The cold ones Part 2. Rise of the hunters.

Kyan's POV:

It was in the air.... the stench of loss! Our pride, our determination and our lives felt broken. The last time it felt like this here was when my mother died.

My father was grieving over Hyvan, a dear friend who he had known since they were just boys. I could see that all the loss he had suffered for so many years was starting to wear him down.

Vivian had died from two silver bullets, leaving Vaughn flipping out in the training room, then having a breakdown soon after. We tried our best to console him, but after being in love with her for fifteen years... that pain will be with him for good!

I sat by Ellie's bedside watching her chest rise and fall with every breath she took, willing with every minute that she would wake up. Our physician did his best and as soon as my father had spoken to Mayor Jackson, he left Bluebay and personally hand delivered more medical equipment to keep Ellie stable. "Whether she survives this or not, is up to her now, it's up to her body to decide". Our physician had told us after he did all he could to save her. Since then, I've barely left her room. Every time I walk out of her door, the fear of her waking up alone or taking her last breath stops me from leaving her side.

I'm not a patient man. I never have been. Every day I demand she wakes up. I tell her she has too. I ask as politely as I can, I beg! But still she gives us nothing.... no flicker or movement to let me know she's staying with us, that I have nothing to fear.

I couldn't stop thinking about her lying in my arms that day, finally being able to hold her, only to watch her slipping away. I could crush that hunter's bones all over again and again and again, until she wakes up. She has to wake up... if not for me, then for my father. The guilt he carries with him because she protected him, instead of him protecting her, keeping her safe, just like he always promised.... just like I had always promised! Sweet Ellie! I murmured in my head. We've become too attached to you, please stay... please wake up! I pleaded for the hundredth time as I held her soft hand in mine.

"Anything?" Father's voice spoke quietly from the doorway.

"No, nothing". I replied, watching his shoulders sink again as more guilt weighed him down.

"I think I'll go and sit with Vaughn, he lashed out again this morning". He told me just as he turned to leave.

"Any news on Zekan?" I asked, hoping he'd finally heard something.

"No. Neither Zekan or Lyra have been seen at Shelter Island. Donny made some calls to further shelters, but no one has seen them". He said, his expression completely bleak, as if he was trying to accept that perhaps they were already dead and the moment we knew that they had never made it to Shelter Island several days ago, it tore at me to think of the hunters catching them before they left.

"He'll be ok father. We'll find him. For all we know, they're just keeping their heads low so you don't try and chase down Lyra". I said, in an attempt to ease his worry.

"None of that matters now, my son. I just want him home". He spoke in a sullen tone.

We needed something... we needed something good! I wanted Ellie to wake up and Zekan to walk through the doors. I wanted my father to feel some joy, and I wanted my brother and our sweet Ellie back.

When Mayor Jackson had come here to help Ellie, he also got to see for himself that we too had our own share of enemies and that we grieved just the way his people did. I have to admit, it seemed as though he wanted to do his part to look out for us. He stayed longer than I expected to help clean up all of the mess and remove all the hunter's dead bodies. He helped our physician see to our injured and tried to console my father when he found Hyvan's body under a pile of debris. He had promised us, he would announce to Bluebay of our own sufferings in hopes of reassuring them that we had nothing to do with the attack on our town.

Me and Kiko went to that announcement yesterday, whilst father sat with Ellie. Of course, we stayed hidden, but despite the mayor's best efforts, there didn't seem to be many of them that believed him. We could hear the shouts and demands coming from the crowd in front of him, telling him to 'get rid of us'. They were still adamant that we were to blame.

"Hi". Kiko whispered as she came into the room. "How is she doing today?"

"No different than yesterday, or the days before that!" I sighed.

"She'll be ok Kyan, she just needs time. Remember, humans don't heal within minutes like we do".

"But Dr Singh said she could go either way".

"Well, I think she's not quite done yet. She'll wake up, I guarantee it!".

"I hope you're right. She's too young to die, she's barely lived a life yet!"

"Are you going to tell her how you feel when she wakes up?" She asked as she carefully sat on the edge of the bed.

"How I feel about what?"

"Are we really going to do this? where I probe and you deny? And we just go around in circles. Or you can just cut the crap and just be honest".

"Kiko, it's not just as easy as telling her how I feel. The last thing she needs if she wakes up is for me to scare her off, or make her feel uncomfortable being here".

"But what if she feels the same?"

"I really doubt that, Kiko".

"Kyan! I've known you for over ten years and this is the first time I've seen you so attached and protective of someone. So doesn't that make it worth knowing?"

"I wouldn't even know how to tell her".

"Well, when the time comes, it'll just feel right and all you have to do is be honest! Please Kyan! If you love her, then you have a chance at really being happy with someone, after all of these years. All I'm asking is that you be honest with her".

"Are you done grilling me?" I asked with an amused smile.

"Actually... yes I am! The main reason I came in here is to let you know that while me and Del went out for a hunt today, we found claw marks on two different trees".

"Ok, well, did they look like bear marks or of another animal?"

"I'd say they were more slashes than marks. Like something or someone was in a fight".

"How far from here?"

"About a mile and no one left the castle when the hunters came, so....".

"You think it could be Zekan or Lyra?"

"Yes". She nodded with an anxious expression. "I just have a feeling".

"Then, I need to go and look for him".

"I'll come with you!".

"No!". I quickly forbade. "I need you and Del here. Guard the main hall in case anything happens".

"You can't go alone, Kyan".

"I'll take a few others with me, I'll go for two hours then come straight back if we don't find anything".

"Ok. Your father was on the phone when I came in. You'll have to tell him before you leave".

"I'll tell him now. Have Bianca and Constance check in on Ellie every hour".

"I will. Just don't trail out too far, we still don't know if its safe enough yet. No further than two miles, Kyan, I mean it!"

"Well, someones gotten even bossier!". I grinned at her.

"Too much has already happened, Kyan. Let's not add to it".

"I promise, ok?" I reassured her as I could see the worry in her eyes.

I looked at Ellie, still peacefully resting as I gave her hand one last squeeze and dashed out of the room before I changed my mind about leaving her.

Ellie's POV:

"Eww, you've got it all over my lips!" I laughed as my mother playfully dabbed some of the facemask on my mouth.

"But it's honey flavored Ell's". She giggled.

"It tastes nothing like honey!" I tried to stifle my laughter, every time I opened my eyes and saw how ridiculous she looked in her own yellow facemask.

"This gets you back for pasting it onto my eyebrows!"

"I was giving you a hair removal at the same time!"

"Well, looks like I'm giving you a snack at the same time then, doesn't it!" She beamed.

Just as she wiped the mask off of her fingers, a loud pinging noise came from the kitchen. "Oooh that'll be the cake! It should be ready now!"

"Good! I need something to get rid of the horrible mask taste in my mouth!" I replied as I hung out my tongue in distaste.

"I have to go Ell's". She suddenly said as she stared at me.

"To get the cake?"

"No Ell's".

"Mum, what are you doing?" I asked as she got to her feet. And without another word she was gone. I blinked, then found myself sitting in the armchair, with her in front of me, lying on the floor. As she sat up, I could see her face was covered in blood. "Mum.." My voice shook.

I looked up as I felt another presence in the room. Tallon walked in, with an arrow sticking in his chest. "TALLON!" I yelled as I got to my feet. "WHAT HAPPENED? YOU CAN'T BE HERE, IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IT'LL START A WAR!" I tried to rush over to him, but my legs would barely move as I willed them to move faster, confused to why they were barely reacting.

"Ells". My mum spoke. "Are you coming with me, or are you staying with them?" She asked as she stood, suddenly wearing a long white night gown that was blowing around at her feet and I could feel a cold breeze all around me.

"Go with you where? What's happening?" I asked as I looked at them both as fear began to wash over me.

"You can join me!" She said calmly as she reached out her hand for me to take.

"They're going to kill you. They want to kill us all!" Talon voiced as blood trickled down from his chest.

"I have to go now, come with me!" My mum said again as she started to fade.

"NO! MUM WAIT!" I screamed as I tried to reach out to her.

Once again, she vanished and so did Talon. I looked around me, to see that I was standing at the forest river, shivering in my little blue dress. Out of nowhere, my dad appeared in front of me, staring at the ground. "Dad!" I whispered as every part of my body trembled.

He didn't answer, just remained motionless. "DAD!" I shouted as I grabbed his arms. "DAD, IT'S ME, IT'S ELLIE!" I yelled as I shook him to acknowledge me. "DAD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LOOK AT ME! WHERE'S MUM? WHAT'S GOING ON?" Tears began to fill my eyes as he kept failing to hear and see me. He stepped out of my grip, turned around and walked away as I continued to call out to him! "DAD! DAD!" I cried.

The snap of a twig made me flinch, as I looked in the direction it came from to see Kyan standing in the forest, hiding in the shade of the trees.

A chill went down my spine when I felt as if a shadow was lurking behind me. "RUN ELLIE!" Kyan shouted, then ran in the other direction. I looked behind me as I tried to scan the throng of trees that surrounded me, when my eyes caught a glimpse of a dark silhouette flashing through them. My feet were rooted to the ground as my body shook and goosebumps erupted all over my skin.

"Ellieeee!" A faint voice called as the shadow whooshed past again. "Ellieee!" It taunted. But I couldn't move, I felt stuck...frozen. Not even my arms unwrapped themselves from around my waist.

"GO AWAY" I shouted. "FUCK OFF, LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The shadow laughed as it echoed around me, feeling closer with every second.

"Ellie, come with me!" My mother's voice sounded as she appeared in front of me again. "it's not safe! Come with me!"

"Where mum, where?" I sobbed, in complete desperation.

"Just let go, and come with me".

"Ellie, you need to run!" I heard Kyan say as he ran through the trees.

"You're mine!" The shadow claimed as I felt it lurking in every direction and watching me. "The vampire lover is mine!" The deep voice rang out.

"Ellie, quick!" My mother urged me with panic pouring from her eyes. "They did this to me!" She said as more blood began to cover her clean white gown. "They'll do it to you! Come with me!"

"Vampire lover?" My father said as he appeared next to me. "You can't love a vampire!" He seethed. "You've betrayed us all!" He frowned as he looked at me in disgust. "You have to choose Ellie!"

"Choose what?" I cried back to him.

"Choose me!" My mother spoke as she looked up to the sky. "You'll be safe with me!" She implored.

A sudden cold drip hit my face. I wiped it away with my fingers as more drips came. I looked at my hand to see it was blood splatting all over me and covering the ground.

"I'll get you! YOU'RE MINE!" The shadow's deep voice boomed just as lightning struck the treetops and turned the leaves into flames.

"You have to pick Ellie!" My dad scorned as he walked away from me again. I turned to face my mother to see she was also gone. There was no one. No shadow, no Kyan! As the blood poured and the forest burned around me.

"FUCK YOU! FUCK YOUUU!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as my hands clutched at my head, trying to block it all out. I closed my eyes, willing for everything to stop... to just stop and let me breathe!

Kyan's POV:

I slid the tips of my fingers across the slashes in the tree trunk, I could feel the deepness of them and somehow I could sense the fury. Kiko was right, these weren't the markings of a bear or any other wild animal, these marks belonged to one of our own! An anxious flicker thumped in my heart as I thought of Zekan and the possibility of these being his or Lyra's.

A fight definitely happened here, but what bothered me more is that we hadn't found their whereabouts yet, no news of them passing through any lands or being aboard any of our ships. A horrible sinking feeling was setting in at the thought of them being alone out here, fighting for their lives and dying because of it and as much as I dislike Lyra, I hated the thought of my brother's last moments being of him having to try and save her and himself whilst watching the hunters take her life right in front of his eyes. Lyra was vicious, of course, but not much of a tactical fighter, so I doubt they would have stood much chance if they were outnumbered.

Everything in my body was telling me that the hunters took them down first before heading to the castle. The fact that they were still 'missing' just wasn't like Zekan, he would have contacted me by now to let me know where he was. He didn't have it in him to abandon us when he knew of our predicament, only to then not find out if we were all still alive. He would have called me... I know in my heart he would have, he'd be too wracked with guilt and worry not to reach out.

"Kyan!" Del spoke cautiously as he walked over. "There's a tree a bit further up, there's.... there's blood spots on the bark and from the mess I could see of the bushes and branches in that area, it looks like there was a bit of a scuffle!".

"Fuck!" I breathed out in an almost silent whisper.

"I'm sorry, boss! I know it doesn't look good but, but let's not give up hope just yet".

"He shouldn't have left!" I said, but mostly speaking to myself.

"I think he was just trying to protect Lyra, you know? I expect he had a plan to get them away safely".

"Del, you know Zekan well enough to know he wouldn't have stayed this quiet without checking in!".

Del stepped closer as he supportively put his hand on my shoulder. "I also know that we won't give up until we find out what happened to them one way or another, just like Zekan would do for any of us!"

I just nodded in reply. He's right, we will stop at nothing until we find out, but I was rather apprehensive about what answer it would lead us to... Another two lives lost? "Come on, let's head back, we have a visitor coming. Father wants me back before they come".

"Who's the visitor?" Del asked through the wind as we sped our way home.

"He didn't say, just demanded I return before evening!".

"I'm back". I said to father just as he walked out of his study.

"Good, he should be here any minute!"

"So, who is it that's coming?"

"His name is Magnus. He's Hyvan's younger brother. When I told him what happened, he was adamant about coming here. Now son, he's not as...... let's say.... collected as Hyvan was. Magnus tends to piss people off, but he was close to Hyvan, so, we must make him feel welcome".

"So, your basically saying he's a bit of an asshole?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes! But Hyvan died, fighting one f our battles, so we will just have to deal with whatever mood he's in".

"Great!" I mumbled to myself.

By the time Bianca and Constance had laid father's table with a welcoming feast for our new visitor, Lincoln and Drew both escorted him in from the main doors. "Well, well, well... so this is the infamous castle Hyvan always talked about!" Magnus said with a smug grin.

"Welcome, Magnus. I hope you're hungry, please take a seat!". Father said as he motioned toward the table.

"Don't mind if I do, I'm ravenous!" He replied as he plopped himself down on one of the chairs and resting his feet on another.

"Thank you, Lincoln and Drew, you may go". Father said as he took the seat at the head of the table. I opted to sit opposite Magnus, hoping he'd soon wipe that cocky expression off his face!

"So! What did you do with my brother?" Magnus asked as he stuffed a load of pork into his mouth.

"We buried him in one of our flower gardens, it's where we bury all of our dead". Father told him.

"Who else died then, in this hunter battle?"

"A few others were injured and one died. My son and his woman are also missing".

"Are there any of the fuckers still alive?"

"Not that we know of. We certainly didn't leave any alive that day!"

"But you don't know for sure? Have you not raided their lair... or hideout, whatever you want to call it?"

"We would if we knew where it was!"

Magnus stopped chomping on his food as he stared shocked at my father. "So, you mean to tell me, these bastards attacked you in your own home and you haven't even bothered to find out where the fuck they came from?"

"You misunderstand Magnus. We had search groups going out into the forest for weeks. But the day they attacked is when I realized they hadn't been working alone! Three of our kind were with them".

"What?" Magnus replied in disbelief. "Not a chance any of our kind would work alongside some scum hunters!"

"I saw them for myself. Then Vaughn, one of our own, killed them with a hunters' gun. And they were definitely vampires when we burned their bodies!"

"Wow!" Magnus scoffed. "It's all been fucking going off here, hasn't it!"

"Yes, It's been a rough few months."

"Well, obviously, we need to find out if there's any still alive! And I'm not leaving until I know that for myself".

"I understand and, of course, your welcome to stay here as long as you need". Father said, trying to bite his tongue and be hospitable.

"And I'm guessing you're the other son, i've heard of?" Magnus asked, as his attention fell onto me.

"I am. I'm Kyan".

"The older brother?"

"That's right!"

"So, you have no idea where your little brother is? Dead for all you know?"

"We're not ruling that out. Of course, we hope to find him alive".

"What did you find on your search today, son?" Father asked with a worrying frown.

"Just what Kiko explained. It's definitely claw marks and Del found blood on another nearby tree". I told him as his shoulders sunk lower.

"Well that doesn't sound too good, does it?" Magnus spoke as he eyed the both of us. "Tell me Kyan, why would your brother go out there, knowing hunters were targeting you all? Just him and his woman! He thought himself brave enough to take them on alone?" He said in a cocky tone.

"No! My brother some egomaniac! He left because his woman, Lyra got herself into trouble, and not for the first time".

"Ahh! Drama... what trouble was that then?"

"She attacked.... multiple times a human that was in our care!" Father stepped in.

"Right! I've heard about you allowing humans to live here as if they're one of us! What are they... like your pets or something?"

"Magnus! I understand your upset about the loss of Hyvan, I am too, he was a dear friend of mine, but do not disrespect any of our members here, human or vampire!" Father rebutted.

"Well, you're one of the very few that let humans onto their land! So, which human did this Lyra attack then?"

"Her name is Ellie. Lyra didn't like her from the start. Many times I had to warn her to stay away from Ellie, but she almost killed her before Zekan managed to intervene. However, Lyra was warned she'd be banished if she were to disobey me and Zekan didn't want her to leave on her own, so they both fled before I even knew what she did to Ellie".

"You would banish one of your own for a human?" Magnus asked in astonishment.

"For an innocent human, yes!" Father replied confidently.

"What's so innocent about this human? She a helpless baby or something?"

"She's twenty one! But she didn't deserve to be treated like a criminal. And besides, any humans in my home are not to be harmed. It goes against the peace treaty we have".

"So, what was it about this human then that Lyra didn't like?"

"I don't think we'll ever know. She's never hurt any of the others that have come here".

"Hmm, women!" Magnus laughed as he refilled his cup with blood wine. "So, what more can you tell me about what happened while my brother was here?" He asked as he looked at my father.

"When Hyvan first arrived, two of our guards found him wounded and brought him here. We helped him heal, then got him into training. We searched the forest every day, stopped our food hunts and guarded the towers. But... it seemed like the hunters were always watching, like they knew our every move".

"We suspected we had a leak... you know, a spy!" I told Magnus. "But, there isn't anyone here that would betray us!".

"Well, clearly that's not true!". Magnus said as he raised his brows.

"Like I said, we only suspected, we didn't have any proof!".

"Well, from what i've learned over the years, if you suspect something, then it's most probably true!"

"Everyone here fought the hunters that day... so, if any of them were spies they would have fought with the hunters, not against them!"

"You have humans here though, right? and hunters... they're humans! Did any of your little humans help fight the hunters?"

"No". I gulped, knowing exactly where he was going with this. "But they've all been here a long time. They're happy here. They've given us no reason to distrust them".

"What about this, Ellie?"

"What about her?" I shot back as I felt my body tense.

"Well, what if Lyra's problem was that she didn't trust this particular human! You said yourselves that she didn't ever have any issues with the others that live here. Perhaps Ellie is your spy! You know... the one you're trying to protect instead of one of your own!" He said as he stared hard at me.

"She's no fucking spy!"

"Yea? and how can you be so sure? Kinda sounds to me like there's a strong possibility! She's probably waltzing around this place laughing to herself that she's managed to get away with it!"

"She's not waltzing around here, that's for sure!" Father bit back as his eyes narrowed at Magnus.

"No? What, did she flee back to her hometown? Had some plausible explanation to leave?"

"Actually!" I interrupted as I leaned forward on the table to hold his attention. "Ellie is practically comatose in her bed after she took one of the hunters' bullets in the back, to save my father!" I informed him, with anger in my voice.

Magnus looked back and forth, between my father and me, as if we had just told him a joke! "Is that true?" He finally asked, looking at father.

"Yes!" Father replied, with guilt in his voice. "One tried to kill me when we thought they were all dead. She jumped in the way, in fact... she completely shielded me with her own body, she almost died, and..... we still don't know if she will or not!".

"Wow!" He nodded as if trying to take it in. "Well, I think that's a first! A human, sacrificing themselves for a vampire! So, where is she?"

"She's safe. Under mine and Kyan's watch!" Father replied with a warning tone, making it apparent, him seeing her, is off bounds.

"Well, I shall like to meet her. I can get a feel of someone once i've spoken to them. Sacrifcing herself or not... I know for myself when someone is trustworthy or not!" Magnus said as he stood from his seat. "Lord Talon, I would be grateful if you could write me a list of names and their room numbers. I want to know of everyone here. Tomorrow, we can all put our heads together and end this for good".

"I'll get on that, Magnus. That won't be a problem!" Father replied with understanding.

"So, what room number will mine be? I feel the need for a good night's sleep after the long journey here".

"Of course, you can stay in Zekan's room for now. It's just down the hall, number 129".

"Ok, great! I shall see you both tomorrow then!". He said, before gulping the last of his drink, giving us a nod and leaving the room.

"Kyan, would you mind staying a bit longer and help me with that list". Father asked.

"No, I'll stay. I was only going to sit in Ellie's room anyway and keep watch on her".

"Son, I know your worried. I am too, but you have barely slept in days! You should go to your room and get some rest".

"I'll be fine father". I replied, shaking my head. "I'll rest once she's awake. Now, come on, we had better get on with that list". I told him as we got up and headed into his study. I left his door open and sat at the end of his desk, in good view of her room so I could hear if she finally decided to wake up.