Killfire

 

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Easy Pickings

     My blade and I had been  best friend since I  could walk. We both enjoyed the hiss of metal as it sliced through the air with inconceivable velocity. I guess you could say we were meant for each other. Dark past, sharp tongues, and little rough 'round the edges. But both insanely gorgeous.


     I ran like all Hell has broken loose through the city. All around me pedestrians looked around for whomever bumped into them. But they wouldn't see me. Not with my handy-dandy illusion magic. My muddy combat boots splashed against the cobblestone and my turquoise eyes searched for a place to hide.


     My sweaty muscled arms pumped hard and fast, my sword in my right hand, as I raced around the corner of a dark, damp alley. I pressed my back against the stone walls  which were slick with the recent afternoon rain. My lungs heaved, trying to catch my breath. That was great exercise, I thought to myself.


     Did you find the demon?


     It was my partner, Landon with his baritone commanding voice. Crap. 


     Um... Yeah, duh. I replied though the  mind link.


     I could practically hear the groan in Landon's thoughts. Well, then where the hell is it?


     See, about that-


     Faerah! Where is the rutting demon?


     The tone of his voice made me cringe. Chasing me.


     Seriously, Fae? Again? I'm on my way. 


     Just as the mind link ended I heard a disgusting sound, the sound of wet, mucus breathing, with the cringe worthy undertone of hissing. 


     Not good. Not good at all.


     In my head I gave myself the best pep talk ever and I leaped into the street where oblivious pedestrians were on their merry way. I frantically searched the crowd, my blonde hair whipping against my grime covered face. But no demon. 


     I wasn't sure what was worse; seeing a slimy demon right in front of you, or knowing it was close but having no idea where. This mission was going downhill real fast. 


     The thing inhaled releasing a reverberating sound of cackling laughter that sent shivers down my spine. Fuck. "Alright you nasty little slime ball where the hell are you?" I shouted. Then it occurred to me.


     The roof. 


     Slowly I turned my head. There it was smiling with its rotting fangs and eyes that were purely black. Its skin was red and oily and it seemed like its mouth held too much saliva for it to hold as it dripped onto the shingles. Nasty. It's sinewy arms were too long for its cat-sized body. The demon had two small black horns atop its head. It cocked its head like a predator assessing its prey. I was on the verge of being offended. 



     "You are quite young to be a Demon Huntress, are you not, little girl?" It said with a voice that held nothing human to it. It was warbled and wet sounding. Again, highly disgusting.



     I gave the red demon a haughty smile as I mirrored its tilted head. My fingers tightened along the hilt of my old demon Sword. "Wow." I spat sarcastically. "If I wasn't so damn beautiful, I bet you wouldn't have said a damn thing about my age. Now, am I right, or... Am I right?" 



     Its muscles, where eyebrows should be, knitted together in anger. With a monkey-like motion it swung off the roof and landed with Hellish grace. (See what I did there? Hellish? L-O-L) With slow calculating motions it began to circle me. I kept my body facing it, reading its expressions and body language. It was fixing to pounce any moment. And when it did my lovely blade will find its way into its blackened heart sending it right back to Satan himself. Or perhaps, I'll sever its head. I shrugged internally. I haven't decided yet.



     I always found it hard to believe that every demon I slaughtered was once a human's soul. Once upon a time, this said human met the friendly neighborhood Grim Reaper and His or her soul was sent to judgement. I liked to image them as a council of saintly old men dressed like court judges. Those with sinful souls were sent to hell to be turned into Slave Demons of all varieties. And the good souls were sent to be servants in heaven as Angels. And even fewer were selected to be Guardians. As in, Guardian Angels.


     Being awesome like I am, I know all of this great secret info because I'm half Demon. Gross. Trust me, I know. However just like every other Hunter, like Landon, we were orphans who were taken by the government to hunt our other half that thought it was okay to play in the realm of the living. Shocker, the Government borderline doesn't even tolerate us. I mean, I think it's kind of funny how we do all the gross dirty work by cleaning up the streets and mopping it with demon carcasses for them, yet we are also an 'abomination'. Whatever, I'll just do me and lets see how you stupid humans deal with demons for yourselves. Now that would be hilarious. 



     The Demon's long bony red fingers curled into fists. I tensed my muscles. With a bloodcurdling screech it leaped at me, talons and all, aiming for my gorgeous youthful face. I simply side stepped and slashed my sword directly through its neck, severing its head. Black blood splattered on my government issued black suit and my face. I choked back my gag reflex. It's body puffed into a cloud of black mist and eventual winked out all together as it was transported back into the fiery pits of Hell.  If it was that easy why did I run, you ask? Well, you see, I already killed twenty suckers just like him and about ten were in pursuit. Along the way I managed to cut down the other nine but, gold star for this one. He was the last. 



     I felt someone's eyes boring into the back of my skull. Turning my head slightly I saw Landon leaning nonchalantly against the red brick wall of a library. His hair was light brown and satisfyingly tousled and damp by the windy wet weather. Landon's body was well muscled and leaned by the agility training we both underwent at a young age. His sinewy arms were crossed as he gazed at me expressionlessly with those too-pretty green eyes. I would probably hate him if he was so sinfully good looking. (Because he's half demon. HA)


     Dramatically I dipped low in a flourish exaggerate  bow. "And this is why I'm a badass." I flashed him a wicked grin, flipping my long blonde hair over my shoulder. 



     Landon scowled, straightening to a standing position. With long strides he was already only a foot in front of me. "You risked the lives of every human in the city by leading it here." He said, ice in his voice. 



     I frowned. Seriously, no 'good job Faerah, you're the Best!' I raised a brow. "But no one was hurt in the making of this slaying..... I mean besides the Demons, but they don't count."


     "Faerah," He sighed wiping a hand down his face in exasperation. "This is serious. If a human is even scratched by a demon they become immune to the illusions. You know this!" He was getting angrier by the second. "Yet you always act like it's some big joke! How can you act like all these people-" He motioned to the ignorant human civilians. "like their lives don't matter?" 



     I tried to hide my emotions because at this moment I was between feeling ashamed of myself and like I was totally justified. "Landon," I said softly. 



     "No! Don't 'Landon' me!" He spat, storming off. "Let's just go, Fae. C'mon." He said it softer but I could still feel the bitterness seeping off of him. He raked a hand through his hair, further messing it up. I stared at his broad shoulders before I felt the need to catch up to him. Sometimes he was such a Debby-Downer that I wondered why I put up with him. Then again, I had a hunch that he wondered why he put up with me too. 



     I felt my size dwarf compared to his as I walked beside him. Suddenly, I felt the need to scrub the black blood from my face and clothing and brush by Blonde hair until it shone like the Heavens I'll never see. 



     Landon side-eyed me with those cat-like green eyes. "When you get reckless,"  He began. Oh no, I thought. Another one of his 'I've-been-doing-this-longer-than-you-therefore-I'm-more-superior' lectures. "You crossed a line so faint that it's practically chalk in a hurricane. But that line is directly between your humanity and your demonic side. Once it's crossed you stop caring about why you're doing this. Instead you are a hostage to your blood lust and your thirst for death. Killing becomes all you know, all you want. You forget that your purpose is to help people. It disappears and there's nothing anyone can do to remind you. But you will become the Demon, the bringer of Death and Destruction. And then you are lost."


     The words started to sink in, but I was repulsed by them. No I won't, I wanted to say, but some part of me knew that he was right. Landon was always right because he's seen his comrades, his friends, fall to the pull of darkness. "I'm sorry," It was all I could say unless I wanted to hear another long lecture about becoming a Demon. 



     Landon looked forward and pressed his hand to the side of his skull above his temple. Someone was mind linking him. He glanced at me for a heart beat. "Headquarters is requesting our presence." He summarized. 



     I stuffed by bloodied blade into its sheath at my belt. Swiftly he grabbed my wrist and chanted a teleportation spell. I inhaled, bracing myself for the bumpy ride. It was like going though a spiral waterside except you were completely submerged, unable to breath. Within a second we were both standing in the commons of HQ. 



     The walls were bleak with posters of wanted demons and Demi-demons (Bad versions of us). The floors were squeaky grey marbled tiles and steel benches and tables lined the bulk of the space. At the furthest side of the room was a podium where he stood. General Dresden. 



     Landon made his way to the front of the room and I followed obediently. It wasn't uncommon that we were addressed like this with the Hunters all gathered here. However, I was getting a sinking feeling in my gut that something was off. All around us other Hunters buzzed in with a teleportation spell, taking their seats. The room was noisy with the chit-chat of half-demons. Landon and I sat down quietly. 



     I glanced around. Some Hunters looked like they were on a mission when they were called to the meeting, still wearing their black standardized uniforms, others were dressed in black tanks and black joggers.


     I heard the clank of metal as Dex plopped down on the bench ride beside me. I turned to face him, giving him the sharpest glare I could muster. He had dark hair that was cropped short, military style. He was six years older than me and almost two feet taller. He gave me a crooked grin, amber eyes lit with mischief. "Easy there, Princess." He said with his smooth deep voice. Landon and he were from the same year of Hunters. "If you frown as often as you frown at me you're gonna end up looking like a pug when you're older, then again, I suppose that we don't really age much." He annoyingly thrummed his fingers against the steel table.



     Landon's gaze shot daggers at him and he released a warning growl. The sound was inhuman and most likely from the demon in him. I smiled at Dex, liking the way his presence irked Landon. "Nothing can ruin my pretty face." I said tilting my head, blue eyes feigning youthful innocence. 



     Dex chuckled throatily, glancing behind me at Landon. His grin faltered slightly but the moment his eyes were back on me his smile widened. "I suppose you're right, Fae." He raised a pierced brow. It wasn't uncommon for most Hunters to have piercings and tattoos. In fact, I had a diamond piercing on my nose and three rings on the cartilage of both ears. "How old are you anyway, 16? 17? Has mister grouchy ever told you what happened to his old partner?"


     "Shut up Dex." Landon snarled.


     But Dex did no such thing. "What a tragedy." He shook his heat feigning sympathy. "Mister muscle couldn't save his best friend from a Serpent Demon because he was too busy fighting off all the Ghouls." 



     I scowled. Not really at anyone in particular. I was mad at Dex because it was none of his god damn business and I was mad at Landon because he never did explain why he needed a new partner. 


     General Dresden cleared his throat, commanding the attention of every Hunter in the Commons. I faced the stage and focused on the towering intimating man center stage. He had red hair buzzed military style and dark blue eyes like the cold abyss of the ocean. He was dressed in camouflage cargo pants, combat boots, and a forest green t-shirt that clung to his muscled chest. Dresdon was in his late 30's early 40's, but was built like a truck of military sculpting and hard core expertise. "Hunters," He said with that rugged voice of his that matched all of his rough features. "There's been a disturbance in the field. Something dangerous is coming from Hell. It has a lot of Demonic energy that's being picked up on our radars. And it's coming fast. None of our statistic managers know what variety of Demon it is. Some say it might not even be a Demon, but something worse." What's worse than a Demon? "So I'm scheduling three teams of Hunters for a total of six. You will be our front lines in this matter. It's only a precaution and hopefully the thing will never enter the portal, but it is dangerously close."


    Landon shifted in his seat. He was the best Hunter the division had. There was no arguing that small fact. He's killed more Demons by over a hundred than the next best whom was Dex. 



     "The teams are," General Dresden went on. The room's energy shifted to anticipation as all hundred or so present Hunters listened closely. "Team 2; Dex Illus and Ren Riley. Team 8; Tessa Silver, and Houston Jones." There was a pause as Dresden glanced down at the podium. "And finally Team 6; Landon Baxter and Faerah Killfire."


     I wasn't even keenly aware of my sharp intake of breath until Landon slid his assessing gaze my way. No doubt to examine if I could handle the pressure of a mission like this. He looked me up and down without saying a word. Dex muffled his laughter, his body shaking with restraint. And I might've actually punched him had the General not been present. 



     The General's stone face faltered as concern flashed in his eyes. Dude. He thought we were going to die. Well fuck him. And fuck Landon and Dex. I can do this. "Good luck, Hunters." He said briefly. With a simple snap of his fingers Dresden was gone. 



     I stood up. No, I bolted out of that seat, and stalked right past the gazes of every Hunter in that room. "Faerah!" Landon called after me. Within seconds he was already at my heels, latching onto my wrist with his strong grip.



     "What?" I snapped. Rage flooding my eyes like an uncontrollable avalanche. I whipped around quick enough to see hurt flash across his stoic features. "You want me to act like some warrior with a shit ton of experience? Well, news flash, I've only been on the field for a year."


     He was silent for a moment. Landon's full lips parted as if to say something but then nothing came out. So I just turned right around and continued walking to the residential quarters of HQ. He reluctantly let go of my wrist, and for a split second I found myself wishing he held onto me, like he needed me, if only for a moment longer. But the great Hunter Landon Baxter didn't need the barely 17 year old Fae to be his ball and chain. For him to let me do the mission alone today had been the largest amount of trust he had ever put in me. But those were small fry Demon, nothing like what we'll be facing. My magic was juvenile compared to his 6 more years of matured magic. I was a child. 



     I stomped right to the heavy steel doors. With a wave of my hand my Magic pushed it open for me. Despite my lack of experience, I knew I was damn good and he was still wrong for treating me like an imbecile. 



     I marched down the halls straight to my room. I pushed open the door and walked in. The air seemed stuffy and warm. I leaned against the rings of the ladder to my bunk, right above where Landon slept. Suddenly remembering the black blood all over my clothes I walked into the bathing room and stripped till I was left with the reality of who I was under my armor padded clothing. My once soft skin was hardened by muscle and callouses. My hair was clotted by demon blood and sweat, without its shining blonde luster. My nails were cracked with caked blood and dirt. I gritted my teeth and scrubbed at my skin with a washcloth and jasmine scented soap until my skin was reddened by the friction and no trace of blood or mud hid my beauty. 



     Most of the Hunters were sinfully perfect. I suppose it was the perks of being half demon. No morals held us back from being the object of everyone's desire. For an hour I soaked myself in a hot bath, raking my fingers through my hair with shampoo and conditioner. 


     After I was satisfied with my hygiene I stepped out of the tub and covered myself with a towel. My body temperature was so high that I felt no need to wear pants, only a tight black regulation t-shirt and black panties. Everything was black. Don't get me wrong, I liked black, but the feminine part of me hungered for shopping malls and color. 



     I brushed my hair until it was mostly dry and shining its natural gold shade. I stared at myself in the mirror. Damn, I was hot. With my full, natural pink lips, and my long dark lashes that hooded my turquoise eyes, there was no denying that I looked like I was from the Heavenly Realm rather than the Hellish one. All I needed was ethereal white feathered wings and it would be the perfect disguise. I chuckled lightly and left the bathroom. 



     Landon sat on the edge of his mattress facing me, elbows resting on his knees. "Fae," He breathed. His eyes scanned my gold hair, blue eyes, and finally fell to my long bare legs. I felt like covering myself but at the same time, was I modest? Hell, no. Landon shook his head, closing his cat-like eyes. "Um... I was gonna say, I'm sorry." 



     I raised and arched brow. "Really?" I questioned, stepping towards him like a silent predator. 



     "Yes," He said keeping his green eyes trained on mine. Maybe I'll not wear pants more often. I liked the way it made him squirm with his face flushed. I scanned his sharp features and my eyes lingered on his stubble lined jaw. Damn, it was sharp enough to cut diamonds. 



     "Hmm..." I said, averting my gaze from him. "Maybe I'll forgive you, if you tell me why the hell you're apologizing to me."


     He was silent for a few moments. He gulped. "Fae, my old partner... I-I never told you what happened." His voice seemed like it was his own young age for once, rather than the baritone voice of a wise commander. 



     The corner of my lip twitched in a small smile. "Well," I said drawing in a breath. I rested my hand on a rung of the bunk ladder. "Instead of apologizing, you could just tell me what happened." I pushed gently because boy, did I want to know. 



     He studied my face, as if deciding whether or not I was ready to hear about the tragedy. "I-I don't think-"


     "Fine, then start groveling." I pointed to the floor in a mock command. 



     Landon scowled. "Fine." He ground out. "It was about two years ago. My partner was Vincent Black. We wanted to go see the portal in the forbidden wing of HQ. We heard the tales of Hunters who went in and never came out back in training and we just wanted to see it. But we must've stepped too close because something sensed us." He looked down at his hands and began nervously tapping his foot. It was a gesture that seemed very un-Landon-like. "Ghouls rushed out at us and we fought them off one by one but when I was busy fighting three Ghouls at once I turned my back on Vincent. All I heard was him screaming before I turned and saw him sucked into the portal by the tentacles of a Serpent Demon." He inhaled a shaky breath. "I never saw him again. General Dresden put me on a six month leave from active duty before I resumed a brief remedial training and then you were assigned as my partner. End of story." His features were unreadable.


     "Landon," I said softly. "I'm sorry." Gosh 'I'm sorry' is probably the last thing he wants to hear. 



     "Why?" He scoffed. 



     I fidgeted slightly from his tone. "Being helpless isn't a good feeling." I said. There was no emotion in my voice, I was just repeating bleak facts.


     "I suppose," He said sadly. "We were just easy pickings."  His gaze met my own and that was the first time there was a totally readable expression in those cat eyes. He was sad and angry. I felt like I should reach out and touch him but something in me told me that wasn't a good idea. Instead I just nodded. 



     I climbed the ladder up to my bunk and I heard Landon Lay back on his own bed. Under my pillow, I grabbed a book. The title read; Flowers in the Attic. That's how I felt, a beautiful creature hidden in a dreary place (Minus the incest). I opened it up to my bookmark and began reading, word for word. Every now and then I zoned out and thought about Landon and Vincent and what it must have been like. It wasn't something I was unlikely to do. Most of the time, in fact, I was motivated by curiosity but perhaps curiosity can kill the cat after all. 



     Being a Hunter was a brave title for orphan kids just trying to survive. Everyone in HQ were just easy pickings for the monster under the bed. But still we fought like hell to prevent the darkness in us from spreading. What makes chaos so bad? Everyone could use a little excitement in their life, right?



     Hours later I fell into a deep dreamless sleep.






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VOTE. PLEASE.


I need some kind of motivation and positive vibes in my life.

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