The Hunter’s Vampire Mate

The black bat perched on the windowsill had eyes like burning emeralds.

Six year old Julia dropped her rag doll, stepping backward onto the wooden floorboards. She tried to scream for her parents, but her throat closed up.

“There, there, child. Calm down and don’t scream" a smooth, cold voice echoed directly inside her mind. Julia’s body stopped obeying her. Against her will, her small hand reached out, unlocked the latch, and pushed the window open. No way she’d willing open the window to a green eyed bat! But she did.

The bat flew right past her into the room and right before her eyes it expanded into a tall, gaunt man in a dark cloak. His skin was deathly pale, his eyes shifting from emerald to a bloody, crimson glare. He smiled, exposing two razor sharp fangs.

"Thank you, little one," he purred, stroking her cheek with a claw like fingernail. "Let’s hope your parents are as cooperative as you."

Julia’s voice snapped back, she screamed like she had never when throwing tantrums. Footsteps thundered down the hall. Her father burst through the doorway first, followed closely by her mother. The moment her mother spotted the creature, her face went ghost white. "Sean!" her mother gasped, pushing past her husband. "How did you get in here?"

"Julia was kind enough to invite me," Sean Wood sneered, wrapping a pale arm around six year old Julia’s throat. Smiled down at her and patted her head “she likes making new friends, don’t you dear?” Eyes towards her father “now , let’s skip the pleasantries, Peter. Give me the Welling Stone, or I’ll snap her neck right here."

"I don't have it, Sean!"

her father pleaded, stepping forward with his hands raised. "I swear to you, it’s not here!"

"Wrong answer."

In a terrifying blur, Sean vanished from Julia’s side and reappeared in front of her father. A sickening CRACK echoed through the room. Her father went limp, dropping to the floor like a sack of stones.

Julia’s mother screamed, “I’ll give it to you!” She sobbed. Sean stared coldly “then go bring it”

“You won’t hurt us” she begged

“Not a single hair”

Julia watched her mother run out of the room, returning seconds later with a glowing crimson gem. "Take it! Take the stone! Just leave my us alone!"

Sean snatched the gem, inspecting it under the moonlight. A dark chuckle escaped his lips. "A merciful trade, Mary but a witch once foretold that this little one would grow up to be my ruin. I can't take that risk."

He turned towards Julia before he could take a step Mary drove a black bladed dagger into his back. “Leave my daughter alone you monster!” She screamed, he turned in a split second, filled with rage. “Fool! Did you really think this would hurt me” wicked hands around her throat “You don’t know what I am”, the dagger fell from her mother’s hand, desperately fighting for air. Sean stretched out his hand, the dagger floated to his palm and he stabled Mary “you wanted me to feel this?”

"MAMA!" Julia shrieked, petrified, unable to move a muscle as her mother collapsed onto the blood-soaked rug.

Sean turned toward Julia, raising the dripping dagger. "Don't worry, little nemesis . I'll make yours fast— A wooden stake burst through Sean's chest from behind. Black, foul-smelling blood sprayed across the walls as Sean groaned, turning to face his attacker. Behind him stood a broad shouldered man with stern eyes and a heavy steel blade. Sean’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"You…bloody cowar-" Sean croaked before the man plunged a second stake straight through his heart. The vampire collapsed into a pile of dark ash. The stranger stepped over the ash, kneeling beside her dying mother. "Baby..." her mother whispered, her eyes turning glossy as she looked at Julia. "Stay... strong. I... love..."

Her hand went limp. Julia didn't cry. She couldn't. The terror had turned her heart to ice.

The stranger picked up the glowing red gem from the floor and squeezed it. It shattered into worthless glass. "A fake Welling Stone," he grunted, shaking his head.

He turned his gaze down to Julia, offering a scarred hand. "Come, little one. Your parents are gone, but you are my responsibility now. My name is Master Chan. I will teach you how to fight so no monster ever touches you again."