Chapter 12: The Village of Hunters

Diana’s eyes slowly opened to the dimly lit room. She was in Rosaline’s bed once again, but this time, she still had her clothes on. The hunter smiled as she remembered the previous night. She actually enjoyed cooking with Rosaline and learning how to cook a proper meal rather than basic rations. Though she didn’t want to admit it, she felt happy when Rosaline praised her efforts.

They seemed to talk for hours about their mutual likes and dislikes. It was the first time she completely forgot that Rosaline was a vampire. They were just two women enjoying a romantic evening together.

Diana sighed in bliss, enjoying the new, comfortable bed, the soft sheets, and the blanket. She rolled onto her side and draped her arm over Rosaline, her vision clouded by the vampire’s silver locks. They ended up in bed together because Clair announced that she would share the girls’ room with Juliet. She would have otherwise shared Rosaline’s room and slept on the sofa, but both Juliet and Clair insisted that Diana and Rosaline enjoy an evening together. Both hunter and vampire thought it unusual, but Clair and Juliet excused themselves before they could be questioned.

I still can’t believe my first relationship is with a vampire, Diana mused. If it even is a relationship! It’s probably just some brief affair. I mean, when all of this is over, I’ll go back to hunting, and she’ll go back to ruling Colchester. She closed her eyes and listened to Rosaline’s breathing. She inhaled her perfume and warmth, and just let herself fall for a moment. Fine, she’s nicer than I would have thought. She’s funny, and…a beautiful, excellent swordswoman. And she can read my thoughts!

Diana pushed herself up and angrily looked down at Rosaline. The vampire’s eyes fluttered open and turned her head to look up. A dreamy smile formed on her lips. “Good morning.”

“What did you hear?” Diana angrily asked.

“Hear?” Rosaline was confused.

“M-my thoughts. What did you hear?”

“Nothing. I made a point to ignore your thoughts to respect your privacy.” She grinned mischievously and rolled onto her back. “Why, what were you thinking about, dearheart?”

A shade of pink dusted across Diana’s cheeks. “N-nothing!” Rosaline laughed and pulled Diana into a tight, warm embrace. “Let go!” Diana couldn’t hold back her laughter as she struggled against Rosaline’s hold. She didn’t want to admit just how much she enjoyed being held by Rosaline, or the warmth spreading through her body. There was no doubt that the wicked vampire would only tease her for admitting it.

Rosaline released her and smiled. “Good morning, Diana.”

“Good morning, Rosaline,” the hunter replied with a kind smile. “If it is morning. This carriage doesn’t have windows.”

“It’s morning,” Rosaline assured her. “We’ll arrive in Glendon in a couple of hours. We have just enough time to wash and eat a meal.”

The carriage landed on the road near Glendon and came to a stop. The hunters filed out, their equipment in hand. “It’s good to be home,” Baron said fondly. The town bustled with life, hunters bragging about their latest victories, and farmers selling their latest harvests happily mingled.

“I think I’m going to take a break from hunting for a while,” Carter sighed.

A group of four armed guards rushed them from the village gates. “Baron, sir!” One of the younger guards called out, surprised to see their comrades. “We need to conduct the test, so please stay where you are.”

The hunters stood outside the carriage while the guards held up talismans. Clair, Rosaline, and Diana were the last to leave. “Please make this quick, Jeff. We have an emergency to report,” Baron told him.

“What is the meaning of this?” Rosaline calmly demanded, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword.

“A vampire?” Jeff was stunned.

“Rosaline de Clairmont, High Inquisitor of the Shadow Inquisition,” she introduced herself.

The guards were visibly nervous. They finished their tests, the talismans confirming that Rosaline was the only vampire among them. “Yes. We bid you welcome, lady inquisitor.” None of them dared to meet her gaze.

“Don’t worry, she’s a friend to us. I’ll gladly vouch for her,” Baron assured his comrades.

“She’s especially friendly with Diana,” Juliet quipped. The confused guards looked at her.

“Never mind! We have to report to Gerard as soon as possible,” Diana barked.

Rosaline stepped close to the guards. “But first, explain your reaction. Your comrades return from a hunt, and you act as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Lady inquisitor, their deaths were already reported,” Jeff explained. “We assumed that the vampire lord turned them into the undead, and that they came here to turn the entire clan.”

“Really, what part of her looks like a ‘lord,’ Jeff?” Juliet teased, slowly waving her hand in front of Rosaline’s mature, feminine figure. A guard coughed and nervously looked away.

“Who issued this report?” Baron inquired.

“One of the drivers, a man named Edmund. He returned here, saying a group of vampires attacked him. The carriage was damaged, and he was covered in wounds,” Jeff reported.

“What about the second driver? Liam, I think his name was,” Carter pressed.

“Edmund told us he died at the castle,” Jeff added. “What happened there?”

“Put simply, the entire mission was a lie. We were sent there to destroy the castle and the entire town, and to die in the aftermath. The vampire lady here treated us, her assassins, with kindness because she knew something was wrong,” Baron revealed.

Jeff nodded. “I understand. Go report to Gerald. He’s meeting with that wandering hunter, Elijah, but he will want to hear of this at once.”

“We are betrayed. Keep a weather eye out,” Diana warned them. She turned to Rosaline and smiled. “Come, I’ll take you to our headquarters.”

“Lead on, my lovely guide.” Rosaline took her hand, earning a deep blush from her hunter.

“I’ll stay by the carriage and send the golems to support you as needed, Lady Rosaline,” Clair announced.

“Thank you, Clair, but please be careful. If a battle does start, take refuge in the carriage,” Rosaline urged.

The maid bowed as Diana jealously pulled her toward the village. Juliet blew her a playful kiss as she followed the group home.