AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My heart pounded in my chest as its shimmering distortion bent the fabric of reality. It hung there before Caleb, like a mirage, one that hinted at the demonic, unimaginable forces at play. The surreal occurrence looked like a secret door into another world, one that only a few unfortunate souls would glimpse.
The surrounding air seemed to quiver with energy, as though time and space were in a debate, deciding whether to reveal their secrets or keep them locked away. It continued to shimmer and dance before the first hybrid stepped from its careful shroud.
Shouts erupted around me before the obstacle course was littered with shimmering folds and dozens of hybrids infected our secure base with growls and venom-laced fangs.
Daryn tapped his tattoo as Indy engaged the closest demon hybrid to her. Its lumbering gait was nothing compared to the experienced Frost twin. “We are under attack. All seniors topside!” he yelled as he moved in front of me.
I grabbed my Sica, but my eyes were on Caleb. The hybrids appeared to be centered on him. Sphinx was a force of nature, and her growls overshadowed those of the hybrids. Her large battle form ripped through body after body of the enemy and within seconds four lay dead at Caleb’s feet. He killed another, but it was soon clear who the deadliest creature in the obstacle was and it wasn’t a hybrid or hunter.
When the hybrids began to drop to the now-bloody ground, in pairs, a siren went off in the distance and the remainder of our enemies dashed for the ripples in the air. In seconds, they were gone and the hunters from the base were just arriving.
“What in the actual fuck? How did they get on base? Are our wards made of rice paper or what?” Indy snapped. Her anger was aimed at Lochlan, but her concerns were justified.
Lochlan swiped his hand in the air. “It’s not a portal. Our wards would block that. I have no idea what that was.”
I sheathed my Sica. Everything had happened so fast I hadn’t engaged a single enemy. “It looked like reality was ripped. It didn’t feel like a spell. At least nothing I am familiar with.”
I felt a tug on my necro magic, but was sure I had never called on it. My fears were confirmed when Caleb knelt on the ground.
He held out his hand to the clearly dead fox. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to call you. Return to your sleep.”
The fox nuzzled his hand lovingly, then loped back the way he had come before Daryn stood.
My heart fluttered. “You can still call the animal kingdom.”
Every hunter in the field knew how dangerous that was, and Caleb simply nodded.
“When you lost your ability... mine got stronger. I think it has to do with Sphinx. She is an animal, so I don’t think I... live without it.”
Daryn pointed to the hybrids. “Make a pile. Burn the dead, but take one down to the morgue. We need answers.”
The hunters began grabbing the shoulders and ankles of the hybrids and taking them to a designated pile.
Daryn motioned to Caleb. “Come here.”
Caleb jogged over with his clearly angry shadow cat. She hissed and pawed the ground as she followed Caleb, and the hunters gave her a wide berth as she passed. “Sorry about the fox.”
Daryn placed his hands on his hips. “The fox is the least of our concerns. Those hybrids targeted you, but I am not sure if they wanted you dead.”
Caleb frowned. “They were attacking me. Why else would they target me? Because of my necro magic?”
Daryn glanced at me. “Your mother is a more powerful necromancer than you. If whatever that was wanted a necro, they would have gone after her.”
Caleb glanced at me as Sphinx continued to growl. “Mom doesn’t have scythe magic. Is it that?”
Daryn’s eyes flickered. “Lochlan has scythe magic. The only thing you possess that the other hunters don’t, is a shadow cat. Someone either fears her and wants her dead or they want you so they can control Sphinx. Look at her.” Caleb glanced down at the large beast growling at his feet. Her head flicked from side to side, looking for the next attacker. She hadn’t calmed despite the lack of an enemy.
“She takes a moment to compose herself.”
Daryn stepped closer to Caleb. “Her emotions are directed byyou. She isn’t the one struggling with control. You know the dangers of calling on the animal world. It is not natural for us. You do not need to use that power to control Sphinx. It is a crutch and one you must dispose of if you wish to be a hunter.”
I grunted. “This attack wasn’t Caleb’s fault. If they are after him, the motivations are irrelevant. We need to...”
Daryn put his hand in the air. “All rookies downstairs to the briefing room. Seniors, finish the cleanup.”
Lochlan made a motion with his hand and Caleb’s squad fell in line behind him without another word.
Daryn turned to Caleb. “Follow your squad, but get Sphinx in line now. She won’t go topside again until you do.” Caleb glanced at Sphinx and the shadow cat immediately resumed her domestic form. He picked her up and jogged to catch up with his team.
