Blue Moon

Chapter One 'Lily'

I stared at the man standing before me. The chief of police, blonde hair, neatly trimmed mustache, lean body. Just what one would expect of a policeman. I had come to this town a little over a month ago on the tail of a hellhound. I had been tracking him for over a year and a half, this was the longest I'd been able to stay in one place. I'd only ever sensed his presence, every time I got close enough to even begin to see an outline he'd vanish. For a while he was silent, nothing was happening, then a few weeks later while watching the news I saw a report about a death. They showed a few pictures, trying to find someone who could identify the body. They were explaining it to be an animal attack, most likely bear. However to a hunter, like myself, it was obviously the work of a hellhound. I spent a few days poking around and in those three days three more deaths had been reported. Now there was a police search going on for a missing hiker. Due to all the deaths anyone not a member of the police force was to stay away from the search. Upon hearing of the search I immediately raced to the station to request to join the search, if the hiker was dead I wanted a closer look at the body. If it was a hellhound attack I wanted to be absolutely sure. I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of someone clearing their throat.
"We have the search closed to anyone but members of the force. Not only that... You're so young; you don't look like you're even out of high school."
I once again focused my attention on his face, "Thank you. I am however, older than I look." I said flipping my long hair over my shoulder before digging through my purse for my hunter's license. Using a simple spell to give it the appearance of an FBI ID I offered it to the chief to look at.
"Please chief Raes, I just want to help. I understand that deaths and missing people is common here, what with inexperienced campers trying out their luck with bears and other predators. I do also know though, that this is a higher number than normal." I said hoping he'd allow me to join. It was so much easier to gain access to files and search while the sun was still up when I was on the inside. Breaking into morgues to look at bodies wasn't all that fun either. I really didn't really want to have to dodge officers every time I wanted a look at the crime scene.
After a slight pause I finally got my answer, "Well, if we're going to be working together I suppose that you had better get used to calling me Benjamin, or just Ben." Ben said before handing me back my license.
Smiling in relief I made sure to keep my sharp canines hidden before extending my hand and saying, "Thank you Ben. I look forward to working with you. I'm Lilith Belial, please, call me Lily." After discussing where we were going to meet the other officers the next morning I left the station and returned to my hotel room to sleep and prepare.
I awoke the next morning to the sound of chirping birds. Scowling I climbed out of bed stalked over to the curtain covered balcony doors, throwing them, and the doors, open I snarled menacingly at the birds sitting on the railing. Startled by my sudden appearance they quickly flew away, much to my delight. I immediately retreated back into the darkness of my room, the sun having been shining directly into my face. I checked the clock and yelped when I realized how much I had overslept, I only had ten minutes to be ready and at the meeting spot. Racing around my room I threw on my clothes and stuffed my weapons into their holsters. I pulled on my boots and ran to the balcony, grabbing my jacket on the way there. I once again threw open the drapes, dashing out the open doors I jumped onto the railing and threw my body into the air. Throwing up a fast invisibility charm I snapped open my dark wings and flew towards an alley next to the Café we had agreed to meet at. Upon landing I called my wings into my body and smoothed down my hair. I stepped out into the morning crowd and walked for a minute before dodging a blonde airhead chatting on a cellphone. I stepped through the door of Bakers Café and crossed over the floor to the back where I'd spotted Ben and three other officers. All men, great... I'd been hoping for at least one woman. I knew how to weasel my way around them easier being a girl myself. The only empty seat was by a burly redhead. Sitting down I immediately went to introduce myself. Turning slightly to my right I stuck out my hand and said brightly, "Hi! I'm Lily Belial, FBI investigator, Pleased to meet you." He shook my hand and returned the favor, "Randall Johnson, call me RJ." I smiled and looked at the man sitting across from me, another blonde. This one rather muscled as well. Were all three of the former football stars or something?! I feel tiny! Holding out my hand I prepared to introduce myself again, I was cut off when he took hold of my hand and said, "Lucas Taurum, call me Luke, pleased to meet you Lily." Smiling I nodded back before saying hello to Ben. He acknowledged me with a nod and said, "Well, let's decide what we want to eat." We all nodded and opened up the menus. Looking at the food choices I couldn't help but frown thinking, 'they all seem rather sharp; it'll be hard getting anything past them...'
After breakfast we all piled into the patrol cars, two in each. I was put with Luke, the ride was silent and awkward at first, we both just sat there not knowing how to bring up a conversation with the other. Finally I had had enough of the silent atmosphere surrounding us and turned to look at him, "So how far are into the forest are we going?" I asked.
Luke glanced at me briefly before turning his attention road and replying, "Far enough that even you Lilith of the Hunters will have a hard time finding your way out.
Shocked I gaped at him for a minute before asking, "How do you know who I am?" Luke smirked and said, "Come on.... You really don't recognize your best friend?" he looked at me and let his eyes flash red.
I looked at him and softly asked, "Lucifer?"
He nodded and focused his attention back on driving, giving me time to process what I'd just learned. I flopped back into my seat and stared unseeingly towards the road, the last time I had seen Lucifer the night had ended in tears. Lucifer had been my everything, my first friend, the first person to accept me as who I was, my partner in crime, the only member of my hunting team. When he told me he was being sent on a solo mission for an unknown amount of time, my heart broke and I lost control of my magical energy, shattering the windows. He'd left before I could say anything, before I could say goodbye.
I was brought back into the present by a hand on my cheek.
"Why are you crying? I said I'd see you again, I said I'd come back to you didn't I? I've actually been given orders to abandon my original mission and join yours. "
I looked at him and smiled, "I didn't recognize you, and you've got a good glamour on. Good job. We'll talk more later, right now we need to catch up to RJ and Ben." sometime during my flashback he'd pulled the car over. He studied me for a moment longer, "You sure you're ok?" I nodded, "Yes, I'm fine, honestly. But after we leave here today you are coming to my hotel and we are catching up. You've missed a lot on my end and I'm sure I've missed a lot on yours." again he looked at me for a minute before nodding and sitting back into his own seat. The rest of the car ride was filled with talking and memories from when we were children, before he'd left.
As we drove up to the clearing we spotted Ben and RJ leaning against their car waiting for us. After we got out of the car Ben immediately asked, "What took you guys so long?" I opened my mouth to reply but Luke cut me off.
"I got a phone call from my mother. She was upset and I decided it would be easier to pull over and deal with the problem, then to keep driving with her ranting in my ear..." the other two nodded and RJ decided to start with details, "We're going to cover as much ground as we can today before leaving a flag to come back to tomorrow if we don't find them. If you see anything out of the ordinary tell someone and take a photo. If you find anything belonging to one of the missing people, bag it. Ok?" we nodded and I was getting ready to walk forward when Ben said, "We'll go in groups, Keep Alert! We don't know what we're going to find in here. Lily, Luke you're a team. I want you to in first. RJ and I will follow you after ten minutes. We'll look for anything you miss and tag the trees so we have a path to follow. Keep the radios on and tell if you see anything suspicious so we'll know what to look for when we get to that point after you. We'll rendezvous back here when the sun starts to go down. And I'll say it one more time, Keep Alert!" He paused, "Lily... do you have any weapons?"
I nodded, scowling mentally, 'did he think I was so stupid as to not bring any protection?!' I took off my jacket to reveal what I had. Strapped to each arm were throwing knives, one thigh a dagger, the other a whip and on my hip I had my gun. I folded my arms and took in their expressions. Ben, impressed, RJ, Shocked, Luke... proud. After a slight hesitation ben once again spoke up, "Well, RJ and I'll start suiting up while you and Luke go in." I nodded and put my jacket back on. After we'd gotten far enough in that they could no longer see or hear us I took the jacket off and tossed it to Luke, "You actually think we're going to find these people? Hellhounds aren't known for keeping prisoners."
Luke sighed, "I know, but I'm still going to hope, they were good people, two have parents at home that are extremely worried and freaking out." I looked at him, he looked pained and I knew what he was thinking about, Luke had lost his mother when he was 10. She had been a hunter herself and perished while tracking a rather violent ghoul.
I stepped closer and put a hand on his shoulder in reassurance, "We'll do the best we can." we walked for a few hours talking about little things and looking around. I was walking towards the trees where'd spotted something shiny, "Ahh!" I fell forward and braced myself for the impact, know I wouldn't be able to get my wings out fast enough to regain my balance.