A Good Night for Hunting

The man sat at his desk glancing around nervously. Fidgeting with his thumbs and sweating, he was quite the sight. Normally in his office, Mr Baker was the confident one: even a bit arrogant. But at the moment he felt way out of his depth – like he was in a place he wasn’t meant to be.

Well, normally he wouldn’t be in his office at this time of night. He glanced though the glass of his window at the streets below: the sky was dark, but the city lampposts and the lights of the buildings and shop signs lit up the roads.

He checked his watch – a nice expensive one too – stainless steel; digital, completely waterproof. It was slightly feminine on the back however, as it was engraved with a small picture of a ballerina. It was a gift from his grandmother before she croaked. He didn’t wear it for the sentimental value – it just looked like it cost a fortune.

The numbers read 22:27pm. Great.

She said she’d be there at 10:30 that night. She was usually on time – usually – unless she went out hunting… Mr Baker shivered at the thought.

“Haven’t caught a cold have we?” A voice penetrated the silence.

The man whipped round and stood up hurriedly.

“Jesus Raya! You scared the shit outta me!” He exclaimed.

Before him stood a slender young woman, smirking at him as she took a step out of the shadows. She had pale skin and dark hair nearing black. Her eyes were like steel. She had a black collarless cape around her shoulders – complete with matching pants and knee-high boots. That was teamed with a striking red top.

“That’s the reaction we tend to get,” she said, sitting down on the small couch opposite Baker’s desk.

Regaining himself, he went back behind his desk to retrieve his chair, which had gone flying backwards as he jumped up. It had nearly crashed into the bookcase. He pulled it back to the desk and sat down.

“Why did you send for me Charles? This is prime hunting time.” Raya asked coolly, licking her lips slightly.

“I-Is it now?” He didn’t want to think about it. “…erm, sorry.”

Raya waved it off. “Get on with it then – you may as well make it quick.” She prompted, resting one leg over the other.

Charles nodded and tried to put on a more professional tone.

“We; the um, Company here that is,” he began, “would like to propose a-a meeting with…” he swallowed. “With you and two, others…” He couldn’t say it. Raya understood it perfectly however. She raised an eyebrow.

“Indeed?”

Charles barely blinked, and then suddenly she was beside him, staring straight into his eyes. He twitched slightly, but somehow he couldn’t look away. Her eyes were like liquefied metal – two swirling pools of it – and he had a strange sensation while under their penetrating gaze: like he was drowning in them. Finally she broke it off and he looked at the floor and nodded a reply. Raya seemed content enough.

“And why would you and the um, Company want to seek an audience with any of us?” She inquired, walking slowly around the room. Charles swivelled around in his chair to follow her.

“My superior – the chairman – he asked specifically for you – a total of three. He asked that the other two representatives preferably were respected by… your type.”

He trailed off as Raya turned around and stared at him again.

“And does your superior have a specific time in mind?” She asked scathingly.

Charles thought about it for a second. “Actually…” he tried to find some inoffensive terms to put it in. “He was thinking that… I, would be the one to…make a, suitable time…” Raya was frowning even before he finished. He regretted saying it now – he knew she and others of her kind didn’t like being ordered around.

Finally her cold expression lightened a bit.

“Very well.” She said. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Suddenly she was at the window, which had come open even without her touch. The curtains were flapping about in the breeze – so was Raya’s dark hair.

“Oh and Charles,” she added, stepping onto the window ledge with one heel.

Charles nodded at her to go on, wiping his brow inconspicuously.

“If this is a double-cross…”

Raya appeared behind him and swung his chair around. He squeaked.

Raya grinned at him, revealing her sharp looking canines on either side of her mouth. “…you will find it very…unpleasant, to be you.” She finished; the threat obvious.

She walked back to the window; Mr Baker gulped quietly. Raya hoisted herself effortlessly up and hung out the window, still grinning. Her teeth were nearly glowing in the moonlight.

“Good night for hunting tonight.”

With those last words, she jumped elegantly backwards, and was gone.