The Hunters: The Hunters Saga, #1

By Heidi Angell

For those who believe Vampires should be killed, not kissed.

What would you do if you found your town had been infested with vampires? For Chris and his brother Lucas, the answer was simple enough: you fight back. Gathering a small band of other people in their town who have been affected by the vampires, they begin a resistance. But after a year of fighting, they have only managed to kill a handful, while the vampire leader has turned five times that many.

Then two enigmatic strangers appear, changing their lives even further.

Fury and Havoc. They call themselves hunters, and want no part in this little band of heroes. Ordering them to lay low, the duo vow to rid their town of vampires. When Fury is injured, Chris aides these strangers, entwining his future with theirs.

Now that the vampires know the hunters are here, and that Chris and his friends have helped them, the group is in more danger than ever before. Lucas is torn between protecting his new family from the vampires, and protecting them from these seemingly inhuman beings who say they are there to help.

After all, what beings could be so powerful as to scare a vampire?

• Language: English
• Publisher: OWS Ink
• Release date: Nov 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781946382542

Book preview

Chapter 1

T onight is the night ! Ricky hooted, chomping down into his burger. I can feel it, he declared, after shoving the unchewed bit of burger into his cheek. Bianca rolled her eyes as she picked at her fries.

Chris smiled lightly to hide his nervousness, then surreptitiously glanced around to make sure the other diner patrons weren’t paying any attention to them. He was nervous about more than being overheard by the handful of patrons in the highway diner.

This was probably going to be their first night actually hunting the monsters who had been murdering people in their town for months now. Oh, officially, as far as their leader was concerned, this was just another recon mission. But Ricky was tired of waiting, and Chris knew it. That was why he had picked this group.

As Chris glanced around the table, he felt more confident in what they were going to be doing. Terah pulled out some night photos that had been blown up. The field they would be sitting on tonight seemed to have become a popular vampire hang out.

The last bodies were found here, she jabbed one nail-nibbled finger at a copse of trees near the road on the far end of the field, and here. She tapped the center of the field. Citizen’s Park was approximately four acres of open, fairly flat land that was cleared, save for a few stands of trees on the edges of the property. The land was frequently used for the high school’s football practice, band practice, the town’s annual picnics, and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration. Recently it had become the feeding ground for vampires.

Their official job was to recon the area for the night and if any vamps did come along, to make sure their victims stayed dead. But Ricky and Terah were ready for more. As Terah reviewed their battle plan, Chris once more sized up his choices for this mission.

Bianca was his biggest concern. He really didn’t know her as she was significantly older than him. The platinum blonde was once homecoming queen, captain of the cheerleading squad, and student body vice president. She was everything Chris was not, and it still felt strange for him to be sitting with her. Despite her Barbie-doll-perfect good looks and manicured nails, Bianca had handled herself well in training. She had managed to spar with Chris’s older brother Lucas without breaking a sweat. When she had pinned the football hero, she had bragged about not even breaking a nail, and assured them that they should never underestimate a cheerleader.

But Chris was still nervous. She had agreed readily enough for the mission and had not complained about the idea of maybe doing more. As she listened to their battle plans, her face was intensely focused, paying attention to the minute details. She had excellent aim with her little pocket pistol. Even while Chris debated whether or not she could kill a vampire, he could only remember how cruel the cheer captain in his own grade had been and hoped it was enough.

Terah was Chris’s number two, so to speak. Despite her slim frame and strawberry blond hair, Terah was a total tomboy. Though they had not run in the same circles before the vampires had invaded the town, she was by far the most viciously eager for payback. Terah had been attacked by a vampire. Through her own gumption, she had gotten away. She hadn’t killed the thing, not knowing what she was facing at the time, but during training, the girl had murder in her eyes. Often she was eagerly plotting when they would finally take the offensive. She was a girl after Chris’s own heart. Even now he could see the outline of her pistol under her jean jacket and would bet she had at least two blades on her. She had vowed to never be a victim again.

Ricky was Chris’s soundest choice, by far. He had played football with Chris’s brother Lucas. At 24 years old, he was the oldest in the group, which was probably why Lucas had trusted him to lead this mission. What Lucas had not realized, yet Chris had, was that Ricky was tired of always being on the defensive. He was not one to play defensive on the football field, and he wasn’t one to do so now. Being a good old Southern boy, Ricky knew his way around a gun. He had been hunting since he was nine years old. Blood and death would not be anything new to him.

Chris knew that if they had a successful mission, then he could get the others on board as well. Despite Lucas’s claim that he simply wanted to keep them all alive, Chris knew that if they didn’t start taking out the vampires soon, then their problem would be too great to combat. Chris glanced out the window of the diner at the setting sun.

Alright, I think it is time to roll out.

Chapter 2

Afull moon was hidden by clouds racing by like chariots across the sky, draping the field below in an army of shadows in motion. Ricky ran his hands through his high and tight black hair, and eyed the full moon balefully, resenting the tricks the shadows were playing on his mind. He felt the skin on his neck prickle as if he were being watched. Scrunching down in the bed of his rusty truck, he surreptitiously looked over his shoulder. Of course, there was nothing there. Chris had him jumping at the change of the breeze. To steady his nerves, Ricky pulled out a nic stick and lit it.

Bianca glowered at him. Ricky couldn’t help but admire her black leather jacket plastered to her full figure, and how it perfectly hugged her curves. Too bad she was so high maintenance.

Ugh. Why do I always have to get stuck with you? Bianca eyed the cigarette disgustedly. You know Chris would go ballistic if he knew you were doing that, she hissed, waving the smoke out of her face.

Chill the fuck out. I know he thinks he knows it all, but he doesn’t know shit more than us. Maybe they have super sniffer noses, but then again, maybe they have supersonic hearing too. Your bitching is a bigger tell than this sweet baby. Shit, if they can smell this, then they can probably hear you breathing.

Fuck you! Bianca growled then sat absolutely still, her eyes wide, every muscle taut as a bow. Ricky was pretty sure she was holding her breath in fear of what he had just said. He sucked hard, enjoying the burn of the cigarette smoke and then exhaled languidly. It really was the simple pleasures in life.

He glanced past her out the window and saw Chris sitting with Terah on the hood of the car parked next to them. Terah wasn’t as much to look at, but she was certainly easier to be with-Rick wished they would have all been together. But Chris had thought that separate vehicles would give them a greater chance of pursuing more vampires. Despite his shit talk, Ricky knew he really did rely on Chris’s weird knowledge and experience. To think that a geeky freak, the type of person he had harassed in high school, would be keeping him alive. The world was a crazy place.

CHRIS WAS ONLY VAGUELY able to hear the exchange between Bianca and Ricky, but he groaned inwardly. They really just did not get it. Part of him was ready to call it quits for the night, grateful they were all still alive. This team was clearly not as ready as he had hoped. The other part was incredibly disappointed. Once again, he was just watching. What he wanted was to be hunting and killing, not waiting to be killed.

He glanced over at Terah. At least she was taking this seriously. Her attention was locked on the far end of the field, and she barely moved. Her mouth was set in a firm strong line. He would definitely have to take her along the next chance they had to try for a hunting trip. She took this seriously. Chris sighed. It was sad that the two youngest on the team were more serious than the so-called adults.

Chris broke from his reverie and froze.

RICKY WAS BORED. THEY had been sitting out here most of the night. It was cool for October, one of those rare crazy breaks in the usually temperate weather of South Carolina. Ricky couldn’t help but resent that Bianca had the foresight to bring a jacket, whereas he was just wearing a T-shirt and jeans. The cold made him feel tired, and Bianca’s paranoia was getting to him. He flicked his cigarette away and leaned his head back on the toolbox, glancing toward Chris.

The kid was stiff like a pointer hound catching a scent, and this grabbed Ricky’s attention. Excitement flooded him, waking him right up.

What is it? Ricky hissed.

Chris did not make a sound, merely cupped his hand to his ear. He was telling them to listen.

TERAH FROZE, INTENTLY trying to hear whatever had made Chris so wary. Her eyes went wide with the effort. After a moment she looked at Chris blankly, I don’t hear anything, she murmured.

Exactly, Chris whispered back. Suddenly it dawned on her that the clearing had sounded quiet only moments ago, but had been full of the subtle sounds of the night: crickets, owls, and other critters scurrying about. Now it was as silent as a tomb. Chris gestured to the others and slowly crawled off the hood of the car. Terah scrambled to join him, desperate to not be left alone. She stumbled on the uneven ground and fell. Moments later Bianca was beside her, offering a hand.

Thanks, Bianca, she mouthed silently.

Bianca nodded and they all crouched down next to Chris in the shadows of the car. Another few agonizing moments were spent with all four straining to see or hear anything in the darkness. Gradually the sounds of the night returned. Chris cocked his head.

False alarm? Ricky whispered.

I don’t think so, Chris shook his head. They all sat quietly waiting for Chris. Terah could feel herself shutting down. What was wrong with her! She wanted this. Revenge! But the dark, the interminable waiting, was filling her with terror. It was too much like that night she had been attacked. She could practically feel a vamp behind her, even though she knew it could not be so. Silent tears seeped from her eyes, gliding down her cheeks. The sense of impending doom would not lift.

Please, let’s get out of here, she begged. I have a really bad feeling! She was trembling uncontrollably. Chris held up a hand to silence her and listened intently. Bianca patted her hand reassuringly then crept forward to Chris’s side.

BIANCA COULD SEE TERAH falling apart right before her eyes. She was a little surprised because the girl was always so confident about her abilities. Then it dawned on Bianca, that blustering confidence had been a façade. This had to be too real for her, too much like what she had experienced before. Patting Terah’s hand, Bianca slipped forward to Chris’s side.

She leaned in close to his ear and breathed, We should go. She’s cracking up. We’re too vulnerable.

Too late, Chris admonished, pointed across the clearing.

Bianca couldn’t understand what he was saying. As she peered through shadow on shadow, she could see nothing.

The moon peeked out for a brief moment, revealing what Chris was indicating. To their left, only about halfway across the field, something big was moving. Bianca felt herself filling with terror, but a cold center of her being squashed the terror down. She analyzed the thing, trying to comprehend what she was seeing. It moved in a jerky pattern, stumbling, crashing, then moving again. At one point it was almost as if a part of the shadow had tried to separate itself from the rest, then re-merged. Suddenly a scream of agony and fear echoed across the field. That sound clarified for Bianca what her brain could not interpret. A woman was out in the field being attacked by vampires.

She was half-crawling, dragging a wounded leg, and the vampires were playing with her. Darting in and out, each nip a new wound, weakening and slowing their already defenseless prey. A cold fury built in Bianca’s chest as she watched this cruelty. The woman collapsed in the middle of the field and the vampires lunged at her. The mass ceased moving, but the sound of the woman’s moans, the tearing of clothing, the growling and hissing of the vamps fighting over the fem like dogs with a bone, all echoed in the silent field.

NOW! CHRIS HISSED, while they’re distracted on their feeding. He bolted low across the field. The others followed him, everyone except Terah. She was completely frozen in fear. She tried to move, but her whole body locked down. Trying to call out for them not to leave her behind, she found her voice was gone.

With that shriek from the woman in the field, Terah had been mentally thrown back into her own horrible attack. As the others left her behind, the feelings of panic grew. She remembered that monstrous vampire following her as she walked home from work. She hadn’t known what he was at the time. She had simply thought he was some creepy guy. When she had tried to outrun him, she had found out that he was so much worse than just some creepy guy. With inhuman speed, he had tackled her. Her self-defense training had made no difference. She couldn’t break his vise-like grip. When he had sunk his fangs into her neck, she had experienced the ultimate fear. She had known that she was going to die.

In blind panic, she had fought back, and to this moment she had believed that she had somehow won out. She had beaten him. But here in the dark, with monsters just like him only a thousand feet away, she realized that she had not escaped. He had let her go. His laughter as she had fled came back to her now. Without knowing how she knew, she sensed that he was here in this field waiting for her. He knew that she was here too. That knowledge left her rooted to the spot. Wanting desperately to be with the group, she tried again to move, but her muscles refused to respond.

If only she could get to the others, she might have a chance. Then a smell struck her. She knew that he was there, behind her. Tears coursed silently down her cheeks and she longed to simply close her eyes and have him vanish like she had as a child with the monsters under the bed. If she didn’t look, then he couldn’t be real; but she knew. She knew it would not work this time. With that certain knowledge, she cautiously glanced over her shoulder and looked into the eyes of her worst nightmare.

CHRIS WAS HALFWAY ACROSS the field when he felt a strange sensation, a tingling in his spine; as if someone had just tap danced across his grave. He paused and an instant later was driven into new action. From behind them, a gurgling wail ripped through the night. Without even looking, he knew what had happened. Terah had been attacked. In front of him, he saw more creatures rise from the end of the field where the others were feeding. In that split second, he knew.

Ambush! he yelled, immediately veering to his left, moving in a zig-zag pattern. He could hear the other two following behind. More screams erupted from their fallen comrade and he was blinded by rage.

Scatter! He shouted the order and immediately turned back the way they had come. If he was going to die tonight, he was going to kill at least one of these bastards! As the moon peeked out again, the scene before him became grotesquely animated. Terah’s body was pinned on the truck, her entire chest ripped wide open. He knew she was dead, but his body refused to stop this course of action. His mind exploded with wrathful vengeance as he watched the creature rip Terah’s heart out of her chest.

The creature held the heart up, savoring the blood as it poured into the awaiting mouth and splashed over its face. Chris could see in his peripheral that two of them were already halfway across the field, closing off any escape if he continued on his present course, but he didn’t care. He pulled a gun from his left pocket and a cross-hilted dagger from his right. As he dove at the creature devouring Terah, he shot blindly at the ones coming at him. His blade embedded to the hilt in the monster’s back and he prayed that Bianca and Ricky were getting the fuck out of here. Maybe his distraction would save their lives. The monster arched back, trying to reach behind and dislodge Chris and the knife. Black blood oozed from its wound. It was obviously an older vampire. It struggled to turn, but it appeared that the knife had hit the spine. Surprised that the other two weren’t upon him yet, Chris aimed the revolver into the creature’s face and pulled the trigger.

At that same moment, two other shots rang out in the clearing. Chris pulled his dagger free and leaped away from the body as it burst into flames. He turned, preparing for the attack that should have already been upon him. Looking out in the field he saw Ricky stand up about center point and fire at the vampire that was headed straight toward Chris.

Run! Ricky screamed. Chris had barely managed to turn when the vampire sacked him from behind. The knife in his hand went skittering across the ground. He was pinned on his stomach and a hand clamped down on his own hand holding the gun, preventing him from bringing it up and firing. He struggled fruitlessly, trying to squirm free.

Hello Chris, so good to see you again, a familiar voice murmured next to his ear. Chris realized it was his high school art teacher, Mrs. Frost.

Wish I ... could say ... the same. Chris groaned, trying to push her away and turn his face from her putrid breath.

Come, come, Chris, you always were a difficult student.

Gifted was the term you used back then.

You know you want me, she laughed evilly, leaning in for a bite.

Chris could feel blind panic rising but tried to remain calm. Of course, he grunted, slamming his head back into the side of hers. She pulled back in surprise, but it was not enough for him to squirm free. He used the extra space to slam her harder in the face. Bone cracked and she yelped, sitting almost straight up, releasing his arm to wipe away the blood pouring from her nose. Chris couldn’t wriggle free but managed to turn his body halfway around. I want you dead! Chris growled as he pulled the gun up. Mrs. Frost’s eyes went wide in shock. Pulling the trigger, he waited for her face to explode, but the gun had jammed. Shit! She began to smile and Chris realized that as a vampire she looked ten years younger. In a frenzy for some defense, he snatched the crucifix from his neck and jammed it into Mrs. Frost’s throat. Blood began pouring forth and she gaped in shock. She tried to physically force the blood back into her throat, but her efforts simply widened the wound. Still, Chris could not pull free.

Suddenly her skull was obliterated before his eyes.

Bianca stood there holding a small-caliber gun. Chris quickly shoved the body away and Bianca pulled him to his feet, shrieking when the body suddenly burst into flames. Chris looked around the field for Ricky. He was running like a bat out of hell in the opposite direction with two vamps on his tail.

Bianca, the car! Chris yelled, tossing the keys and running after Ricky, hoping to get there in time. His legs were pumping as hard as they could, but he wasn’t catching up enough. Ricky was starting to waver and the two vampires were gaining ground. Chris didn’t dare shoot at them, for fear of hitting Ricky.

Directly ahead of Ricky, two figures rushed into the clearing. Ricky stopped short like a frozen rabbit, then quickly made a ninety-degree turn. In the moment he was clear of the two vampires, Chris pulled his gun up to line up a shot. He popped off two shots, hitting one. It went down, but Chris didn’t believe for one moment it was dead. The other continued to hurtle after Ricky. Just as Chris had lined up the next shot he felt a sudden gust of wind and smelled death. Whipping around, he found himself face-to-face with another creature. He pulled the trigger and the creature’s shoulder exploded.