"Filthy creatures." A voice snarled.
I looked up to see Hailey standing in front of me with Trisha and Rob flanking her. I took a deep breath and turned to face them. The time had come and I was ready to face whatever would happen head on.
The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I for the first time I could smell the hunter blood. Earlier I had been far too busy with my revenge to pay attention to it. It was sharp and even burned my nose a little. It made me feel on edge and defensive.
"God look at the three of them. You're all disgusting." Trisha said, her nose turned up like she smelled something foul.
"We could say the same about you." Ciel smirked.
I watched as Rob turned to the Hunter I had forgotten was cowering just past the body of his comrade, "Get out of here." He snarled and with those words Gideon fled.
"Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do besides be your friend Hailey?" I asked.
"The Thorne family has watched over mankind and protected them from demons like you for centuries. It's nothing personal." Trisha replied.
"Nothing personal? You're trying to kill me, My mate and my grandfather!" I said looking back at her.
"A mate? Well….isn't that a surprise? You don't hear of Demons taking mates very often." Rob said.
"Well it happened and you had better believe that I will do everything in my power to keep you from him." I replied.
"You know it's really quite sad that we're going to have to kill you Charlotte. Honestly you weren't a bad kid. If only you didn't have that pesky demon blood in you. Just like your father." Trisha replied.
"Don't talk about my father. You know nothing about him Trisha." I spat.
"Oh I know enough. I know that he was showing signs of his demon arising. Our family has been tracking your bloodline for ages, ever since your Grandmother Charlotte came to the states. She had a brother, Eli, that had been effected by the demon blood in him. Everyone though he had simply gone mad and they locked him away. However a Hunter at the asylum where he was kept recognized the signs and dispatched him." Trisha said.
"After that they checked the rest of the family. None of them seemed to be affected so they let them live and altered their memories a bit so they would forget Eli. That was when they moved to the states and the Thorne family took over. The blood lay dormant for so long that we thought maybe it was diluted enough that it would be safe. And then your father started showing the signs." Rob sighed.
"We couldn't have that could we? So we sent one of our Hunters to take him out and make it look like an accident. But there was still the problem of you. Sweet little Charlotte, only 3 years old. It was inevitable that you would turn. The blood was coming to the surface and it was just a matter of time until you started showing the signs too which we guessed would be close to your father's age. He was what when he died? 24? 25? It was decided that we needed someone on the inside to kill you though. Your mother was suspicious that it wasn't an accident and the last thing we needed was to be exposed. That is where Hailey comes in." Trisha said and put her hand on Hailey's shoulder.
I looked at Hailey, "Is this true? Is that the only reason you're friends with me? Because you were supposed to kill me?" I asked.
Hailey looked back at me, her expression icy.
"It is the sole job of a Hunter to exterminate the dammed from this earth and provide protection to those not chosen." she replied mechanically.
"That's their creed." Sebastian whispered to me.
I shook my head, "Hailey…I know you don't want to do this! I know that you don't want to hurt me. Please Hailey…" I said and walked forward.
However a moment later she pulled out a dagger made of green stone.
"CHARLOTTE DON'T LET THAT TOUCH YOU!" Ciel yelled.
I jumped back as she slashed, my body seemingly moving of our own accord.
"An order? You haven't given me one of those in a while." I smirked glancing back at Ciel.
"That is a demon blade, the only thing that can kill a demon." Ciel said.
"This isn't some sort of trick to make me turn into like a Super Demon right?" I asked looking at him.
"No. This time it's not a trick." Ciel replied.
I sighed, "Right. Great. Wonderful."
Hailey walked towards me holding the dagger, ""It is the sole job of a Hunter to exterminate the dammed from this earth and provide protection to those not chosen."
Her eyes were blank, her face and voice emotionless. This wasn't Hailey. It wasn't the girl that I had spent the past few days with.
"What did you two do to Hailey?!" I asked looking at them.
"She's a Hunter, Charlotte. We simply made sure she could do the job when the time came." Rob said.
I hated them both with a passion but I didn't have time to dwell on that. Hailey was coming at me full force with that Demon Blade.
She lunged and I ducked just missing her strike. I kicked out and she dodged it with ease. This wasn't going to be easy.
I felt something flash past me and looked behind Hailey to see Sebastian and Ciel engaged with Trisha and Rob. I also felt something cold and heavy fall into my hand. Looking down I found three sharp knives belonging to the silver set Ciel owned resting in my palm. My gaze turned to Sebastian who merely winked at me before lunging at Trisha.
However I had to quickly snap back to attention because Hailey's concentration didn't waver. As I fought I couldn't help but be of two minds. On one hand I was fighting for my life but I couldn't bare the thought of killing Hailey. We had been through too much together.
Memories of sleepovers and trips to the mall filled my head. I remembered the time just before I came to London and she had let me sleep on her couch and comforted me when I had those terrible nightmares. Now we stood in front of each other fighting to the death.
"You don't have to do this Hailey. You don't have to be like them." I said as I dodged another attack.
"I must honor my family. I must be a Thorne." Hailey replied.
"Hailey stop! It's me! It's Charlotte! You have another choice! You can come here! Live with Ciel and I! You don't have to kill anyone!" I replied.
"I must honor my family!" Hailey said again.
"Don't make me do this Hailey." I said as I ducked yet again.
Hailey said nothing and lunged at me again with the demon blade. That was when I knew it was time to go full force. I had been holding back every demonic urge in my body save for the stay alive one. Now I had to let them go or it would be my head.
A sense of concentrated calm filled me as I let myself go. Everything felt more real all of a sudden, more alive. I was in full form and there would be no mercy.
Holding tight to the knives that Sebastian had given me I started moving. Hailey could move just as fast as me. Each step I made she was able to counter. The only thing that separated us was that she was human and I was not.
Despite the fact she had been trained well she soon began to tire. Her breath became labored and her movements slower. I could smell the sweat on her brow and hear the pants that came out of her mouth. That was when I took my chance to strike.
Afterwards I didn't really remember how it felt. All I knew was the one moment I was in motion and the next I was staring into Hailey's eyes, her mouth open in shock and pain. My fist that held the knife was flat against her body, warm , as her blood flowed from the wound and down my hand.
"Ch-Charlotte." Hailey gasped and her knees began to buckle.
I followed her down as she collapsed on the grass. She was shaking as she looked down at the wound then up at me.
"Charlotte." She said her voice shaking.
"I'm sorry Hailey…I'm so sorry." I said looking at her.
A small smile broke on her face, "You-You're the same."
"The same? What are you talking about?" I asked.
"They told me you would be a m-monster. Rob…Trisha…you're n-not…you're m-my Charlotte. My b-best fr-friend." she said looking up at me.
I couldn't help but smile back, "I am. I'm Charlotte. Demon or not."
"D-Demons….they eat…eat souls?" she gasped looking at me.
I nodded, "Yeah. I know…it sounds awful."
She shook her head, "T-Take mine."
"W-What?!" I asked looking at her.
"T-Take my s-soul. Please." she said.
"Hailey I've never done this! I-"
"No! I-I hurt you. I t-tr-tried to kill you. It's my dying wi-wish. Please." she begged.
"I don't know…I…." I started but looked at her.
Her blue eyes were pleading and I knew that I had to do it. It was the last thing she wanted. What kind of best friend would I be if I couldn't do this?
"Are you sure?" I asked.
She smiled at me, "I wanna p-p-pop your cherry."
I laughed, "That's the joke you want to make?"
She grinned back at me and I smiled down. Finally I took a deep breath knowing if I didn't do it soon, it would be too late.
"I love you Hails." I smiled down.
"I love you too Char." she replied
I honestly had no clue what I was doing, choosing to go on pure instinct. My fangs bit into her flesh. I expected the metallic taste of blood to hit my tongue but got something much different. It was much better and indescribable. It was better than anything I'd tasted in my life.
Suddenly the images started. Images of Hailey's life that were playing behind my lids like a movie. A lot of them involved me and in all of them were smiling.
The last ones were sad though. I watched as Hailey's brother and sister bullied her in her training, felt her worry and fear. After that came the last few days with me. She had been nervous and guilty. It all brought tears to my eyes.
When I finally pulled away I saw that Hailey was gone. Her eyes were blank, staring up into the darkened sky. Reaching up I closed her eyes and brushed her blond hair out of her face. It was mottled with blood and dirt from where I had taken her soul, the neck of her black shirt damp with blood thanks to the deep wounds in her shoulder. I hadn't realized how messy I had been nor that I'd caused so much damage.
"Charlotte?"
I looked up at Ciel who had walked over to me. Some ways behind him I saw Sebastian attending to the bodies of Rob and Trisha.
"I took her soul." I said looking up at him.
He nodded, "I see. Come with me, there's nothing more you can do for her."
He reached out for my hand I took it. When I was standing up he pulled me close and that was when the tears finally came.
"It's okay Charlotte. This will pass." he replied.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Your first soul is always the hardest. You feel overwhelmed by the emotions. They will pass." he replied.
"But what about mine? That's my best friend laying on the ground Ciel." I said looking up at him.
"Those…those will take longer to pass but I assure you that they will. It will just take time." he replied pressing a kiss to my lips.
I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his chest and cried. I cried for everything that had happened to everyone I loved. I cried for my Great Grandmother's brother who thought he was going mad, I cried for my father who was murdered, for my mother who I had held as she died and for Hailey who was the last connection I had to my old life.
I cried as Ciel lifted me up and carried me into the house and laid me on our bed. My demon form had faded long ago leaving me in the clothes I'd dressed in for battle originally. Carefully Ciel removed my jacket, boots and jeans before undressing himself and crawling into bed beside me.
I curled into him, tangling my legs in his, crying into his neck. After some time the tears finally dried up and I was able to relax. Before I knew it I had fallen into a, gratefully, dreamless sleep next to Ciel.
And the Hunters are gone.
However this story is not quite done!
I believe that I have some loose ends to tie up regarding Ciel and Charlotte being mated...
Hmm...
I am sorry that this took so long. I am currently suffering from an awful book hangover.
I spent 11 hours straight just reading a book called 'Clockwork Princess' by Cassandra Clare.
It was the last book in the series and I had to learn what happened to the characters.
I also sobbed through most of it.
I always get crazy into anime and books that I get overly attached to the characters and end up crying like a baby when something happens to them, whether it be good or bad.
It's very emotionally exhausting.
Wonderful book though. If you like fantasy I highly suggest her books!
Anyhow it's late and I have to go to bed so it's time for the Thank Yous!
-Lolita Duluth
-irgroomer
-Paxloria
-Lunarheart01
-Oriole-of-Silver
-Light Umbreon
-Toboe's Soulmate
-Inigo Montaya
-taorisatemytaco
-Lifeisnowhere-182
Thanks for reading!