WARNING: This is a DOUBLE UPDATE. Make sure first read Chapter VII before reading this one. And please, do comment/vote on both. Thank you.

Dedicated to howto_ for writing hilarious 'how to' stories. They are just great and surprisingly useful XD                  

"There are not many hunters who have a werewolf at their back and call, you know? You shouldn't underestimate a promise made by a being like myself." - Jason Scott

Chapter VIII

Taking another spoonful of my cereal, I glanced towards the window where I saw a kitten turn into a grand eagle yesterday evening. He's really something else, I thought to myself.

After the eagle had disappeared, I had focused my attention back on the screen, my mind elsewhere. Ana and Alec had left not too long after that, a little before the clock hit ten, making me promise to message them the next day. Somehow, I still managed to finish editing those horror books before the clock hit midnight.

After finishing my breakfast, I placed the bowl and spoon in the sink and started washing them, putting them away when I was done. I grabbed my bag and went towards the front door, ready to leave for work, not before putting the gun away in the bottom of my bag though. I know better now, I'm not leaving this house unarmed. As well as a small silver dagger and a jar filled with rock salt.

Ghost was seated next to the door, his tail curled neatly around his grand body and staring up at me with his mismatched green eyes. I gave him a single pet over his head. "I'm leaving for work now," I said, "see you soon." Ghost meowed in reply and watched me leave.

Touching the silver bracelets clasped around both of my wrists, I went deeper into New York, towards my work.

.

I entered the grand building of Walker Books and waved at Claire behind the reception. Claire smiled and waved back. "Harlynn, good morning!" I went up towards the elder woman and handed her some papers.

"Could you please hand those to Jason when you see him? I am kind of busy," I asked her, referring to a colleague of mine. I had to go to a meeting soon and it was important Jason got those papers as soon as possible. There was a slight change in the calamity rules and as his superior, Jason was my responsibility. He had to sign those papers today.

Claire looked at the papers and she nodded in understanding. "Of course," she replied with a small smile. I nodded in gratitude and went towards the elevator. I pressed the button that led to the floor my office was on and waited patiently.

A few more people had entered the elevator and I had nodded their way as a greeting. They left the elevator sooner than I did. When I arrived at my floor, I exited the elevator and opened the wooden door that led to my office, placing the bag down under my bureau. I hung my coat on the coat-rack and put the beanie and scarf away as well. The scarf the Alpha had fixed for me.

I took out a clipboard with some notes written on it and stared at the gun, the jar with rock salt and the silver dagger, knowing fully well I couldn't bring them with me to the meeting. They would freak. After debating with myself for a while, I put them away in my drawer and locked it, putting the key in the pocket of my blouse.

Touching the silver bracelet around my right wrist, I calmed down slightly. At least I still have some silver with me.

Leaving the office behind me, I turned a few corridors and casually pushed open the door that led to the meeting room.

"Good morning, Mrs. Pierce," Jack – the boss – greeted me. A kind smile on his slightly wrinkled face. Monica was there as well, sorting some papers in front of her. A slight frown on her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Walker," I greeted back. "Mason isn't here, yet?" I asked, not seeing him anywhere.

"Forgot something in his office," Monica replied, "he'll be here shortly."

Nodding my head, I sat down. Monica handed me some coffee with a knowing look. "Don't worry," she said, "there's milk in it and a lot of sugar." I took the coffee gratefully and placed the clipboard in front of me, taking a sip.

I glanced at Monica. "Not enough sugar," I muttered.

"I put four spoonful's in it," she replied wide-eyed.

"I like my coffee with five," I innocently said with wide eyes. Jack laughed softly at our conversation, amusement clear in his light eyes.

She shook her head. "How do you manage to stay so thin while eating so much sugar?" The elder woman muttered. "My son is the same."

I poked out my tongue and Mason chose that moment to enter, pushing his glasses up his face and holding a few papers under his arm. "Let's get this meeting stated," Jack announced, standing up. Mason quickly sat down.

.

Sitting back down on my spinning chair in my office after my meeting was over, I sighed. I pushed my pale blonde hair out of my face and opened my MacBook, decided to check my mail before sending in the horror books.

A light knocking was heard on my office door. "Come in!" I called out, opening my mail.

Jason entered the room. The waved the papers Claire handed him in the air, a grin on his face. "I came to hand those in," he told me.

I nodded my head, looking up. Jason walked up to me and held out the papers, I took them from him. My silver bracelet lightly graced his skin and Jason jumped back with a painted howl, smoke rising from his skin where the silver had touched him.

I had unlocked the drawer and my hand closed around the hilt of the silver dagger.

Looking up, Jason stared at me with alarmed eyes, his hand closing around his burned wrist. "Uhm..." he said, thinking about something to say which would logically explain his reaction. I knew better though.

In a flash, I jumped over my bureau and before I could blink, I stood in front of the office door. I locked the door and turned back to Jason. Jason stared at me wide-eyed, "Those are some nice reflexes," he commented.

When he saw the silver dagger in my hand, he completely tensed up. He stared at me with a blank stare. I watched on how his eyes turned yellow. "You can see this, can't you?" Jason asked, pointing at his yellow eyes.

I nodded my head, my hold tightening on the dagger.

He towered to his full height, his gaze hardening. "I'm just gonna be straight-forward here," he said, "are you a hunter?"

I held up the dagger, pointing it towards Jason. "Yes." Well, technically I never hunted anything before in my life... but I was raised a hunter. That counts as something, right?

My subconsciousness hid away and my inner warrioress took her place. My stance changed as well and my mind focused. Eyes not leaving the creature standing before me wearing a human-skin.

Jason stared at me calmly, the harshness leaving his expression. "Don't bother," he said with a snort. "I have no intention of hurting you, nor have I ever harmed a human before," he said, holding up his hands. The yellow in his eyes faded away and brown eyes gazed at me.

I arched my eyebrows. Jason shrugged his shoulders. "Not all of us are bad, you know?" He commented. "There are actually many packs who live alongside humans, living human lives."

"Packs?" I repeated. A werewolf then. Shapeshifters are often solitary creatures.

"I'm a werewolf," Jason said proudly, confirming my thought. "My pack lives in downtown Manhattan."

I nodded my head. Not exactly being surprised by encountering a werewolf who worked as an editor. "Why are you an editor?" I questioned the werewolf, taking a small step closer and not lowering the dagger.

Jason stared at the dagger before looking up in my eyes. "Mostly because I really like books," the werewolf said honestly. "And like I said earlier. Most of us live human lives."

I scanned his eyes and his body language. He stood completely calm, not bothered by the dagger in my hand. Those aren't the eyes of someone who lies, my subconsciousness told me, making her appearance once more. My inner warrioress nodded in agreement, not seeing any danger in the werewolf standing calmly before me.

Lowering the dagger, I nodded my head. "I believe you, for now." I told the werewolf.

A flash of surprise flashed before Jason's brown eyes. "But if you ever harm a human," I warned, "I will hunt you down."

The werewolf nodded. "Fair enough," he agreed.

I completely lowered the dagger and sighed. And here I was hoping for a normal day.

"You know," Jason said, taking a step closer. "I have encountered hunters before, I never really liked them. They did try to kill me after all. But you?" He shook his head and tilted his head to the sides. "You are a kind person, Harlynn Pierce. You are something else."

Jason bowed his head. "Know what? If you come across any troubles, you can give me a call alright? I'll promise to help you out."

I gave him a confused look. Jason rolled his eyes.

He looked me straight in the eye. Dead serious. "You hunters can say about us whatever you want," the werewolf said, "but whenever we promise something. We stay true to it."

I nodded my head. "Thank you, Jason."

Something came up in me. "What do you know about the Alpha?" I asked him, recalling the winged creature.

Giving me a weary look, Jason looked at me. Seemingly uncertain about giving a human information about the Alpha. "Are you hunting him?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm not," I quickly said. "He saved my life from a lightning dragon."

His eyebrows shot up. "You actually saw him?!" Jason asked in sheer disbelief.

I nodded, eyes slightly widened by his reaction.

Looking at me in curiosity, the werewolf said, "Not many humans can actually see him – or see dragons for that matter." He shook his head in wonder. "The Alpha is a powerful, high-level being. Invincible to most. If you could see him, it must mean that you are quite powerful yourself."

He tilted his head to the sides. "Are you human?"

Now it was my time to look baffled. "What else am I supposed to be?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Jason looked quite helplessly himself. "Humans cannot see the supernatural world," he replied. "Most hunters are either physic or they have an ancestor who belongs to the other side of the veil. There is no other way."

"If that's the case," I replied slowly, my mind racing with the information Jason told me. "Then I don't know anything about it." I should talk with my grandparents about this.

Jason stared at me. "It seems like you have a lot to think about," he said gently. "I should leave now. See you later, okay?"

Absently I nodded my head, unlocking the door and stepping away from it. "Okay. Thank you." He walked past me and left the office, leaving me to think about what he had told me.

.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I checked my mail, answered some mails. I send in the horror books I finished editing last night. I got send some new books to look at. Lunch break. A chat with werewolf Jason about the books he had to edit himself - a werewolf book, ironically enough. Another meeting with a different facility. More meetings. And then it was time to go back home.

I walked through the corridors of Walker Books, nodding at people along the way on my way to the exit. Jason strolled not too far behind me, whistling something under his breath.

"You okay?" Jason asked, easily catching up to me.

"Just a lot to take in," I said truthfully. "I just found out that one of my ancestors is possibly not even human. What does that makes me even?"

Jason slowed down his pace. "I shouldn't worry about that too much. You are human in more ways than one," he told me. "This wasn't exactly a normal day for me either, you know?"

He shook his head. "I just found out that one of my colleagues is a hunter," the werewolf muttered, laughing afterwards.

I lightly laughed, understanding the irony in it all. "A hunter and a werewolf," I joked, "we would make a great tag-team."

We walked out of the building and the sunlight hit us. I removed my scarf and beanie. "Seems like I won't need those," I muttered to myself, placing them in my bag.

A howling sound pierced through the air. My eyes had widened and Jason tilted his head to the side, eyes half-closed, listening. I glanced at the other pedestrians, nobody else seemed to hear it.

"The other werewolves?" I guessed, looking at Jason.

Jason nodded, glancing in the distance. "I have to go, my pack calls," he said.

I nodded. "Of course. Take care." I told him. Jason nodded my way once, before he took off running. In no time, he was gone from my line of sight.

Werewolves sure are fast, my subconsciousness noted. I couldn't help but agree with that.

Shaking my head at what my life had become, I went towards the subway station to bring me towards the public library, instead of going home. "First a magic-wielding maybe-shapeshifter at Starbucks who steals my food and destroys my fridge," I muttered under my breath. "Then two dragons in the skies of New York and a winged fire-demon-creature who's the Alpha," I added. "And the next thing I knew my colleague is a werewolf."

What has become of my life? I couldn't help but wonder. "Before I forget," I muttered under my breath, "I might not even be fully human myself." The irony of it all.

Let's start by figuring out Mr. Mysterious' species. One thing at a time, I mentally told myself. I skillfully dodged some other people and jumped out of the way of an incoming car.

I went down with an escalator, entering the subway station. I scanned my business card by the gates and maneuvered my way through the underground labyrinth that was the subway station.

.

Exiting the subway station and emerging above ground once more, I slightly squinted my eyes against the sunlight. Continuing my way.

It was only four. So the library should still be open.

Holding my bag against me, I pushed my way through the crowd. Walking down a few more blocks, I walked up the steps towards the grand library of Manhattan. The doors opened and I went inside.

I took in a deep breath of air, the familiar smell of books hitting my nostrils. Feeling as giddy as a child on Christmas Eve, I excitedly walked past the oak wood tables and rows and rows of countless books about everything imaginable.

Having come here often during the years I have lived Manhattan, I knew the library as well as I knew my own home. I confidently walked over to the mythology and folklore section, knowing that I had the biggest change of locating something useful there.

Lightly touching the covers of the books, eyes skimming past the titles, I looked to see if I could see something useful there. I immediately noticed that most books were either about vampires, wizards or dragons. Many were books for children as well.

"Can I help you with something?" A female voice asked. I turned around to meet a short girl around my own age – maybe a few years younger – staring curiously up at me. 'Ellen' her name-tag read.

"I'm looking for books about native American – and maybe European – folklore. Or some local lore maybe. The older the books are the better," I replied. Ellen gave me a curious look. "I'm writing a book," I added, saying the first thing that came up in me.

Ellen looked up at the ceiling, pondering my request for a while. After a while she glanced back at me. "Those books... does it bother you if they almost fall apart and are rather dusty?" I shook my head no.

She nodded, a slight smile on her face. "Then I think I can help you, if you can just wait here."

Ellen disappeared somewhere around the corner. I looked around and my eyes fell on a chair, where I decided to sit down and wait. Taking my phone out and playing Temple Run to pass time, it wasn't long before Ellen returned. Carrying some books with her.

Sending a smile my way, Ellen placed them on one of the many tables. Walking up to her, I looked curiously at the books she had bought with her.

It were three in leather bound books, the covers old and raffled and covered in a layer of dust. Ellen blew the dust away and both of us coughed. "Those are the oldest mythology books we have," Ellen told me between her coughing-fit. "Is this what you're searching for?"

I carefully opened the book laying at the top. They were written in an ancient form of English and written by hand. Mentally thanking my grandfather for teaching me ancient languages since I was a kid. "How old are those books even?" I asked aloud, flipping the pages. As far as I could tell, what's written in those books is the real deal. This might be useful.

"I don't know exactly," Ellen replied, looking curiously at the contents as well. "They have been here as long as I could remember, maybe they are even as old as this library itself, who knows really?" She told me, looking up to meet my gaze. "Truth to be told, they planned on throwing those books away. Nobody would read them anymore and as you can see," she held up one of the books, its contents almost spilling out, "they basically fall apart."

"They were going to throw them away?" I asked in shock, horrified about how someone could even think about throwing a book away.

Ellen shook her head. "I know, right? No matter how old or raffled a book might be, you should never just throw them away."

"I cannot change what the boss decided though," she added, a slight mischievous twinkle appeared in her amber colored eyes. "How about I give them to you, then?"

I gave her a surprised look, glancing down at the old books. "Are you sure? Won't that get you into trouble?"

Ellen shrugged her shoulders. "Believe me," the young girl said. "My boss won't even notice that the books are gone. And if she does, she won't care about it."

She gave me a shooing motion. "Just take the books. You seem like someone who will take good care of them and they might be useful to you."

Feeling slightly surprised, I nodded my head. "Thank you," I said truthfully.

Giving me a wink, Ellen said, "Good luck with your book. I hope those will help you." She walked away from me, probably to help someone else. I slightly shook my head and felt grateful towards the younger girl while I carefully put the books away in my bag with as much delicacy as I could muster.

I held up the bag – groaned slightly under its much heavier weight – and hauled it over my shoulders, making an attempt to leave the library once more.

Holding my arm underneath my bag, I walked like that past some students who were studying for exams or doing homework, my gaze casually sweeping around the room. Admiring the books surrounding me.

A certain person made me stop dead in my tracks though. My eyes widened in pure disbelief while I stared his way. Why do we keep walking into each other? I asked myself.

It was Mr. Mysterious who appeared to be reading the blur of a book that he held in his hands. His dark hair fell in front of his eyes, but he failed to notice. Instead of wearing completely black, he wore a light grey trench coat. I looked at the section he was in. Young Adult.

Debating with myself what to do, going up to him or just letting him be, my subconsciousness said. Just go up to him already. You might find out more about him which will help you to figure out the truth. Taking a deep breath, I did as my subconsciousness advised me to.

Walking up towards him, I noticed that something seemed different. The air was less tense and he seemed... much more at ease. He calmly flipped open the book and looked at the first few pages of whatever he was reading. Stretching my neck, I tried to read the cover, but the title was covered by his hands.

Standing in front of him I looked up. He had yet to notice me.

"Hello again," I said, clearing my throat after standing there for a good five minutes and watching him read his still unknown book.

He jumped up, honestly startled by someone speaking to him and walked into the stash of books behind him. The books tumbled down and both our eyes widened when the books fell down our way.

Someone grabbed my arms and pulled me away from the avalanche of books. I stared up in midnight blue eyes and realized that he had pulled me away and saved me a bump on the head. "Uhm... thanks," I said.

He released the hold he had on me and bended down, picking up one of the books. Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince I could read. I realized it was the book he was holding previously. "Sorry for startling you," I said, feeling I had to apologize in some way.

Some people had hurried our way – Ellen being among them – to help put the books back in their place.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's alright," he lightly replied. He turned back my way and tilted his head to the sides. "Why do we keep walking into each other?"

"I haven't got a clue," I said truthfully, pulling my bag closer my way. His eyes momentarily flickered towards the movement I made, before focusing back on my face once more.

I nodded towards the book in his arms. "You like Harry Potter?"

He looked rather sheepish. "My first time reading it actually," he admitted, looking down fondly at the book. "It's better than I expected."

I patted his shoulder. "Welcome to the fandom," I slowly said. I had made sure that my silver bracelet touched him. He did not react the same way as Jason did – he barely seemed to notice it, except for a glance and a tightening in his jaw – so I mentally crossed out the possibility of him being a shifter of some sorts.

"I don't understand that reference," he said puzzled with furrowed eyebrows. Ignoring the silver.

I laughed. "You will. Believe me. Just go on Tumblr or something," I told him. He shook his head, ignoring my fandom comment.

His eyes glanced around, scanning the room. "I'm sorry, but I am kind of busy. I gotta go," he told me, mentioning his head towards the exit.

"Can you at least tell me your name?" I hurried out, before he could leave or disappear in a cloud of smoke or whatever.

He leaned forward. "Want to know a secret?" He had asked, I leaned forwards slightly myself. I stared deep into his beautiful eyes and watched his lips form a smirk. His voice lowered to a whisper and he leaned even closer, his cold breath fanning over my ear. "I'm a unicorn who loves to dance on and puke all over rainbows."

He pulled back and dropped his left eye in a lazy wink upon seeing my baffled expression. "Good bye, princess." He said. Making a graceful movement with his right hand, he placed it over his heart and bowed. "Just a tip," he added, "you really should stay away from me. It probably won't end pretty for you. It never does."

Then he simply disappeared. Again.

There was no smoke or anything. One second he stood before me, and the next he did not.

But I did not miss the look he held in his eyes when he had said 'it never does', and not for the first time, I wondered about what he had to go through during his life.

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A double update, my little demons. And not exactly a short chapter at that either. I was in a creative mood and I just couldn't stop writing, so why not you know?

The picture at the top is the library btw :) According to Google it's the Manhattan public library, if I'm wrong, blame Google. The songs is just something I like, it doesn't really has anything to do with the story or the chapter... but I still like it XD

Anyways... what did you thought of this chapter? Jason, Jack and Claire have been shortly mentioned before in the first chapter, but don't worry if you forgot them. (they maybe only got one sentence) Anyway, do tell me what you think of them so far! From all of Harlynn's colleagues, Jason will obliviously appear the most (and before you ask, he does not loves her romantically or anything - I have nothing but friendship planned for them. Save your breath) Werewolves officially made an appearance as well! :D What are your opinions of the colleagues of Harlynn so far? What do you think I have in store for them? Take a wild guess! And what about the old books Harlynn got from the library? Will she find anything in there? And what do you think of the scene 'Mr. Mysterious' pulled with his disappearance act and the (sarcastic) unicorn comment? Predictions? Let me know okay!

Don't forget to vote/comment/share if you liked it.

Here you have an adorable picture of Andy being a cutie. Enjoy.

Hugs and knives,

- Luci