Demons: A Hunter's Novel, Book 1 (12 page)

“How
long do you think this will hold me, little Angel?”

I
shrugged, trying for nonchalance but probably looking like I had a twitch. None
of us really knew what he was capable of, but to hold on to a human life for so
long would mean that he was very strong. He turned his vilelicious gaze on Az.

“Give
her to me, Azrael.”

BS,
(because lord knows I wanted to stop thinking of him as “Black Shadow”. This
fucker was strong and deserved his very own name in my opinion. BS was as good
as any), took a deep breath and then stood a little taller instead of
crouching. Like he was fighting an internal battle, and maybe he was. Maybe my Father
was trying to break free of BS. I didn’t know but I wanted to believe.

“No.”
Az said simply, as if it was obvious.

“Because
you love her?” BS scoffed, as if his answer was the most ludicrous thing on the
planet.

Az
looked down at me, over his shoulder. I looked into Az’s eyes and realized a
second too late what he was going to do. Azrael’s look changed into one of
sorrow and apology and he shoved me back while propelling himself into the foot
spell with BS. Once Az’s feet hit, they were stuck to the ground in front of
the Black Shadow.

“No!!!!”
I screamed and started toward the circle. I knew that whatever happened I could
not lose him.

Out
of everything, he was the one thing that I was absolutely certain of. I knew I
could trust him. I knew I loved him. I should’ve known he would do something
stupid to help me anyway he could. I swear I was not convinced the dumbass was
a Demon, it would seem he was my Guardian Angel.

I
was almost to the circle when I felt arms wrap firmly around me. I looked back
to find Anie not looking at me, but looking into the circle with a pained
expression across her face. Holding me in place but watching Az. The pain was
similar to mine but it was not as deep. I fought against her futilely. She
didn’t look at me or let go of me. I glued my eyes to Az.

He
placed his hands on either side of the Shadow’s face. I didn’t know how Az was
going to win, I just knew he had to. As I watched, I saw purple smoke rise up
from Az’s body locked in a tight fusion with the pitch black smoke rising up
from my Father’s body. I could feel the electricity in the air. The charge
between the two of them was oppressive, feeling restrictive – like a straight
jacket.

While
I watched helplessly, I felt my heart lurch, like I was on a roller coaster
ride. I then felt the strangest tingling sensation, like I had hit my funny
bone, but it was all over my body. I closed my eyes and took a breath. And just
like that, I knew what I was capable of doing in this moment. I was capable of
stopping the Black Shadow. I could save my Father and Az.

I
pulled the energy from around me with just a thought. I wondered if I was part
genie too. Like if I wanted a crunch wrap supreme from Taco Bell it would
suddenly appear. I let that thought go but promised to bring it up later, since
there were more urgent things at hand.

As
I continued to pull the energy I also felt Anie’s arms drop off my waist. I
felt energy flow into and over me in waves. It was new and felt amazing. I
stood straighter and breathed in deeply. I knew I was taking in the Shadow and
Az’s essences, what I had seen earlier as the fighting smokes. I also knew I
was not afraid. I knew with absolution this would work. I didn’t know how,
exactly, but I knew I would accomplish what I set my mind to.

I
felt Az and the Black Shadow settle within me and pictured a room in my mind to
contain all things. I pictured a mental institution with white padded walls but
no door. How did I know what a mental institution looked like? Let’s just say
BS wasn’t the greatest Dad. When he wanted something and I wasn’t willing to give
it, he didn’t hesitate in locking me away somewhere. Even if it meant lying
about me to get what he wanted, so be it.

I
pulled everyone into the padded cell around me. I only opened my eyes after I
felt everyone there. To my utter shock it was me, Az, BS, Anie and my Father. Well
shit. I’d gone a bit overboard with my new found power, apparently.

Everyone
looked human except for BS. He was still all black smoke but in a somewhat
human shape. But the eyes were blacker than the rest of him and his mouth had
razor sharp shark teeth, rows of them, sticking out of his mouth. Anie was
breathing hard. BS moved for Az. What an idiot. Wasn’t he there for me anyway?

“Don’t.”
I put up my hand in a stopping motion toward him and he stopped. I looked down
at my other hand. I could get used to this.

“What
the hell, Delaney?! Stop this, now, hurry – break this all down.” Az was
looking at me in disbelief.

“Can
I kill BS?” I asked. Az looked utterly confused. The man couldn’t keep up with
me and my nicknames. “The Black Shadow.” I clarified.

“I
don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening.”

“And
why am I here? Where am I?” Anie asked.

I
knew what the answer was, like it had been there all along – although I didn’t
know how the information was reaching me anymore. Maybe it had always been
there but just had finally surfaced because of the change that was happening
now.

“I’m
drawing off your power, and since you were touching me, I pulled you with me. As
to where you are, you don’t really want to know.”

Because
that would have scared the shit out of her. To be inside my head would scare
any sane person.

Anie
was trying not to look upset or frightened but she was failing miserably. She
looked scared to the point I wanted to hug her. It was that look that brought
me back to myself. Well, the self that I used to be as a semi-normal Hunter. I
needed to get everyone out of here. BS must have seen my resolve.

“Don’t
forget Delaney, I’m still the architect of the only world you know.” Growled
the Shadow.

“My
nightmares, maybe. But my world? No fucking way.” And from my lips fell words,
which I had never heard, read or spoken before. “Ut suboles of Challenger , EGO
expello vos ut vestri regnum , nunquam ut revert.”
As Offspring of the
Challenger, I banish you to the realm, never to return.

Did
I know what “the realm” was? Nope. Why was I referring to myself as “offspring
of the challenger”? I had no clue. (I knew it was the definition of my name,
but not why I would start using a definition and not my name…) Did I know why
or how I was speaking Latin when I had never spoken it? Nope. All things I
could figure out later.

And
with those words and all of the power I held behind them, BS was no more. Disappearing
into nothingness and screaming about coming back. I hoped he would never find
his way back. And with that disappearance, Az dropped to the floor as well as
Anie. With the iron grip I was holding onto the power with, I pried myself free
of it and broke the walls down so I could see what was going on outside in the
world I did not create, the human one.

Funny
how quickly I had separated myself from the human domain now. It had been the
closest thing to the Hunters, but now I was removed from everyone.

As
the world came into focus, I was caught off guard with what I saw. Az and Anie
were lying prone on the ground, Az in front of me, Anie behind. Anie
immediately started stirring, while Az still lay motionless. I ran to him,
turned him on his back and placed my hands on either side of his face,
straddling his torso.

“Az?!
Please be okay – I can’t do this without you.” I could hear him breathing and
heard a small whisper push past his lips. I had a sudden flash of the Princess
Bride where Wesley is
mostly
dead and he says true love.

I
only had a moment to ponder if that is what Az was saying. I bent my head next
to his mouth so I could hear what he was saying.

“You
won’t have to – you have all those voices in your head.”

Not
quite what I was thinking but, I felt pure relief he was okay. It had been so
long since he had joked with me. We both needed that right now even if it may
have been mildly inappropriate. I leaned down and kissed him. Out in the open. For
anyone to see. I heard a throat clear behind me.

 I
stopped and looked up at my Father who was looking on disapprovingly. But it was
my Dad, I recognized the difference immediately and was angry, even more so now,
for not seeing the Shadow ruling over him sooner. The vindictive edge that had
been so familiar, to me anyway, was gone. He still had an edge – but not a
surgically bladed one.

“Well,
I guess I have to give him some credit, he did save you and me, to a degree.” I
laughed at his Fatherly remark and stood to throw my arms around his neck. He
hugged me tightly and warmly and I bathed in its lightness. I had missed him so
much.

Anie
was helping Az up off the ground and I felt my jealousy flare white hot. I was
a horribly jealous person anyway and didn’t like Anie touching Az. Az knew me
well enough to know how I would feel about Anie’s hands being on him. He stood
and even though he couldn’t stand well, he told Anie he was fine and looked me
in the eyes. He raised his eyebrows questioningly. I put my arm around his
waist and squeezed in answer, feeling a little sheepish for acting on the
jealousy I had felt. My Father and Anie flanked us on both sides and we
walked/limped out of the cemetery.

As
we rounded the corner to walk onto the main street, it felt like I had been
struck by lightning. I felt a clout of power surge at me. As I slowly looked up,
I found supernaturals of all kinds converging on the street, all eyes focused
on me.

Mother.
Fucker.

“But hold on to what you believe in the light, when the darkness has
robbed you of all your sight...”

– Mumford & Sons, Hold on to What you Believe

I
immediately grabbed Az’s hand.

“We
have to keep any humans from seeing this
mass
of supernaturals.”

Az
waived his hand and while the rest of the supes continued moving, the rest of
the world was still. There was even a bee suspended mid flight right next to my
head. I poked it and it continued its journey as though nothing had just
happened. Az pulled my finger down.

“Don’t
do that please.” Az was already weak and I could tell using that much power had
not helped.

 
As I took in the communities
that were closing in on us, I realized there was a little bit of everyone here.
There were Werewolves, Vamps, Fairies, Drovers and Demons. There was even an Angel
standing with them, but off to the side, and I was having a déjà vu moment looking
at him.

I
closed my eyes briefly and realized this Angel was the one who had burned down
my house. But for all I knew, they all looked exactly the same. But that was
not the feeling I got. He had the same power signature as the one that had
killed Bob, my only beloved pet, my house plant. The Angel was standing
separate from the rest, but only by a few feet, but it felt like the Angel was far
more removed than the few feet. It was weird.

The
Angel was looking right at us, me and my band of misfits, my family. He was
studying us with passiveness and I wondered if he saw us at all. I mean we were
pretty awesome. He should have some look on his face. But no. I couldn’t read
anything from him. Damn Angel.

I
finally leaned into Az’s ear.

“What.
The. Fuck? What is this?”

A
Werewolf, Vamp and Drover stepped forward. I didn’t know what it meant that
these three stepped forward. But I think I was about to find out.

“What
are you?” The Vampire asked me. He was tall and had dark features and skin, he
also looked very angry. I leaned into his space, never losing eye contact.

“A
reject.” I smiled. I didn’t want to let anyone know who I was yet. He laughed.

“You
pulled us here. How?” The Werewolf now chimed in.

“Because
I wanted to. I actually pulled your power. The part of you that is magic.” It
was specific enough to be an answer, but vague enough to keep him guessing.

The
Drover looked from Anie to me.

“Is
this Delaney?” The female Drover asked Anie.

“It
is.”

I
hadn’t realized how her life had evolved; the intricacies of being in a new
community and what that entailed until that moment. The leader of Anie knew who
I was, which was weird and also a little convenient. Less explaining.

“Do
you back her still?” Said Anie’s leader.

“Yes.”
Anie said. It was a simple answer, but it was so much more. I felt a shift
coming and I was nervous as to where this was going.

“The
three of us lead our communities in this area. And while we’ve never met you, the
energy you just pulled from all of us who were close by, tells us that you are
more powerful than any of us, or anyone before you.” The female Drover raised
her hand. “I vote to follow her.”

She
turned to the gathered supes. I saw a large contingent of the Drover’s raise
their hands.

“We
will follow you.” The leader of the Drover’s said simply. As though this was
just a normal, everyday pleasant conversation.

“I
don’t like you. But she’s right, that kind of power could be an asset. We will
follow you.” The Werewolf said, dropping to his knee. The rest of the Weres
dropped to theirs as well. This was gaining speed quickly.

“We
don’t agree on much, Weres, Drovers, Vampires…but we do on this.” And the Vamp
bowed to me, along with all the other Vamps. How the fuck were the Vamps out
during the day?

“How
are you here right now?” I asked. Because curiosity would kill me if I didn’t
find out.

The
Vampire looked up from under his eyelashes, never coming up from his bow.

“Something
with that power of yours. I haven’t seen sunlight in 300 years. We would be
stupid not to follow you.”

I
didn’t want anyone else knowing the extent of my power, but I had a bad feeling
that word was going to spread. Considering I just gave a whole nest of Vampires
the ability to walk in the sun.

“You
nor any of your nest will speak of your day in the sun, to anyone.”

“You
have my word.”

I
straightened and saw that the supernatural community that lay before me was
mixed, but all were in some sort of respective bow to me. Az finally let go of
my hand.

“Remember
what I said, Laney. I trust you.” And Azrael dropped to his knee. I really
wanted to see him drop to his knee, but not in this context.

“Not
you too. Come on!”

And
with my plea still on my lips – Anie dropped next. My Father was still
standing. With my eyes, I begged him to stay that way.

“You
do what you think is right.”

I
felt the now familiar sting at the back of my eyes at the trust my Father had
in me. Although I could’ve lived without it in this particular situation, I
still appreciated it. My Father dropped to his knee. And I wanted to hug him
and smack him at the same time. He was the head of the Hunters and by him
dropping to his knees, it was a sign of submission to me. My supe leadership had
just bled into the Hunters as well. Fan-fucking-tastic.

As
I took them all in I walked further down the street. It was just me and a shit
ton of supes. What was I going to do to lead them? And then a brilliant idea
crossed my mind and I held onto it like I was adrift in rapids and it was the
only raft around.

I
figured the reason that the Demons and the Fairies present hadn’t claimed
fealty to me was because their leaders weren’t close enough to have felt the
energy pull I had cast out, but the ones that were close enough had felt the
draw and needed to see what had done it. At least, that’s what I thought the
reason was.

“In
my life, I have killed many of your kinds.”

I
didn’t correct it for Hunters, there had been times when I should’ve had a
Hunter’s back or been more diligent in planning and I had lost a fellow Hunter
because of it. It was the nature of the Hunter machine. I could have excluded
the Angel as well, but he was alone and if he was the one who burned down my
house, I could not be held accountable for my actions when I got my hands on
him. I pushed on.

“I
make no promises to you here, now. I will do my best to be what you need me to
be.”

I
knew what I was about to do would make or break my relationships with the only
three people in my life that I really cared about, but they were my only
choice. The only people I trusted with everything.

“Azrael,
Aniese, Janesh, please stand.” I felt the need to use all of their names
formally since this was, really, a formal occasion. I waited as each rose.

Az
seemed to be healed. He moved with little hesitancy. I met each of their eyes. I
recognized each as a piece of my heart and family.

“These
three will act as my seconds. Each will be charged with certain groups. Now
rise and disperse.”

As
they all rose, all eyes were on us and we were studied like a weird science
project.
Ohhhh, let me see the cool purple color she’s turning. Oooooh, how
weird!
The supes looked at me in varying forms of awe, affection and some
with outright distrust. Well, hell, I didn’t twist their arms to be there, they
made that decision on their own. Right? Hopefully, eight hands would be enough
to handle what was coming. Anie leaned into my ear.

“You
know, word is going to spread.”

“I’m
hoping I can get them to keep quiet.”

Anie
laughed and shook her head. She was right. I’d be fighting for my life in the near
future. I grabbed Anie’s hand and squeezed it. It was the closest I would bring
myself to actually admitting she was right.

I
turned and saw the Angel creeping around the edge of the supes. I saw the light
off the Angel intensify and I closed my eyes to see him better. He was walking
away from me so I decided to take my opportunity to get my two cents in.

“You’re
an asshole!” I yelled.

I’m
sure I looked like a crazy person with my eyes closed screaming. I opened them
briefly and gave everyone around me a sheepish grin. I knew I looked crazy but
it was better to keep them guessing. I closed my eyes again and saw that the Angel
had frozen in place. Then he turned and started toward us. I wanted to run, but
couldn’t in case any of the other supes could see him. I knew Az could see him
and I heard him next to my ear.

“Really?
You had to yell at an
Angel
?” I shrugged. What was I going to do now? What’s
done was done.

As
I watched the Angel, he twitched and then his brightness dimmed. He stepped
behind a tree and as he walked out I could see the light forming around what
looked like a human form.

I
opened my eyes to find a gorgeous man walking my way. He looked just like Sam
Claflin (Finnick Odair from the Hunger Games Movies). He looked sweet on the
surface, but I knew better. He was imposing but only because I knew what he
was. The supes watched him and gave him a wide birth. Strange. He was all
muscles and light, though. He had white blonde hair and very strange eyes. They
were a shade of purple grey I had never seen before on a human or a supe.

“You
could catch a lot of flies with your mouth like that.” Said Az as I snapped my
mouth shut. Once it was shut he continued. “He looks like a douche.” I was glad
we were on the same page.

“You
shouldn’t talk about one of your family members like that.”

“He’s
no family member of mine. But I probably shouldn’t push too hard…not yet.” I
looked to find Az staring at me with a salacious grin and a glint in his eye as
he drowned me in a feeling of pure lust.

The
Angel stopped in front of us and feeling his power was all it took to snap me
out of my Az-trance and turn my attention where it should be and to the Angel
that took my Bob. To top it off the Angel was grinning like he hadn’t a care in
the world. That bastard had no sympathy for my loss.

“Delaney,
long time, no see.”

“So
it
was
you?! You were the one that burned my house down
and
killed
my Bob!?” The Angel looked confused.

“I
didn’t kill anything. But I did burn down your house.”

“You
killed my plant! Aren’t you supposed to be an Angel?”

“A
plant? Well aren’t you amusing.”

I
decided now was probably a good time to move on.

“What
do you want?” I asked him.

“To
know what your plan is.” The Angel honestly believed that I was going to clue
him in on what was going on. Riiiiight. He was totally ignorant that blowing up
someone’s house and belongings was insane.

“Oh,
you’re the guardian Angel for the crazy people. And apparently it’s rubbed
off.”

The
Angel laughed, throwing his head back. I did appreciate good sarcasm and
enjoyed someone who could too. My Father spoke up before I could touch on that,
though.

“What’s
your name and what do you want?”

Took
long enough for someone to speak up. As I said, my Father still had his edge
just not as sharp of one. And just as the Angel had been as jolly as old
St.Nick a moment before, his switch flipped. His eyes lost their happy spark
and were now flat non-gloss paint. And there was no play at a smile. He stepped
in front of my Father imposingly.

“My
business is with Delaney. But I am known as Nolito.”

I
stepped up and put my hand on Nolito’s chest and pushed him back away from my Father.
I had just gotten him back. I wasn’t about to lose him again because of a
pissed off Angel. I didn’t know enough about him to allow him that close to my Father.
Although I will say that my Dad was really holding his own, considering he was
just getting over being possessed for a significant amount of years.

Nolito
looked down at my hand still resting on his chest and I removed it, too afraid
to make the situation worse than it already was. He didn’t like being touched,
apparently. Fair enough.

“You
may call me Lito.” He spoke formally. “We’ll follow you, Hybrid. Life isn’t
easy here.” He motioned around him like the here he was talking about was
earth. “We can always use the help.”

“You’re
stuck on earth.” He nodded with a sad tug on his lips. “Why?” I couldn’t help
myself. My thirst for knowledge was endless. That or I had a death wish.

“Why
does He do anything? It’s better not to ask. We’re the Guardians. We’re here
guarding those who need it.”

“But
you can’t go home?” Maybe my brain wasn’t working right and it short circuited.
Man, I loved that movie.