The Blood They Feared

Chapter 3: The Blood They Feared

The street was silent.

Too silent. To the point that even a drop of pin could be heard any where you are. 

Rain continued to fall lightly, tapping against the pavement as dozens of armed soldiers surrounded Ethan and Raven. The glow of their weapon lights cut through the darkness like sharp blades.

But no one fired.

Because two massive Hunters stood between them and their target.

Ethan’s heart was pounding so hard like a losed bull with out control and he could feel it in his ears. 

The creatures stood beside him like statues of muscle and claws. Their enormous bodies blocked most of the alley, their silver eyes glowing faintly in the rain.

Ethan slowly lowered his raised hand.

The monsters didn’t move.

They waited.

Like soldiers awaiting an order.

“This… this doesn’t make any sense,” Ethan whispered.

Raven stood beside him, her blue eyes locked on the Hunters with disbelief.

“You’re controlling them,” she said quietly.

“I’m not doing anything!” Ethan replied.

But deep inside, he knew that wasn’t completely true.

Something inside him had awakened.

Something powerful.

Something ancient.

Across the street, the hunter leader’s expression had changed completely. The calm confidence he once had was gone.

Now he looked cautious.

Even nervous.

He studied Ethan carefully.

“So it’s real,” the man said slowly. “The rumors were true after all.”

Ethan frowned.

“What rumors?”

The man ignored the question.

Instead, he spoke to his soldiers.

“Stand down.”

Several of the soldiers hesitated.

“But sir—”

“I said stand down.”

Reluctantly, the soldiers lowered their weapons slightly.

But they did not leave.

The hunter leader stepped forward slowly, his eyes never leaving Ethan.

“Do you know what you are?” he asked.

Ethan shook his head.

“No. But everyone tonight seems to think I’m something important.”

The man smiled faintly.

“You are more than important.”

Raven suddenly stepped in front of Ethan.

“Don’t listen to him,” she said.

The hunter leader laughed softly.

“Oh, I think he deserves the truth.”

His eyes returned to Ethan.

“For centuries, our organization has searched for a very specific bloodline.”

Ethan’s stomach tightened.

“What bloodline?”

The man gestured toward the Hunters standing beside Ethan.

“The one that created them.”

Ethan blinked in confusion.

“Created them?”

“Yes.”

The man folded his hands behind his back.

“Long ago, before modern civilization, there were people who possessed extraordinary abilities. They could control creatures from another realm.”

He nodded toward the Hunters.

“Creatures like these.”

Ethan slowly looked at the massive beasts standing beside him.

“You’re saying… people used to control monsters?”

“Not people,” the man corrected.

“A specific family.”

Raven’s voice cut in sharply.

“That bloodline is extinct.”

The hunter leader smirked.

“That’s what we believed.”

His eyes shifted back to Ethan.

“Until tonight.”

The words hit Ethan like a punch to the chest.

“You’re saying… I’m part of that family?”

“Not part of it,” the man replied.

“You are the last descendant of it.”

Ethan felt the world tilt slightly.

“That’s impossible.”

“You just commanded two Hunters,” the man said calmly. “That ability only belongs to one bloodline.”

Raven clenched her fists.

“Enough.”

The hunter leader tilted his head.

“You knew, didn’t you?”

Raven didn’t answer.

Ethan looked at her.

“You knew about this?”

She hesitated.

Then finally spoke.

“Yes.”

The word hit him harder than anything else that night.

“You knew?” Ethan repeated.

“I suspected,” she corrected quickly.

“Suspected?!” he said. “You dragged me into this mess because of a suspicion?!”

Raven’s voice softened slightly.

“I was trying to protect you.”

“From what?!”

The hunter leader answered instead.

“From us.”

Ethan looked back at the man.

“Why do you want me?”

The hunter leader’s smile slowly returned.

“Because your blood is the key to something far greater.”

Raven’s expression darkened.

“Don’t tell him.”

But the man ignored her.

“There is a gate hidden somewhere in this world,” he said.

“A gate that leads to another realm.”

Ethan felt a chill run through him.

“A realm filled with creatures far more powerful than these Hunters.”

He gestured to the monsters beside Ethan.

“And your bloodline is the only one capable of opening it.”

Ethan stared at him in disbelief.

“You want me to open a monster door?”

“Not want,” the man said.

“Need.”

Raven stepped closer to Ethan.

“Don’t believe a word he says.”

But the hunter leader simply smiled.

“You don’t understand your own value yet.”

His voice lowered slightly.

“But you will.”

Suddenly—

One of the soldiers shouted.

“Sir!”

Everyone turned.

The first Hunter suddenly lifted its head.

Its body trembled slightly.

Ethan felt it too.

A strange pulse inside his chest.

Like something was calling to him.

The second Hunter growled softly.

Raven’s eyes widened.

“Oh no…”

Ethan looked at her.

“What?”

She whispered one word.

“Alpha.”

The hunter leader’s expression immediately changed.

“That’s impossible,” he said.

Then the ground shook.

Harder this time.

A deep roar echoed from somewhere beyond the buildings.

But this roar was different.

Stronger.

Ancient.

Every soldier instantly panicked.

“What the hell was that?!” one shouted.

Even the two Hunters beside Ethan lowered their massive bodies in fear.

Raven grabbed Ethan’s arm.

“We have to leave now.”

“Why?”

Her voice was deadly serious.

“Because if that creature finds you…”

Ethan swallowed.

“What creature?”

Another roar shook the city.

Closer.

Much closer.

Raven’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“The king of the Hunters.”

The hunter leader turned pale.

“No… it can’t be awake already.”

Ethan looked around nervously.

“What does that mean?”

Raven looked straight into his glowing silver eyes.

“It means the moment your power awakened…”

“You called something far worse.”

The roar thundered again.

And this time…

The entire street began to crack.

Far above them, something enormous moved across the rooftops.

Watching.

Waiting.

Hunting.

Ethan felt the ancient voice inside him whisper again.

It has come for you.