The Skinwalker Hunter

The yellow, glow of the full moon pushed its way through the treetops, spilling over leaves and trickling between branches until it finally found the forest floor where a predator was watching his prey. Breathing in the sweet smell, he edged his way closer. Her blood was intoxicating, burning his nostrils with desire.  He kept his eyes trained on the two human females as they laughed with each rocking motion of the wooden bench seat they were perched upon. The striking blonde with the violet eyes had a scent so delicious, it vibrated under his stone-hard skin like a thousand scurrying ants. This hunt wasn't merely to satiate his thirst, so many more factors spurred him on, he couldn't rely on instincts alone. He would need to call on the centuries of knowledge and strategies he had developed throughout his solitary existence. It was the only way when it came to the violet bloodline.  He stretched his neck up as a mixture of scents wafted past in the breeze. Ripe strawberries, vanilla beans, baking bread and honey. He singled out the foreign scents from the forest odours as he inhaled. His eyes darted back to the porch before scouring the entire area. His instincts were screaming at him to attack but he had to make sure that the sweat and stale whisky smell had gone. A smirk crossed his pale features as the stench of the human male was missing. He moved silently into position as his thirst screamed out to be quenched and his prey was pulsating like a beacon to his instincts. Emily leaned back on the bench seat as it gently rocked back and forth. She was exhausted after her day at the market with Rosa. She felt the life inside her stretch its legs and she moved her hand to her swollen belly to caress her unborn infant. Recently married and expecting her first child, Emily Delano had never been happier. With her sister in law, Rosa, tending to her while her loving husband worked long hours, she managed to prepare for motherhood without any complications. She was excited and slowing growing impatient waiting for their baby to join the outside world. "Do you need any refreshments, Emily?" Rosa asked as she stood up and made her way to the back door.  "That would be most appreciated, my dear, " she replied, as she watched Rosa disappear into the house, with a slight nod of her head. Emily looked up at the moon, admiring its beauty as it lit up the expanse of the backyard and reflected on the pond at the far end. She rubbed her eyes with the side of her finger as the colours of the trees and the pond started to blur together. She sat upright, protectively covering her stomach as she was suddenly overcome with fear. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up and her skin was tingling as if every nerve was standing on end. A sharp pain struck her from behind as the pressure on her stomach and shoulders started to build. Gasping for air, she was struck with pain in her neck, injecting itself into her motionless body, burning its way through her veins with each beat of her heart. Opening her eyes against the pain, Emily was faced with the splintered ends of the bench seat poking through her ribcage. Her pale blue dress was turning a cherry colour as blood oozed out of her wounds. "All beauty must die." The hunter's words floated through the air like musical notes from a violin. A silent scream escaped her throat as the realisation that there was a man on top of her and he was responsible for the pressure on her chest that was now crushing her lungs. He looked like an angel sent from heaven, with sandy, blonde hair that tumbled down over his eyes and tickled the end of her nose. Emily was paralysed with fear as the sickly sweet scent emanating from her attacker made her gag as it wafted into her mouth and mixed with the pooling blood at the back of her throat. She could feel her baby kicking and punching inside her womb, fighting for its life. Tears rolled her cheeks for the life she would never have with her child. Her eyes fluttered shut and she felt the life drain out of her. There was no more fire smouldering under her skin. No more pain ripping through her back and into her chest. Everything was numb. Emily listened to her heart thumping between her ears, getting softer and softer. Slowly fading away until it was as silent as her body was lifeless. The hunter flickered his tongue over the puncture wounds from where he drank, sealing the holes made by his fangs. He retracted his fangs and savoured the taste of her blood. He smiled as the power it gave him, surged through his body in a way only the blood of her kind could. The gentle scraping of leather soles against the timber flooring inside the dwelling and clinking of glasses was moving towards the back door. Placing the female's head on the cold ground he stood up and ran towards the forest as the scent of honey and roses touched his nostrils. Not until he was back amongst the thick forest foliage, did he dare to take one last glance at the motionless body he had left behind. Then he turned and ran into the forest, exhilarated by the power boost pumping through him. Heading south towards his winter hunting grounds, the hunter disappeared into the darkness, pleased with the night's outcome. Opening the door with her hip, Rosa backed out holding a silver serving tray with two tall glasses of ice tea balancing on top. Letting the door bump against the frame behind her, Rosa turned towards her sister in law. As her eyes fell on Emily's crumpled, lifeless body, the tray and drinks crashed to the ground. She let out a blood-curdling scream that echoed throughout the valley, barely a whisper by the time it reached the hunter's ears. The colour drained from Rosa's face as her legs began to buckle underneath her. The blissful scene she had left behind had turned into chaos. Emily was slumped over on the ground, motionless. The sturdy wooden bench seat lay broken underneath her. "Emily, what has gone on here? " she whispered, kneeling next to her. Panic started to take hold, as she leaned over to see the front of Emily's dress soaked in blood and torn open. The back support from the bench had snapped in half like it was no thicker than a match stick and a large fragment had pierced through her body. "Emily! Emily! " she screamed louder and louder, grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking her. "Emily, wake up!" She leaned down as far as she could, straining to hear a heartbeat, a breath, a gasp, anything. Emily lay motionless, even her blood had stopped oozing out of her. As Rosa collapsed over Emily's body, sobbing in defeat, a faint scratching sound could be heard. She twisted her head around to the side and listened intently, moving up and down her body trying to pinpoint the sound. She hovered over Emily's swollen stomach, honing in on the incessant scratching. Her bottom jaw dropped in surprise as the scratching got louder and was coming from Emily's womb. It was the baby. It had to be the baby. The scratching started to speed up and changed into a gurgling before the ripping and tearing started. It was trying to escape. Rosa was horrified, frozen in fear of what was severing its way through fleshy layers to the surface. When the material of Emily's dress started to quiver and rip, Rosa stumbled backwards, landing on her rear end and her hands. Adrenaline and fear coursed through her body. Beads of sweat formed on her brow as the thumping of her heart could be seen with each increasing rise and fall of her chest. A tiny blood-covered hand with talon-like nails emerged through the torn material closely followed by another. Hands grew into arms and piece by piece the blood-smeared baby wriggled its way free from the corpse of its mother. Empty pools of darkness stared at the horrified woman, trembling in front of it as a sweet smile creased the corners of its mouth.