Escaping the Hunters

The Club

We were born in the mid 1500's. Were together when we were turned in 1577. Our parents didn't survive, and they left their growing empire to Paul. He was the son, the eldest as well. And while we pretended to grow old, have children... but yet, we never got married, we kept the factory, and later factories in the family. We made clothes. First cotton dresses, then pants, and ties and other things for dressing up. Top hats, shoes, gloves.

I was the main designer. Paul just handled the money and the people who worked for us. Which is why, he was now dead.

He was working late one night, and a slayer, some righteous vampire hunter, killed him. He was alone, fixing the books, and I was making us dinner. I waited 3 hours, knowing that he could take that long when we had a busy or bad week. But half an hour later I knew something was wrong.

So, I went to his office building. I used the key card and walked to his private elevator and took it all the way up. I got to his office, saw it in a wreak and there were ashes and blood on the floor. I saw a note, not in his handwriting for sure, and it said that I was next.

I went on the run. I hid around town until I could find someone who could take care of business. I took time in town to scrounge up contacts, and money before leaving to the big city. I knew staying out of it would make it easy for the slayer to find me, but being in a big city like New York... it gave me a chance to hide for as long as I was paying in cash.

Which could be up to two years. I had that much cash stowed away in a large apartment that was actually a very good deal. I didn't need to pay for my blood, since the 'good' vampires, would send it for free since they were trying to help me, and the eventual food I had to eat every now and then to actually make me look human, at least in the face, came out of pocket.

And I was still getting paid for my sketches I was doing for the company. It was going into an account that was paying for the resources of the vampires trying to help me find the slayer, and his little clan or whoever he was working with.

I stayed inside every day, I drew Paul more often than not. I drew our old family home. I drew the happiest memories. I signed each one. I wrote a little detail on the back. I felt like I needed to share these with someone... like I used to share with him.

I was lonely. I was tired. I was slowly shutting down. I didn't want to go on eating alone everyday. I didn't want to go on walking around this tiny apartment drawing the past knowing that I could never have that again with my own flesh and blood.

It hurt too much to think about my brother, and how all his life he took care of me, and I couldn't even have been there for him in his last moments and protected him. Not like I could do much. I didn't know how to fight. I didn't know how to protect him like he would have protected me.

I cired myself to sleep every night. Wishing I would wake up and hear him laughing at me for falling asleep on the couch and making fun of the imprint on my cheek from the leather. I wished I would wake up to his apologizing for worrying me and for being late.

I wish I would wake up and have not only him, and my life go back to normal.

But I knew none of that would happen. And sadly... I was ready to join my family in heaven. I walked within the distance of the apartment one last time before I decided it was time to get some human food, and go out to the small market.

I got to the other side of the apartment, gabbed a twenty then my purse and finally my jacket before heading out. I didn't need keys since this was such a crappy apartment. It was protected and all that but I had a deal with a witch that no one would be able to actually get into my apartment without my permission. Just like a vampire isn't allowed in unless invited.

I walked the two blocks to the market, grabbed a small basket and walked around looking for anything that looked good. I got to the veggies and the fruits before inhaling deep and knowing exactly which was picked just in time to be sweet today.

I put it all into the little basket on my arm and found pasta and sausage before going towards the rest of the aisles looking for anything appealing, but without much of an appetite I just walked to the checkout station.

I did my own and then bagged it all it one. I walked out of the store, loving the night life in the city. There was a lot of people, friends, lovers, kids and parents, out tonight. They were all laughing and making jokes.

And it all made me miss my brother more. He was the one person who knew my life, knew me, knew what made us both laugh. He knew what made me happy, what made me tick. He was my other half. And there would never be another who knew me that well.

I walked down the street, closer to my apartment when I smelled them. Humans, hunters to be exact. The kind with heavy artillery and reeking of silver and gun powder. I got to the end of the block and saw one guy who was definitely waiting for someone and I sighed.

They found me.

I sighed again and looked both ways before heading into the deep. Vampires crawled these streets at night. I knew there was a club owned by one and I knew I would be safe there, the only humans let in are those who are with the vampires.

I got there, slightly out of breath, and as proof I showed my fangs before being let in the door. I made my way to the bar, needing to use a phone. I gave the excuse that mine was dead and they told me the only phone was in the bosses office. I needed to ask permission. They told me how to get there and waved me on.

I walked through the back kitchen before seeing the little room the bartender had mentioned. I knocked and waited since they said he was in there already and I nibbled my lip. I turned after knocking one more time and looked around. What if he had stepped out for just a minute.

"I know you're not here to be food, what do you want vamp?" I turned at the sound of a mans voice and took a breath.

"I was told that I could use the phone in your office since mine is dead. I can't find my friend anywhere." I said and he narrowed his eyes before nodding and stepping back and allowing me to enter.

"Clyde must have sent you back here, I guess if your friend left you here she should be notified that you can't call a cab." He said and I nodded and moved to see the older looking phone.

"Thanks, and I am not sure he was named Clyde, he didn't introduce himself." I said and took my time to think about the number.

"Do you want privacy?" He asked after a moment when I didn't make a move and I gulped.

"No, it's just, trying to remember the number." I said and he narrowed his eyes.

"Vampires usually have eidetic memories... are you new?" He asked and I shook my head. "How old are you?"

"Old enough to not answer that question." I laughed and looked at him head on now. He was dark haired, green eyes. Wavy locks gelled in place. His stubble was roguish and made him handsome.

"I assure you, I am older." He laughed and I spotted the white teeth and the dimples hiding in the folds of his cheeks.

"How about I tell you what age I was turned at." I stated and he nodded and waited. "24."

"I was 28." He told me and I nodded looking over his face and realizing that he was just a bit older than me now. "Turned in 1611." He told me and I nodded and smiled before looking towards the phone. I was older. "Who are you trying to call? I don't recognize you so your friend must have brought you here for the first time. I know most of the regulars." He told me and I gulped.

I opened my mouth to tell him that I was going to call someone in DC that my brother once loved... when there was a loud scream and then pops like small fireworks. He turned and went to the door before all we saw was smoke outside his door.

"Hunters." He growled before turning and locking the door. He used his speed to get the desk away from where it was and against the door before reaching for me. I followed him to a cabinet and he lifted the bottom and waved me in.

I didn't think twice. He was trying to live same as me. I got in and stumbled around when I felt a couple stairs and I looked back up at him as he closed up the small compartment. I felt the tears and the fear clawing at my insides and I looked around trying my vision out and I saw two ways.

"This way." He told me taking my arm and dragging me along.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we kept going along a narrow path. He had to turn sideways just to go faster.

"It's a way out. I knew this bar used to be a speakeasy... and I found the tunnels in and out. For this reason. I knew hunters would find the bar one day." He said and I watched how he turned left without a thought and the walkway got a little bit bigger.

"How could you know they would come?" They must have followed me. Somehow, they did. It's not like this club was well known to humans that weren't loyal to some vampire who always went here. Vampires who were old enough knew that humans weren't to be trusted with monumental things like a vampire owned club, or house, or clan.

"They used to hunt me." He said turning back to me and sighing. "I got caught up on the wrong side when I was turned. My sire was the kind of person who took mercy on the strong only after he has tried his hardest to break them. If he broke a human... they died. If he didn't, they were worthy of his clan." He paused and started to keep walking. "I was turned because he couldn't break me. 5 years later I worked my way up the scale, becoming his close comrade. Then Hunters found us. I fled and survived." He told me and then he turned right and I started walking before feeling water and it got my sandals wet and I screeched and sighed.

"Are we in the sewer?" I asked and he laughed lightly before I saw him shake his head. "Then what are we stepping in?" I asked and felt my heel slip and I cursed and moved to take the off stopping.

"We are walking under a car wash." He turned to me and watched me take my shoes off before hurrying behind him.

"What?" I asked when he was still waiting.

"Why did you take those off?"

"Because when they get wet they get slippery and I don't want to be limping around while my ankle heals." I said and looked around while he still blocked the way.

"What is your name?" He asked before sizing me up and I tilted my head.

"Vivian. What about yours?" I asked and he looked at me hard before crossing his arms. "What?"

"Who is your friend who brought you here?" He asked and I narrowed my eyes.

"Why does that matter? It's my first time here, sorry I don't know your name." I rolled my eyes and waited for him to move.

"Zander." He told me and I nodded before nodding for him to keep walking.

"Where does this lead out anyways?" I asked him and he started this story about how it leads a couple blocks away from time square and that he had a place to hide for a couple days at the most and when we heard chatting and laughing and he paused.

"Stay close." He said and I nodded before he pushed his way out of a small grate and lifted himself up and out. I got close and as I reached up to do the same he grabbed my arm and tugged me up like I couldn't do it myself.

"I can do that myself." I said snatching my arm back when he started to pull me along as well. "I can walk just as fast too." I told him and he sighed before slowing down a bit. I got to the other side of the alley with him and he leaned against it.

"Are you just going to stand there?" He asked and I looked at him.

"Your club was a good 20 blocks away from here... you think they have enough hunters to space the out that far? These are just drunk humans." I said and walked out into the street before looking both ways and then back to him. "See." I told him and waved my arms around and he looked around as he stepped out and he grabbed my wrist.

"Come on." He said and I started walking down the street with him and my stomach growled as we passed a hot dog vendor. He looked at me, then down at my stomach. "When was the last time you ate?"

"I was going to tonight but then I got home and-" I stopped myself before saying anything about the hunters. I looked at the man who openly admitted he was turned because he wasn't breakable, his sire was ruthless. He didn't seem the kind of man that wouldn't be vengeful if I told him about the Hunters following me to his club.

"And?" He interrupted my thoughts and I decided to act.

"What if my friend was still in the club?" I asked and cupped my mouth and took a sharp breath in.

"You said you couldn't find her anywhere." He said and I nodded and looked back the way we came. "Then she had already left. My place was big but it wasn't big enough to miss a person you already know." He told me and I nodded and took deep breaths again as he started to pull me along.

"So, was that your only club?" I asked after we walked around the people for 5 minutes.

"No, I have one in almost every major city. I had to make my income some other way when my sire was taken down. I was given a second chance with not being caught... and I wasn't going to waste it the same as him." He told me and as I kept walking thinking about his words. I stopped at the street light as every other human did and then he snagged my hand and pulled me the other way and I followed.

"Lovely rose for the lady?" I saw Zander flinch as the rose bouquet hit him in the face. "I am so sorry, here!" The lady rushed and took four out of the bush in her hand and handed them to me as Zander backed away. "I am so sorry."

"It's fine. Thank you." I smiled at the lady and took the flowers before reaching back for him and pulling him along. The small scratches the leaves had left were already healed and I offered him the flowers.

"Why would I want them?" He asked taking them and tossing them towards a full trashcan.

"Maybe I wanted them." I stated and looked around.

"I don't keep flowers in my home, therefore you won't keep them." He said and I looked at him.

"It's not like I am staying with you. I just need a phone, call my friend, see where I am going." I said and he looked at me before going towards the other side of the street since it was at a red light and we could cross.

"Well lucky for you... you're not going to be out of my sight until you're safe." He told me keep ahold of my hand.

"What?" I asked after a moment as we started to go up a private stairway. "What do you mean I am not leaving your sight?" I asked and he just kept quiet. We got to the top of the stairs and he was going to the left and I felt a slight pinch of pain in my arm.

"You're my responsibility until you're with your friends." He told me and stopped at a door before taking out a single key from his pocket and unlocking the door and waving me in. "Get in." He told me when I didn't move.

I stepped in and looked around. It was smaller than mine, but none the less homey. I looked around and the only thing I found missing was pictures. "Where can I put my shoes?" I asked holding them out and he grabbed them before going towards an AC. He put them parallel and turned it on before looking around.

"The phone is there, call. I am getting some of my stuff together." He said and I saw where he pointed before going towards it. I picked it up and started to dial my brothers number out of habit and I stopped before hitting the green button and then I just looked up and around before realizing I had to make sure he bought it.

I waited as it rang and then his voicemail came on. "Hey, you dialed me at the wrong time. I am busy in a meeting, or at dinner, or just about anywhere else I can't have my mobile on. Leave a message." I closed my eyes, soaking up his voice before sighing.

"It's me... I lost you at the club. Don't know if you were still there when the hunters attacked. Just... if you can call me back on this phone, at this number anyways. Mine is dead." I told the voicemail before sighing and moving to sit on the couch.

I sank down immediately.

I missed my bother. I missed him so bad. I felt the tears leaking out before I could stop them.

"Guessing she didn't answer." I heard Zander and saw him walking out in jeans and a black snug shirt.

"No, and she hasn't called back." I told him and sat forward.

"Do you wish to wait?" He asked and I looked at him as he collected some kind of papers out of the small drawer.

"If I can. You really don't have to watch me unless you don't trust me." I said looking around a bit and not seeing anything of real value. Maybe there is sentimental but without pictures around his home I can bet he doesn't get sentimental easily.

"I trust you, but I will not let another vampire die by the hands of a Hunter that is after me." He told me and then sighed heavily. "I was so sure they thought I was finally dead." He said and I looked at him before looking down. They weren't after him.

"Zander-" I got cut off by a knock at his door and he sped there before holding a hand up to silence me.

"Who is it?" I watched as he didn't look though the peep hole, just waited.

"It's me you d**k. Open up." He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"I told you April. You were a fling." He called back out and I saw him turn from the door and walk towards me.

"You didn't say that three weeks ago when I was-"

"Leave April. I've already moved on." He shouted back and then we started to walk towards his back kitchen.

"Who is that?" I asked when I heard the woman crying on the other end of the door.

"She was a human who wanted to be turned. I was seeing if she would be okay in our world. Our relationship turned slightly s****l and I realized she wanted to bond. I couldn't sire her if she wanted that. I wouldn't trust that bond either. She lied about why she wanted to be a vampire. If there is anything I hate more than selfish people its liars." He told me and I just bit my lip. There goes my way of telling him I knew the hunters were after me.

I waited the twenty minutes Zander allowed to have my friend call me back and I was acting anxious. I knew that from this point on I had to play a part. To act like a survivor over the loss of my friend.