training areas, greenhouses, and herb gardens. Seeing the outside of the compound brought back memories of a life that was no longer mine.
Marcus slowed the vehicle and we coasted beneath the lights lining the driveway. Only half the lights were turned on, confirming the Circle planned to let the demons in safely. Had they all been on, Vincent wouldn’t have been able to get out of the car without catching fire. Wherever there was a street lamp, a floodlight, or anything electrical, UV lights sat above them, bright enough to fry a vampire to dust in seconds.
The car gave a soft jerk as it came to a stop. Marcus shifted into park and turned the keys. As the engine died, the silence that pushed against us was thick. I wiped my palms on my pants and took a breath. “Here we go,” I whispered to myself.
Everyone opened their doors at once and stepped out. The ground beneath my shoes felt both foreign and familiar. Memories of my childhood flooded back. The sound and smell of the woods, the sight of the building, even the paths that led into the forest brought back memories. This was the place I once called home.
One of the large bay doors creaked as its motor roared to life and pulled the door upward. Dim light filled the garage and we all stood waiting. As the last few panels of the door folded into the building, a man came out dressed in a standard hunter’s uniform.
Black clothing covered almost all of him: pants, a long sleeve shirt, combat boots, and gloves. His lightly tanned skin shone over his face as the only exposed skin on his body. He had a medium build and walked with arrogance only a hunter could manage.
“Welcome,” he said, his masculine voice firm and confident. Dark brown sideburns ran down his face and his thick brown hair was styled neatly. He had large, round eyes staring with a hazel glare that looked angry under thick, unkempt eyebrows.
Nobody responded. We all stood near our respective car doors waiting, and I silently hoped for a quick escape.
“I’m Jameson. The council has asked me to escort you. If you’ll please follow me, I’ll take you to them.”
I watched him carefully as he turned and started walking back towards the building. Marcus was the first to follow and we all fell in stride behind him.
The air was warm for October, and the smell of the forest was thick and cleansing. The bark that hung on the trees gave off a cedar aroma that moved with the cool breeze. Multicolored leaves tumbled across the ground, and the glisten of forming dew danced under the moonlight. I took it all in and it helped calm my nerves, if only for a moment.
Four hunters walked out of the open garage and my stomach tensed again. They stared as they walked past us, all of them wearing the same black attire as Jameson. The hunters split into pairs, taking separate paths into the forest. I knew they were walking the grounds, but I couldn’t help but watch over my shoulder. I was expecting a fight tonight. Whether physical, magical, or mental, I didn’t think this would end well.
Jameson led us through the garage and as I remembered, it was full of vehicles. The walls were lined with weapons: swords, knives, shields, and heavy artillery. The back of the garage had a caged off area full of guns, bulletproof vests, and ammo. That was new to me. I’d never seen a hunter use a gun. They weren’t very effective when it came to the Underworld.
We came to a stop in front of two steel elevator doors and Jameson pushed the button. It wasn’t a standard elevator you’d see in a mall or office building. It was longer and wider, meant for industrial use. As a hunter, you never knew what you might have to fit in one.
Jameson pushed the number four on the panel and the steel doors closed. The elevator jerked as it started upwards and the silence from the car seemed to be following us.
As the elevator slowed and jolted, the doors slid open again. Jameson slipped to the front of the pack and led us down the