Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Thirteen

"Claire!"

Claire blinked and saw Liam staring at her with concern In his eyes.

"Are you alright, Claire?"

She nodded when suddenly she remembered the arrow that had been positioned behind his head. "Are you hurt?" She asked.

He chuckled. "I merely caught you, so you won't fall when you zoned out that doesn't mean I'm hurt."

"I'm serious. Let me check your head."

He turned around and bent a little as her 5ft4 couldn't compare to his 6ft7. She squinted but she saw nothing. No arrows or injury on his head. "Do you feel pain in your body?" She asked.

He chuckled. "Not at all, Princess."

She nodded and sat down. She could have sworn she had seen him and heard his voice. Her mind couldn't be playing tricks on her.

"You look deathly pale like you saw a ghost," Liam commented.

Ghost is one word for it, she mused.

"Stay here let me get you water."

Before she could protest that she didn't want to be left alone, he had gone. She shivered as fear crept up her skin. She had no idea what this person wanted but she was sure he was real.

And yet nobody would believe her. She was starting to sound crazy. Could It be that after her parent's death she couldn't cope, she got a severe mental breakdown and all these things have been her imagination. Maybe she was locked up in an asylum somewhere but wasn't ready to face the world.

She pinched herself so hard and groaned, the pain was too real to ignore and so was Adam's kiss.

"Here's your glass of... Claire, look out!"

The shattering of glass and Adam's scream was a quick warning for Claire to duck quickly just as a hideous creature sailed over her head and charged at Liam.

"Liam!" She screamed, running towards him and slamming a chair on the creature.

"Let's go inside!" Liam exclaimed, grabbing her hands as they ran inside.

She bumped into her father that was coming towards the pool.

"What happened, Claire?"

"A creature. It attacked me and Claire," Liam replied quickly, still panting.

"What creature?" Adam asked confused.

"I don't know, Adam. I knocked it down with a chair," she replied.

"Are you sure it's..."

A loud piercing scream from the party hall interrupted Adam.

"Dead," he finished.

"What is this thing?! Get It off!!"

They raced towards the sitting room where the party was taking place and Claire screamed when she saw the creature hovering over Anna. "Somebody, help!" She screamed.

The entire guest stood with their mouth wide open In shock until the policemen in the party shot at the creature.

It screeched and dropped down writhing in pain before It stopped moving.

The crowd cheered happily.

"Let's burn this party pooper!" Someone exclaimed in the crowd and aroused more uproar.

"Stay here with Adam, let me check on Anna," Liam said, placing a soft kiss on her forehead before leaving.

"What is that thing, Dad?" Claire asked.

"If my guess is right then it's a goblin that has just escaped from the veil," he replied.

"A goblin? But it's so disgusting," she said resisting the urge to gag.

She stared at the skeletal bundle of bones sprawled on the floor with long sharp nails and razor-sharp teeth that elongated from his jaw of bones.

"It just escaped, Claire. It needs to feed to regain strength," he explained.

"But it's dead, right?"

Adam said nothing.

"Dad?"

"To kill a goblin, you have to freeze it and hack it into pieces. Any further action aside from this you take against it makes them aggressive, but I guess this one is weak...or not." Claire heard a loud screeching sound as the goblin stood up and eyed the officer who had shot him with his blank eye socket.

"Adam! Get away from there!!" Claire shrieked. He was standing close to Anna who was standing beside the policeman. "Dad, do something," she pleaded.

"Anything I do would expose us to these people. It's dangerous," Adam replied.

Claire watched as the goblin stalked towards the man and screeched again. The gunshots began again, and it was deafening.

"We need to get out of here, Claire. Goblins don't travel alone, I think he's calling the others," Adam said.

"Let's lure it out and try to freeze It then you kill it," Claire suggested.

"There's a special sword used for that and I don't have it," Adam replied.

With a flick of his skeletal hand, he knocked the policemen down. Everyone screamed and took to their heels, but It was too late, three goblins were waiting outside. "Claire, I'm coming for you!" Liam exclaimed, running towards her.

The warning she wanted to scream died In her throat as the goblin lifted Liam off the ground.

"Dad, do something!" She screamed.

"You aren't having my son for dinner, you despicable monster!"

Claire watched wide-eyed as Tyler brandished his sword before aiming it at the goblin. A single swing and the despicable creature was slaughtered.

The goblins outside charged straight at Tyler.

"Dad, be careful!" Liam exclaimed, running towards him.

"Get back boy. Allow them to come!" Tyler growled.

One by one he hacked the goblins into pieces without breaking a sweat, he did it with precision and clarity almost like it was something he was used to. When they had gathered the goblins' pieces and burnt them, the crowd cheered for Tyler.

"Give it up to our town's protector, Tyler Hudson!" Captain Jones exclaimed.

More cheering and clapping before Tyler decided they should all go home and have an early rest.

"We've had enough fun for one day," Tyler declared.

Claire sighed and looked around for Adam and Liam. She couldn't find Adam, but she found Liam with his mom.

"Stop crying, mom. I wasn't hurt," he said caressing her hair.

Lilian raised a teary face and hugged Claire. "I heard it attacked you outside as well."

Claire nodded. "I'm fine, Lilian."

Nodding and sniffing, she made her way inside leaving Claire and Liam.

"Have you seen my dad?"

Liam eyed her worriedly.

"Claire, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm sorry I meant Adam. He's now like a father to me," she amended Immediately.

Liam shook his head. "No, but I was so worried about you."

"I'm not the one who got grabbed. You have to be more careful, Liam. Don't scare me like that again," she cried burying her face In his chest.

"I'm sorry, love," he murmured, kissing her temples and caressing her hair.

"I didn't know your father could fight like that though," Claire commented.

Liam nodded. "Me neither."

Time to go!

Claire frowned as Adam's voice echoed in her mind. He sounded upset and distant.

"I have to go; my uncle is waiting for me."

He nodded and walked her to the place where their car was parked. Adam barely glanced at Liam who was waving at them, he just drove off. Weird, Claire thought.

***

Claire stood up and yawned, stretching her sore muscles as the picture of an arrow coming towards Liam flashed In her mind.

She shrugged it off as her imagination and focused on the fact that they were attacked by real goblins.

Last night's party hadn't gone according to how they wanted It but at least she got her perfect uninterrupted moment. After brushing and bathing, she grabbed a pink tank top and white shorts before slipping her legs into her white slippers. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and headed downstairs where the aroma of fresh eggs assaulted her senses. "Good morning, dad," she chirped, picking up a toast and munching on it.

"I don't want you seeing Liam or any of his family members again."

Claire's mouth hung open, her half-eaten toast in her hand and the particles in her mouth threatening to fall out. "What did you say, dad?" She asked, swallowing the food in her mouth.

"Exactly what you heard," Adam retorted, turning off the gas cooker and arranging the food on the dining table.

"Dad, you can't just wake up one morning and tell me to stay away from my new boyfriend," she said trying to be calm.

"No, princess. I had the whole night to think about it and it makes sense," he replied.

"You think Liam isn't good for me? You think he's going to put me in danger?"

"Yes, I'm glad you understand," he nodded.

"No dad, I don't understand. I don't think Liam has anything to do with the goblin. Before it attacked I saw the green-eyed guy release an arrow towards Liam only to realize It wasn't real and now you want me to not date him?" "Yes, Claire. I want you to leave him and his family. Stay away. Someone knows of your weakness and is using it against you," he replied.

"Weakness. What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your powers, Claire. No one is supposed to know except In the realm but now someone knows not just your powers but weaknesses!"

"What is my weakness then?"

"Emotions. Whoever is doing this is trying to create fear in your mind so you won't even trust yourself, you will become scared of yourself and start doubting your capability."

"When you don't trust yourself, Claire who will you trust?"

"What has Liam got to do with this?"

"I don't know but someone is out to harm you."

"Well, it can't be Liam."

"How do you know that? You just met him, Claire."

"Then tell me one reason why I should stay away from him!"

"Just do what I tell you to do for once and stop arguing!"

"No!"

"Sit down, Claire let me tell you something else that I left out."

Grudgingly, she sat down still glaring at him.

"Faeries are immortal and invincible beings. No one can cause any harm to us except one person. They were called the hunters, their rage towards us is overwhelming and they always hunt us down. After the war where we defeated them and killed all the hunters, we've searched the earth and we've not seen a single one of them."

"Don't change the topic, dad," Claire groaned.

"Hunters are from five different families. They're all of one lineage but that day we killed every single one of them from the youngest to the oldest."

"Congratulations! Can I go now?"

Adam winced at her sarcastic tone, but he continued.

"The hunter's legacy, teachings, and weapons are passed down from generation to generation and only a hunter can wield a hunter's weapon." Claire rolled her eyes.

"You're starting to sound like my boring history teacher."

"You need to learn your history so you will know how to defend yourself!"

"Whatever, Adam. I'm done with this conversation," she snapped standing up and heading upstairs but Adam's next words made her stop dead in her tracks. "Tyler Hudson is a hunter, Claire!"

"What?!" Claire exclaimed.

"Liam Hudson is the last of his kind, he's the last hunter!"