Forsaken Pt. 01: Prelude

"A Hunter? Freedom?" I asked, confused.

"A Werewolf Hunter...using, of all things (but you have to remember this was the late 1800's, when much of the modern mythos came about), silver bullets. The freedom...he gave me the sun again, freed me from the blood thirst."

"How?"

"Can't you guess? He bit me...infected me with his curse, which became my blessing. We had talked about it, curious as to what would happen. I became feverish and lay next to him, unable to move...I don't know how it is for humans when they change, but it was horrible...the pain...I hadn't felt such pain in centuries. My 'Vampirism' and the 'Werewolfism' fought, until they came to a stalemate.

"I awoke and it was day! I had many burns, caused from the sun before the 'Werewolfism' caught enough of a hold. But it was day!"

She flung this last into the darkness, arms outstretched. True joy lit her face, "You can't imagine my ecstasy at feeling sunlight on my body. My joy lasted but moments as I saw his body laying on the ground. I took him and buried him not far away. Kneeling by his grave, I thanked him."

"You are a remarkable woman, Alana." I told her.

"Me? No...I just did what I had to." She replied.

"You risked a lot on the chance I may have felt the same as you." I remarked.

"Now do you understand why I was in a hurry to sleep with you?" She asked.

I shook my head, "No."

She grinned wickedly, "Wolves seal relationships by mating..."

"Oh..." I responded.

The conversation ended and we made love. It was incredible...for the first time since I was a boy, I felt at peace...in this woman's arms. It was almost sunrise by the time we, gasping and panting, rolled away from each other. Alana stood, beautiful against the lightening landscape, and watched the sunrise.

"It's ironic." She said softly.

"What?" I asked.

She turned to me and smiled, "I lost a lover here and found another here."

I stood, freezing, and walked to her side, "This one you'll keep..."

She encircled my right arm and laid her head on my shoulder..

*****

"Why are you telling us this?" Victor asked.

"Because...I'm retiring, leaving the Hunters..." Eric said, "And I knew you would need a reason."

"To be with that...thing?" Mike asked, disgust plain in his voice.

Eric shook his head, "No...to be with that woman...Alana."

"You know we can't allow you to leave...if the world found out about the Hunters..." Victor said.

"Oh, come on, Victor...who am I going to tell, and why? Besides, I brought back up...Alana is here...and you do anything against me, she will take care of you."

"So? I've fought many Vampires...one isn't going to scare me." Mike said.

Eric sighed, "Haven't you been listening? She isn't exactly a Vampire anymore."

"No, she's not." Yoshi said. Eric looked at him, realizing he understood. Yoshi laid a hand on Mike's arm. "She isn't harmed by sunlight...wooden stakes, nor running water..."

"So?" Mike raged.

"If I'm correct-and I believe I am." Yoshi looked at Eric. "Her two 'infections' canceled each other's weaknesses out..."

"Which means she is nearly invulnerable." Victor said.

Yoshi nodded, a slight smile on his face, "Go, Eric...go with her...we won't bother either of you."

Eric took Yoshi's hand and shook it, "Yoshi...why?"

"My reasons are my own, but they are benevolent, my friend." He said.

"Leave while you still can, Eric." Victor added.

A light sound behind Eric announced Alana's presence. He walked towards her and touched her face.

"Let's go home, Love." She said.

Eric nodded and they left.

Yoshi sat again, as did Victor. Mike stood, staring after them, fuming.

"Why were you so calm, Victor?" He demanded.

"There was nothing to do otherwise." Victor replied.

"We could go after them...we know where they are." Mike said.

"Hardly...in the Painted Desert...that's all we know..." Yoshi said. "Besides, I told him we wouldn't."

"But.."

"Enough...let it go...they finally found happiness...how many of us can truly say that?" Yoshi asked.

The other two remained silent.