Page 43 of Twisted
But then it hits me.It wasn’t just bad press the hunters wanted.It was a bloodbath.Make it look like one of the baby vamps lost control and drank from an unwilling victim, giving the humans a reason to defend themselves.And once blood is actually shed, the baby vamps—and even the seasoned ones—would engage in an all-out war.
And everyone knows how it’ll end.
“Stop!”I call out, making sure the lady is steady on her feet before letting go, but my voice is drowned out in the panic.Oh shit.This isn’t going to end well.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Xavier’s voice rings out, louder than anyone else.“It appears we have an imposter.”
No one lowers their weapons or retracts their fangs, but at least they’re looking at Xavier.He’s holding the hunter by the back of his collar and makes him walk forward, into the center of the room.
“Go on,” he says, giving the hunter a shake.“Tell them.”
“I’m not a real vampire,” the hunter tells everyone.His cheeks are flushed and he looks around, probably for his friends.If Theo arrived in time after Xavier’s warning, then the other hunters aren’t.Hell, they might not even be alive anymore.
The hunter puts a finger inside his mouth and snaps off the fake fangs.The crowd of vampires and humans all gasp.Pushing my shoulders back, I stare right into the hunter’s eyes.He looks at me and then quickly looks away.That’s right, motherfucker, you messed with the wrong witch.
“What is the meaning of this?”Peter, who I’m forever going to call Crossbow Pete, says.He’s still rattled and is now looking a little embarrassed he overreacted and revealed that he had a hidden weapon, which goes against one of the rules put in place by the VC that no humans can have “death-delivering weapons” while in ‘peacefully arranged’ meetings between vampires and humans.That specific law has been a topic of much controversy, and one I ignore.I always have weapons on me.In fact, I feel quite naked right now without a single knife or blade hidden on my body.
“He was trying to start a fight between the vampires and the humans in this room,” I say and the hunter looks up, venom on his face.I don’t know this guy’s name, but I’ve seen him before at Zodiac, and I know both Leo and Antonio have exchanged some heated words, and maybe even a few punches, about how I’m just as much a hunter as the rest of the Order members, even though I’m adirty witch, as this asshole put it.
Looking him right in the eyes, I smile.“But he was unsuccessful, as were his friends that are downstairs.”His eyes widen a bit, unable to hide his fear.That’s right, motherfucker, we were onto you before you even stepped foot into this building.
Peter, trying to regain his composure, walks over and grabs the hunter by the arm, pulling him into the center of the room.
“Fuck you, vampire fucker,” the hunter hisses and goes to spit on me.Xavier is there in front of me in just a blink of an eye.He grabs the hunter’s face, squeezing his cheeks.
“I suggest you treat my wife with the respect she deserves,” Xavier says calmly.“And know that if you so much as lay a finger on her, you will die and I won’t make it quick.Your hillbilly brother-cousins will be finding body parts for months before I finally allow you to succumb to the dark and cold release of death.”He releases the hunter and he stumbles back.The loser looks at Peter as if he’ll help him just because they’re both human.
Idiot.Read the room.We’re at a convention to promote vampire and human relationships, showing that we can all get along and coexist peacefully.
“Are you all right?”Xavier asks me, turning and putting his hands on my shoulders.Security comes into the ballroom—one human and one vampire officer.
“I’m perfectly fine,” I tell him, not used to having anyone defend me so…violently.Fuck, I like it.“I take it Theo stopped the others from doing whatever it is they had planned?”
“I’m sure,” he tells me and lets his hands fall down my body, settling on my waist.He pulls me in and I know it’s just for show…or is it?Is he that good at pretending I’m getting confused at his intentions?
“Let’s not let that ruin the night,” one of the VC reps says as the hunter is walked out of the room by security.Xavier takes my hand and looks at me curiously.
“What?”I ask.
“You’re rather unfazed by that.”
I shrug.“That was nothing.I’m a hunter, remember.And Irememberwho I am, but you seem to forget,” I say pointedly.“I’m far from helpless.”
“That is very true.You’re curious, Wren.I’ve never met anyone like you.”
I roll my eyes.“Please, save the love bombing for someone more naive.”
Xavier chuckles.“I’ll rephrase that.I’ve never met a witch like you,” he says softly.
“Have you met many witches?”
He takes my hand and we slowly make our way to the front of the room.The vibe has shifted and the room is full of anxious chatter.The woman who was attacked is sitting at a table, with a bunch of concerned humans and vampires around her.Someone mentions that EMTs are on their way to check her out, just to be safe.
“I’ve avoided them, like a good vampire.”
“You’re scared of them?”
“Not particularly,” he replies.“Being involved with witches was never beneficial.Vampires never had official rules to follow until recently, but the advice has always been to avoid or kill any witch we came across.”
