Page 59 of Hunt Me

“Citizens of Night Falls, I stand before you today to announce a change that will alter the course of our kingdom. A new era begins this day, one I intend to see marked by peace, prosperity, and unity among all who call Night Falls home. When we claimed these lands, humans had inhabited them for generations. Yet under the throne’s rule, they were denied the dignity and protection afforded to others. I permitted division to flourish. I allowed contempt to become custom, cruelty to go unanswered, and human lives to be regarded as lesser than our own. Most shamefully, I allowed human beings to be treated not as citizens of this kingdom, but as livestock. For that, I offer no excuse. I was wrong. But an apology without action is merely words, and words alone will not undo generations of harm. Therefore, from this day forward, the humans of Night Falls will stand beneath the full protection of the Crown. Their lives, their homes, and their families will be protected under the same laws that protect every citizen of this kingdom. The old ways end today.”

The crowd was left speechless.

“He has them all captivated,” Matilda mumbled to her future husband’s advisor.

“Silence,” Ezra whispered.

“I am on a journey to make amends. My first order of business is to rescind the recently proposed tax hike.”

Whoops, cheers, and handclaps thundered throughout the town square.

“Ah! He’s buttering them up,” Matilda said gleefully.

“You always have to give a little to get a little,” Ezra replied.

Luka motioned for the villagers to calm themselves.

“Secondly, those who choose to serve as blood donors shall be compensated fairly for what they provide. Effective immediately, all payments for donated blood will be doubled, and the Crown will bear the additional expense. Human blood is not a resource to which vampires are entitled. It is given willingly, and those who sustain our population through their donations will be treated with the dignity and compensation their contribution deserves.”

Delighted humans in the crowd bobbed their heads excitedly at the prospect of increased compensation. It was easy to distinguish the vampires in the crowd—they were considerably less enthused. While the humans exchanged excited whispers and hopeful smiles, their vampire neighbors stood rigid and unsmiling. Some curled their lips in disgust; others openly glared at the celebrating humans, clearly displeased by the thought of their tax dollars paying more for something they had once felt entitled to.

“There is one final matter concerning the future of Night Falls.” Silence returned. “For generations, unions between humans and vampires have been forbidden under our laws. That prohibition ends today. I have signed into order the immediate abolishment of the ban on vampire and human marriage unions. Vampire and human hybrid children will now be recognized as a protected race from this point forward, and no harm shall come to them.”

An eerie silence settled over the town square.

“What’s happening? What happened to the cheers and clapping?” Matilda asked out of the corner of her mouth.

“They are rendered speechless. Smile for your king.” Matilda followed Ezra’s lead. Their smiles were short-lived when the first round of protests erupted.

“We will not mix with the filthy humans!” a vampire yelled from the crowd.

“Filthy?” a woman screamed. “We’re filthy, but you drink from us. Without us ‘filthy humans,’ you’d be chasing squirrels in the forest. You’re no prized pig either, bloodsucker!”

Matilda had a strong urge to cheer the woman on, but was forced to maintain decorum.

A voice echoed through the crowd, louder than the rest.

“Who is the woman beside you?” the voice boomed.

Another joined in. “Is she human? Is she why you are repealing the laws?”

“That’s the huntress, Matilda Helsing!”

All at once, everyone began speaking over each other.

Matilda?

Matilda Helsing?

I don’t believe it. Why would a Helsing stand beside a vampire?

Luka waved a hand over the crowd. “Silence. I beg of you.”

A brave vampire stepped forward and pointed at Luka. “It is you who should be silent! Not only is she a human, but she has murdered our kind! My children are afraid to sleep at night because they believe the huntress will slay them in their beds!”

“She is a murderer!”

“How many of us have fallen to her blade?”