Hunt In Reverse

112 Bait and Switch

"Welcome, honored guests, from distant Sacramento," Alonso Delgado greeted, his voice resonating with authority. "I trust you are finding your accommodations comfortable?"

Alonso surveyed the courtyard and its occupants. "If your current lodgings prove unsatisfactory," he offered, "I would be honored to host you myself."

Claro Delgado, who had been silently blaming his great-grandfather for being too aloof—which had caused Miss Hightower to feel undervalued yesterday and, by extension, reflected poorly on himself, was now overjoyed. His great-grandpa was taking the initiative! He was going to help secure the marriage, to smooth over any ruffled feathers.

Arnold, surprised by the offer, inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you for your hospitality," he replied.

Alonso smiled, his gaze sweeping over the three guests without lingering on anyone in particular. He showed no sign of recognizing me. Dismissing his entourage, he turned and led the three of us deeper into the compound. Upon reaching our destination, Arnold finally understood the source of his unease. A figure clad in crimson stood within the courtyard. Somehow, Rose had managed to get close to the Delgado patriarch himself.

Rose watched Arnold and Aveline approach with a mischievous smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Is this 'bring your kids to work' day?" she teased, referring Arnold bringing an entourage.

Then she noticed the tall, slender figure behind them. Her heart quickened as warmth spread through her chest. It was him—the man who had haunted her dreams, often drenched in vampire blood, and with a vampire core smell. A genuine, unguarded smile bloomed on her face, washing away both her travel weariness and combative spirit. The month of separation dissolved, and joyful anticipation filled her heart.

My heart pounded like a drum. Though I knew Rose was in Bellingham, seeing her so soon caught me off guard. My breath hitched in my throat as a thrill shot through me, —a sense of longing amid chaos. For a moment, I forgot everything else: the danger, the tigervamps, the merits, the vampire lifespan, the spoils. All that mattered was the woman standing before me—her safety, her wellbeing, her smile.

"I'm just passing by," Aveline squeaked before I could speak, shrinking back.

And Arnold grumbled, "Better than whoring yourself out to some old fool." Two Silver Bell Vampire Hunters in such a small space... the atmosphere crackled with tension.

Rose seemed oblivious to their comments, her eyes fixed on me with a flicker of concern. Before I could respond, the silver bell in my pocket vibrated violently.

A message entered my mind, but it was completely empty—a chilling silence where there should have been a voice. In that instant, both Arnold and Rose leapt into action. Arnold positioned himself in front of Alonso Delgado while Rose moved to my side, their protective stances mirroring each other, their faces showing identical mixtures of shock and anticipation.

A few heartbeats later, a second message arrived, this one faint and garbled, a voice struggling to be heard.

"Mountain Lord..."

Alonso's face turned pale. He met Arnold's gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. Arnold clicked his tongue and shook his head.

Then, with a sudden burst of speed that belied his age, Alonso shot towards the main building, his aura flaring. The four of us followed close behind.

Rose and I exchanged glances as her hand quietly slipped into mine. Her nose twitched slightly when she noticed how easily I kept pace with two Crystal Realm experts. As always, he was full of surprises!

The commotion drew the attention of the Delgado family. They poured out of their rooms, converging on the grand foyer, their whispers growing into a cacophony of anxious voices.

Aveline stared at the bell in her hand, her expression grim.

It wasn't the prospect of another Vampire Hunter's death that troubled her. Such losses were commonplace. No, it was the audacity of that vampire, a creature already nearing perfect Crystallization, risking the wrath of General Laurent to infiltrate Bellingham.

Then her eyes widened in sudden realization.

"That's it!" she exclaimed. "It's about to break through! It needs a few more human elixirs to reach the Harmonizion stage!"

That wasn't a trial for its offspring; it was a feast prepared for itself.

"That was close," she muttered, a shiver running down her spine. "Thank goodness Arnold and Rose are here. Otherwise... he would have succeeded." She patted her chest, calming her racing heart.

In the Delgado family's grand foyer, a crowd of bewildered family members gawked at their patriarch. Claro watched in confusion as his great-grandfather stood flanked by Aveline and her "family guard," while her "brother" stood with the "courtesan" his father had brought home.

"Let's go," Arnold ordered, his brow furrowed. If they were facing the Mountain Lord, they needed all the help they could get. The old man might not have precise information, but as a local, he'd likely sensed something. The Vampire Hunters feared he'd flee; he, in turn, feared they'd be scared off. Their goals, for once, aligned.

"No, no, no," Alonso Delgado chuckled, a hint of defiance in his voice. "An old man has to protect his family, wouldn't you agree? Even the people of Bellingham can't fault me for that."

Just as Arnold's expression hardened, he added, "Unless... you leave someone to protect them. Him, for instance!" He pointed towards me, a sly smile spreading his face.

I stood silently next to Rose, taking note of her formative Crystal Realm aura—remarkably similar to Arnold's—and marveling at the effectiveness of the Martial Abbey Crystallizing method. My hand rested on the hilt of my blade as I remained alert. Before Arnold could speak, Rose's voice, amplified by the silver bell, echoed in my mind.

"Ignore him," she said, her voice firm but laced with gentle concern. "Your safety comes first—if you sense danger, do what you must."

The Vampire Hunters weren't like H.A.R.M. agents. We had no duty to protect the civilians.

"Let's go," Arnold said decisively. He seized Alonso Delgado and vanished in an instant. Rose hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting mine, a flicker of worry in their depths. "Take care of yourself," she nodded in my direction before following their path.

With a vampire nearing Harmonization and fellow Hunters in peril, she couldn't stand idle. Her position as a Crystal Realm Silver Bell came with a deep sense of duty.

"You too!" I silently spoke the words in my mind. It was the same exchange we'd had during our last parting.

The remaining Delgado family members stared blankly, trying to process what had just happened. Their patriarch, their protector, had vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving them vulnerable and exposed.

Claro, seeing Aveline rushing towards him, hurried to meet her, his face pale with fear.

"Miss Hightower," he asked, his voice trembling, "what's happening?"

Aveline swatted his hand away, her patience wearing thin.

"What's happening?" she exclaimed. "A vampire is about to attack!" The two Silver Bell Vampire Hunter had gone after the Mountain Lord. Which left three tiger cubs. If even one had reached the Crystal Realm... the Vampire Hunters and martial artists within the city would be its prey.

"We must leave, now!" she urged, beckoning to the hotheaded newcomer. "This instant!"

With their patriarch gone, and only a handful of Wave Realmers remaining, the Delgado family would be easy pickings for those tiger cubs.

Ignoring Aveline's warning, I settled calmly into the seat directly facing the entrance. I placed my black blade across my knees, my hand resting lightly on its hilt.

Following Rose would only distract her from her fight—I lacked the strength to engage in combat at that level. I silently wished for her success in claiming a major prize, as a vampire near the Harmonization stage was far more valuable than a few tiger cubs.

Alonso Delgado wasn't an idiot. He knew that once he was gone, no one could stop me from leaving.

Yesterday's encounter, today's entrusting… he'd likely orchestrated this entire charade in the hope that I could take a few of the Delgado family with me, to ensure the continuation of the Delgado family line.

"Not a single one of them is simple," I mused. The Mountain Lord had deliberately leaked information about a trial of its offsprings, hoping to lure human martial artists into a trap. The Vampire Hunters, in turn, were using the Delgado patriarch as bait, hoping to slay the Mountain Lord's offsprings and claim the rewards.

And Alonso Delgado, resigned to his fate, had used the opportunity to secure protection for his family.

Meanwhile, I remained steadfast in my sole mission: to slay vampires.