Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Fourteen

Claire's shocked expression was a reminder of her father's words.

"Liam Hudson Is the last of his kind. He's a hunter!"

"Claire!"

Claire blinked and stared into her father's warm eyes that had changed to a warm shade of light brown.

"Claire, I'm so sorry for telling you about this information like this," he said.

She shook her head and sat down on the nearest couch for fear of her wobbly legs.

"You can't be sure, dad," she mumbled.

"I'm as shocked as you are, my love. I just found out last night," he replied.

"How did you know? It's not possible," she cried.

"I saw the insignia on his sword when he hacked those goblins to pieces. That sword was no ordinary sword, it's the only sword capable of killing any immortal being and It can only be wielded by a hunter." Claire remembered seeing the way Tyler had handled the sword thinking that he had fought like a warrior, now this explains it.

"But was he in your realm that day?"

"Tyler wasn't there. I should have known the hunters won't easily give up their entire lineage just like that."

"But Liam said he didn't know his father fought like that," Claire persisted. She refused to believe that the person she had grown to like was going to harm her.

"I don't know, Claire. They get initiated at the age of eighteen," he sighed.

"He's eighteen years birthday is next weekend," she said.

"There's a full moon on Sunday night next week, that's when the Initiation can take place."

"I don't want to stay away from him, dad," she wailed.

"You can't possibly love him, Claire. You just met him."

"It makes no difference that I feel something deeply for him!"

"Fine! You wanna hang out with a hunter then I won't let you do that without you knowing how to protect yourself."

"Fine. Where do we train?"

"Shut the doors, let's go to the backyard."

***

Claire was sweating profusely as she stared at the tiny flower before her. Even though she was outside in the garden, the perspiration on her face was because of her task. "Dad, this is so hard!" She shrieked.

"No, it's not. You can make mighty winds and heavy rainfall so you should be able to perform this small task," he shrugged.

Claire glared at his now glowing golden orbs and tried again. She stared at the flower that she had been asked to extract the water from and then she took a deep breath and extended her palm. Nothing happened.

"You have to concentrate, Claire. Try to connect with the water in the flower."

She closed her eyes and visualized the flowers in her mind-eye. She focused and tried to draw water from the flower. Nothing happened. Again.

"This is bullshit!" She exclaimed just as water shot out of all the flowers in her garden. They all dried up and died. "You were saying?" Adam cocked a brow at her.

"Dad, do something, my flowers are dead," she cried.

"I'm not the one with water powers, baby. Besides, I said only that single flower before you," Adam pointed out.

Claire glared at the flower before her and saw that it wasn't shriveled like the rest, it still had water.

"Damn you!" She screamed at the flower but still, it didn't lose a single petal or a drop of water. "Dad, this flower is testing me!" She snapped.

Adam nodded. "Yes, put all the water back In these flowers and they'll be as good as new."

"Dad! Why are you even teaching me elemental powers? You ought to teach me magic and spells," she whined.

"Claire, a time will come that even your magic will fail you but once you become one with the elements you can call upon them whenever you need them. That is your greatest power, child." "You make a good point, dad but the darn elements don't want me to connect with them."

"Meditate, Claire. The elements can tell you something too."

Claire sighed and sat cross-legged on the floor when her dad left and tried to feel her power. She closed her eyes and tried to connect with her powers.

She felt a tug and she listened. The tug continued and she gave In to the pull and when she opened her eyes, she shuddered.

She was standing on a lonely desolate road and there was no source of light there. She heard a trickling sound and followed it only to realize it was the trickle of someone's blood who was hanged on a tree.

A scream ripped from her throat and she stumbled back falling, her hands flailed helplessly around as she began sinking in the ground.

When the earth had completely covered her face, she fell and didn't stop screaming until she was on solid ground.

She saw herself in a dark place that looked like a cave, yet she had a strange feeling that it wasn't a cave.

She heard her name being whispered in every opening and when she whirled around, she gasped as she stared in sunken blue eyes. "Claire, help!"

She screamed when the figure reached out a skeletal hand towards her and she shut her eyes in fear.

"Claire!"

Still screaming and thrashing, Claire opened her eyes to realize that she was in her garden and her dad was looking very worried. "Princess, are you alright?" He asked.

She nodded. "I was so scared, it felt so real dad."

"Hush now, princess. No one would dare hurt you not when I'm around," he said hugging her tightly.

She allowed him to hold her while caressing her hair as she bawled her eyes out, her body still quivering with fear.

"It's alright, Princess. I'm here."

After she had finally stopped crying, she told him exactly all that had happened, and he nodded but after she had sunk into the ground she burst into tears.

"It's okay, Claire. You don't have to tell me," Adam said.

Claire shook her head as she described the place she had seen and what she had seen there.

"An outstretched skeletal hands and blue eyes asked for your help In a place you don't know," Adam summarized.

She nodded.

"Did this figure make any attempt to harm you?" He asked puzzled.

She shook her head. "I just stared into blue sunken, sad eyes." "Claire!"

Adam groaned. "This kid always picks the bad times to come here."

"Is the door locked dad? Just let him in," Claire said exhausted.

"We're In the garden, Scot."

A few minutes later, his brown hair appeared in her line of view as he strode towards them. He wore snug-fitting jeans and a shirt; his expression was full of concern. "Hi, Adam."

Adam nodded at him.

"Claire, how are you doing?" He asked sitting down beside her.

"Fine," Claire replied.

"I heard about the attack last night and I've been on duty so I couldn't come," he began, "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, Scot. Thanks for your concern," she smiled at him.

"That's good to know," he nodded then glanced at Adam and sighed.

"I'll be on my way then," he mumbled just as another voice rang inside her house.

"Over here, Liam!" She exclaimed, joy bubbling in her chest.

Adam gave her a warning look, but she shrugged. Liam came towards her and pulled her in a fierce embrace before placing a kiss on her temples then he noticed Adam was standing there. "Hello, sir."

Adam cocked a brow at him and sighed. "Keep her happy, Hudson!"

Then he stalked into the house and Claire doubled over with laughter at the look of terror on Liam's face.

"I only greeted him," he mumbled.

"So, you two are together now?" Scot asked them.

Liam wrapped a protective hand around her waist. "Yeah, do you have a problem with that?"

"Dude, chill out! Don't act all alpha male on me, I was merely curiously," Scot chuckled.

"Sorry," Liam mumbled sheepishly.

"Nice look, Claire. New hair and eye-contacts," Scot commented.

"Thank you," she replied stiffly.

"What happened to your garden, babe?" Liam asked suddenly.

Scot's eyebrow quirked as he stared at her. "Yeah, what happened to your garden, Claire?"

Claire grinned. "I did a little experiment but soon it will be back to normal."

Liam accepted her answer but she could see the look in Scot's eyes, he knew she was lying or maybe it was her Imagination.

"Come, Claire. I want us to hang out," Liam said as they headed back inside.

Claire smiled at him. She wanted to hang out with him, but she was so exhausted. Fortunately, Adam came to her rescue.

"Sorry, Liam. Claire isn't allowed to leave the house; I want her to rest especially with all these weird things that have been happening." Liam nodded. "I'll stay with her then."

Claire pleaded with her eyes so he wouldn't say no and grudgingly, he agreed.

"I thought you were leaving, Scot?" Liam designed to point out.

Scot mumbled his goodbye and left.

***

She opened her eyes and gasped. She was back in that hole again this time. It was creepier than the last time.

She could hear the flapping wings of birds and crickets chirping yet she couldn't see anything. Everywhere was in eerie darkness.

Then she heard a whimper, and she traced the sound trying her best not to fall and resolving not to get scared that it was a trick her mind was playing on her. Getting confident now, Claire. Don't be too cocky.

She heard his sinister voice loud and clear in her mind, but she ignored it and kept going.

Finally, the whimpering sound was becoming closer and just when she wanted to take the right turn something flew, she screeched as the bats flew away. Pathetic, just like I thought.

"Get out of my head!" She screamed.

Unfortunately, I'm stuck with you!

"Claire, don't give In to the darkness."

She whirled around at the sound of the familiar voice and saw the skeletal figure. She saw a strand of shimmering silver hair and she gasped. "Mom?" She whispered.

"Run, Claire! Get away from here before you succumb."

Claire shuddered at how frail she looked and yet her voice was so strong.

"Mom, how can I help you?" She cried.

Chant these words and set her free!

"It's an illusion, Claire."

Claire's eyes widened as she took in her surroundings and soon realization dawned on her. The green-eyed guy was making her scared again.

She closed her eyes and opened it, but she was still there.

"I'm trapped, Claire. But it's the wrong spell."

"Shut up, you filthy human!" A voice roared behind them.

She whirled around and stared at the green-eyed guy as he glared menacingly at her mom, blue light in his hand.

It illuminated the surroundings, and she realized her mom was just as Adam had described her except for her frail body, sunken sad eyes, and her skeletal hands.

"What did you do to her?!" She growled at the man.

"Repeat the spell and you can leave with her," the green-eyed man cackled.

"To think I ever had a crush on you!" She spat out.

He cackled again. "That was the plan till that hunter boy kissed you. I take it fresh, not tainted!"

"You were at our school then," she gasped.

"Only your stupid memory refused to forget that event but yes, Claire I was there."

Claire glared at him. "What do you want from me? Why do you keep tormenting me?!"

"I am your worst nightmare till you embrace the darkness, Claire. I will keep tormenting you all the days of your miserable immortal life!"

"No! Get away from me!!" She screamed, calling upon her powers. She could feel it coursing through her veins.

"Yes, Claire. Call upon your powers and stop being pathetic!"

"Don't do it, Claire. He's messing with your head!" Her mom screamed.

She sighed in defeat and brought her hand down.

"That's what I thought. Weakling!" He sneered.

"I'm. Not. A. Weakling!" She yelled gathering a ball of lightning and aiming it on his chest.

She heard her mom's faint "no" and the distant cackling of the green-eyed man then she heard the piercing scream of a familiar voice and what she saw when she opened her eyes will forever remain branded in her memory.