Hunter of the Dark (8 page)

“
What are you doing here anyway?” Tanitha spoke up, suddenly intrigued by Christian’s equally sudden appearance. Christian shrugged, a slight movement but one which seemed to get the message across. He obviously didn’t want Tanitha to know and, from the look on Christian’s face, she didn’t really want to find out. He looked as if he had had no sleep whatsoever.

“
Can I ask the same of you?” Christian said, looking sideways at her, his eyes slanted so the green looked catlike. She thought that with those eyes, he could see into her mind, know what she was thinking. She shivered, noticing that the sun had disappeared and a biting breeze had billowed out of nowhere. His eyes had on their dancing appeal, as if he was making fun of her. Tanitha should have been used to it but it was making her heart churn with pain. She had to keep reminding herself over and over that he didn’t feel the same way about her. She tried to put it down as puppy love but couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to it then that. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing them with a slight shiver of anticipation. What was going to happen now?

“
I was out for a run. Cameron’s sister’s cat was mauled by a stray dog…”

She looked curiously at him as he stiffened. She felt a wave of insatiable curiosity creep over her. Who was he anyway? She realised she didn’t know a hell of a lot about him. It was slightly unnerving but Tanitha’s love helped her overcome that fact so, like so many other things in the past, she merely dismissed it to the back of her head.

“You know anything about it?”

“
No.” He said it a little too fast for Tanitha’s liking. “The truth is I came to see you.”

Tanitha’s heart skipped a beat at this line and she looked at him, her head tilted slightly upwards so she could see his face. His gaze was directed at the ground, and not at her own eyes with their laughing gesture. It seemed too, that the same bubbliness had disappeared from his expression.

“Oh?” Tanitha implored. She didn’t want Christian to stop at that. She wanted him to go on and confirm her worst nightmares. That he didn’t want to see him again. That he was leaving for good.

“
Yeah. I didn’t mean what I said back then.”

Tanitha just stayed quiet, but she lowered her eyes to a more submissive level. Christian’s head was raised again; he took initiative and instantly became the more dominant one. Tanitha knew that he knew he had power over her now.

“I really like you. I’m just afraid of my feelings. The dance we had together confirmed my fears. I never want to hurt you, Tanitha.”

Tanitha’s heart swelled with an overwhelming emotion. She lifted her head up and looked him straight in the eyes. She felt herself leaning into him, into his arms, and he obligingly wrapped them around her. She felt a tear escape, rolling down her flushed cheek, and the softness of Christian’s caress smooth it away.

“I love you, Tanitha.”

The words purred through her mind with a surreal atmosphere, as if he hadn’t really said them. She began to cry, for all the hurt and pain she had felt from Christian’s previous rejection, to his comfort and warmth he was offering now. He kissed her on the cheek. Tanitha instinctively tilted her head further up and his mouth met hers. Her first kiss. She wrapped her arms around the back of his head and pulled him closer, hungrily, and Christian was more than happy to give her her wish. A fierce passion drove the two, one that Tanitha would always remember for as long as she lived. This was love.

They only pulled apart as a bird went shrieking through the trees. Tanitha smiled up at him and Christian grinned back with his dazzling picture-perfect smile. For once in the past few weeks, Tanitha was in heaven.

“
I’d better be getting back.” Tanitha whispered breathlessly. Christian merely nodded, gave her one last lingering kiss, then left. Tanitha watched him leave, daydreams flickering across her features.

Cameron was waiting for her at the doorway. He had little Saraya on his lap, bouncing her up and down slightly. The dogs were lying down lazily beside the two. Tanitha guessed from the satisfaction on Sadie’s face that she had caught her rabbit. Cameron looked up as Tanitha approached, and frowned slightly at her permanent smile.

“
I guess you ran into Christian, huh?” Cameron asked miserably. Tanitha nodded with a sigh, her eyes half-closed and vividly reliving the perfect moment. Cameron brought her down to earth with a thump.

“
You really like him, don’t you?”

The certain wistfulness made Tanitha look at Cameron twice. Did she sense a trace of jealousy? Was the school stud jealous of Christian? Tanitha couldn’t believe it. She nodded, dumb-founded. Cameron looked at Saraya’s bouncing blonde hair. Tanitha smiled warmly at Saraya and held out her arms.

“Come here to Auntie Tanitha.” She crooned, lifting Saraya off Cameron’s lap and cradling the babe in her arms. “You’re getting a big girl.” Tanitha giggled.

“
I always used to hate people saying that to me.” Tanitha stated and Cameron nodded in agreement.

“
Everyone says it. Of course you’re getting bigger. It’s part of growing up.” He shrugged with a smile proudly worn on his handsome features. You could tell he loved his little sister. “Right, time for bed, little one. Say good night to Tanitha.” Cameron said, returning Saraya to his own embrace.

“
Night ‘Nitha.”

Tanitha glowed. She was just so cute! Saraya waved and Tanitha waved back. Then she herself decided it was time to retire to bed.

Tanitha was awakened by a loud rapping noise. Hauling herself out of the bed she was staying in, she wrapped a long dressing gown around her t-shirt and boxers. Sorsa was wide awake, and hiding under her bed, and Sadie was pacing underneath the window, growling. On her way down the hall, she peeked into Cameron’s room. He was still fast asleep, breathing silently with perspiration lightly dampening his brow. She gave a shy smile before making her way quietly down the hall. The door clicked as she unbolted the lock. Drawing back the heavy door, she was face to face with a policeman. He was youngish, in his late twenties or early thirties, and his mousy moustache twitched nervously as he sniffed. Tanitha looked at him with a scowl on her face, waiting for him to explain himself. A flash of white, a glint of silver, though, caught her gaze. She looked past the caffeine-loaded cop to the stretcher curiously. Her face was suddenly drained of colour. The cop started to drabble on in a uniform manner but she wasn’t really listening. She vaguely felt a hand placed comfortingly on her shoulder but that was somewhere else, an entire world away. Her entire focus lay on the white sheet drawn over what had to be a body. The crisp whiteness was marred by the presence of blood. But none of this mattered to her. Her eyes were on something else. The tears finally blurred away that final picture of tenacious sadness. And the image of the unique red and white sneaker.

The time had come. The Canine knew where the girl was. Tonight was the night. He licked his lips easily. Yes, it was time. Past time. Tonight he’d feed on the greatest victory of them all.

His maw changed, gruesomely, until it formed a human mouth. He was able to do that. The Canine learnt that he could metamorphosise any part of his body he wanted, turn into anyone he wanted. Now he let out a scream, as the little girl would. Then he watched and he waited…

Tanitha awoke with a start, the scream still ringing in her ears. By this time both Sorsa and Sadie were in full cry. Sadie had started crashing into the wall again, and Sorsa was barking savagely. It sounded like Saraya was in trouble! She had to do something. She wasn’t going to let Saraya die like Cheyne had. Cheyne didn’t deserve to have anything like that happen to him. She leapt out of bed quickly and raced outside, the dogs quick on her heels. Once released, the two dogs took off in the direction of the forest, both barking madly. She headed straight into the forest after them, plainly scared but not for herself. No, she was scared of what might happen to poor Saraya. She looked around, her hair whipping around her face. The moon shone brightly, lighting the eerie forest. Where could he have taken her?

She was suddenly aware of paw prints following her. She whirled around and was met with bright green eyes. Though she was frightened, the Canine’s presence was like an adrenaline boost to her. She would fight for Saraya’s life if she needed to. She growled lightly in her throat but the Canine merely laughed.

Laughed?!
No normal dog was capable of that!

The dog was bigger by a head than most dogs were, and what a head it was. The eyes were sunk deep within the chiseled shape. And within those eyes were such a ruthlessness and malice that it chilled Tanitha. Yet, in contradiction to this darkness, his movements were strangely fluid.

The sound drifted on the wind as it whipped wildly around her, the trees groaning their despair. It came from everywhere at once but Tanitha knew it was created by one source.

The Canine whined slightly and moved fluently forward, a move so intricately cat-like that it seemed impossible for a dog of his stature to achieve.

“Who are you?” Tanitha sobbed. “What did you do to Saraya?”

The Canine paused at the crying, shaking his head. He didn’t want to be touched, not now.

“You bastard! Give me back my sister!” She screamed, somehow confusing Saraya with Tabitha. At that precise moment, the Canine leapt forward like a bolt of lightning and bowled her down. Two flashes of speeding silhouettes bowled into the Canine’s side. She screamed again, this time in pain as the sharp claws raked at her back and its teeth flashed into her shoulder briefly.

Sorsa leapt for the Canine’s throat, but the creature was too agile. With one paw, he struck the Border Collie, sending him crashing to the ground. Sadie leapt onto the Canine’s back, her teeth tearing into his nape. It snarled, throwing itself to the ground, and dislodging Sadie, but the force of Sorsa’s next attack threw it to the ground.

Tanitha broke down, crying, with her eyes shut, whispering over and over again.

“
Please, let the dogs be alright. They don’t deserve to die. Please.”

With an almighty howl, the Canine ripped at Sorsa with his teeth. Sorsa squealed, and howled unnaturally, as the Canine all but picked him up, and threw him against a tree. Sadie, clearly enraged, leapt at the Canine once more. This time, her teeth gained more purchased, and she held onto its shoulder. Its head whipped around, and its eyes met hers. With his free paw, he smashed at Sadie, knocking her to the ground unconscious. Tanitha was inconsolable, and the Canine padded over to her, and stood over her, her eyes glowing. Tanitha was helpless, but she didn’t care anymore. She just hoped her dogs would be alright. She didn’t care what happened to her now.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the silver heart Christian had given her. She clutched it.

“
I love you, Christian…”

The Canine’s eyes followed the movement of her hand and stopped on the locket. It uttered a low guttural moan and tumbled off her. Tanitha opened her tear filled eyes and looked at the locket. The locket…

She held it out in front of her, like holding a crucifix to the vampire, and the Canine backed away. She thrust her hand out, leaping at the Canine, at the spur of the moment, and the touch of silver met the coarse canine fur. The Canine screamed, its bass-tone terror flooding the whole forest. Tanitha was kneeling now and watching as the Canine melted into the ground. Blood pulsed from the wound that had suddenly appeared where the locket had touched, and the edges seemed to be burning like from acid. Finally he lay still on the ground. Tanitha crawled over, clutching her bleeding shoulder, and watched in awe as the dog slowly changed into a human. Its features were the last to change but once the face was fully developed, Christian moaned with pain. Tanitha stumbled forward with a sob.

“
Christian! It is over?”

He reached towards her, nodding, and she took his hand, dismayed at how cold the touch of his skin was. He wiped away her tears.

“The locket.” He managed to stutter. She unclasped the clip on the necklace and laced it around his neck. He lay back down with a cry of pain.

“
Oh God, Christian, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was you…”

He managed to smile weakly, caressing her hand reassuringly.

“I will be fine. Just fine.” He gasped, his eyes flashing with pain. He tried to smile at Tanitha, reassure her that he was all right.

“
I love you, Christian.”

He started to weep then, every heart-felt sob racking his body.

“I love you too…”

Tanitha embraced him, the tears falling softly to the ground. She felt his heartbeat weakly.

“I’m not going to let you go. You’re not going to die on me, Christian. You can’t leave me like this.”

“
It’s too late. Let me be. It’s time. I want you to remember me.”

“
I won’t ever forget you, Christian.”

“
And I want you to be happy. Tell everyone I’ve moved on. Tell them you don’t know where or why. That’s all. Don’t tell them I’ve died.”

His estranged green eyes peered at her through bedraggled hair. Tanitha’s heart was breaking.

“Kiss me goodbye, Tanitha. I love you.”

Tanitha kissed him, softly, sadly. Finally it was over, much too soon. Christian gave a brief smile, tears streaking his face and sweat matting his blonde hair to his forehead. He laid his head on Tanitha’s shoulder. He fell silent. Too silent. Tanitha slowly looked up to see his eyes glaze over. She choked on her tears and patted his face, screaming at him to wake up. Tanitha yelled at him to not leave her but it was too late. He was gone.

Tanitha was adamant as Cameron came and found her.

“
Life will go on.” He said. “But it’s all a lie.”

She found out through a whirl of tears that it was for the best. Christian was a murderer. She found out that Saraya was safe in her bed, where she had been all that time. She found all this out and then, saying one final goodbye to her beloved, she turned to Cameron. Sadie had come to by then, and sidled up to Tanitha, whimpering. Tanitha tugged at Cameron’s arm.

“Oh, Cameron. Sorsa.”

The dog lay lifelessly. His stomach had been torn open, and his entrails gleamed in the cold air. Tanitha sobbed, as Cameron picked the dog up carefully. The dog thumped his tail weakly, and Cameron took the Border Collie back home.

All through the night, Tanitha stayed by Sorsa’s side. But it was too late for the brave Border Collie. Sometime around three, Sorsa struggled to rise. Tanitha steadied him, stopping Sorsa from trying to get up. Sorsa nuzzled her hand, taking all his effort, and his chocolate eyes seemed to accept his fate. Tanitha patted the male comfortingly, tears rolling down her face. He licked her hand, and closed his eyes. He whined once, then he moved no more. He was gone. Tanitha cursed Christian, for leaving her, and causing this distress. She picked up Sorsa’s body, and wrapped her arms around it, weeping into his lifeless fur. He didn’t deserve this. He gave up his life to try and save hers. It shouldn’t have ended this way. Finally, Tanitha left Sorsa’s spiritless body, and made her way upstairs.

She woke up later, and looked around instantly for Sadie. She wasn’t there. She made her way downstairs, calling her name. What she saw in the lounge broke her heart. Sadie lay stretched across the floor, with her head on Sorsa’s cold body. She whimpered, pawing at Sorsa as if to say, come on, it’s time to go. Tanitha’s call to Sadie was a whisper, but Sadie came, and buried her face in Tanitha’s arm. Tanitha knew that the ebony dog was saying goodbye. Sadie dragged herself back to Sorsa, as Tanitha picked the lifeless body up, and went to bury him.

Three hours later, Tanitha placed a rose on Sorsa’s grave. Sadie lay across it then, whimpering all the time in the same consistent manner. It tore Tanitha apart; they’d been together since puppies. It seemed cruel for Sorsa to be taken away, when all he was doing was trying to protect her. Tanitha called to Sadie, but the female ignored her, too wrapped up in her own thoughts. Tanitha left her there, to say goodbye, and returned to the comfort of Cameron.