I wake like clockwork at the crack of dawn, the result of a lifetime of discipline. My grandfather, or The Grandmaster, as he insists that I call him, has always been big on discipline. But it’s not something I ever resented him for. After all, when you’re the last in a long line of vampire hunters, you have to be strong. I would literally be some monster’s food if I wasn’t ready to go anytime, anywhere. Waking at the crack of dawn just comes with the territory.

And when I say “the last in the line”, I mean that literally. It’s just me and The Grandmaster left, and as much as he hates to admit it, he’s too old for active duty. My parents were killed when I was just a baby; they died fighting the monstrous creatures we are sworn to kill. It happened here, in this ancient house hidden in the Canadian Rockies. A small coven of vampires they had been tracking managed to find them first. My parents fought valiantly and managed to kill the coven, but not without being mortally wounded. They were both bitten, and the first rule any vampire hunter learns is that you never allow yourself to become a monster. And so, they were forced to kill each other. They took a holly stake to the heart together, before the poison had a chance to spread, leaving me with The Grandmaster.

But one good thing came out of all that; Hiro. He had been following the coven of vampires himself, trying to get revenge after they killed his family. He didn’t catch up to them until after my parents were dead, but The Grandmaster was impressed that he had been able to track them at all. He asked Hiro to stay, telling him that the best revenge he could get on the beasts would be to help train me: Victoria Van Helsing, the last vampire hunter in the world (at least as far as we know).

There used to be others like us. But with the job being as dangerous as it is, the rest either died off or gave up. We Van Helsings alone stuck it out. Centuries ago, on the very first ship to make land in North America, half the family came here to see if the vampire disease needed to be eradicated here as well. Van Helsings have always been ahead of our time; they already knew what the ship would find before it was found. And sure enough, when they first met the natives, they found monstrous diseases here too. Not just vampires, but werewolves and all sorts of ghastly things. It was even worse here than it was in Europe, at least at the time. Since the people lived such simple lives, they made easier prey for the monsters. And so they stayed and did the only thing we know how to do. They killed every one of the beasts that they could.

We kept in contact with our European family, having things sent over when we needed them. But about a hundred years before I was born, the last of them disappeared. The Grandmaster insists that they must have died warriors’ deaths, but sometimes I’m not sure. There are days, when I get the rare glimpse at all the distractions the world has to offer, when I think how much better my life would be if I wasn’t a Van Helsing. We live completely isolated from the world; I’ve never set foot in so much as a village. All our supplies arrive in the dead of night by helicopters, their silence paid for by generations of built-up wealth. Europe quickly became too crowded for this type of privacy. And I wouldn’t be surprised if our surviving relatives had changed their names and turned to living normal lives. But I keep these thoughts to myself. The Grandmaster would label me a traitorous fool for uttering such things.

Anyway, long story short, when Hiro heard that I was the last vampire hunter, he swore that he would do everything in his power to protect me and raise me. And he’s been with us ever since. He’s our “everything guy” as I like to call him. No task is too big or too small for him to handle. He cleans the house, cooks, does all the chores that The Grandmaster doesn’t ask me to do, and helps me with my training besides. He’s also my best friend. Probably because he’s my only friend, but I think he’d still hold the title even if I had a hundred other friends. When the training becomes too much for me to bear, he’s always there to listen and helps me whenever he can. He always helps me to see the bright side, and with his help, I’ve been able to do things that I never thought would be possible. And he’s always quick to help me test out my inventions, no matter how crazy they are.

Inventing isn’t foreign to our family, as we’ve had to be pretty creative to last as long as we have. But there hasn’t been a notable inventing Van Helsing in so long that The Grandmaster has a hard time accepting that what I do is necessary. But he says as long as my inventions help me kill monsters, then he won’t stop me. He doesn’t give me any breaks on my training for it though. I’ve spent many a sleepless night putting the final touches on my latest breakthrough.

I don’t remember exactly why I started. But I’m pretty sure that it was fear motivated. Because, despite the fact that I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, I do have one massive fear. I don’t ever want to be bitten by one of the monsters I have to fight. I don’t want to have to kill myself like my parents were forced to. The Grandmaster insists that what they did was the right thing. That while we miss them, if they had’ve survived as vampires, we would have been forced to kill them ourselves. But I can’t stop being afraid of it. And in my fear, I turned to my inventions for help. I want to make myself as deadly as possible, so that a bite isn’t something I should ever have to worry about. In theory, I should be able to kill any monster before they can sink in their teeth.

Which is much easier said than done. Vampires and werewolves are both insanely strong. Super strength and speed, heightened senses, nearly impervious skin… They have very few weaknesses too. Garlic and holly have a suppressing effect on them, makes them a little closer to human strength. But a stake to the heart only works if the poison hasn’t fully spread yet, like in my parents case. The only thing that can really kill them, other than another of their kind, is weapons made of silver. Silver bullets, silver knives. But good luck ever getting close enough to stab them without getting hurt or killed. As for bullets, at full strength, they can move faster than them. Which is why it’s so important to first weaken them.

So all my inventions revolve around trying to put me on equal footing. Clothes that help make me invisible by sight and scent, weapons that shoot fast and silent… Those kinds of things. But The Grandmaster only lets me practice with them, or “play with my toys” as he calls it, after I’ve shown him that I can do it all the old fashioned way. That’s why Hiro’s help comes in handy. He doesn’t mind helping me test them in between training and chores.

With thoughts of the work ahead fresh in my mind, I pull myself out of bed and start getting dressed.

I don’t have any clothes that would be considered common, or blend in with the average crowd. The Grandmaster insists that unless I am undercover, I have to wear traditional vampire hunter garb. Which is very old school. I wear corsets that are custom fit to allow for maximum movement while providing protection for my heart. But instead of skirts, I wear tight fitting pants that are also custom tailored. They’re covered in hidden pouches and straps so that I can always have all my tools at my disposal. I finish it all off with black leather gloves and boots, the type that would hold up against any weather. And if I want to wear a jacket, it’s a long black cloak. I’ve made some of my own custom clothes, but I have to finish the day’s work before I can practice with them.

When I’m dressed and ready for the day, I make sure to check my reflection in the mirror. I can’t fault my ancestors for their sense of style; I look hot in this. My body is fit and tone from a lifetime of hardship, my chest-length, wavy hair is dark red and matches perfectly with my dark clothes. I tie it up in a tight bun, so that it doesn’t get in my way. I know that these clothes are designed with function in mind, and not fashion, but it’s certainly a confidence boost knowing that I look so good while being so deadly. And having just turned twenty, I’m in my prime.

Still though, I can’t help but wonder when I’ll finally get to see some action. Despite my fears, I can’t wait to go on my first mission. And though I’ll never admit this to The Grandmaster, it’s not just because I want to finally start taking revenge for the deaths of my parents. All I’ve seen of the world is small glimpses here and there; when peeking through the cracks of The Grandmaster’s study door while he watches news on TV, hunting for signs of our quarry. He’s told me basic things of course, given me ideas of what to expect when in the field, but it’s nothing like being able to see it for myself.

I know that while The Grandmaster might come across as cold and tough, he’s really worried about me. I know he’s afraid to send me out too early and watch me die like my parents. But I hope that he sends me on my first mission soon. I know I’m ready. Well, at least I know that I’m ready to take down one monster. I’ll hold off on whole covens for now. Maybe even forever. The chances of a bite are a little too high for my liking.

It always takes a while to get from my large attic bedroom down to the dining room for breakfast. The house is massive. It was built not long after the first Van Helsings arrived. They found a place so remote that even with how much the world has changed, no one knows where it is. They learned to speak the native languages much faster than the rest of the explorers, and in trade for knowledge and training to defend themselves better against the monster menace, the natives helped my ancestors build this mansion. It’s built in the style of old victorian houses, with chunks of stone mined from the mountain. The old mines are still here; sometimes we use them for training. I hate those days. The mines are old and dangerous, but The Grandmaster insists that they are ideal for that exact reason.

By the time I’ve made my way down to the dining room, Hiro is already there waiting for me. But I’m surprised to see him alone. Usually The Grandmaster is already here, glaring at me sternly over a cup of coffee as if he thinks I’m late (even though I never am).

“Where’s The Grandmaster?” I ask Hiro as he sets down a steaming plate of eggs, bacon and toast in front of me.

Giving me a sly smile, Hiro sits down next to me, resting his cheek on his hand before he replies, “The old man is busy in his study, My Lady.”

I take a hasty bite of eggs to try and hide my blush, but almost choke on them because they’re still too hot. When I was younger, Hiro used to call me Little Lady. But in the last couple years, since I’ve started looking more like an adult, he changed the nickname. I won’t lie; I can’t help feeling flustered and awkward every time he says it. I know I said that he’s my best friend, but lately, I’ve been looking at him differently.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

I don’t actually know how old Hiro is, but I think he was around sixteen when he first found us. He doesn’t look a day over twenty though. He’s incredibly handsome, even though he always looks a little pale and tired. His eyes are so dark they’re almost black. His skin is a beautiful russet colour, and his spiky hair is a rich black. I swear, the man never does anything to his hair or skin and yet he always looks like a supermodel fresh from a photoshoot. He once told me that his mother was a native, Nakoda to be precise, and his father was from Japan. His parents had raised him on a large farm in the Rockies, farther south than we are now. He said he was homeschooled, so he understands how I feel living here, although of course he didn’t grow up practicing deadly arts.

But the problem with Hiro is, even though I know him so well, I can never tell what he’s thinking. Sometimes I consider telling him that I think I like him a little more than a friend. But then I’m afraid that he wouldn’t like me the same way, and it would ruin the close friendship that we’ve forged over the years. He probably still just sees me as some little kid that he needs to look after. He watched me grow up after all. It’s so totally not worth the risk.

So instead, I try desperately to act like nothing has changed. “What’s he doing in his study?” I ask after I finish my mouthful of eggs. I ignore the fact that he didn’t use The Grandmaster’s title. Of course when he’s around, Hiro would use the title. But when it’s just the two of us, he likes to tease me by calling him “old man”. He knows that I would never dare call him anything but The Grandmaster. I know if I was ever caught I’d be in big trouble. But Hiro’s fearless. It’s another reason why I like him so much.

“Couldn’t say for sure,” Hiro replies nonchalantly, stretching his arms back behind his head as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “There seems to be a lot of signs of vampires in Edmonton lately. I think he’s trying to figure out if it’s one young vampire on the rampage or a larger coven.” With a wide grin, he adds. “Hey, maybe you’ll get your first mission soon, My Lady!”

I shrug as if I couldn’t care less, and focus on eating my breakfast. But Hiro knows me too well. “Hey, don’t worry about it,” he says, resting his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been training for this your whole life. I know you can handle anything out there.”

“I know,” I mumble, ripping a piece of toast up into little pieces. “But Edmonton? That’s so far away!” Our house is hidden deep in the northern most reaches of the Canadian Rockies, in British Columbia, near the border to Yukon. Of course, Canada being as big as it is, there are places much farther away than Edmonton. But considering the fact that I’ve never set foot in a city, I had hoped my first mission would be a little closer to home. Just in case something went wrong.

Hiro smiles and leans in to whisper conspiratorially, “Besides, you know I’d follow you anywhere My Lady. Together you and me will take down any monsters in our path!” Jumping up from the table, Hiro picks up a butter knife and starts a sword fight with an invisible foe.

I can’t help but laugh. “You always know just how to cheer me up Hiro.” Someday I want to be brave enough to call him My Hero in response to his nickname for me. He really is my hero. But today is not the day. I’m not quite that brave yet.

Putting down the knife, he sweeps into a deep bow. “Always at your service.”

I can’t help but giggle like an idiot. In an attempt to cover it up, I scarf down the rest of my breakfast. “Well then, since you seem to be in charge today, what’s on the schedule?”

Leaning casually against the side of the table, he brushes his hand against my cheek, his dark eyes twinkling. “Oh, well, we could go for a nice long walk in the woods. Maybe do some hunting. Maybe play tag. The sky’s the limit really.”

I slap his hand away playfully but can’t hide the blush. “Stop teasing me!” I protest.

“Ah, but you’re so cute when you’re flustered,” he replies, tapping me on the nose. Why does this man have to be so damn infuriating? He’s always teased me, ever since I was a kid, and now I can’t tell if he’s serious. His dark eyes are as mischievous and unreadable as ever.

He’s smiling widely as I brush him aside and get to my feet, trying to hold on to my dignity. “No funny business. We have work to do!”

Hiro snaps his fingers and exclaims, “Aha! You’ve finished another invention, haven’t you?”

“What gave it away?” I answer, trying not to get too upset about the fact that he can read me a million times more easily than I can read him.

“You’re only in a hurry to get to work when you have something you want to test after. And you know how much I love being your guinea pig, so let’s not waste another second, shall we?” Standing up straight, he tidies his crisp black suit (as if he needs to, he looks perfect as always) and leads the way out of the dining room at a brisk step. I hate when he walks like that, because he knows my legs are a lot shorter than his and it’s so much harder for me to keep that pace. But he also knows that I’d never dare complain about it because I wouldn’t want to give him something else to tease me about.

I follow as closely as I can as he leads the way out of the house. I always find it funny when I go outside. We don’t have a yard like the few houses I’ve seen on TV. Walking down the front steps takes me right into the thick of the forest. There’s no roads, no open spaces that would make us visible from the sky. It’s the kind of place that would be easy to get lost in, if I didn’t know every tree and landmark in a fifty kilometre radius. We make regular expeditions into the wild, in any season and weather. Not just to train my survival skills, but also to make sure that I could always find my way home.

The nearest road is just under fifty kilometres away. Hidden nearby there we have an underground garage with all sorts of vehicles. The Grandmaster taught me to drive all of them from a young age, and got me a license as soon as I was old enough. I didn’t have to go take a test like you’re supposed to; our family has connections all around the world where we can get just about anything you can imagine.

While we may not have a yard around our house, it’s not as wild as it first looks. We have fenced areas for our livestock; mountain goats that we’ve domesticated over generations of breeding, deer and elk. We have a small herd of sturdy Icelandic horses which we use when we have to travel long distances in the mountains. We have fields among the trees where we grow edible plants for both us and the livestock. We also keep ducks, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. All and all, we’re self sustaining.

Past the edge of our pastures is the entrance to the old mines and the rock-faces we use for climbing. It’s towards these that Hiro leads me, and I can’t help but sigh.

Hiro must hear me, because he glances back over his shoulder. “Sorry, but I’m not really in charge today. The old man gave me a list of things for us to do.”

“Tell me now, is it the mines or the cliffs?” Both weren’t my favourite exercises, but I definitely preferred climbing to the dark mines.

Hiro smiles. “You’re in luck today.”

He doesn’t need to say any more. Knowing me so well, of course Hiro is aware that I prefer the climbing. “Thank God,” I mumble.

I thought I was quiet enough that he wouldn’t be able to hear me, but apparently not. With a soft chuckle, Hiro adds, “Although, facing your fears is important in this line of work. So maybe we should do the mines today instead.”

“Please no!” I exclaim, lunging forward to grip his arm. “We did them last week!”

With a laugh, he frees his arm and tousles my hair. “I’m just messing with you My Lady. I don’t blame you for disliking the mines. I’m not a fan of them myself. And since they’re not on the list, I see no reason why we should bother with them.”

I want to be angry with him, but I’m so relieved that it makes it hard to be angry. Instead, I slug him on the arm, wincing as my fist connects with his rock-hard muscles. “Hey, watch the suit!” he exclaims, brushing off his sleeve. “It’s hard enough keeping myself looking this fine when I’m trudging through the forest with you, I don’t need you making things worse.”

Seeing an opportunity, I tease, “Ah, so the great Hiro does have at least one fear!”

Rolling his eyes, he replies, “Of course I do. Everyone does. In fact, I have several, but you will never convince me to share those secrets.”

Shrugging, I feel a wide smile creep across my face. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean I can’t exploit this one to the fullest.” Without giving him any more warning, I lunge.

Hiro doesn’t even glance at me as he raises his arm to block my attack. “You’re gonna have to be faster than that, My Lady.” He turns to face me with a grin, a challenge in his dark eyes.

“You asked for it.” And with that, we launch into a full-blown sparring match.

I’ve sparred with Hiro more times than I can count. I know exactly how he moves. And yet I’ve never beaten him fair and square. Even when he looks like he’s going all in, I know that he’s holding back. It honestly scares me a little. If I can’t beat Hiro, how can I hope to beat a vampire? But then I remind myself that I don’t attack Hiro with the intent to kill, and I’ve never used my weapons against him. I won’t be taking on vampires and werewolves in hand to hand combat.

Like usual, Hiro kicks my ass. But when we break apart, I laugh breathlessly. “I win!” I crow.

He raises an eyebrow at me. “And how do you figure that? You never win against me. At least not unless I let you.”

“I wasn’t trying to get the winning blow, I just wanted to mess up your suit.”

For the first time, Hiro looks startled as he glances down. He stares in disbelief, apparently too stunned to try and tidy himself. The top button of his jacket has popped open and his collar is ruffled. After a moment, he does the button back up and fixes his collar. When he glares at me with one eyebrow raised, I can’t help but shiver. “You devious vixen! You’re too dangerous for your own good.”

“Dangerous to your almost-perfect composure maybe,” I laugh.

Hiro closes his eyes and shakes his head, running a hand through his hair. Taking a deep breath, he smiles in a formal way, and engages his “butler mode” as I call it. “Let’s finish our tasks for the day, shall we?”

“Lead the way good sir,” I tease, giving him a mock bow.