Crimson River by Wulfshard (bts books to read txt) 📕

Then I zipped to class, took my seat and allowed myself to drift off to sleep.
Hey, no matter how much blood I took, it was still daylight; I was still a vampire. Humans couldn’t change that.

Ethereal light was cast from the heavens, almost hidden by the clouds. Vince’s voice echoed in my ears as I leaped from tree branch to tree branch not far ahead, enjoying the feel of the bark and slight rustle of leaves. It was clear not even Vince knew I was. It was best I kept it that way, since his two fellow hunters walked proudly beside him.
They really should be brought down a notch or two. I mean, seriously! They probably haven’t even been taught more than kill strikes and basic defense. Not in these days.

Yet I couldn’t bring myself to leap down; I was here simply to make sure Leon got home safely – and to find his home, of course. It was a huge advantage to know where your enemies lived. Since hunters moved around once every six months when they don’t have kids and once every school year when they did. I would have to keep track of that kind of thing.
It’s been about three or so years since I followed a Leon home. This will be useful; I didn’t know they were back on my turf, since I’d chased their family off last time…

It was even better when the other two hunters paused at the boundary to my turf and my masters. They spoke a minute about whether or not to walk Vince home.
He glanced at the tree I’d paused in to ease drop. “No, I’m good. The moon is full enough for me to see easily, and I have my daggers on me. Besides, if I’m right about where we are, I don’t think I have to worry about a coven hunting here.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. My parents said that we live on lone vampire turf, and that usually she don’t bother hunters who leave her alone.”
They shrugged. “Call us when you get back home. Whoever that vampire is may be hunting tonight.”
Then the two moved from my territory onto a much older, crueler vampire’s.
He does keep a Coven like the old days.
When they disappeared around a corner, he skimmed the tree openly. It was clear he didn’t know for sure it was me – or even a vampire. Knowing he wouldn’t go to his real house if I revealed myself, I spun a spell of illusion around him to see an animal if he did spot me. For a moment he tensed. Then his eyes locked onto mine and the boy relaxed.
Vince turned and walked on. Smiling smugly at my little game, I trailed behind him until he turned to a large house. It was well off, unlike most hunter homes – since they rarely did anything else, and only until recently were hunted by the cops as a cult or gang.
Now they’re being paid by the very government who thought we were both insane. Well…that means they will hoard that money for times when we’re at war again.
He unlocked the door. I slipped into the shadows and scented the air; it was definitely the Leon home.

“Hey, mom. I’m home at last.”
A gratingly familiar voice called back “How was school, my little diplomat?”
That voice…it’s her! It’s that bitch who turned to the hunters when I fed from her…that’s why his blood is so good. He isn’t fully human! Vince is half Fae!

That was an interesting little twist.
I’ll keep an eye on Sam’s kid for sure. He should have some kind of his more magical traits…perhaps I tasted it in his blood.

“What do you mean I was followed?” Vince demanded.
“She’s right outside. Keep your voice down, Vince.” His mother answered quietly.
I became tense.
“Oh.” Her Halfling son laughed. “That’s just the local vampire, Aria. I kind of thought she was following me. When I saw a red-eyed cat in a tree I realized even if she was she only wanted to know where her rivals lived.”
Sam gasped “You shouldn’t let her follow you, darling! Aria has killed many of your forefathers!”
He sighed. “I know, mom, but she won’t look for trouble. If she was one of those type she would’ve killed the girls who broke their agreement with her at school instead of just telling them to scram.”
“You had to discipline her?”
“No.” I could hear the impatience so clearly for a moment I thought I could feel it. “She looked half-starved so I helped her out.”
There was silence. “You…let a vampire bite you…willingly?”
The anger surging through my veins was in his voice as he replied “You’ve been bitten willingly, mom. By her. She didn’t hurt you. And she even offered to protect me. You know she would. Not all of the Re-born are as vile as –“
“That’s enough.” A male voice sent shivers down my spine. “Samantha dear, I know how hard it is to allow him to do his job, but this is how it’s handled in his generation of hunting. The original hunters even hunted during the day. They dragged them out and burned them with torches and prayers from the god that abandoned them. I hunted them in a fair fight in their own element – we even formally challenged them and allowed them to back down. Now they’re giving vampires a chance. There’s no need to be so dramatic about it.”
You challenged me so often that it was either fight or die in the hands of those who would consider me a coward, and you know it!

The pain from his Solar Whip still seethed from three years of scarring. It ached in the daylight and re-burned any time I was hungry enough that my body couldn’t constantly heal it over and over again.
The wounds he gave me will never fade…

“Thank you for understanding, father.”
“It’ll get heavier again in a few hundred years.” His father – Jonathan was his name, if I remembered right – replied wisely. “But you’re job isn’t to worry about that. Just do what they teach you, son. Now go wash up and see if Aria would like to come inside.”
What? And smell that Fae's blood again?

The thought was enough to almost bring back a very painful memory.
“She can’t hear us can she?”
Vince laughed. “She can hear us as well as you can feel her, mother.” He re-opened the door and called toward the shadows, searching for me. “Well? Do you want to come in or not?”
I hesitated. Sam was right there…
But Vince is more entertaining than going home. What do I have there? Dark memories I cannot outlive?

So I stepped out of the shadows and followed him inside.

*****

It was actually pleasant for Vince to hear his father understand the difference in his line of work. The older hunter had retired from vampires and begun hunting the other creatures of the night that the government considered too dangerous to deal with. He was paid per head. Vince would be paid per day, and wouldn’t pay taxes.
What he didn’t expect was for Aria to actually come into the house. She’d seemed too reserved to desire human company.
She’s the proud, peaceful type, I think. Aria is just one of those vampires who enjoys a rival reprieve every century or so.

“Thank you for inviting me into your home.” She was tense and suddenly formal – very different from the girl he’d seen at school.
She was changed so young…I wonder how old she really is…

His mother tensed, shook her head and left. There was a flash of pain behind those calloused crimson eyes. Then her face washed cold of all emotion.
Vince was shocked to see the shift. From what his mother had said there had been very little between the two. Aria had been desperate; she’d allowed her to feed, and the vampire liked her blood so came back infrequently for more.
“Never mind my wife, Aria.” Though he’d welcomed her into his home, Vince saw how tense his father was. “She’s a little distraught at what hunting is becoming.”
“A truce like this is fair…to those who follow it, anyway.”
I have to do something or she’ll leave!

Not sure why the idea bothered him, Vince said the first thing that came to his mind. “Want to see my room? There are all sorts of cool animal bones up there.”
Her interest sparkled again. The vampire tensely nodded. “If that’s alright with your father…”
“Of course. Just don’t forget to offer her entrance and keep the door open, son.”
Yes. Remind her of what she is, father.

There was slight animosity in the room, so the boy quickly led the way up the stairs and into the largest room on the floor. He was quite frond of it now; it was the largest he’d ever had, and with the allowance boosted, there was all sorts of cool stuff. New daggers, whips and guns weren’t really his thing. No, instead he had a large bed, a big-screen TV and excellent cloths. The animal bones were donated to him by the science club for effect.
I hate killing anything. Why does my father do it? Vampires have a right to eat and live too!

“Nice digs.” She wasn’t quite herself, but at least now Aria stood just outside his room with her slightly cocky smile. “I can get you better.”
Vince stared at her. “What?”
“Those bones,” She nodded her head at the animal bones. “I can get you better ones.”
“Y-you want to get me a gift?”
She blinked, looking startled. “D-did I say something strange?”
Man is she uneasy.

“No, you’re fine. I just wasn’t expecting gifts…”
Looking at her feet, the immortal muttered something. He barely picked it up “Stupid…hate formalities…”
“W-why don’t you come in here?” He asked as he sat on the bed. “We’ll be having supper soon, and I need to wash up soon, but we can talk a while.”
She was looking around, her eyes curious but unsure. When she didn’t say anything for a time, he asked the first thing that came to mind “About how often do you feed, normally?”
The vampire’s eyes blazed crimson as she sharply replied “You have a serious problem with being rude.”
There’s a temper on her after all!

“S-sorry. Um…I just wanted to know if maybe there could be an arrangement made with somebody from school or something.”
That hurt, and I’m still dizzy. So why can't I stop thinking about it?

Aria didn’t answer. She was staring sadly at the door, listening to something. The look of