Preditor & Prey: Chapter Three

Chapter Three

       Finally, I was able to tear my gaze away from Zev’s, and focus my attention on Mr. Mahoney, or, at least, look like I was. Still, throughout the lesson, I felt Zev glancing at me, attempting to be discreet. Not that he was the only guilty part o the matter, mind you; I was stealing my own fair share as well.

       Stop it. You need to focus. You need to-

       My earring buzzed. Yes, my earring. One of the ups of working for the Paranormal Assassination Force is that we get all of the new, top of the line, toys; my earring pager being one of them.

       I should know, I’ve been here the longest, with the exception of Will being as he had been trained to be an operative since he was an infant, where as I joined the program when I was five. Actually, I’m not sure that joined would be the correct word for what happened; I think forced fits it better. My parents gave me up, they didn’t want me, they handed me over to PAF like was a tool and not their daughter; they didn’t even give me a choice. They just left me, without a thing for me to remember them by; I don’t remember their voices, their names, or even a sliver of a face. Almost as if they never existed. There is only one thing that I have to remind me of my past, a dagger shaped birthmark in the small of my back; that’s it. But that’s okay. PAF gives me a purpose.

       And, right now, that purpose was to go on a mission, that’s what my pager was telling me, which means I have to get back to the compound.

      

My hand shot up as I formulated a plan to get me out of class without getting in trouble.

“What is it, Kira,” Mr. Mahoney asked.

“I don’t feel well sir. May I please go to the nurse,” I said, feigning illness.

“Yes, of course. I’ll get someone accompany you, we don’t want a new student to get lost, do we,” Mr. Mahoney answered, attempting to be helpful.

Oh, crap.

I stood up, collected my things, and began walking to the door.

“Now who will volunteer to escort Kira to the nurse?”

With my back turned there was no way for me to know who raised their hand.

“I will.” A somewhat familiar voice replied.

“Ah, thank you Zev. Remember to grab a pass on your way out,” our teacher reminded.

“My pleasure, Mr. Mahoney.”

I heard the rustling of papers Zev gathered his things.

Double crap.  

***

          I made sure I kept up my sick ploy as we made our way down the hall towards the main office. We had only traveled about three hall lengths before Zev stopped dead in his tracks and spun to face me.

          “What,” I questioned.

          Zev didn’t answer, and just stared at me like I was a puzzle that he was determined to figure out.

          “What!” I hissed.

          “You’re not sick,” Zev stated, looking me in the eyes, “So why are you in such a hurry to get out of class?”

          I was momentarily speechless; how had he figured that out? Not to brag, but I have some major acting skills.

          I opened my mouth to spin some lie, but Zev quickly hushed me.

He tilted his head slightly to the side as if he was listening to something, a couple minutes trickled by and I heard the faint sound of footsteps coming down the hall.

          With lightning speed, Zev dragged me down the hallway and ducked us into a janitor’s closet. He locked the door and flipped on the light before he turned to me, and locked his graze with mine, in his own. I looked into his green eyes and saw nothing but raw determination.

          “Now, answer my question.”

Preditor & Prey: Chapter Two Part Two

Chapter Two (continued)

       I stumbled into my biology class and barely remembered handing my passbook for Mrs. Tucker to sign before I took my seat. I couldn’t concentrate. Thoughts were a swirling through my mind, racing, and jumping over one another fighting for my attention. Questions and theories unwound themselves from the jumbled mess. There were two thing off about Zev, one I knew and one I did not. I had never known anyone who was able to sneak up on me or away without me knowing it, not even the extremely talented Will; and for the mysterious Zev to have done so twice in a row, so effortlessly? What a strange boy he was indeed.

A strange, gorgeous boy, my mind whispered.

       I squashed the thought immediately. I had a boyfriend. His name was Will. Will the most talented paranormal assassin that the world had ever seen. That meant strange, mysterious, beautiful boys were off limits.

       But that doesn’t stop you from looking.

       Did it? I didn’t have the time to ponder that because the bell rang, forcing me up out of my seat and out into the hallway.

       After that, it wasn’t long before Will caught up and kissed my cheek.

       “Hey,” hey whispered, wraping his arms around me.

       “Hey,” came my still distracted reply.

       “Babe? What’s wrong,” Will asked, concerned.

       I opened my mouth to tell him about Zev and how something was…off about him; but something stopped me. What it was- I don’t know.

       “Nothing, I’m fine. I just didn’t like my class, that’s all,” I lied.

       Will nodded, but didn’t seem to believe me. He kissed my cheek once more and dashed off to class.

Preditor & Prey: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

       I hid out for a few more minutes until I finally had to make an appearance in my classroom before Jasper found out that I had gone AWOL and cut me into little pieces- literally!

       I know that so far today Jasper has came off like a complete and utter stick in the mud, but she really isn’t. Stavros has just been on her case constantly lately, he blames her for the three of us getting kicked out of the last to schools we’ve attended, when, in reality, the blame rests solely on Will, and Stavros knows it. Not that he’d ever admit it. Will? His shining star? Never. So the target of his tirade is Jasper, the oldest and our team leader.

       I had been wandering the halls for a few minutes before I realized that I had absolutely no idea where I was going.

       “Dang it!” I growled.

       “Need some help?”

       I whirled around. Behind me stood one of the most gorgeous people I had ever seen in my life. A boy, around my age, awaited my reply.

       “Yeah. Do you know where Mrs. Tucker’s biology class is,” I asked coolly.

       “Sure. I’ll take you there, it’s on my way anyway. I’m Zev by the way,” he replied, his voice was deep and melodic as he held out his hand.

       “Kira,” I answered, and met his hand with my own only to yank it back as a warm shock made its way from my palm all the way up my arm.

       What the hell?

       Zev pulled his back as well and ran his hand through this longish hair that was darker than the night itself looking flustered.

       “Follow me,” he called, and darted down a random hallway, making me speed walk to catch up with him.

       We walked in silence for a bit before coming to a stopped in front of an open doorway.

       “Here you are,” Zev announced.

       It took a minute for his words to register; I was, at the moment deep in thought, trying the figure out how he had been able to sneak up on me after all my years of training.

       When they did though, I immediately spun around to thank him only to find myself alone in the hallway. Zev was nowhere in sight, and I hadn’t even heard him walk away.

       Again, what the hell?!

Preditor & Prey: Chapter One

Chapter One

       “Kira,” Mr. Delany called, taking roll, and, like most people, he pronounced my name with a long ‘I’ sound.

      

       I rolled my eyes in annoyance, “It’s pronounced ‘Key-ruh, Mt. Delany,” I corrected.

      

       Jasper’s stormy grey eyes glared daggers at me from under her sharp blue bangs. Yes, I said blue, a deep navy blue that contrasted well with her tan skin. And no, it isn’t dyed, it’s all natural, a weird side effect from the trauma of losing her parents at the young age of five.

      

       Don’t start, her eyes practically screamed.

      

       Chill, I won’t mess this up, my eyes said back.

      

       Jasper snorted and the bell rang signaling the end of homeroom.

      

       “I’m just saying, Kira. We don’t need to get kicked out of another school,” Jasper said as we collected out our books and made a B-line towards the door.

      

       She said another school because our team of three had managed to get expelled from our last two schools- I won’t go into detail just yet, but I’m pretty sure Stavros won’t tolerate another, and, believe me, you don’t want to be on his bad side.

      

       “Hey, baby,” a familiar voice said, wrapping their arms around me.

      

       He had obviously been waiting for us.

      

       “Hey, Will,” I said, turning around in his arms so I could stand on my tip-toes and kiss his cheek.

      

        William Dodds, the third member of our deadly trio, top Paranormal Assassin- and my boyfriend of two years. I studied him as that affectionate smile spread across his face. I drank him in, his six-three frame, his blonde hair, his grey eyes, and to think he’s just a year older than me. It has always puzzled me how this boy could be so ruthless as to kill in cold blood.

      

       “Will! Kira! No PDA on school grounds! I know it’s your first day but that’s no excuse,” a nearby teacher yelled.

      

       We both stepped away from each other and Will opened his mouth, to mutter what I’m sure was a witty comment, but stopped when he felt Jasper’s dagger poking into his back.

      

       Don’t even ask how we get our weapons through school security- it isn’t easy, trust me.

      

       I glanced around; nobody noticed the weapon Jasper had pressed against Will.

      

       “They’re sorry Miss Simmons, it won’t happen again,” she said sweetly.

      

       “Be sure that it doesn’t,” the teacher said and turned on her heel and walked away.

       “Do not mess this up! Go to class,” Jasper hissed, and stalked off.

      

       Will winked at me, and then took Jasper’s advice, leaving me alone.

      

       Instead of going to class I went to the restroom- Hey I’m new; I can always say that I got lost, right? - And observed myself in the mirror.

      

       Long black hair? Check.

      

       Blue eyes? Check.

      

       The irritating height of five-eight? Yup.

      

       All the looks of innocence, I thought as I fingered my switchblade in the concealed pocket of my jeans.

      

       But, true to my name, I’m a killer.

(No Title)- help would be appreciated

Prologue

      “Jaylen! Stop! We only want to talk to you,” one of the men called.

        I kept running and didn’t reply.

        Yeah, right, I thought, you two showed up and said that my “father” sent you to collect me, you must not have done your homework or else you would have known that my father has been dead for ten years.

        I took a sharp left into the alleyway that I knew so well and darted into Lizzy’s shop before my pursuers even turned the corner. I leaned against the door, breathing hard. Lizzy was right; track really did pay off. While I was waiting for my breath to return I pressed my ear against the door and listened as their pounding footsteps faded into the distance. What creeps. They had been waiting for me as I walked out of school today and I took off before they even finished getting the first sentence out of their mouths.

        “Are you alright dear?” I turned to meet Lizzy’s familiar blue eyes tinged with worry, and her blonde locks framing her face.

        “I’m fine,” I lied. I didn’t need to worry her; she was still frazzled over mom.

        Mom.

        “It’s for the best, honey,” the female officer soothed my ten-year-old self as they hauled my screaming mother away, “Your mother’s sick and she needs help. Look on the bright side, you get to spend some time with your aunt Lizzy,” she continued on about how much fun I was going to have with my father’s sister. Lizzy, and how I could visit my mother in the hospital, but I wasn’t listening. I was eavesdropping on two nereby officers’ conversation, “Poor girl,” one officer said, then shook his head in pity, “First she loses her father in a plane crash, now her mother goes off the deep end,” his partner nodded his head in agreement, then they got in their squad car and left.

        That was the day my mother was taken to the crazy house. She had always been a bit eccentric, but it had gotten worse after my father died when I was six, just four years before my mother cracked.

        I remember that day well.

        It was a warm summer day when my mom decided that we needed to go shopping for next year’s school clothes, so we hopped in the car and drove to the small store I town. We had been sifting through the racks for a little bit when my mom stopped dead and starred across the aisle at a man who was glancing our way.

        My mother whispered a word that seemed to strike a terrible fear into her heart; she seemed so utterly terrified that even I was beginning to become afraid.

        Then she started screaming.

        “Stop that man! Stop him! He’s here to take Jaylen! He is going to take my baby! Somebody stop him please,” she cried hysterically.

        Some clerks rushed to see what the commotion was about, but when they looked to where my mother was pointing to where the man had been standing, there was no one there. He was gone. Vanished.

        I’m sure you know how it went from there.

        But that one word, that one word my mother whispered. The one that scared her so bad; it still haunts me to this day.

        Faery.

Preditor and Prey: Prologue

Prologue

       “Please, no, miss, I beg of you,” the ruby lipped, Caribbean blue eyed, platinum haired, fifteen year old looking, faerie cried dramatically.

      

        I sighed; I absolutely, positively, hate faerie jobs.

      

       Yes, sadly, faeries do exist. And no, they are not those good natured, woodsy, creatures that the fairy tales you were told as a child led you to believe. In truth, they are dramatic, mischievous, over-emotional, and downright vicious when they want to be.

      

       I rolled my eyes and leveled my glock at her, making it obvious that her ploy hadn’t worked.

      

       “Freeze,” I commanded coolly, “Under strict orders from P.A.F., I must either bring you in or terminate you here and now,”

      

       The faerie growled and dropped her glamour revealing clear blue cats eyes, porcelain skin, and a perfectly white, perfectly pointed, perfectly deadly, set of teeth.

      

       “So,” I continued, completely unfazed, this is a regular occurrence, “Which will it be?”

      

        The faerie lunged and knocked me over; I guess I had my answer.

      

         “Termination it is then,” I grunted, reaching into my boot for my iron switchblade.

      

         I grabbed it, flicked it open, and slashed at her arm, cutting her just enough so that so that the indigo liquid that was her blood started to trickle down her arm.

      

       She immediately shrieked in pain and rolled off of me, got to love iron. I jackknifed to my feet and scrambled over to my gun that had skidded across the forest floor in the midst of the struggle.

      

       Picking it up, I checked to make sure that all my iron bullets were loaded, they were, then I took aim and fired a single shot, leaving the faerie motionless on the ground with a new hole directly between its eyes.

      

        Re-holstering my glock, I walked a few paces away and unclipped my walkie-talkie, “Mission accomplished, Stavros,” I said, “Requesting cleanup crew and pick up.  Coordinates 10-73 Hangman’s Wood,”

      

        “Request granted, ETA five minutes,” my commanding officers voice responded.

      

       Another job well done.

      

       My name is Kira, I’m sixteen years old, and I’m a Paranormal Assassin.

Angels Falling Down: Chapter Two

Chapter Two
Fallon

       

After the sun began to rise, I put my book into my knapsack along with the notes for my chemistry exam and the essay for history, and started to get ready for school. I dressed in black jeans slung low on my hips, a tight fit black t-shirt, a slim-fit hoodie, and black and blue Nikes, stopping only to run a quick brush through my long hair, apply a bit of mascara, and put some black eye-liner around my eyes. Once I was done, I took minute to examine myself in the mirror before I slung my knapsack over my shoulder and walked to the kitchen.

Many people think I’m Goth because of the way I dress, which is understandable considering how much black I wear, but I’m not, I’m one of those few people who refuse to be stereotyped. I guess the main reason that I wear so much black is because I’ve yet to completely get over my parent’s murders, and the way they came about. They’ve yet to catch the killer, and after what happened that night, what I remember of it that its,  it’s hard for me to believe they ever will.

Without giving Mary or Ben so much as a passing glance, I grabbed an apple from the fruit bowel on the counter and began my three mile hike to school.

        The thing about going to school in Bellum, Colorado is that it’s a rule that any kids above grade five, who live less than three miles from school, have to walk. I’m a fast walker, but it still takes me around half an hour to get there.

I walked through the doors of Bellum High, home of the Avenging Angels, with my head held high, and ignored the sympathetic looks that people always threw my way. As always not one of my friends waited for me by my locker-they world have to exist first. Not that I wouldn’t mind one of course. I used to have friends, just like I used to have parents, but when my mom and dad died, I guess my friends just didn’t know what to do or say around me anymore. On the other hand, I didn’t really make it easy for them- I couldn’t really tell them the truth about what had happened, and, unlike the police, they saw right through my lie, so they thought I didn’t trust them.

I sighed, opened my locker, and tossed my bag in.  I grabbed the materials for my morning classes- Lit., Calc, and Choir- and hurried to homeroom with Mr. McKee.

Mr. McKee, well, he’s not exactly what you’d call a role model, and by that I mean that the last time there was a school wide drug search, McKee was MIA by the time the dogs made it through the door, and was spotted on some back road in his van.

“Welcome to the fun zone Falon,” Mr. McKee greeted from his perch on top of his desk.

        “Morning, Mr. McKee,” I replied.

McKee ran his hand through his dark curly locks, and laughed like I’d just told the funniest joke making his blue eyes, as diailated as they were, sparkle, “Fall, when are you going to start calling me Mark like everyone else?”

“It’s only two weeks into the school year sir,” I answered.

“Still.”

I felt my lips twitch, “When you show up to work sober,” I paused and sniffed- yup, definitely more than a little booze.

He attempted to look surprised as well as offended- and failed miserably at both, “I am sober!”

At that, a quiet girl named Hannah looked up at him from her book and rolled her eyes, “Please, Mark, drop the act. We all know you’re higher than a kite.”

Mr. McKee tried again and his words slurred slightly, “Well I’m not drunk,”

He hopped off his desk and attempted walking around to prove his point and was surprised to find himself stumbling and having to grab onto his desk for support.

We all just raised an eyebrow and Mark muttered something under his breath about ‘annoying smartass kids’ as the bell rang.

The first part of the day passed slowly and when the bell rang to end choir I was the first one to burst out of the room. After grabbing my lunch I bolted to the doors and escaped to the outside.

       

 

Angels Falling Down: Chapter One

Chapter One
Fallon

I’m back in my bedroom, in my old house. Once again  I’m 10 years old. I pull the covers up over my head as I hear the creak of the floor boards. Someone creeps up the stairs and pauses for a second at the top, as if they were considering something. Eventually I hear him turn right and slink pass my door into my parent’s room.

       

      Gathering my courage, I slither out from under the covers, tip-toe it down the hall and crouch near the door; I can see everything but I’m helpless to stop any of it. And so I sit there and watch as the shadowy figure pulls a huge knife out from the sheath on his belt, and I keep watching as he slits my parent’s throats one by one.

       

         Only after the deed is done do I let out a small cry, whipping my parent’s murder around, and focusing all of his attention on me. Slowly, the killer advances on me, taking his time; we both know I’m not going anywhere, that I’ve got nowhere to run, and we both know I’m next. He’s only three feet away and I begin to shake, I try to scream but my voice has gone mute.

       

        Suddenly, the killer is knocked to the ground by what I could only be described as a shadow, and, in the same instant, I’m swept up in the strong arms of my rescuer. With my body still trembling, I lift my head to meet the most beautiful stormy grey eyes I have ever seen. Shocked, the only words I can offer to the boy who saved my life is a whispered thanks before my world fades to black.

       

         I bolt upright in my bed gasping for air, and sink back against the headboard as the nightmare fades. Only I know it isn’t just a nightmare; seven years ago that nightmare was my reality, and now it is a memory that has haunted my dreams ever since.

       

        “Falon! You screamed; it was another nightmare wasn’t it? You know someday you’re going to have to get over it, I mean, come on, your seventeen for Pete’s sake,” Mary said unsympathetically as she barged into my room.

       

         Mary and Ben Fellson are my foster parents; they took me in after my parents died when I was 10. Mary is actually quite pretty with her blonde hair and blue eyes, but I’m sure that almost everyone can tell that she doesn’t like me that much. Ben, who is still quite handsome for a man in his mid thirties, has blonde hair, hazel eyes, and he seems to be kind to everyone except me. I’m sure that they’re both counting down the days until I turn eighteen and am out of their hair of good, and to tell you the truth, I am too.

       

        “I’m fine Mary,” I said dryly, “And as soon as graduation rolls around me and my nightmare will be long gone,”

       

        She nodded, as if it seemed great to her and exited my room.

       

        I flopped back against my pillows and blew out a puff of air. After I had blacked out seven years ago, I had woken up in a hospital surrounded by police officers all of which wanted to know what happened to my parents. What could I say? That I saw a shadowy figure had slit my parents throats and, just when he was about to kill me as well, a boy, who I have almost no memory of what so ever, knocked him down with a shadow, and carried me outside? I don’t think so. That would have bought me a one way ticket to the nearest crazy house. So, I lied. I told the police that I hadn’t seen a thing, that when I woke up I walked into my parents room where I found them dead, and then I when I went outside to get help, I passed out. They bought it, but, unfortunately, there wasn’t a lie I could tell to get me out of having to live with the Fellsons.

       

         Reaching over to my bedside table, I grabbed a new book I had been reading, crossed the floor, and curled up on the window seat. I knew I wasn’t going to get anymore sleep tonight.

      

The Darkest Truths: Chapter 10

Chapter 10

       I whirled around to find James leaning casually against the caverns entrance.

          “You’re back,” I stated.

          “Yup,” he said, popping the ‘p’, “But not for long.”

          “What do you mean,” Maya inquired uncharacteristically.

          “I need to go get my sister, Kiate,”

          “And what, may I ask, are we supposed to do while you’re out doing this? We can’t stay here- they’ll find us for sure,” J.J asked snippily.

          James seemed unfazed by her tone, “You’re right, you can’t stay here. But I’m sure that Rayven will have no trouble finding you all another place to hide until I return.”

          “Why can’t we just go home,” Sam asked innocently

          “You can’t go home- it isn’t safe. You don’t want to put your parents in danger do you,” James answered gently.

          Sam nodded, fighting back tears, and who could blame him? We all wanted to go home just as much as he did.

          “Any more questions,” James asked tiredly.

          Everyone shook their heads.

          “Alright then, goodbye,” and with that he left.

          As soon as James had disappeared from sight Katie burst into tears. I rushed over and wrapped my little sister in my arms, gently rocking her back and forth while I rubbed her back.

          “What’s wrong, sweetie?” I asked.

          “I-I-I wa-want m-my mommy!” Katie sobbed, and buried her face in the crook of my neck.

          “Shhh,” I cooed, “I want mom too, and I want to go home just as bad as you do, honey, but we can’t.”

          “I know,” she whispered.

          After a while she finally cried herself to sleep, I laid her gently down, and went to join the others.

          We all sat in a circle, and started brain storming a list of places we could hide-out in until James returned with Kiate.

          “Where can we go,” Jace said to no one in particular.

          “I know a place,” an unknown voice answered.

          I turned one more to find yet another figure blocking the caves entrance. He was about our age, but the creepy part was that he looked almost exactly like Nick. The only difference was that his eyes were an electric blue instead of Nick bright green ones. I had a feeling that I knew exactly who this was, as impossible as the theory seemed, and my fears were only confirmed by Nick’s thunderstruck whisper.

          “Andrew?”

The Darkest Truths: Chapter Nine

Chapter 9

       We entered the cave to find everyone sound asleep. As much as I knew they needed their sleep, I knew they would want to know what we had discovered more.

       “Wake up,” I screamed, jolting them all from their dreams.

       My yelling startled Jace so much, that when he sat up he hit his head on a low part in the ceiling, “Ouch,” he said, rubbing the top of his head, “For Pete’s sake Rayven! Tone it down a notch, you scared the crap out of me!”

       J.J.,of course didn’t have anything nice to say either, “Hey! What the heck? I need my beauty sleep!”

       I bit my tongue, holding back a slicing comment.

Breathe Rayven, just breathe. We’re all on the same side here.

        Not responding to either of their comments, I pulled the papers from behind my back with a playful smirk, “Does anyone want to know what kind of powers they have?” I asked teasingly.

       This got everyone’s attention. I was bombarded with a chorus of “me”’s and “I do”’s.

       “Alright then,” I chuckled, and started at the top of the list.

       “Katie, you’re psychic.”

       My little sister smiled and nodded, as if that pleased her, and I continued on.

       “Nick. You’re a werewolf and alpha of the pack.”

       Nick nodded, this wasn’t news to him.

       “Jace, you’re telekinetic, congratulations.”

       “Yes,” he said, pumping his fist in the air.

       “Janice,” I said, taking this as an excuse to use her real name because I know she hates it, “You can create force fields.”

       She glared at me, probably already thinking of ways to get back at me for using her real name. I ignored her and continued on.

       “Reid, you’re a werewolf.”

       He looked up, meeting my eyes, and gave me a shy smile to let me know he had heard.

       “Maya. You can turn invisible.”

       Maya smiled and peeked up at me through her veil of hair, I could tell that she liked her power.

       “Tara, you are an illusionist.”

       “Cool,” she said, and gave Jace a high-five.

       “Derek, you are also a werewolf,”

       He smirked and fist bumped Nick and Reid.

       “Sam,” I said, brining the little boy’s head up, “You’re telepathic.”

       “Awesome little brother,” Jace congratulated him, sweeping his grinning little brother into a huge bear hug.

       Nick walked up beside me with his signature smirk on his face, “Aren’t you going to tell them what you can do,” he asked loud enough to catch everyone’s attention.

       “Yeah, Rayven. Tell us,” my little sister said, clearly speaking for all of them.

       “I’m a natural. I can control nature, the weather, and even the elements to an extent.”

       “I have a question,” Sam said raising his hand like he was in class.

       “What is it,” I responded.

       “What is James’s power?” he asked.

       Before I could reply a familiar voice answered for me.

       “It’s called energy manipulation.”