Heart of the Hunted (Infernal Hearts Book 1) Read online

  Looking up at the sky, Arun said: "I don't think the weather is going to hold out. There's a storm brewing, and when it hits, it’s going to hit hard."

  Taredd looked at the sky and had to agree. The weather was definitely changing, and not for the better.

  "I was planning on traveling through the night," Taredd said. "It should only take us a couple of days to get there if we don't have to stop for the night, but looking at that sky, we might not have a choice in the matter."

  "Yeah, I know, but hopefully we’ll be able to cover some distance before we’re forced to stop. Do you think we should tell Dain where we're heading?" Arun asked.

  "No, he can find us easily enough on his own. Plus, I'm not going back to tell him, are you?" Taredd asked.

  "It's fine by me,” Arun agreed. “I'm certainly not going back for him."

  "Good," Taredd said. "Because that would just be wasting even more time than we already are."

  "How are we wasting time?" Arun asked.

  "Because this bet is a waste of time," Taredd told him. "It would go a lot faster if we were all working together, and you know it would."

  "I still don't think we're wasting time," Arun told him. "We're just having a bit of fun while we work, that's all. You need to have some fun every once in a while, otherwise you’ll turn into a right miserable bastard."

  "I'm not a miserable bastard," Taredd said.

  "And I'm not saying you are. I'm just saying that you'll turn into one if you don't let your hair down…"

  "My hair is down," he interrupted.

  "...and have fun once in a while," Arun continued, not paying attention to Taredd's interruption. "At the end of the day, we are still working."

  "Fine,” he conceded. "Just don't take forever tracking one down."

  "Don't worry, I won't. I plan on winning the bet, after all," Arun said confidently.

  "We'll see," Taredd said, rolling his eyes.

  "You really don't think I can do it, do you?" Arun asked.

  "Oh, I know you can. Just not as quickly as I can," Taredd said smugly.

  "Whatever," Arun said. "We'll soon see who's fastest."

  "Yes, we will. And when that time comes, I look forward to taking all your money," Taredd said, smiling.

  "I already know what I'm spending your money on, so I hope you're not too attached to it," Arun replied.

  "I was about to say the same thing to you," Taredd laughed.

  "How about you both shut up about it. You're giving me a headache already."

  They both spun round at the sound of Dain's voice.

  "What the fuck are you doing here?" Arun asked him.

  "I was bored waiting to see who wins, so I thought I would come along for the ride," he told them. "The thing I want to know, is why are you two together? I thought you would have gone separate ways. You know, it kind of defeats the purpose of the bet if you don't?"

  "We're not working together," Arun said.

  "Then what are you doing?" Dain asked.

  "We're just traveling through the mountain pass together. Then we're going to start the bet when we split up on the other side," Taredd told him.

  "Okay," he said, nodding his head. "That makes more sense. But why are you both going north?"

  "I'm going north because we were heading in this direction anyway," Arun replied.

  "And, I'm going north because I thought it was the best chance of finding a Human. We've already found most of the ones hiding in the south, so it was only logical to go this way," Taredd replied.

  "Yeah, but you could have both taken different routes north, so why didn't you?" Dain asked.

  "Basically, we bumped into each other at the beginning of the pass, so we thought we'd carry on this way together," Arun told him.

  "Okay, makes sense now," Dain said finally.

  "Oh, I'm so relieved it makes sense to you at last," Arun said sarcastically.

  "I was only asking, there's no need to be such a dick about it," Dain said.

  "Well, it's like explaining things to a child at times," Arun told him.

  "I'm not a child. I'm older than you for fuck sake," Dain said.

  "I didn't say you were a child. I said it's like explaining everything to a child," Arun pointed out. "There is a big difference between the two."

  "Both of you, shut the fuck up bitching at each other," Taredd snapped.

  "Ooh, no need to get snappy," Dain told him. "I'm only fucking about with him."

  "Well, stop it," Taredd said. "I can't be assed listening to it today."

  "I think someone needs a holiday," Arun said to Dain.

  "I don't need a fucking holiday. I just need you two to stop fucking bitching at each other for more than five fucking minutes," he told them. "Is that too much to ask?"

  "We're not always bitching at each other," Arun said.

  "No, sometimes we're bitching at you," Dain added, making them both laugh.

  "I swear you two are trying my patience today," Taredd said, scowling at them.

  "I’m pretty sure we try your patience every day," Dain said.

  Taredd rubbed his forehead. He was starting to get a headache from these two. He was beginning to wonder why he’d come this way in the first place.

  Why couldn't he have just gone south? Or even east or west? But no, he had to pick the same bloody direction as Arun, and Dain just had to catch up with them.

  Knowing his luck, even if Taredd had picked a different direction, he would have still ended up with the pair of them. So, he might as well make the best of it.

  Taredd couldn't wait until they reached the other side of the mountain and split up. He was looking forward to a bit of peace and quiet away from them both, even if it was just for a little while. He only hoped they didn't keep bumping into each other after they split up as well.

  The only problem was, it would take them a few days before they reached the other side and could at last go their own way. Until then, Taredd would be forced to put up with them.

  This is going to be a long fucking journey. He thought to himself.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Natalia

  "Everyone else is packed up and ready to go," Amberly said as she walked over to Natalia.

  "Good. We'll get going in just a minute. I have a couple more bits to finish putting away first," Natalia told her.

  Not everything they've been using in the bunker was coming with them. Wherever they stayed, the items that were already there they left for other groups to use.

  Some of the other groups weren't as lucky as them, they didn't have a lot of their own belonging, like blankets and cooking equipment. So, it was vitally important that those items were available for them to use. That's if they made it to one of the bunkers in the first place.

  "Okay, I'll let the others know," Amberly said.

  "Thanks."

  "No problem."

  Natalia quickly finished putting away all the items they had used and packed the last of her personal belongings into her satchel, then she joined the others in the main room.

  "Ready to leave?" she asked as she walked in.

  "More than ready," Donovan said.

  "I still think we should wait for the others. They might make it back okay," Bella said.

  "You know the rules, Bella. If you want to wait, then you can, but we are leaving now," Natalia told her.

  "You'll be waiting on your own, unless someone else is going to volunteer to wait with you?" Amberly asked, as she looked around at the group.

  Not one person stepped forward or piped up and said that they were willing to stay behind.

  "See? Everyone else is leaving, so if you want to stay behind, you'll be doing it alone," Natalia said. "If not, then pick up your shit, because we're leaving now."

  Bella looked around at everyone in the room, silently begging them to stay with her. When nobody did, she picked up her satchel and said: "Fine." before storming out the door and up the stairs to the exit.

  Natalia
, Amberly, and Donovan watched as the rest of the group followed Bella out of the bunker. They hung back to make sure that nobody was left behind and the bunker was left in the same condition they’d found it in. It also gave them a chance to talk about the others without being overheard.

  "She'll be okay," Amberly said. "Just give her some time."

  "I know," Natalia said.

  "It's only because they were together before they joined us," Donovan said.

  "I heard they did things differently in their previous group," Amberly said.

  "That may be the case, but this is the rule here. Everyone knows that if you're not back from a run before we move on to the next place, then you're left behind. It's the only way we can assure everyone else's safety," Natalia said.

  "You don't have to tell us, we already know the rules," Amberly reminded her.

  "Yeah, I know you do. It's just frustrating when people join us, but then don't want to abide by the rules we set out. It's not as if any of them have to stay with us," Natalia said, shaking her head. "They are more than welcome to leave at any point."

  "Don't worry yourself over it too much. Those people don't know a good thing when they see it," Donovan said. "And tough shit if they don't like the rules. Like you said, they knew the rules when they joined us, if they don't like them, then they are more than welcome to just fuck off."

  "Donovan!" Amberly said sternly.

  "What?" he said innocently.

  "That's not a very nice thing to say," Amberly told him.

  "I don't give a shit, it's the truth."

  "It doesn't matter if it's the truth, there's still no need to say it like that," Amberly said. "Tell him, Natalia. He should be nicer."

  "To be honest, Amberly, I'm starting to feel the same way."

  "Really?" They asked in unison.

  "Well, yeah. It's the same argument every time someone from a previous group doesn't return, and I'm tired of being the bad guy when I refuse to either wait for them to return, or to go looking for them." Natalia rubbed her head. "Sometimes I wish it was just the three of us. It would be so much easier that way."

  "Yeah, but it wouldn't be easier when it comes to scavenging."

  "Why wouldn't it?" she asked. "We go out in twos anyway so the only difference I see, is the fact there would only be one person left looking after the camp while the others are gone."

  "Yeah, I suppose so," Amberly agreed.

  "So why don't we?" Donovan asked.

  "Because we have a responsibility to the others in the group. I know not everyone causes as much hassle as Bella, so it's not fair to just abandon them," Natalia said. "To be honest, I don't think they would last very long without us either."

  "Why is that our problem?" Donovan asked.

  "Because it would be like handing them over to the monsters. At least, some of them anyway," Natalia told him.

  "I wouldn't mind handing Bella over to the monsters," Donovan said.

  "Donovan!" Natalia and Amberly both snapped.

  "What?" he said innocently. "You can't say she isn't fucking annoying. Constantly whining all the time and bitching about everyone."

  "Are you sure?” Natalia asked. “Because I've not heard her bitching about anyone."

  "Me neither," Amberly added.

  "Well, yeah. She's not exactly quiet about it," Donovan said.

  "Who does she bitch about?" Natalia asked him.

  "Everyone," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "But mostly you two."

  "Why us?" Amberly asked. "We haven't done anything."

  "I know you haven't, and so does everyone else,” Donovan said. “But that doesn't stop her from finding something to bitch about. Mostly it because she thinks she could do a better job at leading the group."

  “I don’t lead the group,” Amberly pointed out.

  “I know, but you’re Natalia’s best friend,” he told her.

  “So are you,” Natalia said.

  “Don’t worry,” Donovan said. “She likes to bitch about me too. She seems to think the three of us have special treatment over everyone else.”

  “That’s not true,” Natalia said. “Everyone is treated the same, including us.”

  “I know,” he said. “And so does everyone else.”

  "Do you know what? I really don't give a shit," Natalia said. "If she wants to bitch about me, then so be it. I'm not interested in making friends with her. I'm more concerned about keeping everyone safe."

  Making friends had never been her priority, keeping everyone safe was. If that meant pissing off a few people along the way, then so be it.

  "Anyway,” Natalia said, changing the subject. “Let’s not keep everyone waiting any longer."

  "Yeah, let’s go," Amberly said.

  "Okay," Donovan said, following behind them as they headed up the stairs. "But just so you know, I'm happy to dump the others and go our separate way anytime you want. Just say the word, and we're off."

  Natalia smiled. No matter what, she could always count on Donovan and Amberly. She didn't lie about wanting it to be just the three of them, she was sick and tired of being the one in charge all the time. She didn't even know how she ended up being the one in charge in the first place. She certainly never wanted the responsibility that came with it.

  Donovan and Amberly helped out as much as they could, but there was only so much they could do without having to come to Natalia, looking for her to lead them. Even if she did hand over the job to one of them, they would still go to her anyway.

  "What took you so long?" Bella snapped at them when they stepped outside. "Anything could have happened to us while we stood here waiting for you three."

  Natalia looked at the rest of them as they stood waiting. They all looked fed up and about ready to throttle Bella. Natalia had to admit, Bella did seem to have that effect on everyone... herself included.

  "We were just discussing which direction we should take."

  "It took you that long to decide that?" Bella asked incredulously. "I thought you decided already last night. We're going north, aren't we?"

  "Yes, we're heading north, but there are many different routes to take. We were deciding which one was going to be the best," Natalia told her.

  "I take it you've finally come to a conclusion?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, can we get going now? Or have you decided to give the others a chance to get back first?"

  Natalia rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers. "I'm not going through this with you again, Bella."

  "Just shut the fuck up with that already," Donovan snapped. "It's not happening. If you want to stay, then stay. If not, keep your fucking mouth shut."

  The look on Bella's face was comical. She looked as if Donovan had slapped her instead of just shouted at her. Natalia would have laughed if he hadn't shouted so loudly while they stood out in the open.

  So instead, she whacked him across the arm and said "Not so loud, Donovan. You’re gonna give away our location if any of the monsters are within hearing distance, and you know how far some of them can hear."

  "Oh, here she goes again" Bella rolled her eyes. "Call them by name. Yes, they are all monsters, but ya know, you can call them Demons, Shifters, or Fae."

  "I know they're not all the same, but it's easier to call them all monsters because it could be any, or all, of them that hear us. So, yes, they are monsters," Natalia said.

  "Whatever. You just sound stupid calling them that," Bella said smugly.

  "Just shut it, Bella," Donovan said.

  "Please, shut up Bella," Amberly added.

  She finally got the hint that nobody else shared her views, as one by one they each told her to shut up in one form or another.

  "Fine!" she snapped. "I won't say another word."

  Thank fuck for that, Natalia thought.

  She didn't dare say it aloud, even though she really wanted to, just in case it started off another argument.

  "Lead the way, Natalia," Donovan said, holding his
arm out for her to take the lead.

  Taking a deep breath, she lifted her satchel onto her shoulder and said "Let’s go then."

  Without actually deciding with Donovan and Amberly on which direction they were going to take, Natalia just started walking straight towards the mountains. It might not be the safest route to take, but it was the shortest.

  Natalia didn't know what they were going to find on the other side of the mountain, but it couldn't be much worse than what they faced this side.

  "Ignore Bella. Nobody else thinks the same way as her," Amberly said, as she walked along beside Natalia.

  "I know they don't," Natalia told her.

  "From the sounds of it, everyone is sick and tired of listening to her," Amberly said, then quietly added: "I'm going to speak to some of the others to find out what she's been saying about us."

  "Don't bother, it doesn't matter," Natalia said truthfully.

  "I know it doesn't. I just want to know, that's all," Amberly said.

  "I don't think you do," Natalia told her. "Whatever she's been saying, I don't think you'll like it. It's more than likely going to upset you even more than you are now."

  "I'm not upset," Amberly said adamantly.

  "You're not?" Natalia asked, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

  "No, I'm pissed off,” she said angrily. "How dare she say anything bad about us, especially you."

  "Why especially me?"

  "Because of everything you've done for us all. She has no right bitching about you when you've done nothing but make everyone feel welcome and safe," Amberly’s hands were balled into fists as she spoke.

  Natalia couldn't fault Amberly's reasoning, but she still didn't think it was a good idea. Natalia didn’t know what had been said about them, but she knew whatever it was, Amberly would end up getting more upset.

  "Please don't bother on my account," Natalia told her. "She's more than welcome to say whatever the fuck she wants. I really don't care."

  Amberly looked over at Natalia to see if she meant what she said, which she did, before saying: "Okay, I won't."

  At the end of the day, Bella's opinion of her didn't matter. As long as everyone in the group stayed safe, Bella could say whatever the fuck she wanted about Natalia. That's all that really mattered nowadays anyway.