After the Fall: A Vampire Chronicle (Book One) (16 page)

             
“Are you new to the order?” he asked. “Anselm did not inform me that he was sending another hunter to New York.”

             
A look of confusion and annoyance crossed the stranger’s face, mirroring the confusion and annoyance Christian felt. Christian couldn’t tell for sure, but the guy looked like he couldn’t be any older than he was.

             
“What the hell are you talking about?” was the stranger’s response to Lorenzo’s question. “Order? Hunter? And who the hell is Anselm?”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Lorenzo muttered, and the guy threw up his hands in frustration.

“My name is Luke Talbot,” he said with annoyance, “and I’m here to fight vampires.”

             
Christian heard Lorenzo’s sharp intake of breath.

             
“You are not a member of Manus Dei?” Lorenzo asked again, as if the guy’s answer would change.

             
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Christian could hear the irritation continue to grow in the stranger’s - Luke’s - voice. “And who the hell are you? What are you two anyway? You do realize those were vampires you were fighting, right?”

             
“We are perfectly aware of that, but I am curious how you are aware of it,” Lorenzo answered. “My name is Father Lorenzo Catalano, and this is my associate, Christian Dreiden. We, too, fight vampires.”

             
“So is vampire hunting a common New York nightlife past-time, or was I just lucky enough to come across the freaks?” He gestured at Christian with his hand, the one holding the cigarette.

             
“I saw you the other night, fighting a group of vamps, so I know this is not some one night deal. Is this the kind of thing New Yorkers consider a hobby?”

             
A groan from the ground got everyone’s attention. Christian was the first to her side as her eyes fluttered open.

             
“How are you feeling?” he asked her gently.

             
“Like I’ve been through hell and back,” she answered, grimacing in pain as she sat up. “Am I alive?”

             
“Yeah, you’re alive,” he said, smiling.
No thanks to me.
His smile quickly disappeared. She suddenly realized there was an addition to their group.

             
“Who’s that?” she whispered to Christian, but it was Lorenzo who answered.

             
“This is Luke Talbot, Caroline. He saved your life. It appears that he, too, is a vampire hunter.”

             
“How come you never mentioned him before?” Caroline asked, a puzzled expression on her face, which quickly changed to a grimace as she gripped her suddenly throbbing head.

             
“Because we just met him,” Lorenzo answered, not quite successful at keeping the bafflement from his voice. “Luke, it would seem, is a civilian hunter.”

              When Gideon and Anya joined her in the shadows, Angel could see the looks of disgust on their faces. She knew the fight hadn’t gone exactly as they had planned.

             
“That wasn’t very fun,” Anya whined petulantly.

             
“We should have been able to at least kill one. Maybe not the hunter, but at least the old man,” Gideon spat out, then turned his icy glare on Angel.

             
“I bet you can’t wait to go running back to the Master to tell him how we failed.”

             
“Not exactly,” Angel said, smiling. “From here, I was able to notice a lot more than you probably could in the thick of the fight. You may not have killed anyone, but don’t worry. I have good news to bring back to the Master.”

             
“And what news could that possibly be?” Gideon asked, his voice laced with disbelief, patronization, and something else akin to curiosity. Angel felt as is she was nearly bursting; the Master was going to be so proud of her. Gesturing for Anya and Gideon to come closer, she waited until they had leaned in before whispering excitedly.

             
“I have found the Hunter’s weakness.”

             
“What is it?” The curiosity had climbed to Gideon’s otherwise lifeless eyes.

             
“Not what. Who,” Angel corrected; she had seen it in the hunter’s eyes, and heard it in his voice.

             
“All right,” Gideon played along. “Who is Christian Dreiden’s weakness?”

             
Angel smiled, and she knew it would rival any vampires for its coldness, and she knew beyond a doubt, that she was absolutely, positively right when she answered Gideon with two simple words.

             
“Caroline Gallagher.”

             
The Master was going to be very, very pleased with her.

TO BE CONTINUED