Chapter 5: Seeing Red

"Oh…how nice of you to join us again," Jezebel greeted Brooke when she arrived back out to the secret location.

The rest of the coven was already present. That night there was a new vampire in silver chains, but it was too dark for her to see his face.

"Couldn't resist I guess," she smiled and shrugged her shoulders before going inside. But first she took one last look to the forest where Van Helsing was watching.

Jezebel caught this look and told Sarah to take care of it. Meanwhile she held Meeka back and asked her what she discovered about their spy.

"Wasn't easy...but through the correct channels and meditation I was able to collect a lot. Her real name is Brooke and she's with The Holy Order. She's a trained assassin...a huntress. She was almost let go not long ago because of this vampire," Meeka pointed to the dark figure in chains. "He's the vampire from the tavern. They have affections for each other; isn't that ironic?"

"I knew Casper the friendly vampire would come in handy some moon. Great work…Tonight let's see how the hunter likes being the hunted. We will do everything as planned…when she begins to intervene, that is when you charm him," the high priestess ordered.

Meeka nodded and went down inside.

Jezebel looked towards Sarah, "toy with him…keep him busy so he doesn't ruin our fun."

Brooke looked around at the others….something wasn't right here. Everyone around her seemed nervous about something. She could see the former vampire tied up and gagged in the corner of the room. He didn't look so good either.

Then they brought him in. Dryden fought against his chains and demanded to know what was going on. When he saw Brooke he froze…it was the first time since his capture that he had shut up.

The witches followed his gaze and Brooke had the same reaction as him, but with a bit more shock. How…or even, why was he in this cursed town? She wanted to go near him, but he was guarded. They were planning to do to him what they did to the other vampire? Dryden would be human.

It was in these split moments that she thought about the possibility. If Dryden was human he could become a hunter…they could be together. Now she wasn't sure whether or not she was going to stop them.

They were watching her and she could feel their eyes on her. That was when she realized this wasn't just by chance…her cover was blown. Brooke made a run for the door, but she was detained quickly.

"Did you really think you could fool us Brooke? We saw you days before you got here. Now it just so happens you…a hunter…had past affections with this vampire. Is that true? That's pathetic…" Jezebel spat.

Brooke said nothing…she wouldn't admit to anything, but she hated herself for not being prepared. The only weapon she had on her was the small knife, but they had hold of her arms.

As they began the spell, something was different from last time. This was not how things were done to the last vampire. Dryden twisted and turned in his silver chains as the other witches backed away from him. The vampire flared his nostrils and eyes seemed glow in anticipation of something.

"What are you doing to him! Stop it!" she yelled and demanded to know.

The vampire roar with his fangs unsheathed. He looked at Brooke and broke free from the chains with ease before charging at her.

The witches were confused and some of them were already running for any cover they could find. Jezebel, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear with excitement. This was exactly what she planned. That vampire was gonna kill her and there was nothing either of them could do to stop it.

It was visible in his eyes…the witches did something to Dryden to make him this way. Brooke managed to back up into a corner…nearly tripping over something on the floor. It was the dead body of the former vampire from the night before. Whatever they had done to him it had killed him.

Dryden grabbed her and used his psychic abilities to calm her. He looked at her curiously and grabbed her before pushing everyone else out of the way to leave.

Brooke was like a doll in his arms. She was aware of what was going on, but his ability soothed her fear. The vampire dragged her across the woods until they reached the cabin she had been sharing with Van Helsing. He broke the door down and threw Brooke onto the floor. Dryden wasted no time…moving at super human speed to pin her down.

"Dryden…listen to me...you have to stop! Control yourself. Please," she begged unable to move him. She tried to reach for her tiny knife put his hand prevented her.

The vampire leaned down and bit her throat. Brooke screamed for help…wondering where Gabriel was. Her thoughts were all over the place and different images were coming into focus. The pain was in her neck, but she was having memories of a horrible blackness elsewhere that was eating her alive. Brooke knew this was the end…her blood was feeding him and it would be only a matter of minutes before she passed out.

"Help me."

The vampire raised his head from her neck and looked into her eyes. He could smell her fear and see her pain. The blood lust was fading and he was starting to realize exactly what he had done. He bit his own wrist in urgency and held it to her mouth.

"No…no..." she refused weakly and turned her head away from.

If she drank from him now there would be consequences, and she couldn't live that life…she'd rather be dead.

"You'll die Brooke…drink it. I won't be able to live with myself if I know I killed you. Just do it!" he growled in anger and shoved his wrist to her mouth.

Tiny droplets of blood dripped down in her mouth. The taste of it was like honey…warm, sweet, honey. Brooke took hold of his wrist as she hungered for more. She drank like an alcoholic who hadn't a drink in days.

Dryden fell to the ground next to her and moved his arm away once she let go. He took hold of her and cuddled her like this own.

The huntress finally felt safe in his arms, but her eyes were wide open in thought. Brooke wondered where those images were coming from. Who was Kaden? And why was Van Helsing carrying her?

A moan escaped her as she relaxed back into Dryden.