Amber

1 - Jumper

Amber hit the parapet, tumbled over the edge and plummeted out of sight with a yelp.

The high-rise apartment stood tall and proud over Grimoire's streets. There was a wild wind in the air just cold enough to be cool, and the red skies were clear, revealing the cityscape in all its dark glory. 

All in all, it was a beautiful night.

The Demon stepped to the edge and peered over, the hem of his tattered coat flapping out behind him. Despite the bruises on his face and the blood drooling out the side of his mouth, he grinned, flashing a set of fangs for teeth.

"I got to admit you are stubborn," he giggled.

Amber glared up at him through a mop of billowing hair, her arm burning from the effort of holding herself up on the ledge with one hand.

"You'd think the Guild could do better than take on pups like you ." He squatted down and watched as she attempted to throw another arm up to no avail. "Honestly, it's embarrassing."

Amber's fingers began to uncurl from the ledge. "Help me," the Demon heard her whisper.

He cocked an eyebrow. "Help you? You tried to kill me."

"Those were the orders." Amber looked down at the long drop below and quickly back up, her voice quavering and her breath quickening. "Please. I'm a Hunter. We have no choice," she begged with wide eyes.

The Demon shook his head. "You're almost pitiful to look at," he said smirkingly as he grasped her arm by the sleeve of her jacket, intent on pulling her away from the ledge and dropping her, and eager to hear the sound of bone and flesh splattering against the pavement below.

"Maybe that's what she wants you to see," a voice came from behind him.

The Demon jerked his head around, got a glimpse of yellow eyes and black fur, and then the cat was on his face, claws digging into his scalp as the animal yowled in his ear. At the same time, he felt Amber's other hand grab hold of his arm as the girl threw her feet forward against the wall, and yanked down hard, pulling him over the edge as she pushed off.

For a moment, he, cat and girl hung suspended in the air.

Then gravity took hold.

Window lights blurring together as one, Amber's world spun as the Demon crashed on top of her. The air whipping her hair across her face, she slammed a knee into his stomach and an elbow to his throat. Hearing him gurgle in shock from the twin blows, paralysed by his sudden need for air, she snaked a hand into his coat, frantically checking the pockets one by one till she touched paper. She then kicked the Demon away from her, propelling herself in the opposite direction with the momentum.

As she plunged down, she brought up the piece of paper to her face, the words glowing as she felt their intent flood into her head, blinding her eyes until she saw no more.