Ashes

“I know that this is a lot to take in, a lot to understand,” Luther said after a few moments. “But something had to be done to stop the vampires. Imagine the world if there had never been any Hunters to stop their murderous rampages.”

“There are barely any Hunters now,” Chris said softly. “And it’s not so bad.”

“But things are different now. Then, the world was consumed with war and blood and death. Vampires roamed freely, killing and taking wherever they saw fit. The world is modernized now; the Elders want no part of it. They are content in the old ways, stuck there. The young ones are the danger, but there are fewer of them as the Elders have grown tired of creating, and the Hunters have always been able to take out the younger, weaker ones,” Devon said softly.

“Then why did the Elders come after the Hunter line to begin with?” Cassie asked softly.

“Revenge,” he answered honestly. “The war between the Hunters and the Elders has waged on for over a millennia, they saw a chance to win it, and they went after it. Boredom also, I suppose. The Hunters are probably the only thrill, and the only challenge they have left to them anymore.”

Cassie’s frown deepened, anger blistered through her. Her parents had been slaughtered because of boredom? “How many of these Elders are left?” she inquired, feeling her own need for vengeance coming to fierce life.

Devon shook his head at her, his eyes darkened and hardened. “I would not allow it,” he growled. “And you could do little against them.”

Licking her lips nervously, she ducked her head so that he wouldn’t see too much of her thoughts. “I understand that,” she admitted. “I am merely curious.”

His hand began to gently stroke her arms as he shrugged absently. “Fighting amongst the Elders is common, they tend to take each other out for power and greed so there is only ten left. The oldest is a little over nine hundred; the youngest is about five hundred and twelve.”

Cassie started slightly, her eyes widening as horror and realization slammed into her. “You are an Elder?” she gasped.

He nodded briskly. “As is Julian. I am second in line.”

Her mouth dropped. “Will they come for you? For your power?”

His laughter was harsh and brisk. “Not if they wish to live. I may not be the oldest, but I am the strongest. Just as with the Hunter’s, vampires often develop their own gifts, my speed and strength has always been enhanced, and the mind control helps.”

“Oh,” Cassie breathed in relief.

“Not to mention, the infighting stopped shortly before The Slaughter. That was when they realized that they had all but destroyed each other, and that the young vampires did not care for the traditions, or them. The young ones would do nothing to protect an Elder if they ever needed it. The Elder’s grouped together after that; hoping to take out the Hunters in an attempt to eliminate the enemy once and for all. Then they retreated, going back to the old country where they hid themselves away.”

“And you did not want to go with them?” she asked worriedly.

A sharp bark of hard laughter escaped him. “They do not want me; I am a traitor to them. The shunning of human blood is an atrocity that they do not understand or particularly tolerate. They may want my power, and my strength to help protect them, but they do not want me there.”

“Good.” He chuckled, dropping a gentle kiss on her head as he pulled her tighter against him.

“So,” Luther said softly. “Now you know where your abilities come from.”

“And that we’re not human,” Chris muttered bitterly.

“We always knew we weren’t completely human,” Cassie reminded him.

“Yeah, but we never knew that we were less than human, I always assumed we were more.”

“You are more,” Devon said softly. “Do not think of yourself as less than human when you do more for the human race than many people ever will. Though you may not like how you were created, you should take pride in what you are, and what you do.”

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” her grandmother said softly, smiling brightly. “It took me a long time to come to terms with this also, but you will, and you will see that Devon is right.”

Though the words were meant to comfort, Cassie found little in them. How many people had been sacrificed in order to create their race? How many lives had been lost? A shiver raced up her spine. Devon rubbed her arms gently, trying to put some heat back into her body, but it did little good. She wasn’t sure she would ever be warm again.

“Well now I know why I never wanted to learn this crap,” Chris muttered, turning away as he ran a hand through his disordered hair.

Cassie completely agreed. “So all of our gifts come from them?” she inquired softly.

“Yes,” Luther answered. “The weapons they used against us, we were able to turn against them.”

“And me?” Cassie inquired.

Luther’s eyebrows drew tightly together. “There have been Hunters in the past with no abilities.”

“Not many though.”

“No, not many.”

“So I’m an even bigger genetic mutation,” she muttered bitterly, unable to keep back a disgusted chuckle of laughter.

“No, your speed, strength, hearing, and sight is amplified Cass, those are also gifts that only vampire’s possess. You did not receive any of the other abilities, so those ones are enhanced in you. I keep telling you that that is a gift.”

Cassie stared doubtfully back at him, but she refrained from commenting. “Your hearing and sight?” Devon asked softly.

“Yeah eagle eyes over there could see a mouse from a mile away,” Chris answered with a crooked, half hearted grin. “And hear a pin drop from the same distance.”

“Ha ha,” Cassie replied, fighting the urge to stick her tongue out at him. It took her a moment to realize that Devon had stiffened against her. Looking up at him, she was surprised to find his eyebrows drawn tight, his eyes distant and thoughtful. “Are you planning on talking about me behind my back?” she asked softly.

His attention snapped back to her, but his gaze was still distant. Shaking his head, he bent to kiss her forehead gently. “No, of course not.” His wan smile and distant gaze were not convincing though. “Someone is here.”

“What?” Cassie asked a second before the doorbell rebounded through the house.