Chapter 2

“I’ll be fine Mand! After all, you’re not the only one of us who is trained to be a Hunter. You just go! Besides, you know that Vampires can’t come out in the light, so what are you worrying about?” I shouted to Amanda through the white archway that separated the kitchen from the living room. I had forced my brightness tonight, adamant that Amanda would have no need to worry, adamant that she believe her pep talk had done the world of good to my confidence.

“I’m worried about the fact that I won’t be back until dark, maybe not until morning, depending on who my charge is,” replied Amanda, wandering into the kitchen and throwing her plate into the sink. “And I’m worried about that bite on your neck.”

“Like you said, it’s just a scratch. The Vampire probably didn’t dig deep enough to gain a connection and I’m not under any immediate threat,” I insisted, walking into the living room and collapsing onto the sofa. I didn't believe that it was 'only a scratch', but once again, forced brightness. “And anyway, I’m going to see Albany today. What Vampire in their right mind is going to attack in broad daylight and with dozens of training Hunters on the premises?”

Sighing, Amanda pulled on her coat and opened the front door. She turned before leaving and said resignedly; “You know where to contact me if anything happens, and I want you to do that immediately. Do you hear?”

“Nothing is going to happen Mand!” I shouted towards the door.

“Promise me!”

“Whatever,” I mumbled, knowing she had hear me as my words were punctuated with a final snap as the door closed behind her.

Nothing is going to happen. Right?

I was right. I knew it. But it no longer mattered. In little less than half an hour I would be sitting in Albany’s office, spouting yet another excuse that would never wash. A Vampire enter there? None were that suicidal.

Grabbing my phone and purse, I quickly returned to the kitchen and pulled a small gun from the draw. Loaded with blessed bullets, rare bullets, this was the only type of firearm that could kill a Vampire. They had been blessed by the twelve Apostles in many many years passed. Not the bullets, but the metal they had been made of. Recycled crosses as it were. There weren't many left. It wasn't mandatory to carry your weapons all the time. Yet they gave me some kind of comfort, a form of safety to my subconscious mind, even if it was broad daylight

The gun wasn’t my usual weapon however. A pair of ruby red daggers were more suited to my close range attack style, but whenever an enemy became too far away, a shot of flames from my fingertips would be more than enough to immobilise them for a few moments, something that had earned me the name of 'Blade of Flames' amongst my peers, and the Vampires. Gee, I was famous. Whoop dee do.

Taking one last glance around, I shoved my keys into my jeans pocket, fitted my gun behind my belt and left, leaving the door to click locked behind me.

The Organisation’s building towered high above me, far from inconspicuous as a giant version of the Celtic tattoo I wore sat emblazoned above the revolving doors.

“And I always wondered why everyone thought the Organisation was arrogant,” I muttered sarcastically as I pushed the door to my car shut and locked it. Checking that my gun was still firmly placed at my waist, I turned and pushed my way through the door and into a cool foyer,

The ceiling loomed above me, making me feel small in its blank cocoon. The room reminded me of a hotel, a reception desk facing the doors with the logo once again plastered across the wall above it. It contrasted against the white washed paint that surrounded me, split only occasionally by black and white photos of past managers and the two pillars that stood golden either side of the desks.

Composing myself for the upcoming meeting, I self-consciously tugged the red polo neck further up to my chin and grimaced as my kitten heels clacked noisily in the quiet room. Despite the amount of people milling around, both Hunters and office workers, the room remained oddly silent.

“Well well. If it isn’t the Blade of Flames! I didn’t think I would be seeing you around here for a while, after all, you just love torturing those Vamps,” snarled a nearby Hunter I immediately recognised as the well known office creep, Jason Leenes.

“Go shag your secretary Leenes. Maybe then Al will fire your sorry bottom all the way back to your wife’s doorstep,” I growled back, never breaking my stride.

“What’s the matter Lia? Bad run? You’ve been having lots of those recently haven’t you?” he continued, now following by my side.

Suddenly I stopped and, before he had taken even a step in front of me, turned sharply to snap my hand to Leenes’ lapel, lifting him slightly off the floor.

“No, just a bad day. Now piss off before I decide to break your scrawny bottom neck,” I whispered conspiratorially. I let him hang for a moment, keeping my reddening eyes on his until he squirmed uncomfortably. Dropping him so he landed on his back, I continued to the desk, letting my eyes lose their recognised red tinge, an asset I gained whenever anger fuelled me.

“I’m here to see Albany,” I said sharply, snapping my ID down onto the oak desk.

“Do you have a appointment Miss McGuire?” the receptionist asked quietly, his eyes refusing to meet mine. Glancing down at the young man’s name tag, I continued;

“Ryan… we both know that I don’t have an appointment. Just like we both know that Albany does jack crap in this place so he’s bound to be free. Now get me a pass up there please, I just need to see him.”

“Yes ma’am. Just give me a moment,” he stuttered.

“Cut it out with the ma’am kid, I’m just plain Keelia all right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

I sighed whilst the young boy rushed to get a pass ready. It only took a moment until a laminated piece of card landed before me with the words MANAGER’S PASS plastered across it, my name written in insignificant lettering beneath that..

Flicking it into the pocket of the jeans I had pulled on that morning, I muttered a thank you before turning to the nearby elevator, wondering all the while what made everyone scared of me. After all, I hadn’t completed a charge in almost six months, and I hadn't killed a human accidentally (or otherwise) in almost three times as long.

Tapping my foot impatiently whilst the elevator slowly crawled up the side of the building with me inside, I retrieved the pass from my pocket and slipped it into the slot by the side of the sliding doors. Almost immediately, the elevator came to a sudden halt and the doors slid open with a resounding ping. Surprised to find no one on the other side, I wound my way between the series of semi circle shaped glass offices that lined the walls, until I finally arrived at the only room that had opaque boundaries.

Knocking loudly on the door, I waited a moment until I was called in. Stepping through, I pushed the door closed behind me before settling myself down in the comfy leather chair at Albany’s invitation.

Before me sat a man of no older than thirty. Golden hair topped his head with only the premature streak of grey emanating from his right temple insinuating that his day job was stressful. Well built, his muscles rippled beneath the casual shirt he donned which made him seem dangerous despite the caring blue eyes that looked at me from beneath the bangs that fell just above his prominent cheekbones. I had often thought he would be good as a Hunter, yet the thought had either never crossed Albany's mind, or he knew some reason that this could never be so.

Once I settled, he rose and, hitching up the black jeans he wore at the knees, perched himself on the edge of his desk. Pulling a pencil from the container that sat at the side of him, he began twirling it around his fingers before asking with a knowing tone;

“What’s the report?”

“I’m sorry. I really don’t know what happened. It was like, one second…”

“…he was there the next he was gone,” Albany interrupted, placing the pencil calmly onto the desk, as if not trusting it being in his hands. “I’ve heard this before though, haven’t I Keelia? For the past six months I’ve heard this. I’m sorry but if this keeps up I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

“Don’t throw me Albany! Please! This is the only thing I have,” I pleaded, disgusted with such low depths.

With a short laugh, Albany made his way back to his chair before saying; “I’m not going to sack you Keelia. There was a time when you were the best Hunter we had, and I’m just hoping that you’ll regain that streak. I mean, you’re a direct descendant of James. But really, I’m afraid that I’ll have to take away your status.”

Stripped of my status? The top twelve fighters of each branch of the Organisation were delegated the name of Apostle. Previously I had been the top dog, but recently, my rank had been slipping until now I took hold of the fifth ranking. I knew what he meant. Too many people had been questioning if this was the right place for me, and if I didn’t pick up my game, I would be pulled off my status and become just a normal Hunter, barely a chance to fight Vampires again. It was all paper work and training timetables. I didn't bother to ask who this was going to do The Organisation any good. I was no better at such menial tasks as I was at my charges at the moment, a fact that had given me the chance to rank so highly in the first place.

“I’m trying Al, really I am. Just give me my next job and I’ll definitely accomplish it!”

“A new job? Keelia, your job is still the same. The Vampire Cian must be disposed of or the safety of England will be under threat. The seer foresaw it, and there is barely a time when he is not accurate. If you don’t kill that demon, England will burn.”