Bloodlines

Chapter 4: New Nortia

Darian smiled, showing off brilliant white teeth that stood out against his smooth tanned complexion.

"Sylvia," he beamed, "long time no see darling."

Sylvia huffed. A long time indeed it had been, almost ten years without any attempt at contact. She leant forward on the table, relishing the opportunity to finally be taller than him for once in her life.

"You've grown," she said. Darian chuckled.

"You haven't," he followed. Sylvia leaned back, crossing her arms.

"So, what draws you to this neck of the woods? Not usually your scene, so far away from the glits and glamour of the capital," Sylvia questioned. She quickly glanced at the bar, noticing there was no one sober enough to order a drink nearby and that she most definately had time to chat.

"Ah right you are, I am missing home, but this will be a quick trip. I actually came for you," he winked. Sylvia rolled her eyes, taking the time to take him in. He had grown in the last decade, that much was obvious to anyone, but he was still the same Darian she remembered. Their families had been close, despite the Trellom's living down south and the Jenkin's living within the middle wall of New Nortia, the capital of Ammertia. They saw each other quite frequently, and truth be told Sylvia had developed a crush on the young man who was only a couple of years older than her. He had only grown more handsome over the years. Flawless skin, dazzling green eyes. He would be quite a catch, but alas he was about as straight as a grape vine.

"You see, I heard word of a hunter taking out a few wolves, and I thought to myself, that cannot be Sylvia," He began, "The Sylvia I knew would refuse any job less than a tier 3 monster!"

"My glory days are behind me, I'm taking any jobs I can to get by," she replied. Although only 25, Sylvia regarded her teen years as her golden days. Hunting real monsters, slaying beasts, the good days when she could afford to be picky with the jobs she took on.

"I remember you taking out an entire werewolf pack by yourself, and when you were only 14 to boot!" Darian said, voice raising with excitement. The city rarely saw many large beasts, with hunters more active in the north and south regions, so Darian's amazement was not out of place for a city slicker.

"Well I mean, that was nothing really," Sylvia blushed.

"The leader had two heads," Darian retorted, "stop being modest."

Sylvia smiled, recalling her days of yore. How she missed it, living large and taking the high jobs. The Devil Dog job was the most action she had seen in weeks, and even that paled in comparison to her past.

"I have a proposition for you," Darian continued, drawing Sylvia back to the present, "I need your help on a hunt." Sylvia snorted.

"You? The great Darian Jenkins? Needs help from little old me?" She snorted, placing a dainty hand on her chest. Darian lost the smile, turning serious. He grabbed Sylvia's arm, and pulled her into the booth with him.

"Look, I've got a very important customer who needs a job done that will require more than one hunter. Mummy and Daddy are busy with their own problem, and you know my little sister is too young for this," he whispered. Sylvia shot him a look.

"She's the same age I was when...." She trailed off, thinking back to that night. The night everything changed. Darian sighed.

"I work alone," Sylvia finished, getting up out of the booth. She had not hunted with anyone since her parents when she was 18, and had no intention of changing that fact. She had become accustomed to relying on only herself and Porche. That was all she needed.

"It's five hundred gold each," Darian quickly said, causing Sylvia to pause. She slowly turned around.

"Did you say.... Five hundred?" She asked, astonished. Darian nodded. She paused for a moment, then replied whole heartidly.