Hunter appeared outside the tent of his target. This was an odd assignment for him, as he was usually sent to kill people not protect them, but apparently there was something special about this woman. He didn't have a good track record with women,and having to protect one was rubbing his hackles the wrong way.
He could sense the murderer less than a mile away, and even had the scent of fresh blood, so he'd just killed again. He stepped into the tent and his large frame dwarfed everything and everyone inside. "Which of you is Kate?"
The only woman in the room turned and cast an unappreciative eye at him, "Me obviously."
"Oh right..sorry...you need to come with me right now."
"Not possible. I have patients to attend to...they cannot be left unattended at this crucial moment in their recovery." She wasn't even looking at him now, but checking on a man on a cot along the left side of the tent.
Hunter growled but stepped outside and surrounded the tent with the most powerful wards he could and waited. It wasn't a long wait, as the murderer was now standing just beyond the wards looking at the large guard dog.
"So...she has a lackey does she?" Victor sneered, "No matter, more power for me when I feel your blood on my hands."
Hunter laughed, "My blood will not be easy to spill little human."
Vincent smiled an odd smile, "Perhaps I will finally have a worthy opponent then." he said as he moved forward only to bump into the ward." He looked around at it and then stabbed it with an odd looking knife. Sparks flew and the knife was glowing almost white as Vincent stepped forward, "nice try, but not quite good enough."
Hunter was more than a little shocked that a human could break his wards, but he was ticked off now and fire flew up in a circle surrounding Vincent. Hunter disappeared and was instantly beside Kate, "You are leaving now." He grabbed her and they both disappeared as Vincent entered the tent but not before Kate made eye contact with him.
They appeared in a cabin about fifteen miles away, because Hunter was going to see the end of the man, even though this was not the best way to keep his target alive.
"How did he ...find...me?" she asked as soon as they were in the cabin, immediately pacing the floor as she muttered under her breath. Suddenly she stopped short and blinked, "Wait...how did you do that?"
Hunter shook his head, "Women...you're all crazy you know that?"
"I am not crazy."
"Right." He said and began to set up wards outside in layers to that the man would have to fight through each of them to get to the cabin itself. "So what's the story? Why is this guy bent on killing you?"
"I would venture to guess it has something to do with the fact that he has been in prison for twenty-five years because of my testimony."
"Ahh...highly likely. Was he guilty?"
"He is a blood thirsty power mad killer...mister...who are you?"
"Hunter...just Hunter. I was sent to keep you alive. Apparently there's something special about you." He huffed as if he didn't believe it.
"Maybe because I have developed effective antidotes for the some of the most lethal plants and animals on earth and have almost succeeded in another...though this toxin has many systems it attacks, so i has been a long process...what ARE you doing?"
"Magically protecting this cabin. Your guy is about 14 miles away...give or take...and sorry but he killed the people in the tent. So...do you know something about him gaining power as he kills people?"
"He believes he can claim the souls of those he kills and add their power to his. Something about a knife....but he's clearly insane...such things are not possible."
"Just like instantly disappearing and reappearing fifteen miles away isn't possible?" he smirked, "I was sent because this guy is not a normal threat. We are not sent for this as a rule. I am usually sent to kill people, not protect them."
"You were sent by whom?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he tossed over his shoulder as he pressed his hands to the door and hit began to glow for an instant before fading again. "But ok. I saw the knife. He was able to get past my ward with it. It's possible it is adding to his strength as he kills. I've seen stranger things....much stranger."
"I just can't figure out how he keeps finding me," she muttered then, "I've been running from him for five years. I'm soo sick of it."
Hunter grinned at her, "Luckily for you, he pissed me off. So you're done running."
Kate looked a bit confused but didn't ask. He was making her feel like she possibly was crazy and she didn't like it.
He sat down then and got comfortable as if nothing out of the ordinary was about to occur. Resting his elbow haphazardly on the top of the table next to him he looked at her. He didn't have a good track record with women but he could still appreciate them. This one was a bit too thin but she had an interesting face and she was smart, even though she was totally out of her element at the moment. And, most important to him, she was not falling into fits of hysterics or uncontrolled weeping. "So you are a doctor of some sort then?"
Kate was watching him analytically or attempting it. He was broad and thickly muscled, and his skin was bronzed as if he spent much time in the sun or possibly it was his natural skin tone. His face had strong features that were attractive in an unconventional sort of way. his casual air in light of the situation was intriguing to her. His question sliced through her reverie and she blinked, "Yes...in three ways. Medical doctor but I also have doctorate degrees in Chemistry and Biology."
"You would."
"Is there something wrong with being educated?"
"Not a thing. Listen...when this goofball gets here...you just stay in here and whatever you hear, whatever happens..DO NOT OPEN THAT DOOR!" he commanded her and the tone of his voice was not something to be ignored. "I promise you...no matter what I will be fine. DO NOT.."
"Open the door..got it."
Hunter could see he had insulted her somehow and that she was now in that mood that women got in when they were peeved at you, but were not ever going to say why. Women were sooo frustrating...why did his target have to be a woman?
They sat in silence then, as she would no longer speak to him, even when he did attempt conversation. He shrugged and searched for Vincent. He was closing in, but Hunter was just sitting smugly in the chair. It took a few hours for Vincent to arrive and Hunter felt him break through the first ward. "He's here." was all he said and then he disappeared from the room.
Kate was exasperated by his manner and the fact that she found him astonishingly attractive in spite of it. She was more angry at herself than him and as soon as he disappeared she took to pacing again. Pacing helped her think, usually.
Vincet broke through the last ward and started up the stairs to the cabin. His voice loud and clear called out, "It's almost over Katherine....I can taste your blood already." He stepped up tot he door and touched it but was thrown back about five feet. "You are growing tiresome lackey."
Hunter was inside the cabin in the space outside the room where Kate was safely hidden. He smirked a bit hearing the man but he didn't move. He knew the man would gain entrance, because he wanted him to and for no other reason.
Vincent touched the knife to the door and then turned the handle and stepped inside arrogantly. "Ahh...there you are...but where is Kate?" he asked and then looked at the door beyond Hunter and smiled, "Oh of course...how noble of your to sacrifice yourself for such and unworthy wench."
Hunter shrugged, "I was not planning to offer myself as a sacrifice."
Vincent curled hi lip and with a flick of his wrist threw the knife at hunter without any warning or prelude.
Hunter disappeared and the knife sunk into the wall behind him as he reappeared behind Vincent and grabbed him about the throat with his forearm. "Not very sportsmanlike."
His hand rose and the knife returned to him and he sunk it into Hunter's thigh, "Rules are for the weak."
Hunter reached down and tried to get possession of the knife but Vincent was pushing against his hold and with the knife in his leg his footing was not as stable as it would normally have been and they slammed together into the wall. In a remarkably agile move Vincent spun and sliced the blade across Hunter's chest and then sunk it into his chest, barely missing his heart. Hunter let out a stream of curses.
Kate heard the thump and the cursing and threw open the door. "Stop it!"
Vincent smiled and turned and threw the knife at her and watched in satisfaction as it sink into her side. he was over her in two strides, "I want you to remember you deserve this." as he pulled the knife out and made ready to stab her again, "But I think you will die slower...I want to enjoy it."
Hunter Appeared between them and grabbed the knife and with a swift twist and thrust upward buried the blade deep in the Vincent's chest slicing his heart in two. The knife began to glow as the souls and power left Vincent and entered into Hunter. His body shook and he was glowing bright white. "Sorry...I just totally forgot which dimension I'm in."
Vincent fell and Hunter wrapped his fingers around his arm as both disappeared. Kate lifted her hand from her side and looked at the blood and frowned. She made her way over to the bed in the room where she had been and sat down. She had no way to tend to herself here. All she could do was keep pressure on the wound and hope for the best.
Hunter returned a few minutes later, no longer white or glowing. He went to her then and placed a large hand on his side where she'd been stabbed, "I told you not to open the door."
"Sorry."
"yeah..save it." His hand was sending healing energy into her and she would soon realize it.
"You can heal too?"
"I can do a lot of things, Kate." he grinned, "And quite well I might add."
"I have no doubt."
He was surprised by her candor, but decided it was safer to ignore it. "Your stalker is gone, delivered to my authorities, along with that knife. So you are safe. I am to deliver you to wherever you wish to go."
Kate sat up and folded her hands in her lap. She was quiet for a bit and then she looked up at him, "Did they say WHEN you had to deliver me?"
Hunter chuckled and shook his head, "No ma'am...no rush at all."
Kate reached up and touched his hair, "Good...I think I'd like to see some of those other things you're good at first hand then..."
