A hunter rises, p.1
A Hunter Rises, page 1
part #2 of The Alliance of Power Duology Series
A Hunter Rises
Book 2 in the Alliance of Power Duology
Anna Applegate
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
19. Henry
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
About the Author
Also by Anna Applegate
A Hunter Rises © 2018 Anna Applegate (Anna Hagarman)
Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
1
I never thought I’d voluntarily be running, unless it was for my life—which I guess, technically I was—even if that wasn’t the case at this exact moment. My sheer loathing of it didn’t matter much because for the past week it was all I had been doing. If you would have told me just two weeks ago I would be running every single day, I would have laughed in your face. But it was part of my training, which meant it was necessary. After all, I was a Van Helsing.
Mr. Thornton, my best friend’s father, who insisted I call him Andrew since I was supposed to be in charge of him now that I was taking over Falcone, demanded I start training immediately. He had hinted that my grandfather, the long-lost grandfather I’d only recently learned existed, would be expecting to train me once we met up with him. I wasn’t sure why my grandfather would assume I’d been training, when I didn’t know about him, or that I was a Van Helsing until very recently. But apparently, training started with increasing my stamina, which brought me back to this awful run.
As the balls of my feet hit the pavement, pounding out a steady rhythm, and amping up my irritation, I almost wished I was running for my life at this point. It would give this act more sense.
It had only been two weeks since I’d discovered the truth about who I was, and who I was expected to become. My parents were vampire hunters, not just scientists as I’d grown up thinking. They started Falcone Industries, and in a quest for power, were murdered by its successor Marissa Malchovey.
Marissa’s death brought about the revelations of my past and clued us in to the fact we were now facing a much bigger threat than she ever was.
Through an alliance my parent’s made with vampires, both sides had sworn to stop the bloodshed that had taken centuries to control. That alliance, and Marissa’s quest to harm vampires and break the treaty, led me into the path of Seeley Ronan, the Vampire King of this territory and my … well, I’m actually not sure what he is. Boyfriend seems inaccurate. But he was something.
He was off gathering information on our new mission: a fight against a powerful Vampire King in Europe, Mathias Morganstein. While I was here, training.
My hunter abilities had been muted and subdued due to my best friend trying to protect me from Marissa’s watchful eye. They weren’t subdued now, though, and I could hear footsteps rapidly approaching, breaking my thoughts, even through the earbuds and music I’d long forgotten was playing.
I glanced to my right to see Henry smirking at me as I ran.
“You barely pitched a fit today. Are you going to admit you like running now?”
I scoffed. “You should know better than to tease me when I’m frustrated.”
Henry smiled, easily keeping pace with me. “Race you your last half mile?”
“In your dreams!” I rolled my eyes but smiled and took off, taking his certain hopes at a head start away from him.
“And no using freaky Guardian powers,” I shouted as I grunted once and pushed myself harder. There was another recent revelation. Henry Thornton, who had been my best friend for years, was not just the nerdy friend I’d come to rely on. He was half angel, equipped with his own powers, ones he’d used to look out for me while I pursued trouble at Falcone.
I glanced over my shoulder, something I was reprimanded for by both Henry and Andrew, the few times I’d been subjected to this torture—I mean training. Apparently, you should never look behind you while being chased. I saw Henry, looking like he was casually jogging behind me, instead of all-out sprinting like I was doing. I let out a growl of annoyance as I forced my feet to quicken. If I couldn’t outrun Henry, I sure wouldn’t be able to outrun an ageless vampire king and his army.
Catching onto my anger, Henry picked up his speed and only finished one hundred meters ahead of me.
“I’ll never get the hang of this.” I gasped for air as I leaned onto my knees, trying to catch my breath.
“You’re doing a lot better than you think you are.” Henry twisted off a water bottle top and handed it to me. “I’m supposed to be faster than you.”
“Are you faster than vampires?” I asked, meaning to sound snarky.
“Yes.”
“What?” I stood, snatching the water bottle and not bothering to hide my shock.
“Everyone underestimates me.” He shrugged his shoulders with a small smile. “Jules, you have innate abilities inside of you that were passed to you at birth. You simply need to train and begin unlocking them. Don’t lose hope. You’re doing great.” He squeezed my arm.
I let out a sigh, still out of breath, but glad another day of running could be checked off the books.
“You ready for today?” Henry’s voice brought my attention from the speckled pavement where drops of my never-ending sweat fell, up to his attentive green eyes.
“No,” I said cautiously.
“They’ll respect you and they’ll follow you.”
The way Henry spoke about my character had always been honest. He called me out when I needed to work on something, but he also constantly motivated me and saw things in me that I didn’t. Not many people could claim to have a friendship like that, and I cherished it.
Today, I was supposed to face the entire corporation of Falcone Industries, to let them know that me, a mere intern in their eyes, was going to be taking over the company. Apparently, legally, the paperwork was in place. My parents had set it up so that if anything happened to them, the company automatically fell to me. Marissa, thinking she murdered me along with my parents, had weaseled her way into the CEO spot. But for all intents and purposes it was mine, and I needed to take over and establish authority so the company could move forward. But also, so the hunters within the organization knew we had a new purpose and a new goal, and that we needed to move quickly together in order to achieve it.
To say I was terrified was an understatement.
I had signed up to be a Research Scientist because I liked my books and enjoyed being behind a microscope. Not out on stage with a podium trying to lead a crowd to anything.
“Look, Jules, you have more of an ability to lead than you know. You’re smart and capable and you put the needs of others before your own. What you’ve gone through these past few weeks, what Marissa did to you and your family, will speak for itself up there.” Henry flicked his fingers underneath my chin to make sure I was listening, by bringing my head up so his gaze met mine.
I nodded slowly as I took a deep breath in and exhaled.
“What else do you need besides that awesome speech? A hug?” He started to pull me in for one before he pretended to gag. “Actually, you stink. You need to go shower or no one will follow you anywhere.”
I shoved him away as his laughter relaxed the earlier agitation I’d felt.
“I’ll see you there, loser.” I turned and started jogging to my apartment before I realized what I was doing.
Jogging. I turned slowly and caught Henry chuckling at me.
“Guess you’re picking up that running thing after all!”
We laughed together and I left him behind to get ready for the meeting ahead.
I was almost to my apartment when the sound of my phone rang from my pocket. I glanced down to see Seeley’s name flash across my screen. Seeley and the other vampires in our motley crew had left immediately following Marissa’s death at the suggestion of Mr. Thornton, who encouraged them to start gathering enough vampires to fight against Mathias, before meeting us at middle of nowhere, or camp good guys, or wherever we were actually heading to meet my grandfather once we left here.
“Hey, you.” I answered the phone with a smile.
“Hi.” Seeley sounded relieved.
This had only been the second time we’d had a chance to speak since he’d left. I was the check in point for the vampires. I reported their progress to Mr. Thornton, who was really the only one out of all of us who understood what was tru
“How’s it going?” I tried desperately to stop the ridiculous smile forming on my face and coming through in my voice as we spoke.
I paced outside my apartment door, fiddling with my keys, not wanting the disruption of roommates saying hello to give him a reason to quicken our conversation and get off the phone.
“It’s going. So many have experienced so much pain at the hands of Mathias over the centuries. It’s not very hard to convince people to try to take a stand against him.” Seeley spoke so passionately when he talked about vampires in his territory. “Now the problem is traveling quietly since we’re growing. Anyway, what are you doing?”
“Just finished running,” I said, annoyed.
Seeley laughed. “It sounds like that’s something you love,” he quipped sarcastically. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. How much longer will you be?”
“I think we’ll be finished in another week. Then heading to wherever we are meeting your grandfather. Not sure how long that will take, since only Gabe knows how to get there.”
Seeley sounded bitter. Gabriel, his brother, had apparently worked with my parents directly on hiding my identity and making sure I survived. And he had kept that from Seeley.
“I don’t know when we’re headed out, either. I have to address Falcone today.”
“Are you still nervous?”
I stopped pacing as I kicked my foot against some rocks on the ground close by. I paused a moment before opening myself up and admitting what I hadn’t out loud.
“I don’t know if I can be Jules Van Helsing.” I hesitated before I stopped pacing and finished my thought for him. “All I’ve ever known how to be is Jules Parker, and I was never very good at being her, either.”
Seeley didn’t answer right away. “You’ll always be Jules Parker. Just like you’ll always be Jules Van Helsing. It’s not a choice to make. It’s who you are. They will follow, and they will listen because who you are, is a leader. Whether you realize it or not. You are fiercely loyal to your friends, and you follow what you believe in with an unmatched passion. What you accomplished with Marissa alone should tell you that you have the bravery to do anything you put your mind to. You never even met Gabriel, and yet you were willing to sacrifice yourself to save his life. If it’s not enough to tell you who you are, or the type of leader you’ll be, then let me continue to remind you: I’ll always be here to do so.”
I smiled as heat crept up my cheeks, and I let Seeley’s words of encouragement wash over me.
I unlocked my door and walked into my apartment before I replied.
“I wish you were here.” I gasped and dropped the phone, letting it clatter on the floor at my feet.
I stood frozen in place as my eyes tried to take in the scene before me. My breath hitched, and I wanted to appear strong for the threat that was standing in the middle of my apartment, but I wasn’t feeling it at the moment.
“Kellan.” I tried to suppress the tremble in my voice.
A dark smile crept over his handsome face, and I knew he could sense my fear.
“Hello, Jules.” His eerily calm voice quickened my heart rate. But he wasn’t alone. Before him, was my roommate and friend, Abbey tied to a chair with a fear in her eyes that I was sure matched my insides right then.
I hoped Seeley was still on the line and could hear the exchange. If not, I was about to be alone, facing a vampire I knew I didn’t have the ability to defeat.
2
Kellan’s figure loomed in front of me, tall and commanding. He’d been one of Seeley’s best friends, and I thought he was on our side in the fight against Marissa. It turned out, he was simply a spy for his uncle: the vampire king we needed to defeat, Mathias.
Our enemy had gotten quite a lot of information on me and the others from Kellan during our short time together, while we worked to take Marissa down.
My pulse raced at a fast rhythm, and I could practically feel the tension pounding in my neck. My training so far had consisted of running, not combat of any kind, and now I was alone, face-to-face with a vampire who could easily take me out.
Abbey let out a muffled scream next to Kellan, and he chuckled, moving forward slightly.
“Abbey,” I cried, rushing toward her.
I wasn’t fast enough. Kellan grabbed my shoulders and slammed my body against the apartment door.
Slowly and purposefully, he watched me intently as he reached down to pick up the phone I’d dropped upon my entrance. I could make out Seeley’s voice angrily calling my name from the other end as Kellan brought it up to his ear.
“She’s about to be a little tied up for the moment. Goodbye, my friend.” With that, he crushed the phone in his hand and threw the shattered remnants against the wall like it was nothing more than a plastic toy.
Kellan brought his face closer to mine and I turned away. My eyes latched onto the most horrific sight I’d seen to date.
Lying in a pool of blood by the living room sofa was my other roommate, Vanessa. Abbey sat before me, tied to a chair in the middle of the room with streaks of makeup running down her face. Her tear-soaked skin was blotchy, and I couldn’t fathom what had happened here before I’d made it home, or just how bad it must have been for her.
“I do apologize,” Kellan said in my ear. “I hadn’t fed in a few days, and Vanessa happened to answer the door. I just couldn’t stop myself.” Kellan loosened his grip on me as he spoke.
Fury and vengeance welled in me, finally outweighing the fear, and it must have shown in my eyes.
He smiled at my useless attempt at rage. “There’s nothing you can do to me right now, you know. Besides, if I wanted you dead, you would be. I’m just here to talk.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” I spat at him.
“You will listen, or Abbey will join Vanessa on the floor over there. Dead. In case that part wasn’t clear.” Kellan released me roughly and was beside Abbey before I had time to react. He opened his mouth, hovering near her neck.
“Stop! Don’t hurt her,” I screamed, holding my hands out in a futile effort to convey my point.
His fangs descended and Abbey’s whimpers increased. I was thankful she couldn’t see Kellan’s mouth, and was simply watching my reactions.
I took that to heart and inhaled slowly. I steadied my gaze and met her eyes, trying to calm her. “Abbey, everything is going to be okay. You’re going to be all right.” I spoke softly before flicking my gaze to Kellan. “What do you want?” I hissed.
“When will Seeley return from his little stint around the territory?” Kellan questioned, his fangs not leaving Abbey’s neck far enough for my liking.
“I don’t know.”
“When?” Kellan growled, more angrily this time.
“I told you, I don’t know. He was sent away, and I don’t know why. No one will tell me anything.” I prayed my lies were convincing enough.
Seeley knew I was in trouble, but I didn’t know how long I had before someone would come for us. I just needed to buy enough time for Abbey’s life to be spared. I couldn’t lose her, too. Not after everyone else.
Unbridled fear was taking over again, trickling through my body and paralyzing me. So many people had been lost. My parents, my aunt—my heart constricted at the thought of her. Vanessa now lay dead in my living room. All victims of this new world I’d been exposed to just a few short months ago. A world filled with monsters and what seemed like a never-ending quest for power.
“I swear.” I shivered as I spoke. “I know they will return here in a few weeks’ time, I just don’t know when.” It was enough of a lie that they should be safe, but hopefully enough truth that Kellan would buy what I was saying.
He backed away from Abbey but made his way toward me, stalking me as I became his new prey.
“You are pathetic for one from such a strong line.” His voice was raspy, excited almost, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the blood he’d just consumed of Nessa, or if it was something else. “What Seeley’s fascination is with you, I’ll never understand. However, it seems my uncle is now fascinated as well.”
