“Ysabel, what do you think you’re doing?” A large man stood in the doorway to a small room. He had broad, square shoulders and dark brown hair that was beginning to grow out over his ears, waving around the angles of his face. His dull brown eyes looked sternly into the room and were fixated onto the teenage girl who was sat in a chair that was placed behind a small desk that held a grand mess of things. A laptop was what lay beneath the girls fingertips and books upon the empty portion of the desk. Papers and drawings accompanied the books but they were cast about the room without a thought. The girl herself was petite in many ways, however she carried a frightening aura about her. Her hair was a dark brown and was cut into messy layers and she had one side shaved to flaunt her piercing along her ear. She even had a few more on her face, one on her nose and two below her lip which were found to be called snake bites which only added to her frightening aura.

“What are you doing?” Her voice droned, clearly unimpressed by the mans attempt at governing her. “Don’t you have work?”

“And don’t you have school?” He retorted, his body tight as he held back his urge to step in and slam the laptop shut.

“I thought you were at work, thus I thought I had missed my ride.” Her crisp green eyes remained on the computer screen, her black fingernails tapping away at the keyboard.

“Ysabel!” The man snapped. “What on Earth has you so focused on that damned screen?!”

Finally her eyes pull away from the computer and move to the man. Her face did not change as she pulled her hands from the keyboard and laid them in her lap. “Actually nothing on this Earth has me focused. It is what is not on this Earth that has my attention, Alaric. The things that do not dwell here that find themselves here is what has me glued to this screen; so if you would please leave me to it, I’d be very thankful.” She pulled her hands from her lap and then went back to clicking away.

The man looked angrily into the room. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why? It’s your name.”

“For God’s sake I’m your father! Use something paternal!”

“Why would I do anything for God? I am eternally damned because you can’t tell a prostitute from a succubus.”

The man groaned as she just casually said it, still doing whatever it was behind that computer. “And somehow I’m still stuck with you. Come on, time for school.”

“Not going.”

“Yes you are.”

She sighed and closed the laptop, glancing up to give him a glare as she stuffed the thing into her messenger bag. He nodded and walked down the hall to grab his coffee from the kitchen downstairs.

Ysabel stood up and pulled on her black leather jacket, swinging the messenger bag onto her shoulder. Quickly she stepped out into the hallway and jumped down the stairs. Her father was by the front door, pulling on his coat.

“Why can I never drive the bike to school?” She complained as they stepped out into the driveway where her father had parked his car, her motorcycle stationary besides it.

“Because you might get into an accident and I would be crushed.” He said, removing his keys from his pocket and unlocking the doors.

“No I would be crushed and you would be upset.” She spoke with a condescending tone.

“You do that on purpose.” He groaned, slipping into the drivers seat.

“Do what?” She grinned as she sat in the passenger seat.

“You know exactly what.” Alaric glanced at her before placing the keys in the ignition. “Now seat belt.”

“But it’s more fun when you think you might die.” Ysabel smirked.

“Seat belt.” He said more firmly as the engine growled awake. Ysabel sighed and pulled on her seat belt.

The drive was fairly silent and Ysabel just hoped to be over with this damned human school soon. They were so dull and annoying with their exaggerated drama. She enjoyed slaying demons more than watching these arrogant and ignorant beasts try to sort out their hormone filled brains. It frustrated her and she could not wait till she only had to attend the Guild.

“Alright out. And lets try not to get in trouble this time.”

She looked over at him with a mischievous smirk. “You’re asking a Cambion to behave? I thought we already learned how impossible that was.”

“You’d think I would have learned after you glued the twins from daycare together but I still can hope.” He smiled for the first time all day and Ysabel smirked.

“Hope’s a bitch.” She said, escaping from the car and stepping out onto the cement that lead to the high schools front doors. Her father sped away, leaving her here alone once again. She walked up to the doors with a sigh as the lack of students made her realize she was late. The school was plain and boring, like most modern schools and held very little character making her loath the place even more. Teachers would be angry once again and she would have to pretend like she cared. Tedious acting, which she was not very good at, especially when dealing with humans.

The security guard at the front gave her a nod as she passed, her feet continuing their lazy movements, holding her bag strap over her shoulder. The halls were empty as she walked towards her class.

Suddenly she felt something press against her body and her feet were removed from the floor as her body was thrown to the side. The lockers rang out as her body slammed against them and her teeth gritted as the pain flashed through her. She fell to the ground, realizing she had closed her eyes and began to open them. A boy around her age was laying next to her, beginning to feel the need to stand as footsteps could be heard. His eyes glanced back at the girl and she could tell he was frantic.

“Oh gosh, I am so sorry!” he exclaimed, scrambling to his feet and grabbing at her small, delicate hand to pull her up. She jerked away from him and got up by herself. The boy then stared at her, just realizing something about her and then she got it; her control was off and glancing down at her hands small grey lines were squirming beneath her pearly skin. Quickly she pulled it back and her flesh was just as clear as the boy in front of her. He had soft ebony hair that was longer than most boys let their hair get but she could tell it was dyed. Beneath the longer fringe over his eyes she could see a piercing icy blue color that looked down at her with a mix of confusion and judgment, but no fear… He just saw her skin crawling with the faint image of what made her a Cambion and he only looked at her as if she were something to study.

She stood straighter and narrowed her eyes at him as the footsteps skidded around into the hall behind them. Her eyes grazed over his shoulder to look at those belonging to the noise and was shocked to see two girls were running at them. As she looked closer she could sense something that made her muscles tinge, a familiar feeling that told her these girls were witches. Without a second thought she grabbed the boy’s wrist and pulled him with her as she raced down the hallway, trying to remember where the next exit was. The two behind them skidded and their shoes squeaked while they continued to pursue the boy and Ysabel. Normally when encountering witches she could tell if they were possessed or not but she had no time to make sure and the fact they were going after this boy was a dead giveaway that demons may be using these meat suits. Not only would she be able to tell regularly but she would also be able to use the demonic powers her mother had given her but with so many camera’s in the school it would be impossible to clean up that mess. She’d have to kill a few humans and the Guild would surely kick her out for that.

Her own shoes skidded around the corner as she tried to keep them on the chase while she looked for a way out. The boy she was gripping tightly wasn't even saying a word, didn't even look frightened as she glanced back. He seemed absolutely calm, maybe even a bit annoyed. Ysabel furrowed her brow but went back to searching for a way out as she could hear the witches catching up. The boy then grabbed onto her as she was about to make another turn.

“This way.” He then began to pull her the opposite way towards what looked to be a dead end. What the hell was he thinking?! His hands jerked her to the side as they reached the end and into a divot in the wall where an exit was hidden. He slammed into the door and pushed it open, continuing to run from the building. She shook her head and grabbed his wrist, pulling him with her as she turned into an alleyway where no camera’s could reach. They could hear the door slam open from the pair and the rapid stepping. Ysabel reached into her bag as the boy was shoved behind her. He went down and she looked back to see he was sitting. She was about to snap at him but the witches were quickly coming their way and by now they were snarling and saliva was dripping down their chin as if they were a rabid dog. Ysabel grabbed a hold of a knife within her bag and waited until they were in the alleyway with them.

The boy behind her was mumbling, perhaps some kind of prayer from the sounds of it. She even caught some Latin within his speech. It was odd but she paid no attention and pulled the knife from her bag. It had odd symbols scrawled along the hilt and blade that were shimmering faintly from the demonic aura. Quickly she threw her bag to the side, wrapping the strap around one of the witches’ necks and pulling it back, choking her as Ysabel’s other hand held the knife in defense and began to fight off the other’s attacks. She tightened her grip on the bag and pulled the girl around, using her as a shield as the witch began to grow purple. The other hissed angrily as the boy’s prayers were beginning to agitate her and the inability to get to Ysabel frustrated her. The body within her bag’s grasp went limp from lack of oxygen and she was forced to toss it aside, jerking the head until she heard a snap. She then lunged at the remaining witch, her knife swiped low as she ducked away from it’s swinging hand. It cut a deep and long gash along it’s stomach and Ysabel slid through the girls legs and jumped up to then slam the knife down into her back. It let out a screeching scream as she gripped it by the hair and threw it back, crawling on top of it and bringing down the knife to it’s neck, leaving a large puncture in it’s throat. The witch wriggled about on the floor, screeching and gurgling as blood began to fill it’s windpipe.

Breathing heavily she looked back at the boy who had stopped praying and was now staring with wide eyes at the two dead girls in front of him. Then his chilling gaze turned to the girl standing before him splattered with blood.

“What the heck was that for?!” He exclaimed, seemingly angry. Now this she recognized as a human response.

“They were witches.” She said firmly. “I don’t expect a damned human to understand but what you think is a witch is not a witch.” She glared, picking up the bag from the witch’s throat. “They can have powers like your stupid fairy tales but they get those from demons. Majority of the time witches are possessed to get their powers, not born with them or having some connection to nature. Demons or angels can possess them but demons often times are the more likely possessor as they simply want to live outside of Hell.” The boy looked like he wanted to say something so she stopped and crossed her arms, letting him express what he needed to.

“I know what witches are, but you didn't have to kill them! You could have simply exorcised them!”

This surprised her. What human knew about witches? “Wait… You know what witches are?!” She snapped.

“Yeah, I’m not a human.” He snarled. “And neither are you huh?” He said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, eyes narrowed at her.

She moved her feet nervously. “No… But if you aren't human… what are you?” She asked, her body tensing and hands gripping her bag tightly.

He stood straighter and looked down his nose at her. “My name is Afriel. I was named after the angel of youth and I am Nephilim. I figure you’re Cambion by the way you just handled that.”

“Quick and efficient?” She spoke smugly.

“Sloppy and unnecessary.” He corrected with a harsh look into her eyes.

“Well how well was your damn exorcism going? All you did was annoy them!” She fixed the bag onto her shoulder. “Besides they’d just repossess these girls. Witches are menaces, the smaller their population the happier I am.” She snapped around and walked away only to then have him grab her wrist and pull her back close to him, glaring down at her.

“You really expect to go back there with blood all over your clothes?”

She looked up at him but refused to move her chin only allowing half her pupil and iris to be seen. “Cleanse me then, haloed bitch.” She spat her insult at him and his grip on her tightened.

“I’m not your demon half so you have no right to put that hate on me.” He growled.

She glared, gritting her teeth and took a step towards him despite his restraining grip. “I am also half human and am allowed to be pissed at you for your sour attitude towards me for saving your feathered ass.” She spoke through gritted teeth and as her lips closed into an angry line her hands jerked themselves free.

He clenched his jaw and his iris’ gave off a slight glow as he looked at her and the spots of blood went up in puffs of white flame. His gaze then moved to the witch corpses and they began to burn with in the same flames.

Ysabel nodded. “Thank you.” She then turned away from him and stepped out of the alley as the second period bell sang through the school.