Samuel brings his pick-up truck to a stop on the side of the road. He takes the keys out, “We’re here.”

“Where?” Camille asks, looking out the window at nothing but bayou and highway.

“Alfrigg’s is that way.” He points to the east.

Camille climbs out of the back seat and turns back to Hunter. “Come on,” she urges him.

“Need to feed,” Hunter gravels out, eyeing Samuel then Henry.

“Get out of the truck and I’ll give you more blood.” Camille opens the flap on the messenger bag, holding the blood.

“I can’t believe we had time to stop for blood, but not for me to change,” Samuel complains, tugging the tight pants down from constricting his crotch.

Camille flashes him a dirty look and Henry quirks his brow, “The way he was looking at us, I think the blood was more important.”

Hunter gets out of the truck and drinks down two bags before they start their trek into the bayou.

Camille looks down at her shoes, “It’s muddy in there, isn’t it?”

Samuel rolls his eyes, “Yeah, let's not talk wardrobe issues right now, at least you had a choice.”

“I wouldn’t have chosen Jimmy Choo’s if I knew we’d be mudding,” she snaps.

Hunter stands straight up, alert and ready to go. He starts with purpose into the marshy woods.

“Hey, wait up,” Henry says, also lamenting what’s going to happen to his dress shoes.

Hunter doesn’t regard them, he moves toward the pull. He can feel her, still smell her scent on the air. Camille is the only one able to catch up with him.

Henry and Samuel lag behind, Samuel calls out, “You can’t get in without me.”

Hunter stops and waits for them to catch up, “What do you mean?”

“It’s enchanted, I have to go in bring her out,” Samuel explains.

“I need to get to her faster than that. I can feel her slipping away,” Hunter says, nearly frantic.

“We’ll get there on time,” Samuel promises.

They all run through the marsh, Henry using his magic to keep up.

Samuel stops short, “Hold up.”

“What is it?” Henry asks.

Hunter’s lip curls up and his fists ball at his sides, “Vampires.”

“Yeah.” Samuel nods as the wheels turn in his head, “We have to be careful how we proceed.”

“Fuck that,” Hunter says, moving forward boldly through the trees.

He stops when he sees two vampires standing together. He looks around to make sure they are the only ones in the area.

“Well, well, Bjorn Turgard.”

“Augustus,” Hunter growls.

“Oh, sorry, you gave up that name, didn’t you?”

“Long ago.” Hunter’s mouth twitches to a half smile at the thought of killing him.

“What brings you to the bayou?” Augustus adjusts his black suit jacket, striding smoothly in Hunter’s direction.

“I don’t have time for pleasantries.” Hunter’s fierce eyes never release Augustus. “Not that anything involving you has ever been pleasant.”

“Camille, a pleasure as always.” Augustus walks toward her, holding his hand out.

Camille shrinks back with a sick look on her face.

“Stay away from her,” Hunter warns.

“Bjorn, you should know better than to interrupt a family reunion.” Sarcasm drips from Augustus’s tongue.

Camille takes a step back behind Samuel.

“Augustus, you have to leave, now,” Samuel demands.

“Is that an order from The Directive?” A sardonic smile stretches across his sharp features.

“Yes,” Samuel demands.

“Warren may have something say about that,” Augustus says smugly.

Henry steps forward, “My authority trumps Warren’s.”

“Who are you?” August speaks to him as though Henry’s a small annoyance.

“I’m Henry Grimes. I’m from the home office.” He quirks his brow.

“So, a wolf, a witch and two vampires go to the bayou, sounds like an interesting story. Perhaps we’re all working toward the same goal.” Augustus backs down slightly.

Warren appears from the tree line, he leans into Augustus, “There’s no other way.”

Samuel shakes his head in disgust at how blatantly crooked Warren is.

“I assume we’re all here for the rook?” Augustus lays his proverbial cards on the table. “We aren’t able to get in, the troll has it protected.” Augustus turns, motioning to a pile of dust by the entry tree. “Very unfortunate end for vampires.”

Samuel exchanges a glance with Hunter and Henry, “Fight?”

A satisfied smile spreads across Hunter’s lips, “I thought you’d never ask.”

Hunter slides his suit jacket off his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground.

Camille sheds her shoes and shifts her stance nervously. “Hunter, I can’t...” she says apprehensively.

“Not to worry, he’s mine. You worry about the others.” He never takes his eyes from Augustus.

Samuel looks to Henry, “You going to be okay?”

Henry smiles with two glowing orbs already conjured in his hands, “I’ll be just fine.”

Warren, Augustus and the other vampire form a line in front of the tree. Everyone’s waiting for Hunter to make the first move.

Hunter unbuttons his white shirt and drops it to the ground. He flexes his huge chest; the ancient tattoos appear to brighten and pulse at the prospect of battle. He lets out a loud roar, lunging at Augustus.

They all move into action, Camille taking the vampire to the right. She tackles him, clawing at his neck and face. He’s much younger and hasn’t been trained to fight by a Viking.

She’s never been a fighter, but she’s finding great enjoyment in slashing and disabling any vampire in league with her maker, Augustus.

Henry pummels Warren with his ultraviolet balls of light. Warren stumbles backward with each hit, his flesh turning to dust where every ball hits. It takes a moment, but he recovers from each blast. He lunges toward Henry baring his fangs, ready to drink from the witch. Henry dodges his speed, he’s no stranger to battling a vampire.

Samuel waits until the vampires are all occupied and darts past them to the entrance into Alfrigg’s realm.

Hunter and Augustus exchange blow after blow. Hunter’s ferocious nature revels in every strike. They wrestle and struggle, Augustus particularly protective of his neck.

Hunter feels the savage awakened in him, his blood pumping and filling with adrenaline. Augustus may be nearly as old as Hunter, but he’s no match in battle.

Hunter picks Augustus up by the neck and tosses him like a rag doll against a tree. Augustus’s claws rake across Hunter’s chest, leaving four trails of blood.

Hunter looks down, running his finger along one of the deep gouges. He examines the blood on his fingers and licks it off with a half grin and a crazed look in his eye.

Augustus tries to get away, but Hunter grabs him by his long hair. He throws him on the ground and grabs a branch from the nearest, tree breaking off the thin end with the leaves and tossing it aside.

Hunter straddles Augustus, drawing the makeshift stake back, “I could rip you in two if I had time, but I’m going to stop toying with you and kill you now.” Hunter’s out for blood and virtually unstoppable.

Augustus begins to laugh under Hunter’s grasp, “You think I’m the real threat?”

“I don’t care, I’m just going to kill you,” Hunter pants, licking his lips.

“I’ll tell you.” August holds his hands up in front of him protectively.

“Speak,” Hunter demands with the stake still poised in the air.

Augustus swallows hard, taking too long to answer. Hunter plunges the stake into his heart. Augustus’s eyes widen in shock that this is the end of his life. He gazes absently past Hunter and whispers, “Calder.”

Hunter freezes in place at the mention of that name from his past. Augustus lets out one last gasp before his body turns to dust.

Camille appears at Hunter’s side, looking down at the remains her maker. Confusion runs through her, the hatred for what he’s done to her mingling with the loss of her vampire father. She waits a moment and rests her hand on Hunter’s bare shoulder.

He spins around, at the ready to fight, but stops when he sees her.

Camille studies his expression, “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

Hunter shakes his head absently, “Only the name of one.”