“Hunter listen…” Iris started.

I raised a hand to stop her, I know Hunter too well. I know how to handle this. I walked toward him, my head still down, then I stopped in front of him. He was looking down at me.

“You ok?” he asked. I gave a nod. “What about you Lei?” he asked without taking his eyes off of me.

Lei was surprise, “Y- yes I am Hunter.”

“Good.” Then he gave me his full attention. “You walked away?”

“Lei took care of him.” I whispered.

“She didn’t even raise a finger Hunter-“ Iris added.

Then I felt Hunter’s hand on my cheek, I reached for my cheek which was now throbbing with pain. Wrong argument Iris, I thought.

“Hunter!” Iris shouted, but Hunter didn’t move or look up at them. He was just looking at me.

“You should have known better Huntress.” He said.

I nodded.

“But she didn’t-“

Then Hunter slaps me again, this time strong enough to make me fall.

“Stop it Hunter!” Iris was about to reach for me.

“Stay there Iris, don’t make it harder.” I said.

Iris, surprised, just stared at me. “Huntress…”

Then Jed took her by the arm and held unto her. Then I stood up and this time faced him, I shouldn’t have. He wore that same face as our guards, then I knew it, this was Hunter when he’s forced to do his responsibilities. So I just closed my eyes and waited for the next hit. I heard Hunter sighed and finally made his move. A few minutes later I was on the ground, bruised and bloody. He stepped back and looked down at me.

“Disobey again…” he started, as if afraid to finish the sentence, “you know the consequences.” I tried to pull myself up to a sit, but I just dropped back on the ground. Iris broke off from Jed’s hold and ran toward me.

                                “Huntress…” she whispers, “Huntress, can you hear me?” I could, but it was as if she was in a far place, shouting for me to hear. Then I coughed up some blood. This made Iris angrier. “How could you do this to her Hunter?” she shouted, “I thought you devoted yourself of protecting her?”

                                “You speak off things you don’t understand Iris…” he started.

                                “Then make us understand!” she demanded.

                                I knew Hunter wouldn’t answer; it was as painful for him as the wounds I got from him. So, I reached for Iris’ hand. Iris looked down at me, with worried eyes.

                                “Believe me Iris,” I said in a low whisper, “Hunter is protecting me this way.”

                                “But he-“

                                “Shh…” I said as I closed my eyes, the pain was taking over me. “Hunter…”

                                Hunter knelt beside me and picked me up, I snuggled safely into his chest and relaxed. “We’ll see you later tonight.” He said. Then he turned and left.

                                At home, I woke up in my bedroom. I could hear two people talking, Hunter and mom.

                                “Mom, I can’t do this.” I heard Hunter say.

                                “But you asked for it didn’t you?” she asked.

                                “Yes,” he said with exasperated tone, “to keep her out of that room and of those guards…” his voice trailed off for a while. “But I never really thought that I would need to deal with her like that.”

                                “Well, this is better rather than those guards dealing with her right?”

                                There was a long pause, but then Hunter speaks, “I wanted to do it because I hated seeing her so scared and weak… the last time I saw her stepped out of that room…”

                                Remembering that day gave me a shiver.

                                The last time we both saw the room; it was filled with blood, my blood flowing with blood of the three guards whom Hunter killed. It was Hunter’s first kill. I have never seen him that angry before. But I couldn’t blame him. I was already sixteen, and those guards were already getting ideas of a perfect beating. Grandfather removed the surveillance camera himself. So whatever goes on in that room? Remains in that room. But Hunter was guarding the door, waiting for the beating to start. But none came, then he heard a different kind of laugh, a different kind of voice, he didn’t hear me and my sarcasm. The room itself had a different aura. Suddenly he heard clothes ripping and a sob, then a loud thud. I heard him call out outside the room, until he stopped. I felt weaker, Hunter left. He left me. I started to call for him, it was just a whisper, and not even the guards could hear it at first. But when the guard who was hovering over me, touching me in every place he could, heard me, he gave me a punch on the stomach knocking breath out of me. That’s when he broke into the room and saw what was going on, he fixed his eyes on me, I smiled at him and closed my eyes and listened to what Hunter did.

                                After that day he asked grandfather that he’ll deal with me himself, which would be in front of a crowd, to assure him that the work is being done. Grandfather agreed. But I never really gave him a reason to deal with me like that, as long as I just don’t leave a place without me dealing with someone physically.

                                “Hunter…” I called.

                                Hunter turns to me and quickly ran to my side. “What’s wrong? Does something hurt?” he asked.

                                I nodded; he looked around, more worried than ever, “My ego.” I whispered. My mom grinned, and Hunter let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

                                “Don’t you dare show that worried face in front of the others,” I whispered again in between pain, “I can’t have them think that I have a sissy for a brother, a sissy who knocked me out cold.” He stifles a laugh, and then I reached for his face, “I’m fine big brother, and you did well.” He took my hand, looked at it and frowned. “I promise not to put you in that position again,” I said. “It hurts seeing you hurting big brother.”

                                He then gave me a smile and a kiss on the forehead, “Rest now, you still have a night out with the girls.” He reminded.

                                But then father arrives. “Oh, hey?” I said, “Isn’t dad’s presentation today?”

                                “Yes.” My mom answers, “And I really wish he got the financier, all this stay home mom gig is boring me up, even if I have some bionic kids.”

                                Hunter and I grinned.

                                “Huntress?” we heard dad call out. “Huntress! Princess, how are you?” dad ran to my side.

                                “I’m ok dad, don’t worry.” I said.

                                “And you Hunter?” he asked, the same worried tone.

                                “I’m ok father,” Hunter said, “thank you.”

                                “Good,” father said with relief and then turned to me, “What were you thinking?”

                                “Lei just got their ahead of me.” I said, “She was just saving me from an unnecessary hit from Ivan.”

                                “But you were his target, which was technically your fight.”

                                “And I’m lucky to have a friend like Lei who I know has my back.”

                                Father shrugged, shook his head and then smiled, “Well, I can’t argue with you their.”

                                I nod, “So how was the presentation?” I asked. “I hope it was before you found out about me.”

                                “Oh, it was, thank God.” He agreed, then he faced mother, “we got a financier. Mr. La’Montrelle is giving us 2.5 million dollars fund.”

                                “I know.” My mom said. “I never doubted for a second.” Father smiled.

                                “Congratulations father.” Hunter said.

                                “Thank you.” He said, excitedly, “but we should leave as soon as we could though, love.”

                                “Why is that?” my mom asked.

                                “There have been sightings at the University.” He said, and looked back at Hunter and I, “it looks like your kind’s beginning to wake up.”

                                “A little too early isn’t it?” mother asked.

                                “The first full moon is this week,” Hunter said, “the strongest ones will wake up at the night of the full moon.”

                                “Well, whether it is your kind or not, they’ve been making some weak attacks on students and faculty. Wannabe slayers are popping out like mushrooms.” He sighed, I looked at him. He looked tired and worried. I frowned, but then I reached for his hand.

                                “Don’t worry father, we’ll take care of this.” I promised.