Xander

It wasn't long before my bodyguards showed up at the school's entrance. My bodyguards and I had a deal to pick me early from the school compound to avoid being swooned by others.

Look, I know every guy wants to be noticed as some popular kid and all that, which I'm very proud of, of course, but we do this because of certain security reasons.

Once we got into the limousine, I insisted that my butler unveil the urgent news. The moment she started explaining, I got distracted to see some students after us, probably for some autographs.

Seriously?

Not them again...

"Get rid of them before I do." I ordered my butlers without a second thought. I furrowed my eyebrows and changed my mind when I suddenly felt her presence. Unwillingly, I stopped them from continuing the shoving and threats. Looking out of the window, I caught a glimpse of Isabelle and someone else tagging with her. She was giving me the stare that was filling me up with guilts again. "You know what, just drive."

"They're a huge distraction y'know." Foxy frowned, rolling up the darkened rear window.

"Just tell me what I need to know." I lowered my head in partial defeat and took a deep breath. I'm tired and sick of being vulnerable.

"No my lord, I'll show you." She replied.

Huh?

I raised up my head intrigued at the fact that she had something to show me this time. At least, that can get my head off everything-

"There has been an escape from the Everglow coven by some sort of mystical beings...the thing that might actually shock you is that, it was able to blend it's scent and shape with that of the humans." She announced. "Highest suspicion...it's a shifter."

-or maybe not.

That revelation sent a pang to my chest as that was one of the last things I wanted to hear as a hunter. I guess I didn't really see that one coming huh. Not only was the Everglow coven the most dangerous, but the most powerful of the other four ones; Moonlight shimmers, Dark Forest, The White Rock and Silver Spring. One step into that coven is like one step into fantasy. But sadly, glamour and glory is actually the ambush of the beautiful sighting for we humans. For it was once said, the dangers of magic is in it's beauty.

From the perspective of humans, Everglow can be seen as the headquarters of the other four, where the most legendary and dangerous beasts of all time lurks within the deep shadows. Hunters have tried their best to break into this strange fortress in the past times but didn't succeed. Why? Magic. I'm not surprised to see magic being used against us all the time. The fascinating part is when the fortress teleports itself to another land when it senses unforeseen threats. I'm very certain there are more to those creatures than we all think, but I've just got no evidence.

The only thing we hunters could do was create a resistant beam around that forest to restrain any of them from pushing their way into the human world. In the cause of doing that, I, Alexander Huntersville, lost one or two abilities as I had to involve black magic—which was something strictly forbidden from us. I just had to be the one to pay the price for all of us. And sad enough, one of the things I lost was my very humanity. But just because they made me a monster doesn't mean I would stop coming after them! After all, they killed my parents! Revenge they asked and revenge they shall get.

After all, it takes a monster to fight off a monster.

That creature's really smart indeed to pull that off...

It would regret the day it stepped foot here...

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" I groaned in frustration. "That beast better not escape my grasp this time!" I'm sick of these creatures using magic to slip away from my hands everytime. It's a good thing I've learned how to use it now. Let's see how they escape this time around.

"Calm down my lord, a bait has already been set." Foxy revealed, placing her hand on mine for reassurance. When my eyes landed on our hands, she simply wore a thin, firm line. "And I'm pretty much that it'd work perfectly." The firmness in her voice made me sigh in defeat.

I looked to the side in silence, letting her words sink in slowly into my head. Whoever killed my parents must still have the audacity to do all these to my face, and without any doubts, this creature must be the culprit.

"What bait?" I inquired.

"Take this." She suggested, unclipping the strange amulet that has been hanging on her neck the entire time. Instantly, I recognized the amulet to be that of a bewitching pendant - an ancient necklace that's believed to drain out any dark or negative energy from a sorceress.

I frowned and shook my head in disapproval. I knew how to take care of myself, and also, that's just too powerful for my use now. I wanted to still stay low for awhile. Who knows what would happen if it goes wonky in the critical scene.

"Look, your parents...made me vow to be your guardian! Now take this...I've my reasons." She insisted and clipped it around my neckline. I guess arguing with someone who obviously knows so much than you is pointless, isn't it?

I looked at her quietly without any complaints and let her do what she's got to do. Sometimes, I wonder if she ever gets to focus on masking her identity as well. I get her life's tied to favor mine...but her scent, her touch, could give off some suspicious vibes if not careful.

"And what about you?" I tilted my head at her, a little curious this time. "Some of these things could have some huge effect on you, you know?"

"I'm fine, I mean who would suspect a thing about me." She shrugged, and looked outside the window of the limousine. She was obviously trying to avoid our help. Not that I blame her, her instincts never lets her get orders from others, well except me of course.

I stole a glance at her for a while, watching her lips twitching slightly like she was struggling within herself, before looking out of the window to take in the astonishing exterior view.

I felt my eyebrows crease together when I caught a glimpse of a figure, no...a dark shadow leaning against a tree patiently—almost like it was watching and waiting for someone. I don't know if it's me but I could feel its eyes steady on me, even though I knew I couldn't see its face, if that makes any sense.

Is that a-

Suddenly, I felt alert, and tried to get a closer look by summoning my vampiric senses, only for me to realize what was in its stead. I laughed at myself when the sun shone on the edges of what looked like a wooden scarecrow rooted by the side of the tree, with an innocent rabbit hoping around the oak tree, probably looking for some carrots.

I rolled my eyes at how annoying certain hallucinations can be and just gazed at the familiar environment we just arrived at. The limo took few turns and corners through a secret loopy tunnel, which was designed for mostly hideouts and top-secret attacks. I squinted my eyes a bit from the piercing light rays reflecting through the blinds as the limo came to a sharp halt in front of a huge metallic gate.

Finally...

We all got down from the limousine and looked up at the fully disguised mansion before us, which was secretly a fortress for our troops. Who said magic was meant for only witches? Hunters can manipulate it for safe means, unlike the heartless witches that wishes to completely alter mankind.

Securing the environment, I and my crew made our way into the well furnished mansion, what we all call...the manor. Another benefit of being a hunter is that you'd be filthy rich. We are known to be very wealthy and famous across so many lands and towns - but in our human forms that is. And yes, hunters aren't humans. Well they are, but not fully humans. They are of a mixed race - that of humans and supernaturals. Some are seen are humans with special abilities while some are cursed with both special abilities and supernaturalness. Supernaturalness as in shape shifting, mind control, immortality, extrasensory instincts and all that. Yes, just like the legendary werewolves we all know. But I'm not a werewolf, mind you. I was never even meant to be part of their filthy changes, but it appears that somewhere along the line, I brought up a curse upon myself. One that I've lived with for so many years.

"The systems are intact." Ryder's thought came pouring into my head. We call that mindlink. I got the message and signaled them to move on and summon the rest of us.

We didn't have any time for hanging outs or playing around like what most people do. I never really got to understand the meaning of friendships and all that, besides the one with my colleagues in this business, as I was raised up that way.

I had to embrace the cruel side of life to get what I wanted.

I had to embrace my real blood line.

The real us.

"C'mon guys...we've got unfinished businesses and new puzzles to unravel!"