The Sleeping Hunter

My family isn't like your typical, ordinary family-we're different. And my parents made sure I knew that from a very young age.

We've always tried our best to blend in with the rest of the community, keeping our true nature hidden-for our safety and for the safety of the people in the city.

My city is crawling with supernatural beings from every corner of the world, all hiding their existence from the unaware human population. But I fear for the lives of those who remain ignorant.

There are blood-sucking monsters and creatures of the night known as vampires. They are vicious, reckless, and extremely dangerous.

Then there are the lycanthropes, also known as werewolves. They're just as deadly as the vampires-maybe even worse. Unlike vampires, they are ruthless. Their victims are usually found torn to pieces.

Balkan City was once a peaceful place. That changed when they arrived. Ever since, things have been turned upside down, and the death toll keeps rising by the day.

Humans are no longer safe. They stand no chance against these creatures. Most people don't even know they exist, and those who find out often don't live to tell anyone.

Those who are aware keep the truth to themselves, pretending not to notice when something strange happens. A few of us who know the truth pray for them to leave-but it's clear now, they're here to stay.

There's another kind of supernatural being in the city: witches. They're nearly extinct and very few remain.

The good thing about witches is that they don't harm humans, and they have no reason to. Humans are safe around them.

Every supernatural creature has made Balkan City their home, and their numbers continue to grow.

There's an ongoing war between the vampires and the werewolves. It's been raging for over three centuries.

If the conflict had remained between them, it wouldn't be so bad-but it's us humans who suffer the consequences.

It's been months since my parents told me about a mysterious hunter-one who has been asleep for a century.

According to them, this hunter was created specifically to destroy supernatural creatures. That's his sole purpose.

Vampires don't stand a chance against him. Even the werewolves wouldn't dare fight him. He's powerful, lethal, and virtually unkillable.

My parents say he's infused with immense power, making him superior to any supernatural being.

Our family descends from a long line of hunters, but we're not strong enough to take on these creatures alone.

All we can do is defend ourselves-something my parents have trained me to do since I was a child.

I've learned everything there is to know about these creatures, including how to kill them. I've done it more than a few times.

But no matter how many we take down, they keep multiplying. And while we fight them, we also have to be careful not to expose ourselves.

When my parents first told me about this hunter, I was completely against the idea of waking him-even if it might work to our advantage.

What scares me is that he doesn't just kill monsters-he kills anyone who stands in the way of his mission.

He's been asleep for a hundred years. The world he knew is long gone. Everything has changed.

And we don't even know if he can stop these creatures. They evolve every year.

This is the 21st century. Things are not like they used to be. I'm not convinced he can protect us-he can't possibly take them all on.

Ever since I found out about him, I've been arguing with my parents almost daily.

I've tried to change their minds-especially now that the time to wake him is near and they're preparing for the journey.

---

"Mom, do you really have to do this?" I asked again this morning as she packed for the trip.

In three days, they will be heading to the location where the hunter sleeps, to wake him.

"Honey, why are you being like this?"

"Your mother and I have explained this so many times. Why don't you understand?" my father asked, clearly frustrated.

"Dad, try to understand me too. Have you thought this through? What if what you're about to do brings more evil than good?" I said, turning to my mom.

"Mom, you told me this guy is dangerous. He was built to do one thing: kill."

"How can you be so sure he won't kill everyone he sees? What if he kills you the moment you wake him?" I pleaded, hoping they'd see reason.

"The vampires and werewolves don't know about us yet-that's a good thing. But if you do this, they'll all come for us," I added.

"That's exactly why we have to do it. Only he can stop them. I'm not doing this just for us, but for everyone," my mom said.

"This is my job-my destiny. My parents explained this to me."

"It's a duty passed down through generations. And now, it's my turn."

The hunter was created by my mother's bloodline. Only someone from her lineage can awaken him.

"You don't even know him. He's been asleep for a century. Even Grandpa and Grandma never met him."

"He could kill you both. I just have a really bad feeling about this," I said, trying to reason with them.

"Enough! One day, you'll understand why we have to do this," she said firmly, then returned to her room.

"This is a huge mistake, Dad," I said, turning to him.

"Listen, sweetheart. I believe in your mother. And I think you should too. This isn't a fairy tale. It's real," Dad replied.

"But Dad, if they find out what we're about to do, they'll hunt us down and kill us," I said.

"And if we don't, the hunter will hunt us down-and wipe out our entire bloodline," he said.

I stepped back in fear. "How do you know that? Are you just saying that to get me to agree?"

"No, it actually happened," he said grimly.

"Centuries ago, a family failed to wake him after his hundred-year slumber. A decade later, he woke up and hunted them all down."

"He killed every member of the family-except one," he added.

"What?! That's not a hunter. That's a monster!"

"I thought he was supposed to protect us," I said.

"Yes-but if he's denied his chance to awaken, he sees that as a betrayal," Dad explained.

"That's why we have to do this-for your protection and your brother's. We can't risk being caught in the war between vampires and werewolves. The hunter is our only hope."

"He alone has the strength to stand against them. Do you understand now?"

I nodded slowly. "I'm just scared, that's all."

"There's nothing to be scared of. We'll be fine," he said, hugging me.

"This is no longer our choice. The time has come-we have to wake him."

Author's POV

Vampires-they are real. They are a race of undead beings who drink blood in order to survive.

They are immortal, and if given the chance, they can survive for thousands of years and more without aging.

Vampires are incredibly fast and unnaturally strong. After they've been turned, all their senses are heightened.

They develop a strong sense of smell, which enables them to perceive anything from a few meters away.

They also have heightened hearing abilities, which allow them to hear just about anything from some distance.

Despite all these abilities, they do have a major weakness they can't avoid-and that is their insatiable hunger for blood.

Vampires can't go too long without blood. Without it, they become weak and eventually desiccate.

Blood acts as the fuel in their engine; without it, they can't function properly and will eventually break down.

These powers and abilities grow stronger with time, age, and the consumption of human blood.

Only supernatural beings like the werewolves and witches know of their existence, because vampires strive to keep their secret from the human world.

Any human who learns about them is either killed or, in some cases, compelled to forget.

So they live among humans without the humans knowing who they truly are.

The vampires, witches, and werewolves have hated each other for centuries and are always at the brink of war.

And here in Balkan City, they all live together, each wanting to call it home.

Since daylight is harmful to vampires, they must find a shady place to hide during the day and come out only at night.

The vampires have an underground nightclub that is open to both humans and vampires.

Any other being found inside is killed immediately.

Humans are allowed in so the vampires can feed on them when thirsty, and then compel them to forget.

They consider humans their food, so they handle them with care-for now.

In the club, people could be seen jumping and dancing to the music that echoed through the underground walls.

The tension in the club was high and steamy.

To an ordinary human, nothing seemed amiss. But to any supernatural being present, they could clearly see people being slowly drained of their blood.

In one corner, two male vampires were feeding on a girl who looked helpless.

The girl writhed and moaned softly against the wall as they fed, but she'd been compelled not to scream.

She wasn't the only one-others, both male and female, were also being fed on in hidden corners of the club.

Up in the VIP section stood a tall, shadow-like figure. The skin of this beautiful creature was as pale as snow.

His lips were as red as blood, his eyes fierce with a hint of crimson buried within their chocolate brown depths.

Underneath those heart-melting eyes were subtle purple bruises, like he was long overdue for a good night's sleep.

His dark auburn spiked hair danced in the breeze of the overhead fans as the club lights cast a glow across his perfect features, revealing a stunning young man.

He looked like a tribute to a Greek god-still, composed, and utterly untouchable.

He stepped forward. His slender body held muscle, his arms and biceps taut beneath his designer shirt.

He had a strong jawline, high cheekbones, and strikingly beautiful features-unreal, almost divine.

His name was Alexander Jordan-the oldest, fastest, strongest, and most ruthless of all vampires.

Though his youthful face might fool many, he was the leader of the vampires.

It is said that a vampire grows stronger with age, and Xander was the oldest of them all.

As the most ancient, he was also the most dangerous-and heartless.

While seated in the VIP section, he sensed a heart beating rapidly. His eyes turned sharply toward the entrance.

He saw one of his men walking into the club. Xander immediately picked up the man's troubled aura. This man, Leon, was one of his most trusted lieutenants-and also one of the oldest vampires in their coven.

Leon walked up to him and bowed low, then stood upright.

"What bothers you, Leon?" Xander asked, his voice deep and calm but laced with underlying power.

"Xander, I bring troubling news," Leon replied, his face grave. The seriousness in his tone piqued Xander's interest further.

"Spit it out already," Xander snapped, growing impatient.

"I overheard some people talking about a hunter... one strong enough to kill hundreds of vampires with his bare hands."

At this, Xander's eyes sharpened.

"Who were these people?"

"I don't know. By the time I got to where they were, they had already disappeared."

He hesitated.

"I couldn't pick up their scent either. Forgive me-I failed."

Xander narrowed his eyes. "That sounds like a trap. This could be the work of the werewolves. Don't you think they might be planning something?"

Leon nodded slightly. "That's possible."

"They could be trying to send us on a wild goose chase while they prepare for an attack. The full moon is almost upon us-they'll be at their strongest. We can't take any chances."

"You may be right," Leon agreed, "but I believe it's time I remind you of a certain hunter-one who actually has the power to do this."

He stepped closer.

"He's been asleep for a century. If someone is planning to awaken him... it would be soon."

Xander frowned.

"That's not possible. I had every member of the family killed decades ago-to prevent the hunter from ever waking up."

"I made sure of it. I hunted down every last one of them."

"Only someone from that bloodline can revive the hunter, and they're all dead."

Leon looked unsure. "What if... one of them survived?"

Xander's eyes gleamed dangerously. "If that's the case, then it means they changed their name to avoid being found."

Leon paused, then said, "So... should we check? Just in case?"

"Yes. Sweep the city. Take a few of our best men and look for any trace of that bloodline."

He added coldly, "If you find anyone remotely linked to that family... don't waste a minute."

Leon hesitated. "What do you want us to do if we find them?"

"Kill them on the spot," Xander said without flinching. "Bring me their heads."

Leon nodded slowly. "As you command."

He turned and began walking away, but Xander called after him.

"Leon."

"Yes?"

"Be quick about it. If this hunter wakes up, no one is safe."

Leon nodded once more, then vanished into the crowd, leaving behind the cold, ominous air of a war soon to begin.

Kate's POV

My city is in danger, and everyone is at risk-even if they don't know it yet. The werewolves are going wild, and the vampires are growing stronger by the night.

My school, for one, is crawling with werewolves. Most students can't tell, of course. They laugh with them, sit beside them, share notes and secrets-completely unaware they're dining with predators.

But I'm not like the others. My parents trained me early. I know how to identify them-how they move, how they smell, the slight change in their eyes when the moon is near. I know their weaknesses, too.

Wolfsbane weakens them. A silver blade to the heart ends them.

I know because I've done it before-killed one. It was self-defense. I didn't have a choice. But ever since that day, I've lived with the weight of it-and the fear that they might one day find out.

No one must know that I know about their kind. That knowledge alone is a death sentence. Vampires and werewolves have their own code-protect their kind at all costs. Anyone who exposes the truth... doesn't live long enough to regret it.

And with the full moon rising tomorrow night, I know they're preparing. They'll be at their strongest-and their most unstable.

Tonight, my parents are leaving the city on a mission far more dangerous than anything we've faced before. They're going to awaken him-the ancient hunter who's been asleep for over a century.

According to my mother, he must be awakened when the moon is at its apex-when the sky is at its fullest and most vulnerable.

I don't like it. The whole thing feels wrong. But my mom believes in it, and I trust her. I have to.

---

I woke up late. Again.

I stayed up way too long last night going through Dad's journals-maps, symbols, handwritten entries about vampire covens and werewolf bloodlines. I barely understood half of it, but I couldn't stop reading.

"Honey, come down here! We're about to leave!" Mom shouted from downstairs.

"Ugh," I groaned and yelled back, "I'm coming!"

I tossed my notebook aside, grabbed my jacket, and hurried down the stairs-only to find the living room filled with luggage.

"What's with all the bags?" I asked, pointing at the pile by the door. "You guys planning to move in with him or something?"

Dad chuckled, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "He's been asleep for a hundred years, sweetheart. He's going to be starving when he wakes up. These are supplies-for him."

"We packed food, clothes, weapons," Mom added. "We don't know what state he'll be in, or what he'll need when he wakes."

"Wait... weapons?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Just in case," Dad said, eyes darkening for a moment.

"How long will you be gone?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"We'll be back in five days," Mom replied, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "We're bringing him back with us."

"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?" Dad asked, eyeing me with concern.

"Really, Dad? I'm seventeen, not seven." I rolled my eyes. "I'll be fine."

"No offense. Just making sure," he replied, raising his hands in surrender.

"Did you tell Mason?" I asked, referring to my twelve-year-old brother who'd been sent off to boarding school for his safety.

"He doesn't know everything," Mom said. "But he knows we're on a trip. That's enough for now."

I nodded, stepping forward and wrapping my arms around both of them. I didn't want to let go.

"Please be careful," I whispered.

"You're such a drama queen," Mom said with a teasing smile, though I noticed the way her eyes shimmered with emotion.

"You know why I'm worried," I replied, holding on tighter.

"We're trained for this," she assured me. "We'll be fine."

After loading their bags into the car, I waved goodbye as they drove off down the street.

A strange ache sat in my chest as I watched the taillights disappear.

---

An hour later, I finally arrived at school-just in time to miss the first lecture. Perfect.

I spotted Abby and Emily outside the lecture hall, already waiting for me. The moment they saw me, they rushed over with worried faces.

"Hey babe, what happened?" Abby asked, tugging at my sleeve.

"Yeah, we were expecting you earlier. We even saved you a seat," Emily added.

"My parents left town this morning. I was helping them pack," I replied, keeping my voice neutral. It was the only safe answer I could give.

"You sure everything's okay?" Emily asked, eyeing me closely.

"Yeah, totally fine," I lied with a smile. "Where's Evan?"

"He went to meet someone. Said he'd join us soon," Abby said.

Just then, a wave of tension rippled through the air. I turned and saw them.

Kira and Aaron.

The two worst werewolves in the school.

They strode toward us with that same arrogance, their eyes narrowed, full of heat and rage. They've been a menace to us since our sophomore and we've been doing everything to avoid them.

We are not the only one they are being mean to, they have a reputation for being a bully.

"You really pulled a stunt back there in the hall," Kira sneered and I wondered what she's talking about.

"What is she talking about?" I asked, glancing between my friends.

"She wanted the seat we saved for you," Abby explained. "We told her it was taken, but she refused to listen."

"She almost started a fight, but the professor came in," Emily added.

"We don't want trouble, Kira. Just leave us alone," I said firmly.

"You should've thought of that before running your mouth," Kira hissed.

She lunged toward Emily, hand raised to strike-

-but Evan was there.

He caught her wrist mid-air and shoved her backward. She hit the floor hard, her eyes burning with fury.

"Oh crap," I muttered.

Aaron didn't wait. He rushed Evan and tackled him to the ground. The two began to fight with brutal strength and from the look of it, Aaron was gaining points.

I tried to intervene but Kira turned on me, slamming me down. I kicked her off, but she came back harder.

Her punches were fast, too fast for a normal person. I blocked most of them, trying not to reveal what I knew or what I could do.

I couldn't use my training-not unless I wanted to blow my cover. They are also trying not to show their full strength to avoid suspicion, so I guess we have to fight clean.

She grinned wickedly. "You're not as helpless as you look."

Then I saw Evan again-he was winning. Somehow, he had Aaron pinned.

Evan was quiet, reserved, gentle-but something inside him had snapped. He was fighting like a savage.

But then I noticed something happening with Aaron and I believed Kira noticed as well because she went to him.

"Aahh" -Aaron let out a monstrous cry.

His eyes glowed, bones cracked, muscles twisted.

"He's shifting," I whispered, heart racing.

"No, no, no-not here," Kira gasped rushing to Aaron.

"Aaron, no! Not here! Please control it!"