Blood Inc.
Chapter One
tiffany aka basketcase
--
As the last remaining Hunter, I have a duty to myself and to the people around me, and I'm going to be twenty-one in less than two hours. That's great... I think.
Serena Lumiere, rested on a ledge of the Chrysler Building. She was dressed in dark clothing to blend with the night. Her blond hair looked silver under the moon. Her pale complexion, which was a common trait among Hunters, brought out her crystalline blue eyes that were looking out at the city's horizon, searching for an answer.
A Hunter – an extinct race where her people used to take pride in their silver blood and traits only Hunters possessed. The common traits Hunter possessed were limited god-like speed, empathy, and healing abilities. But a Hunter who had an extra ability was considered as the strongest Hunter, the special one, and thought to be a salvation to all Hunters.
Throughout her early childhood, Serena was trained in the arts of the Hunter by her grandfather who was also gifted with vision. Training was harsh for Serena because she was needed to learn to control her gift, telekinesis. But because she was special, she was trained twice as hard than other children Hunter. Nowadays, she cannot stand the word 'special'.
Lost in thought, Serena didn't notice a shadow appeared behind her. The shadow approached the Hunter with caution. But the shadow was careless because Serena had already sensed it. She whipped out her silver shurikens out her sleeves.
The shadow raised his arms in defense. "Whoa!"
Serena growled, "Don't sneak up on me, Jonah."
Jonah Ricci sighed, "I'm worried about you. You're going to get yourself kill if you keep letting your guard down, sitting in the open," Jonah sat down next to Serena on the ledge.
"Whatever. By the way, how was your warlock training?"
"I'm finally done with it."
Silence surrounded them, even though quiet atmosphere was comfortable for the two friends.
Serena glanced at Jonah; she remembered at how they met. They first met was when Serena arrived at boarding school in England. They were friends but became much closer after that night when Serena burst into his dorm room in tears. That was when she discovered that the Hunters were gone. When Serena returned to New York after finished boarding school, Jonah followed without her asking him to. Since then, Jonah had become her confidant and weaponry supplier.
"My grandfather promised me to the Prince of the Damned. I have to go to him after I turn twenty-one." Out of an old habit, Serena stroke her gold pendant whenever her heart was in turmoil. She waited for her companion to respond but Jonah stayed silent. "I overheard my parents and Grandfather talking one night. Grandfather said that promise will keep me safe or so I've heard," Serena finished with a bittersweet laugh.
"Your grandfather must have foreseen you as the last remaining Hunter on Earth. He done what he knew was best for you."
"Just like how I've inherited millions of dollars he had 'wisely' invested," Serena sighed. "It's really ironic though. My grandfather promised me to the son of the man who ordered the deaths of Hunters all around the world. I wonder how am I going to extract my revenge on my future father-in-law."
Jonah ignored Serena's bitterness, "Do they know? About your betrothal?"
Serena knew whom Jonah was referring to. Jonah was never fond of them: Catarina Fields and her son, Bale. Serena could sense hatred coming from Jonah every time Catarina and Bale were brought up, and she could never figured why.
Catarina was a friend of Serena's family. When Serena's family and Hunters were killed, Catarina and Bale flew to England to deliver the bad news. They informed her that Donovan, the King of the Damned, had ordered the termination of all Hunters, which had left Serena many unanswered questions. Although Serena had, repeatedly, refused to leave England, Catarina and her son cared for her, helped her whenever they can, and they treated her like she was their family.
"I don't know. Probably." She sighed, "I really don't know." Serena shook her head. She really didn't want to talk anymore about her betrothal so she changed the subject "You and Catarina have different opinions about the Head of the Wiccan Society. I heard that the Head was trying to start a war against the Vampire race again. You never did tell me what Catarina's role in the Wiccan Society. Catarina and Bale would tell me anything about the Wiccan Society."
The strongest warlocks and witches were given roles in the Wiccan Society's senate. Serena knew that Catarina and Bale were first-class Wiccans but didn't know what roles they played in the Wiccan Society. What the Wiccan Society did and what it stood for, Serena still didn't know.
Only first-class wiccans were allowed to be the Head of Wiccan Society. When she was a little girl, she heard stories of Jonah's great-grandfather used to the Head of the Wiccan Society from her own grandfather. But at the end, he was assassinated.
"If you were telepathic instead of empathic, you would have known long time ago, Serena." Jonah received a punch to his arm from the Hunter next to him. He rubbed his bruised arm, "What are you going to do now? You're turning twenty-one in less than two hours," Jonah was referring to Serena's marriage and revenge.
"I'm not the one who agreed to the arrangements. If they really want me, they better be ready for a fight," Serena laughed. She hoped time would stop so she wouldn't turn twenty-one.
--
After the clock struck twelve, Jonah wished Serena a happy birthday despite her up-coming wedding. He had given her a handcrafted katana in a white sheath with painted midnight blue cherry blossoms. He imported the katana directly from Japan. Serena slid the katana out of its sheath to examine its quality. Its blade was made of the finest steel with designs of cherry blossoms, silver hand guard, and white handle. The moonlight reflected off the steel blade almost like the moon was baptizing the katana.
After Serena returned katana to its sheath, she pulled Jonah into a hug, and whispered into his ear, "Thank you. It's beautiful. How do you know I need another katana?"
"You've been hunting nonstop last month. You can't say I really didn't notice the wear of your last one."
Both Serena and Jonah were getting ready to jump off the Chrysler Building, "Jo-nah." Jonah paused. He looked back at her. "Clean out my dorm after I signal you." Serena leap off the Chrysler Building to the nearest rooftop then ran off with god-like speed.
--
Serena's life during the day was very different. Her nightlife was when her nature of the Hunter took over. As a Hunter, she stopped and killed vampires from attacking innocent people. She tried to hide her nightlife from Catarina and Bale, because they thought that she would try to carry out her revenge, and also disliked the fact that she put her life in danger.
Her day life was the life of a college student majoring in family medicine who took art history classes on the side. She had followed her parents into the science field. Her dad was a psychologist and her mom was a retired physicist.
Unfortunately this week, Serena was taking her final exams, and the week wasn't even over. From only 4 hours of light sleep, 4 hours of studying, and 6 hours of final exams left her feeling drained. But that was just her daily life.
Staggering to her dorm room, Serena was ready to welcome sleep. She unlocked her door, and found two very naked people on a bed on the left side of the room.
"What the fuck, Serena!" her roommate shrieked, "Didn't you see the scarf on the door knob?" She and her boyfriend, Ashton, hurriedly dressed.
"Like I care, Natalia," Serena stumbled to her side of the dorm. She fell face forward on her single bed, "Next semester, I'm getting an apartment." Realizing what she had just said, she scoffed at herself. Serena heard the door shut, assuming that Natalia and Ashton just left.
Just as sleep was taking over Serena, the door opened. Following her Hunter instinct, her hand slipped under her pillow for her hidden switchblade. Serena saw Natalia and Ashton stuck their heads out of the door. She relaxed a bit.
"Happy birthday, Serena," Natalia mumbled before disappearing behind the door.
"We've got you something. It's on Natie's desk." Ashton flashed his 100-watts smile before leaving.
Her hand released the switchblade before getting up. She searched through Natalia's desk. She finally found a small purple envelope with her name on it. She pulled a card and two passes out of the envelope. Serena read the card:
Happy 21st Birthday, Serena!
You're finally legal to get into clubs and drink margaritas and cosmos, and do the whole Sex and the City scene. Sadly you kept refusing my offer to take you to your first nightclub tonight. Maybe you're too tired to go out or just simply hate hanging out with me. Anyway I got you two VIP passes to the hottest club in the Upper East Side, the Chrysanthemum. So you could bring your best girlfriend or that guy you always with or a boyfriend. There's no expiration on the passes. That way you could actually bring a boyfriend if you do decided to get one.
Your Best Roommate,
Natalia
"If you do decided to get one," Serena repeated the line bitterly. Fell back to her bed, Serena let sleep take over her again.
--
The obnoxious ringing of her cell phone woke Serena up. Her hand reached for her messenger bag that was carelessly placed by her bed, and pulled her phone out. Serena answered her phone but someone on the other side cut her off before she could say anything.
"Where are you?" Catarina's voice screeched.
"Dorm. Sleeping, Catarina. And happy birthday to me."
"Sorry, Serena. Happy birthday. You going to dinner."
"I'm…W-what?" Serena stuttered.
"It's your birthday and Bale is going to take you out for a 'special' birthday dinner."
"Huh?" Serena squeaked, "Catarina, I need tonight to study for tomorrow's exams. I can't afford a distraction." What a beautiful lie that was. No matter how busy Serena was, she would find time during the night to hunt vampires.
"Serena, darling, you can't get out of it. Bale's already at your door."
Serena jumped out of bed and swung her dorm door wide open to reveal a handsome bleached-haired man who was dressed in a grey suit, grinning. "Happy birthday, Serena."
"Have fun, Serena," Catarina sang happily and ended their phone call.
Serena slammed the door, mad. Serena can't stand that Catarina kept setting her up with Bale. She saw him nothing more but friends. With an escape plan in mind, Serena headed toward the window, and pulled the drapes aside to reveal the setting up. But her consciousness stopped her. She felt guilty to do this to a friend.
His hand combed through his bleached hair. The memory of Serena slamming the door in his face ran over and over in his mind. He was in shock that the love of his life did that to him. Bale was so into his thoughts that he didn't hear the sounds of rustles and curses on the other side of the door.
Hastily changing into a simple, metallic dress and tying her hair into a messy bun in 5 minutes was hard, even for someone who withstood god-like speed. Not bothered to put make-up on, Serena slowly opened the door. Bale hadn't move from the spot. She snapped him out of his thoughts when she cleared her throat.
Bale blinked his eyes once, then twice to notice Serena standing at the door looking beautiful. The girl he have been in love stood there pouting, but in reality Serena just wanted to get through dinner fast without complications.
Serena locked her door behind her but Bale's emotions pounded into her, making her feeling a bit sick, "Quit staring like that. It's scaring me the shit out of me." Didn't bother for Bale to collect himself, she strolled toward the stairs leaving Bale at her door.
Bale sprinted after her. He snatched her arm once he caught up to her. Staring at her, love clouded his eyes, "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be talking like that."
Her body tensed as a reaction to the lust in his eyes. Her arm was still in his grasp; Bale pulled Serena to his red Lexus.
--
The whole car ride to Ida, an exclusive restaurant, was drowning in deafening silence. They were immediately brought to their table. Every time Bale tried to start a conversation. Serena kept her replies short. She felt overwhelmed by Bale's emotions of love mixed with lust. Throughout dinner, Serena felt sicker by the minute. She had a hard time trying to keep her dinner down.
Not what Serena have wish, dinner ran long. Bale ordered champagne, and insisted to finish the entire bottle before leaving the restaurant. By the end of dinner, Serena felt slightly drunk with emotion-sickness.
The ride back to her dorms was quiet as well. But Serena noticed Bale seemed very pleased. Her emotion-sickness rose when his lust peaked.
Serena felt a headache coming when the Lexus pulled up to her dormitory. She bolted out of the car and to her building, desiring for her bed. Bale stopped her from entering her building when her snatched her arm for the second time tonight.
"You've been quiet tonight. Is there something on your mind?" Bale pulled her close to him, much closer than she liked.
"Well, you know, I have final exams this week," Serena slurred. Feeling uncomfortable being this close to the guy she feel for as a brother, she placed her free hand on her temple, trying to sort her thoughts through her drunken state. Bale's iron grip was beginning to bruise her. "And right now, I'm a little tipsy. I just want to go to bed now."
Lust appeared in his eyes once again as he gazed into hers. "I might join you." He slammed Serena to the wall of he building. She winced in pain.
"What?" Her mind flashed back to the restaurant: Bale was barely finished his first and only glass of champagne but he kept refilling hers. Clouded blue eyes widened as she tried to push him off her, "You got me drunk."
"You were quiet this entire evening, I was trying to loosen you up. I didn't mean to..." Bale leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I love you, my little Hunter." His hot breath planted kisses along Serena's neckline. His free hand slowly lifted her dress up.
Serena struggled under his weight, whimpering. Her mind was clouded by drunkenness and betrayal. But her mind began to recount her memories she has shared with Bale: going to the amusement parks, celebrating their birthdays, sailing. Her eyes burnt with tears. Gathering her mental strength, Serena blasted Bale sailing the air in one huge mental release.
Bale flew 50 feet back, smashing into his car. When he stood up, his legs were shaking. He checked the dent on his car his body made. He was angry and surprise that Serena used her telekinesis on him. He turned around to find Serena gone.
--
A grandfather clock rang loudly throughout the castle-size manor.
Nine. Ten. Eleven. And twelve.
A young man, with fine black hair and striking cobalt eyes, paced around the dark throne room as the clock ranged twelve times. His cobalt eyes glowed bloody red, a perfect warning of his temper.
He threw a glass against the wall, and it shattered into a million pieces. "The Hunter broke her promise!"
An older man, who resembled the younger man, lazily leaned back on the throne. "This is the man who is to inherit my place. This is very troublesome."
Endymion halted pacing, glared at his father. His eyes didn't return to his usual cobalt color.
"Donovan," a woman with dark hair and bright amber eyes rested her hand on the king's shoulder, "Do not ridicule Endymion. We should worry about the Hunter instead. A punishment should be ready when she arrives." She proudly strolled to her son. Her eyes projected her hatred for Hunters, "An appropriate punishment for breaking her promise, Endymion."
"Do not be so harsh, Cornelia," Donovan called out, "The girl was not born when Zeus and I made the agreement. And by the rate of vampires' deaths have increased in the last couple years, she must have been fed lies by the Wiccans who have rooted deep in her life." Donovan stared at his son, "All you can do Endymion is to retrieve her, even by force."
"Yes, Father."
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Thank you for your wonderful reviews that were only generated from the prologue. I hope you all love this chapter as you like the prologue.
Keep reviewing.
-tiffany aka basketcase
