• Chapter Eight-Halastor

    "This is a disgrace! How could they have escaped again?!" There was mumbling from the boys, trying to come up with a solution that would allow them to stay alive. "Well?!" Halastor barked at he cowering group before him.
    "Well sir, we think maybe..." he stopped when Halastor glared at him, his breath catching in his chest.
    "You think? You aren't a hunter because you think. You are a hunter because you know what your prey is doing at all times! How many times do I have to explain that to you grubworms?" he bellowed, banging his fist against the table in front of him; grumbling when then others flinched at the sound. It didn't matter if they were young; they should know better than to show fear.
    Halastor didn't like dealing with the new recuits, but he knew it was part of his job as their leader. He sat down in his seat at the head of the table, massaging his temples with his middle fingers.
    "What should we do?" Halastor glared at the slight annoyance.
    "Find them...NOW!" The newer hunters scattered, scrambling to leave the room. He sighed, pressing his forehead against the cool wooden surface.
    "Having a bad day baby?" asked the sarcastic feminine voice behind him. He leaned back in his chair and felt cold hands slide along his shoulders.
    "An understatement to be sure." A light windchime laugh filled the Main Hall and he felt her cold lips press against his neck, her hands tightening on his shoulders.
    "I'm sure there's a way to fix that," she crooned, sliding her hands off his shoulders and sitting on his lap.
    "Sultana, my sweet, what would I do without you?" She grinned, showing her fangs.
    "You tell me," she paused, playing with his long hair. "Maybe these new recruits need a taste of real fear. I could easily make that possible." Halastor grinned.
    "Darling, they are mere children. You would scare them to death. We'll give them one last chance before we go to the extreme." Sultana pouted, her eyes almost glowing in disappointment.
    "You never let me do anything fun." She stood up and crossed the room, running her fingers along the top of the chairs as she went. "One of these days, Halastor, I'm going to leave you for bigger and better things and you will only have yourself to blame."
    "You won't leave me dearest. I'm your only protection from your queen. Who knows what she would do if she knew you were back..." he grinned, knowing full well that Sultana knew what Samantha would do; especially now with the twins by her side. Sultana tried to stop herself, but her hand flew to her throat, remembering all too well how easy it would be for Samantha to destroy her. She was still too weak to fight her, not to mention the twins. She had never seen such power before.
    It took ever molecule of self control she had to keep from shuddering.
    "And then how would you keep your station? The only reason you're even alive is because I clean up after you like some maid. 'Oops, some human witnesses. Sultana, take care of them.' You don't care about me. I'm a toy to you."
    "One that is rather fun to play with. Now, come here." Sultana set her jaw and planted her feet firmly where she was. Halastor gripped the handle of the leather whip that hung in a coil on the back corner of his chair, and it slid to the floor. A slight flash of fear ran across her eyes as he swung and cracked the whip in her direction, hissing when it clung to her wrist, locking itself into her stoney skin. Pain wracked her body as he jerked the whip back, and she flew into his arms.
    "There's a good girl," he crooned, crushing her body to his own.
    "Let her go Halastor." The hunter looked toward the door and saw Lasarn.
    "Just the disappointment I wanted to see." He released Sultana, who gave Lasarn one thankful glance before fleeing the room. Neither man watched her go; they were too busy watching the other.
    "You knew who she was, what she meant to me, and you sent me to kill her. What kind of sick b*****d are you?"
    "Lasarn, it's very simple really. It doesn't matter who she used to be; she is now prey, and that's all that matters. I want her dead, and you are my best tracker. I couldn't very well tell you it was Aurelia, now could I?'
    "Allow me to correct you. I was your best tracker; I'm leaving the brotherhood. I found what I came to find, and there is no reason for me to stay." Halastor shook his head grimly.
    "I'm afraid there is no leaving the brotherhood. You know our secrets, and you just can't be trusted out there anymore. So you have two options: stay, or become the hunted."
    "I'll take my chances, but thanks for your concern." Before Halastor could blink, Lasarn was gone. Halastor turned and pounded his fist into the solid stone wall, watching the thread-like cracks spread from the point of impact.
    "SULTANA!" he bellowed at the door that led to his quarters, but there was no answer. His mind probed at the door, and the room beyond, only to howl in rage when he realized she wasn't there. Snatching his whip, he stormed out the door to begin the hunt for Lasarn and Sultana.