#uk3

“It’s my job to get rid of people like you.” She sneered, though the venom in her words was forced, they both knew it. A game of cat and mouse that couldn’t last forever as much as she ached for it to remain so simple. She wasn’t the first, but something was so different about Anubis, River couldn’t help but be fascinated. She didn’t talk like others, she was softer, seemed more amused than aggressive. She never fought back, only disarming her and making her exit after some words.

She saw River as a curiosity more than anything, more persistent than any other hunter she’d encountered. They normally got bored, decided she wasn’t worth chasing, and went off to bigger targets. Not her, she kept her eyes trained for more months, pursuing every chance she got. They danced a deadly tango, knowing one of them had to give in but neither giving an inch.

Anubis knew how to break her down when she let her guard slip. She didn’t, out of courtesy. No one wanted to be completely vulnerable to a creature very much capable of killing them. She emphasised with the poor conflicted human in front of her, trained to kill like she wasn’t worth anything, made to do a job and for that to be her sole purpose. Of course, she craved the contact Anubis gave her, the poor thing needed a way out.

Anubis slowly walked over to her, River readying her stake. Her glare faltered as she felt a cool touch on her hand, a warm smile on her adversaries’ lips.

“You don’t have to do this, act for yourself.”

River looked away, knowing she’d break if she spent one more moment looking at those gorgeous eyes. Anubis held her hand still, caressing it with her thumb in a way that felt all too much like home.

“If you touch me again I’m going to kill you.” Her voice gave in, quivering with a concoction of conflicting emotions she couldn’t begin to handle. The vampire tilted her head up, the eye contact making something flutter deep inside River. Something she thought long dead and beaten out of her.

Love was a weakness, it made people make mistakes and not live up to their potential. It was a waste, that’s what they told her. But that lack of care was the reason it broke some down. The first sign of genuine affection she’d had and it was from the enemy.

“You don’t want to hurt me, and I don’t want to hurt you. I want to help you, let me free you before they hurt you more. You deserve so much better my darling.” Anubis whispered, pulling the hunter into a hug. She started stiff, relaxing slowly as they showed no will to harm, only comfort.

“I thought it was too late.” River’s voice was barely above a whisper, sorrowful with a twinge of hopefulness. “It isn’t. I’ll protect you if anyone comes after you, just live your life on your own terms. That’s all I ask.”

River felt genuine happiness bubble up, painfully foreign but luring her to the safety of one she swore to destroy. How could she of been so blind to try and hurt such a kind soul? That was why no one had gotten to her yet, she wasn’t a threat. A lover, not a fighter. Only aggressive when defending her own life or those she cared about.

It was better than what she had, no matter what happened she could have a shot at a normal life, happiness even. It was overwhelming, through the rush of emotions she pulled Anubis in, kissing her with all the pent-up feelings that she had been forcing down since they met, the love that had started to blossom deep inside of her that she had been too blinded by her job to see.

They pulled apart after a short while, Anubis blinking as she tried to process exactly what River had communicated. Of course, she spoke through actions and not words, it was easier for her that way.