Sentinel

Chapter 6: Visitors

When I got back, Hana had changed out of her running clothes and into a floral patterned sundress and was in the kitchen fixing lunch.

"What are you making?" I asked as I leaned against the counter.

"Sandwiches. I'm making you one too." She turned and looked at me and pursed her lips. "I don't know if I should ask about you fighting monsters first or why it took so long to walk Will to his car."

I laughed. "Let's start with the 'fighting monster'." I didn't really want to tell her the story but I couldn't leave her in the dark.

She looked intrigued. "Well, go on then."

I started to tell her a watered down version of my encounter with the wounded man as she finished up the sandwiches. The words came out so much easier this time.

In this version the man wasn't so beat up, the monster wasn't so horrible looking, and I didn't stab him with a sword. I couldn't really tell the story without saying that my weapon was a sword but I wasn't worried about Hana betraying me. I trusted her even if Will didn't.

"He just suddenly grabbed the blade," I was saying as she sat the sandwich in front of me. "I guess he needed his blood on the sword to do the spell to transfer the mark to me."

I felt bad lying to Hana but I couldn't tell her the complete truth without feeling like I was betraying Will and the others. "Anyway, after he did that I felt a surge of energy and kicked that thing's ass. But as soon as I killed it I felt like I was on fire. It hurt so bad I passed out and when I woke up he was gone."

Hana had a look of disbelief on her face. "So after that, you've just kept killing chimeras?"

I raised my right hand so the back of it faced her. "The mark didn't really give me any other choice."

"Damn." She said as she ran a hand through her straight black hair. "That's rough."

I gave her a light smile. "It's manageable."

"It's not too dangerous?" I could read the worry in her eyes. "I mean, you're stronger than the monsters, right?"

"Easily." In terms of physical strength, I doubted I'd win against a chimera, so instead, I answered based on intelligence. "You don't even have to worry about it."

She gave me a look that told me there was no way that was happening.

"Now tell me about Will. You guys seemed to be getting along well." She took a big bite out of her sandwich and chewed while she waited for me to spill.

"He saw my mark at Luna's the other day and offered me to help me out," I said simply. "You know since I'm pretty clueless about this whole Sentinel thing."

"So does that mean he is going to train you? Like his your Giles or Yoda or something?" Hana said excitedly. "I'd like to see that. When's the first session?"

This was exactly what I didn't want. It was dangerous enough having Hana know about chimeras and having her involved in my "training" would only pull her further into that world.

"Well, we are going to breakfast tomorrow," I said slowly. "But it's not like there be anything to 'see'."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Is that your way of saying 'butt out'?"

I gave her an apologetic shrug.

Hana sighed. "Fine. Whatever." She pointed her sandwich at me and gave me a stern look. "But if I have questions for you, you have to answer, okay? I know you like to handle things by yourself but you can't do everything alone. I won't let you."