reminder that Fallen Ones still walked the earth made me more and more motivated to return to hunting. The thought became so pervasive that as Eran was washing up for bed on Sunday night, I lifted my bed mattress and pulled out the leather-bound book encapsulating all Fallen Ones dossiers. Opening it to the very next one I’d intended to kill, I sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the shower running down the hall, and quickly read the pages.
“ Fernando Vega,” I muttered to myself, my eyes reading quickly over his summary. “Mississippi…18 Hilbrook Way…no pets…no significant others…”
After I had consumed the rest of his information, I slipped the book back beneath the mattress. Directly next to it laid my black leather suit, neatly folded like a prized possession. Next to it, laid my weapons.
I stared at them for only a second before my body began moving on its own.
The next thing I knew, I had slipped on my black leather suit, secured my weapons in their respective places, and pulled open my balcony doors.
Without thought behind it, I lifted my shoulders then and my appendages sprang out. I extended them wide, enjoying the stretch. They reached outward, almost touching either side of the balcony, lengthening the muscles and tendons like others do with their arms and legs. A groan escaped as I allowed myself to feel the freedom of my fully-healed body.
As I stood there, assessing the night, my bedroom door opened, moaning against its hinges, and I knew Eran had finished showering. He was checking on me and, I was certain, he didn’t expect to find me suited up facing open balcony doors.
Without turning, I stated, “I’m ready.”
It may have been the resolute tone in my voice, my stance, or simply the feeling in the air but he knew without question that I was correct.
I heard shuffling behind me and then he was at my side, his appendages already unfurled and resting behind him.
He had given his unspoken agreement, I knew. And while I didn’t need it, it was a comfort nonetheless. Although I would never admit it to him – even if he had some indication of it already – with Eran being amply familiar with recovering fighters, his concurrence that I was equipped to take on a Fallen One again meant that I wasn’t fooling myself. That was reassuring.
What was not so reassuring was the fact that he would be accompanying me. Getting him even remotely close to danger was not a pleasant forethought. I was certain it was the same for him.
It was late so the street was quiet. Lights were off in our neighbor’s houses and the only thing that seemed to be moving was the alley cat scampering across the lawn next door.
The air was clear, fresh tonight with almost a sugary taste to it. It made me wonder how the air was in Mississippi…
My wings pumped hard, lifting me effortlessly off the balcony and over the street. I soared higher, enjoying the cool wind on my face. I’d missed it, I realized. Elated to be in the air again, I spun like a missile through the night sky until I was far above the city. Using various ground markers – the placement of cities, mountain ranges, major highways – we found our way to Mississippi and along the river there.
The air was more humid here, I noticed, becoming noticeably more so as we dropped towards a small structure on the water’s edge surrounded by acres of trees. Fernando lived in an abandoned house on the edge of the Mississippi River. Knowing this from his dossier, we simply needed to fly up river until my radar picked him up.
Our speed was somewhere between a bullet and an airline jet so it didn’t take long before I felt the hair stand at the back of my neck.
That’s when I stopped in midair.
Realizing it, Eran came to a sudden halt. He peered over his shoulder at me, questioning.
“ I did as you asked…” I explained firmly. “I gave you warning that I was going to leave for a hunt and, against my interests, I’ve allowed you to escort
“ Fernando Vega,” I muttered to myself, my eyes reading quickly over his summary. “Mississippi…18 Hilbrook Way…no pets…no significant others…”
After I had consumed the rest of his information, I slipped the book back beneath the mattress. Directly next to it laid my black leather suit, neatly folded like a prized possession. Next to it, laid my weapons.
I stared at them for only a second before my body began moving on its own.
The next thing I knew, I had slipped on my black leather suit, secured my weapons in their respective places, and pulled open my balcony doors.
Without thought behind it, I lifted my shoulders then and my appendages sprang out. I extended them wide, enjoying the stretch. They reached outward, almost touching either side of the balcony, lengthening the muscles and tendons like others do with their arms and legs. A groan escaped as I allowed myself to feel the freedom of my fully-healed body.
As I stood there, assessing the night, my bedroom door opened, moaning against its hinges, and I knew Eran had finished showering. He was checking on me and, I was certain, he didn’t expect to find me suited up facing open balcony doors.
Without turning, I stated, “I’m ready.”
It may have been the resolute tone in my voice, my stance, or simply the feeling in the air but he knew without question that I was correct.
I heard shuffling behind me and then he was at my side, his appendages already unfurled and resting behind him.
He had given his unspoken agreement, I knew. And while I didn’t need it, it was a comfort nonetheless. Although I would never admit it to him – even if he had some indication of it already – with Eran being amply familiar with recovering fighters, his concurrence that I was equipped to take on a Fallen One again meant that I wasn’t fooling myself. That was reassuring.
What was not so reassuring was the fact that he would be accompanying me. Getting him even remotely close to danger was not a pleasant forethought. I was certain it was the same for him.
It was late so the street was quiet. Lights were off in our neighbor’s houses and the only thing that seemed to be moving was the alley cat scampering across the lawn next door.
The air was clear, fresh tonight with almost a sugary taste to it. It made me wonder how the air was in Mississippi…
My wings pumped hard, lifting me effortlessly off the balcony and over the street. I soared higher, enjoying the cool wind on my face. I’d missed it, I realized. Elated to be in the air again, I spun like a missile through the night sky until I was far above the city. Using various ground markers – the placement of cities, mountain ranges, major highways – we found our way to Mississippi and along the river there.
The air was more humid here, I noticed, becoming noticeably more so as we dropped towards a small structure on the water’s edge surrounded by acres of trees. Fernando lived in an abandoned house on the edge of the Mississippi River. Knowing this from his dossier, we simply needed to fly up river until my radar picked him up.
Our speed was somewhere between a bullet and an airline jet so it didn’t take long before I felt the hair stand at the back of my neck.
That’s when I stopped in midair.
Realizing it, Eran came to a sudden halt. He peered over his shoulder at me, questioning.
“ I did as you asked…” I explained firmly. “I gave you warning that I was going to leave for a hunt and, against my interests, I’ve allowed you to escort
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