Hunter stepped out of the train wearing the Metropolitan School of mysticism uniform, it was the first time he was wearing the standard school uniform.
He shoved his hand into his pocket and turn towards the road but suddenly stops when a car pulls up next to him. "You've got to find a better entrance; this one's getting boring now," Hunter says while the vampire laughs. "Get in," she says.
"Where are we going?" Hunter asked.
The dark brown-eyed woman ignites her car engine, "Thornbridge; we are going to see the soul snatcher's daughter."
.
.
.
Hunter sat on a bench just outside the office waiting for Jade who was inside talking with the dean. Other students who passed by eyed him suspiciously.
The door swings open and Jade emerges from the office, "come on, she's at the garden," the vampire said, leading the way.
"Just like that? She's letting us see her?"
"When you've lived as long as I have, you make some important and useful connections," Jade revealed.
They reached the garden after some time, "that's her," Jade said pointing to a girl sitting on a swing. The girl was wearing a white button-down long-sleeved shirt under a red blazer with gold buttons, a black cross tie along with a gray skirt with black tights and brown loafers - the standard uniform of the Thornbridge School of Mysticism.
"You're not coming?"
"No," the pale-skinned woman shakes her head, "I'll wait for you in the car," she said, walking back the same way she came.
Hunter approached the swing, seating on the one next to the girl. He cast a sidelong glance at her; she had blonde curly hair and blue eyes. "I heard the lava lamp flies come out around this time," Hunter suddenly said causing the girl to raise an eyebrow, "what?"
"13 Kingdoms, the first season ... Don't tell me you haven't seen it," Hunter said.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the blonde girl stated.
"Really? Well, you should totally check it out, it's a great fantasy show. I'm Hunter by the way," Hunter stated, his eyes fixed on the flowers in front of them. The girl glances at him before shifting her gaze to the flowers. "Well Mr. Hunter, I'll tell you the same thing I told the dean: I slipped while taking a walk in the night; I wasn't trying anything," she stated.
"Huh?"
"I assume you're the counselor the school assigned because they think I'm suicidal," she said.
"God no! What are you talking about? Do I look like a counselor to you?" The girl turns to face him, "I guess not ... Is that the Met School of Mysticism uniform?" She asked.
"Yeah ... Drew a bit of stare down from the students here - some with evil intent even - turns out wearing a rival school uniform is not the best idea," Hunter stated.
"Hmm ... If the dean didn't send you then why are you here?"
"Your pose and the scene reminded me of a show - the one I mentioned earlier - I thought that was what you were going for and wanted to let you know you nailed it."
"I haven't seen that show," she stated. "You should," said Hunter, "it's really good."
"What are you doing at Thornbridge though; it's a long way from the Metropolitan city," she asked.
"Would you believe me if I told you I had a feeling that I needed to be here?"
"No."
Hunter shrugs, "oh well ... You haven't told me your name yet," he said.
"And I'll prefer to keep it that Mr. Hunter," she exclaimed.
"Heffernan."
"What?"
"If you want to sound formal I think it would be better if you use my surname rather than my first name after the 'mister'" he explained.
The curly-haired girl jumps from the swing and stands in front of Hunter, "last night was an accident, okay? I wasn't going to do anything to myself so can you please stop pretending you care and just leave me be!" She exclaimed.
"That was unnecessarily rude," Hunter said, his teal green eyes meeting her blue ones, "I'm from the Met remember, I don't know what happened last night because I wasn't here but ... If you want me to disappear you could easily tell me your name and I'd be on my way," he added.
"Really? ... My name is Nova," she revealed.
"That's a nice name," Hunter said jumping down from the swing, "I'll see you around, Nova," he said, walking away from the blonde and out of the garden.
The sprite maneuvers out of the school and heads back to meet with Jade in her car. "How did it go?" The vampire asks.
"I'm not sure ... She's suicidal ... or was," Hunter said.
"The Dean mentioned that," Jade said.
"And you didn't tell me?"
"I didn't want you walking around eggshells when talking with her," Jade explained.
"Ah, well ... I'm going to have to talk to her tomorrow," Hunter said.
"As I thought. I've booked a hotel room for you already," Jade informed.
"Going somewhere?"
"Alastair's. You sure I should take the darkforge to him?" She asks. Hunter narrows his eyes, he could tell the question wasn't directed at him. "Waleed told me to give it to him," Hunter said.
"Very well. I'll see you soon," Jade stated.
***
The next day, Hunter heads back to the Thornbridge School of Mysticism - this time wearing casual clothes - to meet with Nova again.
"Hi there," Hunter said sitting on the swing next to hers.
"You again?!"
"Why so gloomy?"
"Because you are sitting next to me?"
"Oh come on, you were like that before I came here," Hunter said.
"Is just ... Nevermind. My father ... You knew him right?" Nova asks.
"What?"
Nova turned to face the sprite. "The Dean didn't send you and I don't think we've met so ... It's my father right?"
"Not really. I mean ... We met once but then I punched him in the face - that was the last time I saw him,"
Nova laughs, "whatever the reason, I'm sure he deserved it,"
"You should smile more ... It suits you,"
"... Why are you here, then?" The blue-eyed girl inquired.
"Like I said yesterday: I had a feeling. I think you and I would get along well; we have a lot in common,"
"Why's that? You had a shitty father?"
"I never met him,"
"Mother left you at a young age?"
"Never met her either,"
"So overall a pretty shitty childhood?"
"Kinda, I grew up in an orphanage," Hunter stated.
"I guess you're not wrong then," Nova said with a small smile.
"One thing you should know about me: I'm never wrong,"
"... Is that another movie reference?"
"Nah, I just came up with it, you like it?"
"No, it was cringe."
"Agreed."
.
.
.
Jade parks her car in front of an eatery. Hunter turns to face the older woman, "what are we doing here?" He asked.
"It's an eatery, what do you think?"
"Well the thing is you don't eat," Hunter countered.
"As I told you before: I like the taste of food," Jade said. "Besides, it's too late for you to have any class plus you must be hungry," she added.
"I am ... Not sure what I'd be having though, might have to ask the waiter for a recommendation," Hunter said stepping out of the car. Jade steps out too, a smirk on her face as she speaks, "fine by me ... so long as you don't leave with the waiter's number."
"That happened once," Hunter stated but the vampire rolls her eyes uninterestedly. "Have you spoken with the Northlander lately?" She asks.
"Yeah ... Thinking of a place for a date," Hunter said.
"Have you ever been across the bay, east of the Met?" Jade asked.
"I could count on my left hand the number of places I've been to in the Metropolitan city," Hunter replied.
"Well, this place is closer to the Heliopolitan city than the Met anyway. Once you get across the water and climb atop the hills ... That sight at sunset is to die for," Jade said.
"You sound like a kid opening a present," Hunter smiled.
"This beats whatever present you've ever gotten," Jade said.
"Never gotten a present but I'll take your word for it," Hunter said. "Great! I'll tell Jack you'll be coming around, he runs the company that commutes people around the bay," Jade said.
Atop a building not far from they stood, someone sets up a sniper and looks through the scope. The person's finger lingers on the trigger as they aim the sniper at Hunter.
They pull the trigger and the projectile flies downward towards Hunter who moves his at the last minute causing the bullet to fly over his shoulder and into Jade's car behind them. There is a tinkling noise as the glass shatters.
The duo looks toward the building where the shot was fired from. They saw the mercenary gather their things and swiftly flee the scene.
"Fuck, I didn't think they'd act so soon!" Jade exclaimed.
"Huh?!"
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