My Demonic Ghost #3: Hunters and Creators Read online

I inhaled sharply as Gargoyle tightened his grip on me with a quick squeeze. “So it’s a real demon that is haunting me?”

  “Unfortunately it has a delusion that you want to help it.” He again spoke with a sense of higher moral ground. As if he personally knew this spirit and its common sense eluded him.

  “What? Never!” I sprung up.

  Gargoyle tilted his head as he bit into a lopsided grin, “Good then maybe you can help us instead. Don’t worry Rachael; we will get rid of it.”

  “How do you know my name?” I turned my head at the same moment another woman walked into the room. I recognised her instantly, her sunset hair and fierce warm eyes was a dead giveaway. She had her arms crossed and her face snarled, preferring to stay closer to the door than walk further into my room. Gargoyle stood to welcome her, but she didn’t return the pleasantries.

  “How can you possibly trust her?” The woman hissed under her breath.

  “Damage,” Gargoyle lifted his hands and placed them gently on her shoulders, “You know what those wicked spirits can do with their mind control. She was not in her right mind back then. Now we can use her to help us…”

  Unconvinced, Damage wrenched her shoulders out of Gargoyle’s hands, but didn’t lessen her glare. Gargoyle then turned his head to speak to me over his shoulder, “We will be back later. We didn’t expect the living to have to be a part of this war. Damage and I will go ahead to our Royal and seek council. If you need anything, Chaos will be here to look after you.”

  Gargoyle gently smiled and again I found myself slouching in my bed, completely relaxed. He looked back at Damage before they both dissolved into tiny specs of sparkling dust. I clutched the blanket to my chest tighter, watching as the cloud lingered above my head before vanishing through the open window next to me. If I hadn’t believed them before, I believed them now. Is this for real? Angels and demons? This war of good vs evil? Are you kidding me? What the hell else is out there? Vampires? Unicorns? The bogeyman?

  ***

  I don’t know how much time had passed since they left. I stayed in my room and mulled over everything that had happened; and what the future could possibly hold. The one human in a war between the dark and the light. Most would’ve jumped at the idea, but I felt myself sinking into self-pity. I didn’t want this. I wasn’t even happy having a demon stalker let alone being the one sole girl randomly thrown into a war between Heaven and Hell. How am I meant to be of any assistance? What am I meant to do when the green-eyed monster appears to me outside of my dream? I was scared even when I thought he was a figure of my imagination. I hadn’t noticed it, but I had been chewing on my nails, a terrible habit had when I was stressed. I growled at myself then spotted a boy standing beside the window. Instinctively I shrieked and kicked away, but Chaos merely chuckled. He had his arms crossed and tucked underneath his chin as he leaned against the frame. He had been lingering there quietly for quite some time.

  I could see the similarities between his and Gargoyle’s appearances. Both of them had the soft tan skin and red hair, yet Chaos seemed to have painted white streaks through his like dove feathers. His eyes were different coloured too; one was green and the other was walnut brown. His bangs were long and brushed to the side stylishly.

  I found myself asking, “Are you an angel too?”

  His eyes arched into half-moons with his smile, “I am. Are we what you expected of Angels?” I shook my head no, which only broadened his smile, “You look worried. Do you want to hang out with me?”

  I hesitated for a brief moment before buckling underneath his grin. “Umm… s-sure.”

  Beaming madly, Chaos promptly broke into tiny grains before taking off deeper into the woods. I raced to the window to see where he had gone when he reappeared along a footpath. He beckoned me over his shoulder with a wave. I quickly jumped into my shoes before climbing through the windowsill. I took one last look behind me at the house. It wasn’t anything special, a lone cabin being slowly taken over by nature. Chaos’s laugh drew my attention back to him. He was up in the trees, swinging upside down like a playful monkey.

  “Are you coming?” He called.

  I jogged after him as he raced ahead barely able to follow the scattered movements of the boy before he led me down a subtle hill following the footpath. He reappeared standing on top of a large boulder, both hands in his pockets and his back facing me. I slowed as I approached him before stepping around the boulder to find a stream of running water along the forest floor. Chaos sat down, his legs dangling over the top of the rock, and leaned forward so his image was reflected in the stream. At the edge I squatted down and ran my fingertips in the current, it was freezing.

  “Do you know my name?” He suddenly asked.

  I glanced up, “Yes. Your name is Chaos.” As the thought hit me I swivelled on the ball of my feet, “Why is your name Chaos? It’s not a very angelic name. Neither is Gargoyle or Damage.” His smile dropped for a moment, his gaze lowered to the stream below as if a troubling thought crossed his mind. He slipped down from the boulder till he landed soundlessly beside me. I was taller than he was, but by only a foot.

  “We didn’t pick our names they were given to us.” He turned back, smiling again, “as you didn’t pick your name. But, what is in a name right? Would I be more angelic if I was called Gabe or Sunshine?”

  I pursed my lips, “I guess not.”

  Chaos laughed, “Don’t look so serious. I like it better when you’re smiling.”

  I smiled shyly before I could stop it. “How old are you, Chaos?”

  “I’m older than you are. Don’t let my youthful face fool you. I’ve been a Hunter for a long time, longer than both Damage and Gargoyle.” Strangely, he then licked his thumb and softly stroked my cheek. I cringed and batted his hand away. His fingers were so soft that it shocked me. “Are you scared?” His smile was contagious.

  “Wouldn’t you be if you were me?”

  “Not anymore.” He licked his thumb again, this time dabbing it along my lower lip.

  I pulled away again, “What are you doing?”

  “Just look,” Chaos motioned to the stream with the tilt of his head. When I glanced down, I could see scratches and gashes across my face which were slowly disappearing.

  “I can heal small wounds. It’s a gift most Hunters have.” I knelt down closer to the water so I could see properly. With the moving stream, my face was distorted until Chaos knelt down too, dipping his finger into the current, causing the water to become still. He wrapped his other arm around my shoulders, pulling my face into his. “We’ll make an awesome team.”

  “A team? I’m just a normal girl though. I can’t heal or teleport. I can’t even fight.”

  “You’re a Hunter on the inside just waiting to be released. Right now you’re stuck in a human body, but one day you’ll be free and you can join us in hunting down Banished too.”

  I laughed at the idea, “Do you think so? And what would my name be?”

  Chaos turned his heterochromia eyes upwards in thought, “Hmm… Baceolus.”

  “Baceolus? What does that mean?”

  He leaned closer so he could whisper straight into my ear, “It means the Fool.”

  My brows suddenly scrunched together, “Why would you call me that?”

  “You’ve been tricked once by the demons. Your name will remind you of your mistake and ensure you’ll never be tricked again.” He grinned boisterously before standing up and picking his way along the rocky path along the stream. He had his arms out to balance himself and his toes pointed to reach the rocks below.

  “I’ve never been tricked by any demon,” I retorted.

  “If you weren’t tricked that means you helped them willingly.” Chaos paused and cocked his head over his shoulder, “For that we’ll name you the bigger fool.” His shoulders suddenly straightened and he turned his attention back towards the cabin. He could hear something far off that I couldn’t regardless how much I strained my ears. He stayed perfectly still
before realization crossed his face, prompting him to evaporate back to my side. Abruptly, Chaos pressed me against the cool rock, his hand on my shoulder pinned me to the stone.

  “What-?”

  “Shhh!” He hushed before leaning over slightly around the corner. I could see by his dilated eyes and his drawn brows that he was worried. Footsteps hurriedly barged down the hillside, causing Chaos to vaporize into mist and greet them. I turned around and spotted Gargoyle and Damage, both looking concerned as they whipped their gazes towards me.

  “Hide her!” Gargoyle demanded as Chaos peered over his shoulder, also catching my gaze. Sparing only a moment, Chaos returned to my side and forcibly grabbed my wrist. He turned to bolt when more voices crashed to the ground. He immediately spun on his heel and pressed me back against the stone again, hastily covering my mouth with his palm. I could feel every exhale of his breath brush my cheek, his face so close that I couldn’t focus.

  “Oh,” He whispered softly, “They’ve come to take you.”

  “Hmm?!” I murmured only to be shushed again.

  He indicated with his chin for me to look around. Damage and Gargoyle stood like fences at the top of the hill, standing their ground against a large pack of Hunters that were all dressed in uniform white.

  “Gargoyle! Damage! I’m sure you understand why we are here!” One of the male Hunters stepped forward, opening his arms to gesture to the pack that stood behind him. Both Gargoyle and Damage had their arms crossed their chests smugly.

  “You have no business here William,” Damage snarled.

  “Withholding information or important valuables from us is punishable, you understand the order-” William stepped forward with a stern grunt, pointing his index finger right into their faces.

  “We’ve claimed her. She is ours to protect. Your services are not required,” Gargoyle answered with a less agitated tone.

  “You are just half a Hunter. You have no power over us.” William spat his words through his teeth, speaking with condescending hate that incited Gargoyle to suddenly lunge at him.

  Gargoyle was fast, snatching William’s extended arm and pinning it behind his back. As William groaned, Gargoyle smirked into his ear, “I may be a half hunter but I am still stronger than you. How does that make you feel?

  “Stand down Gar-goy-le. Know your place.” Another Hunter stepped forward and forcibly shoved Gargoyle off William. William stumbled out of the pressure hold, holding onto his shoulder with a disgruntled snarl.

  “I do know my place, gentlemen. It’s by the side of our beloved Miira.” Gargoyle stepped back and announced. “And as I have caught the Creator what have you done to deserve your titles?”

  “If you have caught the Creator as you claim, then where is it?”

  Gargoyle paused for a moment; even from my position down the hill I could sense the unease shift through him. “It’s with a girl. She is still living.”

  “You’re a liar!” William jeered.

  “He is not lying! I’ve seen it with my own two eyes,” Damage stepped forward, but fell silent as Gargoyle held his hand out.

  “Prove it then!” William beckoned again, but Gargoyle did not comply.

  “As we said before, you have no business here. We found her and we will ensure the Creator is safely returned.”

  “Tsk! Miira is running out of patience, Gargoyle. If the Creator and Staff are not returned by the end of the month you know she will do what she must!”

  “Then we better not waste any time. Shall we?” Gargoyle replied calmly, only serving to pinch William’s temper even more.

  “You are a fool and your stubborn pride will be their undoing. I hope you are here when everything burns.” William’s words sent chills through me. Not even Chaos was smiling. The rest of the Hunters disappeared among the wind, so Gargoyle and Damage let their arms drop to their sides. I followed Chaos up the hill till I reached the others.

  Gargoyle exhaled deeply, hanging his head low. “Okay. Okay, we can’t waste any more time.”

  Damage shook her head in hopelessness, “What are we supposed to do? We’ve got a living on our hands. Not a Creator.”

  I felt my tongue swell, “Well… maybe I can help?”

  Gargoyle glanced over briefly, “I really hope so. Can you get the Creator spirit to come out?”

  I didn’t know what to say. Not two hours ago I just found out such a thing existed. “I… I don’t know how.”

  “What were you doing when it first approached you?” Chaos asked. I turned my head down in thought.

  “I was dancing. I was with my friends… I was with James and I was really happy.”

  “Maybe that’s it,” Chaos turned to the others, “her sense of happiness may have drawn its attention.”

  They all murmured with small hope as I asked, “Why would my happiness draw its attention exactly?”

  Damage sighed, “Creators are emotionally driven spirits. They are pure instinct, a ‘live in the moment’ type of being. They create life and survival; happiness and sadness; heart break and love. So, when they are in the presence of such feelings, they are drawn to them. It’s also incredibly risky. They have super empathic ability where they take on any emotion and increase it to great proportions. If you are annoyed, they’ll become furious. If you are a little sad, they turn it into misery. It keeps them irrational, temperamental, and extremely dangerous and wild. They do not belong here where feelings and emotions are so carelessly thrown around.”

  “What bad can come of joy?” I questioned.

  “Ecstasy. The Creator feels empowered and suddenly it’s on a massive high that only ends with destruction. It can reflect its own emotions onto others, tricking you into believing you are greater than we actually are. It can destroy a person in a second.” The memory of the white haired creature suddenly going ballistic bounced back into mind, the moment people started panicking the Creator must’ve felt it ten times the normal response.

  “Your job is to call it.” Gargoyle ordered as he straightened back up. “Do anything that’s necessary. We need any strong reaction to get its attention. Just do it quickly.”

  Chapter Nine:

  With the sole task of baiting a Creator spirit, I returned to the old cabin and sat myself down on the couch. I sat there gathering my thoughts and trying to spark a reaction, while all three Hunters sat surrounding me watching my every move. They were as silent and as still as the furniture, yet I could still feel their attention spotlighting me.

  “I can’t concentrate with you all staring.” I sighed.

  “Does that make you feel angry?” Chaos asked hopefully. He was sitting on the couch, his head resting directly behind me and his knee constantly bumping into my back. Damage was by the back wall, arms crossed and her face curled in what I could only presume was her natural snarling face. Gargoyle sat in front. Directly in front. His chin in his palms and his eyes piercing right through me. A glare I thought could snap me in two.

  “It’s annoying, yes, but I’m not mad.”

  “How about this,” Damage stood and pinched the muscle under my arm really hard. I snatched my arm away hastily. “Do you feel mad now?”

  “Ow! Don’t do that!” I snapped.

  “Not a good idea Damage. We don’t want what the Creator to replicate rage.” Gargoyle pondered as he started to pace.

  “It may have just been a huge coincidence that the Creator appeared to her…” Damage suggested as she walked around the couch to where Gargoyle was. She was taller, but not by much, suggesting she was older.

  “No, no it has something to do with her. You said before you were with a boy. What were you feeling?”

  I gritted my teeth; I didn’t really want to admit it aloud to a pack of what were once mythical creatures. “Gees… I dunno. Happiness?”

  “Love?” Chaos suggested.

  “Maybe. I don’t know.”

  “Love is pretty powerful, feel love again!” Gargoyle barked and I found myself laughing.

/>   “What? I can’t just feel it like that!” I clicked my fingers together as Chaos slid down onto the couch next to me. He took my chin into his hand, forcibly turning my cheek to look into his gaze.

  “I can help you feel love.” He purred and I pulled my face away immediately.

  “No thank you!” I repelled.

  “Maybe you’re just not her type, Chaos.” Damage sneered as Chaos jumped up from the couch, appearing to be stretching out his back muscles.

  “Half the fun is charming the girl anyway,” He brushed his hand through his hair, sweeping it into a messy mop.

  “I’m like twice his age.” I pointed out.

  “I can look older if it’ll help?”

  “No, we have to return her to this James guy. Stimulate that reaction in her again and we may just get the Creator to appear.” Gargoyle spoke.

  “It’s a lot less romantic when you know it’s staged.” I rebutted. “It’s not going to work.”

  “We need it to work. Now stop arguing and let’s go.”

  ***

  I found myself back at Whitehaven, escorted by three red headed Angels of Justice and having every set of eyes turn to gawk at me. Who was I kidding; I was the last person to get their attention. The three of them were another story, yet they walked completely oblivious to the stares. I had checked my phone earlier to see I had already received three missed calls from both Kate and Tom, and they were under the impression I had gone home with James last night. I sent a text earlier just to ease their concern. I had also received three missed calls from James himself. He was concerned, but not to the extent Kate and Tom were.

  Gargoyle merely shrugged his shoulders, “That’s a natural reaction. When the creator appeared, Damage and I remained behind to wipe everyone’s memory of the incident. The world is already a mess with all the suspicion and fear. The last thing we want is a war on earth too.”

  “So what do they remember exactly?”

  “Nothing. I didn’t have time to fill in the blanks.” Damage waved off with a careless shrug, “They’re just missing ten minutes of memory. No one will notice.”