*Three days after the events of the previous chapter*
*3/20/90*
“We finally made it back to Castell Henllys,” Jade said with a sleepy sigh. “It feels like forever since we’ve been home.”
“We should have a feast tonight for surviving another job well done!” Mason suggested.
“We went far this time. Normally we are back in just two weeks,” Rose looked out the wagon's side to see two shepherd boys waving at them. She is shoved aside by Coraline.
”'Oh, look at the sheep! They are just so soft and woolly! I wish I could keep one as a pillow!” Coraline said with eyes filled with childish desire.
“I'm surprised,” Mason continued. “The sheep are already starting to look big and plump. It’s crazy. Didn’t spring start not that long ago?”
“The cheapskate. I guess old man Kenny is already trying to make the most out of his stock,” Garrett said with a knowing smirk.
Hunter finished his ale before standing to address everyone properly. “Everyone! Thank you all for your hard work. Enjoy the next two weeks off.”
Everyone cheered at the prospect of a good long period of rest and relaxation.
~o0o~
Near Castell Henllys front gate, Mason put down a rolled-up rug on top of a small pile of coins, clothes, jewelry, and food they earned as payment for protecting villages. Of course, some of the fortune had been looted from the bodies of fallen bandits foolish enough to attack them on the way back home.
The surrounding villagers looked at the pile with impressed eyes. Some, of course, eyed the pile with greedy gazes. Some women thought Hunter and the other men of the group suddenly looked very appealing when standing next to the pile of wealth they were showing off.
There was much gossip within the crowd. Things like money Hunter’s crew brought back. How much was going to be put toward the village this time, and the projects that could be done from that? When will they be leaving again? And, of course, if Hunter would ask for new recruits like how he did so in the past.
One albino teen named Michael held his sword out excitedly. “Damn, I can't wait! I can feel my blood boiling already! Hunter is the only man I want to serve under! I am going to ask to join his clan!”
Many of the surrounding villagers give him disgusted, hate-filled looks.
“Someone like Hunter wouldn't waste his time working with an albino freak like you!” A villager spat.
“I am just a capable fighter as the rest of you ignorant jerks! Besides, serving with Hunter will help me see more of the world!” Michael argued.
Michael’s elderly mother protectively took hold of his arm. “Oh, my foolish son. Who will be the man of the house if you leave?”
“What can I say, mom...? I am an albino. Making a name for myself is the quickest way for people to see us differently.”
Mason walked by and purposely bumped his shoulder into Michael.
“Hey!” Michael said as he pointed his sword at Mason. “Apologize. Right now!”
Mason glanced at Michael with murderous eyes. Both Michael and his mother walked away fearfully.
Jade understandingly looked at the tall boy. “Mason, I know it's hard, but one day you have to move on from what happened.”
Mason rubbed the looping scar around his neck as memories of a noose haunted his memories for a moment. “I will when I am damn well ready, Jade. I know not all of them are bad, but…” He sighed.
“Out of my way. Out of my way, damn it!” When that voice was heard, Hunter and his whole crew's hearts dropped into their stomachs.
“Move it! Out of the way! Step aside!” Hunter’s mother, Emma, pushed her way through the crowd of villagers. She managed to get her wheelchair up to the front. Her blouse was filthy. Her blond hair was tangled with dirty. Her teeth were yellow, thanks to a lifetime of chain smoking. Her breath reeked of early morning drinking, and he smelled like she hadn't bathed in days.
Emma smiled as gazed at her children. “Good to see you all home, safe and sound. Now, let's go, kids! We have a busy day ahead of us! Places to go, things to do!”
Rose cocked an eyebrow. “Ah, Mom, you do know we are supposed to visit Dad soon, right? We already got back late, and today is the anniversary, after all.”
Emma just rolled her eyes. “It's not like he has somewhere to go. Besides, I never get to see my children anymore. Let's make the most of the time we have now.”
Coraline looks unsure. “I don't know, mom. I really want to visit Papa.”
Emma wheeled herself up to Coraline. “Sweety, today is your fifteenth birthday, and, of course, Kenny wants to see you all before the day ends. And you know he will drive you all up the wall by talking about money, so let's celebrate right now while the opportunity is still good.”
Coraline scratched the back of her neck nervously. “Well… What do you think, Hunter?”
Hunter put his hand against his chin thoughtfully. His reserve cracked when Emma give him watery puppy-dog eyes. “Fine, but we must finish by three o'clock sharp. I want to get this meeting with Kenny over with and visit Dad before nightfall.”
“Right, right, you got it. Now let's get this thing started!” Emma turned to face the others with a non-caring smile. “You all can do whatever it is that you like. I want to spend this day with my family.”
“The others are our family too, Mom,” Hunter glared. “And they would never abandon us simply because you told them to-”
Mason, Jade, Garrett, and Brianna booked it as fast as their legs could carry them.
“YOU COWARDS!” Coraline shouted.
Emma looked at his kids with an eager face. “So. We ready?”
~o0o~
Their first stop was at the local pup, where Hunter and Emma watched Coraline and Rose dance to the music the band on stage was playing. Sounds from tin whistles, fiddles, drums, bagpipes, and guitars filled the air until the song ended. When the band and the dancers hit the bar, Emma was quick to steal as many coins as she could take from the band's donation crate much to her kid's displeasure.
~o0o~
Their second location was an old alleyway where Emma was vandalizing the wall with all kinds of graffiti. Hunter and the others looked uncomfortable with their mother's actions.
Emma manages to get them to try and all to the vandalism but quickly stopped when they were almost caught by one of the local guards.
~o0o~
Their third stop was on the top of a hill in the middle of a local park. Hunter stood back, wanting no part of what was about to happen. Emma convinced Coraline and Rose to ride down the hills pathway with her in her wheelchair. They almost hit a little old lady walking her dog, a kid, and a young couple. Emma was the only one having fun on the ride.
~o0o~
Emma and the others were seated inside a small cafe all drinking coffee hot or iced coffee, minus Coraline who had a strawberry milkshake topped with a mountain of whipped cream and cherries.
Emma smiled. “So that's what the expensive coffee tastes like. I am so glad we “found” all that money.”
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Hunter glanced over at the clock hanging on a nearby wall, and his eyes shot open. “Oh, shoot. It's fifteen past three! The others must be waiting for us at Kenny’s house.”
Emma steered her coffee while she looked down in a non-caring fashion. “Oh please, Kenny can wait a little bit longer. He is a big boy, after all.”
Hunter stood up, clearly upset. “What?! Come on, Mom, you know how Kenny gets when our meetings are late. And we still need to visit Dad. You know it's tradition to see him on the anniversary of the train crash!”
Emma shrugged her shoulders. “So, what? It's not like he's going anywhere.”
Rose clenched her fists, finally fed up with her mother’s behavior. “Mom, you know how important this is to use and everyone else.”
“It's not very important to me,” Emma snapped. “Come on. Let's keep this party train rollin'. Choo-choo!”
Hunter stood up to leave, followed closely by his sisters.
Coraline turned back to look at Emma. “Hunter is right, mom. Now we need to hurry through business to see Dad in time.”
“Oh, I understand, Coraline. Hunter is a good little boy who's gotta go please a money-grubbing old man. Come on, kids. Hang out with your mother, who loves you. The others can take care of themselves. They're grown adults.”
Hunter glared at Emma. “Mom, I'd really like to, but….”
“Hunter… This isn't cute anymore. We are going to wherever I have planned right now.” Emma’s eyes sharpened. “End of discussion.”
Coraline and Rose looked at each other with that “we better get out of here” face.
“I guess it's okay if-Hey!” Coraline and Rose dragged Hunter out of the cafe.
Emma just looked shocked at the sudden departure. She looked down at her lap as she wiped her eyes. “Damnit.”
~o0o~
Hunter sat on the windowsill of Kenny’s house, where he listened to the older man rant on and on about money as he sharpened his sword. He was unaware of the crowd of young, pretty girls who gathered around a white picket fence opposite him.
“Hunter! Welcome home!” The girls yelled.
Hunter blushed as he gave the girls an awkward wave.
“Look! He's blushing! The girls giggled.
Garrett walked by the window.
“Look! There's Garrett! Welcome home, Garrett!” The girls called.
Garrett shrugged his shoulders before he walked out of view, not caring about the girls.
“Ahhh. He's no fun,” The girls pouted. They perked back up again as Mason slid into view.
“Hey, girls! Beautiful as ever.” He reached into his pockets and pulled out many expensive necklaces he took off from some of the bandits he killed. “I brought back a few gifts for ya!”
“I'll take one! I want an engagement ring!” The girls cheer in delight.
Mason couldn't help but laugh. “Hey, Kenny. The girls here aren't modest at all. It's wonderful.”
Kenny sat over a large business desk with a money scale, dozens of coins, and many papers with notes scribbled over them. He was an older man somewhere in his mid-sixties. His grey hair, which looked more like brittle hay, reached down his back. His beard looked just as horrible. His clothes were clearly meant for comfort as they resembled loose bathrobes. The bags under his eyes showed clear signs of the many long, sleepless nights counting money and doing paperwork.
His slave girl named Ada stood beside him. She was no older than twenty-one and wore a dirt-cheap blue dress that reached down to her ankles. Her cheap blond wig and even cheaper makeup failed to hide her albino identity. Brianna felt bad for Ada. Her life must be a living hell.
Kenny scribbled something down. “Hunter, can you please tell Mason to settle down? We're supposed to be talking business, not women. Time is money. Now, the cost to feed one of your group is one and a half silver coins per day. And that is not counting tax which has gone up, of course.”
Hunter’s group looks bored out of their minds.
Kenny puts a few coins on his money scale. “You have seven in your group. That's nine silvers a day. Counting you as well. The price of both pork and beef increased as well. You can thank the attacks from the Siren for that. So, If you want to eat meat daily, you will need…. Beer and other drinks are charged separately. And if you add the cost of lodging and firewood….”
His gaze is directed toward Jade, who noticed this and shifted uncomfortably. “If you don’t have enough money, you could always lend me Jade for a day or two. She should be able to make me enough Stones to pay for your expenses in that time.”
Hunter should have seen this coming. Kenny loved selling Stones at sky-high prices. “Kenny, leave Jade alone. We earned a lot this time. Give my party plenty of food and drinks. I'll pay.”
Kenny happily stroked his beard. “Ah, music to my ears. Now let's celebrate this transaction with a drink. Ada, we should still have spiced wine in the cellar. Oh, and bring juice for Coraline.”
Ada was staring off into space and does not move.
“Come now, Kenny. Do you really love money that much?” Hunter questioned.
Kenny lovingly held a silver coin up to his face. “Do you know of anyone who does not? Money is great. I wouldn't be surprised if the maidens gifted it to us as they did with Magic and Energy.”
He finally noticed Ada still standing there and grits his teeth. “Hey, Ada! What are you doing? Fetch the drinks!”
Ada looked down at Kenny with a lifeless, hopeless glance. “Yes, sir,” she said just above a whisper.
“Good grief, that girl is such an airhead,” Kenny mumbled.
“Well, that's a peculiar name. That slave girl of yours, is she from Scandinavia?” Garrett questioned.
Kenny paid careful attention to the money scale as he put a few coins on one it. “Yes. I had just bought her recently. She's the daughter of a general who spoke up against the government. She fled to this island after her family was executed. She's a good looker and fetched a high price even though she is merely albino. But she's been slow to learn her place. Let me tell you, these girls with good upbrings are prideful but know nothing about service.”
“Wait, I thought King Arthur the 1st abolished slavery after the Great War?” Rose wondered.
“Yes, it was. But the capital can only push its complete authority one hundred or so miles past its walls or at least that’s what I’ve read. The further we go past that line, the fewer rules to follow.” Kenny leaned back in his seat. “That's why I love it here. We're close enough to get financial, material support, and even occasional military protection but still far enough to avoid following a select few laws. I do wish villages far away from the main cities were more developed and not stuck in the medieval ages but you win some you lose some.
There was a loud crash. Ada was on her knees. Her wig has fallen over the toppled tray of drinks. Her albino white hair shrouded her face. Broken plates and spilled drinks both stained and cut her hands and dress.
Kenny stomped to a quivering Ada with a rider's crop in hand. “Ada!? Clean it up. Now!”
Ada, with her face still shrouded by her hair, doesn't respond while tear droplets fall. “You are not a noble woman anymore. You're a slave. That's all you are now.”
Kenny grabbed a handful of Ada's hair. “Stand up, you stupid girl! Don't forget that you're just a slave!”
Hunter and the others all looked disgusted, except for Brianna, who looked furious. She reached for her rifle, Phantom Enforcer, only for Garrett to grab her wrist.
“Let's get out of here,” Garrett suggested.
Even as the door was closed behind them, they could hear Kenny beat Ada.
Garrett looked down at Brianna. “You need to be more careful. If anyone discovers you're a-”
“I know,” Brianna interrupted. “I'll be forced to live in the Albino District and beaten within an inch of my life for pretending to be a normal person.”
Hunter placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Let’s forget about everything that happened today. It is time to see our loved ones. It's already getting dark.”
Coraline hugged Hunter's waist. “Will mom be there?”
“If she wants to come, she'll do it alone,” Hunter muttered.
“But-”
“Just drop it, Coraline. Mom is never going to change. I don’t even know why we try with her anymore,” Rose snapped.
“I miss how happy mom used to be when Papa was still alive….” Coraline thought.
~o0o~
The cemetery was a little more occupied than usual. Families and friends visited the graves of their loved ones, paying their respects. The reason for the surplus of visitors was that it was the anniversary of the Autumn Falls train wreck.
The wreck claimed the lives of hundreds of men, women, and children. Innocent people just trying to enjoy life. People who preferred a more scenic route than what the faster airships and boats provided by the more advanced cities. Sadly, that preference for scenery over efficiency and safety sealed their doom. Nearly the whole of Hunter's clan, The Dead Rabbits, were among those who died. Deciding to relocate the clan to London to evolve from a mercenary clan to a Huntsman clan by train was a deadly decision.
Hunter could still remember the screams, the crashing, the train car rolling around like a dropped can of soda, and how the people bounced around inside it like rubber balls.
Jade and Garrett were lucky. They joined the clan a few years after the train crash. They were spared having to live with those horrible memories. Emma was in London with her older brother Joey and his wife Vanessa then. Joey was the Huntsman who led the police search for the train. He was also the one who questioned Hunter and the others on what they saw and heard.
Head... Like that scream… That terrible scream. Hunter and the others remembered the scream most of all. The scream was the signal. The signal for the Shadows to move in. No one believed any of them, of course. The doctors just marked it up as some hallucination they experienced due to the trauma of the whole event. The doctors kept telling them it wasn't the Shadows who derailed the train. Instead, they just chalked it up as an accident, a tragic accident that should never have happened, but an accident, nonetheless.
Their opinion changed during the following weeks when more trains were found derailed and the wrecks covered with Shadows. The nations eventually realized that they were responsible. Instead of investigating how the Shadows figured out how to derail trains, they rebuilt the train tracks on raised platforms to keep them out of reach. The official story was that several experienced Shadows had coincidently found out how to quickly derail train tracks to each other.
Hunter knew it wasn't that simple, though. Far too many Shadows were waiting for them for it to be an accident. It was too coordinated. He had watched from inside their train car as Mutts and Teddys cut down anyone who tried to escape. He and his crew survived only by some strange stroke of luck. Luck and his father's sacrifice. His father had been a great Huntsman who protected his clan and other innocent people with little regard for his safety. He taught Hunter how to shoot when he was seven and how to maintain a weapon at five.
All Hunter had of him now was his Huntsman weapon. His revolver, Red Redemption. His father gave it to him right before telling him and the others to run and never look back. They did what they were told. Hunter led the others out with Red Redemption, ready to blast any Shadows that got in the way. Only to see them run right past them.
Hunter couldn't fathom this behavior then or now, as he was too busy ensuring the others were still running together. And boy, did they run. He and the others could only run, their minds too horrified by the possibility that the Shadows would pounce on them as soon as they stopped. They were so caught up in running that they didn't even notice the airships flying above until Joey and some military officers jumped in front of them. Even then, it took some effort to stop them. The next thing Hunter knew, he was in a hospital bed with his mother sitting beside him and the others fast asleep in their respective beds. That was seven years ago. Since then, he and the rest of his crew lived in Castell Henllys, carrying on the clan's tradition of defending villages that pay up enough. They became unlicensed Huntsmen, which are just a step above mercenaries, and as far as things are now, have no intention of traveling back to London in the future.
Coraline, Rose, and Hunter approached a gravestone while Mason and Brianna branched off over to some others.
It reads, "Eric Miles Kendric. D.R. chief, husband, and father of three. " March 20th, 2141 – March 20th, 2183."
Coraline reached into a bag and brought out a small bouquet of roses. “Do you think Papa would like these?” Coraline questioned.
“I think he will,” Hunter nodded.
“I'm sure he is glad you picked them out, Coraline,” Rose continued. “Dad always liked whatever you picked out for him.”
Coraline nodded and lowered them with so much care one might think they would shatter if dropped. Once the flowers were placed on the grave, Hunter, Rose, and Coraline put their hands together and lowered their heads slightly.
“Hi, Papa. It's me, Coraline,” not even a minute into talking, she was already tearing up. "I'm with Rose and Hunter. Mama didn't come like always. We miss you a lot. We're doing good with fighting werewolves and Shadows. So, no need to worry. We still haven't had much luck keeping new members other than Jade and Garrett,” her lip starts trembling. She started sobbing as Hunter rubbed soothing circles on her back.
“Sorry we don't come around more. Like Coraline said, we've been busy,” Hunter cracked a weak smile. “Don't worry. I keep everyone in line. You taught me how to be a leader very well.” His smile contorted back into a frown. “I miss you. We all miss you a whole lot. Not a day goes by when I'm not thinking of you.”
Hunter removed the armor around his right hand and arm and revealed that it was entirely wrapped in a thick layer of bandages. A permanent reminder of what that thing did to him and his clan. When his father struck the small humanoid Shadow over the head with that metal pipe, the blood splattered from its head and landed on Hunter's arm. At first, the blood seemed to stain his arm, but over the years, his arm slowly morphed into an inhuman appendage. It sickened Hunter to look down at his arm, thinking of how similar he and that monster now were. He knew that thing was most likely the Siren.
He pulled Red Redemption out of its holster. “I'm gonna become what you were, Dad. I swear I'm gonna protect people and make the world safer.” Tears started to roll down his cheeks as he clenched the revolver in his hands. “I'm not going to let any more kids go through what we had to.” He hiccuped, unable to contain his grief and sorrow.
Hunter felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Rose, tears streaming down her face too.
The two lean on each other, with Coraline, squeezed in the center. “I won’t hunt that thin, father. I will not take my group on a suicide revenge mission. But if I ever manage to run into that Shadow, the Siren, I am going to kill it.”