Bonded

Chapter 1

Bonded
Jaria Gibson

Chapter 1

      Pain exploded in my head, but I ignored it. I took my blade and sliced down but the creature countered. I spun out the way just as a poisonous gush passed my head. Using the momentum to put extra speed and strength in my next jab, I sliced the thing in two.  Once the demons screams died down, I heard a scurrying; I immediately spun, but it was too late. The horrible Creature plunged his poisonous claws into my torso. I met it’s beetle black eyes as it howled in triumph and used my disgust as strength to bring my sword up to chop off its hand. Staggering back I clutched the hilt of my blade and swung it wasn’t professional or pretty, but it did the trick and decapitated the creature in one swoop. 
   I collapsed. if another demon came I would; be dead. Using the last of my strength, I conducted a fire message that concluded my location and that I needed medical help I sent it to the healers then the world black.
x-x-x-x-x
    I know what you’re thinking; what the heck. So I’m just going to come out and say it: I’m a Concel now you’re asking ‘ what’s that’. The Concels are beings taken from the universe.
   My name is Idris Kindal; and as you probably figured out, I’m a demon hunter.And no, demons aren't some disgusting creature that is slimy. Really the only appearance difference between demons, humans, and Concels are the fact that demons have different color skin like purple, orange, red, grey, it depends on who the demon lord that demon belongs to. Other than that they can grow their claws and teeth at will just like the one that stabbed me.  Now you must be wondering about this taken from the universe part. Well, I‘m made from fire; my brother’s  from water, my best friend is from wind and there are those made from the earth and those made from spirit.
   Since we are made from that element it only makes sense we can manipulate that element as well. Also, being taken from the elements doesn’t mean you look like that element. I mean I don’t catch fire or glow. Well unless I want too; but that’s not the point.
  We are created to fight demons. We have an angel essence in us. We made a deal with God that will protect man from Lucifer’s creations in order to keep the balance between good and evil. Now you might be saying “Just because you have magic that makes you qualified to fight demons?” No, because of how we’re made makes us qualified to fight demons.
    We are, by nature, warriors. We are quick to think of strategies; we are not as affected when it comes to weather and physical pain. We’re faster and stronger, we see further, hear more clearly.
    We’re enhanced in many ways because there aren't a lot of us. we die so young, and we’re not all reproductive. I mean we have kids obviously, but mostly one child per family. That’s why it’s so special that I have a twin brother.
    Most of us don’t even have siblings, let alone a twin. We’re pretty much a dying race.So as soon as we’re three we start working on history, the inner workings of demons, so on so forth. By third grade we start working on combat and magic training. Except for spirit users they aren't warriors at all. They go to medical training. You would think the school would be strict; not at all. Besides the obvious rules we only have one. hunt with a partner.  
x-x-x-x-x
    When I came to, I knew I was in the infirmary. I decided to keep my eyes closed in case someone was here. when I didn’t hear anyone I slit my eyes to peak. When that test passed, I cautiously opened my eyes and slid off the bed.
    Maybe I’d avoid a bunch of yelling after all. I inched toward the curtain and peeked out. Seeing that the coast was clear, I grabbed my leather jacket ( which now had a whole in it) and crept silently to the main door.
    I was halfway to the door when I heard footsteps without thinking, I hid behind a curtain, and waited for the footsteps to fade. A voice came right behind my ear, “ What,” the voice asked, “ are you doing?”
   Startled, I jump halfway to the ceiling with a small, very girly yelp. “ What an impressive show of buoyancy,” the boy said sounding amused.
   I turned to shush the unwelcomed and caught a glimpse of the owner of that voice. He was about two inches taller than my six feet, and had violet eyes which was half covered by his midnight black hair. He had a sculpted athletic but lean build.He was tan and had high cheekbones.
    I immediately switched to my whatever mode. “ Shush” I told him. The footsteps were now coming this way. Shoot. I started mapping out possibly safe exits.
    “ Who are you hiding from?”
    “ Please shut up.”
    “ That's not very nice,” he said louder.
    “ Please be quiet! I whispered frantically.
    “ Oh my God; don’t touch that!” he yelled. His grin growing wider.
   “ You don’t have to be a jerk,” I mumbled.
   “ Answer the question.” He’s back to whispering.
    The curtain opened showing the head nurse. “ What are you doing in here?” Not giving me time to answer her she said, “ Nevermind, we’ll talk about this later.”
      Taking that as my dismissal, I left the infirmary without a backwards glance.When I was walking down the hall, I spotted my best friend, Jordan Flower. She’s the wind user I was telling you about. She also the most intimidating girl in school.
      To get her mad though, I like to call her by her  by her last name. “ I am going to kill you,” she stated fiercely.
      “ Nice to see you too,” I replied sarcastically.
      “ No, it’s not because I’m going to kill you.Now the question is how I’m going to kill you,” she mused.
      “ Well, you’re a wind user. How many choices of weapons do you have?”
      “ Hush, the victim doesn’t get to speak,”
      “ Whatever you say, Flower”
      “ I’m going to kill you,” the familiar voice of my brother exclaimed. Tray Is the twin I was talking about; well here he is. Like me he has silver grey eyes and pale skin, and that’s where the similarities end. Tray has an athletic lean build as opposite to my willowy one. He’s careful and considerate, while I'm reckless and rash. He seems to disappear and reappear, while I make a production of everything I do. I have firered and fire magic, which I inherited from my grandmother. He has white hair and he had water magic which he inherited from our father.I wear clothes that compliment me, he doesn’t care about his looks at all. He balances my personality when I seem to tip the scale
      “ Can’t. There is a line and by the time you’re up, I’ll be dead already” I replied logically.
      “ Well I’m Going to bring you back to life then kill you again.” he replied proud of himself.
     “ You can’t because the line is so long that multiple people would’ve already tried that trick, and I won’t be able to come back,” I said with a winning smile and a wink, knowing I won our little game.
     “ Anyway that’s not the point,” he said glumly. “ The point is that one day you're going to get severely, hurt and mother won’t be able to get to you in time and you will die.”
     “ Speaking of severely hurt what happened this time?” Jordan asked. So I gave the a rundown of what happened. They winced a little when I showed them the scar. Most women would shy away from the thought of scars but I wear them with pride. They are the symbolism of my life.
    At their cowering I gave an evil grin. “ What's wrong? Are the warriors afraid of a life of war?” This comment was met with catcalls and the ‘ol ‘say it to my face line.’ Ah, life is good.
x-x-x-x-x
    Out of all of my classes one on one combat is my favorite class. When the students were paired and ready on our separate sides of the mat, our instructor, Mr. Anthony, blew the whistle signaling the start of our fight. Pain suddenly flared hot and agony up my spine.
     My arm started to move without my instruction and grabbed the fist that came hurtling towards my head. I felt my hand squeeze with a strength I didn’t even know I possessed and heard the bone crack and give way in my clenched fist as the hand of my opponent shattered.
     “ Idris let go of her hand now!” Mr. Anthony yelled. I tried to pull my hand, but my attempts were useless.
      I tilted my head to the side as if in question. My feet lashed out and caught the girl’s side. I heard the ribs crack as she spun and collapse. Then I let out the most chilling and demonic laugh ever. “ Or what?” I said in Hell Speak my voice layered. “ Idris will be lost soon enough,” my voice continued. “”Shame the prophecy was so close to being fulfilled.” What the world is going on.
      “ The prophecy. How do you know about that?” Mr. Anthony looked truly afraid now.
      “ Come now, you really didn’t know?” The voice asked mockingly. “Idris and Trayson are the ones from the beloved prophecy it gives us demons a winning chance, but you don’t want that do you?” I felt my face split into an evil grin.
     “ You can either kill me, therefore killing her or you can let her grow more powerful and deadly so I can kill you.” I gave a disinterested shrug. “Maybe she chooses the Concels side. Who knows.” I continued in a cool unruffled tone.
      “ Idris you have to fight it!” My instructor yelled looking fierce.
      I felt my way around the dull throb of pain looking for a chink in the armor. There. At the base of my head was losing it’s hold on me. So of course that means that the demon has control over my body not my mind or powers.
      Gathering all my mental abilities, I pushed as hard as I could. As a result of my mental strain sparks started shooting out of my body. Barely conscious of it though, I pushed harder and harder. The pain was like an electric whip lashing at the edges of my consciousness.
      I was dimly aware that my hair was on fire now, and I was screaming pure agony. I kept pushing even though cuts were forming on my arms. Kept pushing even though I felt my vocal cords shredding. kept on even though my eyes resembles torches.  
     I kept pushing through my body collapsed . I felt myself losing consciousness from the pain, so I used the remainder of my strength to give my last desperate shove. Then I settled into a blissful sleep.
x-x-x-x-x
     I know what you’re thinking, “ What exactly is going on?” Well remember how I said Concels go through vigorous training, These are one of the schools we do that in.
    The schools are located smack dab in the middle of the towns. like this one is in Joplin, missouri. Our school looks like a private school named after the angel Ezekiel It even has a giant statue of an armor clad angel.
     Like any private school, it has fancy manicured lawns, large stone buildings, and more. Unlike normal schools, besides the curriculum is elementary, junior high, and high school are in one campus.( Because hello dying race.) Once we graduate, we can stay in the guest dorms until we’re twenty, so you can have your last years of a demon free life. If you want to get a paycheck, you have to turn in a certain number of demons. For spirit users, they have to turn in paperwork. How boring.
      Now if you’re talking about that experience in class, well I don’t know.
x-x-x-x-x
      I woke up in a cell. “ Ohh.” I groaned , rubbing my eyes.
      “ Are you okay,” A familiar voice of my brother asked
      “ No, I have the worst headache ever,” I said without looking up. “ It’s even worst than a hangover.” A sound of a throat clearing made my head snap up. I looked right into the face of my mother and the headmaster. “Not” I added hastily, “ that I ever had a hangover because that would be just silly.”
       “I have some questions for you,” the headmaster stated. He was tall and athletic with hair to his shoulder which was not very headmasterish. His name is Mr. Ashthorn.
      “ Can I get some Tylenol first, then I’ll answer all your questions.” I asked distractedly. When I reached for the medicine, I noticed the bandages on my arms.
      “ Why haven’t these healed yet,” I wondered.
      “That’s the thing,” my mom answered, “ we can’t-” She was silenced  by the sharp look from Mr. Ashthorn. Then, spontaneously, everyones eyes were on me. Pretending not to be effected, I took the pill.
        I was finishing my water when Mr. Ashthorn asked “ Idris did you betray us?” I nearly choked.
       “ I-” but he cut me off.
       “ Was it a deal for something? Was it blackmail?”  Mr. Ashthorn continued. Now it was my mother’s turn to give the sharp look.
       “ Excuse me?!” I Looked to my brother’s worried face, to my mother’s blank face and to the headmaster’s sharp one.
       “ Did you betray us?” he repeated.
       “ No!”
       “ When did this start?” he demanded
       “ When it happened, I was just as surprised as you.” I felt  scared and other emotions I didn’t think was possible to feel.
       “ How do I know I can trust you?” he asked contemplative.
       “ I fought whatever that thing is off,” Getting restless, I pushed ahead. “ And I did so before anyone was killed.”
      “That could’ve been a ruse,” he pointed out not unreasonably.
      “ What was he saying about the prophecy,” I said, trying to go from another angle.
     “ That is none of your concern,” he replied suddenly sharp again. “ The question is how the demon knows and you don’t.”
      “ Another would be how it got to you in the first place,” put in my brother.
     “ And will it come back,” added my mother.
     “ It’s still here,” I replied without thinking. “ But, I’m fighting it off.”
     “ How are you doing that?” the headmaster asked.
     I gave an unconcerned shrug although I felt exhausted and scared to the core. “ Put a barrier around my control center.” He stared at me for the longest of times. “ Look,” I said, my joking over. “ I can’t explain it, but I figured out how when I fought it off the first time.” At his emotionless blink I said, “ I can defend myself all I want, but it won’t make a difference if you don’t believe me.”
      Without turning his and gaze from me, he said, “ Bring me my children.” As my mother left the room, he spoke to me this time. “ I’m giving you a chance. Don’t make me regret it.
      I stood then gave one firm nod in understanding. The door opened just then a tan girl walked in. She had black eyes, curvy figure, and hair so black it’s blue hung down in thick strands to  her waist. I also have hair that falls to my waist. I instantly respected her patience to put up with it. Now finally someone understands the time It takes to get it to behave. Don't get me wrong, I love my hair and I respect anything that give a little fight but some days it seems like my hair fights me a little too hard.
      Because I got too carried away with my inner monologue, I didn’t hear what he said; but that happens. I can’t be expected to be bored all the time. As the humans say, you only live once. “ Ok I get it,”I said doing a mental rewind of what he just said. That’s what I love about myself; I hear even though I don’t listen.
      “ Are you listening,” the headmaster demanded.
      “ Yes,” I responded.He was going on about how I should report if I feel anything weird.
      “ This is my children, Neil and Tamra. They are your escorts,” he replied. Well, that’s a polite way of saying they would kill me if I step out of line. Oh god Neil is that guy from the infirmary. With my momentary surprise, my barriers wavered, and the demon broke through..
       My spine flared with pain. “ Don’t -” I broke off and started choking. It felt like something searing hot in my throat. I violently coughed, but it was stuck there. My eyes watered, and the lack of air was starting to make me lightheaded. The tears that pooled in my eyes fell and slipped down my cheek. I worked to put up the barriers. I was still choking. I heard my brother scream my name and the headmaster and my mom arguing.
         It came up enough for me to reach in my mouth and pull whatever it is up.I felt blood gush out my mouth as the object cut it. When it was released, I held it up to where I could see it.
           Everyone fell silent. A six inch claw was clutched in my fingers. I gave a humorless laugh that sounded slightly unhinged. “ Well played.” And because I felt slightly unhinged, I laughed again.