Hellhound by Rue Volley

shards on the floor. I looked down and saw many of me, all splintered off and in bits and pieces just as I felt now. I was not quite sure of who I was, who I would become or where I was headed. Then Gunner stepped up behind me and I saw him in the shards along with me. I calmed down as he looked …right, as if standing behind me made a difference. I turned, having to look upward as he was at least a foot taller than I was.
    “That was bullshit Gunner.”
    He reached up and touched my hair as the small act just left me a bit flustered in a seriously hot way. He pulled his hand back and had a small piece of mirror in his hand. He looked at it as he turned it over in his hand and then tossed it behind me. It landed amongst the rest of the mess on my floor.
    “It was a necessary evil Halo.”
    “Really? I really needed to be humiliated by a vampire?”
    “You needed to understand how dangerous they are, a vampire is a worthy advisory and to survive with them you have to stay focused and impervious to their lure.”
    “I feel like an asshole.”
    He paused and I tilted my head.
    “You are not an asshole, it doesn’t matter who you are, a vampire is a predator and can kill at will. They are built for it. I am just grateful that Dorin is a Hellhound and not a target. He would be a pain in the ass to kill.”
    “I can only imagine.” I said as he watched me walk to the window and stare out at the setting sun. The sky was streaked in pink and gray as the sun was quickly escaping this world and travelling to the next. I knew that we would be going out soon to kill, my first hunt. I won’t lie, I am nervous. I mean what if I…
    “You will be amazing Halo.” Gunner said as he stepped up next to me and stared out at the sky with me. The colors lit up his face and I had a hard time ignoring his beauty. He was truly stunning and before I could look away he turned and looked down at me. His expression was calm, as always, which was confusing. He seemed to a master of hiding his emotions, I, on the other hand, seemed to be a fucking failure at it.
    “What if I fuck up?” I said to him and he stepped up to me and took my hands, he held them and let his thumbs run across the tops of both of them, sending small waves of nervousness up my arms. I looked at his hands as he watched my face too closely. He then cleared his throat.
    “You are a Hellhound, just as I am. We are protectors of this world and we were chosen for a reason. We have greatness inside of us, not only are we able to kill that which should not be, but we have compassion. It is a blend that is not found often. You should be proud to be with us Halo. This is a mission that we cannot fail at, many lives depend on us and I have faith in you as does everyone here.”
    “Really, I mean you believe me?” I asked him and he leaned up as I closed my eyes and prepared for the kiss I knew was coming, then I opened one eye as he spoke to me.
    “You will be amazing, now come.”
    I opened my other eye and once again felt like an asshole for prepping for the kiss that would not come. I had to get this shit out of my mind. The one kiss he had given to me in the elevator was obviously out of pity and not love.  He let go of my hands and walked to my door as I stood there and sighed. Maybe this was Hell for me, having this hot guy so close and yet a million miles away.
    “Halo?” he said and I nodded to him.
    “I am ready.” I started to follow him as my heart sank a little deeper into my chest.
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    Chapter Five
    HUNT
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
    I lowered my goggles that Finna had handed to me before we came on the hunt. They reminded me of some Steampunk style glasses, all bronzed metal with two spikes coming off the tops of each round lens. The strap was the same color and held my red hair in place as I watched Ari riding a beast from hell. We had encountered it while on this first hunt, it