Phantom Light

Chapter 1

I crouched on a branch of a old willow tree. Ear ringing, hands burning, light gathering. A mono-color Grumanos sat on the trunk, forming a complex monstrosity before the wind blew it away. I clenched my fist as my cell phone rang.

Ringing. Ringing. Ringing.

"Hello?"I ground out a disheartening greeting and shifted my stance, ready to jump to another tree.

"Hi! Would you happen to be uh...." i heard papers shuffling on a desk. "Ms. Stone?" It was easy to tell she wasn't from around here. A country twang with a fringe of farm living and riding horses. I jumped to the nearest out stretched branch.

"This is she,"

"Ah yes, would you happened to be interested in working for Nasimoe Inc?"

"No."

She was taken aback by my upfront refusal.

"Are you sure? The pay is great and you would be at the top of your division!" She sounded flustered; who would expect someone to turn down such a gracious offer?

Obviously not her. My eye twitched in irritation, the ringing in my brain certainly not helping.

"Im sure. Tell Dramon to stop offering, I will just keep refusing." My palm glowed and I absorbed my fifth catch of the day. It wrestled mutely with my power before i coaxed it into my shoulder pack.

"Alright... I'll tell him your reply," He subtle accent amplifying her amiable confusion. I clicked her off before she could say another word.

Maybe one day... we can meet each other.

I shook my head, jumped down and walked on my way to home, my backpack occasionally rustling with a Manos, a alive power source that only a select few can hear and ever fewer can see. That's why Dramon keeps asking me to join his banded league of Manosans. You can imagine how much easier it is to see what you are hunting rather that hearing it.

I was out of the Glades and into the bust streets of The Priz.

"Kenenisa!"A old gravely voice shouted my name, bringinga soft smile to my face. "Nisa, my dear girl its been forever!" I turned to the side to see Lumow hobbling to catch up with my long strides, his snake eyes cane tapping harshly on the plexi-sidewalk.

"We saw each other yesterday Lumow,"

"Now Now Nisa," His old wrinkled face twisting into a grin. " Time moves so slowly when i cant see your determined face! Much nicer than that darned nurse my blasted son assigned tome." Lumow's eyes got a young glint in them as he leaned forward as if we were part of a scandalous conspiracy. "And she is not ever that fun to mess with."

"LUMOW!" I saw a frizzy redhead marching toward the old man, her face aflame with embarrassment and anger. I saw ketchup smeared all across her shirt.

"Whoops. Better go!" Lumow bounded off with childish glee, as I chuckled and continued on my way home. Once or twice I saw a Manos, gliding along with the general public, the normal people unaware of the friendly energetic color rays.

I reached in my pocket and bragged my key, happy to be so close to sanctuary. Until a branded arrow whizzed through the air and embedded itself on the brick of my house. The ornate swirl immediately let me know who the offending weapon belonged to. I clicked my teeth together in irritation.

"Cant you just take no for any answer Dramon?" The wealthy business man swaggered over to my front doorstep and got up really close. He pressed in and rested a hand on the wall behind my head.

"I thought another personal visit would help you reconsider," Any other girl would of accepted the offer months ago, letting the silky smooth archer's voice and charm wrap them up in a prism of pleasure and passion. ButI knew Dramon's game.

I had already played it before and lost.

And it frustrated him to no end.

"The answer it still no. Thank you; But no." He frowned but quickly covered it up with a professional smile; Dramon's slanted eyes not giving away any emotions and gave me a quick peck on the cheek before stepping away. I pulled out the horrid arrow and handed it back to him dismissively.

"You may go now, Mr. Nasimoe," He shrugged and slung his bow over his shoulder, effectivly showing off his ripped muscled to any female passerby.

"The offer still stands. We could use someone like you over at our place." Dramon's red hair flashed in the setting sun, his hunting gloves still on his rough yet soft hand, a sporty high tech archers shirt covering his forearms and a gilded belt with a swirl in the middle letting the whole world know who he was.

My shoulder pack rustled impatiently before he tele-ported away and I hastily opened my door and slammed it shut.

"Whew,"

I could never breath properly around him. The door to my aero-chamber opened robotically and I set to work on harnessing Manos Power with a dull ringing in my ear.

I fell asleep alone.