Hunter Maximus
Chapter 25

Isobel, Maximus’ voice growls low in my mind, where did you go?

By now Maximus has realised that I have run away, or am attempting to. I run down the fire exit, but taking Luke’s advice on escaping from apartments – don’t just run to the ground floor. Exit on the 1st level above the ground, and find another way out. Or go to the carpark below the ground if there is one.

Luckily I did plenty of training with Luke – I knew this area well. I had done training exercises in this very building.

I’m not going to let you take me back to the palace just because I don’t agree with killing my best friend and his friends. You’ve got to be joking.

You were considering letting them kill you.

I wouldn’t have.

You were considering it, darling – which concerns me greatly. You have such little respect for your own life. You belong to me, which means you’re my responsibility and I have to teach you what’s right and what’s wrong.

Every word that fills my head bristles my anger but at the same time his deep masculine voice floods my mind with warmth and protection too.

You made me a vampire. But you will never own me completely Maximus – you don’t own my soul.

Oddly there is silence from his end – when I was expecting a reply. He loved to have the last say. I finally reach the first floor fire exit. I put my hand on the thick metal door handle and hesitate.

I felt like I was being hunted.

I could feel danger right around the corner.

Not sure if I’m being paranoid – I grab my short sword from my belt and hold it steady in my hand as I open the door. I step through and as the door slams shut I look to my right and left. It’s all empty.

Then suddenly at the very end of the corridor, I see the large window smash inwards.

I freeze with a rush of power I’ve never felt before. It was like adrenaline but a thousand times more potent. I squat, sword held out beside me, reading to jump and pounce on an enemy if need be.

A body has smashed through the window. It’s a vampire hunter – badly injured but not dead. He was lying still on the ground – his heart beat was easily audible to my ears. My fangs ached in my gums as the smell of his blood wafted towards me with the rush of wind which was filtering in from the outside.

Seconds later Maximus swings in from somewhere above the smashed window and I can see blood dripping from both corners of his mouth – he had fed from somebody. Probably a vampire hunter.

He stalks towards the body and then kicks it to make sure the guy is unconscious. When he looks up and spots me he pauses and a serious look crosses over his features.

“I came looking for you and all I got was a couple of vampire hunters already looking for you, why didn’t you tell me you had run off?” Maximus asks, irritated.

“Does it surprise you I didn’t agree with your plan? I was running from you – not from them,” I say, eyeing the vampire hunter lying at Maximus’ feet.

“How many times are you planning to try to escape from me, Isobel?” Maximus asks this slowly – his voice dropping an octave. I could tell he was starting to get a little more than a bit pissed off.

“I know I can’t escape,” I admit, “I was – am, going to have a little fun with you.”

“Oh, really,” Maximus growls and it sends a shiver down my spine. This wasn’t going to end well for me if I failed to prove my point.

“I’m still going to show you – I know a few tricks. I don’t need your protection or your ownership. I can look after myself.” I state, slowly straightening up from my squat. My super hearing was detecting more footsteps from inside the fire exit staircase – heading down. More vampire hunters were coming. Possibly Luke.

“I’m sure I’ll find whatever you try to do incredibly amusing –” Maximus says as condescendingly as possible, but before he can say more, I grab on to every bit of vampire speed and strength I have and use it to move as fast as possible. I run back into the fire exit staircase – now heading down.

I run as fast as I can – below ground level to the car park.

I run past all the cars, up the exit into the alley way off the side of the building. I turn to the left and go the way I know so well. Luke had taught me a little trick that worked quite well in times of panic. If you didn’t know what to do – play dirty.

I go to the nearest alley way with the big waste containers that are piled up next to each other, this alleyway was backed off from a popular street of restaurants – so the bins were always open most of the time. I shut one of the lids and jump on top. I hold my sword out, ready for a fight.

I push my long blonde hair behind my shoulders, and tune into my senses.

Maximus was close.

It wasn’t my hearing that could tell – it was our mental connection. He was homing in on me.

I almost get a fright when he runs up so fast that it’s like he teleports to just below me, his own sword out and ready.

“Hilarious,” Maximus says, barely holding back a grin now, “Your plan this whole time – was stand on top of a bin? You’ve got to be kidding – surely you had another idea.”

“Height is a good advantage, don’t you know that?” I ask, pretending to sound a little worried and nervous.

“Hmmm, well you are tiny compared to me, darling,” Maximus elegantly leaps up onto the lid, standing just inches from me, looking down at me with an adoring smirk.

He thought my attempt at playing a game with him was cute.

Time to play dirty.

I look to the side and gasp.

“Omg Maximus the hunters are back! Look!” I yell, and as soon as he spins to have a look I step behind him and shove.

Maximus – looking terribly confused, starts falling off the lid, off to the side – into the next bin.

Just as he lands in a heap in the rubbish below him I hurriedly grab the lid of the open bin and slam it down. An open pad lock – used to lock the bins when they were closed, is right in front of me as I close the lid. Without a second thought I click it into place.

Waste containers were always good temporary cages for vampires, as Luke would always remind me. I never thought this would actually come in handy…!

“I hope it doesn’t smell too bad in there for you!” I yell out, grinning. I shove my short sword back into my belt and place my hands on my hips.

I watch as the lid rattles as Maximus tries to lift it.

“What the – ? Don’t you dare laugh,” Maximus’ muffled sexy voice snarls from the inside of the bin.

It’s too late though – I’m already laughing.

“Darling,” I say happily, in between giggles, “I’ll see you back at the palace.”

Oh, you are going to pay dearly for this one, Isobel.

“Sorry, Maximus,” I say as sympathetically as possible, “Your threats just aren’t that scary anymore coming from inside a bin. Ta – ta!”

I turn on my heel and walk away with a skip in my step.

It’s as I walk away that I realise Maximus is the only way I can get back into the palace.

I consider letting him out. But that idea just upsets me greatly. This was a rare opportunity to relish in his suffering. And, not to mention – this was so incredibly funny.

I decide it’s time to go exploring.

I would find an entrance to the underground vampire palace. I remember that one time I escaped with Luke through the ceiling and I exited out of an apartment block’s store room. I would have to find that same apartment. The only place safe for me right now was the palace. Luke so far couldn’t be seen with me… I wasn’t sure if he wanted to know me anymore anyway. Just thinking that makes me feel sick. And my parents… they couldn’t see me like this. The vampire palace was the only option.

I decide to go to the top of the nearest tall building to look out for that apartment block with the right store room.

It doesn’t take me long to get to the top of the nearest building. I search with my newly enhanced vision. I could focus on signs streets away from me and still be able to read them. I finally spot an apartment block that looks similar to the one I exited from when escaping the palace the first time.

And then, in the cool night air – I hear sounds of screaming.

I rush to the other side of the building’s top, where the awful sounds are coming from and I feel sick to my stomach.

Body parts litter the nearest street just below me.

I see a vampire rushing at people, ripping people’s heads off, ripping their limbs off. I want to help stop this madness. But then I pause.

I knew that vampire.

Johnathan – Darrius’ brother.

Maximus hadn’t been able to find him – or Claudia; when they both mysteriously disappeared.

What the hell happened to him?

I watch, and instead of feeling sick I start to feel numb.

No one had been able to find him. Now I had – it was more important than ever to get back to the palace and let them know. Someone was seriously wrong, Johnathan was on a killing spree.

Which begged the question – what happened to Claudia?

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