The Reluctant Hunter: The Reluctant Series, #3

By GG Anderson

Quinn was supposed to spend the year after high school training to be a hunter, the supernatural law enforcers.  With the death of her mom, Quinn walks away from everything and heads to Junior College.  When her best friend starts getting abused, Quinn suspects it's connected to the supernatural world.

To help her friend will she have to go back to the life she left?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crazy Ink
• Release date: Oct 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215833391

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Dedication

To Endora, Dr. Bombay & Methos-

The original Darrins

To Jord,

and to every little girl who was told they talked too much in class.

Chapter One

Iflicked my gum off my finger and took a sip of coffee. It never changed. Aunt Sylvie always sang the same tune.

Don’t you understand this year is not one to leave home? You have so much to learn!

I rolled my eyes and held my phone away from my ear.

I was so over it. This wasn’t her decision. I was leaving, and I had no desire to go back there.

I had selected the college that was still in state, but the cheapest I could find, as far away as I could get.

I’m so sorry Aunt Sylvie, I have to go, they need me back in the front.

I clicked off the phone and stood up.

I wasn’t at work. Hell, I hadn’t even gotten a job yet, but that was the easy part. The hard part was getting settled into my new dorm and finding a way to fit into the normal world here.

TWIN FALLS WAS NOT really a city, in the sense that I considered it. It felt more like a crossing place that had expanded too big to fit into its original container. I pushed the door open and made my way out of the fast-food restaurant. Reaching my car, I was greeted by the loud yawl of my cat. He had been in his carrier for over three hours, and he was all done.

He really was barely mine.

He had been my mother’s before she passed away.

That is how familiars work in families of hunters. The familiars stay with the family until they die. I know sweet boy. I really am sorry.  I cracked open the kennel, reaching in to scratch his cheek. He leaned into my hand, purring loudly. We are almost home. He rubbed against my fingers, trying to coax the kennel door wider. I scratched him again and closed the door to his dismay.

I sighed as I put the key in the ignition and turned the engine over. I knew I was doing the right thing. I looked over at Darrin’s kennel. He exhaled, turning his head away from me. Officially, he was annoyed. I backed out and headed to the dorms.

I checked in, signed papers, and carried my loads up to my room. It was small, but because of my emotional support animal, I was at least in a single. Finally, I let Darrin out of his kennel. He sniffed the air and jumped straight to the windowsill with a flick of his long tail.

I am sorry, but you won’t stay off the dash when I’m driving. It is dangerous; besides, it is safer for you to be in a crate. What happens if I have to stop fast? He jumped down and began sniffing the floor. It is over here. I walked closer to his litter box and began setting up his food and water. His water fountain made the room feel like I was in a spa. I shook my head every time I filled it, remembering my mom doting on him constantly.

Quinn, you have to understand this is so much healthier for them. Her voice echoed in my mind. He is more than a pet. He is part of me. 

I blinked rapidly with a loud sigh. Darrin jumped over to rub against me. I know, buddy, I miss her too. He took one more pass in front of me, reaching up to bop his head against my chin before taking a taste from his freshwater fountain. He glanced again at me and went back to the windowsill.

I flopped down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I was making the right decision, I had to be. Aunt Sylvie was wrong. She had very little clue about anything, anyway. She wasn’t born into the line of hunters. She didn’t have the family pressures that I had.

No one did.

Class was filled with mundane basic stuff, that, honestly, I couldn’t care less about. I sat in each one, wondering if I had really made the right decision. Had I really just been a hardheaded hot head, like I’d been accused?

Hey, have you joined a group yet?

I met his eyes with complete bewilderment, Excuse me? My eyes traveled down his incredibly tall body.

Group? Prof just said we needed to be in a group. We’re one short. He motioned back towards a couple of other guys.

Hey, we’re good now. Another tall man met his gaze and motioned for him to come back.

Never mind. He walked away, leaving me still without a group.

I glanced around the room, trying to find someone to join in with. Of course, my day dreaming had made me the last one standing. I walked cautiously towards a group of girls. One giggled, and I changed course instantly. The shrill shriek of her sound would not fly with my brain. The detour sent me in the direction of a small group of three. They looked safe enough, no scary noises emitting from their small circle. No strange smells as I grew closer. Everyone looked freshly showered, or at least recently showered. Excuse me, could I join in? I’m kinda blonde and didn’t jump fast enough. I flashed my little smile, knowing if this didn’t work, nothing would. The blonde trick was one I’d learned from my mother—one of the most brilliant women ever born, but she knew how to use all of her abilities. Being blonde and leaning on that ancient stereotypical ‘dumb’ crutch, had not only gotten her into doors closed to normal people, but also out of more scrapes than I liked to think about. The smile was hers too. Pretty much everything was hers. Good thing too, since I never knew my dad. Hell, not that she really did either.

Sure, the more the merrier. A sweet tightly curled brunette replied. She scooted her seat to the side, leaving a spot for me.

I nodded. Thank you, I really didn’t want to be a group of one. Grabbing a close-by chair, I leaned in, trying to show I would be a good group member with lots to contribute. A general education core course wasn’t anything that I really cared about, but I could fake it. I had been taught to fake it since I could remember.

Hunters didn’t tell people who they really were. They didn’t let on what the saw, or felt, or knew. It was against the code. It also wasn’t something that you were trained in. Well, not really. It was all about the bloodlines.

I internally sighed thinking about it. Another reason to never have children. Who needed that curse? Not me. Hence, I left.

I had the bloodline. I had the natural instinct, but come hell or high water, I was going to stay as far away from that life as possible. I had lost enough to the stupid code, the ridiculous loyalty to the cause, the absolutely pointless destiny. Screw that. I had my own destiny to fulfill, and it wasn’t going to be told by some whack job in a long velvet cape.

I say who, I say when...

I laughed out loud at the old movie reference. I met the eyes of the group, realizing that the current topic was not funny. I cleared my throat and forced my mind to stay focused on the mundane topic.

At the end of class, we exchanged numbers and set another time to meet. I looked back down, re-reading the sweet brunette’s name who was so nice to let me join the group. Michelle. How was that so hard to remember? I sighed as I watched her grow smaller in the distance.

For me, I had another class.

Finally, I reached my dorm, wondering what all the noise was coming from the neighboring rooms. How could they already be celebrating when classes started today? I struggled to unlock my door and kicked it with my foot. Darrin meowed loudly from inside, apparently annoyed that I was not moving faster.

Here, let me help. A tall, scruffy guy walked over in nothing but athletic shorts. These doors stick. If you lift up when the key is right here, He pointed to the angled key, It usually pops open. 

Sure enough, the door opened to Darrin’s impatient glare. Hey, he’s pretty. What’s his name? The guy bent to get closer to Darrin before I could warn him.

Darrin’s guttural growl that ended in a hiss didn’t leave much warning necessary. Sorry, he doesn’t really like strangers. 

The guy stood up and wrinkled his brows. Wow, I’m surprised they let you keep such an aggressive cat. His eyes darted from me to Darrin, weaving in-between my legs.

I smiled wide. I have medical issues, that’s why he is so protective. I blinked my sky-blue eyes and stifled a small giggle as he instantly fell under my spell.

The guy smiled. Oh, I get it. Well, see ya around. He stepped away, and Darrin gave one more hiss, as I stepped farther into the room.

You can’t be that much of a little brat. People will think you’re evil. I picked him up and buried my fingers in his stomach fur, instantly causing him to attack my hand. I put him back down on the bed, turning towards my desk to unload my bag. So, how was your day?

He jumped up to the windowsill, flicking his tail.

I know, but can I at least get a feel of things before I let you out? I just want to make sure that it’s safe.

He flicked his tail again at me and meowed at the window.

Fine, but I’m telling you to be careful. This is a totally new place; I’m headed to get dinner, but I’ll be back in about an hour. I would appreciate it if you were home close to then. 

He rubbed his head on me, and I hugged him gently. I reached for the latch, opening the window the very small amount it opened, and popped the screen off. I pulled it inside and stashed it under the bed. Darrin waited until I came back before he made his exit. Be safe, I said as he leapt into the twilight. The sun had dipped lower, but the top rays still partially illuminated the sky. I exhaled deeply. It always felt empty when he left. I looked one more time out the window, but he was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed my wallet and keys, headed out to the cafeteria.

I chose a table in the back corner. It had nothing to do with being a loner, it had to do with instinct and strategy. That hunter gene again. I sighed as I scanned the room, waiting for any sign of danger or paranormal. I couldn’t have stopped doing this constantly if I wanted to. It was nature. I remember when it first started for me. Mom got a call from school. It was second grade. I refused to sit in my assigned seat. My teacher had put me in the front, obviously because I couldn’t keep my eyes forward. At recess, I slipped back in and moved all of my things back to my corner seat and moved the girl who had scored my coveted spot back up to the front. After recess, it took the teacher an hour before she realized I’d moved.

Mom smiled sweetly to the teacher, calmly explaining I had been having some anxiety issues, and I had an appointment that afternoon. She used that skill. That ability to make people completely side with her, even if she was saying the sky was green. We left the school, and I waited to finally get to share my side of the story. That it was a stupid rule, that the teacher wasn’t being fair, and that I was ten times smarter than the little mousy girl who she had given my favorite spot to.

Instead, she patted my knee, started the car, and drove to a coffee place. She ordered a hot cocoa for me, and we drove to the park. Not the one with the toys, but the one with the really big trees, the one with the climbing rocks and the shallow pond. Quinn, you have to know I completely understand why you moved seats. Her blue eyes bore into my soul, and I couldn’t even squirm.

I swallowed in response.

She sighed. I haven’t told you this before because I couldn’t be sure. I’m sorry. Really, I am. It’s just with your father, well, being a mystery, I wasn’t sure. Her hand touched my knee again. Quinn you are special. You can sense others that are not like most people. You can feel the difference between a gifted person and normal mortal. You instantly know if they are good or bad. You can tell with a touch, and later with simply a glance if they have committed atrocities against our world. We are called hunters.

Chapter Two

Isipped my fruit infused water. Since that day, everything I did without thinking started to make sense. The back desk became standard. Somehow mom had a note from a doctor that said allowing me to choose my desk was part of my therapy plan.

I started going out of my way to not attend big public functions.  I stayed away from fairs and concerts until I was able to start to control my ‘feelers’ as Mom used to call them, my eyes constantly moving over faces and people, summing up the potential danger. I did it every day, everywhere I went. I took another bite of my broccoli and scanned again. Phones made it so much easier. I could now focus on my device, and it would appear I wasn’t casing the joint continually. As I had gotten older, I started to test myself. I started scanning without the use of my eyes, simply scanning with my energy. It was hard at first, but now, it was second nature. I could send my energy tentacles out and know immediately which direction anything suspicious may be at.

Sure, I still eye scanned, but now it could be more casual, and not quite as sinister looking. I didn’t get stopped at security quite as often anymore, and less salesclerks paid attention as I shopped in their stores.

I cleared my tray and started to leave the dining hall. Hey, do I have trig with you? The guy came from the left side of the cafeteria. He had been sitting with a table of four guys. Three of them had likely been athletes, approximately 6’ 3 sport T’s and baggy sweats with athletic shoes. The fourth guy hadn’t fit with the group. Heavy plaid quilted flannel shirt, with baggy jeans. He stood shorter, maybe5’8 but tried to compensate by wearing heavy boots like Timb’s to add height. He was bad news as in he likely believed in the five-finger discount, and I was positive he had hit a girl or two in his past, however he wasn’t in my jurisdiction.

Yep, that was all part of my special senses, or gifts. I noticed things most trained detectives might miss. I couldn’t help it, it just happened.

I also filed license plates in my memory. Just some of the many little quirks I possessed.

Well, don’t I? he asked again, as I had completely ignored his comment.

What he didn’t know was I’d assessed the entire outside perimeter in the three seconds it took him to repeat himself. Four people within hearing distance, two more about three minutes out, and the sun was about fifteen minutes away from disappearing completely.

I met his eyes, Actually nope. Not in trig. I stepped around him. My short legs didn’t make the step as dramatic as I had liked, but I still felt I gave the right vibe.

He let me step by. Hmm, I guess maybe it’s just that there isn’t a fraction of you I wouldn’t want to get to know.

I felt him pause behind me. But I kept walking. My feelers were on high alert.

I walked back towards my dorm. I felt for any shift in the energy behind me, which would indicate if anyone was following me. All quiet. I reached the front doors and slipped inside. The noise from the hall didn’t seem to die down. I couldn’t even be sure which rooms were loud. The men’s wing definitely seemed louder, but the women were not far behind.

Tossing my keys on my desk, I flopped down on my bed and cried.

The confusion pressed on my soul. On the one hand, I knew college was the only way out of the life. I knew in real life, an education would help me get to a solid future career. The problem was I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. All my friends from school knew. They were talking about being teachers or welders or nurses. I would smile and nod and pray for a subject change. Because unlike them, I had no idea.

Before Mom died, she and I planned for me to stay home. Take the gap year, as most hunters referred to it in public. Because the gap year allowed for intense huntress training, which we all would need as we began to live our normal lives. I had never stressed about college, after all, it was over a year off.

But then Mom died. It was the end of May. Graduation, summer and it all went sideways.

Aunt Sylvie stepped in, after all, someone had to, but the hole in my heart refused to mend. Darrin lost almost five pounds, which for a cat is almost death. He looked how I felt. Sallow, sad, and bony. His beautiful black coat turned mouse grey. His tail became almost bald.

It was a week after she passed that he started to move towards my room. He refused to leave her bed permanently, even peeing on Aunt Sylvie’s pillow when she tried to sleep in Mom’s space. Aunt Sylvie moved to the guest room, a much safer place. He would walk into my room, look at me, and slowly walk away. Each time, it seemed he spent a few more seconds staring at me, willing me to be her.

By the end of summer, Darrin looked his absolute worst. I hadn’t told anyone about my decision to go to college and forgo the training year. I was still trying to decide if I should take Darrin or leave him with Aunt Sylvie. After all, it wasn’t like I expected him to make it. All the relatives said he would pull through, but none of them saw him in full mourning. The week before I planned to leave, Darrin jumped on my bed a little after midnight. I was awake; I rarely slept anymore. He curled next to my chest and fell asleep. I cried harder that night than I had in a while, but he never moved.

From that night on, he never left my side. Slowly his hair started filling in, the glossiness began to come back, and he regained his weight. He started to move on after losing her. I, however, hadn’t.

I explained to Aunt Sylvie that I already had a job, and everything was all set.

I told Darrin that night he would come with me. Of course, he would, he was mine now.

My pillow was wet. Tears stopped coming, but I just couldn’t quite muster up the energy to move. The tears had never dried for long since Mom died. They just were a bit easier to control. I worked hard to keep them at bay when I was in public, but when I was alone, especially when Darrin was gone, they just overflowed.

I heard the soft thump of his feet before I felt his paws on my cheek. He sniffed my tears and rubbed against my wet face. I laughed as he struggled with being wet and the intense need to comfort me. I wrapped my arms around him and dry sobbed a little more.

Finally, he wiggled lose, indicating it was time to take a deep breath and get back to reality. I wondered if my breakdowns were helpful for him too, allowing him to sit and just be in his grief. He went to his fountain, taking a long drink.

Cracking my bag open, I pulled out the current homework. Yup, no rest for the wicked here. Reading seemed to be how degrees were earned. There was never a shortage of pages to be read, books to be at least skimmed, and text to digest. Two hours went by in a flash.

Turning out the light, I tried to sleep. My eyes were wide, my senses pulsing in all directions.

These nights were the worst.

I consulted the planetary calendar.

Great, how had I not seen this coming?

Because you were too busy running away from home? the little voice in my head whispered.

Three planets were facing off many miles above, and for most people this meant nothing. But to a hunter it might as well have been Halloween in an ER.

Planets and constellations were used to harness energies. Most of the time, that energy was used for good. Whatever was pulling that energy knew how to manipulate that strength, making their task more powerful.

Again, it was no big deal for the majority of the time. It was the minority of the times that got the hunters involved. These were the events that bad people would use that power for evil. We all lived by codes. We all believed in following a general set of rules. Don’t be discovered, harm none. Simple right? Not for some. Hunters worked to keep those in check. Keep the peace and order that needed to exist.

But once in a while, someone or a group would come along who would pollute that energy from