Hunter of the Dark by J A Graham Read Free Book Online

sprawled out on the grass, sobbing her eyes out. He paused at the sound but refused to let it get to him this time. Tilting his head to the side, he surveyed her carefully, digging his claws into the bare skin on her back. Poor pitiful human. Nothing to live for, nothing to die for. He mused about this quietly as the girl turned to view her assailant. Something in that movement caught the Canine and held him as she glanced into his eyes. The dancing fire that was normally captured in the grey quivered, and then died, like a candle finally surrendering to the wind. Something about those eyes…Ancient memories sifted and stirred. Something snapped within and he released his grip.
    No! Something screamed from within. The time to quench your thirst has come. Take it, for it is an offering to your power, a sacrifice to your name.
    Something else was there too; a more humane side and the Canine tilted his head to the other side as he listened.
    Here is your friend. Can you harm such a beautiful creature, made in the image of God? For if there was a name for beauty, it is she.
    The Canine jumped off her back as Tanitha peered after him, lowered his head to look at her with gleaming green eyes, and then was gone.
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Tanitha stood up, trembling. That creature must have been the attacker of the previous victim. But why had he spared her life? Her out of all people. She was confused and it showed clearly. Then, still shaking, she went to seek Christian, suddenly wanting his comfort more than ever. He was her friend. Tanitha had no doubt about it.
    But there was something about that dog…Dog? Or wolf? No, Tanitha told herself, there are no wolves in New Zealand. Tanitha knew that much. A soft rustling alerted her and she spun wildly, facing the bushes surrounding a particularly tall pine tree.
    “ Who’s there?!” She screamed hysterically, frightened out of her mind. “Please! Who’s there?!”
    She felt strong arms wrap around her and she stiffened, muffling a scream. She then relaxed and turned, sobbing onto Cameron’s broad chest. Cameron smoothed her messed hair, making quiet soothing sounds. The place where the dog’s claws had dug into her back throbbed and flamed bright red. Cameron’s torch lit the once night-covered area.
    “What happened?” He asked after a while of just standing there comforting her. Tanitha pulled away and scanned him through red-rimmed eyes. His face was bloodied and he housed a black eye but he didn’t seem physically exhausted after the fight.
    “ Something…tried to…attack me…”
    “ The same ‘something’ that killed that child?”
    Tanitha nodded, her head spinning. Cameron kissed her on the cheek then took her hand, leading her back towards the house. Tanitha’s mind flashed back to Christian. Her mouth opened and she pulled away from Cameron, stumbling forward as she found her own feet. Cameron caught her on the wrist and spun her around, his face clouding unattractively again. One thing she noticed with Christian was that even when he was angry, he still managed to stay cute, unlike Cameron.
    “What the hell are you at?!”
    “ Chris…he’s out there! With that…thing…”
    Cameron’s face softened as worry flickered over her features like the last lightning worrying a storm.
    “You really care about him, don’t you?”
    Tanitha nodded, the only thing she could do as she realised she did care about him. And why shouldn’t she? He was her friend, maybe her only friend. She had reason to keep an eye out for his well being.
    Cameron sighed.
    “ Okay, let’s go look for him then.” He said, resigning to his fate. Tanitha padded slowly into the forest. Her eyes were wary and watchful. She could hear Cameron’s footsteps not far off behind her. She breathed in the fresh smell on pine, but something marred the sweet scent. Something with an irony tang to it. Tanitha’s stomach lurched as she recognised the smell. It took all she could to fight back