Illumination

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.
-Lao Tzu

Chapter One

Do you ever get the feeling that you're being watched?

I get that feeling a lot.

I could feel the gaze of the person- or whatever the hell it was- burning into my back. A normal person might've found this unnerving; but not me. I'm not exactly what you'd call a 'normal' person. Despite all of that, the hair on the nape of my neck still rose like a cats hackles. A cold shiver ran up and down my spine; warning me of the presence of someone (or more appropriately, something). Slowly and carefully I turned around, pretending to be investigating the guitar case that rested on the cobbled street next to me. My pale blonde hair slipped off my shoulders and formed a curtain between me and the rest of the street; blocking my questioning gaze from whatever was watching.

At the end of the street a hunched figure glared at me with hungry violet eyes. It would have stood about seven foot tall if it wasn't bending over itself. Even from a distance I could feel it ghostly aura. It set my teeth on edge, but at the same time made my heart race. It had been a while since I'd fought a Shinigami.

My nimble fingers unlatched the buckles of the guitar case and in one swift move I pulled the wooden bow that rested in the foam out into the pale moonlight. I felt the racing of my heart slow a little as my hand closed around the bow. All of the engravings in the wood dug into my fingers. It was comforting.

Very slowly- as not the startle the creature of death- I drew an arrow from the neck of the case and knocked it on the bow. Drawing back on the string I was taking aim when a sudden wolf howl broke through the night. The already knocked arrow flew from the string and hit a window of a neighbouring abandoned building. Instantly the Shinigami disappeared in a mass of shadows.

"Dammit, Jake," I said in an angered tone. Of course my best-friend/dumbass partner would have to go and scare the demon away.

Spinning on my heel I checked the street once more before placing my quiver and bow back into the specialised weapons case. The Shinigami wouldn't be back. Not tonight, at least. As I hefted my case, I began grumbling to myself. As I began walking down the street, the sound of paws echoed off the buildings as a large wolf skidded around the corner, baby pink tongue lolling from out of its muzzle..

"You're an idiot!" I yelled in exasperation as it came to a stop in front of me.

The wolf gazed up at me with bright brown eyes; somehow managing to pull off the puppy dog eyes.

"A Shinigami would've been great!" I continued to yell at the wolf, "don't even do the puppy dog eyes! They don't work on me."

The wolf changed before my eyes. Its legs lengthened and body elongated. The hair became replaced with soft pink skin and the canine face became human and recognisable. A wolf headed Blaze on the left side of his chest shown a bright blue before fading to a soft brown. As always, it took me a moment to realise he was stark naked. Blushing, I turned away from my best friend. A chuckle sounded behind me and a glared down the street. Reaching behind me I slung my backpack off and threw it at him.

"All clear," Jake Lovell said, flashing me a wolfish grin as I turned around.

Glaring at my friend I folded my arms over my chest, not at all impressed. Jake was still smiling, his brown eyes twinkling with mirth as he ran a hand through his shaggy brown hair.

"We've been working together for five years and you still blush like a middle school girl around me," Jake chortled as he dug his hands into the pockets of his too large jeans, "I'm flattered."

"You shouldn't be," shifting the case in my hand I began walking briskly down the street.

"Come on Alex! You can't be mad about losing a Shinigami! They barely make it to Class 1," He caught up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder before spinning me around to face him.

"A kills a kill," I replied, brushing his hand off my shoulder, "Class 1 or not."

Part of me could see where Jake was coming from. Killing a Class 1 didn't count for much. Nowadays though, kills were hard to come by. I supposed that was a good thing- but for a studying Protector it was a curse. Learn from experience, our teachers say. What is there to experience? We often reply.

"We both know that you don't believe that," Jake somehow made a pout look like an acceptable facial expression for a sixteen year old, "what we need is a good Bigfoot-"

"Bigfoot doesn't exists, Jake," sighing I shook my head.

"You're a demon hunter and yet you say Bigfoot doesn't exist?" Jake scoffed, "you should be ashamed."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'll let you paint my nails. Girls like that kind of thing, right?" He flashed me the epitome of a sarcastic smirk- and wondered why he couldn't get a girlfriend.

I punched him hard in the arm and a feeling of satisfaction grew within me when I saw him wince slightly. Making a toned guy like Jake flinch was a hard thing to do.

"Okay, contain yourself," Jake put his hands up in the universal sign of peace, "and they say I'm the animal-"

A loud scream broke through the night. It was ear shattering and so pain-filled I couldn't help but cringe. Jake's bravado slipped slightly as he let out a low pitch whine and covered his ears. In an instant he was morphing in on himself until all that remained was a brown wolf dressed in too large clothes. He easily shook them off though and began sprinting off.

Bending down I gathered up the abandoned backpack and clothes before following him. My guitar case banged against my legs but I promptly ignored it. My heart pounded against my ribcage as I struggled to keep up with my Shifter friend. Another scream, much weaker but still audible, broke through the air. Forcing my legs to move faster I soon found myself standing at the mouth of an alleyway.

The first thing I noticed was the smell. It hit my nose and I instantly began breathing through my mouth. It stunk of rotting food, flesh and fresh urine. The walls had been gratified so many times it was hard to differentiate between the old and new. As Jake would say; it looks like a place you would find a dead prostitute.

A soft whine brought me out of my evaluation of the five star alleyway. My footsteps echoed off the wall as I moved in further and I had to stop myself from dry retching at the smell. I took a torch from my bag and turned it on to banish the thick shadows from my path.

I really wish I hadn't turned on the light.

It wasn't because Jake was kneeling stark naked next to something; but rather it was that someone. She-he-It-(Who knew?) -was hardly recognisable as a person. I'm not a doctor, but even I know people are not supposed to look like that. The chest was a mangle of shattered bones, mangled lungs and ripped up entrails. One whole leg was missing; leaving only a stump. The persons head had been smashed into the ground so violently the brains had been scattered onto the filthy floor. Scarlet blood pooled on the floor; just inches away from my feet.

My stomach flipped; I had a feeling my face was green. I couldn't help it. I turned and I dry heaved. There was nothing in my stomach, but that didn't stop my body from attempting to heave itself out. Unbidden memories surfaced in my mind and I pushed them away. Now was not the time. I didn't need to have flashbacks now. Never the less the smell of blood still assaulted my nose; causing me to dry heave again.

Then a hand appeared on my back, right between my shoulder blades. It began to make awkward rubbing motions. Jake had never really been one for comforting- that much was obvious.

"You okay?" he questioned as he continued to awkwardly rub my back.

Drawing deep breaths in through my mouth I managed to reply with a simple 'yes'. Forcing my body to obey my commands I stood up and turned away from the mangled body. I shoved the clothes that I was still gripping in a death grip into Jakes hands before promptly picking up my weapons case and walking out of the alleyway.

"I'll call the police," my voice shook a little as I spoke, "check for dust."

Setting my guitar / secret weapons case down on the sidewalk I pulled out my phone. Sitting down on the case I punched in 911 before pressing the phone against my ear. A rather dull voice asked me what the emergency was, and I explained. All the while I played with a strand of my silvery hair, trying to calm my frayed nerves.

After ending the call I punched in the number for the school. There was no way the police would just let us go 'home'. I knew the number off by heart, and despite the late hour, someone still picked up within the first three rings.

"Brotherhood Academy- Ricardo speaking," a slightly accented voice answered.

"Mr Edilio, it's Alexander May," I said, recognising the person on the other ends voice- he was my demon origin teacher.

"Miss May!" Mr Edilio replied cheerfully, "how'd your hunt go?"

My tone turned to one of dismay as I quickly told him how we'd lost the Shinigami.

"Are you okay, Miss May? You sound a bit shaken up," the instructor's voice became tilted with concern.

"Jake and I found something," as quickly as I could I told him about the body.

"I'll come down myself," instantly the light joking and caring tone that I had found comfort in was gone, "have you called the police?"

"Yes," my response was rather monotone as I tried to stop myself from dry heaving again.

"Good. I'll be there as quick as I can," Mr Edilio hung up promptly.

For a moment I just sat in the moonlight. The feeling of the strands of hair between my fingers was comforting. It reminded me of when my mother would run her fingers through my hair. My heart beat slowed and I began to think straight again.

"Jake?" I called back into the alleyway.

"Yeah?" was the echoing response.

"What are you doing?" Jake had always had a slightly morbid sense of curiosity.

"It has the Blaze," the echoing of the alleyway didn't hide the shock that was in his voice, "Adalinda."

My eyes widened slightly. Adalinda- the clan of snakes. The Blaze was a mark on your skin- like a birthmark- that marked you as one of the guardian clans. As if in response to my shock, my own Blaze glowed a sudden blinding blue. A shudder racked my body involuntarily as I felt someone's gaze land on me yet again. Looking at the end of the street I half expected to see the Shinigami from before looking back at me- but instead I saw a little girl.

She was maybe four, with raven hair that was braided into piggy-tails. In the dull moonlight my sharp senses could see the expression that marred the little girls face- it was horrible. Her dark hazel eyes seemed to pin in place, a shark like grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. My hand slid down to the dagger that rested on my side; but for the first time in a while it did nothing to quell the fear racing through my veins.

In a very dramatic fashion the little girl raised an arm and pointed straight at me. The blood in my veins was replaced with ice. My Blaze continued to shine brightly- so bright it was almost blinding to look at. My attempt to yell for Jake became caught in my throat.

Then I blinked and she was gone. Blood pounded in my ears and I clasped my chest as I brought in painful breaths. Blue and red filled my vision and for a moment I was puzzled-but then the sound of sirens filled my ears. Willing my frozen limbs to move I managed to tuck my dagger and its sheath into my waist band and hide in the folds of my shirt.

A single police car pulled to a stop on the side of the road. The lights continued to flash as two officers stepped out. One was a woman who looked around early forties. She had a strict look to her, her bun was pulled tightly below her cap and her eyes resembled a bird of prey's. Next to her was a man of perhaps twenty-four; nothing special- probably a newbie.

"I'm Officer Julia, this is Officer Clark," The women said as she gestured to herself.

I nodded blankly as I gathered up what little control I had. "I'm Alexander May," I stood up and crossed my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling the chill of the night.

"Jake Lovell," Jake walked out of the alleyway, fully dressed, his jacket slung over one arm, "the bodies in there."

The younger officer seemed a little surprised by Jakes flippant attitude, but neve the less pulled a torch from his belt and moved into the alleyway. As if sensing my disdain for the cold, Jake draped the jacket around me. For a moment I just breathed in the smell. Mint and baby powder- it was a combination of smells I had come to love.

It didn't take long for the officer to return, looking rather pale, "I'll call it in."

"All right," the stern female officer flipped open a notebook, "how'd you come across this?"

"We were busting in the city," Jake gestured to the guitar case, "and the school we attend doesn't like to drive in the city, so we were going to go to our normal pick up spot, but then we heard a scream."

"And your first reaction was to go and see what it was?" Officer Julia questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Did you expect us just to ignore it?" My voice came out as rather snappish and prude.

That earned me a withering look.

"Did you touch anything?" she questioned, her voice a little colder. She obviously didn't feel that we even deserved the slightest hint of politeness.

"Does the floor count?" Jake obviously felt the need to be rude back.

"Yes," she snapped at us.

Luckily, before a full out sass war could start, a new car rolled onto the street. It was a simple black BMW sedan with piercing blue headlights. The younger officer held up a hand, gesturing for the driver to stop. That had to be Mr Edilio- who else would be coming this way?

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to turn around-"

"I'm their guardian," Mr Edilio cut off the officer as he folded his tall form out of the car, "Ricardo Edilio."

Thankfully the police officer allowed us to wait in the car while Mr Edilio gave her the schools information. As I sat in the car I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. Jakes jacket slipped off my shoulders slightly, but I didn't mind. It was warm now anyway.

"We'll be the talk of the Academy," Jake smirked to himself as he sunk into the seat, "not every day that you find a body in an alleyway."

I shuddered at the vivid and recent memory of the blood.

"Would've been nice to get that Shinigami," I muttered as I gazed out the window.

"Forget the Shinigami!" Jake chuckled, "we'll see another one soon enough."

Shaking my head slightly I gazed into the dark shadows of an alleyway. Cocking my head to the side I tried to see what was moving from within the shadows. My face was pressed up against the glass in an attempt to see what it was. The cloud passing over the moon moved and illuminated the little girl again. Her hand was still raised and pointing at me. My Blaze grew hot and glowed again- drawing the attention of Jake.

"What is it?" Jake leaned across the seats and gazed out the window.

For the second time that night, I was yet again locked in the paralysing gaze of the little girl.

"Can't you see her?" I questioned, my voice little over a whisper.

"All I see is some shadows," Jake responded as he took my arm, "I've never seen your Blaze glow this bright; well, not since-"

"-the little girl. She's right there," I cut him off, "she's right there!"

"I don't see anything," another cloud rolled over the moon as Jake said that, "you're probably just shaken up from all the blood."

When the light returned, the little girl was gone, and my Blaze was normal again. I shook my head as I moved away from the window. I felt as if someone had just invaded my personal privacy. The way she looked at me, it was almost as if she was saying you're next.

"You're right," I said the words, not believing them at all, "probably just a little on edge. I'll be fine after some sleep."

"Good," Jake let go of my arm, "because we have Defence and I'll be damned if the Little Twins beat us again."

A weak smile graced my face. Jake seemed pleased with the response as he slumped back into his seat. I tried to copy his movement, but I couldn't. I was too wound up. Though Jake claimed it was my nerves being frayed from the sight of blood, I knew what I had seen. There was something out there- watching and waiting.

For some reason I felt as if it wouldn't be the last time I saw that little girl.