Cassandra Clair's PoV
Ever since I was born, my life is already written. I believed life is predetermined when it comes to greater roles and events.
22 years of living in a life that is meant for me. No one really knows what label should they give us. We're not ordinary humans. But we're also not as unordinary as the masters that we serve.
Those masters are also the monsters that normal beings scared of.
There was a time that our masters have the upper hand of this world. But like the old saying, you can't be at the top for long.
The commune of my masters eventually loses their hold as the normal beings became smarter causing my master's kin die and extinct.
But we came.
We are the dogs. The hunters. The one who tracks. The mother of bird who seeks food for their newborn. Except we can't be at the top.
Our ability is to track food for them. To make them healthy and strong.
In that way, they will protect us.
I've started being a hunter when I was a kid. Unlike other kids, I've learned to use my ability at a very young age. Saving not just me but my whole family.
I served the one most powerful family of Vampires. Because of them, I'm still standing.
But not because they're my masters, meaning I just go all the way to their system. I may have marked the underserving people to be my master's food. But there's always a limit to it.
Years if working with them, they knew my potential as their dog. Despite of having large number of dogs, their supply remains insufficient. And without me, they'd starve. Because aside that I serves one of the most powerful family, I also serves the biggest family of Vampires.
Good thing about serving them, it doesn't have to be forever. We, their dogs, have a life of a human. We die too. We get old. And I've accepted the fact that this life would only end if that time comes.
For now, I don't a have choice. I have to hunt, mark, serve them what they need.
"Why is the president asking you to find class s blood from younger people?" Tim asked as soon as the secretary left with the lists of name of people that we marked 'good.'
"You know exactly why, Tim." I just said. Though I know what he really meant, I can't answer him directly.
Not when I didn't expect Mr. Kwon to casually drop that information. He knew better not to disclose the favor that the President had asked me.
But it's Tim. I've known him ever since. No one knows the actual extent of my ability. But I'm pretty sure Tim has an idea.
After all, no normal tracker could track 15 person in less than a day.
I knew I'm different ever since. But being with my co-different makes me different too.
I have much stronger sense to good blood. Better tracker and sensitive to it. No one knows that except my father who I lost when I was 8 years old.
Ever since he died, it became much harder for us.
"I know, Clair. What I meant is, why? Did you have a deal with him?"
It's not a secret to us that there are some trackers who ask favors to our masters in exchange for something. Not just a protection. It could wealth, fame, power.
"Why would I have another deal with him? As if keeping us alive isn't a hard thing to ask." I just said.
"Good. You wouldn't like what comes after if you didn't get him the deal. Unlike others, making deal with him is a one thing shot."
"I know." I just said. "I need to go back, I still have things to do."
"You could a break, you know?" Tim said as I'm about to head back.
"Break on what? I was a half dog a while ago. Time to do full doctor mode." I said, referring as to how we have to double work when our masters need their supplies. In our case today, we were half doctors, half dogs.
"I'd save you lunch then."
_________
"Where's the patient that I left with you a while ago?" I asked to the nurse as soon as I got back in the field.
"She's in the room 5. She's all good."
"How about her father? Did someone look for him?"
The nurse only shook her head. I went to the room 5 where the other patients from the explosion incident are.
As I entered, the patients greeted me but my eyes searched for that kid. I spoted an empty bed and instantly I knew it's from that kid.
"Are you looking for girl wearing hoodie, doc?"
"Yeah, where is she?"
"She said she needs to go."
"With her father?" i asked in confusion. But the boy just shrugged.
I shook my head and left my room in defeat. I guess it'll be a long day.
__________
"I'm home." It's already dinner when I got home. After my work at the hospital, I went to the Barthory to assist them with the supplies that we had marked that same day.
"Hi, honey, how's your work?" My mom asked, helping me with my bag and shoes.
"Tiring. How are you?"
"I heard there's an explosion incident this morning."
"Yeah, most of the victims were brought to the hospital. The Barthory sent his secretary to collect the good ones. I had to stay with them longer with them too."
We walked to the the living room where my mom told me to rest while she quickly take the food she ready for me.
"Ma, it's okay. I already ate before I came here."
"Who are you kidding? You said you came from Barthory, every time you go home from there, you're starving. I cooked you your favorite." She opened the container and the aroma of curry filled my lungs instantly.
I smiled as I looked at my mom.
"I have brought you food from the Barthory." I reached for my bag and gave my mom the pack.
"I'll eat this later, I know you'll lose your appetite if I eat with you. Thank you, my love."
"You're welcome, ma. Thank you for this too." I took a bite and knew instantly that I would be having another batch, good thing, mom noticed that too.
"I'll get more for you. You stay there, okay?"
I just nodded and continued eating while mom went back to the kitchen.
Suddenly, my phone chimed. I reached for it and saw a text from unknown number.
"You think you're better than anyone? You can't always hide behind the Barthory, Clair. I'm gonna make sure you'll die."
"CASS!" My mom yelled, then I heard something broke.
"MA?!"
My reflex kicked in, I grabbed the gun that I kept under the coffee table's drawer.
As I rushed to the kitchen, and the first thing I saw is the window opened. And there I saw my mom, behind her is a guy holding her.
My eyes noticed the sharp fangs threatening to pierce onto my mom's neck.
"Cass!"
"Who are you?!"
He only laughed when I pointed to him the gun. Not being he think I'll miss but because he knew a bite is faster than a bullet.
"Let her go or you'll regret that you ever touch my mother!"
"Sorry, Ms. Clair. But your connection to the Barthorys won't immune you anymore."
As he said that, he plunge his fangs on to my mom's neck. An agonizing scream filled the room and soon enough, gunshots.
"STOP!!"
I relentlessly pulled the trigger until all the bullets in the magazine runs out. But it's only useless as he effortless catch the bullets.
And as if it's not enough, he cruelly made me watch as he sipped the life of my mom.
I watched my mom's body fall to the ground along with the bullets that he effortless stopped.
"M-ma..."
"Now, your turn."
Before I could even prepare for his attack, something heavy hit me from behind. I slammed on the floor and the last thing I see is the body of my lifeless mother.