The Nightstalker’s Return

A hunter returns home to purge young vampires defiling his grandfather’s house.

Drystan Ryde stood before the weathered Chicago farmhouse, its roof sagging beneath years of neglect. The stench of rot clung to the air, carried on a wind that seemed to whisper his name. Once, this place had been home, its halls alive with his grandfather’s voice, telling stories of faith and steel. Now it was nothing but a den for monsters.

The Nightstalkers’ intel had been clear: the trail of disappearances ended here. Drystan adjusted the silver-inlaid 9mm pistols holstered at his sides, their weight both familiar and comforting. Across his back, the full-tang blade glimmered in the pale moonlight.

A hiss broke the silence. From the porch, a pale figure emerged, lips slick with blood, fangs flashing in a cruel grin. “Hunter,” it sneered.

Drystan’s amber eyes narrowed. “I used to live here.”

“Vladimir sends his regards,” another voice taunted, as laughter rippled from the shadows. Five more stepped into view. Hunger burned in their eyes, masking the inexperience. They moved fast, emboldened by numbers, their hunger masking any sense of caution.

Drystan moved faster. A pistol cracked, silver-laced mercury ripping through a vampire’s chest. It shrieked as fire devoured it from within. Another lunged, Drystan pivoted, his silver blade flashing, cleaving flesh that sizzled as it split. Each motion was deliberate, honed by years of blood-soaked war.

One vampire, cocky and unscarred, stalked closer, baring its teeth. “You can’t kill us all.”

Drystan raised his pistol, his voice cold as the grave. “You’ve merely forgotten the fear of death. Allow me to reacquaint you...”

The shot burned through the night, followed by silence.

When it was over, ash coated the floorboards where laughter had once lingered. Drystan exhaled, staring at the house that had shaped him. The past was gone. All that remained was the hunt.

Word Count: 298
Prompt: Write a story that includes the line: “I used to live here.”
Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge"