1
Staring at the scene in front of him, Dominic frowned when he realized he was trapped. Everywhere he looked, forces blocked even the smallest of exits, making everything seem utterly hopeless.2
He had his opponent against the wall… It couldn’t end like this.3
“You fell for it, sucker.” The whispered voice made him jerk slightly. 4
“Damn it.” Dom frowned as his eyes darted everywhere and his mind spun as he tried to think of a way out of the trap. Defeated, he reached out, placed his fingers on the top of the tall figurine, and pushed it over on to its side. 5
His opponent smiled at the chessboard that sat between the two men, then transferred the smile to an unimpressed looking opponent. “Always a pleasure to kick your ass at chess,” he said. 6
“I let you win,” Dom replied sullenly.7
Laughter erupted from the other side of the table, the man not caring how dangerous it was to make fun of someone like his opponent. “A Dark-Hunter pouting? Wonder how much Leo would pay for that story?”8
“He could follow it up with ‘Dark-Hunter stomps arrogant Squire into a stain on the carpet’.” Even though Dom said it darkly, there was an underlying humorous tone to it. “And please don’t tell me that you’re reading that… trash.”9
“Leo’s paper is the heights of literature.”10
Dom blinked slowly, his black eyes full of annoyed disbelief. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” Pushing his chair back, he stood and stretched. The Daily Inquisitor was a trash/gossip magazine run by Leo Kirby. Designed to kept their paranormal world hidden by posting mostly nonsense stories, Leo, the Squire Regis for Seattle, loved wording the truth in a way that it would be totally unbelievable to those that didn’t know better.11
“Does that mean you don’t want your subscription renewed?”12
Dom paused. “I didn’t say that.”13
~~~~~~~~~~~~~14
Dominic Olluein wasn’t the name he was born with, but it was the name that had served him well over the past one thousand plus years. He knew his original name, but, like the life that went with it, that too was gone. Dead. Burned to nothing more than ashes that washed away with the blood of his death.15
Born in a small coastal area in what is now know as Great Britain, in the tenth century, 943 to be exact, he lived the normal ideal life. Although not rich, his family enjoyed a modest livelihood of farming, fishing and trying to keep their property safe from various marauders and the occasional Viking. 16
Growing up was uneventful, and like most of his time, he married and raised a family. Joined at an early age to the woman who would remain in his heart until the end of time, they had both been thirty-three when the end came. 17
The day started out with so much hope and wonder, that it seemed impossible for anything to ruin it. Excitedly expecting the birth of their first grandchild, the couple and their four children traveled to a neighboring village to visit their eldest daughter, who had been married the previous spring. 18
He had just held his grandson in his arms, wondering at the small features, and proud beyond belief in the continuation of a strong bloodline, when screaming started outside. Placing the child in his wife’s hands, and telling her to stay with the mother and the rest of the younger children, he exited the small abode with his daughter’s husband. 19
As feared, the village was under attack. Knowing that the interlopers would most likely leave if they were just given what they wanted, he took a step back to return to his family and secure their safety. 20
Pain exploded between his shoulder blades and he couldn’t stop the scream that was torn from him. Falling to his knees, he could feel his daughter’s husband helping him. His eyes grew wide as feet appeared in front of him, and he recognized the person as his wife. Yelling at her to go back inside and hide, he yelled out more as the body of his son-in-law landed by him on the ground. 21
Too many people ran by him, some stopping to pull him to his feet and drag him in the opposite direction as others dragged his wife inside. He could hear her screams above all the other noises, and struggled against the hands pulling him. It had been love at first site between them, and never a cross word had passed between them through their nearly twenty years of knowing each other. And now, she was screaming for him, and he was unable to help her. 22
The hands let go of him, dropping him to the ground like some unworthy garbage. The impact brought a fresh scream of pain from him. His vision dimmed slightly as his breathing nearly left him, but he forced himself to remain conscious. Praying to every deity they knew, he asked that his family be spared in return for his life, and felt both betrayal and disbelief as he was ignored. 23
He could hear screaming as flames started on one end of the small village, rapidly working its way along the tops of the buildings, destroying those within. Even as the flames licked at the doors, the invaders pulled people out to either kill, or gather in one location before being ushered away.24
Trying to move, he found he couldn’t, and closed his eyes, begging any deity for the strength to make it to his daughter’s house before the flames reached it. Tears seeped from his eyes as he remained where he was, and as the flames took hold of the small house, embracing it like a long lost friend, his eyes finally closed in defeat.25
His family appeared before him, their smiles in direct contrast to the destruction that was going on around then. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked up, smiling at his love as he reached out to her. Their fingers passed through each other’s, then they were gone. 26
He jerked as something touched the front of his shoulder, and he looked at a beautiful woman dressed completely in white. His eyes traveled from her, to the ruined house, not understanding why the flames were no longer there. 27
“I have a proposition for you,” the woman said.28
~~~~~~~~~~29
Dom stared through the window at the intersection just outside the small café. He could see the entire place from his table, but ignore the other clientele as they surreptitiously stared at his attire. Dressed in leather, with long black hair held back by a piece of leather, he looked like someone that would more than likely kill at the slightest provocation. 30
Lost in thought, he didn’t notice as the waitress refilled his coffee, giving him a small frown before walking away. Even after more than one thousand years, there were times when he missed his wife. He’d never said her name since the day his family was killed, but she never left his heart. 31
He hadn’t gone by his birth name since then, either. His daughter had wanted to name her newborn son Dominic, the name he then adopted for his apparent rebirth. The Olluein, which means "to destroy”, was taken from the Greek translation of Apollyon, a name sometimes given to the Devil….which suited him, since most that met him in the centuries after his death thought he was evil incarnate.
Darkly handsome, with an obvious ‘don’t give a shit’ look to his eyes, his coldness and ferocity had earned him the right to mimic the devil when he hunted Daimons. Through the centuries, he had toned down the desire to completely destroy, but had lost none of that spark that needed to see Daimons gone. 32
Absently rubbing a scar on his right cheek that ran from the corner of his eye to just above his ear, marring his good looks, he pulled his attention back to his surroundings. He hadn’t really worried that anything would have happened to him while his mind wandered, since one of the things he’d picked up on his death was the gift of precognition. When he wasn’t paying attention, his powers automatically kicked in.33
Taking a drink from his coffee, he raised a belated hand in thanks to the waitress, then turned back to the window. He could see the image of himself that he projected there, and stared through himself as he waited for Daimon activity to start. 34
He could use his precognition to see if tonight would be another night of sitting around drinking coffee, but he didn’t like to force the powers. When they came of their own accord, then all was fine, but when he actually concentrated on using precognition, it left him with a stabbing pain in his head so severe that death would be better. Even though he was already technically dead, he preferred to keep it that way…technically.35
“Slow night?”36
His eyes traveled to another reflection in the window, and he looked up to see the waitress hovering over him. 37
“Boring is more like it,” he said in a low voice. 38
She nodded slowly, then turned and walked away. Dom watched her reflection in the window as she went in to the kitchen area. He’d known Angie for a few years, ever since the café opened for business. He had been one of the first customers to wander in, and had also been one of the first customers she had tried to throw out. 39
Telling him that the management refused to let the café become a gang or biker hangout, she took one good look at his attire, and told him to get lost. Amused rather than annoyed, Dom left, then came back about two hours later with not only three police officers, but also a judge and a member of the city’s council. All had vouched for him with the waitress, telling her that although he looked like a psychopathic killer, that he was really one of the city’s more upstanding citizens. 40
Dom thanked the members of the Squire’s payroll as they left, then casually sat in what would soon be his ‘usual table’, and ordered a coffee. It had kicked off a unique friendship, and although Angie had hinted more than a few times that it could be come more, he kept a polite, yet respectable distance. 41
His wife would always be the only one he would ever care for in that way, and although he occasionally did sleep with other women, it was all one-time deals, with absolutely no strings attached. They were urges that needed to be sated, and he couldn’t do something like that with anyone he knew.42
Rubbing a hand over his face, he checked his watch, annoyed to see that it wasn’t even midnight yet. Straightening as he caught sight of blonde heads across the intersection, he stood with a predator’s smile. 43
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~44
The room was pleasantly decorated with soft colors, their hues lending a tranquility that was completely lost on the occupants. 45
Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, frowned at the person in front of her. Most times, she liked to bend his will to her bidding, but recently he had been even more subdued than usual. He took his punishment without complaint, not that that was new, but the faraway look in his eyes bothered her. When he was with her, he was supposed to be with her, not thinking of something else. 46
Reaching out, she ran her fingers through the blonde hair that fell over one of his well defined shoulders. “Is something wrong?”47
Acheron Parthenopaeus resisted the urge to cringe at her touch. Although he was used to the coldness that accompanied even the tiniest of caresses, it was all just annoying him a bit too much this time. His mind was spinning, trying to keep certain thoughts and memories hidden from her prying, and that he had to do such a thing irritated him to the point that he would rather push Artemis away, and take the punishment she would do for such an action.48
But, being the man, or god that he was, he inwardly gritted his teeth, pushing his problems away. “Nothing wrong,” he said blandly. “Nothing at all.”49
It wasn’t really a lie, since he couldn’t do that even if he wanted to. There were things wrong, but nothing that he could change. It was done, the past had played out, and he was more miserable than he had ever been.50
“You’re no good to me in this mood.”51
He looked at her, trying to gauge what she was hinting at. “I suppose I’m not,” he admitted. “Perhaps if I left?”52
“No.”53
There went that hope. He remained still as she leaned towards him, and tensed as her lips brushed his neck. He had been dreading this part, and it took most of his will power to stay still as he felt her teeth run along his skin.54
His body reacted on its own, hardening for her just as it always had. He could sense her smile as she felt his blood quicken, and his eyes closed in regret at what he knew was coming. 55
Moving her hair to the side, he eyed her neck, then steeled himself before sinking his fangs into her and taking what he needed. Artemis yelled in pleasure, a moment before her incisors grew long enough to return the bite. 56
She pulled him back on to the bed, wrapping long legs around his as he entered her, taking what she wanted from him, and he took what he needed from her.57
Ash never hated her more than he did at that moment. 58
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~59
Sighing in contentment at the gold dust now blowing away with the evening breeze, Dominic stretched lightly and walked out of the alley. It never ceased to amaze him just how many Daimons would run from a Hunter, and were stupid enough to go through an alley. To him, it was akin to the dumb broad in horror movies that always ran to the graveyard to try to escape the zombies. 60
Sticking the populated areas would save a Daimon, since Hunters couldn’t exactly stab someone in the chest with witnesses around. But, hell, a Daimon’s blunder was his gain, and his kill… so all was good.61
Pulling out his cell phone, he called his squire, checking to see if there were any reports of Daimon activity. Told that there were none, but that the possibility of Gallu being around the city park, he closed the phone slowly. Personally, he’d rather be bludgeoned to death than have to deal with Gallu, but tried to tell himself that it was all part of his job description.62
He didn’t mind the killing of Gallu…hell no, that part he truly cherished. It was the part involving burning the bodies away to nothing that made his stomach churn and head ache. It brought back far too many memories, in crystal clarity…and that he could do without.63
He couldn’t bring himself to set anything on fire, regardless how hard he tried, so instead, he opted for dismemberment of any Gallu he came in contact with. So far, it had worked, and a phone call to his squire took care of the burning. Dom knew it was a weakness that might come back to literally bite him badly someday, but it was something he couldn’t help.64
Walking the short distance back to the café where his car was parked, he sketched a small salute through the window to Angie, letting her know that he was leaving, then climbed in.
Resisting the urge to speed away form the curb in his black 2008 Porsche 911 GT2, his fingers tightened around the leather steering wheel. One night soon, he’d take his one-month-old car out to the country, or track, and see just how fast she could go. He’d appreciated his old car, but an unfortunate meeting between it and a telephone pole had put the 2003 Ferrari Enzo into an early grave.
Making it to the general area of the park, Dom parked the car and got out, the security system automatically setting as the door closed. “You-hoo!” he whispered. “Dark-Hunter coming, so any Gallu better leave.”
Snickering lightly he started for the closest path on his right, intent on doing a basic circuitous route throughout the area, and hopefully ending back at his car.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ash kept his mind nearly blank as he stared at the wall on the other side of the room from him. The only thought he had at the moment was the mental clock that was counting down the minutes until he would be free of the invisible shackles that held him here. If he were lucky enough, Artemis would sleep until he woke her to inform her that he was leaving. But, the way his life was lately, he knew he wouldn’t be that lucky. In fact, it would fit right in if she insisted on a quickie before he left.
His thoughts started to drift to dangerous territory, and he snapped them back to blankness as his vision concentrate on a nearly invisible spot on the wall.
As the countdown ticked towards the five-minute mark, his eyes darted to the side when he felt the bed move beside him. A beautiful face with the cruelest eyes imaginable smile up at him. “We have some time,” Artemis purred.
Ash nodded. “Just enough time to discuss a few Dark-Hunters.”
She frowned as she sat up, and sighed. “I’d prefer to discuss one specific Dark-Hunter,” she said as her hand ran along his stomach.
“They’re going to need more help dealing with Gallu,” he said, ignoring where her hand was heading.
“Must you always talk shop in bed?”
“Well, you seem to get upset when I discuss it during sex,” he deadpanned. “You could arrange it so that two Hunters wouldn’t sap each other’s powers when they’re fighting.”
“So that they can gang up on me?” she snapped. “How thoughtful.”
“Make it so it only happens if they’re fighting Gallu.”
“I’ll think about it.” Her hand went back to his stomach, then fell to the bed as he rolled out of the blankets. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Manifesting clothes on to his body, Ash changed his hair color from the blonde she always insisted he wear around her, to black, with a front stripe the color of brown sugar. “Time for me to go,” he said, a little more energetic than he meant to. “Too many Gallu and Daimons to slay,” he added for good measure.
“Go, then,” she spat.
He immediately vanished, and appeared in his own bedroom in Katoteros, the Atlantean heaven. Falling on to his large bed with a tired grunt, he rolled over and stared at the ceiling, and finally allowed the thoughts to surface.
Tria. Gods, how he missed her. They had only been together for a few weeks, but he felt things with her that he hadn’t felt in…he couldn’t recall how long. Then, a Gallu took her from him, and everything seemed to be a little darker than usual. He had been in a state of denial when he first returned to Artemis, performing for her while his mind stayed numb.
Since then, though, he pulled himself out of that thinking, and dreaded the thought of the Greek Goddess touching him. With Tria, he had been content, and craved the feeling of her touch, and her body next to his.
Being with Artemis just now had been the worse thing ever. It reeked of some sort of betrayal that he couldn’t get out of his mind. He knew it was some sort of emotional guilt that would lessen in time, but until then, he came very close to hating himself. 65
Pushing it away before letting the idea take root, he eyed the computer against the wall and rolled off the bed. Shuffling over to the desk, he nearly fell into the chair and looked at the computer screen wearily. Not really wanting to check his messages, but knowing he’d have far too many if he left it any longer, he logged into his e-mail. 66
Quickly going through one mundane message after another, and using it to occupy just enough of his attention to keep other thoughts at bay, Ash replied to them in order of importance. He came across a slightly disturbing one regarding a Dark-Hunter that wouldn’t incinerate Gallu, and read closer. 67
Spotting the Hunter’s name, Ash nodded slightly in understanding. Making a decision to drop in on the Hunter, he closed out of the message and glanced through the rest. 68
One caught his eye, and he stared at it for a few minutes before clicking on the sender’s name.
Ash:
I need to talk to you, whenever you can. This mess needs to be set straight, and you need to know the truth. If it hurts you to hear it, then I am sorry. And if you feel the need to kill me after hearing it, then, I accept that.
I’ll be at my condo on Friday night, and I hope that you’ll be there. 69
Aiden70
After Tria’s death, he toyed with the idea that she might still be alive. The thought was still in him somewhere, but he refused to dwell on it. Ash closed his eyes, not wanting to get his hopes up on what Aiden would want to see him about. The fact that she accepted death worried him, and he made a promise to himself not to kill her. 71
He hadn’t seen Aiden Falconidae in the nearly three months since Tria’s death, and he actually missed talking to her. She had been with Tria when the Gallu attacked, and felt guilt that she couldn’t save the Huntress. Ash had left a few messages, trying to get her to talk to him, but after a month or so, gave up. If she needed time to work it through, then he’d give it to her. Not like he didn’t need the time, too, but he couldn’t just vanish from his duties to mend a broken heart. 72
Grabbing his cell phone, he dialed a number, and waited while it rang. Frowning as it clicked through to voice mail, he went to disconnect the call, but stopped. “Aiden?” he said after the small beep. “Friday night. I’ll be there.”
Closing his phone, he leaned back in the chair and stared at the computer screen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fortunately for Dominic, there were no Gallu to be found in the park. Unfortunately for him though, there were plenty of Daimons around. Usually, he would relish the fight, but working his way through eight of them, all equipped with weapons, had a way of wearing even the best Dark-Hunter down. A few stab wounds were still bleeding on his side when another one opened across his ribs.
“Son of a fucking bitch,” he hissed, jumping back. Taking a small breather, he eyed the two remaining Daimon, ready to strike out when they approached. 73
Their eyes widened in surprise, and although he knew it was most likely a trick, he felt the urge to turn to see what had caught their attention. He spun, then stopped at a sight he hadn’t seen in nearly four hundred years. 74
Dressed all in black, with black hair that had a front stripe that looked the color of brown sugar, the newcomer looked like vengeance come to life. He walked with a gate that hinted at a power so great that it took most of Dom’s self-discipline to not cower. No, he hadn’t done that since he first met the man. 75
His mind flickered a little warning to him, prompting Dom to duck and turn, barely missing a knife that came sailing at neck height. Before he could strike back, a long staff flew past him, embedding itself in the chest of one Daimon, exploding it. 76
Pulling a knife out of a hidden pocket, Dom flung it, reducing the remaining Daimon to golden dust.77
Turning back to the new arrival, Dom sighed. “Ash.”78
Acheron Parthenopaeus gave him a cold look, waiting for him to continue. When he didn’t, the Head Dark-Hunter turned and started to walk away. 79
Dom stared after the man, tempted to run after him and shove him into a hard surface repeatedly. “Uh, thanks, then,” he said instead, opting to live a while longer as an alternative of risking his life attacking Ash. “Stop around again in another couple centuries. Or, hell, maybe you’ll luck out, and I’ll be dead by then, and it’ll save you the trip!”80
Ash stopped walking as he rolled his eyes at the apparent attempt to get a rise out of him. Usually, he would just ignore the common temper tantrums from the Hunters, but he needed something to occupy his time and grab his attention from dwelling on the past. 81
Turning slowly, he fixed the Hunter with a cold glare. “You’re welcome.”82
Dom snorted lightly, then leaned over to pick up a few knives from the ground. “What brings you to this part of the world?”83
“Dunno,” Ash said, letting his sarcasm show. “Decided to see a show, maybe a few sights, save your ass from getting beaten by a couple Daimons, buy a few presents for some friends…you know. The usual.”84
“Well, I thank you, the few people that actually like me thank you, and there’s a sale on teddy bears across the street.”85
“Yeah, as amusing as that is,” Ash said in a tone that showed he was anything but amused, “I’m going to have to pass.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I need your version of the Gallu kill from a couple weeks ago.”86
Dom went still, knowing exactly what Ash was referring to. “They were killed,” he said in a slightly defensive tone. “Hacked into tiny little pieces. Completely impossible for them to come back.”87
“But they weren’t burnt.”88
“Sure they were.” 89
“I mean by you.” Ash stared, trying to see something in the other man’s mind, but as usual, he was locked out. Damn his precognition always letting him know when Ash was about to invade his thoughts.90
Dom busied himself by wiping the knifes he had in his hand down, and stowing them back in the various hidden pockets that lined his long black jacket. He glanced at Ash once, then looked down the alley. 91
“Dominic.”92
His eyes clicked to Ash again. “If you’re waiting for an answer, then you might as well make yourself comfortable. It’s gonna be a long wait.”93
“I can wait as long as you can,” Ash said with a slight shrug. “But come morning, you’ll be Hunter toast.”94
“Then I won’t have to answer, will I?”95
96
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Too much like the real dark hunter series
Ive read every book in that series and certain paragraphs in your story are all to familiar you should becareful when you right off other people stories as it could be considered plagerism if you dont change it up to make it your own.beginning: 2, language: 3, plot: 2, ending: 2, dialog: 3, characters: 3.
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Which paragraphs, and which stories? I can assure you that I'm not writing off other people's stories. They are fan fiction, inspired by, etc. I've read them all, too (except for Dragonswan, which is more WH anyway), and own about half.
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Something new!!!!
Yessssssssssss!Commenting as I read....
A moody Dark-Hunter.. how unique
I like the description of how he died.
He sounds like he looks like Ash slightly.
Ash and Artie... how long is this after the other story? Or is this after the other story? (“Well, you seem to get upset when I discuss it during sex,” ...
)
Ah, okay. I see now. So... about three or four months then?
Your hunters sure are mouthy at times!
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A moody Dark-Hunter is a pre-requisite for writing this genre
Yes... he does sound a little like Ash in the looks... just not as tall.... or young.... or flaky.
About three months after...give or take.
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This stuff is like crack!
Woo-hoo I love crack! Crack crackity crack crack!Like the beginning! Hope the heroine is Angie. We Angie's never get to be the heroine! We are always the sidekicks. Keep up the great work Barbara!
beginning: 4, characters: 4.
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Thanks
Angie is the heroine... sort of... maybe... well...
she's not the sidekick, that's for sure. 
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