11

Dove

I grabbed my dagger and set of throwing knives. My muscles screamed from the hellish workout that morning as I dashed out the door and through the halls of the academy.

My long wavy white hair contrasted nicely with the black of the top, and the jeans were my favorite pair, black. The boots went to my midcalves. Preened in case I ran into my Fated mates. Particularly Seven.

Outside, the crisp fall air cleared my sinuses. A gust of wind rustled the yellowed leaves from the trees, a fire of color twirling against the green forest and the darkening gray skies.

The campus crawled with students as I winded along the cobblestone path between boxy hedges. The forest thickened further from the academy.

Once I was out of sight, deep in the forest, I tensed. A hand rested on my dagger in case anything with black blood and sharp teeth showed up, but all that surrounded me was the sounds and smells of a blissful fall evening.

The breeze couldn't break the thick trees. My own breath and each step would register like a firecracker to any of the nearby creatures.

The canopy of the forest made the twilight as dark as night. A wrought iron fence topped with spikes marked the perimeter of the campus, a magically-guarded boundary that no demons could pass. I sprinted at the fence, grabbing hold of two of the bars and propelled myself upward. I crouched at the top of the fence before leaping down to the ground on the outside of campus.

The landing caused a sharp pain to shoot up my spine. I squatted, taking several deep breaths as I waited for the lingering pain to subside.

A path hid under the layer of leaves and pine needles, leading toward the lights reflecting against the clouds. When the trees cleared, the city of Lethe came into sight. A Hellgate was concealed deep within.

The city's population was mostly human, despite the demon slaying academy as a next-door neighbor. They wouldn't know that kitsunes and demons were all around them. Humans couldn't see most demons unless they had some magical ancestry. Even then, a sighting would only make them look insane.

They didn't know their entire city was infested with lesser demons like a termite colony in a rotten log, like maggots on a wound. Feeding on blood, filth, fear, and sorrow.

A good place to score some demon kills.

Despite the hour stretching later, the city grew louder. Horns beeping, lights beaming in all different colors of neon. Bars, raves, and strip clubs. Nightwalkers, gangsters, and criminals. Dark figures in darker alleys. Fumes, grease, and sewage consumed the fresh air of the nearby forest.

Definitely a good place for demon kills.

Leaves rustled behind me and I snapped my head around, finding no movement, but the bright city lights impaired my night vision. Nothing. I kept one hand on my first throwing knife, tugging it up and pressing it back down to make sure the corroded metal hadn't snagged on the cheap polyester scabbard.

I hurried down the hill, across at least a quarter-mile of industrial buildings and warehouses, keeping my eye out for any demonic activity. The occasional artifact appeared, chalk circles and the distinct odor of a sulfuric flame.

As I reached the center of town, more people wandered the streets. I forced myself further into the dingier parts of the city where demons prowled.

The back of my neck prickled. People crowded the street, but nobody noticed me. Even with my dark clothing and unusual hair, I didn't stand out compared to the eccentric others.

I picked up the pace and peered down an alley. Trash cans took up space on either side, the ground coated in an algae-like slime. Two large men in black suits guarded a door by the lone bit of light in the alley. Neither moved their heads as I hurried by, seeing the comms in their ears. Both wore clothes far too expensive to be in such a dingy place.

I scurried between the streetlamps. Demons hated light that wasn't the indigo heat of hellfire.

I couldn't shake the feeling, sensing someone behind me, but those who lingered all minded their own business. My feet itched to pick up the pace, but running would only draw attention to myself. After a few more innocuous turns, I found myself at a dead end.

When I turned to go back, a shadowy figure blocked the narrow alley. "Little fly, caught in a web," the figure said.

I fingered my dagger, "Who are you? Why are you following me?"

It was against our laws to kill a human, but if he tried anything, I wouldn't hesitate. The man stepped forward. His stout figure stood out. I breathed a limited sigh of relief, resting my hand against my side and nodding in acknowledgment.

Vince, fourth at the academy.

"You know it's dangerous out here all by yourself." He looked around. "You aren't here alone, are you?"

"No, Seven's here," I lied, not entirely sure why. Maybe because I wished that Seven had been with me the past couple days. Or maybe because Enko and Kairos' warning about Vince had actually gotten through. Or maybe it was the way that disgusting slimeball leered at me.

Yeah, that was definitely it.

Vince's mouth formed into a sick smile, his eyes freely ogling me. "Is he now?"

He stepped forward. Each time he advanced, I retreated, and when my back hit the brick wall unexpectedly, the breath slammed out of my lungs.

Vince stalked forward, closing the distance until his wet dog stench entered my nostrils.

"You'd think with so many mates, you'd have at least one to protect you." He inhaled deeply. "Especially with that sweet aroma you leave behind."

"Back off," I said, using all the courage I had within, pulling the knife and placing it against his throat. "They know I don't need their protection."

He laughed, not intimidated by the weapon. "Attacking another student is against the code of conduct. Automatic expulsion. That is, unless you can go rogue and finish the job. If you can win against me. I doubt that, though. On the other hand, a fresh first-year, skinned down to the bone by a demon. Left to rot. Wouldn't be the first time an accident happened in Lethe. Nobody would suspect a thing."

He reached for my cheek and I flinched away from his touch, but he kept me locked in between him and the brick wall. "Come now, everyone knows what a slut you are. Three mates and all. What's one more? Give me what I want and you'll leave unscathed."

Vince grabbed my arm roughly, showing off his strength as he pushed my own arm back. The edge of my own dagger touched my own throat.

I drove my knee upward. He crippled over and I twisted my wrist out of his tight grip. My elbow flew into his face, my bone crunching against his hard skull.

I darted around him, his groans following me down the alley. I rounded the corner out of his sight, snapping my head around to look behind me every few seconds. I listened for footsteps, which was nearly impossible over the thundering of my heart and breath. With his tails, he'd be able to scent me out well before I made it back to the academy.

I checked for the pervert once more and slammed into something. Hard. Really fucking hard.