Hunter's Mate

Chapter One

Artemisia clicked her tongue as her eyes followed the men entering the club. Adjusting her red dress, she confidently crossed the road. The bouncers immediately stopped her, but when she showed her fake pass, the bouncers granted her entry to the club.

After successfully deceiving the bouncers, Artemisia scanned the crowd and promptly identified her target: a man in his late thirties clad in dangling jewelry all over his body.

"Target spotted," she whispered. She ordered a drink and purposefully stopped in front of the man and his lackeys, dancing seductively. The man caught sight of her and smiled, causing a shiver to run down her spine, a sensation that caused her skin to crawl with disgust. Despite this, Artemisia kept her calm and managed to wink at the man. A few seconds later, one of the man's lackeys approached her.

"My boss wants to talk to you," he whispered in Artemisia's ear. It was the opportunity she had been waiting for. Her droopy eyes looked at the man, and she followed his lackey. When they arrived at their VIP seats, the man immediately pulled Artemisia by her waist.

"Oh!" she feigned surprise and chuckled. "You're too strong," she whispered and ran her fingers through the man's chest.

"I am. Wanna join me tonight?" the man said. Artemisia was accustomed to hearing this typical response, but her plan remained flawless.

"I would love to," she answered.

"Go and get me a VIP room with this lady tonight," he ordered.

The night was filled with booze and music. Artemisia and the man ascended the stairs, their laughter echoing behind them.

"Will they be with us inside?" Artemisia innocently asked and pointed to the man's lackeys. The man chuckled and shook his head.

"No, darling, they are not. It will be you and me in that room," he said. Artemisia smiled, knowing that her mission would be easy.

They entered the room, and without hesitation, the man grabbed her and gave her an aggressive kiss. Despite her deep disgust, Artemisia managed to push the man away.

"You're too fast. Let's enjoy the night, shall we?" she whispered and looked at the man.

"Well, that's what I am, sweetheart," he replied. Artemisia grinned, grabbed the man's hand, and led him to the bed. She let him sit on the bed and swayed her hips seductively.

Artemisia slowly walked toward the man; his arousal was evident in his pants, almost causing her to gag in distaste. Climbing onto his lap, she began dancing and nibbled his ear, eliciting moans. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Artemisia discreetly pushed something under her ring, revealing a sharp, small knife laced with deadly wolfsbane. She swiftly stabbed the man in the neck. As he squirmed, on the verge of shouting for help, she locked her legs around his waist, silencing him with her hand. Repeatedly, she stabbed him until he ceased breathing. Artemisia stood up, fixed her dress, and approached the nearest window. Opening the window, she leaped out, landing in the back alley near a dumpster. She immediately discarded her wig, sprayed a unique perfume to erase her scent, and casually walked away as if she hadn't just taken a man's life.

"Find her! Damn it, she killed Alpha Hector!" Artemisia heard the man yell. She hastily turned right toward her car's parking spot and quickly climbed into the driver's seat. Starting the engine, she pushed a button, changed the license plate number, and drove away.

"Fvcking bastard," Artemisia whispered as she rubbed the part where the man kissed her aggressively.

After a few hours, she arrived at the place she frequented. Artemisia stepped out of the car, and security opened the door for her. It seemed like a regular building for employees, but inside, it was different.

"Sia! How was your mission?" A bubbly woman approached Artemisia and held her hand.

"Done. It was easy, Candy. Those mutts were a bunch of idiots," Artemisia said. "How about yours? I heard you, along with Jericho, infiltrated a vampire clan," she added.

"It was hard!" Candy said and pouted her lips. "Jericho sustained heavy wounds, but I managed to escape with only a few bruises and scars," Candy continued.

"Then let's go make our reports. I'll come with you," Artemisia said. Candy smiled and interlocked their arms as they walked towards the main office of the building. Artemisia knocked three times before she opened the door and waited for a reply.

"Come in." Artemisia looked at Candy, and they both nodded their heads as they went inside.

"Artemisia…Candy."

"We finished the mission, Master," Artemisia said and bowed her head to the man in front of her.

"Good, good. You save humankind once again from those monsters," the master said. "The Legion will always be grateful to you. As usual, I will wire the money to your account," the master added.

"Thank you, Master," Artemisia said.

The Legion is an organization established to eliminate monsters. Artemisia, along with a few others, has dedicated their lives to hunting creatures of the dark, such as vampires and werewolves. Under the orders of their master, the organization's representative, Artemisia hunted and killed these creatures, believing them to be a threat to humankind, as the organization had taught them. The creatures of the dark prey on weak humans. This was the reason The Legion came into existence.

"Do your report and wait for another mission," the master said. Candy and Artemisia bowed and left the office.

Candy sighed in relief as she touched her chest.

"I thought I was going to die inside," she whispered as they walked. Artemisia chuckled.

"Why is that?" she asked.

"Because Master was scary!" Candy said and shivered in fear.

"You've been here ages ago, Candy. You have to get used to Master," she said.

"Nah, he's still scary," she whispered and pouted. Candy may act like a child, but she is among the top ten hunters in the legion.

"So where are you going? Aren't you going to celebrate?" Candy asked.

"I'll pass. I want to sleep," Artemisia said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Candy," she added and tapped Candy's shoulder. Artemisia became an orphan after her parents died in a tragic car accident. The Master took her when she was seven years old, and since then, she has trained in the legion to become a killer.

Artemisia crossed the street, hands in her pocket, and entered an apartment building the legion owns. She entered her room and removed her clothes. Artemisia showered and lay on the bed with only undergarments on. She stared at the ceiling and let out a sigh.

"Long day," she whispered and closed her eyes as she drifted into slumber, dreaming about a pair of red eyes.