“What hunt?” Lady Faygin asks stepping closer to him. She dips a long red fingernail into the small glass he holds and smells the thick liquid before sucking her finger. Her eyes fly wide open and she moans in ecstasy. The other members watch her intently as she nods at them. “Powerful, exotic, and something else I can’t identify,” she murmurs.
“Very well then, moving on.” Caius shoots the glass of rich blood down and nods at the lab tech. An answered nod and she rolls the cart out. The elevator doors open and Caius smiles. “Right on time.” A male vampire walks forward attempting to hide the rush of adrenaline in his body. Large, at over six feet three inches and muscular, his scent surrounds those watching.
“What’s all of this? I thought this was a private event?” Dario demands.
“If you’ve changed your mind, I have another buyer waiting,” Caius says, setting his glass down on a railing.
“No!” He replies quickly. His eyes flick to the group and then to the cages behind them. “Do I choose now?”
“Yes, take your time. It needs to be the right fit for you.” The technician guides him past each glass enclosure. One, by, one, he approaches each beast, until he settles on his choice. Crouching down in front of the gorilla he grins when it glares at him and shows his teeth.
“This one,” Dario points and the golden eyes stare at him. The massive beast stands on its knuckles and rushes the glass wall, sliding to a stop just before slamming into it.
“Excellent, follow me.” The technician leads him back to the middle where the dome waits.
Caius turns and looks at the group. “This is the good part.”
“Caius this is absurd. These animals stand no chance against a vampire.” Lord Emmanuel rumbles.
“That is where you are wrong. These are not ordinary animals, My Lord.”
Caius joins the technician and looks at the larger vampire. “Remember what you are up against,” he warns the large vamp.
Bouncing on his toes his adrenaline is pumping, and he punches the air swiftly like a boxer waiting for a fight. “I’m ready.”
“So be it.” Caius punches a code on the sliding door. “Early morning, rainforest.” The tropical heat rushes out and the vampire doesn’t look back. He rushes inside as the door seals shut.
“This way, ladies and gentlemen.” The assistant guides them to a lift which takes the group inside the dome where they can watch the action. A large metallic walkway hangs above the crests of the big trees. The rainforest is an inviting escape from the harsh reality of the cities outside. With its massive trees, thick ferns, and green foliage, it is a lush, dense oasis. Caius guides them inside and can barely contain his excitement.
“I’ve created a way, for our people, to do what we were born to do. Hunt. Here they are invited to hunt without breaking the laws that govern our people. But what kind of challenge would it be, if these were just mere animals? As you noted earlier, an animal, even an Apex predator would stand no chance against a vampire, but what if I could offer you more?”
“More what?” Lord Emmanuel asks, trying to hide the interest in his eyes.
“Watch and see.” In the distance, the sound of a door opening can be heard. The beast crashes through the bottom layer of the rain forest, running and savoring his freedom. Dario explores, choosing a spot to wait while the beast becomes comfortable with his surroundings. Crouching in a tree above the gorilla, Dario grins as he explores the forest. Birds call out and take flight, away from the noisy animal when he grunts and pounds his enormous fists on the ground. Comfortable now, the six-hundred-pound gorilla sits and chews on a piece of grass.
A soft rain begins to mist down over the entire forest and the gorilla catches a scent in the air. He stands on his massive, muscular arms and stares into the forest. Dario leaps to the earth below with a splash. They circle each other until the gorilla screams in rage and rushes at Dario. One second before the gorilla reaches him, Dario leaps to a treetop. The gorilla slides to a stop, dropping to his knuckles, it leaps after Dario with surprising agility. He catches onto a tree branch and swings after the vampire. Dario can almost taste the rich, addictive blood as he swings for the beast in midair. They collide and both drop back to the earth below in a crash of broken branches and leaves.
Dario grabs the two massive arms and for one second he stares into the eyes of the beast. They wrestle on the ground before leaping away from each other. Circling once more, Dario watches in stunned silence as its teeth elongate and the face of the beast changes. A black liquid seeps into its eyes, mixing with the yellow iris, turning them black as night. The gorilla tilts its head back, releasing a howl as its face cracks and a muzzle pushes out. Dario leaps back, putting space between him and the beast to watch the shift. It falls to the earth below with a thud and the folded knuckles snap straight and massive claws rip through the ends. Blood spurts and flesh rips but still he watches his prey. Even when his spine cracks and a scream erupts, it stands up on two feet, never losing eye contact with his prey.
Dario grins and leaps away, looking for a place to hide and surprise his enemy. He has forgotten the ferocious speed of a werewolf. What can only be called a monster now, sniffs the air and looks towards the woods tracking the movement of the vampire? A glimmer of what can only be called excitement fills his now fully black eyes. Sniffing
