Read The Witch Hunter for Free Online Page A

settled in the region. The cemetery was technically located on private property, which was mostly the reason for the lack of upkeep. A space was cleared at the centre, which Gabby had worked on herself months before the brothers had returned to Ashburton, the place she came to learn her powers and be alone.
    The vampire brothers lounged in the afternoon sunlight, winter was leaving and the humid summer months were creeping closer. Zac had hated the humidity of the swamps since he was a young boy. Travelling north with the Confederates had seen a summer that was devoid of air uncomfortably heavy with moisture, something he had never experienced before. Civil war had opened his eyes in more ways than learning how to kill a man. War had given his human life purpose when his life was a meaningless disappointment to his family and had given his new one the release he had needed.
    "You know I have misgivings about this," Sam said. "We have no idea what meddling with this ancient spell might do. Who it might be calling."
    "Well, too bad. What other option do we have?" Zac sat on a cracked headstone, his feet dangling over the edge, tapping on the side.
    "We could find a stronger witch, find a way to deal with this ourselves."
    "Oh, c'mon. Even you're not convinced by that hair-brained scheme. It's written all over your face," Zac folded his arms, detecting the hesitation in his brother’s plan. "A million bucks says you wouldn't leave in the first place."
    Sam sighed and cocked his head to the side, to let him know that Gabby was approaching. They would continue this later, no doubt. She strode into the cemetery, the grimore in her arms and a bag slung over her shoulder. "Let's get this over with," she said, getting right down to business.
    They watched as she picked up a long stick and began to draw a rough pentagram in the dirt. Once it was complete, she placed the bowl in the centre and poured a dark brown liquid into it from a plastic bottle. Sitting on the ground at the base of the pentagram, she drew her bag close and pulled out a hunting knife, "I need some of your blood. Who wants to do the honors?"
    "Why?" asked Sam.
    "Vampire blood must call vampire blood. It won't work another way," she gestured for one of them to come forward.
    "Fine. Use mine," Zac held his hand out. The sooner this was over the sooner they could deal with the bigger issue. It wasn't the greatest feeling to be stalked by a rouge witch from beyond the grave. He'd done some horrible things in his time, but self-preservation was more tantalizing than repenting.
    Gabby cut his hand with the knife and wasn't gentle about it either. Clenching his fist, he remained silent as blood dripped into the potion, sizzling as each drop collided with the surface, even though the liquid was cold.
    "Now read this while I do the incantation," Gabby held out the translation of the spell she had written on a scrap of notepaper.
    Snatching it from her he read the incantation and scoffed, "You witches just love your poetry."
    Gabby rolled her eyes, "It's what was written in the grimore. Just read it and shut the hell up."
    Reluctantly, he began to read as she chanted in some old language they'd never heard before. Witch speak, most likely. "Blood of my blood, I summon thee, blood of my blood, I beseech thee, blood of my blood, in heaven and hell come save me."
    The potion burst into flames and they leant away from the sudden heat and smoke. "I guess that means it worked," Gabby laughed nervously. 
    "If it worked where is the vampire?"
    "It doesn't work that way, Zac. We put out the call, now we have to wait for an answer." Gabby stood and began to gather her things. 
    Zac scowled, "So we just go home and wait?"
    Gabby scowled back at him and huffed, "Yes, you wait. I didn't want to do this, just you remember that. This is all I can do, so you'll just have to be satisfied."
    "C'mon, Zac," Sam started to walk away. "If the Witch Hunter wants to come, then they will come in