BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 215: The Venatores {2}

Chapter 215: The Venatores {2}

"Nightshades?"

He nods. "In the early 1500s or so the Nightshades are enhanced humans because of magic who takes up jobs for killing and other assassination stuff, they have a bloody history but over time the practice of using magic on their bodies to gives them superhuman strength stopped and the line broke but according to my grandmother they came back but they were born naturally with those superhuman traits. Never heard a word about them since that’s why I don’t think they exist"

"But they are still human... right?" I asked and once again my thoughts flashed to Grayson.

"Yes, of course, they are... just the traits that set them aside, traits perfect for hunting beasts," he said, making spooky hand gestures and I gulped.

"Y-You know your history well"

He chuckled. "I just pay attention to stories, happy research" he rose to his feet and sauntered away and I was left with the book and my thoughts.

I faced back the book, and I gulped once again scanning through and reading. It was just like Henry said to me, his grandma must have read this book before telling him the stories because everything matches perfectly.

’They come from the long line of Nightshades, traits that set them aside but they are humans. They are known as phantoms because more is yet to be known about them. They are known as a Tribe with a sole purpose... hunting beasts and taking missions... but as we know about them before they took assassination assignments... presently with the rumors they are known as the hunters who hunt down beasts with the goal of wiping them off the face of this earth. A rumor that has not yet been considered true... But it is most likely they exist, we are yet to see them for what they are, but we feel they might be real’

I flipped the various pages, there wasn’t much but there was a painting of what they depicted them to be. I observed the painting of someone in what looked like some ninja outfit but different, holding a spear that pierced a beast’s chest, a beast that looked like a werelion and I quickly shut the book like I have seen some kind of horror movie.

I drew on my breath sharply not wanting to look again, I guess seeing that painting looks like Dace was getting pierced by that spear and it caused fear to strike me. I have gotten my answers and I won’t say it’s an exactly pleasant one.

The others believe them to no longer exist but I have seen one and there could be more, what should I do? I should say something... right? I should bring this to the family’s attention but the more I thought about Grayson my mouth wouldn’t move and my body wouldn’t too.

Why was I keeping this? I should say something. My hands shook and I found my body getting cold.

"Emma"

I flinched looking up and seeing Owen. "Are you okay? I just called your name there’s no need to be jumpy" he mused but then his smile fades instantly and he sat holding my hand. "Fuck your hand is cold like ice, are you okay?"

"I-I’m fine" I quickly removed my hand from his grip. "I just saw something I shouldn’t. ’’ It was nothing but the truth that the picture depicts something that scared the soul out of me, the thought of Dace getting hurt or worse...

"Hey hey calm down you’re still shaking"

I nodded before sniffing. "I’m fine" I adjust my glasses.

"What are you reading?" He asked, taking the book from me before I could stop him. "Venatores?"

"Yeah... I-I read a novel and I got curious about hunters in this world"

"Hmm... I guess you didn’t see something that was..." he sighed.

I only nodded and he sighed again. "Look Emma there’s no need to be scared I mean the Venatores have not seen or heard of... not that I know of"

"Hmm"

"You good?"

"Yeah yeah"

He nods. "So Um yesterday when we talked and you sort of bolted on me, where did you off to? Hope everything was okay"

"Oh, that was just" I shook my head. "I needed to use the bathroom that’s all"

What’s wrong with me? This was my chance, the chance to tell him that I have met one, a Venatores they thought didn’t exist, but I didn’t. I just lied my way through again.

"Can you take me home now?"

~

"Emma quick you’re gonna be late for school"

I rushed downstairs adjusting my bag.

"Why did you take time, slept in?" Vanessa asked me, stepping out in view.

"Y-Yeah" actually I didn’t get a wink of sleep throughout the night until this morning.

The sound of a car horn distracted us.

"Hmm, it seems like you have a ride," she said walking to the kitchen. "Have a great day" she chipped in.

"Dace" I mumbled as a relief flushed through me, he didn’t tell me he was coming to pick me up! Well, that doesn’t matter, all that matters is that I was finally able to see him after a whole day without him. The torture was finally over.

I rushed out of the door, a smile on my lips as I saw the Mercedes before me. I blinked in confusion.

The door opened and I saw Emilia. "Emilia?"

"What are you waiting for? Get in"

I quickly did, and shut the door. She powered up away as I quickly strap in my seatbelt.

"I didn’t expect to see you"

"Hmm... well finally back to school so I thought I should pick you up on my way, charming right?"

Shocking actually.

"Dace?"

"He’s..." she exhaled sharply. "...busy, there’s a lot going" she turned to the next block.

"Emilia talk to me please, I wanna know if everything is okay"

She sighed in defeat. "Fine! I’m not the one to keep secrets so I will tell you. A body was found... bodies actually" she sounded angry now.

"Bodies?" I said with wide eyes.

"Yes... of werelions, headless"

My blood ran cold.

"There’s a phantom foe here in Juneau, the Venatores"

I drew sharply on my breath as I faced the road. I could already see our school in view and yet it blurred from my vision. As thoughts clouded my head.

"Dace’s gonna be busy, so I had to come back to school he asked me to keep an eye on you while he’s away but just a short period of time though so just bear, his presence is needed"