A/N - I want to post two chapters right away to give you all a feeling for the story. The rest of the updates will be much slower, just as forewarning. I have two other fic's I'm in the process of writing, one with Angelfan984 and the other alone, so I will be working on this one too, it just may take a little longer.
Chapter 2 – Existence
Over 300 years later, Hook stood on the rooftop of one of the many hotels he owned in New Orleans and watched the street for his prey. It wasn't like he needed the money; Artemis paid all of the Dark-Ones more than they truly needed, Ash often said she had no concept of mortal money. Killian even supported a full family of Squires. His squire had been with him for over 30 years now and he had married 16 years ago. They had two sons that were training to take on his squire's roll when he died.
The Daimon's were out heavily tonight. They stole the souls of mortals to sustain their own. At times he could understand that need. But if they had just died on their twenty-seventh birthday like they were cursed to do by Apollo then they wouldn't have the need to drink blood and take the souls of innocent people. He had come across a few Daimon's over the years that would only prey on evil mortals, but that wore on their minds and the evilness of the souls they took would slowly take over.
His mind shifted back to his training. There were only a few ways to kill a Dark-Hunter like him self and none of them were easy; sunlight, beheading, and dismemberment. There was also a slightly uncomfortable rumor that had been circling lately that being hit in his bow and arrow mark would also kill him. It made sense if that was also where his soul had to be returned. It also made him think of Acheron or as he was known now, Ash's words of so long ago 'and most of all, do not let your bow and arrow tattoo be visible to anyone and you can not talk about what you are to anyone, but others like you or squires.'
Shaking himself he refocused on the crowd on Bourbon Street. It was always busy at this time of night, and it was always this time of night the Daimon's would slip through the crowd and pick their unsuspecting victims. Talon was a few miles away last time they had touched base on their phones. And Danger was in the outskirts of the city proper. They both were seeing higher traffic as well.
Killian spotted a blonde woman slipping through the crowd and he took out his hand held telescope and watched her movements. She was human, but she looked as though she was on a mission. The only problem is the 'person' she was following happened to be a Daimon. The demon was leading her to an alleyway where he was sure to try to feast on her. The determined stride of the woman as she stalked the demon shot through him. She was brave. They disappeared around the corner and he quickly put away his telescope and scaled down the building following the pair.
He came around the corner to the woman having the demon pined to the wall. She pulled him back from the brick wall and then slammed him back into it. "You thought you could slip out on paying like that? The people you owe money to mean business buddy and I'm here to collect." The demon pretended to grovel apparently liking her man handling. Hell he would like her man handling he was sure. His perfect night vision took her in from the shadows he blended into. Her jeans hugged her hips perfectly and her waist was the perfect size. The roundness of her behind called to him in a way he hadn't responded to in more years than he could think. Ever since he realized another one of his enhanced 'abilities' was the ability to charm people without even trying, which made woman throw them selves at him. He pushed the random females and males away. It was sickening. But with her, he thought just maybe he would let her throw herself at him and he would enjoy it.
"I'm not paying you anything, but you have something I'd like." The Daimon growled at her finally getting sick of it's game. He spun her around and trapped her against the wall, his supernatural strength over taking the blonde like she was nothing. Killian hesitated a moment before coming from the shadows and shoving the stake into the monsters heart. Golden dust floated harmlessly to the ground and the beauty in front of him gasped for breath as she looked up at him. Then without hesitating she lifted her foot and kicked him between the legs. He doubled over at the pain and she ran back into the street.
"Ungrateful wench!" He muttered before going after her.
Emma ran like her life depended on it. Her mind refused to see what just occurred. Had her mark actually disappeared into a shower of dust? Then that man with a hook for a hand standing in front of her, dressed all in leather, his coat nearly touching the ground. She knew people were strange in this city but that was a whole new level of strange. Blue eyes had sparked at her in the darkness almost glowing with their intensity. She didn't know what he wanted but she wasn't going to stick around and find out. So she ran. Darting through the crowd of drunken people she went against the flow of traffic pushing her way back to her hotel room.
She had only arrived in town the evening before, following a lead on a bounty she wanted to collect, which she wouldn't be collecting now. Not if the guy had disappeared. Irritation flowed through her. He had harmed a lot of families with his scams; a few people had even been missing since dealing with him. There goes dinner for the next month. She had used up the remains of her savings tracking the bastard down; she had counted on bringing him in and collecting the bounty on his head. Now she had some creeper on her tail, she had to shake him before she went back to her room. Or maybe he would be easier to take down in the comfort of her own room—she mused the thought over in her head. Maybe he would have some money on him, and then at least he could pay for what he had taken from her. Not that his unconscious form would even know he had paid her so generously until after he woke with a throbbing head ache. She let out a mirthless laugh at the thought.
Glancing behind her she saw his tall form over the other people in the street. He was following her. Only it was like the crowd parted around him, he left star struck females and males alike staring after him. He oozed charisma, but she knew her fair share of charming men and it never ended well, for her at least. Her mind flitted to Neal her first love. He had been the reason she got into the bounty hunting business. After she had been sent to jail for a crime she had helped him commit he had disappeared like he had never existed. She had searched for him for years, finally getting into bounty hunting. Finding people was just what she did and she was good at it. She could find anyone. Everyone but him that was, she swallowed down that thought and pushed it to the back of her mind.
Ducking into an alley she pressed herself into the shadows. She watched the opening for him to appear. Her breath calmed as she waited. Confidence spread through her, she could handle herself. Her karate training would go to good use tonight.
"That wasn't a very kind service you paid your rescuer, lass." An accented voice spoke from the shadows next to her. Snapping her head in the direction of the sound her eyes tried to make out a form in the darkness. His voice had sounded close almost next to her ear. She could have sworn she felt his breath brush against her ear as the words were whispered to her. Pressing her hands against the brick wall behind her she edged towards the light of the street. It had been stupid coming into an empty alleyway to face him. "Trying to leave me again love?" His silky voice came from the other side of her, this time she definitely felt his breath on her.
Swallowing she looked into the shadows again, still nothing. "I don't know who you are but you took my meal ticket back there. I was counting on the bounty on that guys head. I don't know what you did to him, but you owe me buddy." She informed the darkness around her. Instinct and his words told her it was the same man with the burning blue eyes from before.
"Indeed?" He chuckled sending a shiver up her back. "Och lass, I owe you? I believe I saved your life back there. It is you who owes me a debt."
"I tracked that guy for the last month!" She cried in outrage and turned towards his voice. If she could see him she would probably push him. "YOU owe me the bounty for that guy! It is because of you I won't collect it!"
"Love, you would not have collected it even had I not saved you. He was going to kill you and take your soul." He replied his voice deadly, all teasing from before evaporated. Then he was suddenly in front of her, his body radiating heat over the short span of inches between them. If she took in too deep of a breath her chest would probably brush his, he was standing so close. She did it anyways her breath sucked harshly into her chest and sure enough her taunt nipples did brush against the leather of his jacket. Thinking of his jacket, who in their right mind would wear a long leather jacket in the high heat of summer? He must be completely crazy, she decided.
"I'll take that payment now, lass." He told her stepping closer to her, if that was even possible. Then he lowered his sensual mouth to hers, he moved slowly enough for her to move back from him. But she stood transfixed by his hot gaze. When his lips slanted across hers she responded to his heat. Her tongue darted from her mouth to taste him. The sensation of her running her tongue along his bottom lip sent a shudder through him and he crushed her to him with a silent groan.
Then he was pushing her against the wall and tasting her sweet honeyed taste on his tongue. He started to kiss down her neck and he felt his fangs start to ache. He let the sensitive tips run against her pulse point before pulling away. The temptation to bite her had been higher than it had ever been in the past with anyone else. Blending back into the shadows instinctively he backed away from her before he gave into the urge. She threatened his very existence. "I will have the money owed you sent to your room." He told her before leaving her wanting more.
"Wait a minute! How do you even know where I'm staying? Are you some kind of stalker or something?" She called out into the darkness, still catching her breath. But silence answered her.