Speaker of Shades

Anais was born dead.
In a rare occurrence, she grows up in the nether, land of the lost souls. A colorless land of those who have lived through their lives, and been deemed worthy enough to rest peacefully. Mystified by the tales of the living realm, fascinated by the raging fires of life and color, she spends her days hoping for a chance to experience the living world. To feel warm. To taste. To see a vivid world.
And then a chance is dropped into her lap in the slightly awkward form of Travis Rask. Anais is given a challenge, keep Travis safe until his destiny is fulfilled, and be rewarded with life.

A teenage boy dealing with the usual problems of adolescence, lack of friends, an absent father, a great and uncertain destiny, and strange figures constantly lurking in the corner of his eye. Throughout his life, Anais appears in times of danger, as an imaginary friend when he is young, and a warning voice when he grows older.
But protecting Travis becomes a larger challenge than she bargained for. After his home is raided and his mother is kidnapped, Travis is forced to enter a world of demons, monsters, ghosts and ghouls. Taken in by the Hunters, a group dedicated to the protection of "ordinary mortals" from the supernatural, Travis seeks answers about his destiny, and his mother's whereabouts. As Travis is trained, he is able to see the world for how it truly is, and his guardian angel is revealed to him.