Monster

Chapter 1 (Avery)

The night was coming alive. Perched atop one of the various towers of the Sanctuary, Avery could feel the energy sweep through each lane and alley. This part of Wolfrun had been scrubbed clean and freshly painted. In the fresh light of the full moon, fine clothed strangers, complete with top hats and frilly parasols, sauntered through laneways and alleys in awe at the spectacle the village had put on for their annual Harvest Festival.

Avery looked out over the bustling courtyard beneath her, shielded from view by a crumbling, stone gargoyle that had been tortured resemblance of a hound. Patrons funneled in from the various laneways and alleys, all celebrating, stopping to spend gold and coin at the makeshift stands. The merry merchants, strangers to the town, thriving. It seemed that everything was on sale tonight, from the traditional decorative lanterns and sweet mooncakes in the brightly lit courtyard, to Wolfrun's usual supply of re-appropriated goods and flesh in the dank warehouses hidden behind the Sancturary's shadow. The desperate and hungry residents hoping to pocket any coin they could tonight. She scanned the crowd, her breath creating fog in the cool Autumn air, gold and silver flashed of the people gathered below like tiny stars flickering off the moonlight.

She glimpsed the luminescent statues that lined the courtyard, eleven in total and each one representing a different Guardian, except notably the Serpent. Evenly spaced each about a couple yards apart the feminine statues watched the celebrations. Each statue wore a silver mask bearing the mark of their Guardian on their faces. White lace covered their shoulders, revealing the marble skin beneath. A sheer fabric skirt flowed to the floor in various pools depending on how their limbs had been arranged. The silver embellishments on the skirt glimmered, drawing attention to the exposed skin of their thighs.

Avery touched three fingers over her heart and bowed her head, whispering a silent prayer to each Guardian, she shifted silently to the edge of the roof, adjusting the bag strapped to her shoulder. The black fabric of the bag blended seamlessly in with her dark cloak. Her face and hair were hidden in her hood allowing her to melt into the shadows. Waiting.

A cheer rose in the courtyard as the large, oak doors to the Sanctuary opened. Avery frowned but quietly slipped over to the rooftop for a below for a closer view. The bag around her back squirmed, she placed a firm hand on it and murmured at it softly, gently moving the bag around to cradle it in her arms. The movement stilled and Avery crouched closer to the edge, eyes still and focused on the celebrations below.

The crowd parted with a cheer as a handful of masked, male drummers descended the grey stone staircase. Each beat matched their steps down towards the courtyard. She bit her lower lip as she watched them. Compared to the crowd, gathered in their layers of petticoats, the four masculine drummers were near nude. They were dressed in similar garments as depicted on the Guardian statues, but the white silk was fashioned into a loincloth that barely covered what was necessary. The reflective silver lace over their worn chests drew attention to the width of their shoulders and detailed every sculpted muscle as they beat their large metal drums, the sound reverberating through the courtyard.

On impulse, she shifted to the left, leapt up to the apex of the Sanctuary's roof and drew her gun. Her finger poised to use the trigger, Avery had the pistol aimed to where she was just perched. Aimed at a lanky shadow. A cool breeze swept up his cloak, revealing the long lines of a black tailored suit. His appearance was neat and sharp, until Avery saw his face looking up at her and she couldn't stop her smile. His hair was ridiculous, dark and messy as it fluttered against the wind. "You should be better than this Chase."

"I should be." He said with a shrug, "I'm sure that someone, somewhere once tried to teach me not to creep around on rooftops. But where's the fun in that?" His smirk widened, blue eyes dancing. Avery's gun was still pointed at him. "Does he know that you're here?" She flicked a look over his shoulder, the courtyard lit and barely visible. The incessant drumming masking the sound of their voices from the crowd below.