The steel van conveyed them to the site that Wendy could reach and with her eyes closed, she directed Mason whose hands were on the wheel and she ordered.
"Stop!"
The van stopped immediately.
"West," Wendy said again.
"They are coming for her already," she added.
Sonya stepped out and proceeded into the west as Wendy had said. Wendy was right behind her, and then the recruits were behind Wendy, walking into the thick bushes that were before them and just behind Sonya in her designed formation. Aaron was next to the recruit and Mason was last.
"We're close, Wendy said again.
"There is a hut, she is in there," she added.
Sonya walked on till there was a hut right before her. She walked close to the hut and then raised her hand in the air and spread her hand. The team decoded the meaning laced in the gesture and they surrounded the hut. Sonya's daggers were out and she opened one of the jars that were hung in her waist to let the smoke in it evolve as she slowly walked into the hut while the team waited outside with their weapons out and their eyes turned in the opposite direction of the hut to prevent entrance.
In the hut was dark smoke from the burning that was happening, it was thicker than soot but her amber eyes that were cut out in the mask that was on her face could see clearly.
"Hey there," Sonya said and there was a hum.
"Where are you? I am here to help," she said as she slowly placed her feet to escape the object on the floor.
"I don't know what is wrong with me," a voice came and Sonya paused.
"That is the simplest thing you can find out about yourself right now. I was once like you, knowing not what I was am and why I am what I am. But with more research, there came answers. With me, you will discover a lot," Sonya said and after her word. There was a bright silver light before her. It was bright that it nearly blinded her Sonya had to cover her eyes with her hands to see.
When she was able to absorb the light before her was a bioluminescent object that was emitting the rays. It was a human being, a woman, naked with her laps closed and her back forming a hunch. She was the source of light that nearly blinded Sonya.
Sonya kindled her eyes on the source of light and saw the silver skin with pores out from which came the light and walked closer. She bent towards the girl and the girl slowly raised her head at Sonya.
"You have the mark," Sonya said.
"He told me the same," the girl replied.
"Who?" Sonya asked.
"Him," the girl said and looked in the direction where was laid a dead man.
"He's my father. He told me I have the mark of the cleanser," she spoke on.
"What is your name?" Sonya asked.
"Sasha Lockwood," she replied.
"Sasha, you have a mark of the hunter, that is true. Out there are more like you with hunting skills and superpowers. We will take you in before the bad guys find you. Remember that you are a hunter and there is something out there that needs to be hunted. The huntress needs to understand this before she becomes prey. Follow me," Sonya said and the light gradually diminished.
"Why am I suddenly like the sun?" Sasha asked.
"That is not the only question you have, is it? I will answer all and tell you all and more you need to know about yourself. Follow me," Sonya said and offered her hand. Sasha took it and she slowly helped her up.
Together they walked out of the hut and as they stepped out, Wendy threw a towel in Sasha's direction and Sonya made use of it in the coverage of Sasha who cowered into her hands.
"You are here before us," a voice came and the team converged around Sonya and Sasha. The origin of the voice was a shirtless man with hairs all over his chest and there were three more behind him.
"Detective, this is not a homicide and it is way beyond you, leave with your team when you still have your life," he said and stood gallantly as the others stayed behind him.
"Your bad!" Sonya said from among the team.
"Aaron, shied, Mason formed a large ball," Sonya ordered silently after she replied the hairy guy. After her order, Aaron formed a circling shield around Mason who formed a ball of fire in his hands.
"This team does not belong to the police department but the cleansing squad – your end," Sonya said.
"Make way," she shouted and the team that had converged before her created an opening such that she was directly facing the guy. The shied was removed and Mason fired the cannon which weathered away the hairy guy and the other three that were behind him went out of the shot line.
The three behind him shouted and in the respite that followed, there were spiky hairs on their arms, their hands were curved and their fingers reduced to four, turning inside and clawed. Their head became elongated to the back and from the creases of their cheek to their ears and the rear of their heads came a cut which continued to the length of their elongated skull and in it was an outgrowing set of teeth in the upper and lower palates of the wide mouth. They outgrew the presence of the clothes they wore and behind them was a long tail with blades on either side. The transition happened in seconds and Sasha screamed and ran inside the hut at the sight of the demons.
Screams and shots happened outside the hut as Sonya followed Sasha back into the dark room and searched for her the moment she stepped into the hut.
"Where are you?" Sonya screamed and began to look.
Suddenly, there came a gash from the ceiling that was aimed at the spot where Sonya stood but before the impact, she rolled off the spot and got her daggers from their stealth. It was a demon, fire in its eyes and fanged to fight. It attempted an attack with its tail and Sonya ducked the blades that cut through the walls and made a dent in it. Sonya activated her flash realm just as the demon was about to proceed towards Sonya and she was behind it in a nanosecond with her two daggers inserted into the back of the demon. When she tried a pullout that wouldn't work as the wound had healed immediately, Sonya took a step backwards and pushed the daggers further with a blow.
The steel of the dagger was made from a tree from the Otherwhere which was supposed to have a weakening effect on the demon but it didn't. Instead, the demon turned to face Sonya and roared.
Shocked by the evolution, Sonya dithered and was shoved to the side by the demon. She zoomed by the impact and was knocked to the wall and ended up beside Sasha who had hidden behind a curtain.
When her strength failed, Sonya switched to the magical part of her that ensured her captaincy. She stood to her feet and was hoisted in the air for a moment while the demon approached. Wings grew out of her back, cutting out and shredding the cloth she wore into opposite sides. The flaps couldn't extend their bigness to the sides because of the narrow passage that she was and this brought about the demolition of the walls on both sides, leading to a freer space for wings as they spread to their maximum size and length.
As Sonya was about to swim in the waves of the air that was surging in and around her, ready to propel herself in it, Sasha's bioluminescence came up and the reflection of it was a blinding and weakening effect on the demon.
With the distraction and drop in activeness, Sonya swam close to the bent and cowering demon, she forcefully made her winds clap while the demon was stuck in it and it melted out like molten magma from a volcano eruption. The force that escaped the clasp of Sonya's wing completed the total demolition of the house and Sonya covered Sasha in the refuge of her wings.
The team were outside and stood as they witnessed the bright silver light once more. It was also a magnificent thing to see a saviour acting out in Sonya as she was the depiction of an angelic force within them. The golden wings of Sonya, together with the brightness that Sasha evolved was a light in the darkness and the team fixed their eyes on the duo.
When Sonya stepped out, her wings forced themselves in and she was brought to her feet when they did as the force with which they returned to their space brought her to her knee. She regained her posture and sighed when there was no casualty. She also saw the burnt parts of the demon scattered everywhere, denoting their death.
***
From a boulder close by, a boulder concealed by the clouds of breadth coming from three demons was a team watching the fight that had just happened. There was a man in his suit, with a woman in a netted gown. The man stood six feet and had inches on him while the woman was of a relatively shorter height, she would lift her eyes to have a view of him. Behind the two were three other active demons breathing soot and concealing them from being seen.
"They are stronger than I thought. A new generation of hunters with modern aid of weapons," Nathaniel said and wiped his lips.
"You forget to add, or you don't want to admit. There is an angel in the squad," the woman said.
"If it is truly an angel, it will be back before dawn and they will be without the help," Nathaniel answered.
"They have the power to summon it when they wish and thus would be stronger. If we kill it now they would be weaker. Should we attack?" the woman said from behind him and he hummed.
"Athena," Nathaniel called out and turned to face the woman.
"You have survived to this age not because you are smart. But you are a scared-ass wench who will engage immediately in hostilities. But the end has always been gory. "Now they know we are here in Motella. Now we know they are here too. Let them go today," Nathaniel said and wiped his lips again. "We have planted a seed, wait for it to grow. Patience!" Nathaniel said and turned to face her. He streamed his finger down her hair.
"Ease up," he said and the demons behind Athena disintegrated into their human form.
"Clear the area. They killed without clearing the traces, do it for them. Let them know that we care," he said and left with Athena.