Chapter 1

Five Years Later: One Month After Receiving Speed and Power.

"Are you going to sleep all day or are you gonna get up? I can get the ice bucket you know," John said to his son.

He laughed out loud when his son literally flew out of bed completely starkers. That was a habit of his son's mentality. He always said that any type of clothing he could wear is to confining for him to sleep in-that is what little sleep he got anyway. The boy was lucky to average two hours.

John was just fucking with his head about sleeping late.

With all the innocence in the world on his face and in his voice, he asked his dad, "How can you even sleep at night, you little prick?"

John just laughed and left the room. Their relationship had changed a lot since he was in his teenage years now. They were more like brothers than father and son. Oh, but he could and would still lay down the law if he thought his son was out of line. Problem was, that never seemed to happened.

Kaidin gathered all his gear. Today was going to be a big day. His stuff was easy to grab because, all of it was sitting on his dresser. All the rest of his gear was packed in boxes and crates. Today he was moving to Iron Town, California. Or should he say, the movers and home decorators were moving all his stuff. He had already told the trusted home designers how he wanted his stuff in his new home.

He had already said good-bye to his parents last night.

His mother was the hardest. He could barely resist a crying woman.

The home wasn't going to be exactly a mansion, but it would not be a regular house either-it was going to be somewhere in between. It was two stories high with s and seven baths. It was really hard to described, but Kaidin really loved it. Mainly because he helped design it.

The basement was huge and also an Armory.

How did he afford all of this? That question is very easy to answer. Tenshi petitioned the Black Dragon Society, stating that since now he has the brand of a Master Assassin on his arm, not to mention he would be saving a number of peoples lives, he deserved to have some money allocated to a bank account. The amount even surprised Tenshi. He was figuring for about a couple of Hundred Thousand dollars. That is not what they got.

What they did get was Fifty Million Dollars wired to Kaidin's account. If Kaidin was a lesser man he probably would have made a fool out of himself and let out a very unmanly squeal. Tenshi's lessons paid off, though. The only thing that appeared on his face was a quiet smirk.

As he gathered up all the stuff on his dresser, Kaidin headed for the bathroom. When he got in, he didn't even bother to look in the mirror. Hell, he couldn't think of a reason to look in the mirror in the past. If they didn't like the way he looked, they could kiss his ass.

He turned the water to the hottest he could stand it, without getting burned, and damn near moaned as the tortures of yesterday's training started to feel a little better. Even with the incredible strength he had, they found ways of pushing him through training. He washed himself as well he could after enjoying the bliss of the water, and turned it off and stepped outside.

Ordinarily he would not care what he looked like, but today he was going to met another Hunter-he wanted to look his best, since they had already told him she was female. When he got the steam cleared all the way off the glass, he was in a little bit of a shock.

He had not really looked at himself in years and what he saw, surprised the hell out of him. Also, he wasn't afraid to admit, he felt a little proud. He had worked damn hard to look like this. He had to run so many miles he couldn't count. He had to lift weights for so many hours he couldn't count them either. Not to mention all the drills and Martial Arts.

What he saw was not the gangly adolescent he had seen in the mirror three years ago. No, the young man in front of him was lined with whip-cord muscle the stood out in stark relief just enough not to make him look like body builder. No, the muscles he had were functional and that was way more important than looking good.

That was the point he shook his head wryly. Stop staring before you get an ego the size of Texas, dumbass.

He chose specific clothing for the day, because of who he was going to meet. Since she was in the same line of business that he was about to be in, he went for functional, yet stylish attire. He knew he was going overboard with this. It wasn't like him. The more he grew up, the more his attitude seemed to tell the world, "I don't give a fuck what you think of me."

He looked at what was laying on the bathroom counter. It was his black trench coat with a special compartment that hid his Ninja Sword, but also allowed easy access to it. Then there were his babies. Two .50 Semi-Automatic Double Action Desert Eagle hand guns. They were also made out of a special metal that wouldn't set off metal detectors. They would go in the dual black shoulder holsters. He also had three extra clips for each gun, besides the ones that was already in them, and they were all loaded with hollow point silver bullets.

After all, he learned quickly from the "Training Mission" that Tenshi took him on that a head or a heart shot with one of those bullets turns a blood sucking demon to dust. Sunlight and decapitation works two. Although, he must admit he much preferred the up close and personal battle with the undead with his sword and daggers. He cut through about a dozen of them that night like they were butter.

Did he get a told he did a good job? No. He got told, "Not bad, Kid."

Kaidin was brought back to the present then and looked at his clothes. He had a pair of black jeans and dark blue Armani shirt-he figured he might as well have a little understated style. The last were a pair of snug fitting black boots that had two silver daggers in them. He placed those in the sides of the boots, just like he used the other two silver daggers to hide in the sleeves, where the compartments were, just for such an occasion.

After he threw on all his clothes, he didn't even bother with his hair, it would stay wild no matter what, he looked at himself in the mirror. What was looking back at him, surprised him just a little. He looked-well, he looked like a person that was seriously intent on killing something.

A person might wonder why, Kaidin would carry all these weapons on him during the day time. The answer is one simple word. Familiars. They were humans. The only way for a normal person to find out about one was if they had their vampire symbol tattooed on them. For Kaidin and the others too that have been blessed, they had complete leeway to kill them no matter what, after they get the information out of them of course.

The cops In Iron Town would not say shit about the dead body if it had a Vampiric Symbol on it. They would just automatically shut down the case and move on to the next one. Kaidin's father told him that the Police Commissioner of Iron Town had laid down orders to all the cops there, even providing photos, to leave them be and do not even talk to them, no matter what they see. Kaidin thought that this was a little extreme and hoped the others didn't abuse such a gift.

A familiar is a human that wants to be a Vampire. In fact, they will do anything the vamp asks in order to gain favor. If they gain enough favor, the will gain immortality, but lose their soul. Kaidin loathed anyone that actually wanted to become a monster and kill people. Children. So, in that case... No, Kaidin would have no problem killing a human-very harshly at that.

Kaidin shook his head and reach into the pocket of his trench coat. He pulled out a photo. The girl, he didn't know her name, just that she was like him-a Hunter. He looked at his watch and almost swore, he was supposed to meet her at the mall today, and if he didn't hurry, he was going to be late as hell. That would make a shitty impression, he thought with a chuckle.

With that he tore out of the bathroom in a run, yelling a quick "Bye" over his should as he jumped into his Dodge Durango.

Dani Wilson sat at a little fast food place waiting. She didn't know who she was waiting for, but she did know his picture. She knew one thing, if he really was like her, he was cute and deadly. She has been training for this for four years, ever since she turned twelve. She also knew that Kaidin was going to be the Team leader. Wills (that's what she likes bing called) once asked why he got to be team leader, thinking maybe because it was because he was a boy. She got a response.

"Dani, do think training 10 hours a day for four years is harsh?" This was asked by her instructor, a master of the Black Dragon Society.

"Yes, I did that everyday and I'm exhausted. That's why I think I should have the chance to be the leader."

"My dear Apprentice, he also has a Mentor that is a Master of The Black Dragon Society, an Instructor/Father who is one of the best Army Rangers in the world. Then he has a Mother/Teacher that is qualified to teach twelve subjects. She has taught him most of them, but not all.

"That boy has been training for fourteen hours a day since he was four. He has so much knowledge of World History, Art of War and Demonology, I'm surprised his head hasn't popped off. Does that answer your question, my Apprentice." This was all said in a soft voice.

That had shocked her to the core. She thought that she was good, because her mentor tattooed the Master symbol on her arm, declaring her a Master in the Black Dragon. That was one thing that she was really proud of. Her Mentor said that most do not get it until they are in their twenties. Her Mentor told her she was one of the deadliest Martial Artists in the world just a week ago when she had received her mark. Her instructor had told her that she had learned the Black Dragon's Martial Science so quickly that she was shocked.

Her life before had not been peaches and cream. In fact, she had been living on the street. She never found out how her Mentor found her, but she did. At that point the young twelve year old girl would have trusted just about anyone to get off those streets.

That night her Mentor took her to a rather expensive two bed room at a hotel and sat her down and explained the things that go bump in the night. She explained that there were more vampire demons than any other and they were the easiest to kill. Sun light. Decapitation. Silver stake or silver bullet through the heart or the brain. She also told the prophecy.

The girl named Dani Wilson flat out told the woman that she was full of shit. There was no way any of that could be true.

Then the old Chinese woman did something that changed her life. She said that the obituaries said that there was a death to a young man by a wild animal-but it left only two holes in the neck. She said that they would go to that grave yard and if she didn't believe her then, she would walk away and never bother her again. But she did make her promise that she would agree to train for the Prophecy if she was right.

CartvilleCemetery was pretty damn big. Wills was secure enough in herself that she could admit she was a little spooked about what might happen. The logical part of her brain said that nothing would... The old woman was crazy.

"Here he is," the woman stated with almost a flat voice.

"Yeah, it's a tomb stone all right," Wills replied with a slightly sarcastic voice. Years on the street had put that rebellious streak in her. However, when the old women gave her a disapproving look, she mumble an apology.

Then the old woman pulled out a very finely made silver stake. "He's all your's, Wilson. If you get into trouble, I'll help you out."

With that, the old woman tossed the stake to Wills, who caught it almost instinctively. That was when the waiting had started, they waited for about an hour and nothing happened. Nothing's going to happen. Nothing's going to happen. Nothing is going to happen. It had almost became her happy little mantra.

That's when she felt a chill go down her spine and it seemed like the fine little hairs on the back of her neck stood up. That was when it seemed that the ground opened and hell came out. Well. Maybe not hell, but definitely a demon. It's eyes were coal black, no whites at all. It's forehead had ridges on it and it had to be the ugliest creature she had ever scene.

She froze at the horror of it. It was halfway out of the grave.

Then a voice broke through her frozen senses. "Slam it through it's heart, Child, while it is still weak."

Moving on pure adrenalin and fear she did exactly that. The silver stake slammed right through the demon's heart. The only thing left was the dust particles floating through the air. Her heart pounded in her chest and sweat was on her forehead. That was most intense experience in her life.

The old woman, who asked her to call her Tika, told her that that was the weakest of the breeds because it hadn't fed yet. The one's that have risen and fed are about three to four times stronger than a human. Moreover, that was their demon face. They could look human when they chose. She was also told their were many other demons in the world.

It was on this night that a friendship and an Apprenticeship began.

"Waiting for someone?" came an amused voice from behind. Before she could reach for a dagger, guns might hurt someone if she missed-not that she did hardly miss anymore, he stated his name.

"My name is Kaidin O'Brian. I'm glad I got here on time, traffic was a bitch." Mirth was still in his eyes from sneaking up on her.

She was even more beautiful in person than she was in the picture. She had long wavy, dark blonde hair and the brightest green eyes he had ever seen. Judging from what he could see of her upper body, she was also in damn good shape-not to mention very endowed.

"My name's Dani Wilson. Just call me Wills though, and we will get along fine," she replied with a smile.

"You got it. Hey, you chose a nice spot for the things we're going to be discussing. The booth is pretty secure, so their won't be any eavesdroppers." Damn, I'm running out of this small talk shit.

Wilson smiled, she could tell that he wasn't used to being around large groups of people. "So, what can you tell me about the rest of the team?"

Kaidin snorted, then frowned. It sort of pissed him off when information was being held back. His Guardians thought it would be better for him to get to know them, instead of reading their file. Like he had with Wills, all he had was some photos and a note saying the third gifted would meet him at his place the next day. For this day, though, he had to get to know Wills.

"I'll tell you the truth; I got zip. My guardians thought it would be fucking cute for us to get to know one another. I do know they told me that you are second in charge and that we should hang out a bit and get to know one another a bit. They also said that the third of the Gifted would be at my house tomorrow at three. It's supposed to be like a base of operation."

Wills nodded her head. It made a little sense. "It's going to get dark in about a half hour. What do you say we hit the clubs and do some Hunting? Could be fun, and I could work off some frustration."

"You know what? I think me and you are going to get along just fine," Kaidin replied with wicked grin. "My Mentor Tenshi did a little scouting for me last night. There is a warehouse in the warehouse district of this town that is holding a small clan of about fourteen."