The Huntress Chronicles: Some Will Rise; Some Will Fall

By Louise Christine

From the homeless to the Children of the Watchers, join Artemis on her journey into the world of vampires and the Alliance who hunt them.

A young girl with no name discovers the streets have more lurking on them than just muggers and murderers. But why do these creatures seem to be following her?

It's a long journey from nobody to Huntress, but with Max as her teacher, lover and namer, Artemis will have to rise to the task. She will be introduced to the Alliance of vampire killers, have an unhappy reunion with an old mate, and eventually discover a centuries-old prophecy that just might help the humans get the jump on the vampire hoards once and for all.

The only trouble will be keeping her heart safe... her heart and her life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 22, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450245456

Louise Christine

Louise Christine is a Gold Coast writer who has lived in Australia for almost six years. Originally from Ireland, she has explored much of Europe in her twenty-one years but prefers the heat of her new home. After writing her first five-page epic novel at six years old, Louise never looked back and has been writing for as long as she can remember. As well as fiction, she loves to write novels reflecting on the state of humanity and fills her notebooks with random scribbles of poetry. Recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, she has also been working on a humorous (hopefully) autobiography offering insight into her unique mind You can contact this author at her email [e-mail]

Book preview

BOOK One

The Insurrection

PROLOGUE

So many stories begin with once upon a time. My mother used to begin her stories like that, even though she knew intimately the date and time of each event. She said in a land far away, when she really meant across the ocean.

I suppose most parents don’t lull their children to sleep with tales of death and blood-shed, violence and vampires, but my mother did and I loved it. My favourite part of the evening was hearing the next instalment. They were made all the better by way of their being true, by my knowledge of that truth.

Now that I’m finally cataloguing her stories I thought they, like all good stories, should start the same way. And like all good stories, I’ll have to start before the beginning.

So, once upon a time, in a land far away…

CHAPTER 1

She’d been on the run for over a year. Something of a misnomer, though it was, ‘on the run.’ She’d been fairly sedate for the last eleven months, two weeks and six days. The running had been earlier. She had run from home, in England, run away from a life she could no longer control, no longer bear. And she had ended up here. Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. So not quite on the run – that would have implied that someone had followed her.

Who would have followed her, exactly, she wasn’t sure. All her memories of that place had taken on a distinctly fuzzy quality, like they’d been sanded down at the edge. She’d sacrificed everything else of that old life.

Lo? She’d even given up her name. Lo, are you there? She turned towards the speaker.

Matthew was standing at the other end of her alleyway, a faint smile on his face. He was the one who kept track of the group’s comings and goings, made sure they were sheltered and fed. He’d been a foster parent or something, once. Now he lived on the street. Still, Lo liked him a lot. He was the one who’d named her in the first place, calling her Little One. The name had stuck, but had been shortened to Lo as the months progressed, and she wasn’t so little anymore. The short, stubby fifteen year old had grown into the wiry strength of sixteen, with hints of more height to come.

Matthew was the one who’d taken care of her, too, back when she’d arrived. He’d changed her stiches, kept her clean. Without him the scar on her belly would have been a lot worse.

What’s up?

The scruffy man’s smile widened. Dinner’s ready, he said. Didn’t want a growing girl to miss out. You know what your family is like. He paused. Eileen made a stew, and Rick got some bread.

Everyone pitched in for the dinners in winter.

When Matthew turned to lead her back to the fire, Lo followed, even though in the darkness he became next to invisible. She knew these back-streets like she knew herself, and was comfortable in the pitch black.

After dinner she returned to her alleyway. She always thought of it as hers. It had been handed down, in a manner of speaking. One of the older men in the group had shown it to her, told her that the wall on one side was a deli. He’d shown her where the heating vent came out. He’d been trying to show her that a good sleeping spot was easy to find, if you knew what to look for. But a few nights later he’d been killed, so now this spot was hers. The others respected that.

It was a cold night and she blew on her fingers as she settled with her back against the vent, reveling in the heat. She was beginning to doze off when a noise just out of sight startled her. She looked quickly back the way she’d come, but the flicker of the fire was invisible around the corner. And the noise had come from the other side, out near the street.

Lo flicked her straggly, knotted hair out of her eyes, looking into the darkness and waiting for the shadows to become solid, waiting for whoever it was to become visible. They couldn’t have seen her yet, nothing more that a little bundle of rags in the darkness. She would see them first.

But then four figures materialised out of the dark, and they were moving towards her. They were walking bent, almost crouching, like cats ready to pounce. Men, all of them; older than her. Powerful-looking.

The man in front held up a hand and the three behind him stopped, though one leaned forwards, sniffing loudly. Lo held perfectly still. Her eyes had adjusted enough to see the figures but not their faces. She couldn’t tell if they looked friendly, or maybe curious. But she didn’t trust the posture.

The sound of sniffing came again and a thin voice crept towards her, coming from the leader.

No need to be afraid, child. We’re not going to hurt you. He started moving towards her again. With one step he walked through a puddle of moonlight and his glittering eyes became visible. His expression was thrown into sharp relief. He looked hungry.

Step away from her.

The leader looked up at the voice, his posture suddenly tense. Lo hadn’t recognised it, though in the first flicker of a moment she’d hoped Matthew had followed her. But this voice wasn’t colored with the faintest remnants of a Caribbean accent, like Matthew’s. The newcomer was American, like the others.

The leader was watching something Lo couldn’t see, a movement in the mouth of the alley. She had no warning before the deafening noise came. She clapped her hands to her ears, but it was too late. She’d heard the gunshot, heard the thump as one of the group collapsed to the ground. The other two turned to face the same direction as their leader.

With her hands over her ears, Lo didn’t hear anything else, but she could see the flash of light against steel. It seemed to make no sense for a moment until the four figures now fighting moved close enough for her to see. The newest addition was clad all in black, which was what had made him so hard to see at first. It was easier now, because he was waving a metal blade around. He had a sword.

With a single sweep of his arm, he decapitated one of the group, and Lo looked away quickly, whimpering. She didn’t know what would happen to her, regardless of who won, but she couldn’t watch anymore.

***

After the silence had descended around her she started to work up the courage to look, to see who or what was left. When she looked up, she was so startled that she squeaked. She was looking directly into a pair of eyes. It took another moment for her to realize the eyes were attached to a face and yet another to ascertain that the face didn’t look hungry.

Hey, said a voice. It’s alright honey. Relax. Lo whimpered softly again. She seemed to have lost the ability to speak. The face shouldn’t have been attractive – the wide eyes, sharp features, too-thin lips – but Lo couldn’t look away. It was framed with chocolate-brown hair that curled softly, despite being cut brutally short. And the eyes – at first they looked brown, but the longer she looked the more she could see; they were a light umber, with hints of yellow and green running through them.

The man’s expression was kind as he held out a deeply scarred hand to help her up. She looked at it for a moment, unable to move from her protective crouch, before she let him pull her to her feet. He was a full foot taller than her 5’5", slim but muscled. He lifted her chin to look into her eyes, studying something only he could see.

Are you alright? They didn’t touch you? Without waiting for an answer he tilted her head first to the left and then to the right, looking at her neck. She shook her head free of his hand, answering him.

No. What were they? Why did you- She couldn’t finished her question. The bodies were only partially hidden in the shadows.

They were going to hurt you. I’ve been tracking them for a while.

Tracking them?

The man flashed a card she only caught a brief glance of. Max Harper. Bounty Hunter. He looked over his shoulder quickly. Have you got somewhere to go? You should be safe tonight, but they might have been part of a larger group.

Wait, they were coming after me? Why?

The man named Max shook his head. No, you were just a random target. An easy target, he raised his brow at her. Now like I said, have you got someplace to go?

Lo nodded, then looked back to the fire. The others might have run when they heard the shot, but Matthew at the very least would have stuck around.

Okay, then go. And try not to spend your nights alone, huh?

And in the next moment he’d turned his back on her and returned to the shadows. A few seconds later she heard the sound of a powerful motorbike starting up and settling into a near-silent purr. Then the alley went completely still. She was halfway back to the fire when she realised how hard she was shaking.

CHAPTER 2

When she woke the next morning, Lo screwed up her courage and went back to her alley, just to check. In the harsh morning light, the whole thing seemed like some kind of surreal dream. As if to prove her right, the alley was empty, looking clean and too-innocent. The bodies were gone.

She tried not to think about it that day. As the skies darkened and a drizzle turned into a downpour, she tried to distract herself, wondering where she would sleep tonight, unwilling to go back to that spot. It wasn’t hers anymore.

But she couldn’t get the man out of her mind. He refused to be pushed away. And neither could she ignore the puzzle of the others. The group. There had been something about them that she couldn’t quite understand, something… inhuman.

When the rain turned to hail she knew she should have set back for camp already, and cursing, had no choice but to take shelter about half a mile away.

At first she didn’t notice the soft shuffling, hidden as it was by the rain on the corrugated metal covering part of the walkway she was in. But as she settled in to wait out the storm, the noises got closer and she looked up, last night too fresh a memory for her to relax.

In the daylight, the man before her looked nothing like a normal human being. He wasn’t one of the ones from last night – the bounty hunter had definitely gotten rid of them – but the way he held himself, the way he walked, it was too similar to be a coincidence. His eyes widened when he saw her looking at him. But that wasn’t what drew her gaze.

The man was pale, his skin glistening with rain. And he had enlarged canine teeth. Nothing that she hadn’t seen before – this was California, and people did some weird things to themselves in the nearby L.A – but these were something else. His top teeth were only slightly elongated, but looked incredibly sharp. The bottom ones… they were the wrong shape, tilted inwards like a shark’s, or maybe a snake.

His grin was cordial as she looked at him, his lower lip quickly lifting, almost in a practiced maneuver, to hide the gross dental deformity. He was beautiful, she noticed absently. His skin was clear of marks or injury, and his eyes looked intensely at her as though he could read her soul. When he spoke his voice had something of a mesmerizing trait. His tones had a deeper timbre with an almost musical quality.

Hello, he said, his voice quiet, making her leaning unconsciously towards him to hear. I’ve been looking for you. We have a mutual friend, I think. Lo couldn’t think of anyone she knew who would trust this man – he was clean, and well dressed. And he was breathing deeply through his nose the closer he got to her. He was sniffing, like the smaller one in the group had.

Who would that be? Who are you? she asked, finding her voice. It was weak, but didn’t tremble.

The stranger only smiled. He beckoned her closer but she didn’t move. My name is Cassius. A very old friend of yours sent me. He’s come some way to find you, you know. He’s been very worried about you.

I think you have the wrong person, I’m sorry. I don’t know you.

There was a hint of irritation in the man’s features now. I didn’t say you knew me. I said you knew my master. And in a flicker of an instant he was mere inches away from her. And there’s no way I have the wrong person. He leaned down until his face was in her hair and inhaled deeply. You’re the one he’s after. You smell just right.

Lo had frozen and could do nothing to stop him as he ran long, thin fingers through her hair, pushing one strand behind her ear. Now, all those children he sent yesterday seem to have failed horribly. I don’t know how you got rid of them, but trust me, you can’t fight me off. Children? The men last night had been as old as this one, if not older. He looked like he was barely into his twenties.

So, he continued, still uncomfortably close, his face next to hers now so that she could feel his breath, I’d advise you to just follow me and stay quiet. Yes? He pressed closer so their noses were touching, his skin colder than the rain, and his lips nearly on hers. Lo’s heart was racing like a jack-rabbit’s and she could do nothing but nod. She couldn’t see his grin, but she could feel it. Every particle of her was aware of his teeth.

And then he had pulled away, but he slipped his hand into hers and tugged her. Then come along, he said and started walking into the rain. Lo was soaked in barely seconds, but he didn’t seem to notice the discomfort of the icy rain. He just kept pulling her along, further away from her home. Abruptly, though, he came to a stop, peering through the sheets of water. He seemed to chuckle somewhere deep in his throat.

Oh, well that explains it, he muttered. Aloud, he said, And what would you be doing here, Shadow? Shouldn’t you be at home, in bed? Or out murdering children?

Lo was only slightly surprised to see Max Harper step into her sight, almost materializing in the rain. You can hardly talk about killing children. Max’s voice was harsh, his jaw clenched. He looked like he was trying hard not to shiver. The black leather jacket he’d been wearing the night before was absent and he stood in the rain wearing black jeans and a bulky-looking shirt. It looked like a bullet-proof vest. He had the same sword from before strapped to his leg and without the jacket his guns were also visible, hanging loosely from his hips in their holsters. He had a pair of daggers in waist pouches in the vest. His right hand was on the hilt of the sword.

Cassius, still holding her hand, yanked it a little, pulling her behind his own body. She hardly counts, Shadow. I don’t think even you can call that murder.

I don’t know, Max said. Word on the street is that your master’s gotten a little pissed off. I think killing might be exactly what he wants.

Her captor paused for a moment, head cocked. How do you know who I work for?

Max laughed. I don’t need to. These people, they’re all the same. Organise a few underlings for a bit of revenge, maybe a little world domination. You think he’s the first to try it?

A barking noise came from Cassius, and it took Lo a moment to realise he was laughing again. He may not be the first; he might not be the last. But he’s more powerful than the Alliance think.

With a growl Max pulled the sword from its sheath. Enough of this. Let her go and you can live.

You’re assuming you could beat me. You Alliance, you’re all the same. A little training, a little knowledge, and suddenly so cocky.

And you vampires are all so goddamn assured of your own immortality.

Lo gasped. She could only assume it was a code, or some kind of gang using the name, but the teeth made her wonder, and the way he had moved before… Of course, maybe the two men were just crazy.

With a snarl Cassius let go of her and crouched on the wet ground. Max held his sword with one hand and pulled out a gun with the other. Before Lo had time to blink, he had fired off a shot. But the … vampire? … had already moved, was out of its range. He darted in and threw a punch that Lo was sure would hit, but Max moved almost as quickly, blocking the fist with his sword. Then the gun was away and the free hand held a dagger. His arm came around in a circle to bury the blade in Cassius’ side. He yelped, howled and pulled back, and Max unsheathed his other dagger, now in a low crouch himself, and circling.

Cassius yanked the blade from his side and threw it; it clattered onto the blacktop only a few feet from Lo. She waited for the blood, the wound deep enough to have pierced something important, but there was none. All she could see was the hole in the man’s shirt. He snarled again and moved in to circle Max, more wary now.

A little training, he muttered only just loud enough for Lo to hear him. Max grinned. Then his circle brought him round so his back was to Lo, and he must have dropped his guard because Cassius leapt at him, dropping them both to the hard ground, a splash going up from the puddle they hit. Max’s sword fell as he was thrown, but he held on to his other blade and brought it up to Cassius’ neck. Max was fighting off the smaller man’s hands, which were trying to wind around his own throat, and then Cassius leaned in, just like he’d done to Lo, but this time his teeth were bared, his bottom lip pulled back.

Just as it seemed like Max was losing the battle, the fear freezing Lo’s body seemed to relent and she jumped forwards to where the thrown dagger lay. She picked it up and clasped it awkwardly in her hand for a moment before she fell to her knees and drove it into her kidnapper’s back. He halted his movement in shock and Max was able to push him off. He jumped to his feet and looked at the other man, and then he stopped and heaved a sigh.

What are you doing? You have to stop him. Lo’s voice sounded alien to her own ears, hysteria colouring the edges of it. She refused to believe what she’d just done. Max looked up at her. His hair was plastered to his forehead, and his eyes were half-closed against the driving rain.

I think he’s officially stopped. He kicked the unmoving body. He’s dead. You actually hit the heart. Max looked at her and shrugged. It’s easier from the back, less bone to protect it.

Wait, what do you- I didn’t kill him, I couldn’t have- She was shaking again, the ghost feeling of a hand in hers, of Cassius’ cold skin as he inhaled her scent.

You could have, and you did, Max said as he leaned over to pick up his sword. Then he looked directly at her, into her eyes again, looking into her. I thought I told you to stay safe, around people.

You said at night. And it was raining; I didn’t exactly have a choice. The fear was draining and leaving her with irritation in its wake.

Max nodded slowly. That’s true. I didn’t expect one of them to come out during the day for you. Whoever’s running the show must want you really bad. He paused. You haven’t killed anyone have you? He asked as though he knew the answer was no, but had to check.

Of course not, Lo said. But her eyes flickered to Cassius when she said it. At least, until now, she thought.

Max walked over to her and put one hand on her shoulder. His skin was pleasantly warm in the rain, after Cassius. Hey, it’s alright, he said, his voice softer. You saved my life. And probably yours too. When her eyes didn’t leave the body he put his other hand on her cheek, making her look up at him again. You don’t have anywhere to go, do you?

I do, she said. I can go back to where the others are. A thought struck her. They’ll be waiting for me, she lied.

No they won’t. Your kind never do. You disappear all the time.

My kind? she asked adamantly. What’s that mean, human?

Max chuckled. Actually I meant homeless. If I meant human I’d say our kind. A line appeared on his brow. You know that, right? I’m not what he is.

Lo was only mildly relieved. You moved as fast. And besides, Cassius, whatever he may be, was not the only danger a homeless girl faced.

Like he said, training. Look, he said, pausing as though he were uncomfortable, it looks like someone’s targeting you. Cassius won’t be the last. The gang last night were sent by the same guy. But if they weren’t working together then chances are, there’s a bounty on your head.

And you’re a bounty hunter.

Max looked confused for a second, and then smiled. Oh, right. That.

You were lying, Lo surmised.

Yeah, well, someone asks why you just killed four people, saying they were undead killers usually doesn’t go down so well. He took a step back, then, as though realising he was still holding her. All I’m saying is that it isn’t safe for you here. I’m offering you a place to stay, if you want to live. I can’t keep following you around.

You were following me? Lo meant to sound indignant. She just about managed weary.

Well, those guys last night weren’t your average trackers, not like Cassius there, Max said, his expression suggesting they’d had run-ins before, but they didn’t act like you were a random target. So I thought I’d keep an eye on you. If someone like Cass is in on this, then it’s serious. So I’m taking you home.

Lo paused. If an offer sounds too good to be true… But she was tired, and cold, and soaked to the skin. She yearned to be somewhere warm and indoors. And maybe have some real food.

I’ll even throw a hot shower into the mix? Max tempted.

With a sigh, Lo gave in and nodded. She let Max lead her through the rain. He brought her to the bike she’d heard the night before, a beast of a machine, all black. She was surprised something so powerful could be as quiet as it was.

Max offered her his helmet and she sat behind him, clutching his waist as he set off through the wet streets. The wind was chill, but his back was warm, and with the adrenalin rush fading Lo found herself drifting off. She managed to stay awake long enough to hold on the whole journey, but as soon as she felt the bike stop, she was gone.

CHAPTER 3

When she woke up, she found herself alone, on a comfortable if overlarge bed that took up almost all the space in the room. There were two doors on one wall, and the top of a set of stairs was visible was the other side of her. Carefully, ears straining for any noise, Lo sat up. She was still wearing the now-damp clothes, and they made her dirt-encrusted skin feel even more grimy than usual. She stretched and rolled her neck, working out the kinks. She was so used to sleeping on the ground that the bed had made an uncomfortable