked beneath her palm while her body faced Melkan. Emma paid no attention to the singed hand print on the desk while her eyes focused on Melkan. Elsa's eyes darted from the desk to Emma.

"I knew the consequences of keeping her with me; I knew the consequences of bringing her here and to you. I wouldn't have let her live if I didn't trust her in some sort of way. She is no threat, she has decided to put her trust in us and give us the one thing that can stop these vampires."

Emma watched as Elsa unsheathed Dawnbreaker from its holder and presented it to Melkan. She watched as his eyes change from anger to shock. Emma could feel her hand shaking but it was almost humming with an electric feeling through her entire wrist.

"This…cannot be."

She heard Melkan exclaim touching the hilt of the sword. His face withered and crumpled holding the sword to the moonlight where it shone even brighter. She knew that he hadn't seen such beauty in all his years. She could just feel his hope returning to his body and all arguments of Elsa being inside the Sanctuary flew out the window.

"This is why I brought her, she found this sword centuries ago, Melkan. She's a first generation vampire. She can be major help to us since she knows who's creating more vampires and we have the upper hand on how to defeat them!"

"This is what you've abandoned your mission for? How did you ever find this sword or this woman?"

Emma gave a quick look to Elsa who gave no such help on her end. She wasn't going to include Killian just yet, not when she had to practically scream at Melkan to understand her side.

"I…had some partial help. But that doesn't matter."

"You've done good work, I'll prepare men and we can take your friend to find the creator of these monstrosities."

Emma's head snapped back in surprise. She knew that Melkan wasn't serious about taking all her hard work from underneath her and leaving her inside the Sanctuary while he fought with the sword she worked so hard to get.

"Surely you're mistaken? You cannot expect me to stay behind let alone let you run off with the Dawnbreaker."

"I'm not mistaken, you need to stay here and prepare the Sanctuary."

"I will not stay behind when I nearly risked my life to get that sword!"

"That's exactly why I want you to stay put. I cannot have you almost dying—again."

"Melkan, you know nothing about her and what we have to face."

"—and you do?"

"Actually, yes, she has filled me in on everything. That sword is entrusted into her hands. You know once Dawnbreaker has been touched that it claims an owner. You cannot use it or even come in contact with its full power."

"If I may be so bold to interject my opinion into this stressing matter?"

Melkan and Emma both swung their heads toward Elsa who smiled sweetly and stood up.

"I have grown a bond with Emma and I've put my trust within her. I know she'll protect me and keep her word. I do not know you and I'm sure your hunters will be no such help in keeping me safe. This kind of mission requires small amount of people and by the looks of it Emma seems more than capable for the job. She is after all my rescuer. If it was not for her, there would be no Dawnbreaker and there would be no end to the vampire attacks, don't you agree?"

They blinked at her for a few moments, Melkan turned toward Emma. His eyes were pained and his body almost slumped against the desk.

"Can I ever keep you out of death's crosshairs?"

"Only if you chain me,"

He gave a small laugh before handing the sword back over to Elsa. Emma felt his hands on her shoulders but she was too afraid to meet his eyes.

"It would seem your path has been chosen for you, my little swan."

"That's been happening quite frequently recently." Elsa muttered sheathing the sword once again.

Emma ignored the remark and gave a smile toward Melkan.

"You've spent your life protecting me; I think it's my turn that I protect you."

"The pupil surpasses the educator?"

"No, the pupil just learned all that needed to be taught."

Melkan gave her a tender smile before he wrapped his arms around Emma tightly. Emma could feel that she was home in his arms. She could feel a wave of safety wrap around her. She savored the moment as much as she knew because she knew that the journey she was going to embark on was going to be a long one.

~~~/~~~

"So, you trust me?"

Elsa whispered excitedly as they sat in Emma's old bed chambers. She gave a sigh, trying her best to ignore the snow haired woman's enthusiasm toward her. Emma hadn't given it a thought but considering that Emma didn't feel any danger coming from her she felt as if she almost had to trust her by now.

"I said I trust you in some sort of way."

"Trust is trust, I haven't had a friend in centuries and considering the last one used me to create an undead cannibal horde of night creatures…you'll be the best one yet!"

Emma raised her eyebrows and then began to unclasp each individual piece of armor on her chest. She was aware of Elsa's presence still in the room. She looked up at her as she removed her chest plate.

"Are you going to be like Killian and try to get a good look at me naked?"

"Depends on if I like what I see." Elsa said paying attention to the small snowflake storm she created in her palm. Emma grasped her pillow and tossed it at Elsa roughly causing the snowflakes to sputter upwards.

Quickly, Emma changed into a pair of thick wool pants and just as she pulled her night shirt over her body she heard someone knock on the door. Rebella stood in the door way holding a bed cot with Killian next to her holding another one. Emma swung the door open further to let the two in.

"Do you expect me to sleep in one of those?"

"You slept in a coffin for two centuries."

"I didn't know I was going to be put into a cement casing for that and if I did I would have wanted something more…comfortable."

"I'm sure many of the people here would make you more comfortable by pinning you to a stake and burning you alive." Killian grumbled as he took up place on the windowsill seat.

"Someone is just angry because they slept on their tail last night."

"More like slept alone." Killian's eyes shot to Emma, which she ignored and focused her attention to Rebella.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked seeing her set up the final cot.

"Not at all, there's some sort of meal waiting for you three downstairs. Melkan says you need to rest then the two of you need to discuss plans for the mission."

Emma nodded watching Rebella disappear behind the doors. Emma could feel the disappointment Rebella had for her. She had brought in a vampire and a werewolf into the Sanctuary. This place was to give people solace and seek refuge from the very two kinds and yet she had brought both in. She turned towards her bed to see Elsa already tucked into the covers.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Emma hissed.

"I'm going to sleep!"

"Don't you think you've had enough sleep for a lifetime? Don't you need to go sit in front of the moon?"

"The moon's not out for a couple of more days." Elsa and Killian both chimed in.

"Are you not comfortable sharing a bed with a vampire?"

"I'm sure she'd rather share it with me, lass." Killian said taking off his armor. Emma kept her eyes peeled to Elsa not wanting to give Killian the slightest advantage of knowing she was staring at him while he undressed in front of her.

"No! I'll share the bed with you, for tonight only." Emma sighed getting into the bed seeing Elsa's giant smile she couldn't help but hold back her own sheepish grin.

"Will that mean that it's my turn tomorrow night?"

"Goodnight, Killian!" Elsa and Emma both shouted before Emma blew out the candle.

~~~/~~~

I just want to keep thanking everyone for their lovely reviews! It really does keep me motivated to make more chapters and to keep it entertaining and well written as possible!

The next two chapters will be very interesting!