“Come on!” Malachi clapped his hands together. “You have to keep energy. You can do it, keep going.”
“You’re going to kill me!” Alaina cried out as she ducked from a mechanical dummy. “These things are worse than batting cages.”
“Batting cages?” Malachi stared at her.
Alaina turned and looked at him, losing her concentration and getting smacked in the back by one of the dummies. She fell forward, sprawling onto the ground. She let out a grunt as she hit the ground, pain shooting up her arms. She tried to get up, but decided to just stay on the ground, the cold concrete felling refreshing on her feverish skin. Malachi hit a switch, turning the dummies off and looking down at her as if to tell her to get up.
“Yeah,” Alaina said, turning onto her back. “Batting cages. Those stupid baseballs flying at you at about a hundred miles per hour, and they never have very good aim. Instead of hitting the bat, they hit your head. I’m liking you about as much as I like baseball at the moment.”
Malachi crossed his arms, looking down at her. “I’m touched. But I’m not here to be your friend, Alaina. I’m your teacher, your instructor, your...”
“Slave driver,” Alaina interrupted him, finally pulling herself up. “I’m just waiting for some whips and chains.”
Malachi gave a sheepish grin. “Nah, I only do that with people I like.”
“Okay! That was more information than I needed!” Alaina walked over to the wall to grab her towel, not wanting to look at Malachi.
“Alaina,” Malachi finally frowned, sighing. “You need to keep yourself focused. If you’re knocked down, you need to get back up as quickly as possible. Any hesitation could mean your death.”
“You know,” Alaina turned and glared at him with a mean smile. “You really make this just a ton of fun! I think I might just go cartwheels right now and then run up and kiss you. That’s how much fun I’m having!”
“You’re silly attempt at sarcasm doesn’t phase me, so don’t even try that one,” Malachi stared hard at her. “I’m serious, Alaina. I’ve seen many Christened fall because of hesitating after being taken down by a blow. This isn’t a video game, you don’t get extra lives.”
“So, it’s not like Buffy?” Alaina cracked. “You mean, I can’t be brought back to life?”
“Dang it, Alaina!” Malachi slammed his hand down on a table that held some weapons, barely missing the blade of a knife. “I’m not joking now. I don’t want to lose a Christened, and I really don’t want to deal with explaining this to your parents.”
Alaina frowned. “Eh, they’re too worried with the other foster kids to even notice I’m gone.”
“Foster?” Malachi stared at her, calming down. “You’re in foster care?”
Alaina nodded, turning away. “Have been since I was really little. This family finally adopted me, but I’m just one of many. Been moved around quite a bit.”
Malachi turned his head, deep in thought. “Interesting.”
“What’s so interesting about it?” Alaina stared at him coldly.
“Oh, um,” Malachi cleared his throat. “I just didn’t know that. It’s good to learn things about each other. We need to have a relationship to work together.”
“Are you hitting on me?” Alaina smiled slyly.
“Never!” Malachi shook his head. “Come on, let’s get back to training. This time, try to keep concentration. Don’t let me distract you. And you won’t have as much warning now on which dummies attack. Ready? Let’s do it.”
**
“Okay class, settle down,” Malachi put his book down. “We get to learn about the tribes today.”
“Oh this is stupid,” Candy said, leaning back in her chair.
“Candy, if you wish to go somewhere else for this period, you are welcome to,” Malachi said while staring hard at her.
“May I go to the bathroom?” Candy stood up.
“Sure, go,” Malachi shook his head and sighed as she left.
“Anyway, getting on with today’s lesson,” Malachi picked up his book again. “The ancient tribes.”
“When are we going to actually see a demon?” Mikhail asked suddenly.
Malachi let his book slip a little bit, staring at Mikhail in surprise. Alaina’s body went still as she looked at Mikhail from the corner of her eyes, while Winnie turned in shock to stare at him with her mouth wide open. Malachi closed the book and looked hard at Mikhail, trying to see if he had been joking.
“I’m sorry,” Malachi finally said, shaking off his surprise. “Did you ask if we’re going to see a real demon?”
“No,” Mikhail shook his head. “I was asking when we would see one. I mean come on. Obviously everyone in this room is in this class for a reason. Well, except for Candy, she’s an exception.”
Malachi took off his glasses and stared for a moment. “I don’t understand.”
“Okay,” Mikhail sighed. “All of those who don’t believe in demons raise your hand.”
Alaina looked around to see no one raising their hands. Mikhail continued once he saw the reactions. “All of those who haven’t seen a demon please raise your hand.”
Again no one raised their hand. Alaina looked around for a moment, confused by what she was seeing. Malachi seemed to be just as surprised as she was. He scratched his neck and put his glasses back on, trying to make sense of it. His eyes stopped on Alaina, trying to see her reaction.
“So come on,” Mikhail interrupted Malachi’s thoughts. “I know that you are a guide. So who’s the Christened?”
“And how am I to know that any information would be safe with you?” Malachi stared hard at him. “Fine, if you truly have all seen a demon, then I expect all of you to tell me why you would believe in them. Starting with you, Mikhail.”
“I come from a long line of demon hunters,” Mikhail answered, not missing a beat. “It’s kind of the family’s job.”
Malachi stared for a moment, then turned to the other guy in the class. “What about you Joseph?”
“My mother was a guide,” Joseph responded, pushing his blonde spiked hair back. “A demon put a spell on her a while back, sending her insane. She’s been in a mental hospital for some time now. I’m trying to find a way to reverse the spell.”
Sassy spoke next, clearing her throat uncomfortably. “My brother was killed by a demon, so I want revenge.”
Everyone turned their head to Winnie next. She shifted in her seat, speaking quietly. “My family has Christened in it. My aunt and my grandma were.”
“So you’re the Christened!” Mikhail smiled, sitting up.
“No! I’m not! I can’t be!” Winnie cleared her throat, turning away from Mikhail. “My... my father is a demon, so I’m part demon. And demons can’t become a Christened at any time.”
“So that means...” Mikhail looked at Alaina, his eyes digging into her.
Alaina pushed back her black hair, standing up. “I... well, yeah, I’m the Christened.”
“Amazing,” Joseph whispered, smiling.
“You’re not what I expected,” Mikhail said, looking at her. “I was expecting some plainer looking girl. Someone who people wouldn’t notice fighting a lot.”
Malachi turned his head away, thinking about something else as he spoke. “She was chosen well. She’s strong, ambitious, and I can tell she has the power. She...”
He got up from his desk, walking quickly to the window and looking out. The garden of the school expanded out to the horizon, flowers everywhere. Malachi looked around for a moment, finally spotting what he had seen again.
“My god!” Malachi exclaimed, having to stop himself from jumping.
“What?” Alaina stood up and walked over to him.
“It was a spirit wolf,” Malachi said, looking around again. “Spirit animals are very rare creatures, and usually don’t let anyone see them. But I know I saw this one.”
“Sure it wasn’t just a coyote?” Sassy asked.
“Positive,” Malachi responded. “I’ve been trained to be able to spot the differences, and this definitely was a spirit wolf.”
Mikhail grinned, getting up. “Let’s go then!”
“Mikh...!” Malachi started, but he was too far ahead. “Oh dang it! Come on. We’d better follow him before he gets himself hurt.”
The others followed quickly, Malachi leading the way. Mikhail was standing just outside the door, looking around. He started walking again when the others had finally caught up to him, getting a good look around. He frowned when he couldn’t find anything, looking at Malachi for answers.
“It must not want us to see it anymore,” Malachi sighed.
“Mr. Conway?” Malachi turned to see the vice principal looking at him. “What are you and your students doing out here?”
“Oh, Mr. Littleton,” Malachi cleared his throat. “We were just going over a lesion that have to with an ancient tribe.”
“Yeah,” Alaina spoke up, seeing some discomfort in Malachi’s face. “Some of the old ancient tribes used to believe in things called spirit animals, and Mikhail here thought it would be fun to go out and see if we could look at one of the old rituals to find one. Unfortunately, I don’t think they like us.”
“Get these students back into the classroom,” Mr. Littleton growled.
“Yes, Sir,” Malachi nodded and motioned for the students to follow. He leaned in to whisper to Alaina. “Quick thinking, and yet still sort of truthful. You do have what it takes.”
**
Alaina put down a book, looking at Malachi. They were in his apartment above the store which he hadn’t opened yet, looking through books about spirit animals. Malachi’s head was buried in a book, obviously very into it.
“Why are we doing this again?” Alaina stared at him.
“Because the world is quiet with nothing to fight,” Malachi replied. “So I want to create a problem for you. Alaina, do you realize how big this is?”
“No,” Alaina shook her head. “And I’m too tired to care. Can I go home now?”
“Sure, whatever,” Malachi sighed. “See you tomorrow in class.”
Alaina pulled her coat on and said goodbye, walking down the stairs. She looked over the store for a moment, thinking about how bare it was. She walked outside and stopped, realizing she had taken off her charm bracelet and had left it. She turned to go back and get it, but stopped, noticing a black wolf sitting on the corner.
“A wolf?” Alaina took a step forward, looking at it in awe.
The wolf stared at her. She could hear a voice, as if the wolf was talking. The wolf turned quickly after that and began walking around, turning the corner. Alaina stared for a moment, not even noticing Malachi grabbing her arm.
“You forgot this,” he held up the bracelet.
“I just saw the wolf,” Alaina said, still staring after it. “It wants me to follow.”
Malachi stared at her in disbelief. “Then I’m coming with you.”
“It wanted me to go alone,” Alaina turned and finally looked at him. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Alaina!” Malachi called out as she began to walk away, disappearing around the corner. “Dang it. Spirit animals are dangerous to those who aren’t companions.”
Alaina’s footsteps echoed in the alley way. The wolf had waited for her patiently, walking as soon as it saw that she was following. She turned another corner to find the wolf sitting patiently again. This time it just stared at her, lifting its head slightly at her. Alaina was mesmerized by it, its dark eyes burning deep into her.
She let out a cry of surprise when she was hit hard on the back, pain shooting up to her neck. She ducked and rolled, getting up quickly like Malachi had told her to. She moved to the side, realizing it was trying to attack again and watched as the demon slammed into the wall. It tried to attack again, but Alaina stepped to the side again and this time kicked it hard in the back.
The demon stumbled forward, turning quickly to face her. His eyes glowed red and he bared his teeth, lunging at her. Alaina turned quickly out of his way and took her elbow to the back of his neck. He fell forward, giving Alaina enough time to pull a short sword from her boot.
The demon tried to grab Alaina’s feet, but her slim legs slipped out easily, making him fall forward again.
Alaina held the sword up, smiling a bit. “Hasn’t your mommy ever told you not to play with your food?”
Alaina brought the sword down, taking the demon’s head off. “It’s not really polite. And some of us bite back.”
“Not bad,” a female voice said behind her.
Alaina turned to see a woman in a long white dress kneeling down and petting the wolf. Her blonde hair was almost blinding in the moonlight and her eyes were a soft brown. She looked to be in her forties, but her eyes said she was much older. She smiled at Alaina, her delicate features changing in the soft light.
“I never knew you would become so strong so fast,” the woman said as she looked at Alaina.
“What do you want?” Alaina got into a fighting stance, ready for anything.
“I’m not here to fight,” the woman stood up. “I come to give you a present.”
“Who are you?” Alaina put down her hands, putting the sword back in her boot.
“I am known as the Great Guardian,” the woman responded. “We are few, but we are strong. The great guardians way before us found the first Christened. We watch over you when your guides cannot.”
“The Great Guardian!” Malachi stepped out of the shadows.
Alaina frowned, keeping her eyes on the guardian. “Forgive him. He doesn’t listen to orders well.”
“No,” the guardian smiled. “It’s quite alright. I remember his father well. I can’t stay long, but you are one of the most promising Christened, and I wanted to give a gift before I went back.”
A small yip came from behind the wolf, and a small German Shepard puppy slowly found its way over to Alaina. Alaina kneeled down and the puppy began to lick her hand, cuddling up against her. It looked up at her, its eyes full of stars and beauty.
“A spirit dog,” Malachi stared in disbelief.
“Spirit dogs don’t die by old age,” the guardian smiled. “Death does happen, but they don’t die until their master dies. I give to you this spirit dog to protect you and to be your companion. He is a promising dog. Take good care of him.”
A light shone quickly, and when it was gone, the guardian and the wolf were gone. Alaina looked back at Malachi, who was staring at the dog in awe. “I think I’ll name him Ryo.”
**
Winnie picked Ryo up in her arms, giving him a few kisses. “Oh, he is so adorable! And so soft! Oh I love puppies!”
Joseph stared at her for a moment. “You’re a bit insane.”
Mikhail leaned in to look at the puppy, speaking to Alaina. “So she just gave you the dog.”
“Yeah,” Alaina nodded. “Isn’t he cute?”
Malachi looked at the class, watching as Alaina and Winnie swooned over the puppy. “The Great Guardian said she was very promising. Let’s just hope she can face what could come up.”
****TUNE IN NEXT WEEK for another episode of Dreams of Darkness!
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