Surrounded by so many people and seeing their beaming faces, Silver felt a satisfactory feeling descending in his heart and the smile he had been forcing became genuine.

The time when hunters were discriminated against and looked down upon was gradually dissipating and being replaced by acceptance and appreciation. It was a pleasant feeling to be recognised even by vampires.

Mayor Kirlian asked two waiters to collect all the gifts he was receiving and place them elsewhere for safekeeping. Then a renowned model of their city stepped forward and offered him a flower. His eyes were reluctant but she pleaded as everyone watched. He had no option but to accept it with a smile.

"Hi! I am Camile," she smiled affectionately at him and offered her hand.

"Nice to meet you Camile, I am Silver," he shook her hand. She took his arm and pulled him away from the crowd and his smile faltered a little. Just then Silver’s eyes fell on Rubisha, she was standing at a distance watching them with a serious expression. Somehow he felt guilty and sensed she was not pleased.

A waiter passed between them, carrying a tray of champagne-filled glasses. He suddenly tripped and spilt a few glasses on Silver and Camile.

"I am so sorry," the waiter seemed horrified to have spilt the drinks on the esteemed guest.

"It’s quite alright," Camile began to dab her dress with tissue paper. She was still smiling.

"Let’s head for the bathroom," she murmured to Silver and strode away. Silver tried to wipe the extra liquid away but most of it had soaked in his coat. He knew he had to wash it so the white-haired hunter followed Camile as Rubisha watched them with a sour expression. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Once he was inside the washroom he took it off and tried to clean it off with wet hands. Suddenly the doors of the cubicles behind him opened and two vampires walked out with evil grins.

"Well, well. If it isn’t the famous hunter," one of them snickered.

Silver stiffened and turned to face them, he was only carrying a small revolver and dagger today and both of them had been strapped to his legs. He knew bending down to retrieve them will cost him precious seconds and could determine this life-and-death situation.

Meanwhile, the main door of the washroom opened and Camile confidently walked in with a malevolent grin on her face.

"Sorry Silver but you have to come with us, we promise to be gentle," her face contorted into something ugly and her clothes torn open as black tattered wings sprouted behind her.

"Shit, you are a Wendigo. What do you want?" Silver cursed and asked. She lunged towards him with her claws and raggedy wings. He had no choice but to transform it was impossible to take three of them down in his human form.

"You! obviously. Because you are ruining the plans our master has for this city," she chuckled stepping closer.

He jumped on Camile and transformed midair, his clothes torn apart as he clawed her face and she shrieked horribly. The blood gushed out of her cheeks. Both vampires attacked him simultaneously, while one sunk his canines into Silver’s neck the other took out a syringe from his pocket.

He snapped his head at them while holding Camile down with his claws as she bled and tried to bite him. They wanted to take him alive so weren’t trying to kill him.

The door of the bathroom banged open again and Rubisha rushed inside like a whirlwind, her teeth bare. Anger was marring her beautiful face. She hurried to the vampire who had pierced his teeth in Silver’s neck and grabbing him by the neck she threw him towards the mirrors on the wall.

He hit them with a bang and they shattered. Glass flew everywhere, and a surprised look passed over his face but Rubisha gave him no time to recover. Reaching out she grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and yanked his heart out of his chest. She threw it on the ground like garbage.

"Pathetic," she spat as his body spasmed and blood shot out spilling on her dress. He fell on the basins and his head tilted to one side. A gaping hole was left where his heart was.

The other vampire had plunged the syringe into Silver’s back. Silver jerked his head and clasped the vampire from his neck pinning him on the ground. Guttural sounds escaped him as he glared at the vampire and snapped his neck.

Camile tried to choke him but Rubisha had already moved towards them. Snatching Camile from underneath Silver by her hair Rubisha glared at her with animosity-filled eyes. Camile tried to attack her but Rubisha was too quick and using all her vampiric strength she separated her head from her body.

The horror that crept on Camile’s face remained etched there forever. "You bit*h, I saw you tripping that waiter on purpose and knew you were up to no good," Rubisha hissed at her lifeless face which she held in her hand.

Meanwhile, Silver had killed the other vampire and stood up on his paws, his silverish-white fur was matted with blood and dizziness was washing over him. He tried to keep himself steady and his eyes to remain open but whatever they had injected him with was taking effect and the last thing he saw was Rubisha’s concerned face as she dashed to his side and caught him in her arms before he heaped to the ground.

"I got you," she murmured as his beautiful eyes closed. "I knew you were no ordinary human," she couldn’t help but gush over his majestic hound form. The brown-haired vampire lovingly stroked his fur and kept hugging him close to her chest. It was so soft and although it was matted in places with blood, he was a marvel.

"Let’s go home," she spoke softly and picked up the clutch she had earlier dropped on the floor. Rubisha retrieved her phone from it and dialled Kirlian.