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Emma could see that it was not something he was proud of. He didn’t want to talk about it. Just before she could tell him not to, Hunt cleared his throat, looking off into the darkness ahead. She stayed silent, allowing him to go with it. It was best for her to let him talk on his own terms.
“My father used to be the last of the old Hunters. Those who were…the most stoic of Hunters. They still believed in the old ways—all paranormals, everything that wasn’t of this world, was an aberration.” Hunt paused, his tone grim. “That’s the family I was brought up in.”
“Oh,” Emma reacted. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Hunt replied. “When I became the new leader, I had a chance to make a difference. I wanted to.”
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Emma couldn’t hold back anymore. “What happened?”
“My family was killed by a pack of Dragons.”
Emma went silent, imagining what it was like to be on the receiving end of a pack of Dragons. When she had fought against the Ridgeshire Dragons, she had seen just how visceral they could be. Against humans, it would be worse. And it was almost impossible for anyone to be able to live down the sight of Dragons killing those they cared about.
It made sense to Emma, and she could understand his plight. It didn’t excuse him or any of the other Hunters from what they did. They didn’t understand the paranormals, so they killed them, pretending as though they were all that was wrong with the world. Hunt had been given a lesson, a painful one, which he had carried in his heart this entire time.
“I’m so sorry,” Emma blurted, not sure what else to say.
“Yeah,” Hunt replied. “It’s what happens when you go attacking them first. When I think about it, all I remember is the sight of things when I got back home. There was blood everywhere, and everyone was dead. My father told me what had happened with his dying breath, and I took it on myself. But he was the one who brought it upon himself and my family.”
“Hunt,” Emma began.
“No, it’s true. He probably had gone searching for a Dragon to fuck around with, and he probably hurt the wrong pack. I should have listened to reason, and understood that paranormals were people too, but I failed that. It’s on me, and I have to spend every moment of my life trying to pay back that debt.”
The determination on Hunt’s face told Emma what she needed to know. He no longer saw paranormals the way he had when they had first met. He had grown to understand them, to understand her, and now he wanted to make things right. Hunt would do what he could to change the fate of things.
“If you guys are done talking, I’m going to need everyone to be silent soon. We’re about to get into hearing range of the Wyverns,” Sly called out. “You know they have really good hearing.”
“Alright.” Emma nodded. “We stick to the plan, no matter what.”
She looked to Hunt, making sure he had heard her. He nodded slowly, not giving her the reassurance that she needed. But it would have to do. Hunt nodded at Sly and the woman let out a breath. Everything was strapped on the fact that she would do what needed to be done.
Sly turned and ran, making her way for the hatch. Emma watched as she moved, spotting the point in the roof where the exit was. It was a lot higher, and impossible for a human to reach without some sort of rope or ladder. Sly leaped right through the hole, yelling obscenities at the Wyverns.
Just before Hunt took off running, Emma grabbed his shoulder and turned him toward her for a moment. She kissed him. “I love you, and you’re forgiven.”
She saw him freeze, unable to react to what she had said. She ran a hand through his hair before she rushed over to the hatch. Hunt joined her, running as quickly as he could. She placed her hands down for him to step in, and then she tossed him straight up, out of the hatch. Once he was up, Emma jumped straight up, landing on the other side.
The environment changed instantly. The air down in the part of the sewers they had come from was stale and musty. Leaving that place gave room to a space that was quite different. The air had a cool feel to it, the smell of the sewers being more apparent. The sound of water rushing through pipes and electricity humming in power lines reached her ears instantly.
Emma saw Sly and Hunt standing still, with Hunt restricting her view by standing right in front of her. The smell of blood wafted into her nose, causing her to look around for the source of it. Three Wyverns were left in bits and pieces, with their limbs, guts, and bones scattered all around them. They were the Wyverns left behind to watch the exit.
The sound of a creature snorting and chewing on something reached her ears, causing her turn around, seeing the demon-dog creatures Garret had brought from his portal. There were at least twelve of them, each gnawing on the flesh of the dead Wyverns.
“Why did it take you so long to come out?” Garret asked, pulling the hoodie off his face. “I have other things to do.”
“Had to check some projects I’m working on down there,” Hunt replied. “What are you doing here? It’s after hours.”
Emma watched as he slowly reached for his sword, getting ready for a fight. Sly had already pulled her claws, not sure whether to face Garret or the creatures behind them. Garret took a look at Hunt, and then tilted his head to the side, looking at Emma. She took a few steps forward, shifting as she walked.
If it was going to be a fight between them, Emma would have to give it everything she had. Her lips and jaws morphed into a long powerful snout, baring teeth. Her arms grew hairy, and her claws quickly grew out of her fingertips, growing longer. She was going to use the bloodlust as much as she could. No matter what it took, Emma and Hunt would leave there alive.
“When was the last time you saw Levi?” Garret asked, raising his hand to show the bracelet he had on.
Emma had figured out what the bracelet was. Axle, Levi’s brother, had faced off against Kanai, a demon who had gone on a mad search for the item. In the end, Kanai was killed by an unknown force that had stolen the bracelet from Axle and Bingwen. It was a powerful artifact that gave the user a raw amount of power that could rip through just about anything and anyone.
“Not too long,” Emma growled. “He and Lyra send their regards.”
“Ah, so everyone knows I’m alive at this point?” Garret said, laughing. He drew power to the bracelet, getting ready to hit them with the blast. “Well, that makes things interesting. I was thinking of letting you live, so you can tell them what I have planned, but I know you’re working to ruin things for me so I’d rather not.”
