The Witch Hunter (13 page)

"And what was that?" 

"This is a little something I got off a person of dubious nature," he winked. "It's something like garlic."

"But garlic won't do anything."

"True, but concentrated enough, it will bring blood to the surface. Ingested, it will make her vomit it up by the bucket full."

"Zac, I'm not sure about this," Liz shook her head. "It's over the top. We should just stick with the silver."

"Now, now, Liz. We have to be sure what she is. The last thing we need is another threat on top of an insane dead witch. I think she's a vampire and this is a foolproof way of finding out. Alex will invite her in without thinking, so obviously we need a backup plan." He turned and placed the plate back into the oven to keep it warm, "Just make sure you give her the right plate and all will be okay. I don't want to be the one vomiting over the dinner table."

"What about Alex? He doesn't know about any of this." Liz was wringing her hands together with worry.

"I will deal with Alex if need be. A little compulsion never hurt anyone."

"It doesn't sit right with me Zac."

"Just blame it on me. I'm used to it," he shrugged.

They returned to the dining room, where Gabby, Sam and Alex were seated, drinking wine that Liz had brought with her. Zac placed the bottle he'd spiked next to Liz and winked.

"You did tell her seven, right?" Sam joked when he saw Alex fidgeting nervously.

"Yeah," he jumped when there was a sudden knock on the front door.

Alex jumped up awkwardly, almost knocking over his glass. He strode to the front door and opened it to find Aya standing on the other side. He gasped a little as he took in her appearance. She wore a tight fitting black blouse and dark grey skinny jeans that clung to all the right places in all the right ways and she'd had a hair cut. Her black hair still hung halfway down her back, but it was all different lengths and a long fringe swept around her eyebrows. She looked like a singer in a rock band and very beautiful. Alex blushed a little and said, "Hi."

Zac had crept out from the dining room and watched her from the hallway. Smiling brightly, Aya stepped inside and hugged Alex. "Lovely to see you again," she chirped.

Zac hid his look of confusion. She hadn't been invited in at all. She just stepped through the door like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. It was ordinary, but she had so many vampire tendencies he was sure she couldn't come in... And she couldn't be compelled, either. Was he wrong? He snapped back to reality as he realized she was speaking to him. "Earth to Zac," she snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"What, don't I get a hug?" he said, a wicked tone to his voice.

She laughed, "No."

"Aya, you wound me," he feigned clutching his heart as she glided past him into the dining room.

Liz, Sam and Gabby were seated at the table, drinking wine and laughing at some joke Sam had just told. Upon seeing her, Liz got up and poured her a glass from the near empty bottle. Handing her the glass she said brightly, "Aya! It's great that you could make it! Here, have a glass."

Aya took the wine glass and sat at an empty spot at the table, Zac sitting across from her. She took a sip, aware that Zac was watching her closely, pretending to be distracted by something else. "Thank you to Alex for inviting me," she inclined her head towards him as he came back in from the kitchen.

"Oh, it was no problem," he blushed. "Everything's ready if you're hungry now?"

"If you like," Aya smiled kindly.

Liz stood abruptly at this and said, "I'll help you, Alex."

"It's a nice wine," Aya said, swirling the red liquid around the glass as they disappeared into the kitchen.  

Zac slumped back in the chair, almost disappointed. 

"I picked it out," said Gabby. "I'm the only one who knows what's good. Otherwise we would have got the cheapest one."

Sam laughed at this and agreed as Liz placed a plate in front of Aya. When they were all seated, they began to eat.

"Meatloaf," Alex shrugged almost apologetically, when Aya raised her eyebrow at him.

"How American," she smiled politely. She ate a few mouthfuls, making a conscious effort to taste every bite. Everyone but Alex seemed to be watching her. "This," she says gesturing to the plate with her fork, "This is delicious."

"Great," Alex beamed at her. "It's about the only thing I can cook."

"Well, you can cook it well, that's for sure," Liz said.

Aya couldn't help herself. She coughed loudly, feigning choking on a mouthful of potato. Zac sat forward in his chair, his expression hopeful. She thumped her chest and took a mouthful of wine. "Went down the wrong way," she smiled brightly.

As the conversation naturally turned to things that were more familiar to the host, she groaned inwardly. It was fast turning into one of those boring dinner parties where people told annoying personal jokes. Unfortunately, she was the odd one out having only been around a week or so. It reminded her of the formal dinners and cocktail parties she had attended back in the day. The day being somewhere around 1860ish. Empty pleasantries, childish gossip and blatant social climbing. She longed for something interesting to talk about. Murder, mayhem. These things she was used to.

After dessert she excused herself to the bathroom to get some distance and some air. Zac's constant hovering was driving her insane, it was all she could do to tune out the annoying hum of his blood.

Closing the bathroom door behind her she sighed loudly. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she weighed up the information she had learnt. She still didn't have any clue as to their motivation for calling her. 

Walking into the house as she had had certainly thrown them off the scent. The wine and the food had been spiked with something that Zac had obviously thought would have an effect on her. Silver and garlic? She smiled to herself when she recalled the look of mingled confusion and anger on his face. She had developed a liking for infuriating him. He always rose to the occasion, not the other way round. He would be furious when he finally caught on that he was the one being played. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face.

Alex was being very attentive, but she knew without a doubt it was because he was developing a crush on her. He had no idea that his friends were vampires. Especially Liz, who seemed to be a friend of his since early childhood. She felt a little sorry for him, but it could be difficult to understand those that would usually hunt you for food. He would find out sooner or later, when he grew old and she did not. Liz would have to leave town eventually before people started to ask questions about the eternal twenty-one year old.

Splashing cool water on her face, she wondered what their problem could be. She hadn't sensed anything malicious in the town at all, other than the werewolves. She'd dealt with them easily enough, but the vampires were still sniffing around, trying to expose what she was. Were they working with someone else who was out to get her? Even that didn't sit right. Looking up into the mirror, she jumped as she caught sight of a figure standing directly behind her.

Without turning, she knew that no one was there. Not
really
. She glared at the woman and finally understood. She was just as she remembered, the day she had delivered her death sentence. Tall and slim, fiery auburn hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and that same cold calculated expression that never shifted.

"Katrin," Aya rolled her eyes. "You don't look a day over a billion, you old hag."

"My dear," Katrin purred. "I've been looking for you for a very long time. You've been a very naughty little vampire."

Aya couldn't help but laugh, "It was a shame you weren't home when I killed your demon spawn, you murderous bitch."

"Oh, but dear, I'm already dead," her expression didn't waver. "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that that boy in all his ignorance would deliver you to me."

Aya stiffened.

"Oh, he hasn't told you about his little predicament?" Katrin said with mock surprise. 

She didn't reply.

"It's past due that I should send my children to pay you a visit," Katrin continued. "All four of you together again, how wonderful. Now that we know your location, I'm sure they won't be long. Perhaps I will just send your favorite? I know he is longing to see your pretty face again."

"Send them all. I'm collecting the whole set," Aya snarled. "And I will enjoy killing him most of all."

"So be it. You will regret using your power again, little girl. This time it will destroy you."

"It's a bit late for that," she spat.

Katrin laughed, "It's only just begun." Her form began to shimmer and evaporate until Aya was finally alone.

Taking a deep breath to control her emotions, she hit the bench top with her fist. It would do no good to become angry. She knew that Katrin wouldn't focus on Zac anymore, but would use all of them to get to her. She had unwittingly implicated her new
friends
 in an age old blood feud. She was a much greater prize.

For the rest of the evening she fought to keep herself in check, exchanging pleasantries with the vampires, the witch and their human host. Her heart wasn't in it, the need for her previous charade slipping. When it was time to say goodnight, she asked Gabby for a ride to town. She needed some alone time with the elusive witch.

As they filed out of the house and down the driveway, Aya heard the annoying buzz that announced Zac was following them from the house. 

"Aya," he called. "Can I speak to you a moment?"

Gabby looked at her, a note of sympathy on her face and kept walking to the car. Aya turned and raised her eyebrows at Zac, who stood with his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. He was nervous.

"I just want to apologize for the other night," he grimaced.

She looked him up and down, "You say that like you don't mean it."

"I do." He wasn't even convincing himself.

"You don't apologize often, do you?" 

He sighed through his teeth. 

"What's your deal, Zac?" Aya prodded, when he didn't say anything.

"What do you mean?" he frowned.

"I mightn't know you very well, but I'm switched on enough to tell that you're acting weird," she crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

She knew very well that he wouldn't come straight out and ask her the fifty thousand dollar question. It would mean that he had to reveal himself, but she was curious to see what lie he would come up with.

"I..." He couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Why can't you just act like a normal person?" she shook her head in annoyance, speaking more to herself than Zac.

"Like Alex?" he said like it was an insult.

"Not that it’s any of your business, but Alex speaks to me because he
likes
to, not because he
wants
something. Perhaps you should take a leaf out of his book." Aya turned on her heel and strode to Gabby's car, getting into the passenger seat.

Gabby glanced at her and started the car. Pulling away from the curb she said, "He's the biggest ass in the entire town. I wouldn't take anything he says to heart."

Aya glanced at her, annoyed, "So people keep telling me." She wasn't worried that much about Zac and his mood swings. Katrin had unsettled her entirely and it was time to out herself. Gabby, she knew, would be the most understanding. They were so alike in many ways. "Gabby, there is something that I need to tell you. I think it would be best if you pull over."

Gabby glanced over to her, concern etched in her face. The car came to a stop and she pulled the handbrake on, turning off the engine. "Aya, what is it?" she asked warily, the note of fear in her voice. She knew she had more than a notion about what she was going to divulge.

Aya took a deep breath, "I am the one known as the Witch Hunter and I know it was you and Zac who called me. Not half an hour ago, I was threatened by the witch Katrin. I believe you know who I'm talking about."

Gabby's face drained of color.

Aya continued, "You have nothing to fear from me, Gabby. I wish to help you."

It took a few minutes for Gabby to work up the courage to speak. "Then we have a lot to talk about."

CHAPTER TEN

G
abby opened the front door to the manor. It bothered her that the brothers never locked it, but they were vampires. Surely it didn't matter either way. Walking into the parlor, she found everyone assembled, waiting for her. She wasn't sure how she should break the news to them. Aya's confession the previous night had come as a shock, but deep down she was scarcely surprised. 

She was more than a vampire, Gabby knew this, but what else was a mystery. That much Aya had proved at dinner. They had talked for a long time once she had admitted who she was. Gabby remembered how much she had said, but how little she had revealed. She had convinced Aya to come to the manor to speak with them all, she still had a lot of questions and she was sure that everyone else would have just as many.