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Description
Salem yanked a bolt out off the earth and examined the tip. He let out a huff, just like the last few he'd retrieved, this one was flaking . It wouldn't be much longer before the silver coating was completely worn. It wouldn't take much to re-plate them, but getting access to the supplies was the problem. He looked back at the two hunters that had settled down on a picnic table to rest.

He swallowed hard and collected the last of his bolts before joining them. They didn't pay him much attention, just chatting lightly about their recent victory.

"Jason?"

The young man flicked at his fingernails as he turned away from his conversation.
Salem held out one of the weathered shafts. "Do ya think I could re-plate these? I don't think they'll drop another vampire."

He looked back at the female hunter. "He sure is needy, isn't he?" He stood then, holding out his hand. Salem passed him a bolt, but Jason wasn't satisfied motioning for the crossbow as well. He ran his thumb over the head, before loading the weapon and checking out the alignment.  "It might not drop a Master or an especially old Second, but I think they can still handle new Seconds, Thirds," He leveled the weapon at Salem's chest. "dhampirs..."

Salem glanced only briefly at the threat. "I'm just asking to use the kit."

Jason pointed the bow skyward and tapped his finger on the trigger guard. "And what is in it for me? Silver isn't exactly cheap you know. What can you do for me that's worth that expense?"

Salem's stomach knotted. He had enough in savings to pay for the process, but Jason wasn't interested in money. He never had been. No, Jason only had one interest, expressing his own superiority.

He was playing with his fingernails again. "Tell you what, just stop by my room tonight. We'll work something out."

The woman smacked Jason on the thigh with the back of her hand. "Hog. You've had Salem all week, don't you know how to share?" She flipped a strand of hair over her shoulder. "Besides, he likes me best."

Jason looked back at her before chuckling and hooking a finger in Salem's hair right at his temple. "Don't be silly Val," He wound  the strands tightly jerking him down to his level. "Salem knows I don't give two shits about what he likes."

More than once he'd considered just cutting all of his hair off, but Jason wouldn't like that. Salem knew all too well that his existence hinged on keeping the hunter placated.

Suddenly a low growl caught all their attentions. Something large and furry crouched in the brush alongside the park's jogging trail.

"Son of a bitch." Jason released his grip on Salem's hair. "I was trying to avoid the Werewolf."

Val groaned. "Come on, we just axed three vampires! Weres aren't even our jurisdiction!"

"Well, the hairy fuck crossed our path, code says we have to handle it. Or at least Salem has to. He's already a monster." Salem gritted his teeth and reached for his crossbow, but Jason moved it just out of his reach. "Nah-ah-ah, these are broken remember? You'll have to use this." He pulled a pocketknife from his jeans and tossed it to him.

Salem flicked open the three inch blade and his heart sank. "This isn't silver..."

"Isn't it? Oh well, you don't really need silver to kill a werewolf. Just take off its head or cut out its heart if that's easier for you. It's not even a big wolf."

"Meaning it can out maneuver me."

Jason pouted his lips condescendingly. "Now whose fault is that fatty?"

He sighed and turned toward the creature still lurking several yards away.  Salem had never cared for killing creatures that hadn't attacked first, but with werewolves it was necessity. There was no cure and the affliction spread like a virus.

The wolf sprang and just as he'd feared the beast was fast and light on its paws. It quickly circled him and leapt for his back. He barely turned in time, catching it's bite with his forearm. They tumbled to the ground. The wolf shook its head shredding his flesh. He slammed the blade into its throat, blood poured out over his hand. He forced the blade across, but something snapped and the back of the blade folded against the handle. He could hear his partners laughing at his struggle. Laughing. He dropped the useless weapon and grabbed hold to the monster's windpipe. The tighter he squeezed the harder it bit down on his arm. He could hear his bones cracking under the pressure.

Two shots rang out in quick succession. The first ripped through the wolf's ribcage and the second took off the top of its skull. The creature spasmed before falling limp. Salem shoved the carcass off of himself and scooted back to a safer distance cradling his arm.  He found a secluded spot under a tree to allow himself time to heal.

Several werewolf hunters immerged from the tree line. They seemed to be in good spirits laughing and high fiving each other. Val was already making her way over to them for pleasantries. Jason however marched over toward Salem. He tried to hide how his fingers were twitching from the tendons reattaching, but Jason wasn't interested.

"I hope you are fucking proud of yourself." He seized a fistful of Salem's hair and slammed his knee into his face. "Useless lummox. You just embarrassed us in front of the goddamn Lycans.  Now, I have to go and convince these mongrels that we aren't all idiots." He jerked his back up. "Look at me. This conversation isn't over. I'm going to make sure you don't forget your place again." He ran his tongue over his teeth before giving Salem's head a hard shove to the side and storming off.

Salem sniffled at the blood running down from his nose. It wouldn't be a good night, but he had known that already.

A sound grabbed his thoughts and he turned to spot a young Lycan approaching. He might have to put up with Jason and Val's abuse, but he wasn't about to suffer a snot-nosed Lycan's prodding.  He snarled drawing back his lip giving the young man a good look at his fangs. The blonde lad stopped in his tracks and held up his hands, one was holding a bottled water.

"Woah, bro, simmer. Just seeing if you'd like a drink."

Salem felt a stab of guilt for so quickly judging the boy. "Sorry." He muttered. "My previous run ins with Lycans haven't been positive."

"Nah man, my mistake for getting in your space. Rookie move. So, about that drink?"

"Yes, please." Salem said softly holding out his hand.

The Lycan passed him the bottle and waited for him to take a drink before speaking again. "Rough night?"

Salem chuckled. "Pretty average really."

"The guy with the delightful attitude, he your supposed leader?"

"Yep."

"And that makes you?"

"The muscle."

"Do you normally double as the punching bag?"

Salem stared down at his feet. "I think most dhampirs do. That's why the hunters with a dhampir live longer. But that's just how it is, they take care of us so that we protect them. That's what we're for."

He young man looked over at him, his blue eyes serious. "You realize that's bullshit, right? Why don't you just leave?"

"And where would I go? This... this is all I know." The boy took out his wallet and pulled out a card. He handed it down to Salem. "What's this?"

"A safe place. A place you can go and live a decent life. Better than decent really."

Salem studied the address. "Ain't this a vampire clan?"

"It's mostly vampires, yeah-"

"How would this be a safe place for me, a vampire hunter?"

"These are incredibly forgiving people, the past is the past. They'll give you a place to live and a job to do. Sure there are some dangers, but they haven't lost a member in, psh, twenty years or so. Before my time, man. There aren't many dhampirs there now, but I know they'd be happy to have you. You like girls?"

Salem frowned. "What?"

They boy looked uneasy. "Are you interested in women or are you-" he tilted his hand from side to side.

"I'm not disinterested..." he muttered.

"Sorry, dude, no offense, but you're one of those people that's hard to read." He knelt then getting closer. "Look, I'm not supposed to tell anybody about this, but I think it might be the kick in the pants to get you to make up your mind-" He leaned in whispering in his ear.

Salem snorted. "Now, I know ya playing with me. Ain't no such thing."

"Cross my heart. Don't believe me you can go look for yourself." He stood back up then. "Keep the card for whenever you get tired of living like this. Just remember, there is a place where you'd be wanted and understood. And maybe, just maybe you could have someone special. A connection no one has ever had before. Think about it and when you change your mind, tell'em Junior sent ya." He grinned and rejoined his companions.

He licked his lip and tasted blood, there was no way it could all be true. I had to be some prank. At least here he knew what he had.

"Grab your shit." Jason barked returning with Val. Salem got to his feet and walked over to where they had left his weapon. "Fucking Lycans. Why couldn't have been human were-hunters? So sick of punk ass Lycan kids acting like they know what they're doing. Pisses me right the fuck off. And somebody had better keep his fat mouth shut tonight. I swear to God if the hotel management gets called again I'll give you something to whine about."

Salem took a deep breath and strapped his crossbow to his back.

"Oh come on." Val interjected. "Salem always takes his punishments like a man."

"With you maybe." A cruel smile pulled at his lips. "You're too soft."

Val rolled her eyes. "You had better be careful, if you break him he won't be as easy to replace as the rest of the equipment."

Salem froze in his tracks. Yes, he knew what he had here. He couldn't count the number of times he'd protected these two humans at his own expense. He'd never been thanked. He could clearly remember the last time he'd heard kind words and felt a kind touch. He had been eight years old and his mother had caressed his face and apologized before leaving him there with a hunter he'd never met. He remembered that he'd flinched away at first, expecting the more familiar sting of her palm. He looked too much like the vampire that had fathered him. They gave him training and rules. Drink blood, you die. Show disloyalty, you die. Dhampirs were supposed to find life-mates, but he was forbidden from that.

He looked up. It could all be a lie and maybe he'd end up all alone, but could anything be worse than where he was?

"I quit."

Val whipped around. "What?!"

Jason turned more slowly. He motioned for Val to calm down and snickered to himself. "Oh? And just where are you going to go? You don't know how to do anything out in the real world. You'll starve to death if the vampires don't rip you apart first. Why don't you just blow your head off now? It'll be quicker. And hey, you'll get to go out just like your mother did."

"Funny, I ain't seen either of ya kill a single bloodsucker as long as I've been here. I wonder if ya even remember how."

Val's face went ashen and Jason clenched his jaw. He scoffed. "You'll be back Salem. They'll put you right back with us, I hope you know what will be waiting on you."

Salem felt a smile forming on his face. "If ya live that long without me."

Val looked frantic, but Jason was seething with rage. "You'll regret this."

"I doubt that." He said turning and heading for the other park exit. He wasn't afraid to turn his back on Jason as he only carried stakes and had never been good at stealth.

He'd have to go the long way around to get to his car, but he was fast enough to get there first. Once he was out of their sight he began running. He quickly reached his vehicle and hopped inside. His heart was pounding. He peeled out of the lot and speed for the highway. There was so much to do, so much to think about, but right then he just couldn't stop smiling.

Description
Salem yanked a bolt out off the earth and examined the tip. He let out a huff, just like the last few he'd retrieved, this one was flaking . It wouldn't be much longer before the silver coating was completely worn. It wouldn't take much to re-plate them, but getting access to the supplies was the problem. He looked back at the two hunters that had settled down on a picnic table to rest.

He swallowed hard and collected the last of his bolts before joining them. They didn't pay him much attention, just chatting lightly about their recent victory.

"Jason?"

The young man flicked at his fingernails as he turned away from his conversation.
Salem held out one of the weathered shafts. "Do ya think I could re-plate these? I don't think they'll drop another vampire."

He looked back at the female hunter. "He sure is needy, isn't he?" He stood then, holding out his hand. Salem passed him a bolt, but Jason wasn't satisfied motioning for the crossbow as well. He ran his thumb over the head, before loading the weapon and checking out the alignment.  "It might not drop a Master or an especially old Second, but I think they can still handle new Seconds, Thirds," He leveled the weapon at Salem's chest. "dhampirs..."

Salem glanced only briefly at the threat. "I'm just asking to use the kit."

Jason pointed the bow skyward and tapped his finger on the trigger guard. "And what is in it for me? Silver isn't exactly cheap you know. What can you do for me that's worth that expense?"

Salem's stomach knotted. He had enough in savings to pay for the process, but Jason wasn't interested in money. He never had been. No, Jason only had one interest, expressing his own superiority.

He was playing with his fingernails again. "Tell you what, just stop by my room tonight. We'll work something out."

The woman smacked Jason on the thigh with the back of her hand. "Hog. You've had Salem all week, don't you know how to share?" She flipped a strand of hair over her shoulder. "Besides, he likes me best."

Jason looked back at her before chuckling and hooking a finger in Salem's hair right at his temple. "Don't be silly Val," He wound  the strands tightly jerking him down to his level. "Salem knows I don't give two shits about what he likes."

More than once he'd considered just cutting all of his hair off, but Jason wouldn't like that. Salem knew all too well that his existence hinged on keeping the hunter placated.

Suddenly a low growl caught all their attentions. Something large and furry crouched in the brush alongside the park's jogging trail.

"Son of a bitch." Jason released his grip on Salem's hair. "I was trying to avoid the Werewolf."

Val groaned. "Come on, we just axed three vampires! Weres aren't even our jurisdiction!"

"Well, the hairy fuck crossed our path, code says we have to handle it. Or at least Salem has to. He's already a monster." Salem gritted his teeth and reached for his crossbow, but Jason moved it just out of his reach. "Nah-ah-ah, these are broken remember? You'll have to use this." He pulled a pocketknife from his jeans and tossed it to him.

Salem flicked open the three inch blade and his heart sank. "This isn't silver..."

"Isn't it? Oh well, you don't really need silver to kill a werewolf. Just take off its head or cut out its heart if that's easier for you. It's not even a big wolf."

"Meaning it can out maneuver me."

Jason pouted his lips condescendingly. "Now whose fault is that fatty?"

He sighed and turned toward the creature still lurking several yards away.  Salem had never cared for killing creatures that hadn't attacked first, but with werewolves it was necessity. There was no cure and the affliction spread like a virus.

The wolf sprang and just as he'd feared the beast was fast and light on its paws. It quickly circled him and leapt for his back. He barely turned in time, catching it's bite with his forearm. They tumbled to the ground. The wolf shook its head shredding his flesh. He slammed the blade into its throat, blood poured out over his hand. He forced the blade across, but something snapped and the back of the blade folded against the handle. He could hear his partners laughing at his struggle. Laughing. He dropped the useless weapon and grabbed hold to the monster's windpipe. The tighter he squeezed the harder it bit down on his arm. He could hear his bones cracking under the pressure.

Two shots rang out in quick succession. The first ripped through the wolf's ribcage and the second took off the top of its skull. The creature spasmed before falling limp. Salem shoved the carcass off of himself and scooted back to a safer distance cradling his arm.  He found a secluded spot under a tree to allow himself time to heal.

Several werewolf hunters immerged from the tree line. They seemed to be in good spirits laughing and high fiving each other. Val was already making her way over to them for pleasantries. Jason however marched over toward Salem. He tried to hide how his fingers were twitching from the tendons reattaching, but Jason wasn't interested.

"I hope you are fucking proud of yourself." He seized a fistful of Salem's hair and slammed his knee into his face. "Useless lummox. You just embarrassed us in front of the goddamn Lycans.  Now, I have to go and convince these mongrels that we aren't all idiots." He jerked his back up. "Look at me. This conversation isn't over. I'm going to make sure you don't forget your place again." He ran his tongue over his teeth before giving Salem's head a hard shove to the side and storming off.

Salem sniffled at the blood running down from his nose. It wouldn't be a good night, but he had known that already.

A sound grabbed his thoughts and he turned to spot a young Lycan approaching. He might have to put up with Jason and Val's abuse, but he wasn't about to suffer a snot-nosed Lycan's prodding.  He snarled drawing back his lip giving the young man a good look at his fangs. The blonde lad stopped in his tracks and held up his hands, one was holding a bottled water.

"Woah, bro, simmer. Just seeing if you'd like a drink."

Salem felt a stab of guilt for so quickly judging the boy. "Sorry." He muttered. "My previous run ins with Lycans haven't been positive."

"Nah man, my mistake for getting in your space. Rookie move. So, about that drink?"

"Yes, please." Salem said softly holding out his hand.

The Lycan passed him the bottle and waited for him to take a drink before speaking again. "Rough night?"

Salem chuckled. "Pretty average really."

"The guy with the delightful attitude, he your supposed leader?"

"Yep."

"And that makes you?"

"The muscle."

"Do you normally double as the punching bag?"

Salem stared down at his feet. "I think most dhampirs do. That's why the hunters with a dhampir live longer. But that's just how it is, they take care of us so that we protect them. That's what we're for."

He young man looked over at him, his blue eyes serious. "You realize that's bullshit, right? Why don't you just leave?"

"And where would I go? This... this is all I know." The boy took out his wallet and pulled out a card. He handed it down to Salem. "What's this?"

"A safe place. A place you can go and live a decent life. Better than decent really."

Salem studied the address. "Ain't this a vampire clan?"

"It's mostly vampires, yeah-"

"How would this be a safe place for me, a vampire hunter?"

"These are incredibly forgiving people, the past is the past. They'll give you a place to live and a job to do. Sure there are some dangers, but they haven't lost a member in, psh, twenty years or so. Before my time, man. There aren't many dhampirs there now, but I know they'd be happy to have you. You like girls?"

Salem frowned. "What?"

They boy looked uneasy. "Are you interested in women or are you-" he tilted his hand from side to side.

"I'm not disinterested..." he muttered.

"Sorry, dude, no offense, but you're one of those people that's hard to read." He knelt then getting closer. "Look, I'm not supposed to tell anybody about this, but I think it might be the kick in the pants to get you to make up your mind-" He leaned in whispering in his ear.

Salem snorted. "Now, I know ya playing with me. Ain't no such thing."

"Cross my heart. Don't believe me you can go look for yourself." He stood back up then. "Keep the card for whenever you get tired of living like this. Just remember, there is a place where you'd be wanted and understood. And maybe, just maybe you could have someone special. A connection no one has ever had before. Think about it and when you change your mind, tell'em Junior sent ya." He grinned and rejoined his companions.

He licked his lip and tasted blood, there was no way it could all be true. I had to be some prank. At least here he knew what he had.

"Grab your shit." Jason barked returning with Val. Salem got to his feet and walked over to where they had left his weapon. "Fucking Lycans. Why couldn't have been human were-hunters? So sick of punk ass Lycan kids acting like they know what they're doing. Pisses me right the fuck off. And somebody had better keep his fat mouth shut tonight. I swear to God if the hotel management gets called again I'll give you something to whine about."

Salem took a deep breath and strapped his crossbow to his back.

"Oh come on." Val interjected. "Salem always takes his punishments like a man."

"With you maybe." A cruel smile pulled at his lips. "You're too soft."

Val rolled her eyes. "You had better be careful, if you break him he won't be as easy to replace as the rest of the equipment."

Salem froze in his tracks. Yes, he knew what he had here. He couldn't count the number of times he'd protected these two humans at his own expense. He'd never been thanked. He could clearly remember the last time he'd heard kind words and felt a kind touch. He had been eight years old and his mother had caressed his face and apologized before leaving him there with a hunter he'd never met. He remembered that he'd flinched away at first, expecting the more familiar sting of her palm. He looked too much like the vampire that had fathered him. They gave him training and rules. Drink blood, you die. Show disloyalty, you die. Dhampirs were supposed to find life-mates, but he was forbidden from that.

He looked up. It could all be a lie and maybe he'd end up all alone, but could anything be worse than where he was?

"I quit."

Val whipped around. "What?!"

Jason turned more slowly. He motioned for Val to calm down and snickered to himself. "Oh? And just where are you going to go? You don't know how to do anything out in the real world. You'll starve to death if the vampires don't rip you apart first. Why don't you just blow your head off now? It'll be quicker. And hey, you'll get to go out just like your mother did."

"Funny, I ain't seen either of ya kill a single bloodsucker as long as I've been here. I wonder if ya even remember how."

Val's face went ashen and Jason clenched his jaw. He scoffed. "You'll be back Salem. They'll put you right back with us, I hope you know what will be waiting on you."

Salem felt a smile forming on his face. "If ya live that long without me."

Val looked frantic, but Jason was seething with rage. "You'll regret this."

"I doubt that." He said turning and heading for the other park exit. He wasn't afraid to turn his back on Jason as he only carried stakes and had never been good at stealth.

He'd have to go the long way around to get to his car, but he was fast enough to get there first. Once he was out of their sight he began running. He quickly reached his vehicle and hopped inside. His heart was pounding. He peeled out of the lot and speed for the highway. There was so much to do, so much to think about, but right then he just couldn't stop smiling.