Free The Hunt by C.J. Ellisson

back-up called in, and never required a partner—no matter how crazy the other vampire was.”
    I wasn’t aware of the details, but I had heard some things about Vivian’s time as an enforcer. Like that she was one a long time ago. Okay, maybe that’s about all I’ve heard.
    “She pissed-off a lot of the Inner Circle, including Coraline, spouting her opinions on the hypocrisy within the Tribunal.” Emiko moves down the aisle toward me, her measured steps slow and careful. “Even having served only five years, I easily saw what she meant. Yet, the eleven Ancients always keep silent on the matter of ‘Alexandria the Great’. I’ve often wondered why.”
    “Can’t help you there. Loyalty to Vivian and all.” I smile a lopsided grin at her. Does she really think I’m going fall for this? Not that I have any information to share, but still, she’s got some gall.
    “How did she kill her marks so easily? What weapons did she favor? Who trained her to kill so efficiently?” Her voice trails off as she stares into the lush vegetation surrounding us. “These questions, and more, have been pondered by every enforcer that has come after her for centuries.”
    Since I don’t have any answers to those questions, I can see I won’t learn anything more from her on Vivian. “Why should I believe you didn’t drain those officials?” I switch topics, hopefully, to entice different information from her.
    Her soft laugh tinkles softly in the humid air. A black blur of motion follows the sound. My head is wrenched painfully to the side, and a loud sickening crack follows me to the floor.
    I land on the hard concrete, in a daze as the agonizing pain subsides.
    Bitch broke my neck!
    Reaching up, I carefully twist my head back to the front and lie still for the bones to re-knit.
    “Because I’ve never done anything that stupid in my whole, long life,” Emiko whispers close to my ear.
    In the next instant, she’s past me and at the door.
    “Don’t get up. I’ll see myself out.” The door whooshes shut behind her.
    Christ! Don’t think I’ll be sharing this last bit with the others any time soon. Man, that bitch is fast. Wonder to what I owe that parting gift. Afraid I’d try and stop her for the hunters?
    In a minute or so, my body heals and I push myself off the floor. A soft mewling sound reaches my ears from deeper in the greenhouse. As I head toward it, the rasp of fabric on concrete pinpoints exactly where the gardener lies.
    Rounding a corner, I spot Helena struggling to sit up. She’s holding a hand to her head and has a glazed look in her eyes.
    “Drew, honey, would you help me up?”
    I reach down and assist the forty-something woman to her feet. “What happened, Helena?”
    “Oh, I slipped and fell off that damn thing,” she says, motioning to the black rubber, non-slip stool.
    Uh-huh. Safe to say Emiko covered her tracks here well.
    “Want me to call Dr. Cook for you?” Our resident physician doesn’t have normal hours, because she’s on call 24/7. The good news is she isn’t needed too often.
    Helena tests her weight on both ankles, appearing to do an overall mental check of her body. “Nah, I feel fine. Just a little tired.”
    “You’re working later than the curfew dictates,” I gently remind her. “And today is the first day. Why don’t you head on home and call it a night?”
    “Good thinking. I could have sworn I was cleaning up a bit ago to head out on time. Don’t know what’s come over me.”
    I help her close up the greenhouse and put away her last remaining items. The job takes a little while and by the time we’re done, I realize the hunters have already been let loose. Looks like Emiko got out with some time to spare.
    Helena waits by the door for Greg, one of the grounds-keeping crew, to come pick her up. The walk back to the employee apartments is only feasible in the summer during the off-season. The building is a couple of miles away, tucked onto the northwest corner of