amberly

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew had waited until the cottage residents had come and helped Angel out of the wheelbarrow. Then he felt free to retrieve a fresh box of matches from the storage building behind the little town store. He left the payment on the shelf.

Then he hurried home. He ran through the castle checking every window, every door, making sure they were locked. He went down to the kitchen to make himself some soup and found a very burned baked potato. Thus he was outside getting rid of the thing.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew pushed the wheelbarrow down the drive, through the gates and down the long road toward town. It was a bit wobbly at times but he managed to keep her upright. They passed the shortcut through the river and continued down the road to the first house on the outskirts of the town. Andrew stopped the wheelbarrow outside the cottage and whispered to Angel "Make sure they feed you." Then he pounded on the door and ran, leaving her behind in the wheelbarrow while he took cover in the trees. He should get more matches while he was here, but he watched to see what would happen with the prisoner he turned over first.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"Now, I won't make you walk and fatigue yourself any more. I'll push you, you can just settle in for the ride." He told Angel pulling her to her feet. He held the wheelbarrow steady waiting for her to sit down. Or waiting for her rejection of yet another idea. At the time he thought of it she had been just dead weight he couldn't move easily enough in his own, or so he justified it to himself.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew wandered back to check on the thud while his potato was baking. She had passed out again? This was getting ridiculous, she needed to eat! He took her hands and began dragging her out of the room to the door of the garden. He went outside and found the wheelbarrow, brushing the leaves out before returning to the doorway.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"I don't know anything about you woman, that's why I'm asking! But let me guess, you aren't going to want anything for lunch anyway. Right? I'm going to eat." He got up and stocked away. The door slammed behind him.

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew looked up at her "Do you eat normal human food? Or is that yet another weird thing about your family? Unique, I mean unique thing about your family."

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Mmmm lunch was a good idea he decided hearing the rumble and took himself down to the kitchen. But recalling Angel's rejection of breakfast he thought better of it.

A few minutes later he was back in the parlor releasing her feet. "What do you like to cook Angel? Perhaps my kitchen pantry can accommodate you. I'll even do all the cutting and chopping to help with the process."

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

"Like me, but not me." He furrowed his brows turning to lean his back against the door jamb. "And they hired you to stop me. But the killing would continue if it is someone cursed like me. Unless they can learn to control it. But why would there be two of us? Who could the other one be? Someone that hasn't been noticed... The skin is extremely obvious, no way to hide it. It would have to be a stranger, in hiding, but wouldn't someone notice something? I need to find out if that's possible." He concluded his rambling not knowing if he was anywhere close to the right answer or not, but at least it was a place to start. But what was he going to do with her?

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew attached a chain to her ankle once they were inside. "You can watch me from the window if you'd like to supervise." He told her before going back out.

He carried one wolf carcass after another over to the burn pile. All the while wondering about that woman. What had she meant about Hawks hating her family? What could be done about the imposter killing local villagers? Could he convince her to go after them instead of wanting to kill him? And if that was the case, what on Earth was he going to feed her?

Standing at the burn pile he cast a fleeing glance back at her window. Striking a match he tossed it on the heap and shoved his hands in his pockets, watching it until there was nothing left but ashes.

He returned inside leaning against the open door frame of the parlor. "You said the bodies in town had a peculiar smell, any other distinctive traits? How were they killed?"

the hunter and her prey(a cursed human story, a beauty and the beast alternative to a cursed vampire story)

Andrew frowned back at her expression. He straightened up and pulled her upright. With one arm looped through hers he began walking toward the house.

"I don't know what has gotten into that hawk. You must have threatened it yesterday. Aren't you glad I'm not trying to peck your eyes out?"

He watched for another attack, ready to defend her from it again as needed.