Shadow Hunters. The beginning

Prologue

A quiet rumble in the distance alerted a tall figure that stood alone in the dark alleyway. Smog clogged his lungs, souring his mood. He didn't even like cities. Didn't even like people, but here he was, and all because of the debt he owed to a woman.
         Not that he was particularly bitter about it. After all, she was the one who saved him from the grasp of death, then watched over him till he was well enough to be on his own two feet. His gray eyes slowly scanned the ally for said woman. But of course, she could not be found.
         This always happened. She'd open up a portal to the next land, and they'd end up separated. He had half a mind to start holding her hand, even if she was embarrassed. Taking a step forward with his black boots, he walked down the alley on his way out to look for the dark haired women. She shouldn't be hard to find, after all, she always wore a simple white and red mask that covered her whole face. It made her stick out like a sore thumb with the darn thing. He never understood why she bothered to wear the thing, but every time he asked, all she would say was 'she didn't like to show her face.' He had been at her side for almost a year now, and still, he hadn't seen her face.
         That annoyed him a little bit. But he figured there was some sort of trauma or hurt there that she wasn't ready to share yet.
         The chilly air sent a shiver down his spine as he exited the alleyway. Neon lights went up and down the street providing a sufficient amount of light. Not that he really needed light, after all, his origins as a werewolf gave him the ability to see well in the dark. On top of that, he was forcibly turned to a vampire, and forced into slavery. As both werewolf and vampire, he had strong abilities, and a natural ability to fight, and fight well.
           The chatter of people who were walking about broke through his thoughts. He could see some heading to bars, clubs, couples, gangsters, and other unsavory people. He could see he wasn't in a good part of town. He could see a group of rough looking men eyeing him as soon as he stepped out of the alleyHe knew why. He looked rough himself. It was hard not to when he had scars on his face, and the clothes he wore. His nose twitched a bit at all the collected smells of the area. Smoke, cigarettes, perfume, and lots of other things.
           Hands deep in his long trench coat, he turned to head away from this part of town. It was hard to pick up her scent, when all he could smell was the city. His mind went back to the women he had pledged his loyalty to. Her name was Tyrah. She was tall, five nine, wore black like he did, he half wondered if it was a way to hide, to be unremarkable and forgettable. But she was anything but that.
      She wore a simple black sleeveless turtleneck top, dark pants that clung to her, more for stealth then style. She wore long brown boots, and a brown belt around her hips to hold her sword. She always wore her hair up in a high ponytail with two locks of hair out in the front, one on either side of her face. She was thin, she never ate much, barely slept, he didn't understand how she functioned. He didn't think she was human anymore.
        Maybe she was never human. He wasn't sure, after all, she told him the vague memories from her childhood, before she had been chosen for this. She had more than her fair share of betrayal and trauma. He could see it in the way she held herself, guarded, almost cold. But compared to the beginning, she had warmed to him considerably.
       A small smile came to his lips at the thought. Maybe she craved companionship like he did. The scuff of a shoe made him look up, pulled away from his thoughts once again. There she stood in front of him. Hands in her pockets, white mask on her face with red stripes on each cheek. "Hey." Her voice came out soft. Calm. Almost relaxed. "I haven't seen anything out of place yet. But that means nothing." She said with a light shrug as she came up to his side. She turned to face the same way he was. Side by side, he could muse about how he was a head and a half taller than she was.
         "What's on your mind?" He asked, noticing she was a bit out of it. "Vacation." She replied bluntly. She sounded almost amused at the thought. "Wish we could have one." He gave a simple nod of agreement. "I was thinking about that today." He said as they surveyed the area and walked. "Where would you want to go if we got one?" He asked calmly. Tyrah tipped her head and without hesitation said "a beach. A warm on,.just to relax for once." He gave an understanding nod of agreement. They had spent lots of time fighting horrific creatures, and barely had any time in recovery if something happened.
       He glanced down at her, gazing at the few scars she had visible on her arms. She had so many things hidden away. "Perhaps one day." She said in a sigh talking about vacation. He hoped it would be sooner rather than later. He hadn't been doing this job nearly as long as she had, so he wondered if she ever had a break.
       She stopped suddenly, facing forward and tense. That alerted him to pay more attention, he could feel blood lust, malice. He hadn't realized they were alone on the once bush road. He focused using his sense of smell to track the creature. Blood red eyes that glowed stared back at the two of them, before it let out a chilling guttural growl. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end at the sound. A dark shadow took the form of a misshapen wolf. He felt a little insulted at this, but it was small, young. These shadow creatures were called spirits. Evil, filled with malice and hate, it was said they were created by the malicious thoughts and actions of humans. But they shouldn't be in other worlds like they were now, they had found a way to jump through dimensions. Tyrah and a group of four others were chosen to follow and destroy them.
       One of these creatures had killed his first masters and the other slaves, and the only reason he lived was because of the woman who stood beside him. He had met her earlier in the day while he was in town doing work for the master, she had asked for directions and he provided them. He could see she was having a hard time as most people were avoiding her like the plague. Much like they did him. The earnest way she spoke to him that day, had touched him in a way he had never been touched. He recalled thinking her scent wasn't normal. But didn't think much of it. The people acted like she didn't exist, like they did slaves, but not her. 
        It was when he returned later he saw the destruction of all the slaves and the master, when the shadow creature showed up. Blood oozed from its mouth, red, pooling at its feet as it spit out  the man who had changed him into this strange creature, a vampire. It charged and attacked and he had no chance of defending himself. For he didn't have the right weapon, he was slashed open and it would have finished him off if not for Tyrah appearing and killing the monster. She saved his life and stayed  by his side till he was able to be on his two feet. She, who he came to know during that time told him, when he asked her why she saved him, simply said that he had shown her kindness, and that to her wasn't something to be forgotten. That she cherished the little kindness given to her by others, and that had impressed him. That day he swore his loyalty to her. She told him it wouldn't be easy, and would be filled with regrets, sorrow , pain, and little joy. But he told her he didn't care. She had no one to lean on, so he would be the plateau for her. She agreed.
      The creature suddenly charged them, snapping him away from thoughts of the past. It extended its large claws ready to kill the two of them, but he wasn't the same man he was back then, quickly pulling his hand gun, he shot at the creature. It let out a yowl of pain as some of the special bullets made contact with its shadowy form. Black blood oozed from the creature as it jumped away, unsure of its next move. Before he could shoot again Tyrah jumped into action, her blade drawn and ready to strike. It dodged but she managed to twist around and slice down its body. It swiped at her in an attempt to hit her, but she was too fast, she was already several feet away and charging once again. It jumped trying to bite her, she ducked down and slid under it, and jammed her sword straight into its belly effectively cutting itself in half with its momentum. It disappeared into a black mist signifying its death.
         Getting back to her feet she called his name. "Lowen. It's not alone, I can feel others close by." He gave a short nod as he approached her glancing around. "Well, I guess it's just another day then." He said coolly. She gave a light laugh. "I guess so." She agreed.