Becoming: Hunter, #1

By Patricia A Green

Her life was truly blessed - Until everything gets taken away.

Her father is a beloved New York Senator; her mother is the most elite of all of the socialites. The pair bore a child that became New York's favorite and most esteemed daughter: Seraphina Fitzpatrick.  Not only does she have it all, her fiance couldn't be a more perfect partner if he came from a fairy tale.

In one violent moment, her true love, Andrew, is torn from her life forever. A new place, a new name, a new beginning.

But what will New York's favorite daughter become?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patricia Green
• Release date: May 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540184252

Patricia A Green

I'm a writer because I can't stop telling stories. I started telling stories as soon as I learned to speak, and started writing them down as soon as I learned that. My Gran encouraged my stories when  was little and I kept it up all my life, even though I got into some trouble for it in High School. As for what I look like and where I live: My eyes are brown, everything else is subject to change without notice.

Book preview

F

"I t still amazes me sometimes, the turns our lives can take." The woman across the table from Arthur was without a doubt the oldest woman he had ever met in his life - whether her incredible claims were true or not. The woman's wrinkles had wrinkles, deep crags that spidered out across her skin. It seemed as though her wrinkles were the only thing holding her skin together. It was so thin he could almost see through it. Her hair was the kind of pure white that only really blonde hair becomes. It was thin and wispy and she kept it tied back in a neat ponytail. Her granddaughter had brought her into the room in a wheelchair, her frail body unable to support her any longer.

What do you mean? Asked the archeology student who was setting up the video equipment.

I am referring, young man, to the ways that a life can change, in an instant, and become something almost unrecognizable. I determined that I would be the first female president when I was 12 years old. Unfortunately, she was elected just three years later.

You were 15 when the first female president was elected? Arthur sounded skeptical. She only laughed, a dry rasping sound.

I was! When I became engaged to Andrew my whole life shifted again. He was wonderful. He was going to be a senator at least, and possibly a president. I was satisfied with First Lady at that time. Two years later he was killed and I became a Hunter. It was four years after that I was partnered with...

Wait, go back, that's not in the official record.

What, Andrew? No, I don't suppose he would be.

Can you tell me more about him?

He was supposed to be the love of my life.

I

A h, Sera, you made it! Senator Fitzpatrick held his arm out to his daughter, Seraphina, and she hugged him with a smile.

Of course I did, Dad. Andrew’s here too, he’s talking to Mom. The young woman turned her smile on the statuesque brunette her father had been talking with when she came in.

Sera, I’d like you to meet Hunter Richardson.

Your father calls me Hunter like it’s my name. Please, call me Kae. I’m the city’s Hunter Archivist-I haven’t done fieldwork in years. Sera shook the older woman’s hand, it was dry and warm.

It’s a pleasure to meet you. It means so much to my father that he has the support of the New York Hunters. Sera turned back to her father. I’ll let you chat, I have a few other people I’d like to say hi to.

Of course Sweetheart, and happy birthday.

Her father gave her a half hug as she went to mingle around the room. Sera was glad to see that for every Hunter in the room there was a vampire. It was good for her father to have both supporting him, most candidates tended to alienate one or the other. Her father’s entire campaign was built on balance and it was visible in the room that night.

She mingled for almost an hour before Andrew found her again. He swept up behind her and planted a kiss on her cheek while she spoke with the leader of the local hospital employees union.

Do you mind if I steal the lady away? Her mother is asking for her. Her fiancé fibbed.

Of course. Enjoy the rest of your evening, you have given me much to think about. The silver templed older gentleman told them.

Fibber. Sera teased as Andrew lead her out of the ballroom the fundraiser was being held in.

She did tell me to apologize for her forgetting your birthday. Again.

Mother has forgotten every even numbered birthday since I was born, and half the odd numbered ones too. Where are we going? Sera asked, confused, as Andrew lead her out of the hotel.

Just a little way away from prying eyes. I have something for you. He pulled her into a niche in the building’s architecture and presented her with a box wrapped with sapphire blue paper that matched his eyes and a silver ribbon.

Oh, Andrew. Sera laughed and tore the paper. She lifted the lid from the box and unfolded the paper inside. Nestled in the box were two silver hair sticks with sapphire pendants. Sera gasped at the sight of them.

They’re perfect! Andrew, you are so sweet.

She handed him the box and then swept her mass of shoulder length curly blonde hair up and pinned it in place with the sticks. They were a perfect match to her dress and she knew they’d make the paler blue of her own eyes pop. Once her hair was up, she wrapped her arms around Andrew’s waist and kissed him, long and slow.

Thank you.

Mmmmm, you’re welcome. He told her. How long do you suppose we can hide out here?

Not much longer. She said, regret coloring her voice.

Well then, I’ll just have to make the most of it. He kissed her again. Sera lost herself in the kiss, relishing the feel of his hands warm against her back. She buried her hands in his midnight black hair. Sera loved his hair, too long to be called short but too short to be called long: It had the slightest curl to it and she loved playing with it.

Andrew was jerked away from her in a sudden jolt. Sera opened her eyes, expecting her mother to be there with a lecture on what she no doubt perceived as ‘juvenile’ behavior.

Instead, she was soaked in a hot spay of something that tasted of copper. Her brain refused to process what she was seeing.

A man had Andrew in his arms, his face buried against her fiancé’s neck so all she could see was his autumn brown hair. It made no sense; it was such an intimate posture from a man she’d never seen before. Andrew’s crisp white shirt was stained bright red.

The man dropped Andrew and grinned at Sera. His face was smeared with red. He advanced on her, like a panther stalking its next meal.

Well, aren’t you a pretty one. His voice was thick with a southern drawl. He wiped his mouth on his rust colored sleeve as his eyes roamed over her.

I might need to hang on to you for a while honey. You gonna be my pretty little thang.

He paced towards her as only an experienced predator would.

Sera knew she was in trouble.

Part of her knew what this man was, but her conscious mind refused to acknowledge it.

Vampires weren’t bad because bad vampires got taken out by the Hunters.

She needed a Hunter.  

She needed to scream.

Sera screamed at the top of her lungs. She pressed her body against the wall as hard as she could, trying to get away with nowhere to go. Her loose wrapped hair fell out of its style, dropping one of the silver hair sticks into her hand.

The man... the vampire, pressed against her body, his hands grabbing her hips and pulling her into him. His mouth descended to her neck. Sera’s hand came up in a flash, her fist gripping the hair stick and shoved it into his chest, pushing him back with all her