amberly

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

Andrew stared at her and he had a sinking feeling she wasn't exaggerating. He sat down at the foot of the bed and folded his hands in his lap. What do you say to something like that he wondered.

"Why?"

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

"I don't kill people. I need you to understand that." He said bending at the waist to lean his head down to eye level with her. "I am going to live, and so is everyone else if I have anything to do with it."

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

Andrew scratched his elbow. Now that she questioned it, he supposed this wasn't directly connected to preserving his life. She could sleep on the floor and still learn he was innocent, not out killing people. She could wait for breakfast to eat, and still gain strength to go find the real killer.

If he treated her like a guest, she would be more likely to be in his side. That was why he was doing this, right?

Right. No reason to consider anything else. He had his answer.

"So you know I'm not trying to kill anyone, even you. I woke you up so you could watch the Thunderstorm with me, but then you looked" he didn't say upset "hungry, so I brought you food. It's the most normal thing in the world."

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

She was moving so slowly. Andrew tried to be patient. He knew she didn't trust him. But if she was going to take the food anyway why didn't she just take it at once? The way she could drag out a single movement only reminded him that this was insane. To feed the person trying to kill you, to treat her like a guest was a dangerous bargain. Perhaps one day she would be taking food with one hand and raising a weapon to take his life with the other.

Andrew moved the apple closer. It would be faster if she didn't have to reach as far. He really didn't want to be around the person that wanted him dead any longer than necessary.

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

Andrew moved away, picked up the plate from the floor and set it beside her on the bed. The apple rolled off the plate across the bedspread but Andrew caught it under his hand before it could roll onto the floor. He moved to put it back on the plate with the remaining cookies, but thought better of it. He held it out, offering the apple to Angel if she wanted it.

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

Andrew tucked his left cuff into his glove. He crouched down and looped one arm around Angels back, the other under her knees. He clenched his jaw to try and hide the strain as he stood up and quickly leaned to let her down on the bed. He was relieved he hadn't made any noises while strugling to lift the weight of a full grown human.

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

Andrew glanced at Angel out of the corner of his eye while he ate. She did not seem to trust him. Perhaps it was just that he was still here, being in the room was a waste of his time. So when he finished his cookie he stood up to leave.

Before he could go, he remembered she hadn't ever gotten into bed. She'd been in the floor. He didn't understand this woman at all, wouldn't the bed be more comfortable? Was she really that weak, that she couldn't get up?

"May I lift you onto the bed and walk away so you can get some sleep?"

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

Andrew came in and sat down on the floor, putting the plate between himself and Angel. He leaned back against the bed, his arms resting across his knees. He picked up one of the cookies for himself. Gingersnaps were his favorites after all. It was one of the only sweets he bothered to make now that he was struggling to live. But there was nothing better on a dark and stormy night than something sweet.

Hopefully Angel would agree, perhaps she'd...no, why would she tell him about her nightmare. It was none of his business. He wouldn't even ask. He just sat.

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

Andrew gave up trying to see if she was really crying, he stood up and walked out of the room, leaving her with nothing more than "excuse me."

Out oh her sight in the hall he leaned on the wall, tipping his head back to rest against the stones. He might as well assume she was crying. What do you do with a person crying that wants you dead? What was he supposed to do to comfort a woman he couldn't even touch? Is there really any way to make her happy in this situation?

No.

The best he could do was keep them both alive. Pushing off the wall he hurried down to the kitchen. It wasn't more than a few minutes before he was back, knocking on her door.

"Angel? I brought some gingersnaps, and an apple, just in case you're hungry. May I come in?"

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

He frowned back at her. "I'm just another nightmare aren't I? You care to come up to the tower and watch the lightning? Or you can go back to sleep, whatever you prefer."