Chapter-38 The Hunter's Knowledge
A pale envelope sealed with black wax lay beneath the door of Frederique's apartment when she woke. The seal bore
the intricate crest of the Night Court... a crescent moon eclipsed by a thorned crown.
A summon.
Frederique's heart clenched as she stared at it. This wasn't an invitation or a request. It was a command.
Tomorrow.
She had no details yet... only a date and a location scrawled in precise, silver-inked letters. But one lesson had been drilled into her during her training: ignorance could be fatal.
She needed to prepare.
The memory of Lysandro's parting words returned to her:
"That last book... take it home. But only read it when you're ready to understand true cruelty."
She hadn't touched it until now.
The book was heavier than it looked, bound in cracked leather with no title on the cover. When she opened it, the scent of ancient parchment and bitter herbs filled the air. The title on the first page was stark:
"The Supernaturals and How to Hunt Them."
" By Hunters for Hunters"
Frederique exhaled slowly. Her fingers traced the jagged edges of the pages as she began reading.
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Vampires: Beings of Matter and Causality
"Vampires are not the creatures of romance the weak-minded believe them to be. They are parasites, feeding on the living with no remorse."
Two major factions were listed:
The Camarilla – A shadow government hiding vampires from humanity. They valued secrecy above all else, believing exposure to the mortal world would bring their extinction. The Camarilla enforced harsh rules among their kind, punishing those who broke the Masquerade... the veil of secrecy.
The Sabbat – Predators. They believed themselves to be the apex of the supernatural world, abandoning humanity entirely. Sabbat vampires reveled in chaos, carnage, and their own monstrous nature.
The book didn't mince words:
"Do not hesitate. The Sabbat are feral. They do not negotiate. Kill on sight."
Weaknesses:
Sunlight: Burns through their immortality, reducing them to ash. Even the oldest vampires cannot withstand it.
Fire: An ancient fear written into their very essence. Flames disrupt their unnatural healing and can destroy them completely.
Stakes: Piercing their heart with wood won't kill them but will render them paralyzed and inert until removed.
Daylight Slumber: Vampires become helpless during the day, their bodies trapped in a deathlike state.
"Strike when the sun rises. Do not give them the chance to wake."
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Changelings: Beings of Life and Mind
"The Fey are not creatures of whimsy. They are predators. Artists of chaos with a hunger that can unmake the world."
The description felt... personal. Frederique frowned, touching her chest as she read on.
"To understand a Changeling is to understand duality. They are both flesh and dream. Kill one, and you may only sever half their existence."
Weaknesses:
Cold Iron: The truest bane of their kind. Cold-forged iron disrupts their essence and causes permanent death.
Mundane Death: If slain with ordinary weapons, a Changeling's body will die... but their Fey soul will persist, seeking a new vessel to anchor itself. They remember.
Boredom: One of the strangest weaknesses. If utterly deprived of sensation, purpose, or entertainment, a Fey's spirit can wither. Imprisonment in complete isolation can drain them into non-existence.
"Do not rely on this method unless you wish to test patience beyond mortal limits. It is not painless. Not merciful."
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Shifters: Beings of Life and Spirit
"Shifters are not mere beasts. They are the blood of nature, driven by instinct and bound to the pulse of the wild. Underestimate them, and you will not live long enough to regret it."
The entry was longer here, filled with historical accounts. Frederique traced her fingers over the words:
"The werewolves, called Garou, committed a great purge long ago. A genocide. They hunted their kin... the other shifters... until almost none remained. Those who survived hold the memory of betrayal close to their hearts."
Warriors. Survivors.
The book was clear:
" Never fight a shifter alone. Even the weakest among them possessed strength beyond human limits."
Weakness: Pure silver. Not mixed alloys... pure. It burned them and prevented their healing.
"If you cannot kill them, do not challenge them. Flee."
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Demons
The page describing demons was... wrong.
The text blurred and twisted, as though scorched from within the very parchment. Blackened symbols danced across the page, writhing out of focus the longer she stared.
Only a single word remained legible at the top of the entry:
"Demons."
Frederique felt Frideria stir within her. An unnatural pressure lingered on the page, pressing against her mind like a physical weight. She could taste ash on her tongue.
Forbidden.
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She closed the book.
The room felt too quiet after. Only the distant sound of wind pressing against the window broke the silence.
"Why would they hide that?" Frederique whispered aloud.
"Because some things cannot be written safely." Frideria's voice was gentle, but protective.
Frederique stared at the book a moment longer before setting it aside. She had learned enough for tonight.
The mission tomorrow felt heavier now. This wasn't just survival. If she made a mistake out there... if she wasn't ready... she wouldn't get a second chance.
"But we won't fail."
Frideria's certainty echoed within her.
Frederique nodded slowly, tightening her grip on the book's leather cover before finally extinguishing the lantern. The shadows seemed a little less threatening now.
Tomorrow, they would face whatever the Night Court demanded.
Together.