+Uriah.

                I found Nevaeh adopted mother, Sierra, sobbing in the kitchen when I came into the house. She had been cleaning up the mess from earlier. The cops had just left, they didn’t ask much but it’s probably because if it’s the same here as Israel, a good part of the police department is run by Demons.

                “You should not cry.” I said and Sierra jumped as she looked at me. “Courtney is upstairs, you need to show her you are strong.”

                “I can’t.” she said as she got up from the table. She walked over to the window, staring out the night sky, “Eric—he was the strong one. I’m weak, I don’t know how he could stand me. I was always a dismal in distress. I want to be strong for Courtney, show her there isn’t anything to be afraid of but it’s so hard.”

                “Why are you afraid though?” I asked. “I’m here, I won’t let nothing happen two you both.”

                “Courtney told me she was only a few inches away from being shot in the head.” she said then looked at me. “Do you know how horrible it is to think you could have lost a child? I worry everyday with Nevaeh, I worry every day, every minute about her. I lost my husband, I’ll probably go insane if I lost one of my children.”

                “Then let that be you’re reason to be strong. Don’t sit here and cry, show Courtney that there is nothing different. She see your calm, she’ll be calm.” I said and she just stared at me for a moment before nodding.

+Courtney.+

                “Are you going to be alright?” Nellie asked me from the bedroom door.

                I nodded, forcing a smile, “Yeah, I’m feeling better.” I said and she frowned at me. I faked a chuckle, “I’m serious, and I’m fine. Go enjoy your shower, I’ll be here on Facebook trying to grab this boy attention.”

                Though grabbing Micah attention is the last thing on my mind now.

                She nodded, “Okay.”

                She left the room and I heard her go into the bathroom. I sighed heavily as I sat up on my bed and looked around. It was a mess downstairs that my mom had to clean up since I was to shaken after the whole mess. I had fell asleep for the last four hours and I haven’t left my room yet.

                I got up and went over to my draw. I changed into some pajama shorts and a large t-shirt. I pulled my long hair up in a ponytail and looked at myself in the mirror. What a fragile thing I was looking at the mirror, she was skinny and pale. Her shoulder slouched, eyes sad and depressed.

                I thought of Nevaeh and how I will never be here. She kept her head up high now, she was strong unlike me where I was weak still. I envied my older sister, she was the family treasure.

                I was just . . . Courtney.

                If I was scared earlier, what makes I can handle them in a couple of years? I’m such a child, I could never become like Nevaeh.

                I saw something like a shadow crawl on my wall next to my closest and it disappeared in there. I gasped as my blood went cold and I turned around quickly. My heart raced in my chest as I stared at my closed closet where the shutters were up. I breathed heavily as my hand reached up behind me and I grabbed the trophy I had gotten from when I was on the swim team three years ago.

                I walked over to the closet slowly when in my mind was telling me to scream for help, run out the room. I was that stupid girl everyone yelled at in horror movies, but I couldn’t stop myself from behind curious. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me after today and I didn’t want to seem paranoid to everyone.

                I didn’t want to make Nellie feel like she couldn’t trust me for ten minutes alone. She had been here when I woke up, humming to herself as she reading a book. It was a soft hum that made me sleepy that I almost fell back to asleep but I knew I had to wake up.

                I wrapped my hand around the knob and I brought the trophy up in the air. I hesitated for what felt like hours, but only moments. My whole body shook with anxiousness and I almost dropped the trophy and ran out the room.

                Not thinking about it anymore, I forced the door open and something flew to my face. My mouth opened but no scream came out since I was frozen in fear as I stared face to face with the black snake with bright amber eyes.

                The trophy dropped from my head and it made a loud noise on the hard wood.

                “My, my, my,” the snake spoke and I almost fainted. It had a deep male voice, something you would hear in those historic films and it made bumps cover my skin, “You are a brave girl.”

                Its long body was buddle up and it was standing high in the air. My body dangerously shook as it circled around me and I was so afraid to scream, I was mute the whole time it circle me, looking at every part of me. I knew this wasn’t a normal snake, it was a Demon. I may be young, but I am not stupid.

                Its head flicked at my ponytail and I gasped when it rested its head on my shoulder behind me. I held back the sound of disgust wanting to escape my mouth and I want to throw up from fear. I wanted the thing to stop touching me.

                “Do I scare you?” he asked, hissing as he said ‘scare’.

                I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut, “No.” I forced myself to whisper.

                “No?” he asked. “You are a brave girl, you must get being brave from your father beautiful.”

                “What do you want?” I coldly asked, keeping my eyes closed. I wanted so badly scream, to let all the anxious and fear out of my but something was holding back the scream. It’s like my body wouldn’t let it come out even if I tried.

                I then felt two hands touch my arms roughly but I didn’t move or dare open my eyes. The hands forced my around and I felt something hard like a wall press against my back.

                “Open your eyes, beautiful.” He said and I shook my head quickly. My hands balled into a tight fist that if I had nails, I would probably break my own skin. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”, he said and I scoffed. “Look at the strong girl in the mirror, she resembles you so much.”

                Curious as a cat, I opened my eyes slowly and I saw my reflection in the mirror. It was me in the mirror, but until how I was now, the girl stood straight up with confidence and she didn’t look scared. She looked brave, like nothing was going to make her scared. She was beautiful, her face clear of any small blemishes and her green eyes looked so much like Nevaeh, bright and like green apples where mine were a normal emerald color.

                But it was me in the photo.

                With some guy behind me.

                He was tall, over a foot taller than me. He had dark pushed back hair and he reminded me so much of a male model you would see in magazines. He wasn’t much older though, probably seventeen and very . . . cute. I was compelled and awed by his beauty, it was so unreal. He was something I had never seen before, only on TV. I’ve always had crushes on boys, but something about this boy . . . it was so weird at how I could stare at him forever.

                He took one hand off my arm and put it around my waist, pressing my back closer to his chest, “Not scared of me in both my forms, you amaze me.”

                I know I should kick and scream for him to stop touching me, but something about it all made me feel . . . safe. He didn’t scare me anymore, it was completely different from when he was a snake. All I wanted now was for him to stay so I could stare at him forever.

                He brought his head down as he looked at me threw the mirror and whispered, “You are completely beautiful, Courtney.”

                I shook my head, “No, I’m not.”

                “Who has told you that, I should kill him.”, he said and I watched as he turned his head to look at me and kiss me on my cheek. I took in a small sharp breath since no boy has ever kissed me on the cheek before. Sure, I was luckier than my sister to be popular in school but I wasn’t much apparently for a guy to ask me out. I was only fourteen though, I’m just going into high school in a month. He kissed my cheek again, “Can you be mine?” he whispered and I almost fainted.

                My head felt like a cloud was forming in my head. I couldn’t think straight, I could hardly even breathe. He was doing this, he was making my mind going crazy and I wanted was for him to kiss me down. He had such pretty lips.

                Run Courtney, run away from him, my mind told me as I pulled away a little as I turned my head to look at him. He had such pretty amber eyes, bright and I swear I could see myself in them. His pupils were vertical shape and it amazed me as I looked at them.

                He lowered his head towards mine and I stopped breathing as my eyes widen. His eyes were getting so much closer to mine and I felt his breath against my mouth when he was only an inch away. Soon he softly pressed his mouth against mine and my whole body explode.

                I have never been kissed.

                I always heard it was awkward.

                I didn’t even know his name and he had kissed me.

                He turned me around and brought his hand up to my face. I closed my eyes as I tilt my head back, parting my mouth a little. I was so worried I might do something wrong or stupid. I was even debating what I should do with my arms.

                He pulled back and my eyes opened, “Sorry,” I said. “I-I never been kissed s-so I d-don’t really know—“

                He chuckled softly and he leaned down, pecking me, “There, you’ve been kissed twice already.”, he said and I blushed deeply but smiled as I brought my hand up to my mouth shyly. “My name is Haidar.”

                “Mines Courtney.” I said.

                “I know,” he said as he took my hand and entwined our fingers. I stared up at his face, not able to look away. He was so handsome. “I want you to come with me, Courtney.”

                “Come with you?” I questioned, my eyebrows furrowing together. “To where?”

                “Anywhere you want, beautiful.” He said. “Rome, Paris, or London, wherever your heart requires I will take you.”

                “This is a dream, right?” I asked as I looked around.

                He chuckled, “No, it’s not. Come with me, be with me. I’ll take you wherever you want to go, as long as you’re with me.”

                “But my family—“he cut me off when he quickly kissed me again and my head quickly fogged up. I forgot about everything, only on Haidar lips pressed against mine. I kissed him back and he pressed his mouth against mine hard. I stood up on my tip toes so I could wrap my arms around his neck. All I wanted to do with be with Haidar now, all I could think about was Haidar.

                He mouthed his mouth and pressed his forehead against mine, “Come with me.”, he whispered and I nodded.

                +Uriah.+

                Nellie was rushing down the stairs and she looked concern when she looked inside the kitchen, “Where’d Courtney go?” she asked. “I just went upstairs after I looked for her down here.”

                “What?” Sierra asked as she stepped away from the stove. “I didn’t see her leave, I didn’t even know she woke up.”

                Nellie looked at me concern and I had this bad feeling in my stomach.

                “No,” Sierra said as she shook her head, tears sliding down her face. “No!”

                “Sierra!” I yelled when she ran out of the kitchen and upstairs. Nellie and I followed her up the stairs to Courtney room and Sierra was at Courtney window.

                “Do you sell that?” Nellie asked me and I nodded. I did. It smelled like a match being blown out and there’s that weird smoke smell. I looked at Courtney closet and I walked around the closet. On the wooden walls of the closet, I saw black dust. I touched it and black ash was on my fingertips.

                “They took her.” Sierra said and I looked at her. She fell down on her knees and started crying. I didn’t know what to do but watch until she got up and grabbed the closest thing to her which was the TV remote and threw it at the mirror laying on the dresser.

                +Nevaeh.+

                “Oh, this looks yummy.” I said when I looked down at the bowl of noodles in front of me. It was Ramen soups with pork and vegetables. It was the Ramen soup you buy in the packets at stores, this was homemade Ramen soup and I dug right into because once it was place in front of me my mouth watered.

                “Aidric tells me you are expecting.” Saya said across the table.

                I chewed on my noodles quickly as I nodded and I swallowed my food, “Uh, yes. It’s kind of surprise. Do you have children?”

                “I never had the time for children.”, she said. “I like them, now that I’m too old for them I want one but it is why I train now. Dante and the others, their children.”

                “Aw, I can feel the love.” Dante said and she smiled at him.

                “I came close though in my thirties.”, she said, smiling but it didn’t look very happy by the way her eyes looked. “Reckless and young though, I kept on fighting think we would be fine but four months into it, I lost her.”

                “Oh, I’m sorry.” I said.

                She sighed heavily and took a sip of her hot tea, “It’s alright, it was a long time ago. Now, Dante told Hector that this meeting is important. What is going on?”

                Oh, straight to the point, I thought. I cleared my throat and adjusted myself on the floor, “Well uh, there’s something going on.”

                “I don’t fight anymore, only train.”, she said.

                “I know, that’s not where I was going at.” I said quickly. “Okay, wow, I really didn’t plan out how to say that.” I said and I sat there like an idiot talking to myself how I should have been more prepared with this.

                Dante sighed heavily like he was annoyed, “Saya, you might have not of told me but I always suspected but you’re a Nephilim, aren’t you?”

                Saya looked at him for a moment before smiling and leaned one arm on the table, “Yes and so is she.” she said as she looked at me. “Tell me, Nevaeh, are we the reasons why Demons have been acting my home lately?”

                My eyes widen and Dante scoffed, “And you didn’t think of telling us this first the moment we got—sorry Saya, forgive me.”, he said as he lowered his head when Saya gave him a hard look and if I wasn’t so surprise at what she said, I would have clapped for her at how amazing she is for making Dante to actually shut up with a look.

                “Like there is any real reason to panic.” Saya said, scoffing. “I can handle more than those Snakes. Senka thinks he can come after me, I will like to see him try hard.”

                “So you know about Senka?” I asked and she nodded. “You know his plan?”

                “I suspect the reasons, but I am the oldest Hunter in the world. My soul is pretty pricy.” she said.

                “Saya, you have to come back with us to America.” I said quickly.

                “I can’t do that.” she said as she calmly took a sip of her tea. “I cannot leave my home.”

                “Why not?” I asked. “Theirs is seven of us in this world, all of our souls is being hunted by an ancient Demon.”

                “Because I belong here. Senka won’t run me out, he wants my soul he can come here and I will kill him.” she said.

                “But the others, their joining at my house.” I said. “We need to stick together.”

                “I respect you, Nevaeh, I can the strength in your eyes.” she said as she pointed at me. “You remind me of myself when I was your age.”

                “Saya, please, I’m begging you to come back with us.” I said and she got up from the floor.

                “It is late now, finish and enjoy. We will talk more in the morning.” she said. She looked at Dante, “You two can stay in your old room, and blankets are in the closet.”

                She turned around and I shook my head as I started to get up, “Wait, Saya, we don’t have time—“I cut myself off when Dante grabbed my arm, stopping me half way. I looked at him and he shook his head, giving me a hard look. I snatched my arm out of his grip, but sat down stubbornly as I watched Saya walk up the stairs of her own and disappear into the room she came out earlier. “You’re a jerk.”

                “Stop whining.” he said as he took a sip of his tea. “You don’t talk back to Saya Tanaka.”

                “But Dante, she has to come with us. She is on list, she is a Nephilim and it’s important for all of us to stick together. She is my people, I want her safe.”

                “Maybe this was a stupid idea though.” he said and I gave him a confused look. “Saya is strong enough to take care of herself, she was able to attack four men tied to a chair. We’re need to bring back Nephilims who can’t take care of their self, the ones who doesn’t even know about who she or he is. Saya knows what she is, she had four men here to take care of her.”

                “Is she wasn’t meant to come back, her name wouldn’t be inked on Uncle Carter arm.” I said. “She needs to come back to be us, no matter what you both think. We all need to be together, so Senka can’t get to us.”

                “Oh yes, because a house full of Nephilims is going to be much safer than having to go out to look for them.” he said and I scoffed. I pushed myself up from the floor and walked over towards the door. I went out onto the porch and down it. I leaned against the banister and stared up at the sky. No, Dante is wrong. We need the rest at my house for their protection, even Aracelia believes that.

                But what if Dante is right? What if it makes us much more in danger with us all being under the same roof? A bunch of Demons could easily come and try to get us all at one time. Jeez, what is this purpose God has given me? I don’t understand any of it.

                “Look, I’m sorry.” Dante said as he joined next to me. “I know all of this pressure is hard and probably the last thing you need in your condition.”

                I snorted, “I don’t have any ‘condition’ Dante.”

                “I know,” he said. “What I’m saying is though, I’m not trying to make you hate me. I’m hard to work with, I know this. It’s why I can never have the same partner more than two months.”

                “Because you can’t stop with I’m-To-Cool attitude, the world doesn’t revolve around Dante Castillo.” I said and he chuckled.

                “I know it doesn’t.” he said. “Nevaeh, look at me.”, he said and I debated with myself if that was a good idea but knowing Dante, he wouldn’t leave me alone probably. I turned my head to look up at him and he grinned, “No matter how much of an asshole or jerk I seem, I’m with you threw this. I’m not going anywhere, I’m going to fight this with you.”

                I waited for him to say something sarcastic or about how he was kidding, but it never came. He had this serious look on his face and I can’t believe that I was actually believed him. “Thanks, Dante.”

                “I mean, what else do I got to do?” he asked.

                “Ah, there’s the sarcasm I was waiting for.” I said as I leaned up from the banister and hit his arm, making him chuckle.