I wake up with a shadow looming over me but Thantos was still asleep. I rase my head trying to see how it is, they step out of the shade of the cherry tree and it was Titania she looked a little upset she said.
"Can I talk to you it's about what you are." I nodded getting up trying not to wake Thantos up but he did. Squinting at me he said.
"Where are you going?" He said very disappointed that made me guiltily happy.
"Me and Titania are going to talk you should go to your room and go back to sleep." He sighed and did as I asked then left me and Titania alone which was kind of awkward. He stood in silence for awhile then I spoke up because she wasn't going to start if I didn't. "What did you want to talk about? If it's about me than say what you want I know you don't like demons and in my first encounter I'm not to found of them either but keep in mind flowers don't choose where they grow. Any way I didn't even know what my father was until last night." She said nothing for a moment then said.
"It wasn't about that I mean your right I don't like demons but your my friend and any way," she put a smile on her face, "I was wondering if you'll let me through you a party." She laughed and I realized I had no choice. "Come on let's go see Kary. Did you know she has a boyfriend?"
"No. What's his name?"
"His name is Erik but everybody besides her call him Phantom."
"Oh what does he look like?" I was just curious.
"We'll all I know is he has a mouth, black hair and brown eyes. He wears a mask that covers half his face. Honestly I don't see what she sees in him but love is love." We arrived at her room and Titania just walks in and didn't knock I follow her in and Kary and Phantom were making out well this is awkward. They didn't notice and things were getting a little intense so me and Titania back out slowly with our hands up as if we were caught. I had to say something after we got out.
"Love is love right. Though maybe you should knock next time." We both laughed awkwardly. "Well what do you want to do?" Just to get our mind off the sight.
"Well I'm going to plan the party without her you can go do that with Thantos." She laughed but I blushed. She saw that and laughed some more.
"Is it that obvious that I like him?" I said that quiet because I never really liked a boy until now.
"It's not just you its really obvious that he likes you too. When ever we get new recruits that a girls all go after him but he never noticed them. Eventually they get the message and give up. Actually i had a sort of crush on him but he never liked me. Now I. Just a single pringle ready to mingle. Any way he's a lot happier with you here and I'm glad because I thought for a couple years he wasn't capable of emotion. But seeing you guys under the cherry tree got me excited." We were walking aimlessly and I was looking at her and I bumped into Thantos. Then I wondered how mush of our conversation he heard. I started talking.
"Sorry I wasn't looking." He did a giggle and my heart peed it's pants I swear when he smiled. He really was friggin perfect and I wanted him so much.
"It's okay I guess it was my fault because I was blinded by your beauty." Then he looked me in the eyes smiled then walked away. Now my heart pooped it's pants and I wanted to jump up and down and scream. But I have to act cool until I can't see him. He's gone Titania looked at me seriously and said with her voice low.
"Dude. Just dude you are so so lucky I just can't believe he said that. I don't care if Kary is doing it I have to tell her this." At that we turned around speed walking to her room. This time she knocked and we waited not so patiently. She finally opened the door her hair a mess. We barged in before she could say anything and Titania said. "Kary just listen we were talking about how Thantos liked Sorrow okay,"
"Okay." She was intent.
"She wasn't paying attention and bumped into him. She said sorry he giggled, giggled I swear it looked like her pants were half way to China and he said and I quote sorry I was blinded by your beauty. Can you believe it tell me can you." She was in awe when saying." No I can't oh my gosh." She squealed then Titania then me. Phantom cleared his throat saying.
"What Thantos likes somebody who is she? Is she like an enchantress or something. Wait is he even capable of emotion?" Well I didn't like him to much so far but really he's trying to be funny. Kary tells him sternly.
"Don't call Sorrow an enchantress. Maybe Thantos just hasn't found somebody to love yet and he didn't what to waist time with meaningless girls. But any way this is her, Sorrow Thantos likes her." She points at me the stranger in the room. Wouldn't it be obvious since I came in with Titania? He may not be the sharpest pitchfork in the shed. No he's just acting stupid for Kary so she could feel smart. I notice he's staring at me examining me. Titania was right he does wear a mask that covers half of his face you think that'd get in the way of their make out session. Phantom spoke,
"Well I guess your right Kary he didn't want to waist time but I don't see how he would like that." I once again remember I'm in a torn up dress my hair flaring out of what used to be a French braid. Then I felt unwanted in the room of a rude stranger who was judging me. Then I was like who cares what he thinks of me Thantos approved so I don't care and walked out of the room but before I did I just had to say.
"Sorry my appearance offends you but frankly I don't care what you think about me." Then walked out of the room with a smug look on my face. Off to find Thantos he said he'd explain better about halvers today hopefully he won't dodge the question. Really I was wondering because I didn't know where anything was and after a half hour of searching I gave up. Instead I walked into the garden and I noticed that their was a stream on the outer edge of the garden. Tiger lilies were defiantly the dominant flower maybe because that their organization the Black Tiger Lily wasn't it. I saw a figure in the distance it looked familiar. It was Thantos looking at the cherry tree we slept under he turned around when he felt my presence and waved I walked over to him calmly but on the inside I could have been a ballerina. I started of with some thing super simple mostly because I was nervous. "Hi how is your day going?"
"Good I'm guessing you want me to explain more don't you." He didn't look at me.
"We don't have to talk about that right now but I do want to know. Oh how about we get something to eat I'm starving." There is the smile that I love.
"Okay what do you want to eat?"
"I don't know anything I haven't ate since the day before I killed my father." I laughed I new he was a sea on so I didn't care if I killed him he deserved it any way. Thantos spoke.
"How about we go get what they're serving in the dining hall."
"Sounds good. Oh but what was this morning about."
"Well your just so pretty I got distracted is it a crime to think your attractive." I giggled,
"No people say you don't really like the girls here and that weren't capable of emotion I new they are wrong though. It just put doubts in my head." He laughed, "what's so funny?" I was a little confused
"People say that all the time I just haven't found some worth loving. I mean why waist your time if it's just going to end? I want something that will last forever you know." He wasn't looking at me until he said that and it made me blush so I looked away I could tell he smiled. "Come on let's go eat." On the way to the dining hall it happened again. All we did for the walk was look at each other from time to time and it wasn't weird at all it was perfect. When he arrived Kary, Titania and Phantom were the only other people there. The food was like an all you can eat buffet so I got three slices of pizza a hamburger and fries with ketchup and ranch. Thantos got two pieces of pizza I guess he wasn't that hungry and came with me any way. My friends were sitting at an extremely long table that almost stretched the length of the huge room. I decided that we'd sit my them any way even tough Phantom was being rather rude earlier. When we put are tries down I said. "Hi what are talking about oh and sorry about earlier." I wasn't really sorry but I didn't want them to be mad. Phantom spoke.
"No I'm sorry it's my fault and anyway don't apologize if you don't mean it." Titania interrupted.
"What do you think about the party should it be formal or a college like party in my opinion I'm going for formal." I thought for a moment then answered.
"Yeah formal is the best way to go. Say Kary how long have you and Phantom been together?" They both looked at each other her answering. "Like four years ever since I was fifteen an I'm eighteen now yeah." Then Phantom had a big smile on his face. After awhile of talking the subject got on peanut butter which I didn't like. " How can you not like peanut butter. Okay do you like peanuts." It was Kary speaking. I waved my hand from side to side showing I kind of like peanuts. "Well peanut butter is made out of peanuts so how can you not like it?" Time to be sarcastic.
"What no really I- I never knew I always thought peanut butter was made out of - of broccoli. How could I have been so blind of course it's clear to me now I understand the whole world now I just can't think of how I have been so blind!" Every body was laughing Titania to the point of tears. After a long laughing session we went on talking about other things like the party and how we acted as children, how popular we were at schools in the human world then the subject got onto me or my magic. Now I can finally now more. When Thantos spoke he had a kind of passion in his eyes like a fire dancing in them.
"Halvers are a cross between an angel and a demon you all no that, but they used to be bred for fighting." I interrupted after his pause.
"What do we fight?" He looked at me hands clasped together above his lips.
"Dragons but they did a little to well. With their powerful magic they wiped out the population of them. After they did demons kept on breeding them so their army could be bigger and stronger that was fifty years ago there have been some halvers born quickly recruited by the demons. Your the first halvers to be with Black Tiger Lily since your mother." So that was it a big secret kept away forever until now. It wasn't enough of a secret but at least I know now.
All of a sudden Kary stood from her seat and leaned to my face she said almost deadly.
"Masquerade ball Sorrow masquerade ball do it." Her gaze was more intense then a thousand burning suns quietly I detected her wrath onto Titania by saying.
"She's the one that's planning the party." I pointed to her as Kary snapped her head towards her she said only two words so fierce and passionate she was like a lion.
"Do it." With that she left mostly because she was finished with her food. But talk about dramatic exits then Phantom and Titania left after her probably to plan the party but that was a good idea hopefully they would go with it. Now the only people in the dinning hall were me and Thantos. What are we going to talk about now? Thantos started talking.
"Are you excited about the party? I am because it's in your honor." I giggled a little bit and he smiled his charming smile. It dawned on me that I didn't know where my room is so I asked.
"Hey where's my room we slept under the tree and in your room but it hit me that I didn't know where mine was." He laughed a little then nodded.
"Come on." He motioned his hand signaling me to follow and I did. We walked for a while then came to a door with flowers around the trim of the door itself was green and brown with abstract flowers someone painted it. Thantos gestured to the door for me to open it. I walked in it was like I've been there before the bed was medium the colors green flower print and a pink canopy that draped elegantly over the bed a small night dresser with an old lamp lay beside it and a journal on the dresser. I go to the dresser and opened it there were pictures of me when I was five and a boy that looked like Thantos. There was a closet in the corner of the room I open it and dresses of all kinds were in there but mostly sundresses. At the top of the closet it was separated for suitcases but the person who had this last had bed covers hats and canopies. I look at Thantos questioningly he said.
"This was your mothers room. Those pictures that you looked at were us we were really good friends. This life got to dangerous for you since you didn't know how to use your powers. I thought it would help but it didn't." I saw regret on his face disappointment but mostly regret. I asked.
"What didn't help?" He looked at me shyly.
"You were out going back then, had tons of friends at your school all your social skills were based on our friendship. Demons attacked one day and gone after you the only way to save you were to erase your memory of me or this world. The effect was your social skills vanished and you became shy but I really did think it was,going to help it did and didn't. I'm sorry." It all came back to be in a flash how we met what we did together I even remember training now I could fight I could you magic more fluently because I had lessons I know more about the halvers and my powers it was all clear. Then I remembered the dream that startled me it was him erasing my memory. I smile and said to Thantos.
"You thought it was the best for me and I trusted your judgment and I still do." He was leaning against the wall arms crossed showing off his muscular biceps. He smiled then left the room waving and I thought I would get changed. I get a blue sundress out and went to the bath house. This time I was alone and the water was steamy it felt good. Before I left I found a brush and some makeup which I find fun y because I don't know how to put on makeup. I took my time washing my hair and shaving my legs in the shower stalls. I got out and dried off put the sundress on and put my hair in a side pony tail with sandals I felt much better after my bath. The rest of my day was spent exploring the fortress. There was a library and a pretty good medical clinic for anything. These demon hunters were building an Empire with how many babies they have I went into one wing of the clinic and they asked if I was pregnant. I shook my head then blushed because my mind automatically thought of Thantos. I did more exploring and there was a pretty expensive training center and some of the building was dedicated just for magic like how to use it and how to prevent demons from using it. Speaking of demons there was a class on demon anatomy. They told students how many kinds of demons like shape shifting ones like Mercy the one I killed yesterday. So many demon types no wonder they made this guild and there are other guilds that deal with demons too. When it was four I went to my room it took a while but I found it and Thantos was waiting outside my door. He had some thing with him but I didn't bother ask because I was busy blushing by him smiling. When I walked up he said.
"Hey can we talk in your room it's kind of important.? I nodded and he opened the door and held it for me to go in. When we were he shut the door quickly and didn't hesitate to talk. "So you have to have an initiation to get into the Black Tiger Lily. It's the same for everybody though pick someone that is in then go to the human world and kill a demon by the end of the night, simple right. But I don't want you to get hurt and if you do-" he paused as if someone stabbed him in the stomach. "Pick me so I can help you." I thought for a minute and thought out loud.
"Well didn't I already kill like five of then ate that thing." His face lightened apparently everybody forgot about that after a day. Looks like I'm invisible after all. He said happily.
"Let's got talk,to my father," he started walking then looked back ,"well are you coming it's going to be fine don't worry he doesn't bite. Well he doesn't bite to bad no come on." He pulled me out my room and into the hall. We walked for a short while until we came to another large door. He opened it without knocking it was a very large room probably his office the walls were painted like a valley of flowers and clouds that could be mistaken for real ones. Thantos spoke. "Father." he paused than continued." Father remember she already killed that one demon when we had that assembly. Please don't make her go into the human world she might get hurt and I don't want that." Grim which was turned around back facing the wall turned slowly with an angered look speaking.
" Thantos I made up my mind she is going. I'm sorry but she has to prove her worth without using magic. She has to make a conscious decision to kill demons when she's like that she can't think it's an instinct to kill them in this form she might not and I'm not signing on a girly girl who can't do her job Thantos that's just how it is." His voice was raised at the end. But I didn't like how he was talking like I wasn't here. It was Thantos's turn to talk.
"But father." He was interrupted by Grim's hand going up to signal he wasn't debating anymore.
"She will leave tomorrow with Katy to help her. She is in the art of support magic isn't she. Do you not trust her to do her job and heal her if Sorrow gets hurt?" Thantos sighed because he knew he had been beat. But I wonder who this Katy person is. Me and Thantos walked back to my room he said after sitting in the chair at the desk.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do anything." He slammed his fist on to the desk. "I'm useless if I can't protect you." I felt offended and thankful at the same time but mostly offended I could protect myself and that's exactly what I tell him.
" I can protect myself. Yeah I'm not the best fighter but you don't have to feel like you have to." I sighed I tried being mad at him but I couldn't.
"I just don't want to see you get hurt that all." His face and tone of voice said that wasn't all. I looked at the clock on the wall the time flied it was six.
" Okay I'll be careful don't worry about me what about that Katy-" there was a knock at the door. Thantos got up and opened it. It was a stranger but he invited the this beautiful stranger. She had black hair with caramel highlights she was a little bigger than me. She had hazel eyes and perfect teeth and a great smile. Her skin glowed compared to mine. Her eyes seemed wise filled with experience when she spoke her voice was soft and soothing. This must be Katy.
"Hello you must be Sorrow I'm Katy I'm a. Expert in support magic like healing and other thing. I wanted to meet the one I'm helping and you look like you will do just fine. Even though we don't know each other you'll have to trust me since we're partners this mission." She smiled a sweet smile then left. I'm going to like her but she seems random but I like that. Thantos looked at me saying.
" That's Katy she's cool just be careful." He grabbed my hands with his looked at them for a while then looked into my eyes. " Get some sleep I know it's early but you have to leave early to find a demon to kill right. She will be here at five in the morning so I won't see you but here's just in case the worst." He kissed my cheek lightly right by my ear. Blood flowed heating my face. Thantos let go of my hands and went out the door closing it gently.
I decided to go to sleep so I changed into pajamas. Payed down on my cool bed and fell asleep immediately. I guess I was a lot more tiered then I thought. I had no dreams just a deep sound sleep.
I woke up from my slumber after I heard knocking at the door. Getting up drowsily I inched my bed head and opened the door. It was Katy I totally forgot about my mission but Katy says.
"Don't worry I came here to get you up. Change into something sturdy we'll have breakfast then leave got it." I nodded my head still a bit confused. I go to my dresser and get out combat boots, leather pants and a T-shirt and a leather jacket that went to my waist.
I caught up with Katy in the hall then to the mess hall and we ate in silence. I was thinking it was awkward until I saw her looking at me. "We should get going." I nodded she signed for me to follow with her finger. We went to an old door at the corner of the big room. She opened it and I was staring at my home town. I saw so many people I knew. My home town wasn't very big so people walked very where. Katy stepped out so I followed when we got out of Black Tiger Lily she turned to me taking a deep breath. "Where should you start? Choose somewhere popular. Somewhere every body hangs out. Or do you know where a possible demon might be?" When Katy said that I immediately thought about crazy Chrystal. Everybody called her a witch or a crack head I believe both. Once she tried selling her toddler some for heroin . Who does that?
"I know where someone would be. Her name is Chrystal. They call her a witch that reason enough." Katy nodded she had an expression that said we'll be home in time for dinner. We walked through the broken side walk tithe corner of the city pool. We turned on the left on the corner walked past three houses then stopped in front of a brownish house. It used to be white but the sands of time didn't agree with the color. The shudders had hearts on them but coming of their hinges and shrieking against the wind. We walked to the door and it was wide open. The living room trashed. I heard a faint laughter I looked at Katy her face saying she heard it too. I walked in Katy following behind. We went through the dinning room then the kitchens going into a room where the Cackling came from. I opened the door slowly it creaking just a little bit alerting the demon inside. She stopped looked at me taking in every detail. The demon got up looking realization washed on her face
"Your Angels damn daughter." She had a low raspy voice and a few yellow snaggle teeth and bad breathe. "I'll kill you." She jumped forward leaping on top of me trying to choke me. Their was a pocket knife by us on the ground. She was to busy choking me to realize I opened it and stabbed her right under her heart in her rib cage taking it out and slashed her throat. The pressure stopped and she was lying on her back then dissolved not even ash was left. Katy stood at the door smiling. My throat throbbed it was a good minute before I saw the knife so I couldn't breath for a long time and it hurt when I sucked in. When I stabbed her in the heart and she let go and I greedily sucked in air greedily.
"Congrats your officially a member of Black Tiger Lily. Let's go home and tell the news." We went to the door and she spoke a charm opened the door back in Grim's office. He looked surprised to see use here so early. It was only eight. He was watching us on a video Katy was streaming to him.
"Well good job for your first assignment. Here is you ID it proves your a member of Black Tiger Lily." He handed me a card with my name and picture almost like a drivers license. We waited for more but none came so we left. Me and Katy separated and I when to find Titania and Kary. They weren't in their rooms so I when to the mess hall. I opened the door and sure enough Kary and Titania were there with Phantom. I strode in trying to be the picture of pride. I cleared my throat and they turned.
I pulled out my card. "Your looking at an official member of the guild. You may rejoice in my new found presence." I had a smile on my face. Kary and Titania pounced on me giving me hugs and giving congrats.
"My party is going to be extra special your going to be the guest of honor." Titania was beaming with pride while Kary nodded. The rest of the day we just celebrating even Thantos joined in our all day party. We even went to a bar and had drinks.