On the Hunt

“Who the fuck are you?” I woke up to a woman shouting. My head was pounding really badly.

I opened my eyes and gave her a drowsy look. She was also blond, just like me. A little taller maybe.

Soon Jasper was behind her, looking at me in shock. I just raised my hand and waved.

“Bella, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“Who is this, Jasper? Are you cheating on me?” the woman asked.

I must have misheard. Jasper couldn’t be in a relationship, could he?

“So you’re Jasper’s girlfriend, are you?” I asked while yawning.

“Yes!” she said, while Jasper shook his head no behind her.

“Interesting… I’m Jasper’s cousin,” I lied as I got up from the couch and went to the kitchen to get water.

“Omg, I’m so sorry, I thought Jasper was cheating on me,” the woman said. She followed me to the kitchen.

“Are you okay? You look like seven tough years,” Jasper asked.

“I’ve got the worst headache ever,” I answered, searching his drawers for painkillers.

Jasper opened one next to the stove and handed me a packet of pills.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“I have already texted my driver. He is on his way,” I said.

“I haven’t introduced myself,” Jasper’s girlfriend started, but I stopped her.

“Yeah, don’t bother. I can’t keep track of Jasper’s girlfriends,” I said, feeling a little devious as I went to collect my bag and put my shoes on.

“Later, Jasper,” I called out as I left.

I wasn’t interested in participating in their argument, although I smiled as I walked out onto the street. I hoped she’d give him hell.

The weather was really nice outside and I went to buy an iced latté while I waited for my driver. I looked at apartments on my phone all the way home.

I had found one that was perfect. Close to work, close to Wonderland, big enough for visitors, and with a garage.

I would talk to my dad about it later. First, I needed to get some more sleep.

I still felt awful.

***

Two days later, I was back at work. I met up with Anna as usual.

I told her about the apartment my father was buying me. I did not tell her about Wonderland or the squad.

It felt best not to, especially since Louisa had warned me not to. Ellie was waiting for me when I entered the studio.

She was the only one there. “It’s rare to be on time in our squad, kitten,” she said, laughing as I entered.

“I’m used to being on time,” I sighed.

I looked around, surprised. “Isn’t even Louisa here yet?” I asked.

“Oh no, she’s very busy in the mornings,” Ellie said, looking smug.

“Anyway, I’m sorry I gave you the everdream potion. I should have just given you alcohol,” she said.

“I didn’t mean to leave you. It’s just that potion makes you seize the moment, and a great opportunity appeared. You will understand once you start networking,” she explained.

“Yes, I noticed. I almost got bit while hooking up with a vampire,” I admitted.

“Alex stopped it from happening,” I sighed.

Ellie smiled, but there was guilt in her eyes. “Oh kitten, I’ve been bit plenty of times. It’s actually quite enjoyable in the moment. Then you feel like death for a few days, wanting more,” she said.

“But you really shouldn’t let your guard down around them. They can be very dangerous. Just as they can give you pleasure, they can just as easily be the death of you,” she added, looking pensive.

“We really get to ignore our core laws in this squad?” I asked skeptically.

“Yes, I’m pretty sure Louisa should have told you. We don’t have as many rules as the rest,” Ellie answered.

“Yeah, I know,” I chuckled. I loved it.

Speaking of the devil, Louisa entered the studio.

“Good morning, girls,” she said.

“Bella! I would like a quick word with you,” she said after we had greeted her back.

I looked at Ellie, confused. She just shrugged back at me and I followed Louisa to her office, curious and nervous as to what she wanted.

“So, we realized we placed you in my squad a little early. You need more combat experience,” Louisa said after we were seated.

“But I like this squad,” I protested.

“I didn’t say anything about moving you, however! You need more experience, so we decided you will assist the first and second squad on missions,” she explained with a mysterious smile, likely amused that I’d adapted so quickly.

I didn’t mind that. I did need more experience.

“You are going on a mission with the first, second, and eleventh squad tonight, so you should join their tactical meeting in an hour,” she further explained. “Sounds good?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Sounds great,” I answered.

“Well then, you’re free to go,” Louisa said with a smile.

An hour later, I went to the first squad’s studio. It was much tidier than ours.

I was both anxious and excited that I finally got to hunt. I immediately went to find Anna.

“I’m joining your mission today,” I told her as she gave me a questioning look.

“Really? You can do that?” she asked. “We’re going as a full squad today, I’ve heard,” she added, as if it was supposed to be rare.

I just nodded as their squad general began to speak.

She was an older woman, whose hair had started to turn gray. She had a scar across her face.

She told us about a school at the outskirts of the city, where a few teens had joked around with an Ouija board and unknowingly opened a portal.

So now the whole school was infested with demons that we needed to kill. One of the teens needed an exorcism, and we needed to close the portal.

The eleventh squad specialized in cleansing and magic. They would focus on the exorcism and closing the portal.

I was, to my surprise, not going to snipe. I was to join in on the hunt inside the building.

This would be my very first hunt, and I needed to get ready for it. I was too young to get to stash up gear at home, so I geared up at the headquarters together with Anna.

I dressed in black, flexible clothes, with hidden armor protecting my body. Then I strapped a knife and a gun to my leg, and another gun on my hip.

Then, I strapped a sword on my back and stocked up on ammunition. Lastly, and most importantly, I put on a raven medallion.

It made me look normal and concealed all my gear from mortal eyes. They knew of our existence, but it was annoying to get recognized.

The last thing I wanted was someone approaching, insisting his neighbor was possessed by demons.

We weren’t very far from the school, so we decided to take the subway. I felt amused, riding the train in full gear.

I’d never been outside of the headquarters geared up among people before. Anna thought it was funny too and started gossiping about fashion to make it even funnier.

When we arrived at the school, other hunters were walking around the area. We didn’t gather in a group, since we didn’t want to alert anyone.

I knew snipers were stationed on the roofs surrounding the building. I caught sight of Jasper when we started to enter the school.

He didn’t know I was to join the hunt, and looked at me, surprised. I ignored him.

Anna and I split, and I ventured forward on my own. The demonic energy was strong all around the building, and it was dark and creepy.

It didn’t take long before a spider-like shadow dashed toward me. It was the same kind of demon I’d tried to hunt when I was ten.

I had frozen that time, and afterward my dreams had been haunted for months. This time, I didn’t freeze.

I pulled my gun and pulled the trigger. Then I watched the demon fall to the ground.

I ran to it and severed its head with my sword to make sure it stayed dead. That was my first kill, and I’d killed it just like that, leaving me in a moment of shock.

The mission was, however, far from over. The school was infested.

Still, I felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders. I followed another trace of demonic energy.

A demon looking almost human, but with long claws, attacked me. I drew my sword again.

My blade met its long claws before they managed to strike me. Suddenly, it fell to the ground with a knife in its back.

It was Jasper who had thrown it.

“I can manage fine by myself, thanks!” I shouted, and I pointed my gun at him.

I pulled the trigger and hit a demon behind him.

“Don’t aim your gun at me!” he shouted back, but was laughing.

“I never miss!” I pointed out before I moved ahead.

The hunt was a success. I had killed eight demons.

The portal had been closed, and the girl was successfully exorcised. Unfortunately, her friends had perished. It was the price they had paid for summoning demons.

Teens were often targeted by demons. They knew, but didn’t understand, that nothing is free in this world.

Everything has a price.

We dragged all the demons out of the school, and burned them before the cleanup crew arrived. While Anna and I walked toward the subway, I felt the energy of a spellcaster.

I looked around, feeling more excited than I dared admit.

“Do you feel that?” Anna asked, staring at me, bewildered.

The energy was strong; whoever it came from had recently used a lot of magic. I nodded at her. It was in front of us, approaching us.

I gasped in surprise when I saw Erik come around the corner from a crossing street.

His gaze graced us, and when he saw me, I noticed him twitch. Then he smiled and steered toward us.

I raised my hand in an awkward wave while Anna took a defensive stance, going as far as grabbing the hilt of her sword.

Erik didn’t even glance at her, just eyed me up and down.

“That is one strong enchantment. I should have figured you were an umbra,” he said with a chuckle.

I realized he saw through the enchantment, and I was covered in demon blood. Great.

“Bella, you know this warlock?” Anna hissed in shock and anger before I got a chance to reply.

Not that I could, since I was once again dazzled into silence by his good looks. I looked at Anna, confused. Why was she acting as if he was a threat?

Was it just because he’d recently used a lot of magic? Magic wasn’t all bad; he might just have made a lot of trees bloom for all we knew.

Erik sighed at her. “I wouldn’t draw that if I were you. I’m not the demon-summoning kind.”

“And don’t worry about your friend, I just treated her to a coffee.” His eyes locked on mine, and I felt an electric spark between us.

A gust of wind carried a faint scent of cologne and smoke, and I bit my lip. He smiled at me again, amusement evident in his eyes.

Anna seemed to be at a loss for words too.

He looked at my bloodstained clothes before he spoke again.

“Even covered in blood,” he mumbled quietly, more to himself.

This wasn’t like me at all, but Anna made it so awkward. I opened my mouth to say something, but Erik glanced at Anna and stopped me before I could.

“Anyway, I best be going,” he said and nodded at us.

I watched him leave, full of regret. I hadn’t uttered a word.

I wanted to run after him, apologize for Anna’s rudeness, and ask for his number.

“He’s the hottie from the coffee shop, isn’t he?” Anna asked in a venomous tone. I looked at her, startled.

“Don’t even think about it, Bella. He’s a warlock and a powerful one. The only thing he could possibly want with you is to use you as a sacrifice for some sick ritual,” she spat.

Her words hit like an icy blade. “I know,” I sighed.

There was no way he’d possibly be interested in me now.

“Good, let’s hurry back. I desperately want a shower,” she said and walked ahead.

That’s when I noticed I had something in my hand—a black piece of paper, and on it, in golden letters, was his phone number, along with the line, “~If you ever want to talk~.”

I smiled happily to myself and ran to catch up with Anna, clenching the piece of paper in my hand so she wouldn’t see, or feel the faint traces of magic.