Hunting Darkness Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Savannah Rose and Amelia Gates

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  To all who have sinned.

  Be as bad as you goddamn please.

  Always.

  And forever.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Afterword

  1

  Normal. Naïve. Reckless.

  Viewing the world through the eyes of a Normal never ceases to intrigue me. They have the amazing ability to twist the unknown into something they can make sense of, something they can successfully slap a label on and call it a day.

  Weird sounds in the middle of the night are nothing but figments of their imagination. Figures glimpsed through the corner of their eyes are charted off as shadows. They don’t stop to figure things out and, because of that, more often than not, they end up with the wrong explanation. It’s almost funny, if you think about it. The way they look at me, the way they look at Thaon, like we’re one of them. Like they don’t owe us their lives. In a way, I guess it makes sense. Ordinary people are naïve. Nothing more. Nothing less.

  I can’t help the chuckle that escapes. As soon as the sound passes my lips, Thaon’s head whipped to me. “Melody,” he hisses. “Focus.”

  “Relax, big guy,” I say to him, knowing full well what the nickname will do. Right on cue, the famous vein in the center of his forehead leaps up into recognition. His jaw twitches and I almost laugh again. Instead, I pat him on the shoulder. “We’re pretty hidden in this booth.”

  “It doesn’t matter. You should be focusing on the mission.”

  “And you should know better than to be worrying about me.” Again, I pat him. Call it my active imagination but I swear my hand gets burnt a bit. “I always have my eyes on the prize.”

  Thaon isn’t convinced. His vein flashes warningly, his tiny body already trembling with irritation. Instead of answering, he wisely clams up and focuses his eyes ahead. I expect that. Thaon is many things, but an idiot he is not. Fast, yes. Quick-thinking, definitely. Capable of utilizing an impressive combination of his small frame and heated emotion to take care of the most difficult problems he’s faced with, of course. But an idiot? No way.

  Although, there aren’t many who are willing to keep pushing it with me. He’s merely a drop into a massive pool, but none can look me in the eye and push my buttons. They won’t risk it because, like Thaon, they know it will only end badly for them. Like Thaon, they are smarter than they look.

  I ignore Thaon’s side-eye, grinning to myself at the very idea of someone stepping up to me, and again, I am tempted to laugh. I hold myself back, though. As uptight as he is, it won’t be good if Thaon bursts a blood vessel.

  We are sitting in the very back of a dirty diner that smells heavily of bacon and cheese. Nothing else. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen the very pregnant – and very bored – waitress behind the counter serve anything but bacon and cheese to the customers since I came in here. I watch her carefully, taking in the way she leans casually over the counter, resting her chin on the heel of her hand and flipping through a magazine I can bet is years old.

  Her waitressing outfit is ill-fitting, and an apron much too tight for her big figure is wrapped around her waist. I narrow my eyes at the way she flips through. She spends ten seconds on each page before moving on. Exactly ten seconds.

  An untidy bun. Saggy cheeks. Quick fingers. Something is definitely off.

  I nudge Thaon. “How long have we been here?” I ask, weaving my fingers together.

  I don’t miss the quick annoyed look Thaon sends me, but he checks his watch nonetheless. “Five hours.”

  “Five hours, huh? We’ve been sitting in the back of this diner for five hours and that waitress hasn’t said a word to us.”

  “She’s probably used to characters like us coming in here.”

  “Maybe. But five hours is a long time. A long enough time that she should have at least looked in our direction a few times, but not one lick of interest.”

  Thaon eyes the waitress. When he looks back at me, skepticism shines as clear as day on his face. “That still doesn’t have to mean anything.”

  I shrug. “Maybe not. How old do you think she is?”

  He looks at her again. A frown mars his brow. “I don’t know. Maybe forty-five?”

  “Look harder. Look at her how her cheeks sag and those liver spots on her neck. She looks more like she’s nearing sixty to me. Now, look at her hands.”

  “Shit …”

  “A sixty-year old pregnant woman with the hands of a child. We’ve got ourselves a demon.”

  Thaon’s head whips to me. I don’t have to look at him to see the widening of his eyes at what I just said out loud. I can see it well enough in the suddenly attentive waitress ahead of me.

  Her head shoots up and her hand stills. Her eyes narrow into slits and even from the distance I can see her ears perk up at the sound of her species being called.

  Ever since I was a little girl, I was taught that the number one rule is to never say the word ‘demon’. It attracts them to the area like flies to shit. Another thing I learned when I was little is that I don’t care much for rules.

  The waitress turns her head to the side, regarding us. I see Thaon tense beside me and I slowly place my hand on my weapon, waiting for the demon to make her move.

  Low rank demons are a nasty, pestering bunch who survive off the life essence of humans, and, despite the fact that they aren’t the strongest lot, they are a handful if not taken care of properly. The best way to take them out is to not give them any time to prepare. No doubt Thaon is cursing me in his head this very moment.

  I don’t care. I feel the familiar thrum of excitement race through me as I stare into the disconcerting eyes of the demon. When the notice came in that there was demonic activity in this area, I jumped at the chance to check it out. Things have been too calm lately, too quiet. I’m itching for a proper fight. Regular sparring with the other hunters is nothing compared to the thrill of tangling with a demon. Even a low ranked one - like this one obviously is.

  My fingers itch to draw my sword. I notice Thaon’s eyes darting from me to the demon, as if he senses that I will do something reckless. He’s wrong, as they usually are. I may act on impulse, but I am NEVER reckless.

  I know why the demon is here. I know why it’s in disguise. And I know that it won’t last long against my blade. What I don’t know, the only thing holding me back from charging, is why it’s chosen a place like this. The diner is empty. Only two customers have come in since Thaon and I and they left only minutes later. A low-ranking demon seeking life essence usually goes to a place it can get it easily. It’s almost as if it doesn’t want to feed.

  “Screw it.” I can’t wait anymore. I dart past Thaon, dodging the hand he shoots out to hold me back. Once spotted, it is best to see what the demon will do
before making a move, but I’m an impatient girl. I want the action now.

  The demon rears its head at my sudden movement, bending its neck at an impossible angle. Suddenly, it can no longer pass as an old pregnant lady. The demon’s limbs elongate and its mouth stretches so widely it almost cuts its face in two. It throws its head back and releases a loud wail. I’m almost tempted to let loose my own war cry and I draw my sword in anticipation, the sharp metal glinting beautifully under the dim, flickering lights.

  Then, it does something I don’t expect. The demon turns and runs.

  I draw to a halt, throwing my hand over my face when the demon launches itself through the window. Glass speckles my skin but I hardly feel the pain.

  “What the hell did you do?” Thaon is beside me in a second. In his hand, he already holds his dagger.

  “I didn’t do shit.” That’s all I say before leaping through the gaping hole the demon leaves behind. Thaon is right on my heels, but I forget all about him. He can handle his own.

  The demon is moving fast. I can see its body darting within the darkness, clinging onto the dingy walls of the New York slums. The moon overhead flashes past its unnatural body, capturing the glint of the demon’s teeth as it turns its head frantically from side to side. Any normal person would, no doubt, vomit at the sight of such a disgusting creature. A hunter, on the other hand, merely looks for a way to end its life.

  For once, that’s the second thing on my mind. I skid to a halt. The demon is hanging claw deep from a wall, inches away from a lit window. Its head turns from side to side for a moment, as if searching for the best way to go, before it bounds left. Another odd thing. A low ranked demon would have gone after the people in the apartment. This one doesn’t seem to notice where it is.

  I give myself only a few seconds to watch the demon before I go after it. I run straight for the wall, then, at the last moment, I spring upwards. The fingerless gloves covering my hands cling to the smooth, yet weathered wall of the building. My feet stick just as securely as my hands do and I scurry behind the demon, hot on its tail.

  It lets out another screech. I don’t cringe at the sound, although I have no doubt Thaon’s irritation mounts by each decibel. Instead, it bolsters me. A low ranked demon never lasts five minutes alive when I’m around. Yet, this one has managed to escape me before I can get a hit in. That never happens.

  The demon springs onto the roof and begins scampering away. I flip over, landing nimbly on my feet. My sword is in my hand again and I throw it just as the tips of my toes touch the ground. The blade soars through the air, right and true. I feel an explosion of satisfaction rage within me when the sword embeds itself in the demon’s stomach and into the small half wall near the other edge of the roof. I stop running.

  Almost instantly, Thaon lands beside me. “When are you going to stop running off on your own?” he asks me, annoyance clear in his voice.

  I shrug. I know the action annoys him, but too bad. His scowl deepens. “The demon was running. What else was I supposed to do?”

  “We’re supposed to work together. We could have come up with a plan.”

  “The time we would have taken coming up with a plan, it would have gotten away.” I tap my temple. “You have to think quicker, Thaon.”

  I don’t know how it’s possible but the scowl that envelopes his face turns as black as midnight. I almost laugh but there’s no telling what might happen to him after that.

  I don’t have to wait for him to say it. “You’re going to tell on me, aren’t you? You never figured out how not to be a snitch, have you?” I shrug again. “Do what you want, Thaon.”

  He tries to speak but I hold my hand up, cutting him off. We are close to the demon now. It spits poison at us, but it sizzles against our resistant black leather. I dodge a stream that almost hits my eye.

  Taking one of Thaon’s daggers without warning, I stab the demon right below the hollow of its neck. An inch higher and it’s dead.

  “Get to talking,” I tell it.

  It only hisses.

  The sides of my lips turn down, conceding. “If that’s the way you want it, then fine.” I twist the dagger.

  The demon screeches in pain. Its gangly limbs release the pommel of my sword and almost slaps into my head. I’m saved by Thaon’s daggers pinning them to the floor.

  “Do you want to talk now?” I ask it calmly. I know it can see the near bloodlust in my eyes. I never fully learned how to hide it.

  Slowly, the demon nods. Its black eyes dart back and forth between me and Thaon. If it thinks it can seek mercy from Thaon, it can’t be more wrong. As much as Thaon doesn’t like me, he knows when to play his role. And he plays it well.

  “Why did you run from us?” I ask it.

  “I don’t want to die.”

  I resist the urge to sneer. No matter how many times I do this, I’m never used to how normal they sound, how deceiving they can be. You could speak to them from across a room and have no idea what they are. If it wasn’t for the fact that they don’t truly know how to act human, it would be much more difficult for hunters to do their jobs.

  “Bullshit,” I spit, grabbing the dagger tighter. The demon’s eyes dart to my clenched fist then back up at me. I see fear on its face, somehow shining through its black gaze. “You scums don’t care about dying. You just want your next fix.”

  It shakes its head vehemently. “No, no, no, no, no. We fight, then I die. I don’t want to die.”

  I frown.

  I look up at Thaon to see him frowning as well. I return my gaze to the demon. “Since when are you things afraid to die?”

  “Death’s worse. I just want to stay and live. Stay hidden and live.”

  “What do you mean, death’s worse?”

  It shakes its head again. This time, streams of blackish blood dribble down the side of its face. I’m losing it. “Just let me go,” it begs. “Just leave me be. I don’t want to die. Death’s worse.”

  “What do you mean by death is worse?” I lean forward, pressing my hand down on the dagger. The hilt begins sinking slowly into the demon’s neck from the pressure I apply.

  It opens its mouth. I lean forward in anticipation. Before it can say anything, more blood bubbles up to its thin lips. Its body begins to jerk violently.

  “You’re killing it, Melody,” Thaon says behind me.

  I ignore him. “Tell me what you mean!” I scream at it.

  Nothing happens. The demon’s body curls inwards, more black blood spilling out through its eyes. Its body continues to shake terribly until I can do nothing but step back and watch it die. To be perfectly honest, I’m surprised it lasts that long.

  A few more seconds go by, filled with the dying squeals of the demon. Its body bucks one more time before finally coming to a stop.

  The weight of the demon’s death hangs as heavy as humidity in the air. Its last words almost seem to echo ominously, layering the air with the ring of finality.

  I sigh. “Back to Guild?”

  Thaon doesn’t answer, and of course, I don’t expect him to.

  2

  Guild headquarters is both heaven and hell for me. The thought strikes me as the building looms in the distance, standing tall like an angel protecting the city from evil. The comparison isn’t too far off, either. It bears the name PartSec Co. Limited - appearing to the public eye as a regular insurance company. Ironic when you think about what it actually does.

  Like superheroes, hunters fly from the building in search of demons, weeding out the darkness of the city until a blanket of security lays over its unknowing citizens. It sheds light on the shadows that can’t be seen. Many are lost in the cause. Many more are willing to lay down their lives.

  Me? I’m not so sure about that. The Guild is all I’ve ever known. I was born into it and grew up under its battered, unyielding wings. I am who I am today because of the Guild, and I know – if I don’t know anything else – that there is no place I would rather be.

  Ignor
ance is bliss only when you aren’t affected. But when the darkness that looms in the shadows takes the lives of your loved ones, when that darkness preys on your life and you have no idea why you are burdened by such tragedies, ignorance doesn’t do you much good. All it does is prevent you from knowing who – or rather, what – you are fighting. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about such things.

  I’m even happier I learned to defend myself against such evils. I knew since the moment I first picked up a sword that this is what I am to be doing with my life. This – hunting demons – is the reason I am on this earth. This is my purpose, my lifeline. I don’t know how much I care for the safety of the citizens of New York. I don’t give myself much time to really think about it. What I do know is that I am no one without my blade.

  Heaven and hell are why I am here now. Heaven I find in my blade, though I’m not sure I truly believe in its existence. And hell I find in everything else.

  Thaon steers the car into the underground garage and deftly parks it near the entrance. We both exit in silence and make our way to the elevator.

  This is the only part of the mission I hate. I felt dread once, when I was younger and inexperienced. Now, I’m only slightly annoyed. It’s almost overshadowed by the anticipation created by tonight’s mission.

  The elevator dings open and we exit. A long narrow hallway meets our eyes, dim overhead lights barely illuminating the shiny, grey floors. Our boots stomp noisily against the floor as we make our way up to the only door standing on the opposite end of the hallway. Before we arrive, the door opens.

  Ben steps out. He notices our approach and closes the door behind him. “Coming back from your mission?” he asks us, though his eyes find mine.