GAH! Sorry its taken so long. Consider me a writer who got distracted, but I have returned. This story nagged at me, for I knew there was work to be done and people waiting to see it. So here it is! Hope it was at least sorta worth the wait. I hope if it is, you might review and let me know.

Just a thought!

NS

Chapter two: The best night company.

The darkness was thick and heavy, but welcoming. Agile sighed with relief, grateful to have abandoned the humans inside for the comfortable shadows outdoors. It was familiar here, pleasant, even peaceful, despite the vampiric dangers the night posed.

Feeling restless, the Nighter made for the street. She aimed for the cities outskirts, where she knew quiet would be more plentiful. The noise the hunters of Reaco exhibited tired her, strained her senses and stressed her patience.

Gradually paved streets gave way to dirt ones. Houses faded and were replaced by occasional barns and corn fields. Stray cats were more common than people, and barking dogs vanished in exchange for the chorus of wolves. As the winds swept leaves into the air, the moon appeared from behind the cloud cover. The result was the illumination of Agile’s destination.

It was a tall hill, the steepness of which was even evident from where she stood at its foot. There was a long, winding wooden staircase leading up its right side. It did not appear sturdy, but that was an intentional appearance. The hunters had built it, the leaders and the lord in particular. Devil had told her of it once, how he’d been the one to discover the location and bring it before Niaka. Apparently it had been a genius choice, for it was still here 20 years later. It was the hunter’s cemetery.

The staircase didn’t take long to climb. She could have traveled the 83 with a blindfold, and she even had once. Devil had taught her to blind-fight here, back several years ago. She still remembered the many stumbled steps she’d taken before gaining the hang of it. She’d sprained an ankle once, and although such an injury would be nothing to her now, it had been agonizing to her at 12 years old. Devil had given her the decision of whether to quit or continue. She’d trained on.

Stepping away from the 83rd stair, Agile crested the hill. She gazed out at the cemetery, let the winds berate her. They were stronger here, braver, more daring. They guided her forward, swept her along the rows of stones, titles and dates. There were 25 rows of tombstones. The closest were the more recent. The furthest away were the oldest.

She thought to the bodies held in the earth below the stones, wasn’t bothered by the notion of decaying bodies, crumbling bones, or moldy clothing. She focused on the reason they’d died. There was a plethora of answers, among them being personal grudges and desired vengeances, but Agile knew the truth. They’d sacrificed themselves because they’d lost the want for anything else. They’d abandoned their human lives for that of the hunter, an exchange she didn’t consider worth it, but a trade she herself had chosen.

Agile walked leisurely along the first row of multi-colored stones. She recognized every name, but ignored any ache that attempted to enter her chest. She nodded at each, showing indifference to all, until she reached a particular stone. It read, “Thorn, honored warrior of the Night-blade ranks.”

She hadn’t been here since the funeral many months ago. She’d allowed her emotions to bar from her from it, and though it had shamed her, it had taken this long to tempt her into a visitation.

“Devil: Valiant hunter, skilled teacher, commanding leader, and loyal friend.”

Her chest constricted at the sight of the pitch black stone, but she did not turn from it. Her hands went into fists, but she did not cry. She would not. Devil had taught to withhold emotion, to bury and eradicate them. She would honor those teachings.

Bird song had faded, the nocturnal choir began. Bats, wolves, coyotes, they all sent up their voices into the nigh sky, offering their peaceful music to any heart who stopped to listen. Nighter sighed, permitting herself a brief moment of vulnerability.

It was a foolish move.

Sensing the presence at her back, she whirled about. She elbowed the person in the chest, shoved them against the nearest tombstone. There was a grunt as their head slammed against it. Her sword was out, and was a hairs breath from the person’s neck.

“Lusien.” She growled when faced with the blue-silver eyed vampire. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Um,” Lusien pointed at the sword barely touching his larynx. She sheathed her blade.

He looked like he always did, slim, yet muscled, relaxed, yet containing restless energy. He wore black jeans, no shirt. His black hair fell to his shoulders, and as she’d thought since their first meeting, she swore it had un underlying blue shine. Lusien had obviously fed just moments before, his lips were still red.

She moved away, returning herself to the pair of graves. She didn’t hear Lusien pull up alongside.

“So I foolishly ask a second time,” Agile sighed heavily. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“In a hunter’s graveyard?”

“Yes, captain obvious.” Her tone was sarcastic.

“Its not the first time I’ve been here.” He responded casually. “I’ve come here occasionally, checking to see if you’d put aside your emotions yet.” He chuckled. “It took you longer than I’d predicted.”

“What does it matter to you?” Her tone was dry this time. “Honestly Lusien. What business do you have here?”

“Would it be too sappy to say to see you?”

“Yes it would be, and also a lie. For the fourth and tiresome time, why are you here?” She enunciated each word as if this would clarify the sentence.

“I already told you.”

“You haven’t.” Agile pointed out. “In fact, you’ve avoided my question all four times.”

“You only say its avoidance because your denying the answer I gave you.”

Agile hesitated.

“There were other places to check.”

“I couldn’t much waltz right into your Reaco building could I? Or into your Night-eyes?” Lusien crossed his muscled arms over his muscled chest.

“Suppose not.” Agile replied wryly, and then quieted. When Agile could no longer stand the damned silence between herself and the vampire, she broke it forcefully.

“Shouldn’t you be out hunting?”

“Shouldn’t you?”

“It is inappropriate to joke in the graveyard.” Agile stated, and Lusien chuckled.

“Are you its warden? Are you this cemeteries queen?” Lusien laughed harder. “Perhaps you are. It would make sense, considering two lives in this graveyard ended because of you.”

Agile did not respond, nor did she flinch. She would not acknowledge the offense, not to him.

“Silent treatment?” He asked eventually.

“You earned it.”

“By doing what?”

“By being bothersome.” Agile supplied, growing exasperated. She glared at him. He grinned back, then reached towards her. She didn’t brush him aside, but allowed him to tuck her hair behind her ear.

“I could kill you right here, Nighter.”

“Oh really?” Agile asked mockingly. “If I recall correctly, didn’t that go rather badly the last time you tried?”

“You tempt me.” He growled, and though there was a note of danger in it, there was also something else. “You tempt me, yet show no fear.” He sighed as heavily as she had. “Agile, you know I want you, in all the ways a man and a vampire can. You know this, and yet you also never guard yourself from me.”

“What is life without risk?” Agile asked, pulling him close, pressing their chests together. He pulled back.

“Reckless!” He shouted at her. “That’s what you are, Nighter! Reckless.”

“And that bothers you?” She scowled at him. “You’re a liar, Lusien. My recklessness enthralls you. Don’t deny it.” She brushed up against him, rubbing her curves against his own. “I know what you want.” She whispered silkily. “And I know you’re constantly torn between kissing me and sucking me dry. I want to slap you silly for being so stupid.” She locked her hands around his throat from behind. He stiffened, but did not struggle. “Lusien, if I thought you could kill me, then I would’ve finished you months ago.”

“You think you could?”

“I do.” She replied, not missing the change in his eyes.

“Reckless and arrogant.” He muttered amusedly, then in a blur of movement, bent backwards one of her fingers. She released him. He tripped her, and then had her pinned to the ground. “But so am I.” He finished, his calm still in place, as was hers. “You know,” he began, smiling. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any worse, I…..”

She pushed his arms out from under him, causing him fall on top of her. Reveling in the pressure he provided to her body, she felt a fire inside her heart. Pulling his lips to hers, arms snaking about his waist, she gave Lusien no choice but to either participate or endure. Lucky for her, he decided to play his role.

Lusien moved away, held her at arms length. He searched her eyes, but Agile didn’t know what he sought.

“Why are you doing this?” He asked her.

“For risk.” She replied. “For lust. For pleasure. For fun.” He continued to stare, as if that wasn’t what he’d wanted.

“Not because Devil is gone?” He finally spoke, and now she understood why he’d hesitated in asking.

“No,” she snapped crisply. “And if you ever ask me that again, you’ll find you won’t be kissing me, but kissing your balls goodbye.”

“That makes me talented.”

She hated to laugh, hated to express humor when she intended to be livid, but she couldn’t stand it. She chuckled.

“There’s the Nighter I like.” He laughed, then pulled her to him once again. “Cute, adorable, stubborn.”

“Didn’t catch that.” She replied.

“Because you’re muffling them.” He responded. “And it’s probably best that you didn’t.”

The coldness of his skin did not bother her, nor did his stilled and silent heart. Her bliss was unhindered by his lack of life, for she’d gained acceptance of it months ago. Even the soft scent of blood on his breath was no burden on her mind. She was beyond those hunteric concerns now.