#vampire!leona

Jamil came to a swift halt, letting me down as he scanned the area. I half stumbled around him, looking for Leona as my ears strained to pick up any sounds.

After a brief moment of silence, I glanced over at Jamil only to see him already staring at me as I shifted the strap of my bag. And I knew exactly what he was doing. He was waiting to see what I was going to do so he could plan his own moves accordingly.

I felt my eyebrows arch at him before I glanced down, unzipping my bag and pulling out my crossbow. I loaded it with a single stake before starting off into the shadowed building and leaving him to follow me.

He let out a sigh from behind me but followed nonetheless. Glancing around as we continued forwards before he tensed, shifting in front of me seconds before I heard it. A hissing snarl followed by the sounds of something slamming into something else.

“Sounds like your friend found the vampire,” Jamil’s voice was low as he glanced my way with one arched brow. Waiting to see how I would react and what I would do.

I merely nodded, meeting his gaze with a wholly unsurprised expression, “Sounds like it.”

With only those words, I trotted forward, using the concrete pillars as shields. Jamil followed along beside me before giving me a slight glance with a raised eyebrow and zipping forward.

I leaned around the pillar I was currently pressed against in time to see him slam into a vampire. I blinked in slight surprise, because I genuinely hadn’t expected for him to be the type to outright attack, but then I felt myself frown as I started looking around. Because despite what we’d heard, Leona was nowhere to be seen. 

He had to be here somewhere, though.

No sooner than I’d had that thought, the man himself had emerged from the shadows, his eyes staying on the fight before they flashed over my way. Finding me immediately in the darkness before he nodded.

I frowned, but nodded in return. Evidently enough, there was no getting around the typical handling of this vampire. And judging from the concrete dust coating Leona’s person, he’d certainly tried to deal with this one.

I raised my crossbow, aiming carefully, and feeling my frown deepen the longer I tried to aim. Because there was absolutely no way I could hit the vampire with Jamil where he was. 

I lowered my crossbow once more. Yelling would get Jamil to move, but would also alert the vampire to my location. But… Beggars couldn’t be choosers.

“JAMIL!” The young man whirled at my shout, leaping away from the rogue vampire, who also spun to look at me. Its eyes wide with insane excitement as they landed on me all too quickly as a twisted grin stretched across its face.

I jerked my crossbow back up, firing as quickly as possible before turning and running as the vampire dove towards both me and the stake flying through the air. Jamil and Leona hot on its heels.

I heard it let out something akin to a gasp and looked back to see the stake sticking out of it’s shoulder from where it had jerked out the way at the last second.

It stared at it, a trembling hand reaching towards the wood that stuck out of its shoulder before stopping mere inches from the stake.

I grimaced as its eyes snapped back up to where I stood, a grin creeping back into its face as it inhaled like an excitable monster. Its fangs glinting in the dim light provided by the parking deck’s broken, flashing lights.

I shifted though, bracing myself as I shoved a secondary stake into my crossbow and aimed.

It dove forward as I fired, willing my hands not to tremble. 

Simultaneously, Jamil and Leona launched themselves. Jamil reaching for the other vampire as Leona dove after him with an annoyed sound. 

And I almost dropped the crossbow as I realized what might happen. 

I could only hope Leona would stop Jamil before he reached the vampire or that Jamil would be just slow enough. After all, those stakes typically went all the way through, and if Jamil was holding onto the vampire….

The stake flew through the air, slamming into its target unforgivingly as Jamil was yanked to an abrupt stop by Leona.

My eyes widened as the vampire continued forward, though, and I all but had to throw myself to the side, landing hard against my bag on the ground in a way that I was confident would leave bruises. And I was just barely in time to miss the vampire barrelling through where I’d been standing.

I stared at it though. Unable to tear my eyes away as I watched as its grimy-looking hands curl around the stake like it wanted to grasp the wood before its motions aborted and it crumpled towards the ground with an agonized sound. 

I could clearly see Jamil’s unnerved expression as the vampire fell in a pile of ashes and the two stakes hit the ground between us with dull thudding sounds, and I exhaled. Letting out the breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding.

Leona let go of Jamil's collar. All but shoving the smaller man away as he practically growled at him, “Maybe trust the head-vampire’s Hunter next time and stay out of the way?”

Jamil stumbled slightly, shooting a look at Leona before looking my way.

And somehow Jamil’s expression alone told me his perception of me had just shifted. Because even if I hadn’t realized it until now, Jamil had previously been regarding me as someone he could easily control. Someone who wasn’t a grand threat but a person to be wary of.

Now though… Now he looked at me with something akin to respect, and I felt myself swallow thickly. 

Leona watched him, something akin to annoyance splaying across his face until he looked at me with a huff. Shattering the silence that stretched uncomfortably between us all like it was nothing at all, “I’ll tell my clan’s head about what happened.”

Jamil blinked before he turned, inclining his head to Leona as the other man turned. Getting ready to leave in that characteristic nonchalant fashion of his as he completely ignored Jamil.

 I still wondered how Leona could be so unbothered by seeing vampires get killed right in front of him. But at least this time it had gone over smoother than it had last time.

“Thank you for the assistance,” Leona’s eyebrows rose at the other man’s carefully deferent words before he snorted.

He looked at me with a slight smirk appearing on his face, “Just a bit of quid pro quo.” I frowned slightly at his words, knowing perfectly well what he meant. Our deal.

But even with his mocking sarcasm, I couldn’t deny that I did trust him far more than I did Jamil. 

Me and Leona had a working relationship. Me and Jamil…. It felt like there was mutual wariness here now. A tug of war with him trying to exert more control while I reeled back to maintain power over my own choices.

I stopped the leonine vampire as he started by me, meeting his gaze as I spoke with a faint smile, “Tell Jack and Ruggie I said hi.”

 He snorted slightly at my words before leaning down, his voice lowering to the point where I doubted Jamil could hear him, “You gonna be alright?”

His words caught me off guard, and I felt my eyes widen before I nodded and let go of his arm, murmuring a soft ‘Yeah’ as I broke eye contact with him. Half-surprised by his words and wondering if I should take them as genuine concern.

After all, I didn’t know how else I should interpret them, but I'd hardly expected such a thing from Leona. 

His eyes stayed on me for a brief moment longer, like he was weighing my words before he nodded and turned to leave. Disappearing into the night flawlessly. 

Just like a predator hiding itself in the name of a hunt.

I exhaled slightly before I looked towards Jamil, who was watching me once more and had been since I’d stopped Leona.

And I was already steeling myself for what came next. Because in light of everything that had just happened, it was time. I was going to finally confront him. I had to if I was ever going to be done with the Scarabia clan. And while I had no problems with Kalim, I was tired of this eternal game of power and control.

I walked over, first collecting the stakes and shoving them back into my bag along with my crossbow before I looked up at the young man who stood directly in front of me and now looked down at where I knelt.

There was risk in making eye contact with him. I knew that. But if I was going to assert that he couldn’t control me, then this was going to be the best way.

“I think it’s time we talked about something, don’t you?” I straightened as I spoke, shouldering my bag and holding his gaze all the while.

Jamil crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as he gazed back at me, almost like he was sizing me up once more. Seeing if he’d missed anything in his previous evaluations.

He was a cautious man, seemingly well prepared for things, and someone a person could rely on if they could trust him. But, as of right now, that seemed like it was a pretty big if.

“Why did you hypnotize me into staying on my first day at the Scarabia clan?” If he was surprised by my words, it didn’t show on his face.

Rather, a grin spread across his face, and I suddenly felt like I was seeing the real Jamil. One that was no longer restrained by the careful mask he usually wore.

“So you did know about that,” He didn’t sound annoyed in the slightest. No, he sounded more like he was pleased to have been correct. His eyebrows rose though as he shifted slightly, “It was a precaution, that’s all.”

I frowned at his words, not trusting them for a second, “A precaution against what? It just made the Scarabia clan more suspicious.”

He leaned towards me, eyes glimmering with something when I stubbornly didn’t lean away or avert my gaze, “You still thought we were innocent though.”

“That was because of Kalim. Not you.” My tone was flat, and a frown flickered across his face that had my eyebrows arching, “He is the head of the clan, not you, Jamil. Even if you do handle a lot of the running of it.”

Jamil leaned back, that frown still on his face, “So you noticed that too….”

I tilted my head, a smile slipping onto my face, “Well, you did mention it that day in the library, and you were the one scaring the Scarabia vampires off from looking too closely at me.”

A chuckle huffed its way out of him at my words, “Yes. I made sure they’d assumed you were my prey. Though that ‘ally’ of yours from the Savanaclaw clan almost messed that up.”

His voice took on an annoyed tinge as he finished, and I felt my eyes widen as I realized exactly what he meant, “That’s why the other vampires were staring at us… They thought-”

“That I had competition because you were staying so close to him,” Jamil’s frown was deep, and I shook my head. Half-mystified and half-distressed. 

How many more times were random vampires going to just assume that I went with someone specific? First it had been Vil, now it had been Jamil and then Leona in quick succession.

Ignoring me, he continued as annoyance continued to fill his voice, “Kalim wasn’t helping either with how he kept clinging on to you, though.”

I stared at him, no longer bothering to conceal my surprise, “So they thought Kalim also…?” He looked my way, watching as I shook my head before more and more pieces fell into place.

I looked at him warily, “Then when you had me pinned against the door, that was too further convince them that-”

“You were mine? Yes,” He outright smirked at me, and I almost gritted my teeth at his smug expression.

Logically, I knew he’d done it to protect me, but it also felt like it was just another way of him exerting control and flexing his power while simultaneously assuming that I couldn’t handle myself.

Before I could stop myself, irritation surged through me, and I was speaking. Stepping closer to him as I spoke in a restrained voice, “Look, I get what you were doing, and I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need that kind of protection, and I certainly don’t belong to any of you, so I’ll thank you to not pretend otherwise.” 

I’d kept my voice level, even despite my frustration at both his assumptions and the way he’d guided others' perceptions of me, and his eyes widened slightly before a smile crept onto his face.

He leaned forward, causing my eyes to widen, and I even took a step back before he stopped myself. Knowing perfectly well that he’d interpret me retreating as some sort of his victory.

His face was mere inches from mine as he spoke again with a certain amused hiss to his words that had my eyes narrowing, “Understood.”

Understood… Yes, that was the situation at hand. 

I understood him now. That him hypnotizing me had largely been him flexing his control of the clan and nothing else.

I could only hope that he understood that I had enough power to stand on my own in the face of his schemes, though.

Judging from his expression, he certainly understood that he could get a reaction out of me now at the very least. Though I wasn’t entirely sure that I liked that since he also appeared to revel in that knowledge just a little bit too much.

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Previous

I’d already realized that one of the side effects of spending time with vampires was becoming more nocturnal than a normal person. Luckily, I now had the excuse of supposedly having a late-night shift. 

And in truth, I suppose I did. My new job was to be the Hunter for the clans in my area. As of last night, I’d been hired by Dire Crowley. The man who’d turned Epel and Rook into vampires as a way of forcing my hand.

According to him, he’d had enough of me lingering on the very outer edges of the world of vampires that I’d only just officially entered last night. Being close to Vil and being consistently pursued by vampires put me too close to vampires for me to stay innocent regarding the world of the night.

My hand clenched before I forced myself to let it relax. Frowning towards my curtained-off window. I’d been told last night that I would receive my first orders tonight, but, despite the fact I’d already awoken from my lengthy rest, night had not yet truly fallen.

It would be a while yet before my orders came, and it seemed like the only thing for me to do outside of eating breakfast was to mull over everything that had happened last night at the masquerade.

I’d met a slew of vampire clans and found out that it was now my job to evaluate each of them to try and uncover the cause of the increased numbers of crazed vampires as well as do away with said crazed vampires. And refusing wasn’t really an option. Not when I had no doubts that Crowley would turn more innocent individuals into vampires, just like he had done to my friends.

The only true allies I had in this world were Vil, Rook, and Epel. The newly cemented Pomefiore clan. But I suspected Vil would be busy dealing with having officially formed his clan. There was no telling what all being the head of a clan entailed if there was one vampire that was over a whole group of them. 

It seemed that, considering there was a head-vampire for our area and specified leaders for a myriad of clans, there was more to the politics of the undead world of vampires than I’d realized.

I stood from my seat with a sigh. Putting my dish on the countertop before approaching the window and separating the curtains to look out into the oncoming night. 

In the not-so-distant past, I might have been excitedly awaiting a visit from Vil, but I didn’t know what to expect from tonight as I stared into the afterlight of the sunset that still illuminated the horizon. Signaling the oncoming darkness that would come with instructions.

Would Crowley himself be the one giving me my orders, or would it be someone else entirely?

Epel and I had discussed the varying possibilities while he’d walked me back to my apartment last night. The only thing we’d really been able to agree on was that it would probably be for the best if I meet whoever it was on my own, though he had initially protested that thought, saying that he would stay with me to make sure I was safe.

I’d turned down his offer, though, and told him that I wanted to put forth my best effort in my new job.

But in reality, I was worried. 

I was still new to dealing with clans, but if Crowley’s expression when he saw that I was being supported by the Pomefiore clan last night was anything to go by, it might be best to deal with business on my own. As a solo Hunter rather than as someone attached to the Pomefiore clan.

It was an idea that had stung when it had occurred to me after Epel had mentioned that Rook had said he’d always worked alone. Keeping his distance from clans to ensure no one suspected him of favoring any one group over the others.

I watched as the afterlight slowly faded from the sky and stars began to twinkle within the darkness. I didn’t even know if Crowley knew where to send his directions. But I also didn’t want to question it.

He obviously knew quite a bit about me since he’d known he could use Epel and Rook to force my hand. I could only assume he also knew where I lived. Which was an uncomfortable thought, but something I would have to live with.

I’d played brave last night, but I knew exactly how risky a position I was in. His assertion that, so long as I did as I was told, he would ensure that no one bothered me at my home had been a thinly veiled threat. 

Do as I say, or even your home won’t be safe.

I felt myself grimace as I recalled his words. They were frightening, and had made me want to flee. To hide somewhere and avoid vampires outside of those I was close to, as I’d done in the past.

But if I did that, what might he do to Vil, Rook, and Epel? And where would I hide anyway?

I let my hand rest on the window sill, forcing myself to calm back down. I would do as I’d said I would and be his eyes within the clans. After all, the number of vampires losing themselves to insanity was apparently rising. Which meant it could have something to do with the rise in the number of deaths and incidents as of late. 

I saw something shift in the shadows in the distance and stepped backwards as a frown crawled its way across my face, and I watched a form dart across the street and towards my apartment building. 

I was two stories up, but that had never been a problem for Vil in the past, so I suspected that such a distance wouldn’t really matter to any other vampires either.

I watched as the man appeared on the other side of my window, his hand lifting so that he could jauntily tip his top hat at me as he peered at me with those bright pink eyes that I recognized from last night.

I opened my window, a part of me wanting to refuse, but I knew that I had to in order to accept whatever instructions this man carried for me from Crowley.

“Evening, Little Imp. You’ll want a coat tonight,” I felt my eyebrows lift at his friendly tone, but he’d struck me as a more friendly individual last night anyway. 

“You’re the man from last night,” I stepped backwards as I spoke, giving him room as he nodded. Confirming my observation, but declining to enter.

“I am indeed, and welcome to the world of the night to you,” His words were ominous, but his tone remained amicable. Like he wasn’t someone who worked under the man who’d forced me into my current position.

“Your first job is to check in on the Savanaclaw clan,” I watched as the man shifted so that he was sitting in my window. Utterly relaxed as he explained my job, “They’re the clan that has currently lost the largest number of vampires to the disease, so they are the most worrying.”

I nodded, crossing my arms as I did my best to match his easy going, but businesslike demeanor, “Where are they at?”

The man grinned, “I’ll be taking you there and formally introducing you. You’re the first Hunter to work for the head-vampire of our district, after all.”

“I see….” I trailed off as I pondered his words slightly, wondering if it was really that big of a deal for the head-vampire to have a vampire hunter working under him, but the man didn’t seem bothered in the slightest by the wariness my tone carried.

“Well, if you’re ready…?” As soon as he spoke, holding out a gloved hand that gestured out towards the horizon, I was glad that I’d already prepared before the sun had fully set. 

If I was going to be marching into some unfamiliar clan, then I was going to at least look the part of a vampire hunter.

I leaned down, collecting my bag of stakes and other anti-vampire paraphernalia, before nodding at the man, “I’ll meet you out on the street.”

He grinned at my words but nodded in agreement before leaning over so that he was peering directly at me with hardly even two inches between us, “Name’s Sam, by the way.” 

He leaned back so that he was no longer leaning into my room, and I swallowed slightly before nodding. Somehow surprised to be receiving his name, but murmuring my own name in reply out of habit, “Y/n…”

His eyes were alight as he nodded, “Well, I look forward to working with you. Y/n.” I frowned slightly at the way he paused before saying my name, but with only those words, he leaned to the side, dropping out of my window and causing me to gasp in surprise before I hurried to lean out my window and look down.

And a part of me felt like a fool when I saw him walking along the street, whistling to himself as if nothing had happened. He was a vampire, after all. I should’ve known he could make that landing.

But I didn’t have time to chide myself. I had a clan to go meet and now a vampire was waiting for me on the street below. And while Sam certainly didn’t seem like a bad guy, he did work under Crowley, and I wasn’t willing to tempt fate.

My cross rested against my chest under my shirt, a comforting weight as I tugged on a coat and slipped out my door. Locking it behind me before I turned to head out into the night, the weight of my necklace reminding me that even if I felt incredibly out of my depth, I wasn’t wholly alone and did have friends that I could turn to.

But right this instant, I had a job to do, and I wasn’t going to be late on my first night on the job.

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Previous: Hours in the Moonlight: Fairest Midnight

I inhaled softly as I followed Sam up towards the massive building that apparently housed the Savanaclaw clan. It was huge, but then Rook had said that the Savanaclaw clan was the largest.

I looked towards Sam, not sure whether I was supposed to wait for further instruction as he continued walking forward in the most nonchalant manner possible. He stopped short of the door as it creaked open, revealing an impossibly tall vampire with large horns that immediately called a moose to mind.

I stared in surprise as the vampire glanced between me and Sam, his eyes narrowing warily, before his gaze finally came to rest on Sam.

“We’re here to see your clan’s leader,” If Sam was surprised by the sight of the man, he didn’t show it in the friendly smile he wore or the easy tone he used.

The man shifted slightly, his eyes flickering back to where I stood and resting on me for a moment before he at last looked back down at Sam, “He’s away on business.”

It was a stiff tone that was both unwelcoming and uncomfortable, as it made it painfully obvious that we were not welcome. 

I faltered slightly, not sure of what to do since I’d expected them to let us in immediately simply because Sam worked under Crowley. Or so I assumed he did…..

Sam was perfectly at odds with me, utterly unconcerned with the obvious lack of welcome, “Then take us to see his second. I’ve brought the Hunter to discuss business.”

I watched as the man stiffened as soon as the word ‘Hunter’ left Sam’s mouth and his gaze darted back to where I stood, doing my best to look as unassuming as possible.

I far preferred the idea of keeping my status as Hunter as quiet as possible, though I’d doubted that would be possible after Sam announced me as the new Hunter just last night. I could only assume that this fellow hadn’t been there.

But the use of my job title worked like magic, and the man was hurriedly stepping to the side, gesturing towards the door with a nervous chuckle, “Of course, right this way.”

Sam glanced back, winking at me from over his shoulder, before he followed the other man into the long hallway that led deep into the building.

The mansion appeared to be entirely made out of stone, with large African-printed rugs and numerous plants dotting the corridors. When I pictured a vampire mansion, this certainly wasn’t the gothic monstrosity I imagined. But I could hardly complain about the decor when I was distracted by the way people parted like the red sea around us.

Notably, each vampire I saw seemed to have a different set of animal attributes, confirming the idea that the members of this clan were afflicted by both vampirism and wereism.

“It’s more common to be affected by both diseases than you’d think.” I jolted slightly at Sam’s hushed words as he slowed his pace so that we were walking side by side instead of me trailing along behind him.

He looked towards me knowingly, and I swallowed thickly, wondering if it was that obvious that I knew so little about the varying clans. 

All I actually knew was what Vil and Rook had been able to tell me. But Vil had always done his best to avoid the clans and remain unaffiliated until forming the Pomefiore clan, while Rook had only ever met with clan heads when they informed him of a member who’d lost themselves to the insanity of vampirism.

I was woefully underprepared to be working directly with the clans, despite the fact that seemed to be what Crowley expected of me.

“The people of the Savanaclaw clan are incredibly persistent, and their tenacity is probably the only thing that got them through being turned into vampires when they were already werebeasts.” I listened carefully to Sam’s soft words, nodding slightly as I tried to glean as much information as possible.

“Who’re our guests, Bruce?” Both me and Sam looked up at the sound of a voice that rang out over the whispers of the vampires surrounding us. Bouncing around the stone hall so that it could be clearly heard for the hushed murmur that had surrounded us up until now.

I had to glance around a couple of times though to finally spot the speaker, a smaller man who had large, soft-looking ears and wide grey-blue eyes. He was propped up against a wall beside a closed door but looked towards us with a relaxed smile, despite the way his eyes lingered on us in a way that I could only describe as clever.

“Ah, this man brought the Hunter with him… He said he wants to talk to business,” Our guide, whom I now knew was named Bruce, straightened at the sight of the smaller man.

“The new Hunter…” I watched as the shorter man’s eyes slid over to where I stood, narrowing slightly as they briefly landed on me. And I realized that there was something about his expression that made me want to tense, because there was something there that told me this young man might be far more dangerous than the larger members of this clan who currently surrounded us.

And then, like a cloud passing over the moon, his expression disappeared and was replaced with a friendly smile as he pushed off the wall and walked over, holding out his hand, “Pleasure to meet you; I’m Ruggie.”

I blinked in surprise, briefly wondering if I’d completely imagined his previous expression and ignoring the way his eyes rested a little too heavily on me as I accepted his hand and shook it, “Y/n… It’s nice to meet you.”

His gaze stayed on me for just a moment longer, something flickering through his eyes. Something that I recognized from other vampires. It was akin to surprise. A hungry but pleasantly pleased surprise, as I thought of it. Like the one a person felt when they were hungry and opened the door and smelled freshly baked bread that they hadn’t been expecting. 

As I watched Ruggie’s gaze slide over to Sam as he withdrew his hand, I frowned to myself. He may not appear as initially threatening, but I still had the lingering feeling that there was far more to Ruggie than one might initially think. 

Especially since he seemed to be the only one here who looked at Sam like he was someone of importance.

“I’ll let the boss know you're here,” Ruggie turned away in an almost carefree manner as he opened the door and poked his head in. 

“Leona! You’ve got visitors!” There was almost something mocking in the way he called out the name that had me tensing the very instant I recognized it. 

Leona…. How had I not put two and two together?

That was the name Rook had given for the brother of the Savannaclaw clan’s head and the name he called that leonine vampire who’d been present when I’d killed that monkey-like vampire when I’d made my debut.

Ruggie looked back at us, his eyes finding mine as a sharp-toothed grin slid onto his face, “Right this way, you two. He’s right in here.”

He gestured through the doorway, and somehow it almost felt like a warning and a threat all at once.

It wouldn’t be so bad if I weren’t for that fact that I was about to be dealing with the man who’d seen me flounder around during my debut in my official capacity as the Hunter. Because the fact this was going to be him, meant I wasn’t going to be able to just coast through on the fear factor of being the Hunter. 

Sam glanced at me, his eyebrows raising slightly, before I forced myself to start walking forward. Pretending like nothing was amiss.

I couldn’t make myself look weak or unprepared in front of a horde of vampires. Especially when one of them would no doubt be reporting back to Crowley about how I handled all of this.

Sam didn’t seem like a bad guy, but that didn’t mean I could wholly trust him. Not when, so far as I could tell, he worked for Crowley, who was holding my safety over my head as a means to make me do what he wanted.

I walked past Ruggie, who was snickering slightly, like he knew exactly how nervous I was as I passed through the door. And I immediately locked eyes with those same bright green eyes that I recalled from that not-so-distant night that felt like it had been eons ago. But then I somehow doubted I would ever be able to totally forget those eyes.

And the very instant I saw the recognition flicker in his gaze, I felt exactly like I’d just walked, unprepared, into a lion’s den.

“Leona, allow me to introduce the new Hunter. This is Y/n L/n,” I fought not to grimace as Sam introduced me with a smile while I stared with no small amount of worry at Leona who raised his eyebrows at me.

I could only hope he wouldn’t spill the beans about having been there at my debut and how unprepared I’d been since I had no idea what that would mean in regards to my situation with Crowley.

If I were lucky, the masked vampire would just drop me like a hot potato, but something told me that wouldn’t be the case, and getting in trouble with a vampire whom even Vil was wary of hardly seemed like the best decision.

But then, praying that this man would play along and not reveal that he knew me didn’t seem like a terribly bright idea either. But here I stood, praying for exactly that.

It felt like seconds were creeping by until he snorted and dragged his gaze away from me to look towards Sam, “I saw them last night, when you announced them.” I almost breathed a sigh of relief when the leonine vampire spoke. His tone filled with an almost impressive amount of indifference.

“But you aren’t here just to introduce me to the new Hunter. Are you, Sam?” The vampire leaned forward, a smirk creeping onto his face as he eyed the other vampire, who stood next to me as the door clicked shut behind us. Sealing me in to witness all of whatever was about to happen.

Sam’s grin didn’t waver as he shook his head, “No, I’m not. I’m here because Crowley sent me.” He stepped forward, tilting his head in a way that made light shine in a strangely ominous fashion across his bright pink eyes in the otherwise dim room, “You see Y/n here is also working under him.”

Leona leaned back against the pillows on the bed upon which he was reclined, his gaze becoming shuttered, his gaze barely flickering my way, “Oh?”

The word rolled out of him in an easy, unimpressed sort of manner. Making him appear as if he had no reason to be concerned about Crowley’s involvement in all of this, even though I knew Crowley was in charge of all of the clans in this area. Including the Savanaclaw Clan.

Sam nodded, but said no more, and I took that as my cue and stepped forward. Doing my best to ignore my past meeting with this man as I obediently rattled off my job description: “I have been asked to evaluate each of the clans, starting with Savanaclaw. I intend to find out what is causing so many vampires to lose themselves to insanity.”

Leona’s gaze rested on me, a hint of what seemed to be amusement present in his eyes as he stared at me before he looked back towards Sam. Waiting.

Seemingly aware of what he wanted, Sam nodded. Confirming my words with a simple motion and causing me to frown.

I knew that dealing with Leona, the man who’d seen exactly how poorly prepared I was for all of this, would be difficult. Especially since everyone was behaving as if, as the Hunter, I was someone to be feared and respected. Not the sort of person who would flounder while trying to dispatch a vampire and have to rely on another vampire who’d just happened to show up to help do the deed.

Though admittedly, that entire situation would have gone better if it hadn’t been for this man’s surprise entrance while I was dealing with the vampire I’d… ‘handled’ that night.

Nonetheless, it was still annoying to know that he would hardly even deign to accept anything I said without getting it confirmed by someone else. Almost like I was a child whose words couldn’t be trusted until their parents confirmed everything that had been said.

But through it all, Sam had been watching closely. More closely than I’d initially thought.

“Well, I’ve done my job now and have other things to handle,” He inclined his head towards Leona before looking towards me with a hand landing on my shoulder. There was a glimmer in his eyes as he turned and started to walk by me, his voice dropping to an almost imperceptible whisper, “It was a pleasure meeting you, Little Imp. I look forward to hearing of your success.”

They were words that reminded me of the wish for good luck he’d offered me both when I’d first stepped into the ball and just before I'd formally met Crowley. It made me wonder why he kept being so supportive as I watched him leave in slight surprise. Feeling out of my depth, abandoned, and incredibly confused.

The door clicked shut mercilessly behind him though, leaving me alone with a vampire who now looked at me with unconcealed amusement.

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I walked down the hallway, sandwiched by Kalim and Leona, but just behind Jamil as other vampires watched us go past them in the hallways. There gazes darting between the lot of us in surprise, confusion, and an odd degree of rather inexplicable excitement.

 Kalim leaned forward, a slight frown on his usually joyful face as he slightly outran both me and Leona while continuing to pester Jamil just like he had been since Jamil had first rejected the idea of him coming with us, “I can help! And I don’t want to see anyone get hurt!”

Jamil glanced over his shoulder, his rejection of the mere idea of Kalim joining us obvious from the very second he twisted his head, “No, Kalim. You’re not coming.”

His tone was one of a mildly annoyed parent dealing with a child begging for a toy in a store, even though this situation was anything but similar to that. But then, that was the tone he often took when dealing with Kalim.

I couldn’t deny that Kalim not coming along would make my life easier, though, and I gradually slowed my pace to hang back a bit more.

And, catching my silent signal in record time, Leona glanced at me with a mere shifting of his eyes before he matched my pace, dropping back alongside me so that there was distance between us as the Scarabia clan duo.

I glanced over at Leona and drifted a bit closer to him so that my arm was almost brushing his as I pitched my voice so that I could barely be heard over Kalim and Jamil’s ongoing disagreement, “Any ideas on how to lose Jamil?”

Leona’s eyebrows quirked up, and he looked at me more fully, his volume matching mine as his bright green eyes drilled into mine, “You don’t trust him.”

It was more of a statement than a question, but I felt the grimace appear on my face as I glanced at the backs of the two men who continued to bicker in front of us, “Not exactly… but if at all possible, I’d prefer to keep him from finding out about my…” I glanced over at Leona meaningfully, “Ineptness at my job.”

Leona looked back towards the Scarabia duo, remaining silent for a moment before he spoke again, “Did he do something?” A frown worked its way onto my face at his words. Because was it that obvious that something had happened?

I shook my head though, not bothering to question him. We had enough on our plate right now as it was, “That doesn’t really matter right now. I just don’t want him finding out that I’m not near the Hunter that a bunch of people seem to think I am.” Annoyance had crept into my tone, and Leona’s gaze slid back my way once more.

There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes this time, but he merely looked away from me once more. His stare going directly back towards Jamil. Like he was keeping an eye on the young man, and I let out a sigh.

At the very least I could keep Kalim out of it, though I was hardly worried about him. If anyone would be accepting of me not being the Hunter they expected, it would be him.

“Kalim,” I spoke quietly, but the young man heard me immediately as he paused, turning to look at me expectantly as I sped up to reach his side yet again. 

Jamil also looked back at me, but his expression was one of careful neutrality as he waited for whatever I was about to say to the head of his clan.

I’d been paying enough attention to his conversation of rejections to Kalim’s offers of assistance that I had an idea of why he didn’t want Kalim to come along.

If Jamil was a servant to the Al-Asims and apparently Kalim’s guard, then he was probably trying to keep Kalim out of any danger.

I let my hand rest on Kalim’s shoulder as I smiled at him slightly, “I understand why you want or feel like you should come along with us, but the Scarabia clan also needs its leader.”

I watched as a frown appeared on the young man’s face, and I pressed onwards. Leaning closer so that I could keep looking him in the eye even as his gaze shifted downwards, “Plus, if something goes wrong, you can send word to Crowley.”

His eyes lit up and locked onto mine, worry beginning to shine in his brilliantly red eyes. The only thing about him that truly suited being a vampire.

His voice was almost painfully soft as he reached up and took my hand from his shoulder to hold in his own grasp. His fingers wrapping around my wrist, almost like he was checking for a pulse, as his eyes searched my face, “Do you think something will go wrong, Y/n?” 

Did I? Well, anything was possible, but that wasn’t what he needed to hear. I also wasn’t going to lie to Kalim, though. Not when I had complete and utter faith that Kalim had been nothing but honest with me.

I had no evidence, but I honestly felt like he knew nothing about how Jamil had hypnotized me, that everything he’d told me hadn’t been a lie, and that his sunshiny demeanor was genuine. And even though he’d sometimes stare at my neck with slightly dilated eyes, he’d also often catch himself with a frown and look away with a slightly guilty expression. Which was possibly why I trusted him and wanted to respond to his honesty in kind.

I smiled at him slightly, “I don’t want anything to go wrong, but it’s better to be-”

“Safe than sorry,” He nodded, finishing for me with a smile before he glanced towards Jamil. Continuing to speak to me even as he looked towards his friend, “I know. Jamil always says the same thing.”

I glanced over to see Jamil look at Kalim, whom he regarded with slightly furrowed brows. His expression shifting to a distinctly more carefully controlled one as his gaze met mine. And I knew perfectly well, from that alone, that the mere appearance of Leona had him on edge when it came to trusting me. Though why, I didn’t really know.

But even then, I swallowed slightly. Because I couldn’t be entirely sure what to make of the subtle shift in Jamil’s expression, even as I looked back towards Kalim to see the young man smiling at me as he nodded slightly, “I’ll stay here then. But all three of you should be careful.”

He glanced at each of the other three of us in turn, finishing with me before he let go of my hand and stepped backwards. Almost like he was releasing us to go on without him.

I smiled at him but remained silent as Jamil spoke up, “Follow me then. I’ll take you to the parking deck in question….” He trailed off as I turned to face him, and Leona came up alongside me, crossing his arms as he stopped next to me.

And I watched as Jamil looked between the two of us. Unknown thoughts racing through his mind as a frown appeared on his face before he turned on his heel. Walking forward once more and leaving us to follow him.

I glanced at a clock as we went by, noting the time. It wasn’t too late in the evening, so we’d have time, but I still found myself glancing towards Jamil even as I addressed both of the men who walked with me, “If it gets too late in the evening, both of you should head back. I’ll be able to handle the vampire on my own.”

Jamil nodded sharply at my words even as Leona side-eyed meaningfully. I made a slight face at the leonine vampire before my attention was pulled back to the other young man as he spoke, “Thank you for convincing Kalim to stay behind.”

I nodded silently, noting how Leona’s eyebrows rose at Jamil’s quiet words even though he stayed silent as we approached the exit of the Scarabia clan.

We emerged into the quiet, but clear-skied night, and Jamil immediately turned to face me, his voice oddly clipped as he gestured to me lightly, “It’s a fair distance. It would be faster if one of us carried you.”

I immediately drifted towards Leona before freezing as I noted the way Jamil was eyeing the two of us. 

I glanced at Leona, who looked at me half-expectantly, but even then I hesitated. Truthfully, I really didn’t want to let Jamil tote me any distance at all.

And in many ways, that was unfair, considering he really hadn’t done anything since my first day at the Scarabia clan. But it was also true that my tenure at the Scarabia clan had also seemed to race by so far and that I was still wary of him.

Plus, I also had my deal with Leona to consider.

Leona ought to be faster than Jamil considering the fact he was a were-creature as well as a vampire. I had no doubts that he could get there before Jamil would and try to work some magic on the rogue vampire we would be dealing with.

It would be an easy way to uphold my deal with Leona without outing him and give me a chance to figure out a game plan. The only drawback was that I would be alone with Jamil and have to fully trust him. But I could do that. Because surely he wouldn’t be so foolish as to try and pull something right now, of all times.

I exhaled slightly, meeting Leona’s gaze as I spoke as calmly as possible, knowing exactly what the best decision was even if I didn’t necessarily like it, “Leona, you go on ahead and see if you can find this vampire.” 

He was silent, his gaze holding mine before he nodded. And I knew that he’d already realized that this was the opening I was giving him to try and redeem this rogue vampire before it was too late.

And though I knew it meant that I would be having to trust Jamil to not hypnotize me yet again, I stepped back and away from Leona while simultaneously stepping closer to where Jamil stood, swallowing thickly as I finished, “Me and Jamil will catch up.” 

Leona’s eyes held mine for another brief second before flickering over to look at Jamil silently. He frowned slightly, and I could hear Jamil shift from behind me, almost like he was bracing himself. But then the were-lion turned. Getting ready to take off before glancing back over his shoulder. His eyes immediately snapping over to where I stood, “See you there.”

If I’d blinked, I would have completely missed him taking off at an unimaginably fast run. Far faster than how he’d moved when he’d been carrying me back home all those nights ago when I’d fallen asleep on his back, but probably similar to the speeds Jack had moved at.

I pressed my lips together before I turned. Looking directly at Jamil, who met my gaze before walking over towards me and holding out an arm, almost like he was asking for permission to pick me up before he spoke. His eyebrows lifting in a way that almost struck me as smug. Like he’d won some sort of challenge.

“Shall we?”

I hesitated before nodding slightly and walking over to him as he turned, obviously indicating that this was going to be a piggyback situation. And, honestly, that was far preferable.

Somehow, piggybacking seemed far more comfortable than any other alternative. At least this way he could hypnotize me because there would be no eye contact.

But even then, from the very second we took off, I knew this was going to be beyond an uncomfortable trip.

I stayed silent as Jamil ran forward at incredible speeds, piggybacking me as he zipped along. Totally unimpeded by my weight. 

My mind raced as I did my best to come up with a plan in which this vampire issue could be handled in a way that wouldn’t result in Jamil finding out about my ineptitude or my deal with Leona.

In a perfect world, Leona would be able to handle this issue, and the vampire would be spared. Somehow cured of insanity.

But I couldn’t rely on that, no matter how much I wanted that to be what occurred.

Frankly, I didn’t even know if such a thing was possible. And coming up with a method to accomplish what I wanted was easier said than done.

“That man... Leona Kingscholar… Is he an ally of yours? Like Vil?” Jamil’s sudden, cautious question jarred me out of my thoughts and had me shifting to look over at him slightly.

“Yes… He’s the one of the people I ended up working with at the Savanaclaw clan… Why?” I could feel my brow furrowing as I answered him in confusion.

“So you trust him?” Jamil answered me with another question, and I suddenly understood.

He was wanting to make sure Leona would be a worthwhile helper. Which was very Jamil, but also rather laughable considering who we were talking about.

“Yes, Leona can handle himself quite well and is someone I’m perfectly comfortable with relying on,” As I spoke, I realized that it was true. I really did trust Leona. 

I trusted him, Jack, and Ruggie.

Because even if Leona did strike me as lazy, he’d also never let me down and had even helped me out numerous times in perfectly unexpected ways.

My time at the Savanaclaw clan had resulted in me gaining more allies even though when I’d first gone there, I’d feared the only friends I would have in the world of vampires would be Vil, Rook, and Epel.

And I could say that I’d made friends at the Scarabia clan too. Though I hadn’t known him long, Kalim was kind and seemed incredibly genuine in the concern he’d shown towards me.

The only question that remained was exactly where I stood with Jamil.

I knew he wasn’t exactly happy with his situation as a servant, and I couldn’t blame him there, but that didn’t explain the hypnosis matter, and that was the main issue that remained. 

Apparently Jamil had to keep Kalim safe, so was it possible that he thought I was a threat to Kalim? Or was it all more related to him not wanting to have to go back to the Al-Asim clan?

I was steadily reaching the point where I wanted to just outright question him, but I also suspected that wouldn’t go over exactly well.

Even if I hadn’t been dealing with him for very long, I could say that Jamil struck me as someone who kept his secrets carefully.

And now wasn’t the time for any of those questions anyway. Even if I didn’t really think he would do anything too drastic, it being just the two of us right now increased the risk. And though it was true I was on his back, which made eye contact impossible, it was also true that we were currently racing towards a rogue vampire.

Right now, I had bigger issues to tackle. I would just have to wait to interrogate Jamil about the entire hypnosis deal.

Especially since we were coming up on the parking deck very quickly.

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I don’t know what I’d expected to see when I reached the Scarabia clan and headed over to let Kalim and Jamil know I’d arrived, but it certainly wasn’t a fuzzy-eared vampire.

Much less a highly familiar, leonine one who met my startled gaze with an incredibly nonchalant look as his long tail flicked from side to side.

“Leona?” His name was the first thing out of my mouth, and Kalim immediately let out a laugh at my shocked tone that had Jamil practically glowering at him.

“Long time no see Herbivore. We’ve been waiting for you,” Leona’s eyebrows arched, his face a perfectly unimpressed mask that had me blinking in surprise before I felt that surprise melt into wariness as I finished entering the room.

I wasn’t wary because of him, though. After my time at the Savanclaw clan, I knew where I stood with Leona. 

But I was wary of why he was here. Especially if the trio assembled here had been waiting on me.

I walked over to the cushion next to Kalim and across from Leona before I plopped down, eyeing Leona all the way as I questioned him, “Why?”

Leona leaned back, ever-relaxed despite the fact he was in a clan that wasn’t his own, and propped himself on one muscled arm as he tilted his head. His bright green eyes staying locked onto mine as he spoke, “There’s a rogue vampire.”

I frowned immediately at his words, shaking my head slightly, but I didn’t get to question him since Jamil spoke first.

Impressively, his voice was even more wary than mine had been as he shifted on the cushion that was on Kalim’s other side, “Forgive me for interrupting, but what does this have to do with the Scarabia clan?”

Leona’s gaze flickered over to him, resting there silently before his expression shifted to something more smug as he seemingly picked up on something about the other young man, “Two things.”

 The were-lion held up a hand, showing only two fingers that went down as he listed his reasons, “One, the Herbivore is here. Two, the vampire is hanging around your clan.”

Jamil’s frown deepened at Leona’s words, and I sat forward, ready to take the opening as soon as it came, but again I was stopped. 

This time it was Kalim who spoke up with an expression that was a mixture of confusion and concern. The complete opposite of the happy way he’d smiled at me when I’d first come in, “But why are you the one telling Y/n? Shouldn’t it be one of the head-vampire’s men?” 

At Kalim’s words, Jamil’s gaze darted over towards me, and I shifted awkwardly. More evidence that Crowley might not fully trust me. And while Jamil already knew that my relationship with Crowley was hardly the best for that of an employer and an employee, I preferred to avoid letting him know the specifics of my employment.

“I’m telling the Herbivore because I’m the one who knows,” Leona’s voice was bored as he turned to look back my way. Forcefully turning the conversation back towards me and covering for me for what felt like the umpteenth time since I’d met him as he continued, addressing me this time, “They attacked one of the members of the Savanaclaw clan.”

I leaned forward immediately, my hand flattening itself on the brightly tiled floor as I stared at him. Worry creeping into my tone, “Who?”

Faces of members of the Savanclaw clan flashed through my head as Leona stared back at me. But he wasn’t the only one staring. Kalim gazed at me with that same concerned expression while Jamil watched me closely. 

I didn’t know if he was looking for a clue as to my relationship with the Savanaclaw clan or something else, but at the moment I truly didn’t care. All I really cared about was whether or not my friends were alright.

My eyes stayed on Leona, who held my gaze silently before speaking, uttering a single name that had me going still, “Jack.”

I felt myself exhale slightly, and I must have shifted since I felt the chain of my necklace slide slightly against my neck before I spoke, breaking the heavy silence even as the only thing I could think about was the young man that I’d befriended as he’d accompanied throughout the Savanaclaw clan, “I- Is he alright?”

My voice was surprisingly level despite the worry that shot through me at the mere thought of Jack being hurt, and Leona nodded, sighing slightly with the motion before he spoke, “He’s fine. But I’m here to make sure it doesn’t happen again. My brother agreed that I should come and inform you as well as see to it that this gets handled.”

His brother. That was the actual head of the Savanclaw clan.

I’d never met him, but if he’d agreed, then there was little Jamil could do to send Leona away, even if he wanted to. And, judging from his tone earlier, he was none too pleased to have Leona here.

Leona’s gaze still held mine even as my mind raced, but I nodded grimly nonetheless. Perfectly understanding what he meant. This was another chance for him to stop a vampire and hopefully save them before I had to step in and finish the job.

“We’ll help too!” Kalim’s hand found mine, grasping it with surprising tightness as he leaned forward and spoke. Looking at me with bright, incredibly earnest eyes as I initially blinked at him in surprise.

But then I found myself relaxed as I smiled slightly at the young man. It was touching that he was so open to helping with a job that was beyond unpleasant, but I shook my head slightly, “Kalim, that’s-”

“I’ll handle that then,” Jamil interrupted, causing me to turn to look at him with growing frustration. Even if Kalim didn’t mean to create such openings, Jamil was amazing at using the other young man’s words to steamroll into a situation.

I managed a smile though, as my voice slipped out with barely concealed frustration, “Thank you, but that really isn’t necessary.”

Jamil looked my way, shaking his head as he smoothly continued pushing his way into the matter, “No. If this vampire is hiding close to the Scarabia clan, the situation could easily be misunderstood. Not doing anything could lead to others believing that we are assisting them or even worsening the issue with the number of insane vampires.”

I found myself faltering, realizing exactly where Jamil was going with this even as he finished, “Helping you to stop them will help give us the evidence you need to prove our innocence.”

He turned then, though, startling me as he looked towards Leona, who’d been watching us in silence, “Thank you for informing both us and the Hunter of this matter. I understand your point, but you need not stay here. I’m sure your clan will be needing you anyway since you are the head’s second.”

I blinked in slight shock at Jamil before looking towards Leona, whose eyebrows had merely lifted as he’d listened to the other young man.

He straightened now though, a frown appearing on his face as he shifted, straightening and, all at once, suddenly looking far more imposing than anyone else in this room, “Maybe so, but the clan head is who sent me, so I will be involving myself since this vampire has already bothered my clan.”

With those words that brooked no argument, he looked my way. Utterly dismissing both Jamil and any further ideas of him not being involved in this as he questioned me, even as Jamil stared at him in obvious shock, “Any ideas where this vampire might be hiding Herbivore?”

It was almost impressive how smoothly he batted the conversation back into my playing field while also making it perfectly clear who he viewed as the authority on this entire matter.

And though I never would’ve expected it when I’d first come to the Savanaclaw clan, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had my back. And right now, with Jamil behaving in the strangely evasive way he was right now, I was thankful. 

I frowned slightly though as I thought back to the surrounding area around the hotel, “There are several alleyways that lead to the backs of buildings, but I don’t know that any vampire could safely hide there very long… but if they are insane, they might not be thinking clearly.”

Leona shook his head, continuing to ignore the now annoyed Jamil, “No. Avoiding the sunlight is like a basic instinct for us. Even when insane, that's a concern.”

Jamil shifted, crossing his arms and looking over at me, apparently giving up on keeping Leona out of this despite his annoyed expression, “The only way a vampire would go into sunlight would be if they were starving and desperate.”

Leona's gaze barely flickered over to Jamil before he was looking back my way once more, in an almost pointed fashion, “Especially if the meal were particularly tantalizing.”

I didn’t even bother hiding my grimace at his words as I nodded. It hadn’t ever happened, but I wasn’t entirely surprised by the idea that a starving vampire might dive out at me in excitement. After all, even well-fed vampires were known to eye me as if I were a particularly tasty-looking snack. And I had certainly been dove at before.

Kalim sat forward, earning everyone’s gaze as he spoke, “I might know a spot!”

He looked over at me, his hand finding its way to my shoulder as he leaned closer to me, “There’s an old parking deck not far from here that people don’t go near.”

I frowned slightly, trying to think of where he was talking about before my eyes widened as I recalled the place in question. Leona spoke first though, nodding slowly, “The one people think criminals hide in.”

Kalim nodded excitedly, looking towards the other man briefly before he looked back my way, “Do you think they could be there?”

I nodded, a smile slipping onto my face despite our topic of conversation, “Seems to be our best option. There wouldn’t be any sun in there, and no one goes near it, so the vampire wouldn’t have to worry about being found.”

Kalim smiled at me, seemingly delighted that he’d figured out our vampire’s potential hiding place. But soon I was looking away from him with a frown working its way onto my face. Because now there was only one thing left to do.

Hunt down the vampire and stop him. Whatever means of stopping them it ended up coming.

I looked over at Leona only to find him already looking at me, and I pressed my lips together before I spoke, “You’re coming with me, right?”

He nodded, already shifting so that he was standing and looking down at me before his gaze flickered over towards Jamil, who was looking my way as he spoke, “I’ll come too. But should we wait?”

I glanced over at him in confusion, “Why?”

Jamil eyed me silently for a moment before at last speaking, “If this vampire has already attacked another vampire, then they’re probably quite desperate for food.”

It took a moment before the meaning behind his words registered, but when they did, I swallowed slightly.

Desperate for food… And I would be going out to handle it. Suddenly Leona’s words about a particularly tantalizing meal held new gravity.

I shook my head though, pushing myself up into a standing position and looking down at Jamil even as everyone in the room stared at me, “We can’t wait though. Not until it attacks and kills someone.”

His gaze held mine, a brief flash of surprise going through his dark eyes as I finished, “The sooner we handle this, the better.”

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I glanced over at Ruggie slightly, and he nodded his head in silence before pushing open the door to Leona’s room. He called out to the other man, but didn’t follow me as I walked in. And almost as soon as I’d entered, bright green eyes already had me pointed, almost rooting me to the spot with a single glance.

Leona sat up lethargically, his tail swishing through the air as he yawned, perfectly displaying his large fangs before he stared at me in undisguised disinterest as the door clicked shut behind me, “Got rid of your boss’s lackey, did you?”

He blinked at me lazily as I nodded, not entirely sure of how to start now that I was here. So instead, I just answered his question, “He wanted a report, but someone will be back in just a few days.”

He let out an unimpressed sound that was a bizarre cross between a grunt and a hum, “No surprise there.” 

I watched as he looked listlessly out the window, like none of this had anything to do with him. But as my gaze tracked his motions, I frowned slightly. Pondering the man in front of me before I continued, “They’re just going to keep coming until they’re satisfied with what I’ve found here.”

His ears twitched at my words, but there was no other motion from him as he responded in a nonchalant tone, “Then I guess you’d better get everything figured out then.”

I felt my frown deepen at his words. They were a not-so-subtle signal that he did not care about how things panned out for me. And in many rights, I couldn’t blame him. After all, none of this was really his mess, and he hardly knew me.

But his indifference also wasn't something I couldn’t accept. Because even if my situation didn't mean a thing to him, I needed his help if I was going to accomplish what Crowley wanted and to protect those important to me.

I stepped closer, subtly pushing him to listen as I spoke, “You have an interest in what’s going on with the vampires. Why not help figure all of this out?”

He turned, looking my way with a snort before he spoke, a grin curving across his face as his gaze collided with mine in a perfectly unforgiving fashion, “And what makes you think I have any interest in that?”

I listened silently as he continued from his reclined, utterly relaxed position. Doing my best not to grimace even as his words rang true, “I’m not the leader of this clan. My brother is. All I have to do is make sure everything doesn’t crumble to dust while he’s away.”

I stared him down, my hands clenching slightly as I stood firm while he smirked back at me. And I had to hand it to him. He was a good actor. 

If it weren’t for the fact that he’d intervened when I’d fought that vampire, like he wanted to save him, then I would have genuinely believed he didn’t care. After all, what he said was true. Nothing about this situation was in any way his to handle.

Though it had only been a few days, ever since I’d come to Savanaclaw Clan, I’d hardly seen him, and he really hadn’t seemed to care at all. But there was what Ruggie had told me when he’d led me here just moments ago.

“You don’t want to get on his bad side, Y/n. He’s been having Jack and me look out for you to keep you safe.”

At first I hadn’t believed the young man, but then I’d gotten to thinking about it. The way the vampires in the hallways eyed me with more than just curious interest or hostility. Because there was always that gleam in their eye. Like they saw something truly intriguing and perhaps even tempting.

And then there was the way I’d felt like I was being watched in the hallways, but could never find anyone staring at me.

Those things, paired with Ruggie’s words, were a reminder that I wasn’t just the vampire hunter. I was also a human that vampires seemed to find either appetizing or attractive. 

The difference wasn’t entirely clear, but based on past experience, something told me it wasn’t the latter. And in a clan, surrounded by vampires who would probably win in a fight despite all the training Rook had given me, the weapons strapped to my person, and Vil’s necklace hanging around my throat, it wasn’t a good thing to be appetizing.

I swallowed as I continued to hold Leona’s gaze, not backing down now that I’d chosen this fight, “On the night of my debut, you didn’t want me to kill that vampire.” 

My assertion caused the man to go still, a frown appearing on his face as I found myself stepping forward. Pushing whatever advantage it was that I may or may not have. No matter how slight it might be.

Because whether I felt uncomfortable or not, and whether this would be difficult or not, Crewel was right. I needed Leona on my side if I was going to get anywhere with this investigation of the Savannaclaw clan.

I was only sorry that I hadn’t started pushing for this sooner. Especially since I had no clue as to how to go about winning Leona’s trust.

“You tried to talk to him first. Like you wanted to help him,” I continued, praying that my evaluation of Leona’s actions from that night was right. But it really had seemed like that was the case. Like he’d wanted to bring that vampire back from the brink.

All smugness had completely faded from Leona's face as he held my stare, and he didn’t even move when he responded, “Even if that is the case, what good would helping you do for me?”

His tone was flat, unhesitating, and like a death nail in my plan. “I-” I faltered, grimacing slightly as I realized exactly how right he was as he stood.

And he walked towards me. Prowling forwards, as if he’d sensed the weakness in my argument the very instant he’d touched upon it.

“You’ve been hiding behind others all this time, Herbivore, and, from what I’ve seen, you barely have the skills to make it as a vampire hunter. Why would I pick an herbivore like you, who's been hiding behind a vampire all this time, as an ally?”

He was right in front of me now, mere inches away, and I felt myself go still at his words as I realized, with startling clarity, that he wasn’t talking about me letting Jack and Ruggie shield me from the Savanaclaw clan or even my using Crowley or my status as a vampire hunter for protection.

No, he was talking about Vil.

“You… You knew about Vil?” My voice was infinitely quiet as I faltered at the realization, but the possibilities frightened me. Because if he knew about Vil, how long had the clans known about me? 

I’d known Vil was shielding me from a good number of vampires when he’d declared my apartment was part of his turf, but had that number included the clans, of all things?

Surprise briefly danced through his too-bright green eyes before Leona grinned. Not the usual smirk that I’d already grown used to. No, it was a wide grin, filled with incredulous amusement. Like I’d just said the last thing he’d ever expected.

“We’ve known that Vil was keeping a pet long before you ever decided to become the Hunter. How could we not when your mere scent had vampires scurrying around like flies after fruit?”

I let myself take a single step backwards as I faltered once more under the weight of this revelation.

I’d thought only Crowley had known the specifics of my presence, but there were others?

“How long?” My voice was surprisingly firm as I met Leona’s gaze once more and his eyebrows lifted slightly.

But he just answered me, “Shortly before Halloween, two years ago.”

I looked away from him again as my brain raced to put together the details. Halloween, two years ago. That was when Rook had ensured me and Vil had met.

Had he known? Was that why he’d introduced us?

I distantly recalled Rook's words, my mind spiraling at the possibilities as they rang in my mind like a harsh echo, “Because you needed more protection than I could offer and he needed a friend.”

More protection than he could offer…. The Savanaclaw Clan on its own was huge; I couldn’t imagine the number of vampires that populated all of the clans. It had to be immense and easily more than Rook could have handled on his own.

I swallowed under Leona’s stare. It was a gaze that reminded me of the night I debuted. Weighing, judging, but patient.

But I met his green-eyed stare once more. Determination welling up within me as I realized exactly how long I’d been being protected without even realizing how much danger I’d been in. 

I would have to talk to both Vil and Rook about this, but I had something else to do first. I still had to win over Leona.

Turnabout's fair-play, and it was past time for me to start taking care of those who’d been protecting me for so long. Even if it meant having to solve a mystery that even those who were in charge of an entire district of vampires didn’t know the answer too.

“You asked what good me helping you would be. I may not be the best at the job, but I am still the vampire hunter and in charge of this area because of Crowley.” Leona’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t interrupt as I continued. Offering him the only thing I could.

“I won’t ‘handle’ any of your clan’s vampires before you have a chance to try and help them or do whatever it was you were trying to do that night. And when I figure this entire mess out, you’ll be one of the first to know.”

He crossed his arms, looking fairly unimpressed as I prayed that he’d accept. I knew it wasn’t a good deal, but it was all I had.

“And then? If you get all of the cause of the insanity figured out? What will you do then?” His words surprised me. But it was then I understood.

All this time, he’d been measuring me. Deciding how worthwhile I really was.

I held his stare as I answered, “Then I end it. I’ll eradicate the source if that’s what it takes.”

A grin stretched across his face, his canines, larger than those that Vil had, glinting in the moonlight that shone through the window as his eyes practically glowed in the darkness, “Perhaps you’re tougher than you seemed.”

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I stiffened as I heard what sounded distinctly like a roar. My arms tightening slightly as Jack skidded to halt at the exact same time a second sound filled the air, this one more of an enraged shriek.

Wordlessly, I slid off Jack’s back, and he looked my way. I nodded at him before handing him the slip of paper, doing my best to keep my hands from shaking or showing any level of the concerns I currently felt, “Go on. You don’t have much time before you’ll need to be getting back to your clan. And tell them not to try and visit me tonight. There won’t be time.”

Jack nodded solemnly but stopped me with a hand to my wrist, gentle but firm as he pulled me to a gentle halt as I started off towards the sounds, “Be careful, Y/n.”

I met his golden-eyed stare silently, before nodding with a slight smile that barely made its way to my face, “I will. Thank you.” I stepped backwards, away from him, as I pulled my wrist free of his grasp, “I’ll see you tomorrow night, Jack.”

He nodded once more, a myriad of emotions battling there on his face, as I turned and trotted off into the darkness. Knowing he stared after me until I rounded the corner and left his view.

I could only hope he’d do as I requested and not follow me.

It was ridiculous, knowing that everyone knew who I was and what job I had, but I still wanted to keep those I’d befriended as far away from this job of mine as possible. Though I doubted there was any way of hiding this from Leona since he was already here and had already seen me during my debut.

But I didn’t want them to think of me as the executioner of their people, even if that’s what I was. Even if that was what Crowley had made me.

I ran through the dark streets, following the sounds and pausing only to pull out the crossbow Rook had given me. It could only handle distance attacks, but if that were possible, that was what Rook had recommended.

From a more cold perspective, it was easier to kill a vampire from a distance by pulling a trigger than plunging the same stake into their chest, and it was certainly safer.

It wasn’t long before I ran across them, coming to a halt as soon as I spotted the two men facing off.

 Leona stood, breathing hard as he stared across the space at the other vampire. He had bloody marks on his arms from where claws had been dug in, and a certain degree of frustration played its way across his face.

At odds with him, the other vampire appeared to almost revel in the fight. Purely mad, with ripped-up clothes as he licked his lips excitedly. 

I almost grimaced at the sight; it was horrifying to see that the disease that helped them to survive for such a long period of time could also reduce them to such a state.

This was the vampires that came to mind when one considered the horror stories that were always so popular. Monsters that lived off the lifeblood of others without a single thought to the death, sorrow, and pain caused by their actions.

One of Leona’s ears twitched, and I saw him glance my way without actually turning his head. Almost like he was trying to keep the other vampire from noticing me.

He swallowed like he was trying to down a bitter medicine before he slowly nodded. I pressed my lips together, fully understanding his meaning, before I lifted the weapon and aimed. 

I had no doubts that Leona had done his best, but now it came to this. One of the leaders of the clan had agreed, sentencing this vampire to his execution.

My eyes widened though as a sensation like someone running a cold finger down my spine shuddered through me.

The vampire’s eyes, reddened with madness, shifted to where I stood, and time seemed to slow as his grin spread. I distantly heard Leona shout something as deranged delight splayed its way across the vampire’s face before he moved.

I fired, but wasted no time in throwing myself to the side. Somehow already realizing that stake would not reach its mark.

Cracks shuddered through the wall I’d just been standing in front of as the vampire slammed into the stone. He hadn’t been holding himself back at all when he’d thrown himself at me.

High, deranged hissing filled the air as he pulled his hand out of the stone, and I realized, with a creeping horror, he was laughing.

He twisted, his eyes somehow glistening under the little light that surrounded us as I shoved my hand into my bag. My hand closing around a new stake, the smooth wood oddly warm in my cold hand. Almost like it was promising me that so long as my aim was true, it would be reliable.

“And so,” I felt myself freeze as it spoke. My eyes going wide at his raspy words, “The precious little morsel of a hunter becomes the hunted.”

I stepped backwards as he faced me fully, almost seeming to gloat in its power as it fell silent. Spreading his arms like he was telling me to take my shot.

I faltered slightly as I went ahead and pulled my weapon the rest of the way out of the bag. This one had more sense than the other one’d had.

“Leona, are you sure you can’t get this one back?” My voice wavered a bit but was respectively level as I spoke. But adrenaline was rapidly taking over as a cold calm crept into my mind that I knew would flee the very instant I felt safe.

I’d been here before. Treated like prey before a vampire. I recognized the feeling now, but it was different now. I knew how to fight now.

Leona was standing on the other side of the vampire from me, his voice practically a growl as he responded, “Positive…. Just do it, Herbivore.”

I nodded, waiting for the very second the vampire shifted, preparing to launch to throw myself forward.

It was like barrelling into a wall, and I felt the man grasp my shoulders, his claws easily tearing through my shirt and slicing into my skin.

He inhaled sharply, breathing in deeply as if he were smelling something delightful as soon as my blood touched the air, and I grimaced, fighting to push the stake into his chest.

He hissed suddenly though and curled around me slightly, and somehow I could tell his attention had shifted from me to where I could now hear Leona snarling behind him. 

  I hadn’t time to question any of it though as I continued to push forward. Grimacing against the pain in my shoulders as the vampire stumbled backwards. Losing his footing as he focused on whatever was happening behind him.

His back hit the earth hard, and he gasped, jerking forward from the pressure of his fall and shoving himself onto the stake.

His eyes found mine as I stared down at him in slight shock, my hands already beginning to tremble as his blood bubbled up around the stake. And I saw nothing but hatred in the depths of those eyes as he hissed, snapping at me before falling backwards, impaled on the stake by his own motions.

I jerked myself off him, further tearing my shirt from where his claws had still been dug into my skin as I whirled, only to see Leona fighting another, new vampire.

My breaths came in pants slightly, and my legs were already trembling as I darted towards where my bag lay abandoned, the crossbow ready to load and fire in an instant.

My hands snatched at the weapon as I ripped another stake from the bag and loaded it hurriedly. My hands slipped on the wood as I silently cursed myself for not being more deft.

I raised it, leaning back to fire it as I shouted, “LEONA!!”

The young man let out something disturbingly akin to a roar, his large fangs, larger than the ones on the woman he was holding off himself, bared. He shoved one foot against the other vampire, kicking her off of himself.

The other vampire slammed into the abandoned crates with a shriek, and I aimed, ready for her the very second she emerged from the wood. But she wasn’t looking at Leona. No, she was looking at me and barreling forward. A maniacal grin on her face, like she didn’t see the weapon I held aimed at her. 

I fired in a panicked rush, but there was no way I could miss, and the stake found its target as she bore down on me.

She fell forward, landing on me as she already began to dissolve into ashes, and I felt the crossbow fall from my numb fingers.

The words from the previous vampire danced through my mind like a bad omen, mocking me as I stared at the ash that now covered my lap that had been a vampire.

“And so the precious little morsel of a hunter becomes the hunted.”

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“Herbivore,” Leona’s voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts as he grasped my shoulder, and I immediately hissed as his hand hit one of the injuries from the first vampire. 

He grimaced, realizing what had happened immediately as he let go of my still bleeding injury before his motions stilled. And I watched in silence as he stared in an oddly numb fashion at the red that now painted his palm.

I swallowed thickly at the blank look on his face, a cold feeling swirling in my belly before I at last spoke, my voice coming surprisingly level, “Leona.”

His gaze lifted, so that it was blankly meeting my eyes, and for a brief moment I could feel myself starting to tense. And then his fingers curled into his palm until new blood burst forth from his fingernails and an almost frustrated frown appeared on his face. But that blank look was gone from his eyes.

I stared at his hand for another moment, not wanting to ponder the fact that it had taken him injuring himself to snap himself out of whatever that had been, before I forced myself to look at him.

“Where did that other vampire come from?” He shook his head at my words, glancing into the shadows like he was looking for something that only he could see before he let out what I could only describe as a displeased sigh.

“I don’t know. She just popped up, like a mad woman on a hunt.” He paused, his gaze shifting back towards where I still sat before continuing, “Almost like she smelled something.”

I grimaced at his words but nodded. They only confirmed my suspicions. Crowley had said that vampires' attraction to me would only make finding crazed vampires easier, and it looked like he was unfortunately right.

Not that I was surprised.

I reached up, wrapping one hand around one of my shoulders as if that would help. The bleeding had already begun to slow, but I didn’t need to stay out here any longer. Who knew how many more might show up. And I didn’t think me or Leona were prepared for that.

Especially considering his initial reaction to my blood that still painted the palm of his hand, now mixed with his own blood from where he’d just injured himself.

“I should get home. Before any others show up.” Leona only nodded at my words, standing from his crouched position before glancing back down at where I still knelt on the ground.

“You had Jack leave, right?” It was phrased as a question, but something about his tone told me he already knew the answer even before I nodded.

I shoved the crossbow back in my bag before slowly standing, frowning at how weak my legs felt now that the adrenaline had fled my system. But I made myself walk over and pull the other stake out of the ground. The pile of ashes surrounding it was the only sign there had ever been a body there, similar to the ashes that had coated my pants until I’d stood.

I stared at the piece of wood in my hands silently for a moment before shoving it into my bag as well and turning to look at where Leona stood behind me. Staring at me silently with who knows what thoughts going through his head as he held out the other stake that had killed the female vampire.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” My voice was surprisingly quiet as I took the wood from him, but my words brought a frown to his face in almost record time.

“No. You aren’t coming to the clan tomorrow. Not with those wounds.” His words brooked no argument, but I still found myself trying even as I finished putting the stake away and started zipping my bag shut.

“But-”

“No buts. You coming around like that would just result in a frenzy. You already reek of blood anyway. You aren’t coming to the clan until you’re recovered.” His words were final, and, unfortunately, he had a good point.

If my scent really was what had brought that other vampire here, then he was right. I had no business going to a place literally filled with vampires.

But his words also had me frowning. I already reeked of blood anyway. 

In a flash, the image of that blank, almost hollow look on his face came back to mind and I shook my head. Cutting off my train of thought before it could go any further.

 I didn’t want to ponder what had been going through his mind as he’d stared at my blood. That was a rabbit hole I just wasn’t ready for yet. Not when I figured that I knew exactly where it would lead.

“Then I guess I’ll be going….” I trailed off, not sure of what else to say, even though the two of us had just been fighting to keep ourselves alive against other vampires. 

Though, admittedly, Leona’s situation hadn’t been quite as drastic as mine was. But I hadn’t exactly liked his position with that lady vampire. Like she’d had him pinned down, and he’d been doing all he could to keep her from jumping onto me while my back was turned. 

At a disadvantage solely because he was having to protect me.

“Not like that you aren’t,” His flat words had me freezing, looking down at my ripped clothes and then back at him in slight confusion.

“It’ll be okay; no one will see me and-”

“And you’ll probably get attacked by another vampire since you’re walking around leaking blood. You’d practically be advertising yourself as free food walking home like you are,” Leona crossed his arms as he explained dryly. His words caused me to frown at just how accurate they probably were.

He let out a sigh before holding out his hand and gesturing me over with a single twitch of his fingers, “C’mere.” 

And, for a brief moment, I was simply confused until I figured out what he meant. I shook my head, feeling oddly like a petulant child, as I huffed out a response and crossed my arms at the same time, “I can walk.”

He snorted, his eyebrows arching in a purely mocking fashion, “Sure you can, but you’ll be pokey the whole way. If I want to get home before sunrise, you’re getting carried.”

I held his gaze for a brief moment before sighing in defeat. He was right. It would be far faster if I just let him carry me. Even if that was the last thing I wanted.

It’d been different with Jack. That had been an urgent situation. Somehow this just felt more humiliating.

But I walked over as he turned, squatting slightly so that I could clammer up and onto his back more easily. 

I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, and his arms hooked under my knees as he stood, shifting only slightly under my weight. And as frustrating as it was, I could already feel exhaustion sweeping over me even as I did my best to not succumb and just flop against Leona’s back.

I opened my mouth to direct him only for him to take off before I could speak. Heading in the exact directions of my apartment.

“You know where I live?” I could even hear the astonishment in my voice, and I felt him chuckle more than I actually heard it before he responded.

“Most vampires do. After all, Vil made it perfectly clear that none of us were to go near the place,” His voice was filled with an almost mocking amusement.

I managed a small, “Oh,” as the brief burst of alertness I’d gotten from my surprise gave way, once more, to pure weariness. Causing me to fall silent as I pondered everything that Vil had done for me. 

But I also had a lot of other questions. 

What was the real cause of the vampire’s insanity? How could I stop it? Just how much had I been protected by Vil? And what came after I’d figured out the insanity matter? Would Crowley just drop me like a hot potato? 

It really didn't feel like I could just quit being the vampire hunter after everything was resolved though. After all, being the Hunter was a job that seemed pretty important since it kept innocent people from being attacked.

I couldn’t let what happened to Epel happen again.

But then, if I really was able to get rid of the insanity issue then maybe vampire hunters wouldn’t be needed anymore. But then what would I do then? 

Crowley didn’t seem to want me lingering on the outer edges of the world of vampires like I had been, and both Rook and Vil had implied that once I entered this world, there would be no leaving.

I blinked wearily, yawning slightly and earning myself a side eye from the young man carrying me, “Oi, don’t go falling asleep on me,” 

He jostled me lightly, and, despite his slightly rough tone, I found myself nodding with a slight smile, “Yeah, I won’t…. I’ll stay awake until I get home. Promise.”

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