Wingless

by Taylor Lavati

  "Hunt?"

  "Demon hunting. I'm serious about you coming by. Just ask for me—Luke. I'll show you around," he says and then not a second later, he's gone. I'm left alone in the silent, dark alleyway.

  I let out a single breath, and then hurry home.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Sanctuary

  I feel driven the next morning to visit the sanctuary that Luke spoke of. I wake up with a plan. I quickly dress in a new outfit that's equally as bad-ass—a new word I've learned from wandering the streets at night—as last night's. I switch out the leather pants for jeans with little rips on the knees and pair it with greenish brown combat boots. I throw on a tee-shirt and the same leather jacket.

  Before I leave, I make a stop in my kitchen and grab a glass of chocolate milk. It's my favorite thing. The taste, the feel—it's amazing. The only problem is the sluggishness I feel afterwards.

  But I found my halflings—I mean, Nephalem—and that deserves some celebration. I down the drink, savoring the sweet taste, and then put it in my kitchen sink.

  The address on the card leads me to an upscale part of town. I can tell, because the alleys are clean and there's not as much traffic or stores. I walk the entire way and pause outside of the front doors.

  It doesn't look any different than a regular building. I guess when I thought of a sanctuary, I thought of some underground building with green pastures and open land that Nephalem hide in to get away from humans.

  I keep walking, though, because I'm not ready to go inside. I try to give myself a pep talk and prepare to enter the well-lit building. The outside has a little canopy over the walkway. It's green and black, and there's a man waiting underneath it.

  He looks at me like I'm a crazy person as I circle the place for the third time. But I just can't do it. If I walk in there, I'm stepping into new territory. It feels like a trap, and I don't know whether the risk is worth the reward.

  Luke seemed way too welcoming and nice to me despite the scared reaction he got from Hannah and Hare. I need to just go in, check the place out, and then get out of there. Before I can completely run away, I remember Perry's advice to befriend them. I should just do it. I want to fit in more than anything, and if the Nephalem give me that ticket in, then so be it.

  "Are you ready, miss?" the man at the door asks me.

  "I guess so," I sigh, but nod my head.

  "Right ahead," he says as he grabs the door for me. He pulls it open and swings his arm out for me to go in. I nod again, in thanks, and basically run into the place.

  I'm completely lost on where to go. The entry room looks almost identical to the one in my apartment building. There are a few chairs and tables, but it's mostly vacant. It's alarmingly white, and I hate it for reminding me of where I come from.

  I walk forward, past the chairs and tables, towards what looks like the only way out—a single red door. I push it open and it reveals an elevator, something I have learned to love more than stairs. It looks much smaller than what I've seen in the movies and places around the city, but I go in anyway. The doors shut behind me, and I'm locked into what feels like a tiny box.

  "Where are you going?" a strange sounding voice asks me from somewhere. I look around, up, and down to try to figure out who's with me. But the elevator is silent. "Who are you seeing?" the same voice asks again.

  "I'm, um, here to see Luke," I stutter out.

  "Very well," the voice says, and then the elevator jumps to life. I'm jostled around and have to cling to the walls to stabilize myself. After a few seconds, I'm used to the movement and relax against the back wall.

  The elevator suddenly stops with a shake, and the doors open into another entry looking room. There are more chairs and tables, and I wonder if people actually sit in them. Why do humans need so many places to sit? It's still a mystery to me.

  I tentatively walk forward and with each step, my palms get damper with nerves. There's a woman sitting in front of me behind a large circle shaped table. She's looking down at a television and tapping on a keyboard faster than I've ever seen fingers move.

  I pause in front of her and place my hands on the table. "One moment," she says to me and I nod, acknowledging her. I'm able to look around and am thankful that this room isn't like the downstairs and devoid of any color. The walls are a deep gray, nearly black, but there are little lights on the walls that illuminate the place.

  It's very spacious. Its large picture windows and lack of much furniture make the room look larger. There are two doors, one on either side of the woman's table. One is green, while the other is painted black. I have a feeling those are the colors of this place, since the banner outside over the sidewalk was the same.

  "Sorry to keep you waiting," the woman says, smiling wide at me. I focus back at her. "What can I help you with?"

  "I'm here to see Luke," I tell the lady.

  "Is he expecting you?" the woman asks while she taps on her board some more. Before she can answer, Luke emerges from the black door. He looks completely different than last night. In the light of day, his features are much sharper.

  He's still large, and his presence is electric and thick. But, now I can clearly make out his face. He has strong cheekbones, high and defined. His jaw is square with a shadow underneath of hair. His dark eyes focus solely on me, and it's nerve-wracking.

  "Miss Annie. I honestly wasn't expecting you," he remarks.

  "I can put her down for an appointment," the woman at the table suggests. She turns to face Luke, but he barely notices her.

  "No, I can make time for her." Luke smiles at me. "Come," he commands, and I willingly follow. He turns back to the black door and holds it open for me. I pass by him and his hand brushes against my arm by accident, and it makes my heart leap from my chest.

  "Wow," I say as I look around his room. There are no chairs in here, which strangely gives me comfort. The walls are deep cranberry with darker accents along the windows and door. It's feels like a den, all dark and dangerous.

  "What made you come today?" Luke asks as he shuts the door behind us.

  "Truthfully, I'm not sure. I guess just to check it out," I offer, shrugging my shoulders.

  "It's quite the place, isn't it?" he asks but doesn't wait for my answer. "How long have you been here?" he asks me.

  "A few days."

  "That's it?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well, would you like to walk and talk? I can show you around and explain what we do here and why."

  "I'd love it."

  He leads me around the room to a stairwell. Luckily, we only go down one set of stairs and then we move into the room he chooses to show me first. There are tons of people, or I guess, Nephalem, here. They're moving around, conversing with each other.

  "I own the entire building. Each floor serves a purpose. This is a social floor. This is a safe place that Nephalem can go to and converse and talk to each other without feeling threatened."

  "I don't understand. What's threatening them?"

  "Many things. To start, there are Demons out there that make it hard to live a peaceful life. We try to protect the Nephalem from human threats, as well. Earth is dangerous."

  "Can Demons be good?" I counter, frowning my face.

  "I like to think so," he chuckles under his breath. "Anyway, there's a food court around the back. There's a lounge, movie theater, and cafe. Pretty much anything you want to do for fun, you can do here."

  "Wow," I mutter as I follow Luke. We go back into the stairwell and down one more set of stairs. He shows me where the living quarters are. Apparently most Nephalem live here, but they don't have to. It's just an option for those who want it.

  An announcement rings out over the loudspeaker, "Level seven on fifth street. Seven on fifth. Team C report." The noise reverberates through the place, and it becomes deafeningly silent.

  "I have to go. Stay put, I'll have Hannah come show you the rest."

  "Where are you going?" I ask him, looking around paranoid. />
  "We keep track of various Demons in the area. Some we have to kill off. This is one we've been tracking for a while. I have to go."

  "Can I come?"

  "No," he answers sternly.

  "Please," I beg, rushing after him. He pushes through the door and runs down the stairwell in rapid pace. But, I meet his steps and follow right behind.

  "Have you ever fought a Demon?" he asks, stopping at the bottom of the stairwell. He turns and faces me.

  "Well, yesterday—" I start to say, but he cuts me off.

  "No, you haven't. You could be a risk."

  "What's that even mean? Please, let me come with you. I'll just follow you if I want."

  "Why?"

  "This is what I want to do. I was going to be a Fighter," I whisper. "Please."

  "Fine, let's go." He gives in to me and I trudge behind him.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Demon Hunt

  "What exactly did they teach you in the Veil?" Luke asks as we strut out of the building. Four other Nephalem meet up with us, marching beside Luke and I. Their strides are long, their legs even longer, but I keep up.

  "I know what to do," I say with confidence

  "How?" he asks me, glancing at me for just a moment with his steely glare.

  "Because I was taught a little from the Archers. I know that they only die if they're decapitated. I know to break their neck. Trust me. Being a Fighter was my dream; it's all I wanted."

  "Well, I guess it's time to prove yourself," he says, and before I can dwell on his words, the Demon comes into view. He looks human, way too human for comfort. He's got very light brown hair and thick eyebrows that are furrowed in anger.

  "That's a Demon?" I ask aloud. The guy behind me answers with a yes and then runs forward, sprinting. He has a decent amount of speed, but I know I'm faster. So I lunge forward, matching him step for step.

  As I thought, I pass the Nephalem and reach the Demon first. I grab him around the shoulders and tug him backwards, using all of my strength and pent-up aggression. A Nephalem is close behind; he grabs the Demon's legs and swipes them out from under him. The Demon falls to the ground, but drags me with him. Our limbs tangle in a mess.

  I glare at the Nephalem that threw me off, but don't have time to get mad. I jump back into the fight, pull out my right arm, and punch the Demon square in his sharp jaw. Black blood gushes from his mouth in a volcano-like eruption. It coats my jeans, my stomach, and my hand.

  "Pull it," I say when I have the Demon in a vise-like grip. I'm locked around his neck, both arms joined together, clenching tightly. He's struggling beneath me, bucking his hips and kicking his legs to get free. The Nephalem from before comes up behind me and twists the Demon's neck to the side.

  It barely affects the Demon. He bounces back quickly from the attempted murder and grabs me around the waist, tugging us both against a brick wall. I hit it hard, my head slamming against the brick. I swear, I can feel my brain bounce around. It's unnerving and disorienting.

  I can't focus on the pain. I have to push through it. I use my back as leverage against the wall and bend forward so that the Demon rolls off me and falls back. I look around for back up, but there's another Demon a few feet down the wall that the other guys are taking care of. I panic thinking I'm alone, but not even a second later, Luke comes to my rescue.

  He grabs the Demon from behind and throws him against the brick beside me. The Demon topples over and lands on his tailbone, little pieces of wall falling down beside him. He groans in pain. Instead of feeling bad, like I assumed I would, it makes my stomach roll with victory.

  Luke takes the Demon around the neck and looks over at me with waiting eyes. He's holding the Demon still. For a second, before my brain kicks in, I think that the Demon has died. "Finish the job," Luke says, his eyes unwavering from mine, their intensity searing into me.

  "Rem allows this?" I ask, surprised. Angels aren't allowed to kill Demons or humans without Rem's permission. It's kind of lame, because if there was a real threat, we wouldn't be able to kill in the Veil. But here, I guess anything goes.

  "We don't let someone as controlling as Rem rule us. He doesn't allow Nephalem in his world, I don't let him in mine." I nod in understanding, weighing my options. I'm scared to kill someone—Demon or not. On the other hand, this is what I've been waiting for, training for. "Do you have what it takes?" he sneers my way, and his silent dare is all it takes to solidify my decision.

  "Yes." I step forward, closing the space between the Demon, Luke, and I. I place on hand on the Demon's head and another under his chin. I can do this. I can kill a Demon. In one swift motion, I snap his neck, twisting it to the left and pulling upwards. I'm not sure I've done it correctly until his body falls lifelessly in a heap to the ground.

  Luke wrings his hands, dusting his pants off as he composes himself. He has no care for the Demon on the ground. He nearly kicks the dead Demon in the head as he steps over the body towards me.

  I don't know what I'd call what I'm feeling. I should be scared and traumatized or guilty. But oddly, I'm not. I feel fulfilled and strong and confident. I kind of love it. It's liberating. I've killed my first Demon, and I crave more.

  "You were surprisingly good," Luke says as he stops in front of me. My chest heaves, and I'm not sure if it's from the adrenaline spike or his close proximity to my body.

  I can't hide my glee. "It feels amazing." A smile rises from my lips to my eyes out of my control. He raises his hand and I high five it, laughing out loud.

  "I think we have a new hunter in our midst," he proclaims, and the other guys all clap for me. I think I just found my new purpose on Earth.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Victory

  Despite the fact that the other hunters are in the midst of decapitating Demons, Luke whisks me into his arms with a wide smile on his face. I can't help but giggle as I'm lifted high into the air like I weigh nothing at all.

  "Now what?" I ask as I'm placed back on solid ground. I try to straighten out my shirt and compose myself, but I'm beyond flustered.

  "What do you want to do?" he asks me back.

  "Show me your world."

  Instead of answering, he nods and wraps his hand around mine, our fingers interlacing. My body ignites from his touch. We leave the hunters, behind and when I turn to say goodbye, I notice a large fire spiraling up from where the Demon's body was on the ground.

  Luke must see the question in my eyes because he says, "To cover our tracks." I guess that makes sense. I let him lead me around the city. He points out various landmarks along the way, which I guess I missed the first time when I followed Luke around. He never drops my hand, even when I try to pull away, because I'm scared my hand is sweaty.

  In fact when I try to un-join our hands, he squeezes it harder, as if promising not to let go. I look up into his eyes, and they smile down at me. He's beautiful. He's the only person who I feel comfortable with down her, and I kind of like him.

  Too soon, we make it back to the sanctuary.

  Luke drops my hand as we step up to the purple and green archway. He reaches forward and grabs the door handle, tugging it open for me to step through. I go first, and wait in the front room for him to follow.

  He leads me to the elevator, and we step in side by side. It's shockingly silent between us, and I feel the need to break it. "So do you like it?" I ask him.

  "Like what, Angel?"

  I roll my eyes at the word Angel, but let it slide. "You know. Killing," I try to explain.

  " I think it's necessary."

  "I didn't ask that." I frown at him since it feels like he's dodging my question. "Do you like it? Do you like the thrill, the killing?"

  He pauses, looking down at me with an oddly vacant stare. "I love it," he answers just as the red doors slide open. He holds out his hand to me, palm face up, and I take it. Then he steps onto the recreational floor we visited briefly before. The fact that he loves killing should scare me and shoot off red flags, but
it almost has the opposite effect on me.

  I'm bombarded by my senses as we walk farther and farther into the floor. There's a mixture of different scents from various food, and they're jumbled into one big mix of an aroma bomb. There are tons of people walking and sitting around the room. I feel very out of place in this smelly, crowded room.

  "I'm guessing since you've only been here a short period of time, you haven't experienced much food." Luke glances around the room as if making sure that everyone is doing what they're supposed to.

  "Wrong," I tell him, smiling at his falsity.

  "You've experimented?" he asks back, stopping us and facing me.

  "A little. I love food. Especially, milk."

  "Milk?" I nod. "Stay here. I'm going to take your true food virginity," he mutters, a sly grin on his face. My face immediately freezes. I hate the way I can't hide my blatant embarrassment. He brushes his finger along my chin, and then retreats into the sea of people. I lose sight of him fairly fast.

  Instead of standing awkwardly near the door, I walk deeper into the throng of Nephalem. Nobody really notices me, or pays me much attention. Instead I'm like a ghost, a silent bystander, observing everything.

  "It's the Angel," a deep voice interrupts my blissful silence. Hare comes over to me and smiles widely, like we're old friends. "Hey there," he says, striding up next to me.

  "Hi," I tentatively say back.

  "Are you going to hang around here now?" he asks leaning against a stone pillar. Before I can answer, I look up, and his sister is waltzing towards us. "Uh oh…" Hare mutters under his breath, suddenly amused.

  "Hare, what are you doing?" Hannah asks as she stops right in front of me.

  "I'm talking to the Angel," Hare says back, rolling his eyes at his sister. I start to object to the title, but his sister speaks over me.

  "Why?" There's toughness to her tone, similar to what I heard yesterday when they saved me.

  "Hannah, why don't you leave me alone? Go hang out with your friends or something. You don't always have to be near me." Hare lashes out at his sister, and I feel more awkward standing here than before. I don't think I should be hearing their argument. That's private.