The Hunter

Persephone

The yellow eyes caused me to stumble backwards. Before I could stop the words from coming, I shreeched, "Demon!"

Epoch and Carolinus were struggling to break free, kicking and flailing. Their faces quickly went from red to a disturbing shade of black. Savah acted quickly, tackling Xavier into the table, causing them to tumble to the other side. Carolinus gasped for air, rubbing his neck. Epoch collapsed to the ground wheezing. The color returned to their faces, but around their throat lingered a black hand print.

Savah was thrown across the room, hitting the wall with sickening crunch. He fell to the ground, unconscious.

Solskin, "what are you?" His face, a mask of disbelief.

This seemed to have an effect on Xavier. His eyes returned to his normal black and bolted out the room. Everyone was too shocked to do anything.

Mordred

I found out his 'name'. It was the Hunter. No one knew his real name, which he had apparently forsaken long ago. He was an enigma. No one seemed to much about him, but he had a fearsome reputation. He had killed hundreds of people, never missing a target. Hearing this made my stomach drop. The legends of his skill made my skin sweat and fear for my friends life.

He still dropped by my cell. Talking always with that sense of despair in his voice. I had asked about why he was so depressed, but he refused to answer, only changing the subject by asking if I wanted something. My answer was always art supplies. I drew and drew, filling up countless notebooks. It was my one way to remain sane.

Dracoth visited in my dreams. His presence wasn't as strong as before. Things were hopeful for me. I thought I could shake him off, that I was going to turn back to normal. At least, that was the hope, I knew practically nothing about this demonic magic. I held on to that hope while the days passed.

On one particular day, Hunter slid in something different. It seemed to be a sketchbook, but opening it up, I saw it was already full of notes. They depicted what was going on outside with my friends. I learned of Solskin's death and revival, their meeting with General Nightrider, Lieutenant Savah, Persephone's newfound concern with Solskin. Everything. Meticulously written down into this one book. It was creepy.

"Why are you giving me this?" My voice was stiff. I still had not completely gotten over the fact that he was going to try to kill my friends.

"I thought you would like to see what your friends are doing. Was I wrong?"

"But, how did you find all this out?"

"No one knows my face. I sat and listened and watched," his voice was flat. He paused slightly, before a figure finally walked inside. The door creaked to a close as I studied this man who had always been talking to me.

Wearing a dark green cloak that only left his arms exposed, a hood covered most of his face. In a glove, he clutched an oversized longbow and in the other hand I could see a tattoo of a black skull. Around it and up his arm were names, meticulously drawn on his flesh like an intricate tapestry. He caught me staring at them, muttering "atonement" as if he was trying to convey a lifetime of sorrow through that one word.

He pulled back his hood, revealing a startlingly weathered face. His blonde hair had faded to a light gray and his cheeks were sunken. It just screamed that he was unhealthy.

"Do you eat?"

"Not really." The reply was so matter of the fact. I felt a lump in my throat and mist in my eyes. I blinked and swallowed. Obviously, the last thing he wanted was pity.

"Ok," I looked at him as acceptingly as I was able to, trying to convey what words could not.

Taking in a deep breath, the Hunter pulled out a small red book. I recognized it immediately. It was the same book that we found after that attack. But now, I could understand what was written on the cover. Hellmouth.

"I need your help. Just this one favor. Learn how to make the demons die or leave their host." His voice was filled with held-in agony and desperation.

I stood up and took the book from him. It wanted to help him. Not only was it beneficial if I knew, but the Hunter was so kind to me, and- I wanted to help him, try to ease his pain.

Nodding I opened the book, and then…

Black. Darkness. Nothingness