Oblivion

After Dawn

Bruce Azlavard lays the brush on the pallet admiring his masterpiece.

Red is the dominating color of the painting, representing the soft and gentle waves of a girl's fiery hair. Everyone in Britain knew the girl that went missing only to be found years later by the Yorkshire river. His eyes water as he recalls her angelic face and beautiful laugh. He was the reason she was killed and he has never forgiven himself.

Raising the painting, Mr and Mrs Az enter the room and stare gloomily at their son. He places the canvas in the middle of two works, similar in the wavy locks of red hair. 

"I do not need your condescending eyes" he speaks, a tremor in the silent melodic room and his polite way of sending them away.

"You need to get back on your feet. We can't possibly watch you waste your life" His mother's warm brown eyes wanders through the room filled with thousands of paintings of the girl.

Bruce arches his elbow and releases the arrow, letting the metallic silver pierce through three apples. It was his routine to do a sport after painting his dead lover. 

"Son. Five years is enough for you to recover. It is time to come back"

He finally lays the bow on the table instead of picking up another arrow, memories of his youth flashing before his eyes. His father decides to walk towards his wife, letting his hand rest on her waist.

Their son had locked himself up in the warehouse, hours away from the outside world.  Everything he needed was present, from restocked groceries to frozen meat.

It was at this moment that he realizes that it's been close to six years since he last saw her eyes. Since he gave up on reviving her from the dead.

His mother sighs before walking towards her son. Caressing his jaw, she looks deep into his brown eyes nodding once.

"The Azlavards are not known for staying down after a blow", she speaks taking the bow and walks over to pick an arrow.

"but for the fear in our enemies eyes when they hear our name"

Piercing five apples, the arrow damages the concrete wall.

This family is not like the rest of the Aristocratic families, it was different in terms of inheritance. The heir was to fight the holder to acquire the wealth and position of the head of the family once they were twenty five years of age. He sighs at the thought of having to fight his mother.

Mrs Az is the current holder of the family as she was born an Azlavard. The fact that she is a woman did not change the fact that she's a trained assassin from the age of ten and is the current most powerful hunter in the world.

Supernatural hunters have been in the shadows as it should be. The type to fight monsters so society can sleep peacefully at night.

Werewolves and vampires are not the gorgeous people acted on Hollywood screens but the definition of true terrifying looks. Witches and warlocks with their crave of children blood. Hags and creatures of the night living on human flesh. Who would save society from evil if not them?

Families gave their safety and freedom to venture in the hunting world and for that, they are not the best people to pick a fight with. Their work is hidden from the society and they live normal lives, only with more wealth acquired over the centuries. 

The Azlavard family is the most powerful for they partake in hunting missions no hunter has ever taken; and if the rest dare, they never come out alive.

Rumors spread in the 18th century, stating that the Azlavard's name was bewitched to be forever the most powerful. This was terminated by Bruce's great great grandfather by putting details on how they are trained. The training was so harsh that few members of the family come out alive. Anyone with a right state of mind knew never to cross with this family.

The fact that Bruce caged himself up for five years dimmed his chance of ever defeating his mother.
If the fight was to happen right now, she was to be given ammo and him nothing but a piece of wood. This strategy was passed down through generations and was to show that the next holder of the name, is stronger than the original first.

Bruce diverts his gaze to the arrow that pierced the wall and thought that perhaps all those years are enough to mourn over his wife's mysterious death.

His father holds Mrs Az' hand and together walk out the fortress of a warehouse, filled with paintings of the dead daughter-in-law.

He is a man of intellect and few words, a nod shared between his son and him was more conversation than the one his wife shared with Bruce. 

This family has its imperfections, compassion being shown through other means; chatting together whilst having a cup of tea was not one of them.

Walking over to the intercom, he blows the dust of the machine and dials his assistant's number.

**"Good Afternoon Sir. Has it been long enough to ignore your dear friend?"

*"Sorry Phoebe I was just... How is the company holding up?"

**"Everything is splendid thanks to your father. Things have improved over the years. Your company is among the top ten companies in the world"

*"Great. How many drowning fish have been saved?"

**"So far your mother has dealt with all but a new one came in two days ago and she said you would take the job instead. A businessman that struck a deal with the Taiwanese twins"

*"I thought my grandfather finished them off?"

**"So did I. But with people signing deals with them, they are as dangerous as before. Their current victim is Jamal Creigh. Lives in Kensington 8. He will be in Raynes Park, Merton at around four in the evening"

"Why would someone from Kensington head there?"

"According to his emails and calls, he is having an affair with a girl named Hailey. Meet him by the benches in the park"

"On it. Oh and Phoebe?"

"Yes?"

"How many did my mother take care of?"

"Hundreds sir"