Destined to Kill: A Destined Novel (Destined Novels Book 1) (25 page)

A full sentence! I'm completely caught off guard by his response that I almost don't notice he's dislodging the sword.

"Ah ah ah." I wag a finger at him before taking a silver dagger out and driving it through his hand. "What do you want with me?" I ask again, ignoring his growl.

His response is a slow, maniacal laugh, and I imagine I'm not going to get anywhere with him.

"To hell with this." I rise, taking out my second sword. "Any last words?"

"You can't hide forever, Cloaked One. We will find you."

"Technically, you won't. You'll be dead."

I slice my blade through him, disconnecting that pretty head from its body.

I make my way back home way before the others. I need to at least give them a little time to themselves, and trust them completely.

In my room, I peel off my gear and frown at the holes in the fabric. I hate sewing. Even more, I hate having to dig damn bullets out of me.

"Barbaric invention," I grumble as I sit naked in my bathroom, readying myself. I take out a bottle of blood, and drink half of it immediately.

Gingerly, I dig my fingers in one of my wounds.

"Son of a…" That bites. My fingers finally find the bullet and I pull it out. I place it in an empty vial. No way I'm getting rid of these.

I was hit six times - perfect - and, that's not counting the one in my back that was intended for Amanda. It's going to be interesting trying to get that one out.

I drain the rest of the blood, and start on a new bottle. It's more than I've had in a long time, and if I'm not careful, I'm going to begin needing more. I finish fishing out the bullets in the front - my wounds have already healed - and look in the mirror at my back. Right in the middle. Of course. I reach back, and though I can touch it, it's just barely.

"Well. This just gets better and better, doesn't it," I say to my reflection. With a sigh, I grab my elbow with my other hand and push, dislocating my shoulder enough to reach the wound. A guttural moan escapes from me involuntarily. I dig the bullet out, and quickly reset my shoulder. I lean on the counter, panting slightly. I felt the change occur when dislocating my shoulder, so I don't bother looking at myself in the mirror.

I take deep breaths, calming myself. The pain has already subsided, now it's just a matter of returning my appearance to normal. What a night, I think as I glance at my cloak and shake my head. To be continued tomorrow night with the next group. I can't help but wonder how mum and papa did this? Then again, they didn't have to deal with humans trying to kill their Hunters with guns.

My thoughts are interrupted when I hear the others come in, animated, full of adrenaline, and talking over each other about the events of the night. I dress quickly, and go to meet them in the training room.

"Ana! You won't believe what happened tonight!" Amanda practically runs to me and throws her arms around me. "We were
shot
at!"

"Shot at?" I frown, feigning ignorance. "Hybrids are using guns now?"

"No! Humans!"

Amanda is much too excited about being shot at. Has she lost her ever-loving mind?

"Humans?" I look questioningly at Sam, and he shrugs.

"I don't really know what happened," he confesses. "It was all so fast. One moment we were patrolling, all is quiet, and the next, bullets were flying, and…"

"And?"

"And," Amanda continues for him, "someone saved my life! I don't know who it was, but I mean, it was so cool! They had like a cape, and a hood!" She grabs the sides of her trench coat and twirls, the coat flying out behind her. "They wrapped the cape around me, then told me that it was humans shooting at us and to run!"

"Really? And, you don't know who this person was?"

"Nope! But it sounds like the Cloaked One I read about in the journal! What if he came back? Is that even possible?" Amanda continues to twirl her coat, and I raise my eyebrows at her.

"Is she okay?"

"Just excited," Sam answers. "She's weird."

"Whatever.
You're
weird! How could you not think that was cool?"

"Because they could have killed you! They could have killed
all
of us!"

"But, they didn't, so relax." She turns her attention back to me. "The caped person, I'm going to pretend it
is
the Cloaked One, ran after the humans and took them away!"

"You didn't follow?"

"No. We can't do anything about humans, though Zac wanted to go after them."

"Thanks, Amanda," Zac says, grumpily. "They were shooting at us. I feel it would have been justified to kick their asses!"

"Hmm." It was a noncommittal response from me, and I'm aware then, that Jenna has been extra quiet. "Are you okay, Jenna?"

"You didn't warn us that we were going to be hunted by humans," she snaps.

"How could I possibly know that?"

"And, what the hell is this caped person about? What the hell is going on out there? None of this was in our training."

Oh boy. She certainly isn't shy about speaking her mind.

"We will talk about the innocents, and our course of action should this happen again. This is a learning experience for us all, Jenna. Things are so different now than they were before." I'm hoping she doesn't notice that I totally skip over her question about the 'caped person'.

"They weren't innocent, Ana," Zac interjects.

"He's right," Sam agrees. "Guns make them our enemies."

"Wait. Just wait!" I exclaim. I cannot let this fight get out of hand. We have enough to worry about with the Cursed Ones. Bringing humans into the mix will just complicate things even more. Besides, Hunters have a code not to harm innocents. That means
humans
, whether they're trying to kill you or not. "We are bound..."

"Screw the code, Ana!" Zac yells, and I was on him before he knew what hit him. I push him back against the wall, fisting my hands in his shirt.

"
You
do not speak to me like that," I growl. "I am your leader. These codes have been in place for centuries, and it is not up to
you
to question them. We are Hunters, Zac. Not murderers. If you choose to go against the code, you will give me no choice…"

I purposefully do not finish my sentence. It'll give him something to think about when he tries to figure out what might happen to him. Judging by his expression, he's already afraid of me. Good. How dare he speak to me like he did?

"Ana?" Sam places his hands over mine, gently coaxing me to let go of Zac.

"He dares to defy me," I snap, still holding Zac.

"He's a hothead. Zac is just trying to get used to all of this," Sam reasons.

I reluctantly release Zac. "Get out," I tell him.

"Ana, please, I'm sorry!"

"Get out. I don't want to see you back here until you get it through your head that I am in charge. Read the damn journal again. Learn the code, back and forth. When I see you again, you shall recite it to me, verbatim. Am I clear?"

"Yes."

I turn my back to him. I need him to get out of my face before I do something I will regret.

"That was harsh, Ana."

"I do not care, Amanda. He needs to learn that he must follow the rules of the society. Rogue Hunters get themselves killed, or worse."

I catch Amanda's eye, and she looks at me curiously. I take a moment to calm myself. I must be more careful, and learn to curb my anger.

"You should sleep. I will hear the rest of your story tomorrow. Then we shall discuss what to do about the innocents." I emphasize the word.

Jenna and Amanda walk away without another word. Only Sam lingers, watching me intently.

"Ana."

"Not tonight, Sam," I whisper, and leave him.

I decide to halt further patrol until I can speak to Bernard. I can't possibly be there for every scouting, so I need more information before I get my Hunters killed.

On Sunday, I show up at the address Bernard gave me at precisely four o'clock. I'm slightly surprised that he gave me the address to his home, though I'm not sure why.

"Anala. Please, come in."

I raise my eyebrow at the name he uses. Obviously he does not take my objections seriously.

"Ah, right. It is Ana now. I do apologize." Bernard smiles, but there's something off about him.

"Nice place," I mutter. It isn't really, but my parents always taught me to be courteous. The apartment is small and drab. Dark. He has every window covered in heavy, red velvet, and not a drop of sunlight was able to seep through. Books - old, and filled with a language I have since learned - are strewn over a desk. Papers, some stacked, some disheveled, covered red velvet chairs and settee. Seriously, the place was a disaster. The only light came from a small lamp on the overcrowded desk.

"You must excuse the mess," he says with a chuckle. "As I told you, I have been trying to gather information."

I say nothing as I wait for him to clear a spot for me to sit. He empties two chairs, and moves them so they are facing one another a few feet apart.

"Please, sit." He gestures, and I notice a slight tremor in his hand. Yes, something is definitely off with Bernard. "Could I offer you some tea?"

"No, thank you. I cannot stay long."

"Of course. You are here for information?"

He is distracted and fidgeting.

"Yes. First I need to know if the Cursed Ones are contained here in this area."

"I believe so, yes. I cannot imagine they have ventured too far…" his voice trails off.

"Are you feeling okay, Bernard?"

"Yes, yes. I am fine." He laughs again, and it gives me chills.

"Why here?" I ask.

"I'm sorry?"

"Why did they show up here? And, you? Why are you here? Something does not fit about all of this. Why wait until Hunters are found to make an army? You said they should all be contained here, but why wouldn't they build their army wherever they came from?"

"So many questions!" He snorts. "I am going to need a drink! Are you sure you won't have one with me?"

I decline, noting he has not answered any of my questions. "What is it you are not telling me, Bernard?"

"I do not know what…"

"Bernard!"

"Anala, I do what I have to do in order to survive," he says, quickly and I realize then that he looks like someone jonesing for another hit of their drug of choice.

"What does that mean?"

Bernard stands at the bar with his back to me. I think, fleetingly, that it's taking him a long time to pour a drink, but forget about it when he sits back down. He drinks - whiskey from the smell - and watches me. Is he weighing his options?

"I brought them here," he confesses.

"You - what?"

"They agreed to keep me alive if I helped them find what they are looking for."

"They agreed?" I can't believe what I am hearing. I have seen how they have evolved, but so much that they can make deals with humans? "I do not understand, Bernard. How are you communicating with them?"

"They are not as primitive as you may remember, Anala. Especially the one…" he stops as though he was about to reveal too much, and waves his hand through the air. "The point is, we made a deal. I was told to search for Hunters, and I found them. Found you."

I frown. "Cursed Ones
wanted
you to find Hunters? That makes no sense. We are the only ones that have the abilities to kill them."

"But, you also have the ability to bring out the one they seek," Bernard said matter-of-factly.

"The Cloaked One," I whisper, horrified.

"Yes! You know of him? Do you know him personally?" He sounds so excited. Like a child with a new toy.

"One of the Cursed Ones that I killed spoke about the Cloaked One," I answer.

"I see." Bernard is disappointed with my answer.

"Why, Bernard? Why do they want…the Cloaked One? And, what is your involvement?"

Bernard smiles sardonically, and rises to get another drink. "Dear Anala. It's all about the blood."

"I do not understand." It feels like this is the theme of this entire conversation. I'm completely in the dark, and it's annoying!

"Your father stumbled upon something back then," he says, sitting back in front of me. "I do not know if it was by accident, but his findings were astounding! Youth in a bottle! Everlasting life! A miracle…and extremely profitable."