Who's hunting Who? Chapter 39. (Patreon)

Going to try a bit of an experiment here, since I was asked for it. Going to try and post the chapter directly in and see if that works.

Vivian didn't take all that long to piss me off.

"I always knew you were really one of us. I don't blame you for hiding it, men can be jerks. The hunt more so."

Must control fist of death, must control fist of death... no, this works for us, if I just don't bother to correct her, if I just let it slide. If I go ahead and let her live, Vivian could vouch that the main reason I'm shy or acting odd is because of an act.

Then she poked me, right in the chest. "Though you have to tell me how you hid those; I could use the help."

Cat caught my hand with her vise grip, just before I managed to calm down. How the hell could she say that?!? She was bigger than me!

She'd been looking down, so she hadn't seen the danger. I took a breath. Best to deflect. "I don't think my methods would work for you."

She frowned, as if she had the right to frown, and thankfully enough moved on. "Alright, so you got kicked from the Hunt before the fall due to injuries, and so you missed a lot of the fighting. Then you recovered in a backwater in Italy, and came here as soon as you could? That about cover it?"

That was a massive shortening of the story I'd fed her, but... "Yes, that covers it."

"So then you came here to us, because you heard we weren't giving up."

Not that any humans would just give up, but it did seem the French had the best chance to hold for a time... at least from the outside. I nodded.

"And you came to find me, because we were friends, and you and your friend would need to get paid, at the very least food and lodging, while you helped us, and I was your lone army contact."

I nodded again. It was close enough to the truth, a salve of my conscience, such as it was. We needed the French, Cat and I, as galling as it was. We needed some backing, some resources, some allies among the humans. A place to rest our heads at night with something between us and certain death, if nothing else.

Having someone around, or multiple someones around, who could find witches for us just like my scouts used to was a welcome bonus.

"Well, I can certainly make that happen. We can sure use you, and any friends you might be able to find."

This much I knew how to handle. "Well, aside from Catherine here, I haven't been able to find anyone. I came straight here, and the others are either dead or scattered."

"You're a hunter?" Vivian asked, turning slightly and fixing Cat with a look that, if I didn't know better, I'd peg as almost naked hostility. Where would that even come from? The two didn't know each other.

"Oh no," Cat replied with admirable cool. "But I've worked with hunters, for some years. I've also trained with and trained a few. Just couldn't pass the tests."

It wasn't even a lie, none of it. I could respect that. The more we didn't lie to anyone, the less we'd have to revise later, when we came fully clean. The less heavy our sins in this life would be. My load of those was already heavy enough, and I'd be willing to bet Cat's dwarfed mine.

Still, it was nice to see my still unlikeliest of allies shared my thoughts on some things. Any sincerity she showed now would make it easier to trust when it came to her words to me. Unless of course, that was what she wanted me to think, of course. That circle just made my head hurt. Situation normal really, and trust no one.

Vivian nodded along. It was believable, after all. Most people didn't make the cut to be Hunt. What most people didn't know was the main requirement was dedication; you had to eat, drink, and breathe the hunt. Half measures didn't cut it and anyone trying for fame or fortune was doomed to fail. That was why only those whose lives had been touched personally by witches made it, for the most part.

To have a life touched by a witch was to have lives be destroyed by a witch. They were a curse and a plague on everything they saw.

So far, that was how my own experience was going as well. France likely wasn't going to fare any better. It was almost enough to make me feel sorry for them - except other places were already worse, and those that weren't were rapidly becoming so.

Sooner or later though, the heavy hitters on the other side were going to turn their eyes here, if for no other reason than to crush all organized resistance. France needed to learn how to hunt, the Hunt way. More on what to look for, more of the warning signs, more walls and border checks and soft defenses meant to trigger a witch into revealing herself.

For some reason, despite all the time witches had been at their grisly work, not too many people seemed to get those messages. Luckily, the stuff I was willing to share wasn't going to work on me, just as it hadn't before. I had no idea about Cat though, but I was willing to guess that she wouldn't be swayed. The easily swayed tended to die first, after all.

"Good enough," Vivian replied at last, sounding for all the world as if it wasn't. "What happened to your team, Sasha?"

There it was, the first really rough question. "We got split up after I got sidelined."

It was true enough.

"That's a shame. I liked them."

"Even Alicia?" Damn, shouldn't have said that out loud, no matter how shocking the statement had been.

Vivian giggled, and for a moment reminded me of the little girl she had been. "Even Alicia. She was good for you."

"If you say so." I couldn't keep all doubt from my tone, but I did my best. If word got back to Alicia I didn't want to give her any more ammunition to punch me into next week over.

"I won't deny we could use her. We could use any of them. but despite my searching, I couldn't find them." it wasn't for lack of trying, even if the reason wasn't the one we were letting Vivian think was ours.

"It's a hard world," Vivian replied with a sigh. She looked older, more hardened by the short time we hadn't met. There was very little of that old innocence - for the best, really, but still, yet another thing lost. Kids should be allowed to be kids, after all.

Heh, look at me, getting all maudlin in my old age.

"We will just have to make do, I suppose. Pardon me for a bit, I need to discuss this with my superiors. Stay here if you please, I've little doubt that they will agree."

The now professional soldier got up and left, heading toward the lobby again. I signaled for another drink. "So, what do you think?"

"I think she doesn't like me at all." Cat answered with a wry smile.

I waited for the bartender to come and deliver the next beer. A large pause. He went to the next customer and I continued. "Yeah I don't know what's up there; I thought you two would get along; you're both the bubbly type, after all."

Cat frowned. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Was she offended? "Just that you're both the bright, optimistic type?"

Cat smiled. "Just messing with you. but yeah, I got that impression. Still, it seems that I've done something, somewhere along the line. Oh well, it'll be fine.

I checked my gear. There was no way that Vivian hadn't noticed my lack of generator, but I had a fake one that Gray had cooked up sitting in the hotel room above us. One for each of us, to explain away Cat's powers too, assuming she needed to use them.

Thing is, Cat would need to pick a theme and stick with it, and she hadn't yet. Hell, I hadn't yet myself. Aside from my guns, my theme before had been defense. The defense of a witch, though no one had ever said so to my face. I still had that now, but now I could do so much more. So should I limit myself? Who would know, if I didn't? There didn't seem to be anyone to call me on it.

No, I'd limit things until I no longer needed to. No reason to give the game away. Trump cards were a thing.

It wasn't like most witches had any chance against just my normal strength, anyway. Only the heaviest of hitters could stand against us. How heavy and for how long I didn't know, but the average pop up witch of the week didn't stand a chance.

The more we helped hold France, the longer it held, the more inviting a target we'd make it. The more inviting, the better the prey that would come to us.

"Don't worry, I've decided. I'll have a grand show when asked."

I was glad Cat had decided what she'd do, but her words did not fill me with confidence. I couldn't just outright ask her what she was planning here either.

There was beer at least. I took a good sized sip of mine and watched the show a bit. I wanted that nice mellow feel, but if I went for it Gray wouldn't let me hear the end of it.

Vivian came back; the grin on her face was wide and inspiring. "They've agreed to meet you. My boss that is."

What? "Right now?"

Vivian nodded. "No time like the present."

I didn't expect that, it was getting late after all.

I drained my beer and followed Vivian out, and Cat brought up our rear.

The person she led us to in the lobby seemed like the most unlikely man of all the unlikely men to be in charge here; he was old, even his fat had fat on it, and he had that squint that you just knew meant his eyesight was poor, even through the large glasses he was sporting. He looked like he couldn't even get out of the lounge chair he was slumped into. He bore all the trappings of a literal armchair general, enough metal and ribbons for an army stuck to the poor cloth of his uniform.

Still, there was a mind there. I could see it working, behind his eyes.

Then he spoke gobbledygook at me.

I hated the language. "I can speak French sir, but I prefer English.

Without missing a beat he switched. "Vivian tells me you are a talented hunter. Ah, pardon, former hunter. What brings you here, to us?"

He'd asked me that just to see the flinch, I was sure. "A desire to be useful, sir. The Hunt is gone, yet the work continues. I can no longer do the things I once did, but I can still do something."

He looked into my eyes the entire time, and I met that gaze. At the end of my little speech, he nodded once. "Can you train others to fight as you once did?"

I had him, I knew I did. Just that simple. It was a little humbling, how desperate they were. It brought a few things home. "I can, sir."

He nodded again. "I am field marshal Floquet. You shall answer to Vivian and her superiors, and to me. You shall report tomorrow to a classroom, where you shall explain to others how to hunt witches, and what to do."

Should I take a gamble? Yes, yes I should. "Yes sir. I'd also like to cover the basics with the rank and file, if possible."

It would be a massive undertaking; I'd need to talk to thousands, which means the army would need to rotate thousands in front of me. Well that or send me to them, which would be easier.

Again, the man nodded. It seemed to be all he could do, at least until one large arm moved ponderously, lifting a small tea cup to the man's mouth. "I shall arrange it. What shall you teach them? What are these basics?"

That was easy. "What to look for, what to do if you encounter a suspected witch. Which is mostly act like nothing is wrong, and get someone capable of fighting as soon as possible. Let them go if you need to, and just watch and report."

The field marshal nodded again. "Like your scouts."

I had to correct him, to show that I knew what I was talking about. "Not quite, but close. Hunt scouts sought the enemy out, and in some cases gave those suspected of witchcraft some tests to prove or disprove it. I'll be teaching almost complete avoidance. It might be better to say they will be living alarms or tripwires."

It was not the kindest thought, but better them than the civilians; the army folk knew what they signed up for.

"Yes. I see. Very well, you shall start tomorrow at five with a class. Vivian shall see to it. We shall go from there, provided you prove yourself. There have been incidents; some acting as Hunt, trying to take advantage of the situation. Vivian has vouched for you."

"I will not disappoint Sir." I could say something else; I am definitely Hunt, how dare you question me... but that wouldn't ease this man's mind and wouldn't get me what I needed. What we needed. It was rather galling being doubted like this, however. As if I had to lie to this.... No wait, I kind of did. Not directly, but I was lying anyway, in a way.

We left, Vivian leading the way, before it occurred to me that the old man hadn't done more than glance Cat's way at the beginning, directing all his time and few words my way. As if he knew who was in charge.

He was wrong on that, which made me doubt his abilities, but I couldn't really blame him for making the mistake there when it benefited us. If he'd asked Cat the same questions, there was no way he'd have gotten the same answers. Probably.

I got out while the getting was good. I'd ask Cat how she managed to stay quiet later. It must have been hard for her.

"Right, it'll be an early day tomorrow. I'm going to get some sleep, and I suggest you do the same."

It was just past eight, but sleep was a luxury starting now. "Sounds good."

We went together and rode the same elevator. Vivian got off at the sixth floor. "Good night. See you at five."

Vivian gave me a sharp look, then strode off a bit fast for her.

Cat giggled, the quieted. I'd ask her about it later, when I was sure we weren't being watched.

No one else got on the elevator, and we got off to an empty hallway. It seemed that meeting the big guy (in more ways than one) got the watchers to back off a bit. Which was a little odd in my opinion. I didn't doubt we were still being watched, but our tether was a bit longer, it seemed. More rope to hang ourselves with, if we were going to do that.

The room was quiet and right where we left it. So was Gray, but he was a bit more animated and that changed quickly. As soon as the door shut: "Good evening Sasha, how did things go?"

"We're in. Which means if you follow me tomorrow, you'll have to be silent. So get it out of your system now." Gray couldn't be seen by many at all, if anyone, not when he didn't want to... but he could still be heard, sometimes. To other witches, if no one else.

Gray drew himself up and responded with tones of hurt dignity:"I don't jabber on endlessly, Sasha."

"Right, sure you don't. I'm just saying, you'll need to tell me what you want now because you won't be able tomorrow."

Gray still gave me a look; I ignored it as I flopped onto my bed. I shouldn't be, since I hadn't done anything, but I was a little tired.

"Fine. Is there anything you need me to do tomorrow? Some sort of demonstration or something?"

I cracked an eye back open. "No, I'm just going to use guns and the uniform for now. You're in reserve... unless you spot a witch. In that case, just let me know and I'll do the rest. Hang out in stealth, maybe as high up as you can fly and still be ready? I don't know, I still don't know enough to tell you how to do your job."

Gray was the expert, after all.

"You make a fair point," Gray responded, beginning to work off my boots. He sounded pleased now.

Cat tsked at me: "Gray, let her work her own boots off. She has working arms."

Gray gave a mighty tug, and the first boot came off. "I don't mind. She is fatigued, after all."

Cat raised an eyebrow at me. I had to respond. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just out of shape. I started this with my usual energy, but I'm just not feeling it right now."

"Okay, sure," Cat replied, more for something to say. "Rest easy then. I'll stay up a bit longer."

My other boot came off to Gray's efforts. "Sure, but you should turn in soon. Might be the last time we get a chance like this, at least for now."

We'd be busy come tomorrow. Once we got started, I expected to be ran into the ground teaching recruits.

"Yeah, you're right. Just going to enjoy some reading." Cat even held up a book to sell the idea.

I wasn't too worried. gray had my back and would scream like a little girl if Cat tried to eat him. I wasn't worried... much.