The Hunter Becomes the Hunted

It did not take long for the first hunting party to catch up to Jack and Charlie, it had only been a day since she had escaped the basement of Claytons house, Charlie knew that they would find them quiet quickly as she was travelling with a human and his scent was much easy for the vampires to track, they also had her scent as well which was her fault because she had written the message in blood on the wall but she wanted this king to know her scent, it did not take long with Jack’s help to despatch the foul creatures, it seemed to Charlie that this king was testing the strength of vampires that he would need to send after them, over the next few days they were attacked on a daily basis with each group slightly stronger than the one before, on the fourth day they had just reached the base of the mountains when they were attacked once again, it was only after they were all dead that Charlie realised something was wrong because she could not see Jack

“Jack, where are you?” she called, she knew that something was wrong because she could smell blood, she kept following it “Jack” she called again

“I am here” Jack mumbled from behind a bush, Charlie went and knelt down next to him, she knew that he was badly hurt by the amount of blood taht he had already lost, she lifted up his shirt and began to clean the wound, when Charlie smelt that someone else was behind her, she turned with her sword in hand and placed it to the neck of the young girl that was standing there

“quickly” the girl said

“no” said Charlie

“I have somewhere safe” the girl said

“it is fine we can manage” Charlie said

“please, I can help you” the girl said and Charlie gave in, Jack would need somewhere safe to rest and heal, being what she was Charlie was able to pick Jack up and quickly followed the young girl through the woods and to the base of the mountains and a cave entrance

“quickly they won’t be far behind” the girl said as she dashed into the cave

“I cannot enter” Charlie said

“huh” said the girl

“I can smell the magic from here and I cannot get passed it” Charlie said

“sorry, I forgot about that, please enter” she said and Charlie was now able to enter the cave, the girl had magic around her cave that would stop any vampire that didn’t have permission from entering, she walked in and gently placed Jack on the floor, the girl rushed over and started doing all different things to Jack to try and save his life

“are you not scared of me?” Charlie asked

“no, you will not hurt me” the girl replied

“how do you know that I will not?” Leanna asked

“please let me help him and then we can talk” the girl said and Charlie walked away, she sat down by a fire that was in the middle of the cave, why was the young girl not scared of her? Why was she helping them? Who is she? Where all the questions that were running through Charlie’s head as she waited for the young girl to come over, it was ten minutes before she came over and sat opposite Charlie

“I have done what I can, I am Chloe Daniels” the girl said

“thank you for helping Jack, as you can imagine not many people have being willing to help us” Charlie said

“I can understand that, a lot of people would be scared of what you are but I know who you are” Chloe replied

“I think that everybody has heard that Charlie will destroy the vampires” Charlie said

“maybe I should have said who you were” Chloe said

“you are not old enough” Charlie replied

“I am but all these books and this has been passed down every generation of my family” Chloe said handing Charlie an old picture, Charlie took the picture of her and could not believe that this even existed, it was taken on her eighteenth birthday and had all the other hunters in, she was looking over the picture when she spotted him, she had not forgotten what he looked like but to see an actual photo was strange and brought back so many memories

“that is, you is it not?” Chloe asked pointing at her in the picture “but the name you use now is not the name you had when this was taken” Chloe added

“do not use that name, Jack does not know that” Charlie said quickly

“why?” Chloe asked

“because he blames the person in that picture for everything that is wrong with this world” Charlie replied

“but it was not your fault” Chloe said

“I know that and it would seem that you know that, but the rest of the world believe what is written in their history books” Charlie replied

“but it is not true” Chloe said

“how do I convince the world of that, when that is all they have known for over four hundred years, no, the person in that picture is died long ago and that is the way that it should be” Charlie replied “where did you get this?” Charlie asked

“it has been passed down through my family, I am a descendant of that man there” Chloe replied pointing at a man in the picture

“Peter Daniel, that is why your name sounded familiar but how did your family escape, when all the hunters were being killed?” Charlie asked

“they left the country for nearly twenty years, until they thought it safe to return” Chloe replied

“but why come back to this hell whole?” Charlie asked

“for Peter” replied Chloe

“you know he was one of them” Charlie said

“we knew, every member of our family has been taught the way of the hunter, in hope that one day we can find him and end his suffering” Chloe replied

“you need not worry” Charlie said

“why?” asked Chloe

“I laid Peter to rest a few weeks ago” Charlie replied

“that is good to know” Chloe said

“I am glad that I could help” Charlie said

“I know every spell in these books but I do not know how to fight, my father was killed before he had the chance to teach me” Chloe said

“you will not need to fight, it will be over soon” Charlie said and both turned around to the sound of Jack moaning, Chloe rushed over to check on him

“I am sorry but there is nothing more that, I can do for him” Chloe said looking at Charlie

“I can” she said “move” Charlie added

“you cannot change him, he will not be like you” Chloe said

“that is not what I meant, if you have read all the books and know all of the spells, then you know that there is one that can save him” Charlie replied

“but that spell” Chloe went to say but was cut short

“his life is worth it, more than you will ever know, I am also different so it will be fine” Charlie said and knelt down next to Jack, she lifted Jacks shirt and put her hands over his wound, Charlie closed her eyes and took a deep breath “vindeca” she said and could feel instantly that it was working, it took every ounce of strength that she had to hold on until he was completely healed

“Charlie” Jack mumbled as he came around but she did not hear him just collapsed backwards

“there is nothing you can do” Chloe said

“who are you?” Jack asked

“a friend, my name is Chloe and I am here to help” Chloe replied

“I am Jack and what do you mean that there is nothing that I can do?” Jack asked

“she used a spell to save you that has dire consequences, you were dying Jack and she would not let you” Chloe said “it is a very powerful spell” she added

“why would she do that?” Jack asked

“i cannot say for sure because I do not know who you are but Charlie said that your life was worth saving” Chloe replied

“what are the consequences?” Jack asked

“the basics of the spell are a life for a life but as she is not human, she took your wound” Chloe replied lifting up Charlies shirt and showing him

“give her nettle tea” Jack said, Chloe did not say anything to Jack, just got up and went to the fire, she made the tea as Jack had asked her, she took it back over and watched as Jack poured it into her mouth, but it didn’t work, she was not healing and still in a deep sleep

“I don’t understand” Jack said

“this is magic, Jack” Chloe said

“I wish that I could do something” Jack said

“does she drink blood?” Chloe asked

“no, why would you ask that, humans do not drink blood” Jack snapped

“I know what she is Jack, I only ask because when a vampire drinks blood, they heal instantly” Chloe replied

“no way in hell, Charlie would never do that even being what she is” Jack said and sat down next to her

“Jack, there is nothing that you can do, you must give her time, come and eat” Chloe said and Charlie moved slightly which made Jack jump

“Charlie” Jack said but nothing

“you must give her time” Chloe said and Jack got up, he walked over and sat down by the fire with Chloe, Jack left Charlie alone to heal but made sure that she had water and tea every day, but it was weeks before they saw any sign of her healing, whilst they waited for Charlie to heal, Chloe showed Jack everything she could and Jack in return tried to teach her how to fight, at least enough so the she could protect herself, They had been in the cave for six weeks when Charlie opened her eyes and watched for a second as she saw Jack and Chloe laughing and having fun

“I see that it worked” Charlie said and the two of them jumped out of their skins

“I am glad that you are alright” Jack said going over to her and hugging her

“I am fine, I knew that I would be” Charlie replied

“we did not think that you would be for quite a long time” Jack said

“how long?” Charlie asked curiously

“you healed me six weeks ago” Jack replied

“what?” she said jumping up but was not fully healed so, fell straight back down again

“you are not fully healed” Chloe said “it would be easy if you drank blood” Chloe said so that Charlie would not be able to hear her

“it would seem that you have forgotten what I am, my hearing is better than yours and I heard that” Charlie said

“well, it would be easy” Chloe said

“I am part them, I am not all them” Charlie said

“you are enough of them” Chloe said facing Charlie

“and what is that supposed to mean?” Charlie asked

“you are enough them for my magic to work on you so, you are enough them for their blood healing to work as well” Chloe replied

“that will never happen” Charlie snapped

“personally, I think that you are stupid, you want to face them on your strength alone, being one of them blood would make you stronger, you can be sure that they will feed before they face you” Chloe said

“I will face them as me and you can think what you like” Charlie snapped

They said nothing else to each other for what was left to say, it took Charlie another week to fully heal, she spent her time watching Jack and Chloe train together, if Charlie was honest with herself it hurt watching the two of them get closer but at least Jack had moved on from her, Charlie decided that is was for the best and it was now time to continue her journey but this time she would do it alone, this time Jack would stay here, she would leave whilst they slept

There was a spell that she knew that would allow her to enter Jack’s dream, he deserved a goodbye after what they had already been through together, if she tried to leave whilst he was awake, he would argue and try to stop her and that was not going to happen, not this time, this time his journey wasdone, that night as Jack slept she went and sat next to him

“plimbare vi’s” she said and was in his dream, Jack and Chloe were standing in front of a house talking about what to do with the garden, Charlie was right he did have feelings for her, she had made the right choice, she stood watching them talking, holding hands, hugging for awhile but could not watch any longer, it was hurting and it was time for her to go

“Jack, can I have a word” Charlie said walking over to him

“of course, two secs hun” he said to Chloe

“it is time for me to go” Charlie said

“I will get ready” Jack said

“not this time my friend, this time I go alone, you will stay and enjoy what you have found, you have already done enough” Charlie said “you should have never started this with me” she added

“I chose to start this journey with you” Jack said

“and I chose to end it” Charlie replied

“I promised you in the bunker that I, would see it through to the end” Jack said

“I know that Jack but you have done enough and the decision has already been made” Charlie said

“I won’t let you go” said Jack

“you will Jack, this time it is not your choice, opreste-le” she said and was back in the cave “goodbye Jack, I will never forget you, I hope that you live a long happy life” she whispered in his ear and kissed him on the head, Charlie picked up her bag and sword and walked from the cave, knowing that Jack would be safe and happy

It was sunrise when Jack woke up, it took him a few moments to realise that she was gone, he had dreamed she had gone but that was just a dream

“what’s wrong?” Chloe asked

“Charlie’s gone” he replied

“then you are finally safe” Chloe said

“but I dreamed she said goodbye” Jan k said confused

“she probably did” Chloe said

“what?” asked Jack

“it is called dreaming walking, what did she say? “ Chloe asked

“she said that I had done enough and that I should stay with you but doesn’t she know that there is nothing between us” Jack said

“she is not human Jack so no but she knows that you couldn’t be happy, she knows that if you left with her, you would not be happy, Charlie has gone to end this Jack and it will probably be her end” Chloe replied

“it will not be her end, she is stronger that that” Jack said

“yes, she is strong being what she is but she is not strong enough and she knows it and will not risk your life when she went through so much to saveit” Chloe said

“it was not her damn choices to make” Jack snapped

“it is Jack, she is older than you” Chloe said “and it might be my fault” sheadded

“why?” Jack asked

“I was awake Jack, I altered the part o d your dream she was in” Chloe replied

“why the bloody hell would you do that? Did you want me to be left her?” Jack asked

“yes, I know who she is Jack and anyone who has ever followed her has died, no one ever lives, I like you a lot and did not want that fate for you” Chloe replied

“why does everyone seem to think that they have the right to mess with my life, you altered my dream to make her think that I was in love with you” Jack snapped

“Jack, please, it is best that you stay here” Chloe said

“I do not care what you or anyone else think of Charlie, she will save this world, yes, I could be safe staying here with you but I don’t care I if I would be in danger with her, I want to be at her side and help to save this world before they have dominion over all” Jack said going to leave

“you cannot go now Jack, there is not enough time for you to get somewhere safe before night fall” Chloe said feeling that Jack did not feel the same way that she did, after all the time they had spent together she thought that Jack had feelings for her.

They spoke no more that day, just sat in silence, there was nothing that she could say to Jack to make him stay and why would Jack have to say to her after all it was her fault that Charlie had left believing that he was in love with Chloe, when that could not be further from the truth, he wanted to scream at both of them for making decisions about his life, decision that they had no right to make, Jack woke just before dawn