The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
The gift of love

The king sat there in his hall thinking about her and everything that they had been through in the last few months of his life, they had only been together as a couple for nearly two years before the night he was captured but he could remember every moment of it, Charlie and Leanna were just walking back from a hunt, they were always sent out together as they were of a similar age and seemed to work really well together, they trained together daily since the first time that they had fought each other, they had formed a really close bond and become friends but that soon turned into something more, Charlie held her hand

“we can’t Charlie” Leanna said

“why not?” Charlie asked

“because hunters are not supposed to be with other hunters” Leanna replied

“but why? If we do not settle, how do we keep hunters alive if we stay single and alone” Charlie said

“because we are supposed to settle with those that are not like us” Leanna replied

“I love you does it really matter that we are both hunters?” Charlie asked

“how can you love me? we have only been together a handful of times in a year and a half” Leanna said

“because I know in my heart that you are my soul mate, I have known that I loved you since the day you turned up at my house, I know that I love you because I cannot bear the thought of ever being away from your side, I fear the day that anything should happen to you and you get hurt, I would give everything that I have for you including my life” Charlie replied “by the look that is on your face, you do not feel the same” Charlie added and let go of her hand

“Charlie, I don’t know” Leanna said

“how do you not know?” Charlie asked

“Charlie please don’t be mad with me, I don’t know if what I feel is love, I have never felt love, you know how I have been raised, I have been a hunter for as long as I can remember and you know that my father never showed me anything but how to fight, I do that feel very deeply for you” Leanna said “I am guessing that love is a feeling inside that you never want to be apart from someone, fearing the day coming that they get hurt, wanting to do everything with them, if that is love then I guess that I do love you” Leanna smiled and took Charlie’s hand and kissed him right there in the street, she did not care who saw

“we need to go and see my father” Leanna said

“why?” Charlie asked

“because he needs to know” Leanna replied

“why?” Charlie said again

“because it is the right thing to do” Leanna replied

“why do you always have to follow the rules?” Charlie asked smiling at her

“why do you always have to break them?” She asked smiling back

“life would be no fun if we followed the rules all of the time” Charlie replied

“always the rebel” she laughed “breaking the rules will get you in trouble one of these days” she added

“we can get into trouble together from now on then” Charlie replied and the two of them went to see her father, her father was the man in charge of all other hunters and their relationship was something that he should know about, when they arrived at his house, they found him in his study reading

“father” she said walking in

“hi baby girl, I was not expecting you today” Paul replied and noticed Charlie standing behind Leanna

“good morning Charlie boy” Paul said “and, how are you?” he added

“good morning sir, I am fine, thank you” replied Charlie

“how many times do I have to tell you to call me Paul” Paul said

“okay, I am fine, thank you Paul” Charlie said

“it would seem that you two are joined at the hip, even more so since you moved in together, I am told you even hunt together” Paul said “that is why we are here, there is something that we must tell you” Leanna said

“what do you have to tell me?” Paul asked

“that Charlie and I are” Leanna said

“you and he are what? Spit it out” Paul said

“we are in love” Leanna replied and Paul just sat there watching the two of them and he laughed

“don’t be silly you are children” Paul said

“we are” Leanna snapped

“you know the rules” Paul said “and” Leanna said

“you are my daughter” Paul said

“and that does not change how I feel” Leanna replied

“you will end this stupidity now” Paul shouted

“why because you tell me too?” Leanna asked

“yes, you are my daughter and will do as you are told” Paul said

“I am not a child anymore, I am nearly twenty-one and can make decisions about my own life, I only came and told you because I thought that you should know, I love him and there is nothing that you can say or do that will change that, if you don’t like it, it is tough you are the one that made us move in together” Leanna said

“what has moving in together got to do with it?” Paul asked

“we have been doing things for nearly two years” Leanna replied

“it ends now” Paul shouted

“you think that shouting at me will change anything, I love him and I do not need your opinion or your blessing, Charlie we are leaving” Leanna said and took Charlie’s hand to leave

“if you walk from this house young lady, you are no longer part of this family” he shouted

“I was never part of any family, all I am to you is a weapon, you have never shown me anything but to fight, I do not want to be part of a family that does not respect how I feel” Leanna snapped

“it does not matter how you feel, you are both hunters and you know the rules” Paul said

“the rules can go screw themselves and so can you” Leanna said and Walked from his house, with Paul shouting at them whilst they left, they had reached their house and sat down on the sofa

“that went well” Leanna said “we only need one room now, we can turn the other one into a gym” she added

“are you alright my love” Charlie asked

“of course, baby” she replied

“if you want to stop this and be a part of your family, then I will understand” Charlie said

“no” Leanna replied

“no, what my love?” Charlie asked

“I do not want to be part of a family that has no respect for the way that I feel and what I think, you are my family now and the only family that I need” Leanna replied and laid her head down on Charlie’s lap, she laid there for what seemed like hours, Charlie was sat there stroking her hair and could not believe that the bravest and most beautiful person that he had ever met had chosen to be with him, he needed to replace her something to show her how special she really was to him and how much he loved her

For a few weeks after that, Charlie tried to replace the perfect gift but nothing ever seemed to be right, they were growing stronger and stronger as a couple since they had told each other how they felt, they had also grown stronger as hunters, they chose when they went out, not under the instruction of Paul, they could hunt who they wanted for a change, eventually Charlie found the perfect gifts for her and it was time to give them to her.

“my love” he said

“yes, baby” Leanna replied

“can you come and sit down?” Charlie asked

“why?” she asked

“I have something for you” he replied

“why?” she asked

“do I need a reason” he replied

“no, but I want to know why?” Leanna said

“you always have to know people’s reason you can never just accept it but I do have a reason and it is because I love you” Charlie replied

“sorry baby” Leanna said

“it is okay my love, sit down” Charlie said

“okay” Leanna said and took a seat

“here you go” Charlie said and handed her two packages that he had wrapped for her, Leanna opened the biggest of the two first, it was a beautiful silver sword and sheath, when she looked closely at the sword on the hilt she found an inscription which read ’Leanna always fighting, yours forever C’

“it is beautiful” Leanna said

“I had the sheath made so that it would go on your back” Charlie said

“why?” Leanna asked

“because I know you and I know that you do not like to have it at your side so, I thought that on your back would be easier for you” Charlie replied

“thank you” Leanna said

“open the other one” Charlie said

Leanna put the sword down next to her and picked up the smaller package when she open it she found two arrow head amulets on leather cords, they both had yours forever inscribe on them, Leanna looked up and went to give one to Charlie but noticed he was kneeling down in front of her holding a ring

“what are you doing?” she asked

“Lea, you know that I love you and would do anything for you” Charlie said

“yes” she replied

“will you be mine in marriage and make me the happiest man alive?” Charlie asked

“are you being serious?” Leanna asked

“deadly” he replied

“really” Leanna said

“yes, my love now, will you?” he asked and Leanna took the ring from him and put it on her finger

“yes” she said and gave him a hug and I kiss

“we don’t have to rush whenever you are ready” Charlie said

“now” she replied

“what?” Charlie asked

“let’s do it now, we both know that it is what we want so., what is the point in waiting, let’s go to father Augustine and do it now” Leanna replied

“are you sure?” He asked

“I am” Leanna replied

“let’s go then” said Charlie, the two of them left the house to head to the church, they walked in silence, Leanna was trying to decide whether or not she should tell him the secret that she had been keeping from him for a few weeks but decided that now wasn’t the time, she would tell him later, they had just reached the church when they came face to face with some vampires who were there to ambush them

“what do you want?” Leanna snapped at him drawing her sword, her sword was something that she never left the house with, she felt naked without it and when you know what creeps around in the shadows why would you

“the Dean send his love” he replied

“that bloody man, I am sure he does” Charlie said

“let us deal with this rabble, don’t forget that we have over places to be baby” Leanna said

The two of them despatched the vampires very quickly and were back to their plans and was ready to step inside the church and take the next step in their relationship, they stepped inside the church and thirty minutes later came back out as husband and wife, they walked back to their house and all the way there Leanna could not help but smile this was the happiest night of her whole life

“are you happy?” Charlie asked

“of course, baby, are you?” she replied

“I am happy but I am just annoyed at that fool trying to ruin everything” Charlie replied

“do not worry about him, there is nothing that he could have done that would have ruined tonight” Leanna said

“I am not worried it just annoys me that he always seems to know where we are” Charlie said

“you know that there are many ways he could know that, he has his spies everywhere, he even has humans that are stupid enough to follow him, any one of them could have told him where we were” Leanna said “it does not matter who the fool sends for us, they are no match for us” Leanna added

“why can’t we just have a damn moments peace?” Charlie asked

“Charlie, it really does not matter nothing can ruin what we have” Leanna said “do not fret baby, we will soon deal with him when we have trained some more and you are stronger” she added

“are you saying that I am not strong enough” Charlie shouted

“no, that is not what I meant, I meant us” Leanna replied calmly

“we have to go after him” Charlie shouted

“we are not ready, with more training we will be able to face him together, I will not face him alone” Leanna said

“we are ready and we are strong enough” he shouted at her

“baby, do not raise your voice to me please” Leanna said “we are not ready” she added and noticed the look of anger in his eyes “I love you” she sadi

“whatever” Charlie snapped and walked out of the door, they had only been married two hours and already they had, had an argument, Leanna was left at home whilst Charlie wandered the streets and angry, he decided that he would go and face the Dean alone, he would end this before the Dean got to her. He could not let anything happen to Leanna she was the only thing that matter to him and she would not go after the Dean until she thought that they were ready but Charlie knew that the Dean was getting stronger and stronger and he wanted it over with

The king sat there and thought about how different his life would have been if he had not gone after the Dean that night, he sat there and tried to imagine what his life would have been like if he had stayed in the house with Leannabut the past was past there was no point dwelling on it because it could not be changed