Dead Memories: Book I

[Lockon Stratos]

A/N: so for right now Devil's Blood is gonna take a rest. I started up a new fic and i have about 13 other books behind it. I hope people will read this and let me know what they think of it. Plez, i would like to carry on the rest of this series and i want people to tell me if its good or not! feed back is grateful here! ^_^

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Dead Memories: Book I

Chapter 1:

Night used to be the most peaceful time. Somehow, everything changed. the day when vampires and lycanthropes decided to walk with the humans. They are now citizens in certain states. Just what we need, the monsters working with us and our children. Well, they aren’t just our concerns. Walking among us are devils. They kill just to kill. Devils and demons don’t care about rights. Some of them can’t blend with humans like vampires and lycans. But that’s where I come in. I specialize in devils. I’m a devil hunter.
I was staring in the eye’s of a monster. The eye’s are dark, cold, and all I could see was my own reflection. A chill ran down my spine and my arms had goose bumps. What I was looking at was a demon. I’ve seen demons before, but this one was scary. My hands were shaking, but I was trying to keep my gun hand steady. The demon kept staring at me. I tried to swallow, but it seemed like it wouldn’t go down my throat. The demon moved and slowly crept to me. I kept my gun hand located at it, but it feels like I wasn’t ready. Sure enough I wasn’t. the demon’s large claw-hand swatted at me. The claw-hand knocked me down, and I landed quite hard on my back. I moaned from the pain. I tried to get up, but my body didn’t respond. I looked around for my gun, since apparently it left my hand. The demon walked over to me and raised its claw-hand at me. My brain told me to move, however, all I could do was watch. The claw-hand slashed at my right shoulder. The claws were digging into my flesh. My white tank top started to absorb the blood. I cried out in pain, clutching my shoulder. So much for my good hand. Damn. The wound was deeper than I thought.
“Fuck, does this hurt.” I said as I winced from the pain. The demon growled at me and started running. The monster tried to hit me again, but I rolled out of the way. Bad idea since I had to roll on my right shoulder. I winced from the pain again. The demon looked at me and ran to me. Without even thinking, I kicked the demons legs from underneath it. It toppled towards me, but I started to move backwards. It fell where I used to be. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Now I had a demon in front of me, staring. It didn’t look to thrilled. It growled and lashed at me. The claw-hand grabbed my left leg and swung me around. It let go of my leg and I was sent flying to a wall. I cried out in pain and I rubbed my back. Shit. What is wrong with me? I stood up, but I started to sway. Blood intertwined around my arm and started dripping from my fingers. My left hand tried to keep pressure on the wound but it didn’t seem to help.
“Alright, so you want to play rough? Let’s play!: I replied as I managed to stand up. My body started functioning alright. Point for me. No concussion. Since I couldn’t use my right arm that well, I was depending on my left hand to get me out of this mess. I reached over my right shoulder and grabbed my sword. The weight was throwing me off balance. Normally I could wield my sword perfectly fine, but that’s because it was in my right hand. I adjusted my grip and lifted my sword.
It’s a double edged sword with no hilt. Actually, the blade is embedded into the hilt. The entire sword is made out of steel. The hilt has two small prongs, similar to a sai. The only difference is that the middle blade is much longer. Below the middle blade has a face that looks like a skull. The other side has the same skull. The handle has many engrave symbols from a different language. At the end of the handle has five jagged edges.
I let out a long sigh and watched the demon staring at me. I could feel its stare burning through my skull. It was a feeling of rage and hatred. For some reason I couldn’t kill this thing. I was struggling to stay alive. This hunt seemed like my first one as if I was a rookie. I shook my head trying not to remember my first hunt. All I knew was that I want this son-of-a-bitch to die. The demon slowly crawled to me on all four. I glared at it, trying to anticipate its move. Watching. The wind sent a chill through my spine. I tried to ignore it, focusing on the demon. It seemed like it didn’t noticed . I noticed the demon stopped moving. Its hard to describe a demon. Can’t even put it into words on how grotesque this thing is. I swallowed hard into my throat. The demon watched my throat. The eye’s still looked the same. Black. Dark. I had to end this now.
As quickly as I could, I ran to the demon. Gripping my sword as tight as I could, I lunged the blade into its chest. Blood and flesh sprayed onto my face. The demon cried out, more like a roar, of pain. With the sword still impaled into its chest, I gave a kick onto the end of the my sword. The sword went through its chest and came out its back. The wound was covered in blood. Black blood. I wiped my face off, getting the large flesh scrapes off. The demon tried to grab me but I ducked. With my left fist, I upper cut it into the chin. The monster started to fall backwards, landing hard onto its back. I caught my breath and ran to get my sword. I was towering over the fallen demon and I was holding my sword downward. Both hands on the handle, blade facing down. I was trying not to cry out from my injury so I quickly stabbed the demon in its heart. Then I sliced its head off. Blood sprayed out of the neck. It was like a rain shower. I kicked the head away and I tore the heart out. I toss the heart into the air and using my sword like a baseball bat, I sliced it right in half. Up next was the head. I slammed my sword into it, cutting it right through the middle. I had to make sure it was dead.
I sheathed my sword and winced from my shoulder wound. To be honest, I ’m surprised I haven’t passed out from so much blood loss. Or worse, died. I checked my wound and it was partially healed. I looked at it and wiped away a much dry blood I could. The wound was healing its self. I can’t heal. Can I? I shook it off and headed for my jeep. I needed to get to a hospital before I get an infection or worse.
The closest hospital from where I was, was about a half hour. I was hoping I could make it without passing out. I unlocked the doors and stumbled into the seat. Great. Did I feel like shit. My phone started ringing or I thought it did. But I checked anyway. I flipped it open and pressed it up to my ear.
“Hello?” I softly replied.
“Quinn is that you? You sound awful.”
“I don’t feel to well. I need help.”
“Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”
Somehow I told whoever this was where I was. I don’t even remember having a conversation with anyone. Hell, I didn’t remember falling asleep. I kept drifting in and out of sleep. I kept hearing a familiar voice calling my name, but I didn’t know who it was.

“Paging Dr. Andrews. Paging Dr. Andrews. You’re needed in OR.”
Somehow that page sounded louder than it should have. I let out a small moan as I started to awake. I woke up in a hospital. The entire room was white. The floor, ceiling, the walls. White. Can you guess what the sheets were? If you said white, you’re correct. For some reason hospitals like to be boring. Instead of waking up to something bright and colorful, we get boring, dull, white. Whoever thought white was a great color was just insane. But who to complain. I looked around the room hoping someone would be here to answer some questions. I tried lifting my right arm, but it felt heavy and a shot of pain made me cringed. Apparently my shoulder wasn’t quite working right. It had been a while since my injury. I guess I wasn’t used to it. There was a knock on the door and before I could answer, a tall man walked in.
“What’s with the knocking then?” I asked as the man walked beside my bed. He was wearing one of those mediocre white coats, a stethoscope around his neck and two pens hooked inside his pocket. Right beside the pens was a name tag. It said Dr. Ian Bradley. The man was about in his early to mid thirties. Beautiful blonde hair that goes past his ears a bit. I noticed he had some brown tints to his hair, but it may have been the light. He has those steel-blue eye’s that seem to draw you to him. Even with that, he had long lashes that every girl would die for. He could pull off the lashes so he didn’t look feminine. He actually looked more masculine. He even had those high cheek bones that define his facial features. Besides those lashes, he had the most luscious lips. They weren’t big, but they were more on the kissable side. Those lips were defiantly made for kissing. Dr. Bradley, from where I was sitting, looked quite tall. He maybe around five ten or five eleven. He had a well fit body. Lean with a muscular built. It was as if he was showing off his muscles. He wore a green button up shirt that seemed like it was a size to small. He was also wearing tan khakis and brown loafers.
“I thought you might be awake so I gave you a heads up I was coming in.” he said. His voice was soothe and sweet. A sound I never thought would come out of that body, those lips.
“But you didn’t give me time to respond.” I said. He looked at me, but then gave a slight smile. He knew what he was doing. Not like he was planning on me to respond. Either way, he was going to come in.
“You’re right. It’s just a habit. Anyway, how are you feeling?” he reached for a clipboard that was probably hanging at the end of the bed.
“Sore. Like shit. How did I get here? I don’t remember driving.”
“A friend of yours drove you here. You passed out. A mild concussion. You lost a lot of blood. But it’s a miracle that you’re alive. Your wound was deep, but when we got you to surgery, the wound was healed. Not fully, but we put in some stitches. The wound was healed just to stop the blood. The rest was us.” Dr. Bradley said as he was looking at the clipboard. My face must have gave a look because he started talking again. “Your friend said he’ll be back to pick you up. He is your friend isn’t he?”
“Yea. Yes he is.” I thought about that for a second. The only ‘he’ I know was the one who was out of state. He had another job somewhere. I didn’t think he would be here so soon. Besides, why would he be here? Nothing big is going on. Not that I know of.
“Well if you don’t want him to come, then we won’t let him near you.” Dr. Bradley said. I could hear some concern in his voice.
“No, you don’t have to worry about that. He’s fine.” I said with my most sincere look.
“Alright.”
“Speaking of which, when can I leave?”
“Hopefully tomorrow. I want you here for another night to be on the safe side.”
“Sure thing dr. thank you.”
He gave a slight nod and walked out. As he walked out, another man walked in. this must be the guy Dr. Bradley told me. I don’t recognize the man.
“Who the hell are you?” I said. I was wishing for my guns right about now. But I highly doubt the doctors would let me keep my weapons here. So I had to think quickly. He could ambush me now and I would be defenseless. I’m skilled in close combat, but at the moment, my martial arts would do shit for me. I’m in a small room with needles and tubes sticking out of me.
The man stood beside my bed, hands in his pockets. He stood around six foot, maybe taller. He wasn’t scrawny. The man is built for muscle. He wore a black wife-beater, showing his bare arms. On his right arm, he had a barb wire tattoo. His forearm had a tiger tattoo that was surrounded by Japanese waves, tiger lilies and a name. I couldn’t see the name. His face was mean looking. I could feel his anger just by looking at him. He’s bald, but I could see some bumps on his head. He had to be about forty. His eye’s are dark. Maybe a grey color. I get chills through out my body whenever I try to look at his eye’s. So I decided to stop. Smart move. The man stopped beside me and I could tell his jeans weren’t black. They were actually a dark blue. He also wore a pair of black boots or I assumed.
“I don’t like repeating myself. Who the hell are you?” I said, but with an angry tone.
The man stood there, staring down at me. For a second he didn’t answer. I was about to ask one final time when he spoke.
“I have a message for you. You are Quinn Bennett?”
I nodded, still wondering who this guy is.
“Good. My master wants to meet you. She has a deal for you. And you don’t want to say no to this.”
“Your master? Who is it?” I asked, now confused.
“Tonight. She wants to meet you at Death Row at midnight. From there, she will answer any questions. Come alone.” then the man walked out. I opened my mouth to tell him to stop but it was to late. Damn. Now I have to get out of here before midnight. I checked the wall clock and it read three. Well I got some time. I buzzed the doctor in and told him I was feeling fine. He didn’t like it, but I sweet talked him on letting me go home early. Besides, I had to tell my boss about my hunt.
I unlocked my door to my house and I got a breeze of stench. God did it stink. I haven’t been home for about two days and I forgot to take out the garbage.
“Fucking kidding me. I can handle blood and guts, yet I can’t handle my garbage. Unbelievable.” I said to myself. I dragged my garbage to the end of my driveway thanking I wouldn’t have to smell it anymore. What the hell did I throw away?
I took a quick shower, however, it didn’t turn out quick. My shoulder kept hurting, throbbing with pain. It took longer since I had to use one hand to wash my hair. Once I was done, drying wasn’t that hard. I was wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans with a pair of black and red Pumas. I called my boss telling him I wasn’t coming in for work. My boss isn’t any ordinary boss. He does care a tiny bit about his hunters, but he mostly cares about the money. He’s like a modern day Ebenezer Scrooge. As long as we roll in money, he’s happy. Besides being a devil hunter, I also hunt vampires and lycans. Most of the time it’s devils, but once in awhile I get rogues.
I checked my clock and it said it was six. Damn. I have six more hours. My stomach started growling at me. I’ve been buys I forgot to feed myself.
Before I knew it, it was midnight. I did a lot of things between the times. Good thing I picked up my weapons before I left the hospital. I may be little, but I’m stronger than I look. However, going up against a devil or a demon who could easily crush an elephant isn’t exactly safe. So I usually bring my twin .45 pistols and my sword. They are my strength against the supernatural. It’s not exactly a fair fight when they can crush me with one of their hands. However, I’ve been experiencing something I’ve never seen before. I’m capable of sensing things. Mostly the dangerous beings. I can feel how strong they are and how big of a threat. Sometimes I can’t control it so I have no idea how to work it I guess. I’m also immune to some vampires. Whenever they try their hypnotic mind control, I’m not affected. Only on certain ones and depending how old they are. And of course I have slight healing abilities. I can’t fully heal all my wounds. I can only heal to stop the bleeding. Depending on how deep or crucial the wound is, I can’t heal it then.
I parked beside the back door of Death Row. This place isn’t exactly a safe place for anybody. Tourist or locals. It’s a place for the dead. I knocked on the steel-door. Someone opened the sliding window and peered out. From what I could tell, it looked like a man.
“Name?” his voice boomed through the window.
“Quinn Bennett.”
He looked at me for a second before he closed the window. I could hear him unlock the door, which sounded like there was five locks. Two chains, three dead bolts. He opened the door and waved me in. I walked into a small room. It couldn’t hardly hold ten grown people. The bouncer opened another door on the other side. I thought it was going to lead into the bar, but I was wrong. Usually I’m right. Not this time. The door led downstairs. Go figure. The stereotypical scary movies always go downstairs. The bouncer waved me to go first. I was hesitant. I don’t like to go first in a place I’m not familiar with. And then have a bad guy behind me. How would I know if he was going to kill me? But he gave me a look that made my skin crawl. I could tell he wasn’t carrying any weapons. His shirt is skin tight, like it’s a part of him. His pants aren’t that baggy, very close to his legs though. He’s the type of bouncer who would show off his muscles than any type of weapon. I headed down the stairs and I felt a draft. It started to get colder. Soon enough my arms had goose bumps. Why is it so cold?
The lights flicked on when I stepped down from the last step. I walked through the hallway and enter another room. This room was bigger. Much bigger. I had to shield my eye’s since the lights were a lot brighter. Once my eye’s adjusted, I saw two large men. And I mean large. The two men look liked they should be pro football players. One of the men walked over to me. I totally forgot about the bouncer, but he was nowhere to be seen. I was to myself. The big man towered over me. He looked about six-five. All muscle. Not an ounce of fat. My neck was starting to ache from looking up. I hope he would move soon so I can stop straining my neck.
“Don’t worry. This may not hurt me as it’s going to hurt you.” the tall man replied. I wasn’t even sure what to expect. Before I could react I felt a sharp pain running through my head, then to the rest of my body. All my limbs felt numb. My sight started to go black. Then I felt something warm, sticky, flowing down my head. My sight was gone and I was out.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 2:

My vision started to clear but everything was still fuzzy. My head was throbbing. I tried to wipe the blood away from my eye’s when I realized my hands were tied. As I was sitting in the most uncomfortable chair, I was surrounded by demons. Something shot through my body I think it was numbness since my buttocks was hurting on this chair. It was a metal folding chair that didn’t even have a cushion on it. By back was aching from it. I looked around the room, watching the demons that surrounded the wall. They all looked at me, catching my gaze. But I was actually interested with the devil that was sitting in front of me. Her eye’s were as cold as ice. I could tell she was a devil even though she looked human. It was her eye’s that gave it away. Her eye’s are a grayish green. But with a flick of energy, they turned as white as snow. I could feel her energy drowning me. I was gasping for breaths when I saw her in front of my face. She was so close to me, inches away from my face. I could feel her warm breath as she breathed. I was afraid. Me, afraid of this devil. I could never feel fear, but right now, I’m feeling it as it ran through my hands, my stomach, my neck. My pulse thudded so loud through my ears.
We both looked into each other’s eyes. However, her eyes were filled with emptiness. She kept staring at me. I swallowed, but it felt like it couldn’t go down and it hurt. The devil wasn’t allowing me to think. It was prying on my mind. I felt a sharp, agonizing jolt running through my brain. I let out a scream, a scream of pain. I thought I died.
She looked so human. A devil that actually looked like a person. No devil could do something like that. But she’s no ordinary devil I presumed. I could sense her energy. Feel it touching my skin. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on its ends. Somehow this devil was picking at my mind for something. Some information.
“Get out of my head!” I yelled out loud, louder than I expected. The devil stopped as if it felt my pain. She leaned back into her chair. I started to breathe more heavily as if it took everything out of me.
“Untie her hands.” the devil said. Somehow I wasn’t expecting her voice to be so gentle. She stood up and glared at one of the demons. The demons looked at each other, afraid to move. The devil glared at them with intense eyes. I understood why the demons were afraid. Her eye’s became more aggressive. Just for a second the demons started to came closer to me. The devil stopped them and waved only on to me. It untied my hands and I quickly rubbed my wrists. The rope hurt my wrists for a bit.
The female devil started to walk away from me, turning her back to me. She looked around five-three. She had dark, curly, brown hair that hung loosely past her shoulders. She also had a petite, slender built. She was wearing a long, white dress. So white it flowed like snow was falling. Her walk had a defiant stride. She was most defiantly the most powerful being here. I stood up, though I had to sit back down. My head felt dizzy and though that’s all I could think about, I was feeling a bit sore.
“Do you know who I am? Do you know why you’re here?” the devil asked with a gentle voice, her back still facing me.
“If I knew, don’t you think I would have said something?” I asked as I stood up. I didn’t feel dizzy or light headed. So point for me. Apparently the devil didn’t like that answer since she turned around. Her fist came at me like a blur. I was knocked down and I tried to catch my fall, but my hands were to late. My head smacked to the gravel floor. My breathing became staggered and I was trying to slow it down.
“How dare you mock me! I could easily crush you if I want too. Though I need you alive. As much as I hate to, you are a valuable asset. Don’t you dare fuck with me.” she said with a slight angry tone.
I spat some saliva out and wiped the rest away with the back of my hand. Shit. I’ve been told I need to stop with the smart remarks because they could get me killed. I never really listened, but somehow I just might use that advice. I rubbed the side of my cheek, trying to soothe the pain.
“Well, that was my mistake then. To answer your questions, no, I don’t know who you are, or why I’m here. Please tell me because the suspense is killing me.” I said as I stood up. So I lied about taking that advice. I do enjoy the fun in all of this. Sometimes I hate being myself. Yea right. The devil grabbed me by my neck and slammed me into the wall. I winced from the pain and grasped my hands around the devil’s wrist trying to pry her off me.
“Don’t you listen?” she said but this time she was getting aggravated at me. I was like a little child who likes to ignore her parents wishes.
“I do only when I want too.” I tried to give a slight smile, though she was crushing my throat. So I couldn’t.
“If you don’t listen, I will kill you. I will sacrifice my life just for you to shut the fuck up for a minute. I have information you might like to hear. Do you want to know what I have for you?”
That silenced me. And people say I don’t pay attention to advice. I just like to listen whenever I want too.
“That’s what I thought. My name is Kura. I am an upper-level devil. I have the power to control some lower-level demons. But that isn’t why you’re here. There is another threat in this city. The demon you fought two days ago was only a warning. This threat has the power to control demons as well. I want this threat found and destroyed. That is where you come in. I want you to kill the threat.” she said now in her calm and gentle voice. I was relieved she let go of my throat, so now I can breath.
“If you’re powerful enough, why didn’t you kill it?” I replied a little confused on what to expect from this.
“I can’t since this threat has already beaten me once. I thought I could take it, but it over powered me ten fold. I was powerless to defeat it.” she said as her head hang low. I could tell she was embarrassed by the fact she’s an upper-level devil who couldn’t stop this ‘threat’.
“Alright then. You’re basically saying we should team up and find this being or thing together?” I said as I crossed my arms over my stomach. I wasn’t liking this one bit. Teaming up with my enemy always mean trouble. Especially with a powerful devil.
The difference between a devil and a demon is devils are usually skilled and powerful. They sometimes have special abilities while demons only possess super strength. Demons sometimes work independently and don’t work in groups. The only time anybody sees demons together would be a devil, a powerful devil is controlling them. Kura is powerful so they are afraid of her. Sometimes devils will betray their own kind.
“I’m not exactly saying that. I just want to know who is threatening me. I want this thing destroyed. Then my demons won’t have to be scared when they walk at night. I don’t need the humans to kill them for something they didn’t do.”
“Well you know I have authority about that. I just kill devils and you know that. If I get a call about a wandering demon, I kill it. I could careless if it was yours or not.” I snapped back, now getting into her face. She didn’t flinch or she just didn’t seem bothered by it. We both stared into each other’s eye’s. her energy boiled around us. I could feel the heat around my skin. I thought it was going to suffocate me. My breathing became short and staggered. I didn’t realize I was on my hands and knees.
“Don’t make me hurt you. It most defiantly won’t be pretty.” she said as she suppressed her energy. I found my breathing again and stood up. She was right. She could probably kill me with just her energy. I didn’t want to see what she could do with her torture.
“Alright. I’ll find out who is threatening you. Butt I doubt anybody would talk to me.” I said as I smoothed my shirt out. That’s when I realized I didn’t have any of my weapons. I was to busy concentrating on staying alive than about my weapons. Big mistake. I always know where they are. But not now. I was being careless for some reason.
“Where are my weapons?” I asked.
She waved one demon over who pulled my twin pistols and my sword out of thin air. I wasn’t sure where it pulled them out, but I was glad I could have them back. Without them, I tend to feel naked. They are usually with me wherever I go. Though sometimes I would have to leave my sword behind. Depending where I’m going. I can’t just walk inside a grocery store with a sword to my back. People would call the police thinking I’m going to rob them. Of course no idiot would rob a grocery store with a sword. People just don’t think about this stuff. Though it is easy to hide two guns. Or when people do see them, sometimes they think you’re a cop. So it’s good to have them think that.
I took my guns and holstered on into my shoulder holster and the other behind my back. Then I sheathed my sword. Kura was watching with curious eye’s. it was as if she didn’t think I would put them away. I don’t blame her. I didn’t think I would too. I wanted to blow her fucking brains out, and then kill all the demons, but maybe she could help out.
“Brick will lead you out.” Kura said as she turned and walked away. I guess she was sure I wasn’t going to attack. Maybe before I would, but right now, I’m not quite sure. As if on cue, the bouncer that led me inside stood in front of me. I never knew why humans would be willing to help with the monsters. What do they gain out of it? Power? Money? Maybe I will never know. I followed Brick through a different corridor. This corridor had some pictures hanging on the wall. Funny I thought. Some pictures had a family portrait. A mother, father, two boys, and a girl. Then the other pictures were either landscapes or one of the children playing in the yard, or with their dog.
He was standing beside an open door and waited for me to come. I guess I was to busy admiring the pictures that I didn’t realize he was still walking. I never really thought devils would have pictures. He bowed slightly as I walked past him through the door. As I walked through, he gently closed the door and I heard the locks snap in place. Apparently they didn’t want me to come back. It was pitch black and the air felt hot and sticky. It was defiantly summer. The temperature could say seventy degrees, but the humidity would be at fifty. I could feel sweat dripping from my forehead. This was going to be a really hot summer. I was digging for my keys out of my pant pockets hoping I was relatively close to my jeep. Though somehow I doubt that. As I was walking through the dark, the lights started flickering on. Maybe they are motion sensor lights. I sure hope so. The lights were beginning to freak me out. Maybe I was being paranoid. Lucky for me, I was alert. I felt a cold chill brush against my skin.
Without a sound, I saw a vampire standing in front of me. Though I don’t hunt them, I know some information about them. He looked at me like I was a piece of meat. Fresh blood. Somehow this vampire didn’t feed. His eye’s were dark. I reached for my gun that was holstered at my back with my right hand. I didn’t draw it out just yet since I didn’t know what to expect. The vampire was standing there. I don’t attack unless I’ve been attacked. I’ve learned from experience that some of the monsters can be kind. But let’s not go there.
“Are you the devil hunter?” he spoke. His voice was a deep baritone. He stood around six-one, maybe six-two. He had a honey-colored skin, dark, but not to light either. He could be that natural color, or he like to go tanning. Rumor has it that some vampires actually like the pain. But who knows if that’s the case with this guy. The vampire didn’t look bulky, nor scrawny. He had some muscles, but it looks like they are hidden. He was wearing a blue button up dress shirt with a pocket on the left side. He was also wearing black dress pants and black dress shoes. Though I doubt he was in the dressy mood to fight, but I don’t want to let my guard down. He was wearing some nice clothes.
“I am. Who wants to know?” I asked as I still had my hand on my gun.
“My master wants you to stop. Don’t go through any of this. If you do, we will have to kill you. Don’t make us kill you.” the vampire said as he leaned closer. I tried to back away but I couldn’t. he stood by me, watching me with those dark eyes. I let out a sigh, though I didn’t know I was holding my breath in.
“What do you mean? what are you talking about?” I asked as I finally took a step back. I wasn’t feeling comfortable with the vampire standing so close to me, especially since he didn’t fed.
“My master knows you saw the devil Kura. He doesn’t like the idea you’re teaming up with her.” the vampire said. His face never changed. it was just neutral, blank, as if he wasn’t pleased by any of this.
“How did your master know? I just got done talking with her about ten minutes ago. Besides, why would your master be afraid of me? I hunt devils, not vampires or lycanthropes.”
“He’s not afraid of you. He’s afraid what Kura would do to his people. Devils don’t affiliate with vampires or lycans. They only care about their own kind.”
“So what’s the problem then? I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.” I was getting annoyed with this vampire since he wasn’t answering my questions.
“My master thinks Kura will take over us and try to control us. Devils are far more powerful than we are. We’ve been trying to distant ourselves from them. But Kura is to powerful. My master thinks that’s why she’s here. To control everybody here and cause fear to the city.”
“So let me get this straight. Your master believes Kura is lying to me, that there is no threat. She is the threat and is trying to take control of the city by affiliating the vampires and lycans to work for her? I don’t believe this. How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“Because you know as much as I do, you hate devils. We don’t need them in this city. It’s rough with the lycans. We don’t need anymore.” he replied as he walked away. His voice changed to anger. He wasn’t carrying that gentle, calm, tone anymore. I could hear how frustrated he is.
“In other words, your master wants me to kill Kura, correct?”
He nodded.
I let out a long breath. Tonight wasn’t getting any better. I was hoping this was going to be easy, but I’ve been wrong some days. The vampire kept walking away. I guess he knew my next answer.
“I’ll do my best to stop her. Though I don’t know who to trust.” I shouted out to the vampire. He was gone once I finished. My jeep wasn’t to far away, so I decided to jog over to it. I wanted out of the darkness. I wasn’t in the mood to be out at night. If something or someone snuck up on me, I couldn’t guarantee I wasn’t going to shoot it. I turned the car on and the clock read three. Damn. Once I get home, I’m taking a quick shower and crawl into bed. This night was hectic.
This time at night was usually the quietest. Most of my neighbors were in bed. Though I knew one who would be getting out of work. I can’t recall what he does since I don’t talk to them. Not like I don’t want to, it’s because I can’t jeopardize their lives. I started to unlock my door when I heard some rustling noise. Shit. The door was slightly opened. Before I could move, and arm grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me in. I let out a groan since I was startled. Whoever was in here knew exactly I was going to do next. Once I regain my footing, I heard a familiar voice.
“Slow down girl. I don’t mean you any harm.”
I stopped, trying to think who it was. That’s when I remembered I heard the voice a couple days ago on my cell.
“Xander what the hell are you doing? I was about to kick you in the face.” I said as I lowered my stance. I was still cautious since I know Xander’s secret. He’s a bounty hunter and an assassin. He specializes in any supernatural/paranormal incidents. He gets the job done. Xander is good at what he does. Everybody fears him and I mean everybody. Only the best hires him. He doesn’t care about the money, though it does play a small part in his job. Most of the time he cares about how many vampires, lycans, or demons he can kill. Xander is about five-eight, though he could be a tad taller. He has short, jet-black hair that he spikes. To be a bounty hunter you shouldn’t care about your hair, but Xander tends to find time to spike it. To be honest, he looks good with spiked hair. He also has a beard and mustache that he trims quite short. Then he has the most unique eye’s that I have ever seen. They are a honey-color. I have never seen anybody have those kind of eye’s. I’m actually jealous. I want those eye’s. Though they may be pretty, he can make the honey-color look cold and dark. I’ve seen those eye’s before and they scare the shit out of me. I’ve known Xander for quite some time. From what I know, I might actually be his only true friend.
Xander was wearing a black t-shirt with a shoulder holster. He also wore a light wash jean with black boots. Though he had two guns in his holster, doesn’t always mean that’s all he’s has on him. He most likely has other weapons on him, hidden somewhere. He also surprise me on where he hides them. At points, I’m jealous of him because he can do that. He knows where I keep my two guns, yet I don’t know where he keeps his.
“That’s why I spoke up. I noticed you were about to fight back. I had to stop you.” he said as he turned the lights on and sat down on the couch. I blinked my eye’s a few time, adjusting to the light. He sat quite still on my couch, waiting for me to respond. I closed the front door and walked into the kitchen. Xander’s eye’s followed me like a hawk watching a mouse. I felt a chill run down my spine. I like Xander at my back since I know he will have it, but there are times when I’m afraid he’ll attack me. Just like when I walked in.
“Xander, was there a reason why you attacked me?” I asked as I leaned against the counter. I felt more relaxed if I wasn’t in the same room with Xander. He was showing no emotions and his eye’s were cold. I know he doesn’t like it when I’m in a separate room with him. I just feel safer. I don’t know why.
“I wasn’t sure who was at the door. I thought it was a vampire.” he replied as he stood up and started walking my way.
“Bull shit Xander.” I said.
“I was at the hospital a few days ago and they said you checked out a day early. I was concern. I told the doctor I was picking you up. Where were you?” he asked avoiding what I said. He tends to do that a lot. Most of the time he likes to answer certain questions.
“So it was you who called me. And you took me to the hospital. How did you know I was in trouble?” Xander was leaning up against the island, his elbows settled on it. He was looking curious, hoping I would answer that one question he wants to answer.
“It was. That’s besides the point Quinn. I heard you got to visit a devil. Did you kill this devil?” he asked with a serious look on his face. He held no expression. It was blank, neutral.
“How did you know about that? Word travels fast. I did. She wanted to a truce between me and her. She wanted me to find the true threat whom she fears the most. Her name is Kura and she’s an upper-level devil.” I told him everything I knew. I even threw in the part about a vampire messenger who told me about her. Once I finished telling him everything, Xander stood up straight and walked over to my kitchen table. He pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. I looked at him hoping he would say something.
“Damn it Xander. What does everything mean? Should I trust Kura or the vampire? I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can trust either one.” I said as I bowed my head, thinking about what I told Xander.
He looked up to me and gave me those neutral eyes again.
“I don’t think you should trust either one. They are just throwing lies at you to get you confused and attack whomever. We need to find the truth about this.” he said as he stood up.
“What do you mean ‘we’? I thought you were on another job out of town?”
“I’m helping you out because this is part of my job. Though I need more information than this. Try to find some. I’ll be in touch.” he said as he opened my front door.
“And how do you think I can get information? You have a better chance on getting information than me. Everybody fears you.”
“Exactly. Nobody wants to talk to me because of that.”
“Good point. Sorry about that.” I realized he had a better chance of getting a rock to talk than a vampire. He’s one of those guys who beat information out of you or if that doesn’t work, he’ll kill you.
“Now, I’ll keep in touch with you and you better have some information about all of this since none of it is making sense.” he walked out and shut the door. I leaned my forehead up against the door and let out a long sigh. I locked the door knob and then the dead bolt. This was one of those days when I wished I didn’t get up. I ended up taking a long shower than I wanted too. But I need the shower. It was soothing and relaxing and by all means, it helped. I threw on a pair of short black shorts and a pink tank top. My AC was on, but I still felt hot. At the moment, I didn’t care. I was exhausted, cranky and tired. I need sleep. I crawled into bed and snuggled inside. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 3

The phone kept ringing. I think it rang about eight times before I answered it. I reached above the sheets and answered. “Hello?” I said but with a groggy voice. I knew I was still tired.
“Quinn is that you? Did I wake you?” the voice on the other line asked now with some concern in the voice.
“Huh? Yea you did. Who is this?”
“Sorry about this. But it’s me, Brock Tucker. I have a case for you to see.”
“Brock, what the hell is the time?” I asked as I yawn through the phone.
“It’s seven. Why?”
“Seven!? Damn, I just got to bed about 2 hours ago. Can’t this wait?” he knew I was getting aggravated with his call. Brock is one of my closest friend. He works as a detective and we have been high school friends. Even during college, we kept in touch.
“Damn Quinn. That’s my fault. I’m sorry. I’ll let you get back to sleep. This case can wait.”
“No, that’s okay. Give me the directions.” he gave me the directions and I scribbled them down. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“I’ll see you then.” he hung up and I just laid in bed. Fuck. I’m so tired I didn’t want to get up. But it was a case and Brock hardly called me unless it was a case he didn’t recognize.
I took another shower so that way I will be somewhat awake for this case. I put on a black t-shirt with a few words on the back of the shirt. The sleeves were short, just a few inches past my shoulders. I also wore jean shorts and had to put on a black belt. Most days I would throw on flip-flops, but since I’m going to a crime scene I had to put my blue and black Pumas. These shoes are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. I had about twelve pairs of Pumas.
I arrived at the crime scene and I saw about a half dozen police cars. For a crime scene, the cops tend to go crazy on the back up. Were they expecting the corpse to jump up and attack them? Who knows. I got out of my Jeep and walked over to the yellow tape. The officer who was standing inside the yellow-tape perimeter walked over to me, hand out. Signaling me to stop. He looked like a rookie. I knew most of the officers that are on Brock’s squad, so they usually let me in. this officer was trying to act tough and intimidating.
“Stop civilian! What do you think you’re doing? You can’t step through!” he said in his tough tone of voice.
“I need to talk to Detective Brock Tucker.” I said with my most angelic, innocent, voice. He was not buying it one bit. That’s when I heard Brock’s voice across the scene. It boomed like thunder.
“Officer Roberts let her pass. She has my authority to be here.” the officer did as he was told. He lifted the yellow-tape and I just smiled at him.
“Thanks Officer Roberts.” he didn’t look to pleased. I just kept walking though I could feel his eye’s burning through the back of my head.
Brock stood at 6’5”. He has the body of a pro-football player. All muscle, no fat. He has a crew cut, though he would look better with more hair. But it wasn’t my choice to wear my hair like that. Brock was wearing a blue and white stripped button down dress shirt. It was a long sleeve shirt, but he rolled the sleeves to his elbows. He was also wearing khaki pants and brown dress shoes.
“So what’s the scene Brock? Anything I should know about?”
“Just take a look at it Quinn. I don’t want to tell you what we analyzed because then you will be seeing the same thing.”
“Sure thing Brock.”
Brock walked me to the crime scene and before I got there, I saw blood covering the ground. I was about a few yards away but this was not looking any better. The body was decapitated. The head was no longer attached to the body. The head was on the other side of the tree. Blood puddle soaked around the head and into the grass. I saw what looked like a hand hanging from the tree branch. Blood was still dripping from the elbow onto the grass. It was a fresh kill. The right hand was laying beside the body with blood entwined around the hand. I couldn’t tell if the body was a man or a woman. There was to much blood covering the body. But that wasn’t all. The chest was torn apart, showing the rib cages and the lungs. Only one of the lungs was still intact. Right beside the body was the other lung. The heart was torn out and wasn’t near the scene. The stomach was torn open as well. The intestines were flowing out all over the place. I cringed at what I was seeing. I have never seen anything like this before. It was grotesque. The smell of warm blood filled my nose and it was gagging me. To make it worse, it was getting warm. The mixture of heat and blood together is defiantly an unpleasant smell.
I covered my nose with my hand and I had to leave. I have never thrown up at a scene but there’s always a first time for everything. Brock walked beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Are you going to be okay?” he asked as he noticed I was about to go. I shook my head, not trusting myself to talk just in case I do throw up. I let out a breath through my nose, but it was a good thin I was away from the body.
“I’m alright. I’m fine.” I said as I let out another sigh. I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The body was torn apart and decapitated. Brock looked at me again. With eye’s of concern. I knew what he was about to ask.
“What happened?”
“It looked like something torn this person apart. Whatever it was, was defiantly a strong being. It’s not a lycan. I know that for sure.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Lycanthropes have claws. There would be claw marks all over the body. Lycans are stronger than any ordinary human. They have the strength to tear apart a human, however, they don’t tear limbs apart or even tear the organs. Vampires are defiantly out of this too. Vampires feed off blood, not organs or doing something so horrific like that. They don’t do something like that. So I’m guessing it was a demon that attacked this person.”
“I thought demons don’t come out during the day?” Brock asked as he was taking notes in his notepad.
“Who told you that lie?” I asked putting my hands on my hips. I’ve told Brock about demons and I never told him that.
“Someone told me that. He was positive they don’t come out.”
“Who told you that shit? I want to meet this asshole and tell him that’s a lie.” I was getting angry at Brock for believing some wannabe.
“His name is Keith Haring. He’s a demonologist.”
“Bull-shit he is. Demons walk the night and day. They don’t care what time it is. They attack whenever they want. I want to meet this Keith Haring then.”
“Sure thing. He’s right over there.” he pointed towards the police cars and there was a short, husky, bald man. I couldn’t help myself and I had to laugh. He wasn’t exactly the appearance I imagined, but hey, there’s always an improvement. “But first thing, tell me everything.”
“It’s a demon attack. Demons usually tear apart the limbs. They make their attacks messy and gruesome. You can defiantly cross off vampires and lycans.” I said as I turned around to look at Mr. Haring. Brock finished writing down all the information. Once he was done, he closed the note pad and placed it in the inside pocket of his coat and clipped the pen in it as well. He saw me glaring at Mr. Haring. He could feel the tension between me, so thick he could take a butter knife and slice through it and serve it with toast. Brock placed a hand on my shoulder causing me to relax a bit. I let out a sigh and closed my eye’s. I was counting to ten. Brock knew well enough not to talk to me while I was trying to cool down. I opened my eye’s and looked at him. It must have been the look I was giving him because his eye’s widen.
“You don’t have to see him now Quinn. You’re on a case. He’s just there to be there. Nobody invited him past the tape. He hasn’t even seen the crime scene. Besides, you are the only civilian whose allowed through the perimeter under my authority.” Brock nodded to me, hoping I would relax again. He never removed his hand, though he never tightened the grip. Smart for him. He knew once he let go, I was going to kill Mr. Haring. Figuratively speaking of course.
I looked at Brock with calm and relaxed eye’s. I guess he believe my eye’s since he lowered his hand. Brock may be human but I bet he could have easily broken my shoulder if things got out of hand.
“Brock, at this moment, I don’t want to talk to him. I can’t guarantee I won’t hurt him. I’m going to head out unless you need me again.”
“No, no. you’re free to go. Thanks Quinn and sorry for waking you so early.”
I tried to give my most sincere smile, but it didn’t show. I hate waking up before eleven. Even my boss knows I’m not a morning person. He actually found out the hard way. Most of my friends won’t call until at least noon. So no breakfast plans for me. The only person I wake up for that calls me earlier than eleven would be Meredith. I’ve known Meredith about two years. I’ve met Meredith at an old folks home. Okay, for better terms, a retirement home. I was working on her case. Her husband mysteriously died and nobody could figure it out. The body went missing and the crime scene wasn’t exactly a crime scene. Since there was no body, there was no crime. So the local cops called me in saying this is a supernatural case. I started digging below the surface. Going to places the cops wouldn’t dream about. I started asking questions to all of them; vampires, lycans, devils and even witches. Nobody told me anything.
Then one day I was visited by a lycan who told me what really went down that day. A devil killed Meredith’s husband though he wasn’t supposed to be there. Meredith was the one the devil wanted. He was there at the wrong day at the wrong time. The devil was smart. It followed Meredith for so many months, watching her daily routine. It was planning his attack accordingly. The devil wasn’t expecting her husband to actually go to the grocery store. I hunt down that devil and killed it. But before it died, it told me something interesting. It told me that Meredith is a witch. I fear some witches. I have no idea what they are capable of. But Meredith has been so nice to me. Now she’s living in a retirement home, happy and the likes. She calls me whenever she has free time. I guess its a lot of fun than we think it is.
I staggered to my jeep and got inside. I was so tired I thought I was going to pass out right there. It was an hour drive back and I wasn’t sure if I would get home safely. One of my fears would be falling asleep at the wheel and killing innocent people because of my stupid job. Gah, if only I could hibernate and sleep for like eight months, or however long bears sleep. I would be one happy person. Sadly enough, I had to get out of here. I wanted to go, but I had a feeling something bad might happen if I started driving home. Though I had to get home as soon as possible. I started my Jeep and turned on the radio. The only station I listen to is the classic rock station. To be honest, I’m a rocker chic. I love all the oldies and the such. But I wasn’t in the mood for the radio. In the morning there’s always talk. It bores me to death and I don’t need that since I’m already tired. So I took out my CD case that holds about fifty CD‘s. In this case, I have CD’s of only heavy metal. The music keeps me awake and yet it soothes me. I know that sounds strange, but it does. I popped in one of my favorite metal band into my CD player. I turned the volume loud, keeping me distracted from falling asleep.
I pulled into my driveway, thanking God that I didn’t crash. I started to unlock my door when I heard my phone going off. I pushed the door with my right shoulder, tripping over my own feet and knocking the phone off the receiver. I juggled the phone into my hands and tried to get the person on the other line without them hanging up.
“Hello? Hello? I’m here!” I said once I got a hold of the phone.
“Quinn, I need to see you today.” the voice said, though I wasn’t familiar with the person.
“Who is this first?” I asked, confused yet suspicious.
“This is Andre.”
The name didn’t help one bit since I still didn’t know who it was. He stopped and for a while the silence filled and all I could hear was his breathing.
“I don’t know anybody by that name. Please elaborate.” I said finally, breaking the silence.
“The head vampire. See me at noon.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”
“I’ll tell you everything when you get here. Meet me at The Dark Room, noon. Don’t be late.” he said and then hung up.
I looked at the clock and it said eleven-thirty. Shit. It takes about thirty minutes to get there. This is going to be a long day.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 4

The Dark Room is a restaurant/bar/nightclub. During the day, it’s a high-class restaurant. Most of the workers are humans, but I’ve noticed a few lycanthropes there. I guess they need money to live as well. It’s an upscale restaurant, very pricey entrees and everything else. With the name: The Dark Room, nobody would ever thought of it as a classy restaurant. Somehow it does great with the business.
Then after nine, the restaurant is turned into a night club. With about five bars inside. The night club defiantly brings more business since the younger audiences come to have fun. I’ve seen the club at night and it only the kids parents would see what really goes on behind closed doors. Vampires, lycanthropes and humans mingle, like a wild orgy. I’ve seen young kids in here which is defiantly not suited for kids under seventeen. Either the bouncers are stupid, or these kids have really realistic fake Ids. But this isn’t my business. I could careless if this place go down the drain.
I pulled into the parking lot about five minutes before noon. I didn’t want to be late and I’m not afraid of what a vampire would do to me than a police officer. I walked into the restaurant and let’s just say I felt out of place. Everybody in here was wearing either dresses, or nice suits. Something better than what I was wearing. I still had on the clothes I wore at the crime scene. I never really had a chance to change. The hostess greeted me with all smiles and politeness. Either she was human or she was a shape-shifter. I couldn’t quite tell. Give me a second and I could. She’s a petite girl with long-straight, blonde hair. She also had a tint of brown, so it was more of a dirty blonde color. She wore her hair down, framing her face. I could tell she was wearing makeup. But I bet she could still look pretty without makeup. She also had that sea-blue color eye’s. Those type of eye’s that you could look at and never get bored with them. Her attire consisted of a black jacket, a white dress shirt, black skirt that is just above her knees and black high heels. Her body is slender. That ideal body every girl wants. To be honest, I felt envious of her.
I usually don’t care about my body, but hers seemed to perfect. I guess that’s what happens when you become a lycanthrope. I noticed it through her eye’s. No human has those sea-blue eye’s. they were so crisp and light. I’m not sure on what her beast is, but I’m not that concerned.
“Is it going to be one?” she asked. Every word rolled of her tongue with ease. It was quite soothing and relaxing.
“I’m actually meting someone. His name is Andre.”
“Right this way. He’s expecting you.” She walked just like it was nothing. Her stride seemed as if she was gliding. It was interesting. She walked over to Andre and then walked away.
“Good afternoon Quinn. Please sit down and join me for lunch.” he smiled at me, though I didn’t see his fangs. He’s good, real good. I felt his power roll over my skin. He’s a powerful vampire. My arms had goose bumps and I felt a cold chill run down my spine. Most vampires usually show fangs, but the powerful or most experienced one’s down. They like to blend in as much as possible. But this vampire must be real old since he’s out during the day. Even the old vampires have to sleep.
I sat down as far as I could. The table wasn’t exactly big. He gave me a grin and watched me like a hawk watches its prey. I leaned back into my chair, trying to get as much space between me and him. I still had my guns, but I had to leave my sword in my jeep. Vampires are fast, so swinging a sword around is useless. I only use my sword on demons since it hurts them more than bullets.
“You’re Andre?” I asked it in a question.
“You don’t seem impressed.” he said.
Andre’ is an African-American vampire. He has a dark chocolate color with black cornrows. His eye’s are a black color. Black like nothingness. All I could see is my reflection. If he was using some mind trick on me, I wouldn’t have known. I have some immunity to vampires, but he’s old. Real old. Since I’m looking at him and I mean in the eye’s, he must trust me, or he doesn’t want to control me. I don’t know why though. Most vampires try to roll into my mind. Get me to do things they want me to do. But Andre’ isn’t doing any of that. He gave me another grin and leaned forward onto his elbows. He rested his chin on top of his hands, admiring me. He was quite handsome. He has one of those baby faces that makes an older man look younger, but good-looking at the same time. He was also wearing a blue and white stripped button up shirt. He only had about three of the buttons buttoned and the rest not. He wasn’t wearing anything underneath so he could expose his chest. I could even make out his six pack abs he has. Not sure what pants he’s wearing and I’m not going to look either. I don’t want to look like a fool.
“Oh trust me, I’m impressed. But I want to get to business. Why did you call me? What’s going on?” I asked.
“First, are you hungry?” he held up a hand as if to put my question on hold.
I looked at him without thinking on what to say. I was about to say no, but that’s when my stomach growled quite loudly as if to argue with me. He shook his head and let out a laugh. His laugh was actually soothing. Funny isn’t it? He ordered me a burger and chips and a coke. I didn’t argue. Apparently I wasn’t in the mood to complain.
“Now answer my question.” I said as I took a sip of my coke.
“I called you to let you know that you shouldn’t trust Kura. That devil is a back-stabber. She will kill anyone and anything. She may ay one thing, but it doesn’t always mean what she says. She told me the same thing, not to long ago and then she took out a handful of my vampires. I can’t do anything to stop her.” he said as he leaned back into his chair.
The waiter came back with my burger and placed it in front of me. Andre’ watched as I took a bite out of the burger. It was kind of weird eating in front of him since he wasn’t eating. Though vampires don’t usually eat human food. They prefer the red liquid.
“What do you mean she took out a handful of your vampires? She can’t possibly be that powerful can she? What about you? You must be powerful because you don’t sleep. Unlike the other head vampires, you wanted to see me during the day. You obviously are powerful.” I said as I finished chewing my burger.
He gave me a slight nod. “I am over two thousand years old. Some head vampires are only hundred year olds, but once you get to my age, you see a lot of changes and learn new tricks. I met an older vampire during my younger years and he told me a secret on skipping rest. I haven’t told anybody else about that secret. The only thing we can’t do is walk out into the sunlight. It still hurts me. But Kura is a powerful devil. You of all people should know how hard it is to kill a devil, especially at her power level. Vampires aren’t exactly killers against devils. They are far to strong against us.”
“I know devils are strong but I would think vampires could still take them. I’ve met a few vampires who could kill a devil. An upper level to be exact.”
“It is rare though. Some vampires have ‘abilities’. but enough about us. I’m warning you Quinn. Once she controls you, she’s unstoppable. Don’t you dare give into her. I don’t care if she threatens your life, you better not join her.” he gave me a look that nearly sent chills all over my body. His eye’s were filled with fear and hatred.
I let out a sigh and place my napkin on my empty plate. “Thanks for the warning, I think. But how do you know about this? I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t tell you anything. No offense, but if she killed some of your vampires, how did you get all of this information?”
“Vampires have our own way of getting information. But trust me on this Quinn, don’t go to her. I will see to it that some of my vampires will watch over you. I know you can’t be at all the places at once. My vampires will stake Kura out and see what she’s doing.”
“Why do you want to help me?”
“I told you. If Kura controls you, than she controls this city. Once she controls this city, soon enough she’ll try to control the world. Hell will defiantly break loose. Could you live with yourself knowing you caused all that? I know I sure as hell couldn’t.”
He had a point. I agreed with him on that. The difference between devils and vampires is that devils kill and rule anything and everything. They would destroy our world just to conquer it. Bring the Underworld to the human world. Have everybody live in fear. Vampires only want to control other vampires territory. They are something like wild animals. They are very territorial. I would rather live with vampires than devils.
“Alright. I’ll take your backup. But I want your word they won’t hurt me or any of my friends. They also have to do whatever I tell them to do.” I said as I leaned forward, pointing my index finger at him.
He gave a nod and a grin. I gave a slight smile back, pleased that he agreed with me. He snapped his fingers and right on cue, the waiter came walking to us. Andre’ whispered something into his ear and the waiter gave a slight bow and walked away.
“You’ll have to come back at night fall. Remember, I’m the only vampire that doesn’t need to sleep. You’ll meet your new recruits tonight. Be safe and careful. If I learn anything new by the time you return, I’ll let you know. Good-bye Quinn.”
“Again, thank you Andre’. And thank you for the meal. it was delicious.” I said as I shook his hand.
I watched him glide out the door and then I checked my watch. ****. My boss is going to kill me for being late. But he can’t afford to fire me. I’m one of his best hunters. I left the Dark Room and headed to Devil’s Kiss. That’s where I work. I have no idea the meaning behind the name, but I guess it’ll work. Right when I walked in the door I heard my boss yelling my name. And it wasn’t quite pleasant.
“Quinn! Where the hell have you been? I’ve got another hunt for you!” he yelled.
“Will excuse me Lucas for trying to have a life. Next time I’ll drop my life at ‘Boring as Hell Hotel’ just for you.” I said sarcastically and walked into my office. I could feel him breathing down my neck as I walked to my chair. As I turned around Lucas was still trailing me. Lucas isn’t exactly the boss looking guy. He stood about five-five, maybe five-six. A short guy. He has grey hair that he wore long. Today he was wearing it in a ponytail. His face was more of an oval shape, but if he wore his hair down, he wouldn’t. funny how a simple change of hair could make you look different. Lucas also has a body of that of a fifty year old. Not an ounce of muscle. He’s more chubby than fat. It’s a well-toned fatness I suppose.
“Look Lucas, I’m not exactly in a happy mood. I was called in a crime scene at eight this morning. And on top of that I never got a chance to get back to bed. Do you remember what happened the last time you called me in early?” that obviously did it.
Lucas gave me a look of shock. He knows I get cranky, grumpy, and agitated before eleven. I’m not a morning person at all. All my friends know not to wake me before eleven. Mainly because my job takes all night. I could be out til at least eight in the morning hunting demons.
“I do remember, but Quinn, there’s a case for you. It’s on your desk. You have to take it.” he said.
“How much did they pay?” I asked now annoyed.
“Fifty.” he said, now pleased. “Then once the job is done, two hundred.”
“Damn Lucas. Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”
He gave me a smile and walked out. Damn. Sometimes this gets real tiring. But it pays quite well. I opened the folder and the first picture I saw was quite grotesque. I’ve seen gruesome pictures, but this was so far the worse. It was a picture of a little girl, nude, with blood covering parts of her body. She was blindfolded and her wrists were tied behind her back. I looked at the picture closely and I could tell she was crying. I had to look away. I went for the other pictures and let’s just say they weren’t any better.
The next picture showed a dead body. The body was surrounded by a pool of blood. The body had the organs hanging out, spilled all over the floor. The intestines were no longer coiled, but stretched out, revealing it’s length. I also noticed the eye’s were no longer in the sockets. They were missing. Demons don’t usually take eye’s. I skipped the rest of the photos for a moment and started reading the scene report. None of the made any sense. It was if the photo’s didn’t match the report. The last known address of the attack wasn’t to far. I packed everything into the folder and headed out. Lucas saw me leave and yelled out to me.
“Did you find something?”
“Yeah. I’ll be back later.” I yelled as I closed the door.
I started my jeep and headed towards the scene. I just hope nobody was there. I could call Brock, but he just might not know about this and I don’t want to bring innocent people into this. Some of my cases aren’t approved through the authority. So I have to be careful about them. I pulled into the driveway and the house wasn’t exactly what I pictured. It looked homey. I checked the address again and I was at the right place. I got out and grabbed my guns and my sword. Had to be cautious about this. Never know if it’s still there.
I tried looking through the windows but the curtains were in the way. So I decided the next best thing, the front door. I turned the knob and it was unlock. Not always a good sign. I drew out my gun and held it two handed. I had it pointed outward, still being cautious. The entire house was dark and torn apart. It looked like a fight broke out in here. Nothing seemed to be tampered with. Something rotted started to burn my nose. Blood? Guts? That’s what it was. A dead corpse was hanging from the chandelier. It looked like he was committing suicide. Wait, then who called this in? Lucas would have told me if there was an in sight on this case. Something’s going on and I don’t like it. I turned around when I heard something upstairs. Someone was here. I swallowed and headed up the stairs. My gun was still pointing out.
The noise was getting louder and I stopped in front of a closed door. Not good. The door was white, but it was covered in blood. Hanging on the door was a name sign that said Beth’s room. It was a colorful sign. I turned the knob and threw the door back. A demon turned it’s head at me and growled. Blood covered it’s mouth and hands. It sill kept growling so I shot it in the head. The head jerked back but then it realign itself. It dropped whatever it was holding and ran to me. I fired a few rounds into it’s head but it didn’t stop. It tackled me, knocking both of us over the rail and down the stairs.
Once I was done tumbling, I shook my head and looked at the demon. It was nowhere. I frantically looked for it, but couldn’t seem to find it. The demon appeared in front of me and I was about to fire a round when it back handed me into the wall. The blow made me crash through a wall and I was covered in debris. I was now in the kitchen and I head to use it to my advantage. I grabbed a knife set an was ready to use them as throwing knives. The demon started running at me once more and I threw all five knives at it. I used both hands to throw them but the demon didn’t seem phased by it. I ducked as soon as it tried to hit me. I holstered my gun and unsheathed my sword. I rolled to its side and jabbed the demon. It roared with pain and frantically started swinging its arms around. I kept ducking under the arms until I timed one if it wrong. The arm knocked me back and I stumbled a bit. The demon grabbed my sword and pulled it out. Then it dropped it on the floor. I watched it fall, remembering where it’s at so I could get it later.
I stood up and waved the demon over. It took the bait and with everything I had, I did a round house kick into its face. The demon fell back and I ran by to get my sword. But it grabbed my leg and I fell onto my stomach. I tried to scramble out of its grasp but it wasn’t working. The demon stood up and brought me with. I was dangling upside down and I knew I had to get free. I grabbed both of my guns and started blasting the demon with everything I had. Good thing I had my guns customized for rapid shooting. I can make them sound like a semi-automatic pistol, but it takes practice to pull it off. The demon had a heedful of hot lead, but it still didn’t go down. I have to make sure this last shot will make him drop me or else I’m a dead person. I aimed both guns to its eye’s and pulled the triggers. Bulls-eye. The demon dropped me and I rolled to safety. I holstered my guns and reached for my sword.
I twirled my sword between my fingers and then I sliced the demon in half. Right through its side. The upper half slid down and fell to the ground. The lower half was still standing for a bit, blood spraying out, then it fell. There was a large blood puddle circling the body. I let out a sigh and sheathed my sword. As I was about to leave, an unexpected guest surprised me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked as I stared at the figure.
“To see what all the commotion was about. Now I know. I thought you were going to find the threat that’s terrorizing this city. Not kill my demons.”
“I am. It’s not my fault that everything is leading to you. I’m just doing my job.” I said as I looked at the dead demon.
“I didn’t send that demon here. Why would I? To prove to you that I’m not telling the truth? How silly would that be. Someone is setting me up. I want to know who.” she said now with anger.
“You’re an upper-level devil who can control these lesser demons. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re the threat. You’re not doing a good job at covering up your kills. So yea, at the moment, I don’t trust you. Either tell me the truth or I’ll have to shoot your ****ing brains out. You choose.” I said as I pointed my gun at her.
“I didn’t send him out. That I’m sure of. I’m the only upper-level devil here who has that power.”
“Then who’s doing the calling if it’s not you?”
“That’s why I asked you to find out. Most of these kills aren’t mine.”
Shit. Who to trust. “Alright, if you’re telling the truth, than why would someone try to frame you?”
“I don’t know. I want to find this imposter so I can show them not to mess with a devil.” she said as she walked away.
I didn’t try to stop her. Kura can handle herself but all of this isn’t making any sense. She’s being framed for killings she’s not doing. Andre’ wants me to stay away from her and not join her. He’s also aware on how powerful she is and wants to control me. But why control me? I’m just a devil hunter. Shit. I looked at my watch. I need to head home and get changed. I have to meet Andre’ and my back up. Should I tell him about my encounter with Kura? Would it even make a difference? Who knows.
Once I got home, I took a shower and got dressed. I was wearing a black t-shirt, jeans and my black and red Pumas. I also wore a red leather jacket. It was suppose to be cool tonight so I would rather have the jacket than not. I cleaned and reloaded my guns and cleaned my sword. I brought extra ammo just to be safe. Never know with vampires. I pulled into The Dark Room parking lot and let’s just say it took me about fifteen minutes to find a parking space. This place was packed. The sad part was that I was here pretty early. I guess they started early. I finally found a space and headed to the door. This was defiantly going to be a long day.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 5

The entrance had a long line. Many teens wanted to get in. The bouncer could tell most of these teens were underage. Hell, I could tell they were underage. But I have no right to tell them to go home. I walked past the line and headed to the bouncer. He had his arms crossed and had the look like a bouncer should have; seriousness. I tapped him on his arm, since I couldn’t tap his shoulder. He didn’t like it when I touched him. I took a step back and looked up to him.
“My name is Quinn Bennett. I have a meeting with Andre’.”
“Do you have ID?”
I took out my license and handed it to him. He looked at it for a minute and gave it back. He waved me through and all the teens were yelling.
“Sorry kiddies. But I’m old enough to go in.” I said as I waved at them.
As soon as I walked in I was hit by the loud music. My ears started ringing as I tried to adjust to the noise. A young woman walked over to me and started talking. I had to lean in close just to hear her.
“I need to confiscate your weapons and your necklace.” she yelled out to me.
“For what? I’m not going to kill anyone unless I feel threaten.” I shouted back.
“I’m sorry but it’s for our safety. You can get them back when you leave.”
“Ms. Bennett, please.” a man’s voice said over the loud noise. I turned to see Andre’ standing next to me. I didn’t even sense he was there. He was good. I let out a sigh and handed the woman my guns, my knives, and my silver necklace. Andre’ placed his hand at the small of my back and led me into the dance room. We started walking past the floor and he stopped me at a little table. He pulled the chair out and I waved him back. I don’t like it when guys pull my chair out. I’m capable of doing it myself. Besides, they never scoot me in far enough or they end up hitting my legs. So I tell them to never hold my chair out. Andre’ took my signal and sat down.
“What’s going on? Shouldn’t we be talking in private?” I yelled at him trying to let him hear me.
“First we have a show I want you to watch.” he yelled back.
I looked at him confused. A show? It’s a club. Why would there be a show? Right then the song ended. The floor cleared and then two people entered the empty dance floor. Vampires. I watched intensely as the two people started dancing. No, it wasn’t dancing they were doing. It was something different. Their dancing was smooth, almost hypnotic. Shit. What are they doing? They’re using their dance as some sort of hypnotic control. One of the vampires headed towards a young girl. She had to be at least eighteen to get in, but still. The vampire took her into his hands and started dancing with her. His hands were moving her, touching her, like she was a delicate flower. Caressing her, almost ecstatic. I couldn’t stop watching. The vampire’s mouth got close to her neck. He started kissing her. Moving around her neck, up to her ear and then to her mouth.
The other vampire joined his partner and started kissing her as well. Both of their hands started caressing her body. Moving to places they shouldn’t be going. I had enough. I stood up and ran to the vampires. One of the vampires looked up and caught sight of my fist coming down onto its face. It stumbled backwards and regain its balance. The vampire lunged at me, showing its fangs, ready to grab me. I twirled around it and shoved its back, tumbling the vampire onto its stomach. Damn. I could use my weapons right about now. The other vampire dropped the girl and lunged toward me. It caught me off guard, knocking me onto my back. I was pushing the vampire back, trying not to let it bite me. Andre’s voice boomed into the silence room. The vampire stopped and got off me. I let out a sigh and sat up. I was about to stand when Andre’ was now in front of my face. I let out a yelp and started to back away. His eye’s changed color. They were no longer black, but now a ginger color. Odd. He must change his eye’s when he gets angry.
“Was there a reason why you interrupted?” he said softly. Apparently I broke off the hypnotic mind control since everybody was looking at me.
“Yes there was. I didn’t approve of what those vampires were doing to that girl. They were taking full advantage of her.”
“You still didn’t have authority to do that. I don’t care if you approve or not. This is my club and whatever happens will be decided by me. Not you. You are a guest. Besides, they weren’t going to do anything to her. I would make sure of it. I monitor all of the shows. If things get out of hand, I will step in.”
“You called that appropriate? Controlling their minds so they have no idea what’s going on? That’s not fair.” I said as I stood up. I felt better and safer if I stood. This way I have more of an advantage.
“They know what they are getting themselves into when they come to this club. It’s not our business if they don’t like it. Then they shouldn’t come.”
He got me there. Nobody was forcing them to come to the club. They have free will. They could leave whenever they want.
“Sorry to interrupt. Carry on.” I said as I glared at the two vampires. They both just grinned at me, pleased on making me angry.
“No. The show is over. Carry on with the dancing. Quinn, let’s go and talk about what I asked you to come here. Come, we will sit in my VIP room so we’ll have some privacy and I can keep a close watch on the dance floor.” he led me away, gripping my wrist. Damn was he holding my hand.
We entered his VIP room and let’s just say it was amazing. The walls had many pictures and posters. One wall had a scar face poster, a godfather poster and a Rocky Balboa cut out. Now that was something you don’t see everyday. Another wall had beer logos and slogans plastered everywhere. There was even a Budweiser sign. Funny, a vampire was a Bud fan. In the middle of the room was a leather couch, a pool table, air hockey, and a fuse ball table. Then there was a large window. It was one of those double windows. You can look out, but you can’t look in. He also had two leather chairs looking out the window. He sat down in one of the chairs and waited. I guess he was waiting for me so I took a seat.
“I heard Kura visited you today.” Andre’ said as he broke the silence first.
“Yea, she did. How did you know?” I asked.
“I told you, we have our own sources. Why did she visit you?” he said as he kept looking out the window.
“I was on a hunt. The hunt led me to a house filled with a family of four. All of them were slaughtered by a demon. Though the husband hung himself. I don’t know why. The demon was still there when I got there.”
“You sound surprised. Why is that?”
“Demons finish their kill and then find someone else. The murder looked old. Maybe a day old. Why would the demon come back to eat what’s left? It already killed them, left, and then came back. That’s not like them.”
“Maybe someone is controlling them besides Kura.” he said.
“She told me she’s the only one capable of doing that. She also told me that she didn’t send that demon out to kill. Someone must be framing her, but why?” I rested my chin on my hands as I looked out to the dance floor.
“You can’t trust her. She could be saying that to throw you off her. Just be careful Quinn. I told you I’m giving you protection and these two are my most powerful vampires. They’ve been with me for quite a long time.” he snapped his fingers and two vampires appeared out of nowhere. Shit. Where have they been hiding? I didn’t see them. He must have blocked them out. I could have sworn we were alone. “I want you to meet Logan and Derrick. They will be your eye’s and ears wherever you can’t. they are reliable. Use them please.”
Logan stood at six-eight. He was defiantly tall. He had short blonde hair, keeping it close to his head. Almost a buzz cut but a little longer. He has those beautiful olive green eye’s that seem to trap you. He also has those strong bone structure. I could see his cheek bones and see his jaw line. He had going a scruffy look. It was if he didn’t shave in two days, but he actually looked good like hat. Logan also have thin lips, but not to thin. Just thin enough to make him handsome. He also have his cartilage, lobe and industrial pierced. A total bad ass, but a hot bad ass. He was wearing a white undershirt, a white striped button up shirt that he tucked into his pants. Faded blue-jeans with a few tears in them, a brown belt with a large belt buckler. It had some crazy design on it. He also wore black boots and a tan jacket.
Derrick on the other hand was shorter than Logan. He was about five nine, five-ten. He had dark brown hair that goes to his neck. It was wavy, but it also looked layered. He has blue-eye’s so blue sometimes I could see a little green in them. He has his industrial pierced as well. He didn’t quite have the bone structure like Logan, but his face was still well-structured. He was wearing a black t-shirt with gold letterings on the side, a silver watch on his left hand, two rings and I could see a tattoo on his wrist. He also had a pair of dark, wash jeans, and black boots. Out of the two, I think Derrick would be the less intimidated one. But I could be wrong.
“I sure hope you guys don’t mind taking orders from a girl like me?” I said sarcastically.
“Don’t be foolish. We’ve heard what you can do. We don’t want to end up like them.” Logan replied as he stared down at me.
“Them? As in the demons or your kind?” I asked.
“Don’t mind Logan here. He’s afraid of you. I mean, we all are to an extent.” Derrick said.
“Well what is there to be afraid of? I mean really, I’m a devil hunter, not a vampire hunter.” I said as I stared into Logan’s olive-green eyes, though he was still afraid.
“Even so. We heard you still take hunts for rogue vampires and lycans. So you have some background about us even if you don’t hunt us.” Derrick replied.
“You’re quite right. Though I haven’t had any rogue vampires to hunt.”
“That’s because we take care of them ourselves.” Andre’ spoke up as if this conversation was beginning to sound important.
“What do you mean?” I asked puzzled about all of this.
“We have what we call “Track Vampires”. A select few vampires who track and hunt down rogue vampires. They kill them right on the spot. They are merciful and deadly. They kill the rogue instantly and then dispose the body.” he said as if no emotion came out.
“I’m still not sure why you have tracker vampires.” I said.
He let out a sigh and said, “The whole reason behind tracker vampires is that if a rogue vampire is caught by let’s say another clan, that clan can use the rogue’s intelligence to wipe out the enemy. The rogue carries valuable information that could be used against us. So we make sure no one can use our information against us. We hardly have rogue vampires because all my vampires follow me. The one’s you fought are the one’s we exile and then have someone else to dispose of. To be honest, they fear you than they fear me. Which is ironic since I’m the Lord Vampire.”
“I never knew tracker vampires even existed. I’ve never heard of them.”
“Not many have because they are what you would call The Black-Ops, I presume. To the clan, they are a mystery. Only myself, Derrick, and Logan know about them. We don’t want our people frightened. It’s better if they don’t know. But enough of this. We came here to talk about the devil, Kura.”
I almost forgot about her at the moment. I was to caught up in vampire history 101. But even if Kura was the threat, why would she kill innocent people? I thought she want me to find this new threat?”
“What a minute. Andre’ remember what I told you awhile back before all this?” I said as I grabbed his shoulder.
He looked startled, surprised that I touched him. He gave me a nod and looked at me confused. “Of course. But what part?”
“Remember how I told you she said she was the only one capable of controlling demons?”
“Yes.” he said giving me a look to hurry up.
“Well the first time I met her, she told me that there was another one who could control demons as well. The ’threat’ was also able to control lower-level demons. So Kura lied to me the second time.”
“So what does all of that mean?”
“It could possibly mean that she is being framed and that the threat had something to tell her that she’s the only one who can control demons. Kura was maybe black-mailed into this. Maybe Kura is a victim instead of a suspect.”
“Are you serious? Are you listening to what you’re saying? Do you believe what you just said because I sure as hell don’t.” Logan replied as he shook his head.
“Well then, I don’t know what else to think until we can gather more information. For right now, I’m sticking with that theory unless somebody else got a better one.”
“I have a better theory. Kura is after one thing and that’s world domination. That’s what a devil wants.” Logan replied.
“I don’t think so. She’s a powerful devil. Trust me, I sensed her power. If she wanted world domination, she would have done so by already. What could be stopping her from doing it? Someone must be more powerful than her. But who? Could it be another devil? No. probably not. They won’t team up to do that. We know it’s not a vampire or a lycan either. So it leads us no one. Damn. This is so ****ing frustrating.”
“Quinn. It’s a long night. Go home and rest. Take Derrick and Logan. While you’re sleeping, these two will scope the city to find any clues leading to Kura. Maybe then you can uncover the truth. Until then, get some sleep.” Andre’ spoke gently and calm. His voice was clam it practically put me to sleep.
I nodded. He was right. I was exhausted.
“Can I get my weapons before I leave?”
“Of course.” he waved me away and I took the hint. He wanted me to rest. I got it.

[Lockon Stratos]

A/N: So this chapter is gonna kinda short but meh, i'm still working on it! i really hope people like this book!

************************************************** ****************

Chapter 6

I usually don’t allow anyone to drive my car. And I mean anyone. But there’s always a first time. I was tired. I looked at Derrick and then to Logan. Derrick looked comfortable in the driver seat. Logan on the other hand was looking attentively out the windows, searching to see if anybody or anything would attack. Derrick turned to see me, watching me. I looked back at him, but he just gave me a smile.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. But you should rest. Don’t worry, we have strict orders not to get you hurt.” Derrick replied as he turned back to watch the road.
“But you won’t follow my orders though. Don’t wreck my Jeep. Keep your eye’s on the road.” I said as I let out a yawn.
“Haha. I know how to drive. Don’t worry so much. I told you, why don’t you rest your eye’s.”
“Why do you keep insisting me? I’ll sleep when I get home.” I said as I got angry at him.
“Whoa, I mean no harm. Logan are you seeing anything?” Derrick asked as he took a look at him.
Logan looked at Derrick and then looked away. He didn’t say anything. So it must be safe. But Logan wasn’t the type who would talk. He’s the silent type.
“What’s with Logan? Why is he so quiet?” I whispered though I know he could hear me.
“Logan was never like that. He changed when he was turned.”
“What do you mean?”
“Logan is my brother.” he said as he lowered his tone.
“Literally or figuratively speaking?” I asked, leaning closer to him, now since this is an interesting topic.
“Literally. Logan is my older brother. Andre’ turned both of us about six hundred years ago. Logan was actually the target Lord Andre’ was going after. Once he turned my brother, Logan told Lord Andre’ about me. I wasn’t aware what he was doing or why he was what he was. To be honest, the only reason why Lord Andre’ turned me because Logan wanted to save me. I had a terrible, deathly, sickness and Logan didn’t want me to die. So Lord Andre’ saved me.”
“He turned you into a vamp. Having immortality. Why do you follow him?”
“Who, Logan?”
“No, Andre’.”
“I follow, no we follow him because we respect him and he respects us. He’s not like any other Lord. He actually cares about us.”
“Is that so? Logan changed you said. Is it because Andre’ saved you so he doesn’t have to worry about you as much or what?”
“I don’t know. Logan still feels protective of me. He doesn’t want anything to happen to me. We’re here.” he said as he pulled into my driveway.
I didn’t realize how long of a trip it was, yet it was the time as before. Logan got out first and scanned the entire house. He came back and he nodded to us. The house was safe. Good thing because I was not capable of fighting. Derrick stood by me in case something might happen and I didn’t mind. I opened the front door and I heard Logan let out a low growl. There was a shadow figure in the background, standing.
“Quinn, it’s me.” he said as he stepped out from the shadows. The light highlighted his face and I knew who it was.
“For once in your life could you call me ahead of time like a normal person?” I asked with a tone of frustration.
Xander gave me that cold look that he gives his enemies. Oh shit, I hope I didn’t piss him off. He’s the guy I would have never picked a fight with at school because he would actually win. He’s not intimidating whatsoever, but he scares me shitless.
“Then where’s the fun in that? Who are they?” he asked nodding his head at the two vampire bodyguards.
Shit. Xander hunts any and all supernatural. I sure as hell hope he won’t hurt them.
“They are my bodyguards, sort of. The head vampire had them help me on the case of Kura. He thinks they can help.”
“Is that so?” he said as a slight smirk crept the corner of his mouth.
“Don’t get any ideas Xander.” I said as I pointed my finger at him.
“Speaking of which, how is that case going? I told you I’ll be around for some information.”
“Xander, I need sleep first. Plus it’s almost dawn. These two need to rest as well.”
He didn’t like that either. He’s like a skilled actor. One minute he’s perfectly fine and then the next he’s angry. Xander can change his facial expression so well, I get scared on who I’m talking too.
“Where can we sleep that’s safe?” Derrick asked as he interrupted the silence.
“You two can sleep in the basement. I have two bedrooms down there. It’s a full size basement. I use it a lot actually so it won’t be musty or anything like that. Plus it’s one of those underground basement so you won’t have to worry about windows. It’s almost dawn. So go ahead and head down.”
Derrick and Logan looked at each other and then back to me. I could tell they were concern about me. Especially since they don’t know Xander.
“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt me. Trust me.” I said. They headed down the stairs and I shut the door.
“Why are you hanging out with vamps?” Xander asked once again.
“I told you. They are helping me. Look Xander, I’ve been up for 24 hours. I need sleep. Let me do that and I’ll tell you everything I know, okay?”
He nodded without arguing. Smart man.
I changed into my pajamas, washed up and brushed my teeth. I crawled into bed when I saw Xander leaning against the doorway.
“I’ll be here when you wake up. I’ll keep a look out in case something happens.” he said.
“Thanks Xander.” I said as I feel into a deep sleep. Not even trying to fight my heavy eye lids.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 7

The air started to become heavy. I couldn’t seem to get my breaths. Each breath was short and jagged. The air seemed to burn my nose, my mouth, my throat. It was hot. I felt like I was inside a hot oven that was turned on all the way. Sweat poured down my forehead. What is going on? I looked around and all I could see were flames. There were fire that was dancing wildly around me. It engulfed me, burning my flesh. Now I was smelling burnt flesh. My flesh started to turn red and it started to ache. Where am I?
I tried walking, but my legs felt like jell-o, kind of when you’re done running and try to walk feeling. I looked down and I noticed I was walking in some red water. Though the red water didn’t quite feel like water. It felt heavy and sticky. Blood. I was walking in blood. Damn. That’s just gross. I looked around and the sky was dark. Pitch black in the sky. Not a single light. I noticed in the background a lot of broken buildings. It looked like an abandoned city that was destroyed. But by who or what? Buildings were torn apart, cement blocks scattered all around the streets.
As I walked over to the city, I saw a shadow figure. The figure didn’t move. It looked about an inch or two taller than me. I as close enough to see that it had its back to me. I reached for it when it suddenly turned around, causing me to stumble back a bit. I let out a yelp and then let out a long sigh. The being was covered in black robes. I couldn’t see who or what it is.
“Remove your hood. Show me your face.” I said.
The figure stood there, still, silent. Not seeming to care if it heard me or not.
“Dammit.” I said as I reached for the hood.
The figure quickly stepped back as I tried to remove the hood. It was quite quick. I ran to the figure but it still kept fleeing. I tried once more, but the figure once again fled away. I stopped chasing it and watched it. I then heard it laugh. My head started pounding as if someone was taking a sledge hammer to my head and smashing it over and over and over again. I let out a cry of pain as I held my head. Blood started dripping from my nose. I was to busy holding my head to worry about my bloody nose. The figure stood in front of me and stared. I tried to keep my eye’s open, but my head was still throbbing with pain. The pain became more agonizing. I thought my head was going to explode. I let out a scream and fell to my knees. The figure was the one causing the pain. The pain felt like needles were picking at my brain many times. My body started to go numb and I couldn’t stay on my knees.
I was now on the ground in the fetal position, rocking back and forth. My nose kept bleeding and I had a blood trail down my right cheek. Whoever this is, is powerful. I’ve never met a devil who could do this to me. Kura tried it on me once, but it was no where near this agonizing. All I could do was scream. I wanted this to end. I heard something in the distance. Someone was calling me. I kept hearing my name. Then everything started shaking.
“Quinn. Quinn. Wake up!” the voice said.
I let out another scream and shot up from my bed. My eye’s were wide with shock and I was breathing heavily. Sweat dropped from my forehead. I looked around and I was in my bedroom, my house. I was safe. I turned to see Xander beside my bed with a concern look. His honey-eye’s were warm.
“Are you alright?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. What happened?”
“I’m guessing you were having a nightmare. I heard you screaming so I tried waking you. But you felt hot. You were burning up.” he looked at me weird and then wiped my cheek. “Blood? You have a blood trail down your cheek.”
I touched the blood with my finger and realized it was still wet. What the hell happened?
“Quinn, what happened?” he asked staring at me intently as if I was about to sprout another head.
“I don’t know. It was all to weird.”
“Think. This might help us on the case.”
I closed my eye’s hoping not to remember that horrible nightmare. It was one of those dreams were you don’t ever want to think about or have again. But Xander insisted me to remember. Hoping it could mean something. I closed my eye’s and let out a sigh. I focused on the nightmare, concentrating hard. A flash of light flashed in my head. The light turned out to be fire.
“Fire, oh my god it’s hot in here. Burning.” I said as sweat dropped from my forehead. “Blood water, destroyed city, dark, nothingness. Xander, I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“What else? What else do you see?”
“I can’t. I can’t.” my voice became scared and soft. Then I saw the dark figure. The figure stood there like it did before. “Xander, I see a dark shadow.”
“Who is it? Do you know?”
I shook my head. I opened my eye’s breaking my concentration from the nightmare. My breathing was heavy and short. Xander was looking at me with those cold eye’s again.
“Xander, that’s all I could get out of that nightmare.” I said as soon as I caugh up to my breathing.
“I know. I know. I was beginning to worry about you.”
“Why? What do you mean?” I asked with a puzzled look.
“When you were describing your dream, I felt the temperature rise. It became hot in here. Almost as if the heat wave could burn you.”
“I don’t understand? How could that happen?” I looked away trying to think of the reason, but I couldn’t.
“It might mean something later. But I think it’s almost time for your vampire friends to wake up.” Xander replied with a slight smirk.
I headed to the basement door when I heard it shut. They must have decided no to wait. Go figure. Men. They are all so impatient. They are all the same; dead or alive. Derrick gave me a small smile while his brother’s face was neutral.
“How was your sleep?” Derrick asked as he sat down on the kitchen counter.
I looked at him with wide eye’s. Nobody sat on my counter and gets away with it. It’s one of those pet peeves that I can’t stand. He must have seen the look on my face. He quickly jumped down and sat in the chair.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” he replied softly.
Xander watched the show and let out a quick laugh. He knew almost all of my pet peeves. He was leaning up against the far wall, keeping an eye on everybody, even myself. To be honest, I don’t think he trusts the vampires. I’m not sure if I could trust them. But I know Xander will have my back if anything happens here.
“Just next time, sit in a chair. I’m just picky on certain things.” I said as I looked at him with disgust. It’s annoying to tell you the truth. I didn’t want to become a jerk about it, but it’s my house and my rules.
“Sorry to interrupt this show, but Quinn, you have some information for me? Since you’re obviously feeling awake.” Xander said, looking at me with those eye’s again. His face said nothing to me.
“Of course Xander. I didn’t forget. Andre’ and I met the other day. I told him about Kura’s unexpected visit.”
“What visit? When did you see her?” Xander asked.
“I was working on another devil hunt. It took me to a family home just outside of the city. A family of four. Parents and two kids. Everybody was slaughtered though the husband was hanged. But when I got there, the demon was still there. Eating the bodies. I’ve been on numerous of cases where the demon is long gone. They just kill and move on. This one was different. It felt like someone or something told it to stay and enjoy the kill. That’s when Kura came by. She told me to stop killing her demons. She wasn’t the one who told it to kill.” I said as I sat down. I was sitting on my couch, sipping from my coffee mug. Xander was still standing and Derrick sat to my left and Logan sat in the chair in the kitchen.
“Why would she say that? Did somebody else control the demon if not her? Who else could be that powerful besides an upper-level devil?” Xander asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
“She mentioned the ‘threat’. maybe this threat is the problem.” I said.
“Ace. The threat goes by as Ace.” Derrick said as I turned to him.
“What do you mean? How do you know?”
“Andre’ was visited by it.”
“When was this? Why didn’t he tell me that before?” I asked.
“He was visited just the other night after you left.” Logan replied. I almost forgot about him since he was so quiet. It’s always the silent ones isn’t it?
“Why didn’t he call me? How do you know about that? You were with me. So there was no way of him contacting you.”
“Telepathically. We are his servants. We are bond to his powers. He said that Ace is the real threat. Kura is a part of his plan.” Derrick said.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. So besides Kura, I have to worry about this Ace guy. Could this get any worse? Don’t answer that.
“So besides Kura, we have Ace to worry about as well. Great and nobody knows who this guy is?” I said as I shook my head. I couldn’t believe this.
“Well we know whose doing the random devil attacks. Ace is probably doing it. Kura probably didn’t know he was doing it, or she just acted like it.” Xander said as he walked over to me.
“Then we must find Ace and put a stop to him.” I said.
The two vampires nodded at me. Xander stood there, looking at me, giving me those eye’s. The eyes asking me what to do. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what to do.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 8
After we exchanged all the information, I had to get ready. I was still in my pajamas. I was wearing black short shorts and a white, cotton, spaghetti strap tank top. I don’t even care I was till in them. It was my house. I took a quick shower and got dress. I had on a pair of black jeans with a red belt that had a silver buckle. I also threw on a dark red t-shirt. I put on my shoulder holster and stuck my black gun into it. With my silver gun, I placed it in my back holster that’s attached to my pants. My black Pumas completed my outfit.
Xander greeted me at my bedroom door when I opened it. I jumped a bit and caught my breath. He gave me a quick smirk and stepped aside.
“What’s going on Xander?” I asked as I crossed my arms across my chest. I leaned up against the wall awaiting his response.
“I was just thinking about everything. If Ace is the problem then why only have random demon attacks and frame Kura for them? That’s all Ace is doing. Nothing else. So why is Ace framing Kura? There’s got to be more than that.” Xander said.
I started thinking about that. He was right. Kura told me to get rid of Ace but why? Now it’s because Ace is framing her for all the demon attacks. But what do the demon attacks mean?
“So in other words, Ace is the problem but isn’t since all he’s doing is framing Kura. What does it all mean at the same time?” I asked while I was still thinking out loud.
“Exactly. It doesn’t make sense. What is Ace really planning on if it’s not to destroy everything? Or hell, rule the world. There’s got to be a motive for his doing.”
“I agree. Ace has something planned, but we don’t know what. We need to find out.” I said as I headed down my hallway.
“Where are you going?” Xander asked as he stood up from the wall.
“To talk to anyone I can. Whoever has some information about this Ace guy or even about Kura. We need to take them down as soon as possible. Who knows what they will do.”
Xander gave me a nod and followed behind me. I usually don’t like people who are armed walk behind me, but it’s Xander and I know he won’t kill me.
Derrick and Logan were sitting on my couch looking relaxed. They both changed their clothes. I didn’t even know they brought extra change of clothes. That’s how much I paid attention. Foolish of me. Careless.
Derrick had on a pair of jean shorts, a white button up shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes. His brown, wavy hair, looked shorter, but that could be me. The white shirt was bringing out his blue eye’s. he still had his two rings and his watch.
Beside him, Logan looked more rugged. He was wearing khaki, cargo pants, a black tank top and his black boots. He also had a black belt with a large lion belt buckle. He still had that scruffy look going, but it was still tamed. It didn’t look bad. It actually looked good on him.
I walked up to them, giving both a smile. Derrick was the only one who smiled back. His smile was warm and generous, like he meant it. Logan was to busy eyeing Xander. I guess the vamp didn’t trust him. I don’t blame him. To the supernatural world, Xander is known as Reaper. He takes the lives of anybody he wishes. Derrick seemed to like Xander, or he doesn’t show it. Either way, he’s cool and calm whenever he’s around.
“Where are you going? What do you want us to do?” Derrick asked as he leaned his elbows on his knees.
I looked at the clock on the stove and it said nine. Damn. My stomach growled at me, once again I didn’t eat. I headed over to my kitchen and opened the fridge.
“I need some food first.” I said. I poured a bowl of cereal and started eating. “Derrick, Logan, I want you two to go around asking people about Ace. I mean vampires and lycanthropes as well as any local witches.”
“Are you saying we should split up?” Derrick asked as if he wasn’t sure if it’s wise to do that.
“Yes. Besides, Xander is going to be with me. Now get going. We are wasting precious time.” I said once I finished chewing.
“How are we going to keep contact? Where should we meet?” Derrick asked.
“Take my cell. I’ll be using Xander’s. Call us if you find anything. We’ll meet at The Dark Room. We should be safe there.”
“I don’t like this plan, but alright.” Logan said as he stood up. Derrick nodded in agreement, but didn’t say anything. The two vampires left me and Xander alone.
“What do you have planned, or else you wouldn’t separate ourselves like this.” Xander said.
“No, I wanted to split up. Gather more information faster. Besides, I know a witch who might help. I hope she’s not in bed.”
Xander looked at me with a puzzled face. He knew I have a plan but he just wasn’t sure what.
“Her name is Meredith. Xander, if you meet her, don’t hunt her down or anything. She hasn’t done anything wrong. I’m trusting you, you won’t harm her. Promise me that.” I said as I pointed a finger at him.
He held up his hands and gave me one of those smiles. Whenever he gives me his honest smiles, I know I can trust him. His smile reached his eyes and he wasn’t going to do anything to her. I told him about me saving an elderly woman, but I never told him who she was or what. I had to keep her safe especially from him. He and I are friends, but let’s just say our friendship is a different relationship.
“I promise I won’t harm or hurt her. You have my word.”
And with Xander’s word, he’s always true to it. I could trust him.
“Alright, let me call her and warn her I’m coming over.” I dialed her number and luckily I got a hold of her. I hunt up and looked at Xander. He just looked at me, eye’s not moving or showing emotion. “She’ll see us. Let’s go.” I said as I grabbed my keys.
I drive a 2007 Jeep Patriot. All black. It’s a great jeep. Xander keeps nagging me for one of his friends to customize it for me. Boy is he persistent, though so am I. If you don’t know, I’ve been saying no. my sword laid on the back seat of my Jeep. My sword is long and it just fits on the seats. I was driving to Meredith’s retirement home. Yea, I know. Not exactly a safe place, but I just have to pray nobody will follow me to her. Xander sat in the passenger seat in silence. We both didn’t say a word during the drive. We got to her place and headed to her door. Good thing I left my sword in my Jeep. I don’t want to scare the neighbors. Though I kept my guns.
Before I knocked, Meredith opened the door. She gave me a warm smile and hugged me. She was always the hugging type. Xander smiled back to her, but I know he’s not a hugging type.
“Hello Meredith. I can’t breathe.” I said as I tried to pull back.
“Oh it is so good to see you! It’s been to long. And who is this fine man?” Meredith asked as she pulled away and looked at Xander.
“This is Xander.” I said.
“I thought so. Come here and give me a hug.”
My eye’s widen when I saw her give him a hug. I couldn’t believe he’s hugging. He didn’t seem the type who would hug. I guess it’s because we don’t hug. Plus, I don’t really know much about him. He’s a friend, but not exactly a close friend who I would share all my intimate secrets.
“I know all about you Xander. To the public you’re a bounty hunter but to the paranormal, you’ve been known as Reaper. You’re impressive. You have numerous of deaths under your belt. quite a reputation you have.” Meredith said as she looked into his eyes.
“you’re good. I thought you’re a witch, not a psychic. How do you know about me?” Xander asked, but his face was still friendly. I didn’t see any anger in him at all. Or he’s just that good.
“I am a witch. I have different powers. Kind of like a psychic. I can read people. Sense how dangerous they are and I have slight telepathy.” she looked at me, eyes now trying to tell me something.
Meredith is a seventy something lady. She has long white hair, but there’s some grey. It actually looks cool. Her hair hangs loose around her back. She’s a short lady, around five foot. Maybe five-one. She was wearing a pair of black glasses, the old school, bug-eye glasses. But she looks good in them. Meredith was wearing a light blue sweater, with jeans and white gym shoes with Velcro.
“Please do come in.” she said as she waved us in.
Her apartment was defiantly small. But it’s a good size for her. The living room was painted a dark blue with floral wallpaper in the middle. She had quite a few pictures hanging as well as sitting. Most of the pictures are her and her husband. Both of them in their younger years, middle years, and the older years. She was quite a beautiful young lady and he wasn’t bad either. I haven’t seen pictures of her children. But she told me they never had children. It’s to bad since I bet they would have been great parents. Meredith was concern her children will inherit her witch abilities. She didn’t want that though her husband knew she was one.
Meredith took a seat in her rocker. She loved that chair. It’s a pinkish color rocker with a floral blanket resting on top of the head. She had it folded ever so nicely. Her couch was also a floral. Xander and I sat on the couch. She had a coffee table in front with two pictures. The one on the left was her in a swimsuit when she was at least twenty. The picture on the right was of her husband in a military uniform. She told me he was part of a war. Her apartment is warm and cozy. I usually start thinking about my life and if I would be able to live like Meredith. She never told me about her younger years and if she ever fought. But maybe she’ll tell me the stories another night.
“Do you two want anything? Some tea or milk?” Meredith said as she walked to the kitchen.
“Do you have some of your hot green tea made?” I asked as I followed behind.
“Of course my dear. Why don’t you sit down. I’ll bring it out. Don’t worry.” she said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
I sat back down next to Xander who only gave me a smile. He was enjoying this. I don’t know why, but he is. He stays quiet only to observe and when he’s doing that, it usually means trouble. He absorbs everything in. he could probably tell me everything he just say in her place and things I didn’t know about. He’s just that good that it’s scary sometimes.
Meredith walked out with a tray full of plates and tea cups. She placed the tray on the coffee table and handed me a china tea cup. The tea cup had one flower one side. It was quite cute. I took the cup and took a sip. I lover her green tea. It’s always hot, but not scorching hot. The hot that you could sip without burning your tongue. She handed Xander one as well and he took it.
“I figure you would be thirsty.” she smiled to him, giving him her warm, innocent smile.
He nodded. “Thank you.”
She took her cup and sat in her rocker. We all sat there in silent just sipping over tea. Her clock ticked away, so it wasn’t to quiet. The silence was nerve wracking. Before I could speak, she beat me to it.
“The witch community has been talking about a person who goes by the name of Ace. I know you are hunting this person. The community has no idea what the intentions it has but it must be big. Why else would it be here? Is there a reason for its presence?”
Xander and I shook our heads simultaneously. We couldn’t think of a reason. All we had were theories and they do jack shit since most of them are stupid.
“I only have theories Meredith and trust me, they are not good.” I said as I took another sip.
“Enlighten me with them.” she said as she sounded concern about them. Maybe she could tell me how crappy they are and how stupid I am to think like that.
“Alright. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I let out a sigh and told her. She looked at me with a blank expression. Her face was neutral and it said nothing. I thought she died until she spoke.
“Interesting. Yes, interesting. But no. that’s not a good theory.”
“What do you mean? you told me to tell you what I cam up with and now you’re saying it’s not good? I told you that old lady.” I said. I couldn’t believe I was raising my voice at her.
“It’s not a good theory because you’re wrong. Ace is not trying to rule the world. Ace is framing Kura because it can. Apparently Ace has control of the Underworld. Kura lost all power. Ace is forcing the demons to attack. Ace is trying to lure somebody out.” she placed her cup onto the night table that was beside her chair.
“What do you mean? Who is it trying to lure?” I was beginning too pissed off to think clearly. This was getting more confusing each day. Everything keeps changing.
“Ace sounds like a bounty hunter or perhaps an assassin.” Xander said. I almost forgot he was there. He was so quiet.
I turned to look at him, but he was looking straight ahead. His eyes never met mine. He was lost in a deep thought. I could tell he was thinking about this.
“You’re right. But who could he be after? What is his intentions? All we see are demon attacks that looks like Kura is doing it. So what is his motives then?” Meredith replied as she removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes.
“Damn, this is confusing.” I said.
“It is. So all we’ve got here is that Ace is working with Kura, but is framing her for the hell of it and is trying to lure somebody out, but we just don’t know who.” Meredith leaned back into her chair. She let out a long sigh.
We sat in silence trying to figure what everything means. None of it made sense. Fuck. I sometimes hate my job. There was a knock on her door and we all looked at it as if it was going to be knocked down. Xander and I had our guns drawn out. I don’t even remember grabbing it. To late, it’s out already. Meredith doesn’t usually get people knocking at her door at eleven at night. Something’s up.
She walked over to the door and before she touched the knob, she stood there, frozen. Not a good sign. Something bad is behind that door. She could sense it. She turned to us and gave a nod, letting us know it’s okay to shoot. It was as if she knew what we were thinking. It started knocking again, but Meredith didn’t open. She stepped aside and jogged passed us. For an old lady, she can move. Though she’s a witch, she doesn’t exactly have any active powers. She’s useless in a battle. Even spells won’t work against a vampire or lycans. Certain spells can work against demons, only if we know what kind of demon it is. She told me some things about witches, but it’s mostly the active powers, scrying for other beings and sensory.
Once Meredith was safe, Xander and I creeped to the door. The being or whatever it was, was now banging on the door. We never heard a voice out there, so either it was a demon or it was something else that doesn’t have a voice. I nodded at Xander and he nodded back. With my fingers, I counted to three. On three I opened the door. The door burst open and both of us pointed out the door. Nobody was there. We peeked around the corner and I saw something turn down a hallway. I patted Xander on the shoulder and he followed me. I turned the corner and nothing was there. Shit. Out of nowhere, there were gun shots. Damn, now we are being shot at. We both dove back around the corner. The bullets ripped through the wall and debris flew out. Xander was on his belly and started crawling around the corner. In his hand was a semi-automatic machine gun. Not always accurate and they can kill innocent bystanders. But he’s one who knows more about guns than me, so I had to trust him.
The firing stopped from across the room. Smoke filled the hallway and I knew right then and there Xander was going to make his move. I was right. I heard the machine gun going off and surprisingly I heard screams across the room. He was hitting his targets. He never gives off warning shots. Sometimes I think he’s a raving sociopath. His kills are to the death. I’m not quite a sociopath. I actually give the bad guys a chance unless I feel like they deserve to die. I have some feelings for them. Not Xander.
His gun clicked empty and I didn’t hear any more screams. He must have gotten all of them. We walked to the end of the hallway and sure enough, four bodies laid on the floor. Only three were dead. One was barely alive. The bodies weren’t exactly human, but more demonic. The bodies were covered in blood, a blood puddle surrounded them. I could see each bullet hole in that tough exterior skin of there’s. lead usually kills demons more so than silver. Only an X amount could kill them. For example, a machine gun is perfect. My gosh did Xander kill them. The surviving demon was fairly injured, but it wasn’t going anywhere.
I stomped my foot on top of its chest and he let out a growl. I leaned onto my kneed and pointed my gun at its face. That must have done it since it stopped squirming. Its dark, black and yellow eyes stared up at me. A cold chill ran down my spine. I don’t know why, but this demon scared me.
“What are you doing here? Who were you after?” I asked still pointing my gun at its face.
“Not you.” its voice boomed in the quiet hallway.
“You’re a demon. But there was guns firing at us. Since when did you start using guns?”
“We didn’t shoot at you. We were actually going to you once the shots were done firing. Vampires were shooting at you.”
“What do you mean? why would vampires shoot at us? And why would you team up with vampires? You guys hate each other.” I said.
“You should be more afraid of Ace than us. We have seen what Ace could do and we fear him. Even the vampires fear him. He has control over a few vampires now.” the demon tried to attack but I pulled the trigger.
Damn. I was getting some good information. The face had another hole added. The bullet hole was in between its eyes. Blood sprayed in the air and flesh joined as well. The shot echoed throughout the hallway. The hole had blood trailing out and it slid down its face. I let out a sigh and holstered my gun. At least I got more information about Ace. He’s not only got control of the Underworld, he now controls some vampires. He’s trying to create an army. An army for what?

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 9

Xander and I walked back at Meredith’s place. Somebody called the police and there were about a dozen of them. Two were talking to Meredith. Detective. Brock Tucker walked up beside me and was ready to interrogate me. He looked pleased or it could be just me.
“What happened Quinn?” he asked as he clicked his pen, poised ready to write down my statement.
“We were attacked.” I said, not going into any description just in case.
“Who attacked you? Why? And why so far away?”
“Demons and vampires. I don’t know why for the last two questions.” He turned to see Xander standing behind me.
“Who are you?” he asked, pointing his pen at him.
Fuck. Xander isn’t exactly popular with the police. His job is more illegal than legal. The police have the right to take him and throw him in jail. If they found out who he is and what he does, there goes my backup. I need him for this case. Xander gave a smile and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a badge saying he’s a hunter and there was a different name on it.
“Desmond Artello, a licensed devil hunter. Never heard of you, but your helping Quinn?” Brock asked, reading the badge.
“Yea, I am. She called me in saying this devil could be a problem.” he said showing a different side that I have never seen.
I knew he was a good actor, but he’s a damn great actor. He was friendly and sincere to Brock. I don’t blame him since he’s wanted on sight. His honey colored eye’s showed warmth and friendliness. His voice didn’t show any tone of coldness whatsoever.
“Well good to have you here Desmond.” he said and then turned back to me. I didn’t realize he was looking at me since I was still staring at Xander. My eye’s were wide and my mouth was open. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing or even hearing-coming out of Xander’s mouth.
“Quinn? Quinn, are you still there?” Brock asked as he tapped on my shoulder.
I shook my head, erasing what I saw. “Sorry. I’m here.”
Xander stared back at me. Brock couldn’t see the glare he was giving me. His eyes turned cold, telling me not to blow his cover. I could tell he wasn’t liking it one bit. I swallowed and I knew he was trusting me.
“Good. So what happened? Tell me everything.”
I told Brock what I could, though leaving out about Ace and about Meredith being a witch. She didn’t want people to know because she doesn’t want to be hunted. I don’t blame her. She’s an elderly woman. She couldn’t last five minutes in a battle. Once he was done scribbling everything into his notebook, he let out a sigh. He placed the notebook and pen into his coat pocket and with his finger tips, he rubbed his eyes.
“Quinn, you better not be holding any information on us.” he said.
I shook my head.
“You better not.” he pointed his finger and walked out. The rest of them followed behind, leaving only me, Xander and Meredith.
“Desmond Artello? Licensed devil hunter?” I asked as I looked at Xander.
He just shrugged.
I gave him a smirk and shook my head. It had to do since he’s wanted. Meredith walked over to us and stared. She looked horrified.
“Are you alright Meredith?” I asked, placing my hand on her right shoulder.
She shook her head. “Do you know why they were here? Do you have any idea why they came?”
All I could do was shake my head. I was afraid if I said something she might get upset. So I better have her do all the talking.
“They came here to kill me. They wanted me dead. ME!” she said as she started sobbing. Tears strolled down her cheeks and she tried to breath.
“Why would they come to kill you?” I asked as I was trying to comfort her.
Then it hit me like a train. The demon said it wasn’t after me. It had to be after Meredith. They probably didn’t know she had company. They were hoping she would follow them. But instead it was me and Xander. But the same question keeps popping up. Why?
“Do you know why?”
“It’s because I’m a witch. Demons and witches can’t work together. We are sworn enemies. Just like lycanthropes and vampires. We can’t stand each other.” she said, sobbing harder.
I still wasn’t sure why demons would go after her. Though she’s a witch, she never used her ability against anybody. Ace must have found out. But how?
“Stay here. I’ll send someone over to protect you.” I said.
“No. No, don’t leave just yet.” she pleaded as she held onto my hands. She looked at me with scared eyes. She was terrified.
“Meredith, don’t worry. I won’t have anybody hurt you.”
“No, that’s not it. There’s something I need to tell you.”
I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at her. Now she looked normal, as if she turned a switch on. There were no tears and she stopped sobbing. Damn. It must be practice because I sure as hell couldn’t do that.
“You too have a dark secret. Something your mother or grandmother couldn’t tell you. They were going to when you were old enough, but then that terrible accident happened. Before they died, they told me that I need to tell you. They told me that when the day comes, you must know the truth about yourself.”
“What are you talking about old lady?”
“You are a witch. You are a good witch.”
My jaw dropped and all I could do was stare. I think I heard Xander shifted his body, just as surprised as I am.
“I’m sorry. Did you just say I was a witch? I’m a witch? I can’t be a witch! I don’t have witch abilities. I don’t have any abilities.” I kept stammering through my words, repeating them. I couldn’t believe what I heard.
“You do. You are a witch. You’re one of the last descendants of the witch coven called the Trinity. Quinn, your mother and grandmother were part of the coven. And now you are the last good witch. Only you can restore the power of good and bring back the Trinity Coven.” she explained it to me, but I still didn’t understand.
I sat down. My eyes were still wide and my mouth was still open. Of all the people, of all the things, I’m a witch. Me, the hunter who hunts them.
“Quinn. Trust me. Your family, your ancestors, they are all part of the bloodline coven. Now you are the last bloodline. Bring the Trinity back and destroy the devil and Ace.”
“But I don’t understand. Why don’t I have any abilities? Why I can’t cast spells or make potions. I can’t be a witch.” I said.
“You do have powers. Though I don’t know what, but you do have abilities. Eventually you will be able to cast spells and make potions.”
“I’m still not believing what I’m hearing.” I said as I leaned back in the couch.
Xander touched my arm and gave me a slight nod. He knew that I was confused. He knew that she’s telling me not to scare me, but there’s a reason behind it. Maybe to stop Kura and Ace with my new found knowledge. I just need to know what I can do.
“We got to go. Your back up might be worried about you.” Xander said as he was leaning against the doorway.
I nodded. I stood up and walked to him. I looked at Meredith and gave her a blank expression. She knew she had to tell me, some way or another. But I trust her. I trust her to tell me anything and everything. So if she told me I’m a witch, than I trust her. If somebody else told me, I wouldn’t have listened.
“Please be careful. And you will soon enough learn more about your witch abilities.” she said.
“I’ll try my best.” I said.
I walked to my jeep and sat down on the seat. Xander stood beside me outside of the jeep, just looking at me. I didn’t know what to say.
“We need to go to The Dark Room. I’ll drive. Move over.” he demanded.
I didn’t argue. I slid over and he sat down. We drove in silence, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I could only think about what Meredith told me. Whenever I say it, I still don’t believe it. We pulled in the parking lot and noticed the parking lot was empty. It’s not like this place to be empty. Xander got out and I followed behind.
“Where is everybody?” I asked.
I was startled when two figures popped out of nowhere. Xander didn’t flinch at all. The two figures walked beside us and I noticed it was Derrick and Logan.
“Holy shit. You guys scared me. What did you guys find? Did you find anything?” I asked as I tried to focus.
“Nothing. Nobody is talking. Did you find anything?” Derrick asked.
I shook my head. I didn’t want to tell them about my new secret. I still didn’t know what to say. Tell the vampires I’m a witch? Yea, like that’s going to go great.
“We should go inside. Talk to Andre’.” Derrick lead the way and we followed.
I was thinking they are brave to allow Reaper to go inside. The head vampires sleeping domain. Not that many people know about that. Let alone bringing the most feared person inside. I assume they trust him since he is one of my friends. But they are brave.
Andre’ was awaiting for us. Somehow he knew were coming. He didn’t look to pleased though. His eyes glared not at me, nor his servant, but at Xander. For some reason, I had a bad feeling Andre’ was going to fight him. But let’s just hope not. My eyes flicked back and forth to the guys. I was hoping nobody would start a fight.
“Who is that?” his voice boomed throughout the room. I didn’t think his voice could go that deep. He pointed a finger at Xander, his face angry.
“He’s a friend. He’s here to help us out. Don’t worry.” I replied in a calm voice. I hope he bought it.
“I know who he is. He’s known as Reaper. I don’t like the idea of bringing him here. Now he knows where we hide. How do I know he won’t come back during the day and kill us while we sleep?”
I shook my head. I was trying to avoid all of this. Xander still hadn’t move or try to defend himself. I guess he didn’t want to startle the master vampire. I don’t blame him, though it was too little, too late.
“I want him gone. He can not stay here any longer. Leave.” he didn’t raise his voice anymore, but he was scared. Damn.
Xander looked at me and then turned back to the door. He knew if he was wanted or not. He took the hint and didn’t want to cause any more problems. He didn’t look upset or relieved. He just had that blank expression. I turned to watch him leave, but then I yelled for him. “Get your ass back here.”
Xander stopped, but he didn’t turn around. He was probably waiting for Andre’ to yell back at him to keep going. I gave a look at Andre’ which almost made him look pale, er, paler than what he is now. Apparently he got it or he just knew he might lose this argument. I was hoping it was the first one. I wasn’t in the mood to explain to his people why he was dead. Xander must have gotten what was going on because he turned around and walked back to us. He stood beside me as if he didn’t leave. I had to have him here with me. Had to know what was going on as well. I may be a hunter, but only demons. Vampires and lycanthropes are still fairly new to me. I learned as much as I could at school but that’s different from the experience.
“He has to stay. If he leaves, then I leave.” I reminded the head vampire. I glared at him, telling him to let us stay. My eyes were giving him anger. His just went back to nothing. All I could see was my own reflection once more.
“Fine. But if I find out he’s after us, I will personally kill you Quinn.” he said as if he didn’t believe himself.
“I’ll look forward to it. But enough of this shit. I want to stop Ace before everything else gets more complicated. I was visiting an old friend when we were attacked. What was strange was that there were a few vampires and four demons. The vampires were using guns and the demons didn’t seem interested in me.” I said as I folded my arms across my chest.
“I can guarantee that it was not any of mine. We would never team up with a demon. They must be rogue vampires that Ace is controlling. But why use guns? We are capable of other means of harm. But you said the demon wasn’t interested in you? How so?”
“Mainly because it told me.”
“Who was this friend of yours?”
I let out a breath that I apparently was holding. “Her name is Meredith.” I didn’t want her name to spread, but if it would help this case, then I had to. Forgive me Meredith.
“Is there anything special about her?” his voice was once again calm and smooth. It was as if he was never mad. His eyes had something in them. Something like life. I don’t know how else to explain it. It was like he knew something and yet didn’t want to tell anyone.
“What do you mean?” I asked, stalling the answer. I didn’t want to tell him she was, er, more so, a witch. Vampires aren’t fond of witches either. In a sense, everybody hates everybody. It’s like an endless waltz.
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“Fine. So I do. Maybe I don’t want to tell you.”
“Why not? Is it because we might harm her? Or worse, kill her because of what she is?”
“Yes.” I didn’t have to think about that one word. I know vampires would do anything they can to kill a witch. Witches are powerful, but depending if they practice a lot of witchcraft. Or if they are part of a powerful coven, like myself.
“Then tell me. We won’t harm her. I don’t even know who she is.”
“But you do have her name. How can I trust you?” I asked now getting annoyed at him.
“You have my word. I know what would happen if she is harmed.” he looked at Xander when he said that. He was right. I would probably send Xander and have him wipe everybody out. The sad part would be he would enjoy it and not regret any of it. I could trust Xander to do things I wouldn’t do. Though I would probably be there helping. I can be deviant as well.
“You’re right. I would.” I know to well what he was thinking even though he didn’t say it. “She’s a witch. A good witch to be exact. Though she’s not a powerful witch. She hardly uses her abilities.”
He didn’t say anything, but started to think, hard. He stared off, not looking at us, but more like through us.
“The demon was going after a witch. That was its main purpose.” he replied as he broke from his concentration. “Somehow the demon knew your friend was a witch so it was sent to kill her. The vampires must be a cover up.”
“If that’s the case, then why now? She’s been a witch for a long time. Why wouldn’t they have attacked her long ago? Especially if she just got wind of her abilities. If that’s the case, demons would have attacked her long ago.” I said as I looked at Andre’.
He shook his head. His cornrows almost looked like a blur. He was shaking his head quite fast, as if to erase that theory.
“You’re right. Why now? She’s, no offense, old. An old witch hardly have the power to go out and kill. However, it would be perfect time to kill because she is old. She’s slower to move and the such.”
“No, I don’t believe that. There’s got to be a better answer than that. Why would a demon have vampires to help? And why the fire power?” I asked, now confused about all of this.
“Maybe the demon also had other intentions besides her.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Actually I don’t. Don’t you dare fuck with me.” I said, now giving him an angry look.
“I’m not going to say anything. I don’t want to look like a fool if I’m wrong.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“No. I’m not going to say anything. That’s final.”
I looked at him, annoyed, angry, confused. I knew this wasn’t going to work. He’s a master vampire who doesn’t really care about anybody. What does he know? I want to know but he’s not going to share. Damn him. Xander moved an inch past me and touched my shoulder. The touch was telling me not to give up just yet, it seemed like he might have something up his sleeve.
“Could you tell us who the rogue vampires are? Do you think you could find them? They are still out there. Ace must have sent them. The demon told us that Ace has control over some vampires.” Xander asked. He was always quiet when it came to certain things. He usually absorbs all that information and then asks his own questions.
“I don’t think so. If they aren’t from my blood line then I cannot. I can sense, feel, all of my vampires. Derrick, Logan, go and find out about those rogue vampires. Find whatever you can.” Andre’ said as he looked at them.
“What if we run into them? What do you want us to do?” Derrick asked. Reasonable questions. I started wondering myself.
“If you’re strong enough, kill them. But if you know you are no match, escape. Don’t take any chances. Logan.” When he said Logan’s name, I saw him tensed. I knew he didn’t like it, but he had his orders. He couldn’t try to prove himself. He had to take the orders or else he would have to take it up with Andre’. Andre’ would punish those who disobey him. I don’t want to know what the punishment is.
Derrick and Logan bowed their heads, keeping their eyes on him, afraid to look away in case he might do something. “As you wish, master.” The two vanished, leaving me, Xander and Andre’ standing next to each other.
“What are you two going to do?” he asked.
“I’m going back to Meredith’s and have a chat with her.” I said. I looked at Xander, wondering what he’s going to do.
“Sorry, but I won’t be going with you Quinn. I have something to do by myself. Besides, I think you need to have a talk between the two of you. You two have some ‘conflict’ to take care. Your business has nothing to do with me. Give me a call when something comes up.”
“Sure thing. Do you need a ride anywhere?”
He shook his head. “I’ll see you later.”
I watched him leave and I headed to my jeep. I called Meredith again, telling her I was on my way. I had to know about this Trinity Coven thing. Andre’ stood outside the door watching me leave. I guess he didn’t trust Xander or me now. I brought the Reaper to their sleeping place and he could attack any day. But I know Xander wouldn’t do that unless he feels they are a threat. I just hope it doesn’t come down to that.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 10

I was sitting on Meredith’s couch sipping some tea. Her home was the same when I left a few hours ago. She even looked backed to normal. It was as if nothing had happened. I guess she was still trying to forget about it. To be honest, I was trying to forget about it. Meredith walked into the living room holding a tray with a tea pot, a plateful of sweets and napkins. She always has something to feed me when I come over. No matter what time it is. She figured if she has company, she should at least be a gracious host. She lost her husband two years ago and I’ve been her only friend or even a living person she has. Her family is deceased. All of them. Her and her husband never had children. Though she never told me why.
We sat in silence, sipping our tea. So much kept going through my head. The case, Kura, Ace, and then me, finding out I’m a witch. Could this day get any better? I leaned back into the couch, when Meredith cleared her throat. I guess she’s about to say something to me. I turned to face her when she spoke, “Quinn, I know what you’re thinking.”
“Are you listening to my thoughts?” I asked.
“Yes and no. I know you don’t believe me about you being a witch, but you are. You are part of the Asian descendant. I know about all of it. Do you know why?”
All I could do was shake my head.
“Because I was part of the Trinity coven. Not a permanent witch, but they would use me for certain things. The coven has been passed down from generations to generations. The first witch was Shun-Li. She had all the powers. She controlled all four elements and certain psychic abilities as well. When she was burned, she prophesized that one day a girl will possess all of her powers and bring back the balance of the Trinity coven.”
My eye’s were wide with shock. I didn’t know what to say. Hearing it the second time still didn’t make me believe it. I couldn’t. How could any one prove I’m that witch? No one. My mother and grandmother are dead so they couldn’t tell me at all. Now I have to trust Meredith that what she’s saying is true. But how? How could I trust her knowing that I’m that witch? “Are you saying I’m that girl?”
She nodded, slowly afraid to make any sudden movements.
“How come I don’t remember having any abilities. How do you know I’m that girl?”
“I told you. I was part of the coven. When your mother and grandmother were alive, they saw you use your gifts. Your gifts were the elements. You didn’t have quite control over them, but you were so young. Though your mother wanted to bind your powers while you were young so you could grow up as a normal child, but your grandmother refused. Then one day, you set a house on fire. You got angry, nearly killing everyone. So both agreed to bind your powers, as well as remove your memories of having abilities. They should have waited. I’m sure you know the rest of the story?”
I shook my head. I didn’t want to hear anymore of this. I had all that memory locked away so I didn’t have to feel it anymore. But now, now I could feel it escaping. Breaking down the barrier and a rush of heat flowed through my veins. I locked that memory away for a reason, but now it’s loose. I let out a scream, not of pain, but because that is all I could do. I had my eye’s close, not seeing what was going on. All I could see was my family being slaughtered right in front of me. I could smell the blood as it was flying from their bodies. A thin arc of blood sprayed out, inches away from hitting me. They were screaming, crying out, but all I could do was watch. Everywhere I turned, blood was flying, screams were echoing. Somehow I got on my knee’s, though I don’t remember how I got there. I clasped my hands on my ears, trying to block the screams. Tears trailed down my cheeks and there was another scream. Apparently that scream came out of my mouth. I felt the ground move under me, felt it get hotter, wind blowing rapidly, and then I felt water rushing over me. I thought I was drowning. Something wasn’t right.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me. I faintly heard someone calling out to me, but I couldn’t hear them. I tried to open my eyes, but I could only feel the water splashing at me, a heat wave then came crashing down on me, warming me up from the cold water. Then I felt a cold wind brush against my skin. It sent a chill all over my body. The wind stopped as a large boulder sprang up from the ground like a jack-in-the-box. Once more I heard a voice in the background. It was fain. I tried to call out, but nothing came out. My voice wasn’t working.
In the middle of all this, I saw it. I saw the shadow figure again. It stood in front of me, admiring what was going on. I could feel hatred in the air as if it was suffocating me. Somehow, whoever this person is, is trying to kill me while inside my head. This was my head. It had to be. I don’t remember going anywhere else. So I had the advantage. This person was on my terms. I got to my feet, inches shorter than the person, staring into the black hood. Not even I could see if there was a face behind all that darkness and I was inches away from the face. Once more, I felt the hatred flowing off the person. Whoever this person is, defiantly didn’t like me. I balled my right fist and without thinking, I hit it. I hit it with all I got. The person stumbled backwards, but it didn’t fall. I ran to it, tackling it to the ground.
When I got up, I saw it was gone. It disappeared. But where? Where could it go? This was my imagination. My nightmare. So why didn’t it leave? I wanted it gone. My eye lids shot open and I shot up, sitting myself up right. I was breathing heavily, gasping for air. I looked around, looking at an empty room. I was alone, or so I thought. There was a low moan and I staggered to the sound. The room was trashed. It looked like an earthquake, a tornado, and a hurricane, crashed through here. Debris was everywhere. I lifted some boards when I realized it was a body. No it was Meredith. Somehow she survived. A white shield looking cocoon was wrapped around herself. I called her name and she dropped the shield. She looked fine to me, but still I had to ask.
“Are you alright? What the hell happened?”
“I’m fine. Don’t you remember?” she asked as she brushed herself of.
All I could do was shake my head. I was afraid what was coming next.

[Lockon Stratos]

Chapter 11

My eye’s were still looking at her as if I didn’t want her to leave. Somehow my breathing slowly came out as I realized I sounded like I was out of breath. But I knew I didn’t run a mile or anything like that. I felt a warm trickle slid down my face. I wiped it away, but I noticed I was sweating. It wasn’t hot in here was it? Meredith was standing beside me, admiring the destruction in her apartment. I felt kind of embarrassed since she told me I was the one who tore it apart. I don’t even remember doing it.
“You must have awaken your powers. I told you, you have the powers of all four elements. But it looks to me like you need to control them.”
“How?”
“Honey, your powers are linked to your emotions. It all depends on how you feel. Maybe each emotion controls a different element. I don’t know. All I know is that during your memory, you were feeling angry, sadness, regret, doubt, rage. I never felt so much emotion from you. There’s more, but I don’t know the equivalent emotion you were feeling.” she said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t say anything. I gave her a look and apparently she knew what it meant.
“Don’t worry. You’ll learn about your new powers along the way. Maybe now you’ll be able to stop Kura and Ace.”
“What do you mean now? Couldn’t I before?” I asked.
“Probably not. Bullets and your sword wouldn’t harm them. They are powerful. Don’t get me wrong, but I highly doubt your skill couldn’t kill them.”
“Are they that powerful?”
She turned away so I couldn’t see her face. I could only guess her face wasn’t pleasant. She knows I don’t do well with unpleasant looks since the death of my mother. It’s one of my weaknesses. Whenever I see that look, I usually fall apart or I feel like that person shouldn’t feel like that. I don’t know why but I have to help that person. Besides myself, I’ve seen one other who had that unpleasant look. I just meet him, but my backup vampire, Derrick. He doesn’t want to lose his brother since they only have each other. I don’t blame him. Before I could speak, there was a knock at the door. I guess I was thinking hard, the knock made me jump. Jumpy, who me? Meredith was at the door before I turned around. Damn, could that old lady move.
Standing in the door was a guy I’ve never seen. He stood around 5’10, maybe she of six foot. He had dark, curly brown hair, that lay loose around his ears. His hair is short but it frames his face perfectly. His eye’s were almost an olive green but they looked brighter. He had a dark tan, but not an overly dark tan. Darker than any other person. He wasn’t pale. That’s it. He had a strong jaw-line which made him seem more muscular than what he looked like. He had the best looking smile, almost a melt-in-your-heart type of smile. I felt my heart thud into my throat, but I swallowed it back down. He was wearing a black t-shirt that shaped his upper torso. I could almost see all his muscles through that shirt. But he didn’t look small. I guess he was muscular. He also had blue jeans and black boots. For all I could tell, he wasn’t armed. So who the hell is he?
Meredith led him to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect. He’s a good looking guy, but I knew nothing about him. I was thinking about drawing my gun out, but that might look bad. If he’s a civilian, he could call the cops on me and say I was assaulting him. I don’t need that, though I bet Brock would bail me out. But if I don’t draw and he’s an enemy I could be dead. Shit. Just arguing about this to myself could cost me my life as well.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m not here to kill you. I’m here to help you.” he replied as he put his hands up, saying he’s unarmed.
I looked at him as if I didn’t trust him. “Who are you?”
He smiled at me. It was a friendly smile. “I’m Judas.”
He didn’t continue like his name explained everything. It sure as hell didn’t. I pointed my finger at him, but I guess I was poking him in the chest while I was doing it. I didn’t mean to and I didn’t know. “Judas, like that’s suppose to mean something? Well it doesn’t. What do you want?”
His lips twitched, trying to fight either a laugh or a smile. He gave in and laughed. His laugh was smooth and crisp. When he was done, he looked at me. “They told me you were going to be defensive and determined. I didn’t believe them. Now witnessing this they were right. I now have to apologize.”
It must have been the look on my face when he continued. “Don’t worry. I really am here to help. I am a familiar. I am your familiar. I help new witches control their new abilities and of their witch craft. Your mother and grandmother told me that one day you will succumb to your powers and I need to be there when you do for your powers are dangerous.”
“What? What do you mean ‘my familiar’?”
“It means that each new witch has their own familiar. Once they come to there powers, a familiar is sent to them to help control their new found powers and help learn about their witch craft. I am yours and yours alone until you don’t need me.” he said as he gave me a friendly look as if we were friends before.
“You said my mother sent you? How so? How is she doing it? Can I talk to her?” I started to talk fast, faster than I want, but he touched my arm. Somehow that touch calmed me.
“She did. She, I guess, assigned me to you. She knew that I would be good to teach you what you need to know. Your family is fine. They miss you so much. No, not yet. She wants to talk to you, but not yet. Not until you understand the witch craft. She doesn’t want to distract you from your destiny. But she did want me to tell you that she’s sorry and that she loves you.”
I felt tears coming, but I was fighting them. I didn’t want him to see me cry. No, nobody is allowed to see me cry. Not even Xander can see me do this. Nobody. Meredith touched my arm, relaxing me. I looked at her and she gave me a slight nod. She was telling me that it’s okay to cry. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it in front of people. So I fought it off and focused my attention to Judas.
“So…”
“Judas.”
“So Judas, tell me about the Trinity coven. Meredith told me but it seems like I’m missing information. Do you know anything about it?
He nodded and let out a sigh. “Meredith told you what she knows, but I’ve been in the coven since it was formed.”
My jaw dropped. I think I heard him say he was old. Damn. He looks like he’s 27. He must have seen the look since he continued.
“Yes, I was there since Shun-Li. I was her familiar. We familiars age slower than any one. We need to since we help all witches. We can’t pass away because that would leave some witches without familiars. We help them out. I’m over centuries years old. Each coven has familiars. They might not have one, but maybe more. Your coven kept me. I’m the only familiar you have.”
“But you said that I won’t need you later. Where do you go?”
“I go and seek out other coven’s that need help. I am the Trinity coven familiar but if the family has one child at a time, then I train that child and move on until the next child or children are born. I just leave to help others who need more familiars.”
“Do you have to go or can you stay?”
He thought about it for a second. “I don’t know. Most of the time I leave because you have learned everything you need too. I would only be in the way. You can’t allow me to stay, for if you do, an innocent witch could be lost.”
“What do you mean ‘lost’?”
“If a familiar doesn’t help a witch out as soon as possible, that witch usually turns to black magic. He or she becomes corrupted with anger and hatred. They couldn’t control their powers so they lose absolute control. Once the darkness consumes them, they become an evil witch or warlock. So it is necessary for a familiar to leave.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded my head.
“Don’t worry. You won’t turn evil. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Can you read my thoughts? Do you have any abilities?”
“I can not read your thoughts. Familiars have different ‘skills’ to keep them safe. They only come to us when we are in danger, self defense, or to protect the one’s we love.”
“Oh. So how are you going to help me with my powers?” I asked as I looked around the destroyed room.
“Don’t worry. You’ll have complete control of your powers when I’m done with you. It’s getting late. We need to head home. You look tired.”
I never thought about sleep. I was having so much going through my head. First, there are some rogue vampires loose and we don’t know who they are and if they are connected to Ace. Second, I just found out I’m a witch. A powerful witch to be exact. A witch that soon the entire preternatural community would find out and soon try to kill me. Shit. The life I live in sucks and yet entertaining. I never get bored.