The final bell rang out with a piercing scream as children clumsily gathered up their book bags and hurried out of their classroom doors while teachers tried desperately to call out last minute assignments and goodbyes. Swarms of students pushed through the halls as they fought to get to their cars or buses to escape the academic prison for another weekend.

Ysabel was already outside in the front of the school, casually spread out on one of the benches with a sketch book in her hands as she scribbled across the pages. Her dark green eyes glazed over the page and she furiously took her eraser and rubbed away the lines.

“You like drawing?” Came a soft yet dark tone. Her eyes flicked up, not bothering to move her head to find it was the Nephilim. “Can I see?” She rejected him with a simple glance back down to the page, causing him to let out an exasperated sigh. “Look, you don’t have to be so cold.” He grumbled. “We’re practically the same.”

“Except I don’t have chicken feathers sprouting from my back like a horrible bestiality product.” She said boredly, continuing to scribble about on the page.

He groaned. “Nephilim don’t have wings. We’re half human just like you.”

“Except you’re also God’s warriors and don’t need a damned Cambions help.” Her voice snapped bitterly.

“What is your problem? What did I ever do to you?” He glared, crossing his arms over his chest.

Her eyes peeked over the top of her book, looking at him for a second before letting out a sigh. She quickly closed the book and set it aside while she bent forward and rested her elbows on her knees, the backs of her hands holding up her head. “You didn't thank me.” She said as if it were obvious, her forest colored orbs looking up boredly.

“What?” He groaned. “You’re sour because I didn't thank you?”

“I saved your skin from two witches, the least you could have done would have been to say thank you. Even a sarcastic one would have been appreciated.”

He slouched and hung his head low with a groan. “You Cambions are impossible.”

“Nope, just me.” She then stood up, wrapping her bag over her shoulder and picking up the sketch book. Ysabel then turned and walked down the sidewalk to where her father had parked his car. Afriel watched as she ducked inside with him and they drove away quickly.

Straightening the boy sighed and turned, walking into the parking lot and finding his own car. He pulled out his keys and unlocked the door, slipping into the drivers seat and slamming the door shut.

“Interesting. Who was the girl?” Came a voice from the backseat. His eyes glanced up into the rear view mirror to spot the silhouette of a woman.

“A class mate. She’s a Cambion.” He said as the engine roared awake and he began to maneuver himself from the parking lot.

“And you think you could befriend her is that it?” He could hear the smirk in her voice and sighed.

“Did you stay in my car all day? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Nope. I enjoy startling my little brother.” The smug tone in her voice was beginning to get to Afriel and he sighed.

“You could have been doing jobs at the University.”

“Yeah well so could you.”

“I had school today. You knew that.”

“Not like it’s important.” She said, looking out the window with her hand on her chin.

“Maybe not to you.”

“Oh like you give two shits about human school.”

“I don’t but we have to learn about humans some how.”

“Why not just do what the Cambions do?” She spoke lazily. “I mean they do fine and hardly any of them go to school.”

“Do you even know what a Cambion is?” Afriel snapped. “Unlike us their kind isn’t an actual species. It’s a hybrid so their blood doesn't transfer to their offspring and they are created by a pure blood and a pure blood coming together and-”

“Heh coming together, nice irony.”

He grit his teeth. “I wasn't trying to be ironic.”

“I know how Cambions are made Afriel. When a lustful demon and a human love each other very much-”

“You know you joking about this is not going to help you. Plus there hardly ever is love involved when Cambions are created.”

“What? You don’t think there could be?”

“Demons? Capable of love? Yeah, and I’m Michel’s son.”

“Oh don’t be such a sour puss. It’s kind of a romantic thought to think Demons could succumb to such a simple thing as human love.”

“And that’s why Cambions are usually abandoned.” He said with bitter sarcasm.

His sister glared, “Oh come on! It could happen!”

Afriel chuckled. “No. It’s impossible.” He turned the car down a dirt road that quickly dragged them out of town and into the surrounding forest.

“You’re never going to find any girl with that attitude.” She humphed and remained quiet for the remainder of the ride, causing Afriel to smile.

…

A rusty old aluminum building stood abandoned by its owners, however the blaring music and orange lights from within contradicted the caution and no trespassing signs. Inside was a heavily graffitied skate park but instead of skaters the occupants were rambunctious, pale, and beautiful Cambions. The buzz of conversation pushed the upbeat techno music to background noise. Groups of Cambions were found dancing, others drinking or conversing while scattered about the large indoor skate park.

Ysabel was among them as this was her Guild. Much like the Nephilim Universities, Cambions get leads on demon activity and such from these gathering places and take jobs to exorcise and eliminate rogue or possessed Witches, as they are the only way demons can enter this world. She sat on the edge of the bowl in the middle of the skate park sipping at her red solo cup as a few of them were chatting with her about their previous missions. Often times they competed on how many they could kill in a day or week and how strong they were with small duels. Jobs often were like games to the younger Guild members, which often times got them in trouble.

“Ysabel!” Someone called to her from the top of the high ramp where the Guild leader often sat. She looked up as her name was called to see him waving her over. He had one foot dangling off the edge and the other pulled up so his elbow could rest on his knee which had rubbed a hole in his dark jeans, exposing the pale joint. Many other holes were in the pants but she figured he bought them that way, although bought was a loose term when it came to the charismatic Fenris who only ever paid with sweet and soothing words. He had on an old black buckle coat that was going dull in color and no longer closed, leaving his plain grey v-neck exposed. With every move he made soft jingling sounds would echo as multiple chains were on the hip of his pants and rows of silver and black iron bracelets rested on his wrists. His sleeves were always pushed up to his elbows to show off his many tattoos that if one looked carefully stretched all the way up to his neck, stopping at his jaw line. His ears were gauged, often wearing black demon horns that had sprouted from a witches head as the ear pieces. He also had two piercings side by side on his eyebrow that went well with the spider bites on his lower lip. Everything of course visible with each side of his head shaved, leaving a patch of longer hair on the top that he would comb back. Many teased him as he looked like Brendon Urie, a singer in one of the bands that the Guild often listened to. His dark hazel eyes stared out at Ysabel as his slim fingers beckoned her to him, the corners of his mouth curling into a devilish smirk.

She set her drink down and got up, walking casually over to the high ramp. Once dropping into the skating area she ran at the steep ramp and jumped, gripping the top edge of the ramp with the pads of her finger tips. Fenris reached over and grabbed her free hand as she dangled there, and with a powerful yank pulled her up. She gathered her footing on the top and looked down at the seated Fenris.

“Yes sir?” She asked, politely and he looked over the park with a nonchalant smile.

“I’m having an issue, Ysabel.” His eyes refused to look anywhere but ahead as he spoke. “Those Nephilim are getting more diligent about taking jobs.” He let both feet dangle over the edge as he leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands. “We’re getting cut off on missions. But,” He said with an uplift to his vocals. “have you noticed a rise in the possession count? No longer is it just troublesome witches with contracts but now it’s actual demons using those meat suits.”

“What does that mean sir? I mean for me.”

He finally turned his head and looked at her with those intense and damning eyes. “You’re my best soldier, Ysabel.” He grinned. “And I’m going to need you when fighting this war.”

“War…?” She questioned.

“Yup.” He sighed, his grin remaining as he leaned back on his hands. “The demons are planning something. I just need to find out what before those feathered idiots do.” He smirked, his eyes looking over to her. “That’s where you come in.” He sat up and pulled himself to his feet. “I need you to find out what.” He loomed over her by a head or so and she gave an obedient nod, her own lips positioned in a smirk.

“I would love to, sir.”

“Good.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Then I expect you to be on that at all hours of the day, including school.”

“Yeah, you might have to convince my father on that one.”

“Oh I will.” He grinned. “Work hard for me, Ysabel.”

“Yes sir.” She grinned and as he gave her the releasing smile she slide down the ramp and hurried back to the group, picking up her cup and bragging about her chat with Fenris.