CHAPTER ONE

 

Hiding her bruises and bloody clothes is never easy.  Alex’s mom, Michelle, was starting to get suspicious, especially when Alex began doing her own laundry.  Her mom was asking why she was going through so many clothes.  It was a blessing for Alex that the Council gave her a clothing allowance for her gear…as long as she didn’t go crazy.  Although when Father Joe gave her that council card before he left for Moscow, he kept insisting she find some tougher clothing for fighting Infiltrators.  It made sense, but Alex still had to be herself for the last three weeks of school.

For one of the last times, Alex pulled into the school parking lot.  A feeling of sadness and anxiety hit her, knowing in just a little while, she was no longer going to be here.  Komptin was sleeping in the backseat of her car.  The Council rushed the paperwork to make Komptin her PTSD dog.  Which it was slightly true; she had adopted him the night Osiah died.  He didn’t just die; Vandor, the Conduit of the Dark, murdered him.  The image of him thrusting his hand through Osiah’s back, coming out of his chest, was something Alex could never forget.  Osiah, a former Dark Sentry Warrior, died trying to save them, to save his love, the Conduit of Lite, Celestial.  Upon his sacrifice was a battle like Alex had never seen before.  Despite the Guardians of the Conduit of Lite helping, Alex didn’t think she did too badly. That night, she had killed her first Demon. 

Unfortunately, that particular Demon was her best friend’s dad.  That bastard killed Sara that very night, but Alex was able to get her revenge.  She disposed of that son of bitch. But not without a consequence of the battle.  She pulled down the visor to look at the scar on her neck before putting on her leather collar.  She had convinced her dad and the police an unknown assailant had attacked her. 

There were reports of an up-and-coming cult that Sara’s dad was trying to join.  Part of their initiation was to attack random people.  It explained why Sara was killed, Alex’s bruises, and, of course, the attack on Mole.  Speaking of whom, he had just pulled into the parking lot with Anne driving.  Alex watched Mole try to get out of the passenger side of Anne’s car.  She rushed over to the car as quickly as she could.  “Don’t, don’t do it.”

“I’m fine,” Mole tried to get up, using the door as leverage. 

Anne got out of the car to get the wheelchair from the trunk of her car.  “He’s a tough guy, Alex.” Her chipmunk smile towards her boyfriend was a clear indicator of her feelings towards Alex’s brother.  Anne carefully rolled the chair behind Mole.  Alex, of course, didn’t miss the detail that Anne never calls him by his nickname anymore.  It was always his real name, Kale.   They were so cute together.  The three of them entered the school, where people were still giving Alex and Mole sympathetic looks and whispering tall tales to each other of what happened.  The two of them really didn’t care, but it bothered Anne a bit. 

With Sara’s murder and her father ‘missing,’ there was high school gossip always flying, but Alex and Anne knew the truth.  On top of that, Roger just seemed to disappear from school after attacking her newly found sibling, almost killing him.  Alex just thanked God that Mole would be able to walk again.   Every hunt she goes on, she prays she finds Roger to take revenge for her brother.  That Demon changed his life forever.  But in a weird way, it bonded the three of them.  The trio were sitting in the corner of the hallway.  Alex had her Apollo in her hand while the caring couple next to her were taking turns sipping a hot tea.  Mole’s face every time he took a mouthful made Alex laugh.  “Not good?”

“It’s disgusting.” He forced it down. 

“Why are you drinking it?” Alex grabbed it from his hands to smell it.  It was revolting.  She quickly shook it off from her head before handing it back to him.  “All yours.”

Anne took possession of it after Mole took a sip.  “It’s a great source of tannins, with a touch of cinnamon and clover that has volatile oils that are antimicrobial and soothing for his stomach with all the pills he’s taking.”  Anne took another sip before giving it back to Mole.  “Now drink up.”  She gave a small chuckle as he forced it down.

Alex had time before first period.  “It’s weird knowing we’ll be out of here in a bit.”

“Personally, I’m happy we only have a few weeks left, and then college.” Mole handed the drink back to Anne.  “I can’t do this anymore.”

Anne grabbed it without saying anything.  Just a facial expression of compassion with her high cheekbone smile.  “I don’t know, I’m going to miss it.”

Kale busted out laughing, “We almost died here.”

“Year isn’t over.” Alex smacked Mole on the back of the head.  Then she playfully made the impression that it was Anne.  She went down to scratch Komptin behind the ears.  The massive German Shepherd liked to be in the school with all the people.  It was rare he got to be in places with people that didn’t consist of being on guard for the Dark.  He just stayed in the back of Alex’s classrooms, instantly falling asleep.  There was just one time he alerted.

Alex was taking a sociology test when they caught a sense of the Dark nearby.  It didn’t feel like an Infiltrator. It might have been a Demon.  It definitely wasn’t Vandor.  His sense of Dark was so strong it overpowered anything around him.  Demons almost had the same sense as an Infiltrator, but a lot less dense.  Alex’s ability to sense Demons wasn’t actually toned in enough. She still had to wait for them to use their powers before sensing them.  She had to really concentrate on people, staring directly at them to be able to try to sense any Dark.  This particular sense of the Dark felt different.  She can’t remember where she felt it before, but it seemed familiar.  It didn’t last long before whatever it was dissipated. 

They were just about to break for first period when Mr. Dupel approached the group.  The Guidance Counselor for the school had been pressuring Alex to come see him.  “I’m trapped.”  Alex halfway joked as she tried to get out of this situation. 

Mole put his backpack on his lap. “Anne, I think now would be a good time to roll on over to class.” 

Anne pushed her wavy brown hair back.  She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before going behind him to push his chair to class.  “Perfect, I can tell you about these new herbal supplement hard candies I found online,” Anne teased as they both went down the hall. 

“That’s just mean,” Alex yelled as she was about to leave when Mr. Dupel caught up to her.

“Alex,” The counselor blocked her escape. He was the youngest teacher in the school, a nice man who really cared about the students.  Almost like it was his personal mission to make things better in their lives.  When Sara died, he set up counseling sessions with the students, was key in setting up the school service, and personally made it a point to talk to Sara’s boyfriend, Robbie, to see how he was holding up.  He also organized the school program to help any kid with a tragic event, mainly trying to get their lives together.  He was instrumental in helping to push through the papers to keep Komptin in the classrooms with Alex.  It was nice to have a teacher who seemed to go the extra mile for the student’s well-being.

“Mr. Dupel,” Her black braided hair tugged a bit as she leaned against the wall. “What up?”

“We still have to make an appointment to go over your plans after graduation.”  He greeted some other students as the two of them came by “Hey, Jack, we need to meet up for that paperwork for State.”

“I won’t forget, Mr. D,” Jack pointed his fingers like a gun at him. 

Alex just shook her head, thinking about how she had been making out with him just last weekend. Mr. Dupel’s fingers snapping in front of her face caught her attention.  “Oh, sorry, that future thing, right.”

“You are a strange one, Alex.  Once in a while you’ve got a great focus on you, almost death-defying, but your carefree attitude just pushes your potential out.” he pulled out his phone.  “So, checking my schedule, I can get you out of fourth period to go over your plans.”

“Taken care of,” Alex checked her watch.  “Not too worried about it.  St. Michaels gave me a scholarship.”

“Yes, interesting on how such a prestigious Catholic church would give someone with a 2.3 GPA a full ride who’s not even Catholic.” Mr. Dupel’s attention got distracted as two kids were standing on the windowsill of the hallway.  “Hey, get down.”  The kids succumbed to his wish.

Alex took a peek down the hall along with Komptin.  “Work scholarship, I guess.”

“I suppose, anyways, I have to sign off some paperwork for a Father Carl Gray and Thomas Altomer.”  He handed her a piece of paper from inside his suit jacket pocket.  “Here, this will get you out of fourth period.”

“Really? Couldn’t you get me out of sixth period instead?” Alex grabbed the note.

“Have a good day, Alex,” he good-humoredly shooed her away with a hand gesture.  Alex was about to leave when a classmate of hers approached with Shawn.  Alex recognized him as a junior, but he made the varsity football team as the starting…. something.  Alex didn’t really know, or care. All she knew was his name was Hayden.  “Hey, what’s up?”

Shawn was about to say something, but in a rare form of empathy, he just said, “Alex, I’m really sorry about Sara.  She was one of the good ones.”

Alex accepted his gesture.  “Thanks, Shawn.” Then, Alex felt uncomfortable all of a sudden.  She looked around as that weird sense of Dark was there.  Her nerves shot up, but then it suddenly vanished.

“Well, I have to get to class, later.” Shawn knuckle-bumped Hayden.

“Later, Shawn,” Leaving just Alex and Hayden in the corner of the hallway.

Alex grabbed her book bag from the ground. “I need to get going, don’t really want to be late with only a couple of weeks left.”

“What class do you have?” Hayden was trying to spark conversation.

“Mythology,” Alex rolled her eyes.

“Oh, my class is right next door. Can I walk with you?” Hayden motioned.

“Free world,” Alex grabbed Komptin’s leash. “Come on boy…. you too, Komptin,” she teased him.

“Funny.” Hayden started following Alex.  “So, lucky you, graduating this year.”

“Yep.” Alex started towards class.  “Next year will go by fast.”

“Maybe.  I’m hoping Brooke will be getting into the same college or nearby.”  Hayden was making small chit-chat, but it was obvious he had another agenda on his mind.

“Oh, you’re dating Brooke Williams?” Alex was a little disappointed.  This boy was actually a little cute. 

“About a month now.” Hayden shied a bit when he smiled.  “She keeps me in line.”

“That’s sweet.  What’re your plans for college?” Alex was coming close to her classroom.

“I want to go into criminal justice. I wouldn’t mind being an FBI agent; that sounds pretty cool.” Hayden let her know.

“You go on with your bad self,” Alex sarcastically encouraged him.  “I wouldn’t want anything to do with any government types.  Always so uptight.”

“To each their own,” Hayden stopped in front of his classroom.  “Anyway, I wanted to get with you regarding your job.  I think it would look good on a college application that I was working at a church.  Is there any way you can put in a good word for me to take over your position when you go to college?”

Alex had to prevent herself from laughing.  “I don’t think you’d want it.”

“Well, it’s only for a year.  Can you put in a good word?” Hayden was on the verge of begging. 

“I’ll see what I can do.”  Alex escaped into her morning class with no intention of fulfilling his request.