Buried and Rotting

Chapter 4

 A man pushed aside a loose board from the fence and walked into the city. Grey eyes peered through the darkness to a tiny, rundown, overgrown personal-train. It appeared in the city a long, long time ago. It should have belonged to a noble, but none came with it. Eventually it had to be moved off the track and was put out here to rust and be forgotten. The man left the abandoned part of the city and made his way to his old home. When he arrived he found nothing but charred remains. He didn't stay long, instead he simply moved on, making his way to the alleys.

"Milo?" The voice and its unexpected closeness startled him and he whipped around to see eyes that would bring bluebirds envy. She pushed magenta braids behind her ear as she went on. "When'd you get back into town? Everyone thought you died."

"Wanna do me a favour and make some sound next time you sneak up on me?" She gave him a smirk letting him know the answer was a firm 'no' and he sighed before continuing. "I just got back a little while ago. I saw my house burned down. What happened?"

"Rumour has it your mother got the news you were dead and...well, she...I don't really know how to say this...they're both dead, your parents they-"

"They couldn't handle the news that their precious baby, boy was gone forever?" She nodded. "Yeah that sounds right. I expected about as much. So what's all of this?" He gestured around to the people hanging banners and setting up large metal barrels in the streets.

"Are you serious? You expected as much? You just found out your parents are dead. I mean, fuck Milo I knew you were cold but that-"

"I was turned Vicky, it's not my fault." Her eyes begged the question her mouth wouldn't ask. "A 'vampire' if you must know."

"How long ago?"

"Well around the time my parents got the note that I was dead, I guess it wasn't technically a lie apparently you do die for a while, it's part of the process...part of the reason we don't feel the same... So what's that been, about seven years?"

"...Sorry for your loss."

"I'm not, it got me this." He lifted his sleeve to reveal the brand on his wrist depicting two horns, one of which was broken.

"Holy shit, you actually became a demon hunter? That's...not what I was expecting, not gonna lie, but good for you. Skylor's gonna be so jealous."

You have no idea. Have you heard of the weapons we get?"

He placed a hand on the black, metal belt around his waist. As he focused orange lights spread across the belt and it began moving, splitting into pieces that slid over one another into a downwards line with sharp edges, in seconds he was holding a black sword glowing with the colour of the soulmark he'd lost when he was turned.

"That's so cool!" He knew Vicky would be excited by it, she always had a passion for unique weapons. "Can it turn into any weapon or just swords?"

"You're thinking too small it can be anything I want. I usually keep it as a belt so I can get it quick and people can't steal it, others wear them as necklaces or arm bands and some use them as armour instead of weapons. Being a demon hunter has some pretty amazing perks...So?" He once again gestured to the decorations while letting the sword fold around him and form back into a belt.