Forced into the Game

Taylor: And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! *bursts into laughter*

Delilah: seriously?

Taylor: Well, yes! Why on earth wouldn’t I be?

James: You sound like a stupid idiot.

Taylor: And an idiot wouldn’t be stupid because???

Delilah: Wow

T: Hey, I can’t help it, I’m naturally hilarious!

Astral: I’m gonna stop you there. Are we ever going to talk about the story?

T: Hey! You’re mean! *pouts*

A: Course I am.

D: *Evil laughter* *Shoots at Taylor* Problem gone!

T: *turns into dragon and breathes fire at Delilah*

J: *over all the racket* Even though we’re having some... Technical difficulties, here’s the book!

A: And here’s a quick disclaimer: I am not owned by SimpleDimples13...

J: *waving hands wildly in air* We do not own Astral!!! At ALL! He is from Yu-Gi-Oh!

T: Oh, and SimpleDimples13 and horse9107 both wrote this. Taylor, who is me, represents SimpleDimples13, and Delilah represents horse9107.

D: Onto the story!

~Taylor’s POV~

I was stalking my next opponent in the form of a mountain lion. He had blonde hair, and my boss told me to kill him. Well, ok. Apparently his name was Richard. He was thirty-two and had murdered multiple people. He also was a big figure in the slave industry. And I, being against the slave industry, had no issues killing him. I decided to use a form often found in the forests of Japan, a simple mountain lion. It would seem like an accident, and no one would believe any witnesses that the lion had killed him not for food, but just to kill him. Too easy.

I felt my muscles bunch beneath the thick skin and fur, and pounced. It was a quick kill, and over very soon. I shifted back almost instantly. He wasn’t dead yet, but simply in too much pain to move. He had been leading his newest slaves through the forest, proof enough he was a criminal. I grabbed the keys off of him and freed the slaves. Quickly telling them it was a terrible accident and not to mention my human form. Eager to be free, they complied. I also left them with a few loaves of bread and some water. At least they won’t be hungry. I thought. I fingered the necklace. It was white with blue gems in it, and it held a great power. With it, I could communicate to anyone who I knew what they looked like and what their voice sounded like.  I fingered it and muttered in The Language of the Fairies, activating its power. I called my boss’s name, which I am unable to record here, as it could result in his being found, which I would not like very much, considering assignations were my only options. I could not find another job. I knew not how to act around kids my age for long, and would not last at high school.  

“Jeb?”

“Taylor. I have a new assignment for you.”

“And?”

“I’ll fax the info to your suite in the hotel. You’ll be working with a partner for this mission.”

“Ok, who?”

“You’ll see.” Then he was gone. I suppose I just blew the whole name thing, so I’ll just call him Jeb. Even though that’s not even his real name. I wonder what on earth he could be talking about. I always did fine on my own. He better not set me up with some loser like others in the business always tried to do.  I did most definitely not need a boyfriend. I was fine on my own, without their help. No boyfriend necessary. Honestly.

I was now trekking through the forest, my hands absentmindedly playing with my white stag necklace. I snapped my head around, listening for what I had just heard to appear again. What was that? I drew my sword, a slight zinging sound being made. It was a gorgeous sword. The hilt was twisted, and had an eye engraved in the end of the hilt. The sword was perfectly balanced, somewhat heavy, and easy to swing. It did not falter in battle, and I would know. This particular sword had killed many an opponent. I asked Nature in the Language of the Fairies if it would tell me where my new opponent lay in wait. The wind rustled the leaves in a pattern few would be able to tell meant something. I, however, was different. It very carefully pointed out my opponent.

He was a tall boy around my age, probably 6-2 or 6-3. Well built, brown hair and eyes, very toned and tan. I liked him, found myself attracted to him. My brain racked itself for the word normal girls would use to describe him. I came up with ‘hot’. Interesting.

“I know you’re there. Why don’t you stop playing hunter and come play found.” I called. I saw a look of surprise cross his face.

“How did you know I was there?” his guard came up fast, and he stepped out from behind the trees.

“First off, you made a sound, probably shifting your weight. Second, I have my ways.” I would not tell him what Languages and Secrets I knew. He needed to think I only knew because I heard him.

“How did you know it was a person and not an animal?”

“You don’t need to know.” I said, raising my sword for him to see. “I do know how to use this, and I also have a number of other weapons, so I suggest you come out before I decide to use one on you.” I sighed. This boy was getting annoying. Fast. But, he decided against more smart-aleck comments and headed my way. “Weapons down.” I scolded him. I could see the slight bulge behind his shirt and under his left leg by his ankle. He drew both of them and put them on the forest floor. “Kick them away.” He did so, a slight pout on his face, making him all the more attractive. I pouted back. “Now, don’t you know not to play hunter with the best hunters?” I asked him, pushing my lip out as far as it would go. He smiled, all traced of the pout gone.

“But then where would all the fun be?” His smile was very attractive, but his tone of voice, verging on condescending, was incredibly annoying.

“Boy, you best not mess with me. I could kill you and you’d not know you were dead. Or, you could cooperate. Take your pick.” I lowered the sword and started messing with my nails. From the astonished look on his face, plus the relaxed posture, I assumed he was going to be cooperative. “So, name?” I asked him, picking my sword back up and sliding it into its scabbard. He plopped down on the leaves.

“I’m an orphan, so I kinda got to pick my own name. I named myself James Jonathon-Aiden. No last name.” I nodded. Good name, kinda, ‘hot’ too.

“Well, James Jonathon-Aiden. Come with me.” I held out a hand, helping him up. He looked at it dubiously before deciding it was best to come, considering I could kill him any moment. “Grab your weapons, many people want to kill me, and consorting with me instantly adds you to the wanted list.” He bent over to grab them, and I sighed impatiently. He had a good little gun and a throwing knife. “I assume you’re good at hand-to-hand combat?” I queried. He just looked at me with a ‘well, duh’ expression on his face. “Let’s go, then.”

After a few minutes, we were in a little suburb of Tokyo. It was called Shimokitazawa. It was a good little town, with plenty of shops and tall buildings for cover. I headed directly to my hotel, an American-based one called Hilton. I ran my keycard through the side entrance to gain access, immediately turning my head as to avoid the cameras. We quickly headed to the elevator, and I pushed the button for the sixteenth floor. Because we conversed in English, few Japanese could understand us. I nodded to the doorman. “Konnechiwa.” And we were in my apartment/hotel room. The fax machine was going crazy, still! I headed over in that direction, picking up the info on my next hit and who and where we were supposed to meet. Hmm, we were supposed to meet a girl about my age and her boyfriend, Delilah and Astral, in Austria, at one of the landmarks, called the Schlossberg of Graz.

Twelve hours later, we were standing next to the landmark, James was reading a tour guide, and being insanely attractive and annoying at the same time. Man he was hot.