Nightshade

Nathan - Letting Loose

Nathan eyed his new look skeptically. He was practically unrecognizable from that fateful day almost four years ago. He had dyed his hair from its natural green to a bland brown, and his outfit was a simple red flannel and jeans instead of his classic jacket. Not to mention all the physical training he'd pushed himself through to push his human form to its peak of strength, as well as the muay thai classes he'd taken to learn how to be more effective in his fighting. He was an imposing figure to be sure, and the little witch girl he'd picked up along the way had been feeding him a steady supply of rituals to push his regenerative abilities to its limits. He now healed at probably double the speed of an average lycanthrope. He pulled his attention away from the mirror and back to his companion, a woman named Thalia. She was currently messing with the corkboard she'd helped him set up in the shipping container he'd called home for the last year. They were in a lovely little area deep in the C.A.C.'s jurisdiction, an organization comprised entirely of humans and witches that were working to hunt down all andermin. They knew he wasn't human, but they found him useful enough they left him alone and even gave him Thalia as an assistant. It was bizarre, he thought. A corporate man now, huh? He chuckled. He hunted people of all sorts, but especially those in the class of ascendant, a type of human gone andermin through extreme stress or supernatural help, the same thing that little bitch raguel was considered. He had changed his mindset a lot in recent years. When he killed before, he did it for fun, for food, and sometimes because it had to be done. But now... it was personal. He did it to prove to himself and others that he was stronger, though he wouldn't admit that to anyone but himself. Thalia was running red cord from a series of pictures to one specific man. Cassian. Raguel's brother. The man was a cold empty shell, and hated his brother nearly as much as Nathan did. On top of that... Nathan smiled to himself. The man was becoming something more through his rather unsavory habits. Rumor was, he had begun to raise the cold, emotionless, and decidedly unpleasant smelling companions he... had fun with. Nathan laughed as Thalia pinned a delightful little message next to the man's photo. An address. At long last, he had a real, actionable way to get to this freak. Not that Nathan was any better, he supposed. But he was stronger, and that's as close as you can get to being better than someone. Thalia waited for his next words. "So Nathan, what are we gonna do?" He stood there a moment, considering. "Let's just jump him on his way home, yeah?" The man worked in a quiet little mortician parlor, and lived a mile or so away, he walked every day. It would be easy to take him. "Nathan, need I remind you, he's not proven to be ascendant yet. You cannot use any amount of lethal force on him, you are to speak with him and watch him as long as is necessary to prove his ascendancy. Nathan smiled to himself. There was the little issue of the fact that the rumors of his ascendancy were completely false, actually started by Thalia for his benefit. The girl had a thing for him, and well, who could blame her? He liked her too. "And astrid?" She put a pin on a different section, which, attached to was a little news symbol of a popular network. "She had an interview yesterday, and walked off when her interviewer asked about her dad." Thalia knew the rule about mentioning Shavronne, so she hadn't, but Nathan knew he must've been there. They rarely if ever were apart these days. "And when's the c.a.c. gonna give me permission to go after them? Luka's a faerie and shavronne's an ascendant." He steeled himself for that same painfully boring answer as always. "The day they come into our jurisdiction Nathan." He sighed and flicked a bug from the desk he was standing by. "I know." She smiled at him "but you still gotta ask huh? She's really got you by the balls. Why don't you just go and plead her forgiveness? She's just some softie." He laughed loudly. "A softie? Is that what you think? She's all but single handedly responsible for the angels exclusive alliance with the c.a.r., not to mention the absurd amount of arrests and "rehousing" they've done. She's a little despot." He ran a hand through his neatly cut hair. "But I'll admit... it wouldn't be so bad being at her beck and call. If I had any proof they wouldn't just throw me in some dark hole away from the public eye, I'd gladly go to her. But she still worships that other idiot, even though he's like, just as bad as I am!" Thalia took in the rant with calm. "In the meantime while I set up the meeting with Cassian,  you've got another target.  A werebear that's been staying like a hermit in the little public forests park.  He grinned. Time for some fun. He headed outside,  grabbing the keys to his jeep.

He punched the raging bear across the face,  sending him to the right,  where he brought his knee crashing into the bears face,  the bear roaring in pain.  It shifted back to the terrified young man,  raising his hands in fear "please! I just wanna be left alone!" Nathan grinned and grabbed the younger guys head,  lifting him off the ground by his head with ease.  He delighted in his own strength,  a year or two ago he never could've brute forced a werebear like this! He laughed "should've been born somewhere else then bud! Or..." He began to grunt with effort as he started to bring his hands together on either side of the man's head,  his eyes bulging as he screamed in terror.  "Shoulda been strongerrr" He laughed in the man's face as he crushed his skull like a watermelon, the blood and brain matter spraying over his face and jacket. He grinned like a man possessed.  "Oh holy shit that was fucking great!" The body dropped to the forest floor, and he stood over it,  panting. He wiped a gore covered hand on his flannel and pulled out his phone,  snapping a selfie with a thumbs up next to it,  then he sent it to Thalia to send to their superiors,  then he began his feast. Ever since he had partnered with Thalia, he'd been growing stronger with each andermin he ate thanks to a ritual she'd done on him. The flesh was delicious, gamey. He loved faeries and weres the most, he'd found.  But he didn't discriminate.  He had room for the whole damn world. He was back baby!