Destined to Kill: A Destined Novel (Destined Novels Book 1) (20 page)

I listen to Sam sleep quietly beside me. I don't think anything, in all of my years, could have prepared me for this turn of events. I glance at Sam. For someone so high-strung and grumpy, he was incredibly gentle with me. Sighing, I toss my legs over the side of the bed, and bury my head in my hands.

"God, what did you do, Anala?" I whisper. Papa would certainly not approve of this. Sleeping with a Hunter that I am training? That all but spelled disaster.

"Ana?"

I jump a little, even though his voice is barely a whisper. I'm also suddenly aware that I have nothing on. I slip back under the covers and face him.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

"No. Everything okay?"

He looks at me so intently. I suppose I should be used to it by now, but it still unnerves me.

"Yes," I smile.

"Having regrets?"

"Of course not." I can't hold his gaze.

"That didn't look very convincing, Ana." He tries smiling, but I can see the uneasiness.

"Sam, I don't regret what we did," I pause, searching for the right words. "Please don't make me regret it. We are so close to having to go out hunting. The last thing you need is a distraction. Don't let me be a distraction to you."

He traces his finger down my cheek, and over my lips. "Too late."

"I'm serious. Just because we're sleeping together doesn't mean I need you to be my hero. You need to stay focused, do what you are trained to do. And, you need to remember that I can take care of myself."

"I understand. I do!" he reiterates when this time I don't look convinced. "Distractions are dangerous. Ana, I'm a cop, so I get it, okay? No heroics," he grins.

I can't help but smile back. "Good. Now get some sleep. We have a full day tomorrow."

"In a little bit," he says, and then kisses me.

I wake up early, leaving Sam to sleep a little longer, and head to the training room. I purposefully come early, knowing I would have the room to myself for a while. I walk into the holding room, and the Hybrid is instantly alert. He gives a half-hearted hiss, then slumps back in the chair. He hasn't eaten since I brought him here. I can sympathize with how he feels, how weak he must be, but I also remember he's the enemy.

"Can you speak?" I ask, unsure if I'll get any kind of response with how weak he is. "I know you're hungry. Talk to me and I will get you food."

He just grunts softly.

"Who is your Maker?" Nothing. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

"Cloak," he whispers.

The hairs on my neck stood up. Did he say cloak?

"What?"

"Need Cloaked One," he growls.

"What do you mean?" He saw me in my outfit. Does he want me - or the Cloaked One - dead because I caught him?

"Food."

I hear the others come into the training room, and I see his gaze shift behind me.

I block his view. "Who is your Maker?" I ask, again. "Tell me and perhaps I will spare your life."

He hisses at me again, as much as he can in his anemic state. "Cloak."

Well, this was no help at all. The others would only wonder what 'cloak' meant if they could hear him. Fearing that, and knowing I wouldn't get the answers I need from him, I make the decision. The others need to know what it was going to be like when they killed Cursed Ones. I would use this one to demonstrate.

I feel their presence get closer. They're curious as to how our 'prisoner' is doing. Keeping my back to them, I take my fingernail and slice it against the palm of my hand, drawing blood. The smell hits the Hybrid hard and he goes wild with need. He strains against the chains, his eyes turning white, with a thin, faded red rim. His teeth grow, and saliva drips from his mouth like a dog with rabies. I'm torturing him, but it's necessary. Hunters need to be reminded of what they are up against.

I lick the blood from my hand where the wound has already healed. "That will do," I tell him quietly, and leave him.

"Are you sure he can't get out?" Amanda asks, looking wearily at the door of the holding room as if it were going to burst open at any moment.

I reassure her, moving past her and the others. In the middle of the room, I gather their attention.

"Today, you're going to see what happens when you defeat your enemy." My words did not even come close to describing the unadulterated violence they were about to witness. "You're late," I announce when Sam walks in, purposefully voiding my voice of any emotion.

"I know, I'm sorry. Overslept."

"Whoa. Did Sam just apologize to Ana? Hell must've frozen over," Jenna quips and the others snicker.

"Enough," I snap. "We are on the verge of going out in the real world and hunting these…monsters." I glance at Amanda when I use her word. "We don't have time to be late or to make jokes." I turn my back to them, take a deep breath and compose myself. Turning back, I say, "None of you know what you're really in for. So, I'm going to show you."

I order them to stay put as I go back to the holding room. They're not going to like what I'm about to do - hell, I'm not sure
I
like what I'm about to do. It's necessary.

"I would get ready if I were you," I announce, moments before I unchain the Hybrid. I'm confident that he is weak enough that he won't be able to do much damage. But, he will undoubtedly cause a bit of panic.

I heard many expletives, gasps and even a few 'finallys' come from the group. I watch for a bit, analyzing their tactics, evaluating their composure. All in all, they do pretty well keeping the Hybrid at bay. I do, however, notice that not one of them go for the kill. Not even Detective Sam.

The Hybrid goes after each Hunter, only to get more frustrated at the failed attempts. Interestingly enough, I can almost see
him
analyzing the situation. Choosing the smallest, seemingly weakest, in the bunch didn't work. When none of them turn out to be easy prey, I see him considering how to escape. Cursed Ones are certainly evolving, I think fleetingly as he runs towards me.

With my swords at my sides, I press the buttons to release the blades. The Hybrid hisses, using what was left of his strength to charge me. I side-step him, spinning, I hit him making him stumble back. He snarls with hunger and anger, but doesn't charge again. Instead he holds his ground, poised as we each weigh our options. I see him glance at the bars above me. They were used in training as obstacles the Hunters needed to determine how to use to their advantage. I see now that the Hybrid was trying to do the same thing. It's fascinating. I'm almost sorry that I'm going to have to kill him. Almost.

I drop my swords and jump to the bars at the same time he does, preventing him from fleeing. Wrapping my legs around him, I tug. We both come tumbling down, and he holds on to me, hoping this is his chance to get food. Unfortunately for him, I am ready for impact. Falling backwards, I bring him up and over me, launching him into the glass of the holding room. The blow has him struggling to gain his footing. Grabbing my swords, I perform a kip-up and am on my feet, in front of him, in seconds. He's defeated and he knows it. This isn't how it is in the field, he's just too hungry and weak to fight anymore. Once again, I have to help him - and my cause - by nicking my palm, drawing blood. Ravenous, he bounds towards me. No tricks, no fancy moves, I cross my swords like a huge pair of scissors, and close them across his neck.

His head rolls once, away from his slumped body, before they turn to dust.

The others run over to me - and to their credit, none of them are too grossed out by what they see. In awe, perhaps a bit of shock, but mostly they are just trying to comprehend everything that just happened.

I am disappointed in them for their lack of 'killing instinct', but they're alive and unscathed. That's a plus. They held their own, used their skills. Still, not delivering the killing blow is not going to work out there.

"Why didn't you kill him?" I'm not asking anyone in particular, and they look at each other for the answer. "
Someone
answer me. I don't care who."

"He was weak?" Amanda's answer comes in the form of a question, annoying me.

"Do you think he would have given you the same consideration if he'd gotten past your defenses? He would've killed you without a second thought."

"We're human, Ana. He may kill us without hesitation, but you can't expect us to be the same way." It's Amanda's turn to be annoyed with me.

"You're not just human," I counter. "You're Hunters. It is your destiny to kill these…things. It is the code."

"Ana, this is our first time experiencing all of this," Sam interjects, quietly. "We haven't been prepared for this like you have. These kids, me, we're doing our best."

He's right, of course, but we simply do not have the time for 'humanity' when it comes to Cursed Ones. And, yes, I realize the irony of someone like me feeling that way.

"Train for a couple of hours. We'll meet in dining room to eat and discuss our next move around noon."

I leave them to it, retreating to my room for time alone. When I get there, I immediately take off my shirt and examine my shoulder. As expected, there's no wound, just a trace of blood where the Hybrid got a bite in. I have no idea how this bite will affect me, but, I'm thankful he was just a Hybrid. They are not potent enough at this stage to turn someone, only kill them. I feel fine enough, even if a bit cranky. Aftermath of letting a Hybrid get one in, I suppose. I'm better than that. Sure, they're evolving, but that is no excuse. If he can get to me, what are the chances of survival for the others?

I meet the gang in the dining room at precisely twelve o'clock. Apparently they're all cranky as well. I don't blame them. I am their trainer, the one they look to for advice and guidance. What do I do? I run off and hide. I should have been there training with them. Just one more thing Papa would be disappointed in.

"First, I want to apologize," I begin as I sit at the head of the table. "I should've handled this morning differently. Beginning with telling you how sufficient you all were against the Hybrid. I am impressed with how well you are all doing in such a short amount of time." I pause, thinking about how papa would handle this. Searching for the right words. "I know this is very new for all of you. Being a trainer and responsible for a society - as few as we are - is new to me. I don't expect you to lose your humanity," I say, holding Amanda's eye. "However, you also can't let it get in your way out there. It's your life or theirs. And, I can tell you that they will not hesitate to kill you. They do not possess the humanity you do."

"None of them?" Amanda asks, her gaze never faltering.

I, of course, cannot answer that question honestly. "They are evolving," I say, by way of answering. "You've read the journal. You know that back in the day, a Hybrid would not quit trying for food. This one gave up and began looking for an escape. I can honestly tell you that I do not know what we're up against out there."

"So, how do we find out?" Sam asks.

"We go out and hunt. Tonight."

"Tonight!" Sam's fork clatters against his plate. "Don't you think that's a bit hasty?"

"Damn it!" Jeremy swore, and drops his knife. "You scared the hell out of me, Sam!" He quickly grabs his napkin and covers the bleeding cut on his hand.

The smell hits me as hard as it did the first day I was turned. I feel that all too familiar sting in my eyes, the aching of my teeth and that unimaginable hunger. Impossible! I haven't felt this way in so long. I immediately drop my gaze, grateful that everyone's attention is focused on Jeremy.

"Excuse me."

I try not to run out of the room, but I can't trust myself around the others with the way I am feeling. When I finally get to my room, I run to my bathroom, slamming the door behind me. I can't seem to be able to catch my breath, or get the damn smell of blood out of my head. I open the small concealed fridge, and with shaking hands, I take out a bottle filled with blood. I drink it down eagerly, savoring the almost instant satisfaction. Something human food has never been able to do for me since turning. I chug more, until the bottle is empty. The need for blood shames me. I know, deep inside, that it isn't my fault. That doesn't do anything to help my guilt.