Say something to her today, Adrian thought to himself. His constant pacing wasn't much help in coming up with an excuse to give Ashley this time. It never really occurred to him that things would get this bad between them. When his father told him what he really was, he never said anything about the sacrifices he would have to be making.
"Being a Hunter means you protect our town and those in it at all costs."
Those were his father's exact words. Adrian's lips curved into a half-smile. I should've paid more attention to the 'at all costs' part, he thought.
He lowered his head, placed both of his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket and went to sit on a small wooden bench near the school entrance. At least now he understood why he was constantly trained in the art of combat ever since he was a child. But the existence of Hunters and supernatural beings wasn't supposed to have been revealed to him until he turned eighteen.
Adrian's face fell to the ground and a deep sadness overtook him as he remembered his late uncle. He died last year. He was murdered, Adrian corrected. He right hand squeezed the fingers on his left one. The night after his uncle's funeral, Adrian's father and mother had a heated argument. They kept spouting nonsense about a Fire Demon and a Chimera and how his uncle helped save the realms. And then he heard them mention his name-- the name of the creature that killed his uncle. Adrian had stormed in and demanded that they tell him everything. Adrian's parents knew how much he loved and adored his uncle. They revealed everything; even showing him a picture of the one who took his uncle away from him.
One day, Adrian thought as he leaned against the bench. I will hunt him down.
He looked at his shiny black wristwatch and let out a vanquished and weary sigh. Ashley would soon be here. They hadn't spoken for almost a week now, and even though he was with her yesterday, he couldn't bring himself to speak to her. How could he? Ashley may have been by far the most kind and patient person he knew but eventually everyone reaches a point where their patience runs out
You could always just tell her that you are part of a secret group of humans who protect the world from supernatural threats, Adrian thought, trying to cheer himself. But how would he do so without sounding like a total nutcase? And wasn't telling ordinary humans about the supernatural prohibited by one of those crazy rules the Hunters had?
Adrian looked around and watched as his fellow students walked aimlessly around the school grounds.
If only they knew.
"Knew what?"
Adrian's heart almost jumped out of his chest but he still managed to maintain his composure. Apparently he was thinking out loud. He turned and saw Robert. The guy was in his usual lively mood; wearing a dark gray hoodie and white slacks. His arched eyebrows, dark eyes and dyed black hair screamed someone without any cares in this world and that was a pretty definite way of describing Robert Marshall.
Wait, if Robert was here then it wasn't long before...
"Hey, dude."
Adrian saw Luke bouncing a basketball as he walked towards him. When Luke was close enough he threw the ball at Adrian without warning. Adrian reflectively caught it in midair with his right hand. Developing good reflexes was mandatory for Hunters and Adrian had honed his skills to peak level.
"Wow, man! Good catch," Luke exclaimed, his brown eyes flooding with astonishment. He grabbed back the ball and said, "Why is it that you never join the basketball team?"
"Or any team," Robert added with a laugh. Adrian felt Robert's firm grip on his shoulder. "Even your girlfriend's on the swim team. Oh wait, in a few moments we might start referring to her as your ex-girlfriend."
"Shut up, Rob," Adrian retorted, landing a soft punch on Robert's left shoulder.
"I hate to have to admit it, man," Luke said, sitting next to Adrian. "But it's not looking too good for you this time. I mean, standing her up on one date is one thing but this was the third time."
"I know," Adrian said shamefully, his hands tightening into fists.
"Yeah, remind me again why we aren't beating him to a bloody pulp," Robert said while flashing a fist in the air.
"Because he is our friend... and we help our friends," Luke answered simply.
"Okay... but isn't Ashley also our friend?"
"Yes but--"
"Alright, guys. Enough," Adrian said. He let out a soft chuckle and thanked his friends for trying to cheer him up; at least that's what he hoped they were doing. "I'm going to set things right with her. That's a promise."
"Fine with me," Robert said, glancing at the sky and leaning lazily against the bench. "And while you are at it, would you mind setting me up with that hot redhead I told you about the other day? She is your lab partner, right?"
"Thought I told you... Claire Reynolds is off-limits," Luke snapped. Claire was one of Ashley's friends. Luke had been crushing on the girl since forever, but he never quite worked up the courage to ask her out. And Robert... well, he just loved teasing Luke about it.
Adrian rose up, moved a few meters away from the bench and looked at his wristwatch again. It was 8:15. What was taking Ashley so long?
"Hey Adrian, shouldn't Ashley be here by now?" Luke asked as if reading his mind.
"I was wondering the same thing," Adrian replied, worried. His eyes then narrowed when he saw the baffled look on Robert's face. "Robert? What's wrong?"
Robert stood up but his gaze wasn't fixed at Adrian. "Well," he finally said. "Looks like that's not the only thing you'll be wondering about her."
Adrian followed Robert eyes until he caught sight of Ashley. God, she was beautiful, he thought. Her eyes were diverted away from him and his friends but even at a distance her perfectly sculpted face was lit up by a warm and inviting smile. Adrian loved seeing Ashley smile these days. She really had it rough a couple of years back but ever since the accident something changed in Ashley. He remembered a time when Ashley always secluded herself and almost never spoke to anyone; that was all in the past now.
Ashley's was motioning her hand as if encouraging someone to move faster. Probably Samantha, he thought, those two were inseparable. But when Adrian saw the person Ashley was waving her hands at his eyes widened, and he felt his entire body go numb.
It couldn't be, he thought. Adrian's jaw automatically tightened and he felt his nails digging deeply into his palms as he clenched his fists. How dare he show up here? His chest began to rise and fall with rapid breaths as the memories of last year came flooding back; his uncle's death, his father's demotion among the ranks of the Hunters and his mother's pain of losing her brother. Everything that happened was all because of the blonde guy standing next to Ashley. Every Hunter knew who this demon was and the things he had done but no one had the guts to challenge him.
"Hey man, you alright?" he heard Luke ask behind him.
"Guys," Adrian said in a low and firm voice. "Tell Ashley I'll see her later."
"Adrian," Robert said, his tone sending the message: 'What is going on?'
Adrian managed to force a fake smile onto his face. He turned away from facing in Ashley's direction and began to walk away. He stopped for a while and threw a glance back at his friends. Perplexed features clouded their faces.
"Don't worry, guys," he said. "I promised to set things right and I will."
I definitely will, he thought, his steps quickening. Not just for Ashley, but for myself as well.
This was a chance for him to avenge his uncle and help his father regain the Hunters' trust.
He pulled out a phone from his jacket and searched through his contacts until he found the one saved as 'Slayer'. He tapped his finger against the name and held the phone against his ear. After a few seconds someone answered.
"When the enemy takes away my sword and shield," a male voice said.
"Then my body becomes the weapon I wield," Adrian replied automatically.
"Captain, it's great to hear from you."
"I need you to pass a message to HQ," Adrian said, his voice cold and full of authority. "Tell them I'm ready to do it."
"So you're finally ready to choose your foe. I wonder who the poor soul is."
Adrian cut the line and continued walking to his car. There was no turning back now.
To prove your worth to the Hunters, every new member was required to complete an ancient ritual known as Jarand Hanat; an Arabic term meaning 'The Grand Hunt'. In this ritual a Hunter would choose a name from the Hunter's Book of Condemned Souls; a book that contained the names of over eight hundred thousand supernatural beings. The names were listed according to how dangerous these beings were and how much of a threat they posed to humans. After choosing a name, the Hunter would then go after that creature until they either captured or destroyed it. Adrian was never one for tradition and always thought the practice was ridiculous. But on that day last year, Adrian swore that he would never rest until he had driven a stake through the heart of a monster whose name ranked number three in the Book of Condemned Souls. And the name of that vile creature was Richard Thane.