The huntress and her lover

[EroticLiteracy]

“Where do you go so late at night daddy?”

He smiled at her a smile of love and warmth. Those bright sky-blue eyes took in his daughter who was currently sitting up in her bed. Her nightlight which was princess themed cast the room in a soft green glow. She looked so small in that bed clutching the ragdoll rabbit he had given her so long ago. He moved over putting down his leather coat for a second as he reached down and kissed her hair.
“Nowhere important princess” He said smiling and stepping back “Aunt Liv is going to watch you for the night I will be back in the morning I promise”

“But what if you leave?” Isadora said clutching the rabbit closer “Like mommy?”
“Oh sweetheart” Her father Darren said stroking her hair “That won’t happen I promise”

He gave her one more kiss before moving out of her room. He slid the black leather jacket over his large broad shoulders and breathed out a long sigh. His large hand came up running through his buzzed short hair as he moved into his small cramped living room. His sister was there the TV on as she did her best to keep quiet.

“Thank you again” He said going over to the window and sliding it open.
“Why do you keep doing this?” His sister Liv asked in frustration “This gallivanting around the city all night?”

“It’s called urban exploration” Darren said sighing in frustration “I get you think its dumb but I need some me time. Between the hours in the garage and the odd jobs I pick up I need something”

“Then find something less dangerous!” Liv said throwing her hands up in frustration “Go to the gym or something. You die out there and Isadora has no one left”

Darren growled in response trying not to think about his darling daughter. Six years old and full of life and fire just like her mother. Not that she truly knew the woman who died bringing her to this earth. He wondered what she would say about his nighttime explorations if she would approve or not. A part of him liked to think she would.

A part of him thought she wouldn’t.

“I’ll be back in a few hours” He told her stepping through the window and closing it behind him. He moved over to the steel railing and looked out taking stock of the city he loved. It was a living thriving organisms with so many secrets. It was those secrets that made him feel alive that interested him.

He climbed the railing reaching the top roof. He took a deep breath and he was off launching across roof tops. He stuck to the roof tops going down only when he needed to. He reached the older districts in a matter of seconds landing in a pair of old abandoned buildings that were partially rotted. He moved to the fireplace and reached in rooting around and finally pulling out a duffel bag. He got his equipment out his climbing gear, fingerless gloves, and a knife just in case. He moved catching sight of his leather jacket and jeans and running shoes.
He spent the next hour exploring and taking pictures with his digital camera. He found places both old and new and even ran into some of his friends. When he was hungry he spent some of his cash on a burger from a street vendor and then went back to it.

It was around four in the morning when he ran into them.
They were gathered around a wall writing something as they talked. He almost jumped down on them and only caught himself at the last minute on the ledge. Even so they heard him stopped talking as their strangely black eyes regarded him.

“I don’t want any trouble” He said dropping down next to them and raising his hands “I’m just having some fun”

“Some fun?” The lead one asked a bald man with snow white skin “Some fun sounds good”

They were on him before he could do anything. He did his best to fight them off but he quickly fell to the ground. They punched and kicked him as he went down spitting out a string of curses. He moved to defend himself covering his body as he waited for them to stop.

Then suddenly they stopped fought back by a stunning woman. He scrambled to his feet as she told him to run but refused to budge.

“I can’t leave you” He said to her pulling out a knife. The demons were already running however having recognized the woman and choosing to retreat.

“Thank you” He said as they disappeared “I don’t know what got into them but I was just walking by I swear”

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila, A.K.A. Milena (mee-LEH-na) Van Helsing

The woman moved through the streets of one of the older districts in the city, her dark and graceful form easily slipping in and out of the shadows as she tracked down her prey. They’d remained one step ahead of her for most of the night, but she knew she was finally closing in on them. The dead street walker she’d found hidden in an alleyway a couple blocks over with multiple bite marks and blood drained dry was testament to that.

Her long dark locks shimmered as she emerged from the shadows and passed beneath the flickering light of a street lamp. There had once been a time when their waves had been noticeably lighter and streaked by the sun. Her skin too had been different, less pale and more golden than it was now; her hazel green eyes warm and full of life instead of haunted and withdrawn. Those days were long behind her now though, and she did her best not to think of them.

Her attire had been chosen to be functional for the task at hand, but still simple enough that she wouldn’t raise any suspicion should she happen to be spotted by someone. Dark wash jeggings stretched themselves over long legs and curved hips, paired with a black tank top and then topped off with a classic black leather moto jacket. A pair of black combat boots completed the outfit. Her only jewelry was a necklace with three small gold charms hanging from its chain; one a cross, the other the hamsa, and the third a simple gold ring. Several weapons had been carefully concealed upon her person, one of them being a specially modified handgun that had been made to shoot silver stakes instead of bullets and was currently strapped to a holster against her ribcage. Hearing a noise she reached for it now and hurried towards the sound, muttering a soft curse when she got there.

She’d found her intended targets, but unfortunately not before THEY had come across their next victim. He was down on the ground, his body curled up to attempt to defend himself from their attack and his hands up and blocking his face from her view. A soft growl of frustration rumbled in the back of her throat. She knew she couldn’t use the weapon without the risk of hitting him. Leaving it in the holster she sprang into action, punching and kicking at the attackers with alarming strength and forcing them away from him. Soon enough though they recognized her and began to retreat on their own, giving her a clear shot now that they had moved away from the man. Her back to him she ordered him to run as she once more reached for her gun.

“I can’t leave you.”

She froze.

That voice! Even after all of this time there was no mistaking it for her. Her hand fell back down to her side, the gun and her would be prey forgotten as they disappeared into the darkness, not noticing her distraction in their hurry to escape. She turned around to face the man that she had just rescued as he said something else to her, but whatever it was did not register in her mind as her eyes caught sight of his face for the first time and went wide in shock as she let out an audible gasp.

No, it couldn’t be. He was dead! There was no way that it could actually be him standing in front of her right now… but yet there he was! His hair was shorter and his clothes modern, but every other detail was entirely the same! Had she finally lost her mind, his image haunting her not only in her dreams but while awake as well? Was this some kind of specter or demon sent by Hell to curse and torment her?

She moved towards him, her senses taking him in for closer inspection. She noted the clear blue shade of his eyes, the warmth radiating off of his skin, the scent of his mortal blood wafting to her and making her fangs want to push forward though she held them back. No, he was most definitely real and most definitely…human?

“How can this be?” she breathed aloud in confusion, her hand reaching out to softly touch his cheek as if to further test that he was actually there.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Before he could say anything else she stepped forward and touched his cheek. It was a simple gesture but it disarmed him immediately. it was the familiarity, the intimacy, and the ease of which she touched him.

And how he replied.

His head cocked leaning into the touch. His nostrils flared taking in her scent which again seemed so familiar to him. His eyelids fluttered close a purr of approval rumbling though his chest.

He was in a crowded market place. The smell of shit and exotic spices mixing together and causing his nose to wrinkle in disgust. A biting cold came in from the north causing him to bury himself deeper in his rough furry clothing. He watched a man hawking wares to another man both clad in ancient garments.

The man shouted something in a language he couldn't possibly know. Yet his mouth opened responding in what he knew to be Romanian. The other man his father responded in kind directing him to go over to the cart and ran the wares.

His body wasn't his own and moved with out his permission. He could only watch as the young man turned on his heel and raced towards the cart. He was almost there when a commotion behind him snagged the young mans attention.

And there she was

She had entered the square with another older man in a long black trench coat. She was clad in a strange dress and a shiny sword was strapped to her side. The young man found her impossibly beautiful.

And he was included to agree

He stumbled back breaking their contact and forcing himself back into the here and now. As he shook and cleared his was the vision lingered offering nothing more than mysterys. What was going on? What was that strange dream?

"Who are you?" He said his voice more confused than confrontational "why did you save me?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Her eyes took in his response to the touch of her hand upon his cheek, his reactions so familiar to her and causing her heart to swell in response. For a moment a she felt a tiny glimmer of hope come alive within her. It really was him!

Her hand still on his cheek she moved to take another step towards him, a smile beginning to turn up the outer corners of her lips before he suddenly stumbled back from her, his confused expression and questions causing it to fade away as her hand dropped back to her side.

Her mind raced as she looked at him in disbelief. He didn't know her? Had she been mistaken, was he just a stranger that only reminded her of her lost beloved? No...the resemblance was just TOO exact to be some kind of coincidence. What exactly was going on here?!

She struggled with how she should respond.

"I've been tracking that group all night. They would have killed you if I had not intervened," she finally replied.

"You can call me Mila, but... are you sure that you don't recognize me? You...remind me of someone that I once knew...a very long time ago."

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Darren frowned at her pointed question. His head throbbed in response and he winced clutching at it as a barrage of random memories flew by.

Dancing with the woman in a crowded ball room

Coming home with blood on her

Long nights watching the forest outside

A child....

His eyes flung open and he sucked in a deep shaky breath. He glanced back up at her his wife eyes questioning.

"I'm not sure" he stuttered pinchin the bridge of his nose "I'm certain I'd remember a woman like you"

He felt the headache recede and sighed in relief.

"You saved me" he said focusing on the here and now "I owe you! Can I take you to get some coffee? There's a place nearby that my daughter and I go to! Her uh mother used to work there"

He wasn't sure why e included that but felt it was important to imply she was deceased.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

She was surprised when in response to her question he suddenly winced and clutched at his head as if in pain. Instinctively she took a step towards him to help him, her hand reaching out towards him again, but then stopped herself as his eyes opened again and he gave her a questioning look.

Her hand fell back down to her side at his reply, but her eyes continued to roam over him appraisingly, obvious concern showing on her face. Had he been more hurt by his attackers than she'd realized? A concussion maybe? Her thoughts were stopped short however at his next words however.

"There's a place nearby that my daughter and I go to! Her uh mother used to work there"

"You had a wife?" she asked in surprise before she was able to stop herself.

A wife. A wife other than her...and they'd had a DAUGHTER together.

She quickly composed herself, pushing back the stab of pain in her chest as the memories of her and her husband's own daughter and what had become of the child after her beloved's demise suddenly bombarded her. She shook her head, willing them away.

"I'm sorry, that was rude of me. It's none of my business," she told him apologetically, reminding herself that whoever this man was and whatever the reason for his resemblance to her late husband, he did not seem to have any memory of her or who she was to him.

"I don't drink...coffee, but... I would still like to go with you anyways if it is alright," she told him.

She needed to talk with him more and try and figure out what exactly this all meant. She also wanted to make sure that he was truly alright after the beating he'd just gotten from the group of vampires that had attacked him.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

"I did" he said again before he could stop himself "but she died in childbirth"

His eyes widened at his own admission. Again he asked what he was doing telling such secrets to a stranger! He wasn't the type to share these sort of things! Not even with husband own family much less a total stranger.

Yet

She didn't seem like a stranger to him. It felt quite the opposite with her! As if they were very very good friends and possibly even more. The images ran through his head once more bringing another wince as he almost felt his mind running into a wall. A wall? What was going on?

"Come on" he said grasping her hand and pointing in the direction of the street "it's this way"

He dropped her hand and moved out of the alleyway and onto the street. The walk to the diner passed in selnce as he focused on the sights and smells of his city. By the time they finally reached the neon washed diner he felt slightly better about the whole thing.

"This is the place" he said pointing "here let me get that for you!"

He opened the door for her and beckoned her in. He followed after her bringing her to a booth in the back and sitting down across from her.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila felt badly for bringing up the subject when the man announced that his wife had died giving birth to their child. Talk about putting your foot in your mouth. She was about to apologize when he suddenly grasped her hand and began to lead her back toward the street. He dropped it again as they began to walk together, but even the brief contact had caused goose bumps to break out across her flesh in response.

She was silent as they walked. He seemed focused on finding the way and she didn't want to disturb him. That, and she was still trying to figure out how to respond to the whole situation. Who exactly was this man? Why did he look so much like her long deceased husband? She'd been promised long ago that she'd be able to see him again as repayment for all that she would have to endure. She'd always assumed that it would be in the afterlife after her service was completed. Could she have been wrong? Could this have been what was meant instead?

She thanked him as they arrived at the diner and he held the door open for her. It was one of those typical run-of-the-mill 24 hour places that she'd come across often enough over the years but had never had need to actually venture into until today. She let him lead her to a booth in the back and gracefully slid into her seat. A waitress came over and took their order before leaving again, Mila having just asked for a water.

"So, um...I never did ask your name," she commented to him, her nerves making her Romanian accent which had been almost entirely lost over the years come out slightly.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

"My name?" He asked his voice temporarily faltering as her accent caused another ripple of familiarity. He felt the tingle of another headache at the back of his head and hurriedly called for the waitress Debbie to bring him some coffee. Debbie nodded watching the girl he was with warily. Debbie was a friend of his late girlfriends fiancé and was something of a god mother to his daughter. She was Ann older woman with peircing gray eyes silvery hair and a willowy figure.

"It's Darren" he said shaking away the headache "where isn't your accent from? It sounds so familiar..."

"Coffee sweetheart" Debbie's said coming over and then handing mila her water.

"Thanks deb" Darren said sippi the delightful brew "you still kick ass at making coffee!"

"Flattery will get you everywhere" Debbie's teased a small smile filling over her face.

"Thanks" he said giving Debbie a nod to leave. She did so sparing one last glance over at mila before leaving.

"And you?" He asked "what's your name?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

"Darren," Mila softly repeated aloud to herself as the waitress came over and handed her the water she'd asked for.

She wasn't actually thirsty, well not for water at least, but she'd felt it would have seemed out of place if she hadn't ordered SOMETHING. She thanked the waitress politely, noting the way the older woman eyed her with her piercing grey eyes. She noted too the obvious familiarity between her and Darren. Someone he'd known from when his wife worked here maybe? She offered the woman a bit of a smile as she left their table, turning her attention back to Darren.

"Mila," she replied in response to his question about her name as she absentmindedly stirred her glass of water with its straw but did not drink from it, "Well, Milena actually...but no one has called me by that name in...a very long time."

She'd gone by many names over the centuries, but it felt wrong to give him some made up name or alias. There had only been one name that she'd ever truly cared about, the one that she had shared with her beloved, her husband that he was the spitting image of. He was long gone now, but she still considered it her TRUE name. It was by her maiden name though that most of her prey still knew and feared her by.

Van Helsing.

"I'm originally from Romania," she explained in answer to his earlier question about her accent.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

"I knew that" he said murmuring it more to himself than to her.

Somehow he could recognize a accent he had never heard before. Even more so when it came out of her mouth! This really was a strange night. One full ignore mysteries and truths he didn't know.

"Are you sure we haven't met somewhere before?" He asked her once more "it's so strange I feel like I truly know you. Why is that?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila's head cocked slightly at Darren's comment that he'd recognized her accent, her eyes widening a bit in response then to his next words. He felt it too then! Once more her eyes roamed over him, studying him and how exactly he resembled her late husband. It couldn't just be a coincidence.

She shook her head in response to his question.

"I don't know...I'm still trying to figure that out myself," she admitted, "But I know there is no way that you could have ever met me before today...Darren."

 

[EroticLiteracy]

"How strange" he murmured shaking his head. He gave her another long searching look before sighing and nodding his head.

"Must just be from the attack" he said his long fingers tapping against the mug.

"Thank you again for helping me" he said glancing back up at her "I mean that I truly do. There must be some way I can repay you? Unfortunately I don't have any money. I'm a mechanic! Does your car need servicing or something?@

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

She shook her head slightly.

"Thank you for the offer, but it's not necessary really. I don't want you to feel that you owe me anything," she insisted.

She smiled a bit.

"Knowing that you are alright is payment enough," she told him, her eyes meeting his, "I'm just glad that you weren't hurt."

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Darren was touched by her words. The care and sincerity in which she delivered them made his heart skip a beat. For the first time since his fiancé died he felt himself reacting to a woman. It felt a little heady after so long a taste of fine ambrosia he hadn't had in some time.

"There must be something" he said reaching out and touching her hand.

"Something that involves seeing you again" he said blushing softly

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila felt a little shiver run down her spine as Darren touched her hand, goose flesh once more breaking out over her skin in response to his touch. His hand was warm, toughened from hard work just as she remembered it. She felt her breath catch in her throat when he said he wanted to see her again.

"I want to, but I...I'm not the kind of person that you should be associating yourself with Darren," she told him, her care for him compelling her to warn him, "Those men that attacked you. Those are the kind of people that I track down for my...work."

She reluctantly slid her hand away from his.

"It would be better for you if you just forgot that you ever even saw me tonight."

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Darren frowned at her words looking at her in a new much more curious light. What did she mean? Was she hunting those people that attacked him? Like a cop or bounty hunter or something?

Darren found himself torn. He had a daughter and getting involved with someone who might bring about danger was a bad idea. He wouldnt lose her like he lost her mother and was somewhat overprotective in this regard.

However...

There was a connection there. Something that he couldnt explain or jus disregard. He WANTED her. Wanted her in a way he wasnt used to anymore. Did he really want to just leave that?

He hesitated for several seconds before sliding out of the booth. He turned to her his bright eyes sweeping up and down her once more as he reached for a napkin on the table.

"I'm going to leave it up to you" He said pulling a pen out of his pocket and jotting his number down. His nimble fingers flipped the napkin over pushing it towards her and lightly touching her hand.

"If you ever want to meet up again" He said nodding his head at her. He turned on his heel and moved to the counter giving her a chance to check out his ass in the tight jeans he was wearing. He paid for his coffee and then left without another word.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila watched as Darren turned and walked away from her, her eyes unable to help but drift down to his ass as he paid for his coffee at the counter, a deep need that she thought had died long ago coming to life again within her. Her eyes went back up to his face, watching him as left the diner. Her muscles tensed and she rose up out of her seat a bit as if to go after him, but then she suddenly stopped herself and sat back down again as she let out a soft curse in her mother tongue.

What was she doing?!

She looked down at the napkin in front of her that he'd written down his number on. She told herself that she was doing the right thing by turning him down. She should just leave it on the table there and walk away. He wasn't her husband. Her husband was dead. Whoever this lookalike was she'd be doing him a favor.

She'd meant what she'd said. Being with her wasn't safe, had never been safe. There could be no life for her outside of her "work". Just look at what had happened before!

If all that was true though...why was every fiber in her being screaming at her to go and run after him...to not let him go. She reached out and turned over the napkin, her eyes growing wide as she took in the name and number that he'd written.

The handwriting...it was EXACTLY the same!

Instantly she pocketed the napkin and rose from the booth where she'd been sitting, rushing out of the diner and out onto the city street, scenting the air to figure out which direction he had gone. Finding it, she quickly took off after him.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

He stuck his hands in his pocket and began the long walk back home. The sun was beginning to rise warming one side of his body as he watched the city that never sleep greet the morning. One of the things he loved about the city was the morning. He enjoyed watching the citizens of the night slipping back into their homes at the same time other people greeted the morning. It was almost like clockwork a changing of the guard so to speak.

He could only have enjoy it tonight however. He was still focused on the mysterious girl he met and their brief interaction. He would be lying if he wasnt hoping he would hear from her. She was pretty and mysterious and then there was the weird memories he experienced around her. He still felt like he KNEW her even though he knew that was impossible.

He turned a corner reaching the block his small apartment was on. He stopped there his back ot her and tipping his head up to take a deep mouthful of the morning air and scent of the city.

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

It took her longer than it normally would have for her catch up to him. The morning sun had begun to rise as she'd started to track him from the diner, and while it's rays did not scald and burn her like they did the undead demons that she hunted at night their presence did still weaken her unhuman abilities significantly and prolonged exposure left her feeling tired and drained. As such she hardly ever was out during daylight hours if she could help it.

Still, at least she did have the option. Though ultimately she did still consider what she had been turned into as a curse, there were SOME perks to being "the hand of God" she had found. She wondered as she hurried down the street if meeting Darren that night might have been one of them. The similarities between him and her late husband were just too great for her to try and deny, they definitely meant something. Was this her shot at a second chance?

Finally she turned a corner and spotted him. His back was to her, but she knew instantly that it was him. She watched as he stopped and tilted his head back and took a deep breath, the morning rays illuminating him with their glow and causing her own breath to freeze in her throat as she stood in the shadow of the corner building and simply watched him in amazement for a moment before realizing herself and calling out his name to get his attention as she stepped forward out of the shadows.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Her voice....

The minute it reached his ears he gave off an involuntary shiver. He knew it was her, knew it without even turning. His cheeks colored with red as he realized he was GLAD she followed him. Since when had he been so interested in the female sex? He couldn't remember feeling this in love since HER....

He turned to her a faint blush still coloring his cheeks. He moved back over to her walking without a break in his stride until he finally came to a stop in front of her.

"I'm glad" He admitted softly "Glad you followed me... even though I have no idea why! What are you doing to me?"

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila released a breath that she hadn't even realized she'd been holding in, relieved that he wasn't angry at her for following him like she had.

"I'm sorry," she began, "I know I should have just called you later instead of following after you like this, but I wanted to make sure you made it home okay, and...well..."

A faint blush appeared in her own pale cheeks as she continued.

"I know what I said before, but when you left I just couldn't stand the idea that if I let you go I might never see you again."

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Why did her words have such an impact on him?

The minute she said those words he blushed. A giddy feeling crossed through his body happy that she thought so much of seeing him once more. He moved forward before he could stop himself coming up to her and gently taking her hand.

"I would hate that" He said honestly unsure of what he was doing.

"Its about time for me to get in" He said jerking his thumb at his apartment "Did you want to come in? Or make arrangements to meet again? I am out of practice in this. I havent been on a date since I met my late fiance all those years ago...."

 

[BlondeAmbition4RP]

Mila felt her heart give a giddy little leap as Darren took her hand in his, the warmth of the simple touch traveling up her arm and into her very core it seemed. At the jerk of his thumb she turned and looked over at the apartment he'd indicated.

So this was where he lived then.

She examined the building, committing it to memory before turning back to him at the mention of his late fiance. As strange as it was to hear him speak of being with another woman, her heart went out to him. She knew all too well what that kind of loss felt like.

"I understand completely. I too have lost someone...my late husband," she explained hesitantly, "I haven't really dated since then either."

She glanced back over at the building for a moment before turning back to him again. She had to admit, she was curious to see where he lived. Of course she would need for him to give her a formal invitation in order to be able to enter the first time however.

"Are you sure it would be alright for me to come in? I wouldn't want to impose upon you or your daughter."

 

[EroticLiteracy]

He hesitated the mention of his daughter giving him pause. This was new territory for him bringing other women around his daughter. It wasn't necessarily a choice he was consciously making he just wasnt interested in.

Until now at least.

"Sure you can come in" He told her reaching back and rubbing the back of his neck "I have the day off... I was thinking of taking my daughter over to the zoo today. You can come with us if that's not weird"

He turned walking the last few blocks to the steps of his apartment. He opened the door for her physically as well as verbally giving his consent for her to come in.

"My sister is babysitting but probably asleep on the couch" He explained as they walked up to the floor of his apartment. He gently opened the door easing it open and taking a peak. Once he was sure the coast was clear he opened the door fully and let her in.

His apartment was one part kids playground and one part library. Books and toys mixed together on every surface that was available. Most of the books were about car repair as well as simple things like English literature and books.

"Lets go into my room" He said grasping her hand and pulling her towards the room on the far side of the wood paneled living room.