Chapter 2 THE FEMALE HUNTER 2.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Vanessa awoke with a yawn and stretched her hands. Raymond was nowhere to be found, so she assumed he had gone out for something important. With her baby bump, she carefully made her way downstairs when the sound of shattering glass caught her attention.

"Charlotte!" she called out cautiously, slowly descending the stairs. As she reached the bottom, she was met with the sight of Charlotte lying in a pool of blood.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, frantically looking around. Her eyes landed on a peculiar, hairy creature wreaking havoc in the library. It was larger than any land animal she had ever seen.

"Oh no!" She muttered, slowly moving backward. In her retreat, she accidentally knocked over a vase, capturing the attention of the creature.

"Help!!" she shouted, sprinting up the stairs as the creature chased closely behind.

VAMPIRE'S COVEN

Raymond sat quietly, immersed in his book, when his door violently swung open. Startled, he looked up to find Nina standing before him. Acting quickly, he placed a dagger against her neck, keeping her at bay.

"My Lord, it's me, Nina," she panicked.

"Nina, a little respect for my door, don't you think?" Raymond chided.

"My Lord, I apologize, but the message I bring is of great importance."

"What happens if this message fails to please my ears?" Raymond inquired.

"Feel free to cut off my head, my Lord," she trembled.

"Speak," he commanded.

"The Lycans have launched an attack on the humans, seizing their land and devouring them in the process. They have since departed, but the damage is extensive," Nina revealed.

Raymond's eyes flashed with anger as he looked out the window. "How dare they?!" He roared furiously, storming out of the room and dropping the dagger on the ground, causing Nina to exhale in relief.

The streets lay deserted and empty. People had abandoned the city, with lifeless bodies now littering the ground. These unfortunate souls had been bitten by the Lycans and were bound to transform into one themselves. Raymond took it upon himself to gather these bodies and set them ablaze before continuing his survey.

Stopping before Vanessa's apartment, he stared at it intently. The doors were left ajar, attracting the attention of police officers who surrounded the area. Lighting a cigar, Raymond was approached by a police officer.

"Excuse me, this is a private investigation," the officer informed him.

Raymond glanced ahead, spotting a lifeless body on the ground. "Where is the lady of this residence?" he inquired.

"How are you connected to the occupants?" the officer probed.

"She is my wife, Vanessa," Raymond replied.

"We have identified this body as Charlotte Dickinson. Her sister, Vanessa Dickinson, is in the hospital," the officer informed him.

Raymond sighed heavily. "This was no animal attack," he interrupted.

"I beg your pardon, sir?" the officer questioned.

"Burn her body. She's useless," Raymond coldly declared.

"What did you just say?" the officer asked, taken aback.

Raymond scoffed. "Humans," he whispered disdainfully, flicking his cigar towards the body, setting it ablaze. The police officers began to panic and scream as Raymond walked away.

"Holy... Freeze!" the officer shouted, but Raymond had vanished into thin air. The officer rushed out, only to find heaps of bodies engulfed in flames.

"Screw it," the officer muttered.

Arriving at the hospital, Raymond was met with a chaotic scene. Injured and bitten individuals clamored for medical attention, but the doctors were unable to help everyone.

"Vanessa Dickinson," Raymond requested.

The nurse pointed him in the right direction. "This way, please."

"Doctor, this is Mr. Raymond, the husband of Vanessa Dickinson," the nurse announced as they entered the room.

The doctor assured Raymond about his wife's condition. "Your wife will be fine. Please wait here," he said before engaging in conversation with someone else. Raymond peered through the glass window, observing Vanessa's writhing form on the bed. He narrowed his eyes at the doctor, suspicious of his intentions, before quietly approaching Vanessa's bedside.

"Ray," Vanessa called out weakly, struggling to breathe.

"Shhh, I'm right here," Raymond reassured her.

"I saw it. It was an animal. It killed Charlotte, it..." Vanessa trailed off.

The doctor entered the room and paused upon seeing Raymond. "I thought I saw you standing outside. How did you get in here?"

"The door," Raymond curtly replied.

"Please leave," the doctor ordered.

Raymond glanced at Vanessa again and noticed fang marks on her neck. "She's been bitten," he stated.

"Leave, please," the doctor insisted, leading Raymond out of the room.

Raymond stood outside as Vanessa cried out in pain during labor. A Lycan had bitten her, yet she still carried his child. Raymond smiled inwardly, knowing that someone was helping him fulfill the prophecy. Some time later, the doctor emerged from the room.

"Congratulations, you have a son," the doctor announced.

"How is Vanessa?" Raymond inquired.

"We did our best," the doctor replied solemnly.

"It's not enough," Raymond declared.

"You can find comfort in your son," the doctor suggested.

Raymond glared at the doctor. "You don't deserve this title," he whispered, seizing the doctor by the neck and hoisting him off the ground.

"Please," the doctor pleaded.

Raymond threw him against a glass window, shattering it, before watching the doctor's body fall out of the building. A young man had witnessed the gruesome act and knelt before Raymond, who was certain he had been caught in the act.

"Please," the man begged.

Raymond smiled, taking deliberate steps toward him, his shoes echoing through the quiet space. "What is your name?" Raymond inquired.

"James," the man quivered.

"Take care of him," Raymond's voice echoed. "Or else," he added, extending his hand towards the room where the man's wife lay.

"Please, don't. I'll take care of him," James pleaded.

Raymond gazed at the quietly sleeping baby boy in the room. "You're going to be the cause of another war. I hope you are prepared for it," he mused, before lifting Vanessa's body and vanishing.

SEVEN YEARS LATER

"My Lord," a man called, bowing down before Marcus.

"Speak," Marcus commanded.

"While hunting today, we detected a peculiar scent," the man informed him.

"What scent?" Marcus inquired.

"It's a scent we haven't encountered in years. I believe it belongs to a hybrid among the humans, the same hybrid mentioned in the prophecy," the man explained.

"A hybrid? That can't be possible," Marcus asserted.

"We wouldn't fabricate information, my Lord. A hybrid with immense power has emerged, and his blood holds the key to a potent mutation for both vampires and Lycans. If the vampires get hold of him first, they could use him against us," the man warned.

"Find him and bring him to me. After all these years, the prophecy shall finally be fulfilled! Send out our best hunters to retrieve him!" Marcus commanded.

She was gagged and blindfolded. It was time to lead Leah out. Leah was one of the guests who had traveled from afar to meet with Raymond. The Lycans had been attacking relentlessly since Raymond ventured into their territory, exacting revenge for Vanessa's death. Rumors of a son circulated, but nobody knew his identity or spoke much about him.

A howling sound interrupted their movements. It was time to fight for survival. Guards removed their blindfolds.

Vanilla cautiously surveyed her surroundings, taking note of where her mother and brother were standing. They were prisoners, being used as leverage for the Lord and higher vampires. Her father had betrayed their coven and was now sentenced to death, resulting in their own imprisonment.

Suddenly, a Lycan lunged at one of the prisoners, causing bone-chilling screams to pierce the air.

"Protect Lady Leah!" a man shouted.

Vanilla drew a small dagger from her side and rushed toward her brother. A Lycan pounced on her, but she managed to grab its claws. Just as it opened its jaws to bite her, Nathan sprang onto its back, striking its spine with force. As it turned to retaliate against Nathan, Vanilla swiftly broke its neck.

"Nathan!" she called out, and they hurried over to their mother. However, a Lycan seized her, sinking its teeth into her vulnerable body.

Vanilla leaped onto the creature, landing blow after blow until she found an opportune moment to slice its neck, ending its life.

"She's fast," Craven commented as he observed the battle from the sidelines, accompanied by a vampire named Luther.

"That's because she's a hunter," Luther replied.

"Bring her to Raymond!" Craven commanded.

Nathan carefully laid their injured mother down on the ground.

"She's wounded, what should we do?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"We have to clean her wounds," Vanilla replied.

"But they won't listen to us," Nathan protested.

"I'll make them listen," Vanilla said determinedly before walking away.

As Vanilla made her way through the passage, two figures suddenly appeared behind her, covering her face with a cloth.

When the cloth was finally removed, Vanilla found herself kneeling before Raymond.

"Raymond, I've heard so much about you. What do you want from me now?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm, trying to hide her unease.

Raymond smirked, knowing the effect he had on her. "Vanilla, I'm impressed by your skills as a hunter, something we are in great need of."

Vanilla scoffed, annoyed by Raymond's compliments. She knew there must be a reason he was seeking her out, especially after his human lover's death.

"So, what mighty task does the almighty Raymond have for a lowly prisoner like me?" she inquired, her voice filled with skepticism.

Raymond's smile widened. "It has come to my attention that the Lycans have targeted someone dear to me. This person possesses a unique bloodline that holds the key to a powerful mutation in both vampires and Lycans. Who wouldn't want such power?"

Vanilla raised an eyebrow. "And you think I can help with this? What's in it for me?"

Raymond chuckled. "A fair question. In exchange for your services, I will grant your family their freedom."

"You mean it?" Vanilla asked, her voice tinged with hope.

"Absolutely. But time is of the essence. The Lycans are closing in on him, so you must act quickly. I will provide you with the necessary resources and protection, but I expect him to be delivered to me unharmed. Remember, he is my son, so don't do anything foolish."

Vanilla thought for a moment before responding, "Very well. I'll do it, but make sure you keep your end of the deal."

Raymond smiled slyly. "I always keep my promises. Prepare yourself, for you will be leaving soon. The mission requires precision and there is no room for mistakes."

"Rest assured, I never make mistakes," Vanilla replied confidently.