Ephemeral Hunter

The breeze stumbled through your black hair, carrying an intoxicating scent as you and Rudy stood in the sports field just outside of the Cafeteria. You lent against the wall, watching your fellow students shooting hoops in the court, others kicking around a soccer ball while yelling at one another... but it was the women's track racers, sprinting along the track their skin gleaming with the sweat that seeped from their pores, making them all gleam like tanned gems in the late autumn glow.

"You really wanna kill them don't you?" Rudy whispered as you looked out at them all.

"Don't you?" You asked, never taking your eyes from the twenty girls who throw their batons at one another, stopping and sprinting and stopping again in the endless loop.

"Yeah, I do. But I think it's different for you, Rudy would stuff her face in this place until she was fit to burst... but you need more than just mindless gluttony don't you?"

"I'm guessing this is where you enlighten me about some shrill observation that I have missed within myself?" Your insides rumbled, the fact that you managed to function here today at all felt like a miracle.

"It isn't an observation, Cowboy. It is a fact. You don't just need to feed mindlessly, what you desire is to play. Your hunger is for the hunt itself, instead of the prize."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes, obviously. I've met Undead-One hundred score who would have merely mesmerized that stupid little girl to get what he wanted, who would tear this pathetic place apart to find what he needed... but you need to manipulate things, it's who you are and who you were. You don't hunger for blood as much as your hunger for the hunt drives you"

Eyes filling with red, you tore yourself away from jiggling sports bras and lean legs poorly covered by tiny shorts. You looked down at Rudy, touching the guitar case slung over your shoulder, begging to withdraw its contents. She revelled in the wild look in your eyes "Don't play games with me. I brought you here to help you, not put doubt on what little humanity I have left."

She shrugged playfully "You're a smart cookie, you know it too. I bet you could look at anything and tell me exactly how it thinks, how it moves, analysing your prey down to the last atom even. But you lack what true monsters are born with: trust in themselves, the wholeness of mind and body. How can I crush your humanity, when it is your desire to play with your prey you hide so poorly which defines your actions"

"Maybe you're right. I do enjoy it, there's no evil in that?" You asked.

"Evil?" She cooed, "They have their purpose, they populate the world, and they'll feed on it until the sky itself falls. They worship their gods, ignorant of the real powers that walk among them. If they must destroy to survive, then so must we... that is the truth Rudy learned while trapped in her little cave, surrounded by ****"

"Hm." You hummed ponderously, smirking at it. The Vampire was the greatest predator on this earth, you were built to cull the world, this much was clear... but was killing the only true way for the undead to find peace?

It was yet to be seen.

You slid your hand around her waist, making her button nose flair and her soft form press against yours. Leant down into her ear, you spoke with a tone that dripped with venom and hunger "We will see how the world treats us after today, and after that, maybe they'll be a treat for you too."

Her bright orbs sparkled in the low light, gleaming like opals under the hood of her parka. She wanted you badly, the same as you wanted her... and in that certainty, Rudenia found clarity.

"But first, we must choose." You pointed to the relay racers, Rudy looking on at them eagerly "Any thoughts?"

She eyed the lean group of athletic girls on the track and found a mark almost immediately. "I like that one, she's... antsy."

You followed her eyeliner to a tall, streaky girl with a single brown braid bouncing across her shoulders as she jogged, an exasperation on her wispy face as she tossed on her baton and collapsed to her knees letting out heavy breaths "Freya Henderson? mmmm, she's a little skinny."

Rudy grinned as she closed her eyes, sniffing long and deep at the air "More than just a bag of bones by the smell."

"Meaning?"

Her head whipped back, looking at you puzzlingly "What? you can't smell it? come on now, an undead of your calibre must have a decent sense of smell, enough to read the smaller details at least. Go on then, take a big ole whiff and tell Rudy what you notice."

"She's like half a mile away?" You complained, but the little blonde killer wasn't having it.

"Less talking, more smellin'!" She gripped your arms from behind, almost stabilizing you. "That's right close your eyes, the trees are shimmering in the breeze, but that don't matter none. The air is chilly, it bites at the skin but that is of no concern... just focus on the scents and the little messages they carry, taste the truth that emanates from their bodies as if they were right next to you."

Your eyelids relaxed, the booming sound of the world melting away. A strange kind of sensation lit up inside, as within the darkness of your mind you began to feel a new world rising in that abyss.

Something like colour danced up your nostrils. Some were dark and grim, the tar in the smoke gliding from the smoking shelter to the west, or the car exhaust fumes floating over from student parking. The others however were bright streaks that danced and played with the cool air, pleasant smells like a girl's perfume, cocoa butter rubbed deep into the skin, or the sizzling meat being cooked in the mess hall behind him.

"There it is, you're getting it now aren't you? Hearing and feeling everything is a gun of many calibres, but a gun can misfire or jam like any other... Smart humans can trick the eye, even ours and any dumbass cowpoke can mislead your ears. Your nose is the only real sense that you can always trust if you know how to use it properly. Focus now on them girls, don't just smell the flesh, smell beneath the flesh."

You fixed on the relay racers, the scent was heavy with sweat and exhaustion... but also something else. These girls released colours unlike any you'd ever seen, explosive reds, deep-set blues and vaguely iridescent purples. It was within these colours that you began to put the pieces together.

The reds were passionate and motivated, and their drive to keep pushing. the Blues were exhaustion, a desire to rest, to be doing anything else than running in the autumn cold. The Purples were the most complex.

A deep set of arousal was in every one of them. Blood exited the muscles and released endorphins, which were almost legible like cards in a deck. Within their arousal, you could see small imperfections within them.

"Noticed yet?" Rudy asked playfully.

Your eyes opened and you nodded, a smile of disbelief crossing your lips "Chloe Houser has an iron deficiency, it's small but I could taste it from here... and her, she's Anise Quill, she smells earthy, almost like damp wood, but lily -- She's diabetic isn't she?"

"Type two diabetic no less." Rudy noted, "Her blood won't be much good for ya when it comes to us, you are what you eat after all."

You nodded, fascinated by this new realm of sense. You nodded towards what you knew to be a sure target. "Rebecca Estevan, she's a senior, going for Olympic gold if memory serves correctly " Rebecca (or simply Becca, among her tight nit group of athlete friends) was a flamboyant and friendly character. You specifically recalled how she would greet you with a smile during your brief interactions, as opposed to the common scowls at the shrimp nerd whose father had their parents by the balls.

She was not only lofty but lean and fit, bursting into a virile dash as the baton closed in her hands, but she was also incredibly fast, built light enough to carry her smooth blemishless form across the track with ease.

"Now that's a good catch if I ever saw one." Rudy agreed eagerly.

The decision was made then... Rebecca Estevan would be your mark. You stared at her deeply, it was slightly difficult taking hold of her while she was in such-swift motion, but with a little concentration, you managed to snag the line to her mind.

"Peer over here, come on, I'm right here. I've seen you glancing over at me these past couple of days. I know you'll notice me now, come on... see me, see me"

Rebecca's azure gaze broke from her concentration on the track for a second, her eyes like dark sapphires wandering upwards as if she had heard something odd. She continued to run, but searched for the source of this mysterious call and found your crimson orbs drilling straight into her.

Her pace began to slow, sprinting steps becoming a quick jog, the jog, in turn, dying down into a gentle stroll.

The rest of the relay team cried out "Becca? What the hell are you doing!?"

"Come on Becks, you would have broken our record!" Anise complained.

Rebecca tilted her head, now stopped dead in her tracks as she tried to figure out why you seemed so enamouring to her.

"Come here. Come to me."

Her legs began moving again, carrying her towards you. She hesitated only a couple of times, looking momentarily confused... but the closer she got, the stronger your hold became.

Anise made a strange face, chasing after her friend "Becca come back here, what are you running off for?"

"Everything is fine, you just want to say hello."

Rebecca turned back and called "I'll be right back, I just need to sort something out quickly."

Anise looked at Becca with narrow eyes... and then spotted you, something like worry passed through her confused expression "Ummm, okay. but hurry back, semi-finals tomorrow!"

Rudy patted your shoulder "You clearly don't need stabilizers, so enjoy the ride, Cowboy." gifting a knowing wink before strolling off just out of sight.

Looked like you were on your own for this one.

Rebecca got closer and closer, playing with her knuckles to try and act nonchalant. She cleared her throat as she approached and put on a friendly smile "Uh, hey Charlie."

"Hi, Rebecca. You're looking pretty fast out there?"

"Thanks, gotta get ready for the 600 meters and all that." She said, scratching her strong stomach and rubbing her temples as she took a long breath.

"Is everything okay?"

"-Yeah! I mean... yeah." She had no idea why she came over "I just, I saw you staring so I thought I'd come to see what's up?."

"And what do you think is up, Rebecca?" You prodded, flashing your ivory smile and holding her with your wanton eyes.

"Well..."

You didn't peer into her feelings or thoughts, that would be too easy. Instead, you read her expressions, how she struggled to maintain eye contact or how she picked at her nails and let out long breaths to try and subdue the overwhelming desire your allure brought in droves. "...I saw you the other day, you know in the hall and I just wanted to say that you've really spruced up since... you know. I know a lot of girls used to kinda just pretend you didn't exist, Including me..." her voice became small, hiding the small twinges of shame "But you've really bulked up since then, like really really bulked up so... congrats!"

Becca always was very cheerful and radiant, she also always came across as incredibly confident, maybe a little too confident. And here she was, damn near prostrated at your feet.

"Wow, that's really nice of you to say, thank you." You said, but you thought...

"I bet you'll taste as sickly sweet as you talk, little runner."

"So.... right then, that's uh, all I wanted to say -- Nice gains bro, hehe... he... uuuh." She hid her confusion behind a tight ivory grin, playfully socking you in the arm, only to cringe and rub her knuckles "Ow."

Standing awkwardly, Becca seemed to be weaning the hook off her cheek, You'd coaxed her over but that only went so far. She seemed about ready to walk away when you took a deep clarifying breath, inhaling her scent in full.

From afar, you could pick up the little details from her distant scent, but with her up close; a rainbow of clarity filled your mind, and much was revealed. You reached into your pocket, withdrawing the crimson and silver packet from within.

Becca watched you flick it open dexterously, one of the singular white cylinders flying between your fingers. "Wanna see a magic trick?" You asked playfully, placing the Marlboro cigarette between your lips.

"Magic?" The Dark-Haired athlete said absentmindedly.

"Sure. You girls run around and train all day, in sun and snow, perfecting your bodies for a singular purpose. You know, I always used to look out that window..." You pointed towards the window to the mess hall behind you, Vicky had yet to lure anyone there, but you had faith in her to get it done "...and I thought to myself, how diligent and focused you all were. Hell, my dad **** me to eat like a body-builder, or run miles just to pack on some kind of muscle. As I'm sure you recall I was never very successful in that department."

"Yeah well, It's not all that uncommon. I know loads of guys with cardiovascular issues." Rebecca said, trying to be polite despite having her curiosity captured.

"Exactly. Naturally, since I couldn't compete with the athletes I had to develop... other talents, for example..." You turned out your pockets, pulling free your zippo lighter of black and gold. You coaxed her into taking it, which she did a little hesitantly. You felt the warmth of her skin momentarily on your finger tips, it made your chest thump and your stomach churn.

"Not yet, Charles, not yet."

Raising your arms in a flurry of showmanship, you carefully reached up and with finger and thumb pinched the end of the cigarette. You allowed only a thimbleful of your fury and passion spill out from your chest, feeling the burning heat flood up your forearms and spark between your knuckles.

Burning with a subtle black flame, the end of the cigarette began to smoke. Becca watched in amazement as the cherry burned bright allowing you to take a long toke, which you held tightly in your lungs. When the smoke spilt out of your lips, it danced in the air, swirling and dancing like a serpents tail before dissipating into the pale sky.

"Holy shit, that's fucking amazing how did you do that!?" She asked, utterly flabbergasted.

A dark shadow inside you smiled, it looked as if your nose hadn't lied.

"I know I can't sprint a 600 meter like you can, but what do you think, time well spent?"

Rebecca reeled , dripping with fascination "Hell yeah, dude. How the heck did you light the cigarette with your fingertips? and the way you made the smoke move like that, it was amazing. You gotta tell me how you did it?" She pleaded so innocently, blinded by her rampant interest.

"Maybe I'll tell you, but only if I can whisper it in your ear." that was it, you had her in a stranglehold... there was no escaping now, for neither her nor you.

The Allure was doing it's job, Becca stunk of want and arousal, only enhanced by her curiosity which you encouraged gently with your mesmerising gaze. Quickly looking around to see if anyone was watching, Becca bit at her bottom lip and shrugged, pushing away a stray strand of her midnight hair, batting her long slashes at you "A-Alright."

Becca stepped closer, fully absorbed by your magnetic aura. As she came within arms reach you tossed your cigarette, wrapping your arm around her waist, pressing her body against yours.

A quick gasp brushed against your jaw, warm an surprised, but pleasantly so. Her face was only inches away, you could see the small marks underneath her left eye where old acne scars were hidden under finely placed makeup, the little dots above her brow where she'd torn out stray eyebrow hairs in the pursuit of perfection.

"A model of vanity, just like everyone else at this academy."

"A little close for just a whisper isn't it?" Becca tempted, trying to aim her lips for yours. But you merely smiled, tilting you head away as you slowly lent into her each, cupping her nape with your gentle grasp.

"All you've done since I saw you skipping along that track is whisper to me you know?" You spoke quietly into her ear.

"What?"

"I've seen you watching me, only the subtlest of glances of course, you're good at your attention I'll give you that.

But, even before I changed, I heard the little mutterings you'd share with your jock friends. Honestly I didn't realise what kind of person you really were before I smelt that sweet little scent of yours."

You felt her tense, but held her tightly in place. "I can see the curious little minx you hide behind all that sporty stoicism, all your life you've fought to be stronger, faster, harder than the world around you. When I saw you dashing across that track, I could hardly ignore out the envy dripping from your brow."

Becca cooed, melting into your arms, barriers broken by your haunting tone "J-Jesus Charlie... my head is spinning, w-what are you doing to me?"

"Shhh, don't worry I can cleanse you of this sin. I will set you free."

Her neck throbbed, the sensation only a hair away from your wanton lips. Eyes had begun to trail over to the both of you, looking with exited curiosity at your dark embrace. You also sensed figures behind you, three of them tucked just behind the glass... Vicky had done her part.

Smiling inside your jaws opened slightly, yearning to bite when a small voice whispered in the back of your head.

"Go back, you're human, you're mortal, a good man! don't victimise your classmate over this, you don't even know what the consequences might be! turn back! you can still save yourself!"

Taking a deep breath, you cleared your mind allowing the monster to creep up your veins and bolster you instinct. It was in that moment; and with no hesitation, that your tongue lapped Becca's soft skin. Your Long fangs extended tittering just on the edge before piercing deep into her flesh.

"There is no going back."

It rushed and poured like a tidal wave, pushing passed your lips and gushing down into your throat. a beautiful fantasia, beyond description danced through your mouth and nose creating a symphony of taste only afforded by perfect, untainted blood.

The unsuspecting eyes behind the glass, looked on in confusion and terror. Everything was going according to planned.