Chapter Text
The night air was crisp and cold, biting and nipping at any exposed flesh it could find wandering around at this time. Jesse trekked through the snow, the ground crunching under his large boots. The hunter glanced around the wooded area, pushing his hat up slightly to see better. Surely, there wasn’t many places for a vampire to hide. The leaves had all fallen, exposing the trees branches to any passing soul. He sighed, his warm breath visible against the cold.
The longer the man walked, the more he felt hopeless. He’d been tracking this damned vampire for two months now. Though their meetings were sparse, each one just proved to him how irritating the other truly was. Each snide remark when he missed a shot. Each flirty remark only infuriated him. This time would be different. He’d finally get his hands on Valentine. He’d finally strike him down and put an end to his terrorizing of the townsfolk.
“I think you’re a tad past due for a haircut, no?”
The melodic, rather taunting Italian accent rings out through the woods- right behind Jesse, breaking him from his thoughts. He spun around, pistol drawn and ready to shoot. When he turned, there was no one to be seen, only the unmistakable footprints of heeled dress-shoes. How histrionic. Heeled shoes in the middle of winter? In the woods, no less. What a fool.
“Over here, darling hunter.” Valentine’s voice cuts through the air again, still mocking as usual.
Jesse whips around once more. And almost as soon as he does, he’s face-to-face with the object of his obsession. Valentine. That prissy, high-strung, eccentric vampire who seems to constantly get under his skin. Jesse’s frown morphs into a full-on scowl as he takes a few steps back. He reaches for his silver pistol, his fingers gripping onto the handle tightly as he all but yanks it out of its holster, pointing it straight at the chest of Valentine.
The vampire makes a slightly startled noise, but that’s about it. He tilts his head and raises a brow, a small smile evident on his sharp features. There’s something weirdly ethereal about him. He looks young, yes, but there’s still those distinct wrinkles and small blemishes that make him seem almost human, strangely enough. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it now?
“A bit rude, don’t you think?” His voice is silky smooth, but there’s a dangerous edge to it, as if daring- no.. practically begging Jesse to try something stupid. “Pointing weapons at your dear friend. How thoughtful…”
“You’re no friend of mine..” Jesse snarls in response, his brows knitting together in irritation. God, how he wished just strangling this creature would work to put him out of his misery. “I’m here to kill you, y’know.”
Valentine pauses, as if that hadn’t occurred to him. Of course it had- he knows Jesse intentions, however he finds some cruel joy out of riling the hunter up. He makes a small ‘tch’ sound, as if he were disappointed. “Not quite as romantic as I had hoped.”
Jesse’s caught off guard momentarily, lips parted as if to say something, but all that comes out is a sputtering mess of jumbled excuses. Despite himself, a blush seems to creep up his neck.. like a snake slithering is way around his throat and squeezing.
Valentine seizes the moment. With a sudden burst of energy, the vampire lunges, grasping Jesse’s wrist tightly and twisting, knocking the gun from the other’s hand. Jesse makes a sound of surprise, eyes widening, before immediately hardening once again. He grits his teeth as he fights back, straining in Valentine’s grasp.
He tries to push away, but it’s no use. Of course not. Valentine is a vampire. Hundreds of years old with the strength of a damn bear. Valentine grunts, his other hand seizing Jesse’s throat in a tight embrace, aiming to choke the life from him. Jesse coughs, a choked cry leaving his parted lips. With his gun discarded, he had to find another form of weapon- and quickly, before Valentine killed him.
But Valentine wasn’t exactly aiming to kill. Not just yet, at least. He brings his face to Jesse’s neck, sniffing once like a wolf would sniff a dead rabbit to make sure it was still fresh. Just as Valentine parted his lips, aiming to sink his fangs into Jesse’s jugular, the hunter struck.
He grabbed a vial of holy water from his belt, uncorking it and splashing the content onto Valentine. Most of it made contact with his arm and chest as he pulled away to shield himself. The vampire let out a broken cry, which quickly devolved into a snarl. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, along with the sound of pained whimpers and whines.
Valentine fell back into the snow, holding himself up in a seated position with his uninjured arm. The water had singed through his sleeve and vest, almost as if it were acid, and latched onto the skin beneath. It resembled that of a second degree burn. Not down to bone, but still bad.. the vampire wheezed, grasping at his arm and scooting away like a frightened prey animal. This was very unlike him. Never before had Jesse actually managed to land a powerful blow on him. Looking closer now, it seemed like a bit had reached Valentine’s face, as there was now burning skin along the left side his jaw and neck.
Jesse stumbled as he was finally released from the other’s grasp, his hand flying to his neck as he regained his breath for a moment. Finally, after collecting himself, he moved to stand in front of Valentine’s cowering form. He grasped at the wooden stake at his belt, hand shaking. He should feel proud of himself. He should feel amazing, finally having been able to tear down this horrible creature of the night. But all that was in his heart was an empty feeling. Guilt, maybe? That couldn’t be it.. Valentine had tormented the townspeople, draining them of their blood and leaving them to die like sick cattle. At least that’s what he’d heard. He never actually seen the results of Valentine’s alleged attacks.
His grip on the stake wavered slightly, like he were unsure of himself. Finally, he just sighed and lowered his gaze. “Go.”
“What..?”
“Go. Leave.”
“Aren’t you going to kill me..?”
“Not this time. Just- just leave. Before I change my mind.”
Valentine was quick to stand, wavering slightly as he clutched his arm. He staggered back, staring at Jesse for a while as if trying to decipher his emotions. Then, he finally turned. He retreated off back into the night, far, far away from Jesse. Of course, Jesse knew this wouldn’t be the last time they’d meet.. He had another chance. Why he even did that just then- he wasn’t sure.. but he wasn’t going to let Valentine escape his grasp again. No matter how conflicting his emotions became..