Hunter Maximus

I wait outside the shop Dresses for Princesses, but this time I wasn’t admiring the dresses me and my co-workers created. It was still late at night, but morning was just around the corner. It was freezing outside and I stood, shivering. I wore a jacket to hide the stake I kept in the back of my jeans.

I had managed to leave the apartment without my parents noticing, and I left a note for them just so they wouldn’t worry. I said I needed space and would come back when I was over the incident. I hoped they’d believe it and not be too worried I was gone again.

Lost in my thoughts, a black brand new sedan pulls up in front of me, by the curb and I tense as the back door opens and Luke scrambles out, his face drained of blood, he looks so pale but he is well enough to come over to my side.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he whispers to me, his eyes haunted.

“I’ll be fine,” I say sternly, “I can handle Maximus. I’m glad you’re safe now.” Luke is giving me such an intense look, it is hard to meet his eyes. He seems so guilty and so worried.

“Over here sweetheart,” I turn and see Maximus leaning on the car, arms crossed over his chest. He is wearing his black leather pants, still no top. He looks as strong and as healthy as ever... like he just had his fill of blood for the day. His skin glowed golden and so did his red-gold, dark auburn hair.

“I’ve got this,” I tell Luke, while glaring at Maximus. I quickly turn to Luke and add, “Stay safe, I’ll be fine.” Then I walk up to Maximus, who slyly opens the back door for me to the black sedan.

“That’s it, sweetie,” Maximus says to me as I slide in the back seat. I ignore his velvet smooth voice and the smug tone. I see a familiar vampire in the driver’s seat. Leah. She called me a human whore.

She is glaring at me in the rear view mirror as Maximus slides into sit next to me.

“Drive,” he orders Leah, who takes off into traffic with a huff of annoyance. I see Luke staring after the car helplessly and then I meet Maximus’ gaze, the middle seat separating us.

“Why do you need my help?” I ask.

“We suspect most of our humans that work for us are all known to the human government,” Maximus says, “We need you to work for us undercover. We simply need you to find Darrius for us, get access to his location. That’s all.”

“It’s a stupid plan,” Leah snaps from the drivers seat, “How do we trust she won’t just run away, you gave away our only hostage, that blonde hunter you traded for her.”

“It’s simple,” Maximus says calmly, reaching over and picking up one of my blonde locks of hair, he runs his fingers through it while I stare at his grey entrancing eyes, “Darling,” he says softly, “I desperately need your help. And I’ve already had to go to a lot of trouble getting you back. I’m not in the best of moods and -”

“You look happy enough to me,” I snap, interrupting him and slapping his hand away from my hair.

" - and if you don’t do what I need you to do, Isobel,” Maximus’ voice turns menacing, “I will turn you. I’m keeping you regardless of whether you are successful in finding Darrius or not, but this way you get to stay human. It’s a generous offer which you should carefully consider.” I take a moment to register the fact that he is more on edge than I realised. He was putting on a façade of calmness... but he was more stressed than he was showing.

“I don’t want to be turned,” I say eventually, “How do I find Darrius?”

“You’ll be going in as an undercover reporter to Greg Humphrey’s office, you’ll ask to have exclusive pictures of Darrius, and you’ll pay him a lot of money which we will provide you with,” Maximus reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a black blind fold, “Turn around, sweetheart.”

“How do you expect me to ever like you?” I ask him as I turn around, “You want to keep me but ill forever hate you,” I point out the obvious.

He gently picks up all my hair and places it behind my neck before putting the blindfold over my eyes. He leans in close as he ties the knot.

“There are so many ways, Isobel,” He says, close to my ear, “To bring wilful human girls to heel.”

“How about I just do what you ask me to,” I say, “And then later you can deal with my wilful nature. One thing at a time, shall we?” I ask as sarcastically as possible.

“Hmmm...” he finishes tying the blindfold at the back of my head and leans away from me, “Leah, do you think I can make this one submit?” I turn around in my seat and cross my arms over my chest, frowning. Now blind, I feel more defenceless but at least I have the stake under my jacket.

“We have bigger issues at hand, Maximus,” Leah snaps from the front, “Focus.”

I smile, imagining his look of annoyance and Leah’s scowl.

“I will when we finalise the plans,” Maximus’ voice trails off for a moment, then he adds, “You have a beautiful smile, sweetheart.”

“Go to hell!” I snap, the smile dropping from my face.

Maximus replies with a quiet, “Mmm, you are feisty, aren’t you?” After a moments silence in the car, Leah mutters hesitantly...

“At least she has some guts...”