Heart of a Hunter (2 page)

Tagas stepped back, giving her a serious look. “You took your first breath. From the moment you were born, angels like me have been fighting agents of Hell to keep you alive. You’re here to serve an important purpose for Heaven. I’m here to ensure that you become exactly what you were made to be.”

Elle took a deep breath as she stood on unsteady feet for a moment, taking in all that he said. “You’re…an angel, Tagas? I believe good people go to Heaven when they die and angels help them. I believe in guardian angels, but I never thought I would see one. Not only am I seeing you, but you saved my life. Um, thanks for looking out for me.”

Tagas nodded. “I would be a lousy guardian angel if I didn’t. Come on—we have much to discuss, and the park isn’t far from here. We’ll talk there.” Tagas led the way, and Elle wordlessly followed, her mind still spinning with a thousand questions and a lot of wonder.

****

“A demon hunter? I’m sorry, but are you serious, Tagas?”

Elle and Tagas sat side by side on a park table. Night had come to Los Angeles, the stars sparkling in the black velvet sky overhead. She had listened intently as he relayed the circumstances of her birth and her calling as a demon hunter, snorting in obvious disbelief. He knew her well, having guarded her for all the years of her young life and knew that she would be resistant. Part of his job description included convincing those who were called to fulfill a higher purpose of their true worth to God Himself. He sighed, rubbing his bristled chin.

“Yes, for the third time, you are, by creation, a demon hunter.” He gave her a thoughtful look. “You have always possessed far more strength than the average girl, but in a year’s time, with my help, you will be stronger and very skilled at tracking and destroying demons who wreak havoc on mankind every day of their miserable existence. You, Elle, will be virtually unstoppable.”

“Show me,” Elle demanded, her brown eyes bright with unshed tears. “Show me your power because I’m still straddling the fence on believing that I’m special to anyone, especially God. Demon hunting sounds like a calling for those who matter in this life, the dimes. Tagas, I’m just a penny.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Not feeling sorry for myself, just stating the facts.”

Tagas’s lips lifted in a small smile. This should be just the push she needed to see that the powers of Heaven were far more formidable and wondrous than humans could ever imagine. He held up one hand in front of Elle’s face. “Place your palm against mine.” She raised her hand, lightly touching his, and a vibrating hum began. A few seconds later, white light exploded from their joined hands.

“What…what the hell is happening?” Elle choked out the words.

“Our power comes from the same source. We vibrate with similar chords, though my strength as an angel is stronger than yours. What you feel is unleashed energy, both strong and peaceful. Don’t be afraid, it’s a vital part of you.” Tagas removed his hand and the light disappeared, the hum gradually diminishing. He looked in her eyes expectantly.

Elle swiped a tear from her cheek. “Oh God, this is real. All of this…the whole story you gave me. I’m meant to hunt demons, but I have no idea how to do that. I’m actually scared now.”

Tagas clapped her soundly on the back. “Cheer up. You’re one of the good guys. Once our training begins, it will all become second nature to you rather quickly.” He looked up at the night sky. “It’s late. Let me escort you home. I’m sure your parents are at least a little worried. You’ll see me disappear at the driveway to avoid any unnecessary questions.”

Elle hopped off the table and turned to him. “Tagas, does all this demon hunting mean I can drop out of school? A diploma seems so lame now.” A playful smile curved her full lips.

“Nice try, kid, but no.”

“Just thought I’d try.”

Tagas led the way home with Elle following close behind him, taking long strides to keep up. As they walked, he felt a deep satisfaction that things had worked out perfectly. The big reveal of her origins and purpose hadn’t been met with obstinate denial. She even seemed a little excited. He smiled to himself. Her enthusiasm would, no doubt, dim considerably once she started on the long, exhausting road ahead. Great demon hunters weren’t simply born, they were shaped, and he had shaped many.

****

Elle crept past her sleeping parents on the living room sofa, the tv blaring. A half-empty bottle of vodka sat on the coffee table, and she rolled her eyes. They both had to work in the morning, but somehow every week night was like a Friday for them. They didn’t stir as she quietly closed the door to her bedroom. She had her first training session with Tagas in the morning, and her stomach fluttered in excitement.
I’ve been called
, she mused.
Something makes me special. And not just any kind of special…kick ass kind of special. Hunt some demons and kick some ass? Hell, yeah.
She did her nightly bedtime ritual and slipped beneath the covers on her bed, a small smile on her face. Sleep didn’t come easy.

****

“Focus your whole energy into each punch of the bag.” Tagas ignored Elle’s deep annoyed sigh and nodded when she did as he asked, each punch rattling the chains that attached the bag to the ceiling of the warehouse.

She had met Tagas early that morning at the warehouse a few miles from her home. Hopping the bus lines was nothing new to her. She had been moving around Los Angeles in that way since her freshman year. She had left her mom the obligatory voicemail telling her that she would be with her friends all day and she would be home by dark.

The warehouse was outfitted for maximum training, equipped with weights and everything else necessary for a growing girl whose job it was to hunt demons
. Including this punching bag I hate.
She gave it a sharp jab with one gloved fist and then a sharp kick, irritated that she couldn’t seem to match Tagas’ strength, which he had demonstrated for her earlier in the morning.
True, he’s an angel, but I’ve got to be stronger and faster than this.

His hand moved with lightning speed, blocking her next punch of the bag. “Enough of this. You’re wearing out and losing focus. Let’s move on to something I’m sure you’ll enjoy.”

“Chocolate-covered caramel drops and Jerry Springer on tv?” Her voice held a bit of longing. That sounded great after two hours of throwing punches. She took off the gloves, tossing them to the cement floor. Her curls were pulled back into a slipping ponytail, and she brushed the errant strands away from her sweaty face.

Tagas returned from the corner of the room, carrying a large crossbow and a handful of arrows. All thoughts of chocolate and trash tv vanished, and her eyes widened. “Yes!”

He motioned for her, and she moved in place next to him, about twenty yards from the large target board. He put his foot in the stirrup of the crossbow, reached down and pulled back the string. Deliberately taking aim, he shot the first arrow and hit the bullseye. He repeated the motion twice more, both arrows hitting dead on target with a dull thud. He looked at her expectantly. Elle shook her head.

“Tagas, I can’t do that. I’ve played with these things before with my dad years ago, but…I don’t think…”

The angel gave her a warm smile and placed the crossbow in her hands, adjusting her arms and legs into the proper position. “Young Elle, you’re not an angel, true, but you’re almost superhuman in ability and strength. Ignore your doubts and just do it. It will all come naturally to you in time.”

Her first two arrows thudded into the wall next to the target board. She realized that she had expected to do much worse and began to feel bold. She lined up the target again and nearly hit the bullseye with her third arrow. Grinning, she high fived Tagas, dropped the crossbow, and did a little happy dance. “I was close! Sooo close. Awesome!”

Tagas walked over to one of the two tetherball poles. He grabbed the yellow ball on the chain and drew his arm back. The ball’s chain wrapped around the pole, the movement a blur, until the ball lodged at the top of the pole, the chain embedded into the pole. Tiny wisps of smoke rose from the deflated ball. “Soon, you’ll not only hit dead center with every arrow, but you’ll do what I just did with that ball.”

Elle’s mouth formed a perfect little “o” in speechless amazement.

****

“You aren’t going to get a wink of sleep tonight. This is your third cappuccino.”

Elle and her best friend of two years, another social misfit named K.D., sat across from each other at the small wood table in their local coffee shop, the Daily Grind, which like most of the businesses, was located in the better part of the city. It was a small place with wood furniture, cream walls, and tasteful accents on each table, with no cookie-cutter booths. The owners were going for a more homey, comfortable ambience. As usual, K.D. had her short blond hair covered with a well-broken-in knit beanie and wore an infectious grin.

Elle smiled and waved a careless hand. “School’s back in and this is October, the month to indulge in pumpkin spice cappuccinos. I need all the caffeine I can get to wade through all that homework.”

K.D. snorted. “You got that right. I need the caffeine to stay awake in our second period history class. Booo-ring.” The two clinked mugs in agreement.

Elle listened with half an ear as her friend began to relay all the problems with public high schools in Los Angeles County. She trained with Tagas five days weekly after school and was enjoying Friday, which signaled the end of her hectic work week. Being a fledgling demon-hunter-in-training slash high school senior was not without its troubles. Sure, it sounded kick ass, but even as she had progressed into a pretty decent fighter, every remaining failure knocked her self-confidence a bit.
Can I actually do this without taking a dagger to the throat or having my head knocked off by something stronger than me?

Her musings were interrupted by K.D. tapping her hand. She nodded toward the opening door of the coffee house. “There’s your babe, Ellie.” She gave Elle a knowing grin.

Elle looked up to lock eyes with one of the finest guys she had ever known or, she was sure, would ever know. Brandon McGovern was a teenage god, a tall, fair-skinned, dark-haired senior who turned female heads every day of his life. He approached them with a broad smile, his jeans fitting his powerful legs like a rock star’s leather pants. Elle smiled back, nervously casting a glance down at her blue top and blue jeans.

He snagged a chair from an empty table and sat down next to Elle. “Hey, ladies. Missed you at last class period today. But…oh wait…coffee is always more important than a class lecture.” He winked at Elle.

Elle’s heart soared in an instant, and she smiled at him. “I was fading by fifth period, so here we are. Did we miss anything important?”

Brandon shook his head. “Not a damn thing.”

K.D. grabbed her tiny crocheted purse and sprang from her chair. “I’m needed elsewhere right about now, so I’m going to take off. You two entertain each other, okay?” She gave Elle a crafty smile and mouthed, “You got this,” at her above Brandon’s head. She gave them both a wave and headed away from the table and out the front door.

“So, Elle, are we going to talk about date number two? Or was our first date so unimpressive that you’re pretty much writing me off?”

Elle blinked a few times in astonishment. “Why would you think that? I haven’t given you the freeze off, have I?”

“We used to talk a lot during the summer then…well, you just kind of vanished.” Brandon lowered his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, I kind of took it as a ‘screw off, jerk.’ After our first date, we never went out again.”

Elle smiled shyly and took his hand in hers for a moment. “Things in my life just got kind of…um, crazy but I never, ever, wanted you to screw off. I would love a second date with you, Brandon.”

He grinned, his dark brown eyes shining. She felt her legs begin to tremble just a bit. Good lord, she had imagined this moment so many times. He pointed at her empty cup. “I’m going to get us some drinks. Pumpkin spice is still your favorite, right?” She nodded. He stood, looking down at her. “We’ll talk more about this second date while we’re here.”

Elle could feel her lips twisting in a dopey grin and tried to fix her face. Nope, the grin kept coming back, and suddenly she didn’t even give a damn as she watched Brandon at the front counter. She recalled their first kiss, his gentle but skilled mouth coaxing sensations from her body that she hadn’t experienced before, even though he wasn’t her first kiss. He didn’t automatically go for a handful of boob, as the few others hand, respectfully stopping short at a few caresses of her generous breasts encased in a lacy black bra and crocheted summer top.

Her breasts tingled. She would happily kill three demons to have his lips on hers again.

****

Pyro stood in the alley behind the coffee house, watching the demon approach. She had altered her appearance, now striding confidently toward him in her snug jeans with waves of long red hair and a body any mortal man or even demon would kill to possess. But she was his alone—his to fondle, his to command.

The demon stopped in front of him, hands on her hips. She bowed her head in respect. “My dark lord,” she murmured, keeping her eyes on him. They shone with a wicked glint.

Pyro felt himself immediately harden, but easing that particular need had to wait. “Cascadia.” He nodded. “You have been out of touch with me for many weeks. I was becoming concerned.” His expression darkened. “Do I have a reason to be concerned?”