The Deadliest Soulmate

All alone in a dim room the two opposing leaders must decide the fate of humans. What the actual outcome is, is a completely different matter…

Woo! A new chapter! I really didn't think this would go down as well as it has, so thank you!

Chapter Five
The Bullet That Helps Me Remember

The bullet zipped through the air. Lisa turned and saw it at the last possible instant. She opened her mouth to scream – but Hunter was too quick for her. He leapt in front of her with a speed only a vampire could master.

The lead bullet pounded into his flesh, but he didn't even flinch. He slammed the backdoor shut and pushed Lisa to the floor.
"That was close," he spat through his teeth. And the soulmate thread between them collapsed for a brief instant. He wasn't being soothing, he was utterly furious.

He looked down at his shirt. The bullet was pushing its way through his body and would momentarily drop out the back of his shirt – looking like a silver slug.
Hunter wasn't affected. It had been a shot designed to kill a human – not a vampire. It hadn't been a wooden bullet.

But it didn't matter to Lisa. "Y-You saved me…" she whimpered breathlessly, looking up at the head of the Redfern family with awe and longing.
Hunter was panting. His fiery hair was dishevelled, his beautiful features were grave and his yellow eyes were burning.

He sniffed at her. "I was only testing my sniper's shooting." He replied.
Lisa blinked furiously a few times, then scowled. "Your sniper?" She growled, her blonde hair flying about her face wildly as she stood up.

Hunter cackled. "Yes. My sniper. I stationed him there before I came in this house. We've been here since before you foolishly put up those wards. So you see, Lisa, I am always ahead of Daybreaker scum."

The bullet fell out of his shirt and hit the floor with a chime. Lisa ignored it. She smiled devilishly. "There's one thing I want to ask you,"
"Shoot," Hunter said, folding his arms and gazing at her with heavily lashed eyes.
Lisa's heart jumped into her throat, and then dived back into place again. He looks so handsome when he pouts…

"How did you survive Delos' attack?" she asked.
Hunter seemed taken aback for an instant, but he then grinned. "I didn't." he said shortly.
Lisa stared at him wordlessly for a few seconds then broke into laughter. "You're dead?" she gasped out, doubling over in laughter.

Hunter shook a finger as if scolding a child. "No. I wasn't even there. Do you honestly think I would let myself be killed so easily? I had a decoy. A witch used a spell to give my form to a shapeshifter. Very simple. I watched, waited and left."

Lisa's mouth fell open. Then she recovered. "Sly," she hissed. "And I thought you were a man who could face up to his responsibilities."

Hunter's expression wavered. He gazed at her with golden eyes. "I can face up to you," he replied softly.
Lisa's eyebrows soared. "Excuse me?"
Hunter shuffled uncomfortably. "I meant that you are a responsibility I have to face up to. So… I'm not running away," He shrugged.

Lisa's mouth fell open. "You're not?" She watched him carefully. He didn't look evil or hostile at that moment. He looked vulnerable and sober – perhaps even serene.
She frowned slightly. "But what about you? Won't I ruin your chance of world domination?"

Hunter raised his eyes to meet hers very slowly and let out a sigh. "Who said I ever had a chance anyway?" he replied softly.
Lisa's breath caught in her throat. There was a blockage that wouldn't ease. Her blood was roaring in her ears and she knew that if she tried to speak her voice would be thick and slurry.

A lone tear cascaded down her cheek. Oh.

A world of murky grey… Arms wrapped around her… smiling dazzlingly.
Pushing on… walking yet falling back a few paces through this mind that smothered her… telling her not to come anywhere near it.

Paying no attention… someone telling her to continue, to see them for what they really were… Hunter.

I don't want to ignore the principle…
Searching for Hunter… arms outstretched, reaching for him. I don't want to ignore it, because it brought me to him… the love of my life.

She kept walking… kept reaching. She'd find him… she'd find him soon…
A bolt of lightning. She was being zapped!
… Calling Hunter's name.

She turned… a smile swept across her face… Hunter… he was smiling brilliantly.
You found me, he grinned. After all this time, you found me.
Running up to her soulmate… embracing him… latching onto him… wrapping her arms around him…
He kissed her forehead. Now I can… finally love someone. Finally… he whispered.

It wasn't real. This was her imagination – these were their minds. Sharing a hug, a kiss… but not real. Almost… virtual.

Lisa breathed in his warm smell – exotic herbs and spices… He cupped her chin in his hands… drawing her face up to look at his. We can be together.
Their eyes met…
Blue on yellow.

Before she knew it, Lisa was in floods of tears. She bowed her head, throbbing up and down with the motion of crying. "I remember…" she moaned. "I remember, I remember…"

Hunter dropped down beside her. To see her crying was like someone ripping every bone out from his body, slowly and painfully. His arms wanted to wrap around her, his lips wanted to kiss her, his eyes wanted to cry for her.

But he wouldn't lose control. His sniper had seen him dive to save a human – what would that amount to?
One of his men would knock on the door any minute and he'd be rumbled.

"Lisa. Lisa, we have to get out of here."
"But I remember!" she whimpered – suddenly letting go of all her teachings and lurching forward, grabbing him. "I remember what happened between us. The connection… us kissing! I know it – I do!"

Hunter froze. "You do?" he asked. Lisa nodded into his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to his chest.
"Good," he sighed. And then he smiled. His heart burned with love.

The moment was severed. There was a series of raps on the back door. Hunter turned sharply, jerking Lisa with him. They looked up in horror.
A silhouette was standing by the door, and all that stopped him from seeing his boss and a human holding each other was a thick pane of privacy glass – his figure was distorted and curving in the shape of the windows' patterns.

Hunter gulped despite himself. "Let's go," he whispered, standing up and taking Lisa with him. "We can go out the front door."

Lisa stared at him, wide-eyed. "You mean–? Y-You're coming with me?"
But Hunter didn't reply. He was running and pulling Lisa with him. He dived through the dining room, across the living room and out into the main corridor.
Before Lisa could stop him, he'd thrown open the front door.

But he came to a complete halt.
"Good evening, boss." A tall boy about nineteen smiled. He had sharp canines running in rows around his mouth. He was a werewolf, his eyes were glinting as if he were about to change.
Lisa ducked out of sight behind Hunter's back.

"Sniper said that you were in the way of his shot, he hopes he didn't hit you too bad."
The werewolf said the word 'sniper' as if it were a name. His tone was harsh and sceptical – as if he believed that his boss was doing the dirty.

Hunter put on his gravest face. "I'll see to Sniper later. Get the car. I have a hostage,"
The 'wolf grinned. "It's the leader of Daybreak, ain't it? Can I play with her?" he asked snidely.
Hunter flashed a charming smile back. "She's mine to play with. I want to go home, understand? Sooner rather than later." He stopped. Then stared at the 'wolf boy.

"In the end, how did you manage to remove the wards from the house?"
The boy chuckled. "Wards are down, sir. We got one of our witches to fix 'em. But we only got half-an-hour before they go back up." He tried to see behind his boss – to stare at Lisa.

She cringed. Hunter was holding her arm very softly, yet securely. He wasn't intimidating her, just trying to protect her. She leant her head against his back and took a few shaky breaths.

The 'wolf gave up trying to see the 'hostage' and went over to a stretch limousine parked opposite the house.
Hunter sighed. As soon as we're home, I'll take you back, understand?

But, Hunter, I thought– Lisa began, but Hunter turned his face away. He wasn't listening.
Lisa looked down.

The limo's engine revved up. Hunter dragged Lisa, dramatically, over to the limo. The two felt like actors – even though they knew this was very, very real. They just had to pretend to hate each other's guts and then they'd get through all right.

They weren't succeeding.
All the way to the Redfern estate, the 'wolf chauffeur kept sending Lisa predatory glances, and giving his boss the once-over. He knew something was up.