Grade 5 Upper Rank

In the dead of the night.

A black carriage cut through the fog like a phantom. The iron wheels creaking ominously as they rolled over the cobblestone path in the twisted alley.

Inside, the air was thick with unease, the burgundy cushions appearing almost bloodstained in the dim light.

The coachman glanced nervously over his shoulders, his eyes wide with fear at the claw marks on the buildings, bloodstains and seemingly scattered piles of human bones.

He muttered a curse under his breath.

Feeling 'eyes' watching him in different directions.

The horses, usually calm, were restless their breaths visible in the cold night air.

They passed the dilapidated houses as they moved.

The black carriage lurched to a halt infront of a figure.

It was a woman.

She wore a long tunic made of wool dyed a natural shade of earthly brown. A woven girdle around a waist to cinch the tunic. Her feet hidden in a simple leather black shoes.

A woollen cloak around her shoulders, fastened with a wooden brooch for warmth.

The cloak covered her face.

The coachman came down from his post, sliding the door open.

A tall dark figure with brown luscious hair tied in a pony tail, a monocle framing over his left gray eyes.

He wore a well fitted, dark grey waistcoat over a crisp, white cotton shirt. The shirt's sleeves are rolled up just enough to reveal the neatly pressed cuffs, adding a touch of casual sophistication. His trousers were made of durable yet comfortable, black fabric tailored to perfection.

His hands hidden in a piece of finely crafted black leather gloves.

He lifted a golden pocket watch. Checking the time, before his calm gray eyes trailed to the figure.

"We face the dark so others may see the light.."

"Fear is our weapon, courage our shield."

A soft voice responded.

"Monsters fall where we stand."

"We are the end to the endless nightmare."

The voice persisted though hasty. Hamlin didn't address her, only continuing.

"From Shadows we rise. To the shadow we return."

"No beast too savage, no terror too great."

The woman had lifted down her hood, her hooded green eyes staring at him, slightly pissed off.

"Bound by blood, sworn by steel."

His gray eyes lit up in mirth and cunning. The only thing out of place in his stoic disposition.

"Why do we always have to say the Monster Syndicate's maxim every time we meet! And don't you dare say it's because we have to be sure of intruders! I know you know it's me."

She hissed at him, holding back her tongue in a leash. To avoid poisoning with him with her words. No matter how insufferably impeccable he was!

Hamlin's eyes lingered on her more before looking away, assessing the place.

He threw a golden coin towards the coachman who was already considering finding a new job. The places his employer instructed him to take them to, wasn't good for his heart he might die from fear.

On seeing the golden coin headed towards him. He caught it with both hands. Bowing down to his employer.

"You are generous, Your Grace. Thank you."

Hamlin nodded at him. Before looking back at the young redhead who was fuming.

"How many minutes have you been here?"

"Five. You do know how to keep a lady waiting, Your Grace."

She flashed him a mocking smile. Displaying all her teeth as much as possible while closing her eyes.

If there was one thing she knew about her partner after working with him within few years. He was a germaphobe. Anything that wasn't clean or the way it was supposed to be kept, irritated him.

Instead of the disgusted face she was expecting from him. He bent down, his gloved hand poking her teeth.

She staggered, trying to balance herself from shock touching her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"What the..."

"You had veggie in between your teeth. So I thought I might help you, May."

She eyed him suspiciously before sighing.

What was she doing?

She had learnt from this before! Being around him, arguing or just looking for a fight with him. Made her do stupid things she would never normally had. Because he always wins.

Every damn time.

"Let's do this quick. I need my beauty sleep."

He hummed in response.

"While I was waiting, I discovered that your suspicions were right. The monster was infact the cause of the Raven gang's deaths and for the Monster to escape our notice. It should at least be a Grade 5 Upper rank."

She pulled out a small pocket notebook, before looking at him, solemnly.

"I would have found the body by now and well destroy any clues of the Monster's presence. But I thought it would be more appropriate for you to take the body."

"Body?"

"We both know that the girl would be dead by now."

"..."

May rubbed her face feeling a headache encroaching her skull.

"What makes you think she's dead?"

His voice was soothing, too calm for her ears and the situation they were both in.

"I know you might be angry. I left her instead of following her but I didn't expect the Monster to mark her and hide her scent from you! Or well.. Me either. I didn't even sense the monster. I wasn't vigilant enough so she slipped away. The concealment power of the monster should be at least a Grade 3 possibly it's speciality. Now the monster is no where to be found and the girl might be already a pile of chomped bones!"

She rambled from stress and guilt. She had no emotion attachment to the girl in cloak that had the insignia of Hamlin's Dukedom. But she still felt responsible for protecting people from things beyond their control.

She didn't want them to feel the pain of something being stolen away from them because they were too weak to protect it.

Like she once felt.

Ten years ago.

She sighed once more. Pushing the dark emotions down as usual.

"Let's go, May. Before you drown yourself from overthinking again. I don't want to end up adding your bones to those piles as well."

He disappeared. His speed unrivaled. She gnashed her teeth. A bit afraid her jaw would crack from the pressure. Following him.

Leaving the coachman who settled to lock himself in the black carriage clutching the golden coin as a form of encouragement, waiting for his employer.

May noticed more abandoned, dilapidated buildings these time they seemed to be crushed by the weight of something. It was probably the Monster. Something led it there.

She still wondered how something so large could escape her notice.

She massaged her forehead as she calculated the more work she had to complete.

Cannon Fodder.

She stopped sprinting. Halting beside him. What she saw stunned her to the bones. Leaving her body tingling.

It was only when Hamlin stuffed in his handkerchief into her mouth was she aware that her jaws were hanging open.

"By a donkey's arse.. Is that?!!"

She removed the handkerchief. She was too stunned to be mad at the germaphobic miscreant beside her.

Wait a minute, don't tell me he planned this too. Just like the way he always does.

She turned to look at him to be sure.

His demeanor was relaxed and calm. But the strange flicker in this grey orbs felt out of place. She hardly saw him like this. In all the years she had known him.

For the first time she could at least read him. Not entirely but she managed to actually see something.

And what she saw was nothing but...

Exhilaration.