In the lonely, cold of darkness nothing stirred. There was no noise, but the howling wind that slammed the shutters of these lonely houses. Clicking and banging. The lonesome noise of drippling water. Soon the echoing came from cowboy boots on asoft ground. Her cowbow hat blew off with the rising wind. Tears fell from her eyes as she stood, fell and died in a unknown city of abandonment. It was sad what the world had come to. Somewhere behind her there was the sound of a gunshot, then she fell into the pit of despair.

Ilena woke with a start and shot up wrinkling her blankets. She had, had this dreammany times before but didn't understand it. Putting her hand on her head, she sighed. Ilena was one of the many assasins along side her best friend,Lina. They were both from the wolf demon clans; Whenthe humans had taken over and made weapons of mass destruction, they forced all night creatures, and shapeshifters to the continent of Alréma. Alrémawasa lone continent that wasnot connected to the rest. The people of Alréma lived in the nature of the world,and were very tribal.

Ilenamoved so she was now sitting at the edge ofher tree hammick. She closed her eyes and beganrubbing them. After standing up she walked over to her fabricated door and adjusted it so she could the new day arrive. Ilena peered through heryellow eyes over the trees andthe many tree huts in the village. No one had stirred. She was alwaysthe first one toawake. Then aslight breeze through her jet black hair gave her uneasy chill.'Something isn't right...I feel uneasy like yesterday,' she thought to herself.Ilena let the fabricated soor fall as sheturned and headed for her food stash.

Alarge bundle of cotton blankets shifted on a cot in a dark room. As the sun rose, its strong rays of light peered in through the window illuminating the darkness. Feeling the new warmth through the blankets, the figure underneath them groaned tiredly.Delicate fingetips appeared at the edge of the blanket pulling it down, and away from a flushed face. Lids openes revealing soft grey eyes. Lina sighed gently as she then sat up in bed, pushing the warm blanketsoff of her. She hated waking up early, she liked the sun and the warm feeling it gave off. But hated being up duringdaylight. Since she was a child she was infatuated with the night, exspecially the moon. Getting out of bed, she walked over towindow. Looking out sheblinked before her eyes adjusted to the light.
"Beautiful." She muttered toherself as she peered at the terrain. Their village looked like something out of a fairytale. The way the sun reflected off te morning dew made it look like tinypixies floated around. It was breath taking, sometimes. Turning her gaze from the view she looked across from her home seeing a female figureleavea door frame. She smiles lightly knowing exactly who the female was. Ilena De Van Clairé, was her childhood friend for as long as she could remember. Theygrew up close; Like sisters. Lina always envied Ilena for her beauty. Ilenas long black hair and golden eyes made her stand out.In a way, she reminded Lina of the night. But oddly enough Ilena lovedthe day.Turning from the window she walked over to her dresser and looked upon the mirrior. Hergrey orbs analyzing her own features. Unlike her friend, Lina had dull grey eyes that appeared some what silverat night. Her short layered hair was the only thing most people recognized her by;Firey yellow,orange and red strands mixed together almost like the sun itself, and it was her natural hair.

As both Ilena and Lina grew though, many of the village elders compared them as moon and sun, but both oppisites. Ilena resembled the moon, but her heart was in the sun and day. While Lina resembled the sun, but the moon was her own. Lina smiled lightly again, she loved the comparison they made. Both friends had realized the truth in the elders words, because Ilena and Lina's eyes gave that away. Ilena, yellow for the sun, but hair as black as night. Linas grey as the moon, but hair like the sun.Lina blushed lightly as the thought before walking off toget ready for the new day.


As the mornging was beginning to read mid-day, Ilena embarked down to the village from her tree top home. She hadn't seen Lina this morning yet. Deciding to go look around in the market, she remembered her weapons needed tobe sharpened. She reached into her pouch and found only 7 knots, 3 clips and 20 shinings. It would cost her atleast 5 knots and 10 shinings leaving her with not much. She sighed as sheput it back.
"Great...I'm broke again," she muttered with disappointment. The eerie feeling she felt early that morning crept back into the depths of her mind. She lookedtowards the mountains; Something bad was going to happen.
Once shegot hertwodaggers and bowto the blacksmith a messenger came up to her. He was a young boy with neat kept hair and looked to be around twelve. Holding out his hand ,which was shaking held a scroll.
" Umm, ex-excuse me Miss. Would you happen to be one of thetwo Wolf Assasins?" he said stuttering his words still shaking.
Ilena squinted her eyes then snatched the paper from the boys hand.
"Yes I am. Who is asking though young, Sir."
He looked up at her startled then replied, " Lakren. The elders have sent me to give you thatmessage you hold." The boy,Lakren turned around and ranaway.
Ilena looked at the scroll then opened it quickly. Her eyes looked down it as she read it.

Lina and Ilena

We call for you, please come immeditaly. Something in the
westhas happened and there is a job offer for you. Please
come now.

Village Head Council

Ilena dropped the scroll and headed to Lina's.

When she reached Lina's house on the highest tree top, shelooked to the sun to tell it was late afternoon.She burst in through the windowin a sumemrsualt. Landing on the floor she moved her hair from her face, then looked around the room for Lina.
"Lina! Lets go! The elders need to talk tous, and its urgent." She yelled getting up.

~~~~~~~~

Leaving the mirrior with her thoughts, Lina went into the nextroom to change from her pajamas. Rumaging through her drawers she found theperfect outfit for the day. Ablack lace corset with a rose design on her left side. It huggedher torso tightly but was still comfortable to move in. Black short shorts sat snuggly on her firm thighs. A navy blue, transparent fabric hung from her right hip trailing down her leg; Almost like a half shirt leaving the other leg bare. Oppisite of the right leg on her left arm, was a white silk gaunlet that reached up to her shoulder.Velvet boots with no heels warmed her feet as she slipped them on. Standing up she went back to her mirrior. On asmall table near the mirrior lay her accessories. Picking up a soft bristled brush, she started combing through her hair until it was soft. Putting the brush down sheshook her head to make the straight layers pop out more. Grabbing a silver pencial shedrew a star at the corner of her left eye. She had done it since was little. Smiling she made a face at herself in the mirrior before jumping out of her skin. Her breath caught in her throat as she heard a loud thud after shattering glass. Turning on her heels she gazed ather friendIlena.

" Ile..." She was cut off as Ilena quickly spoke the news. She nodded then offered Ilena her hand to help her up and off the floor.
"I wonder what could be so important." She muttered frowning as she looked to her broken window.
" Yourealize I have a door, and a hard knock would have gotten my attention too." She thenturned and walked over to the dresser again. Opening the top drawer she pulled out a silver dagger with ablack rose embroided in the handle. Placing it in her hilt, along with a few other weapons she made her way to the door. She never left the house without her weapons.She looked at Ilena,
"Alright,lets go."

Ilena looked at her friend then down at herself. She was wearing a pair of brown khaki shorts that hugged her legs and a white blouse that was done up enough, but still showed some clevage. She also wore three inch high heels that were black. She liked plain things.Ilena was not one to dress seductively or sexy, but it just turned out that way. Compared to Lina whos attire was always the weirdest. Getting back to the topic at hand she followed Lina to the door.
"Something bad is going to happen...I've been having this feeling since a few days ago. Have you felt any notions in the wind,Lina?" She asked bluntly , but worried. When she got this feeling when she was younger, her family had been slaughtered by humans. She despised all humans with a dark passion. She sighed as she left the house then began to run beside Lina to Rubein Hills.

Jumping down from the ledge of her house to the forest floor, she sighed hearing her friends words. IT wasn't in the wind until now. The wind never gave anything away to her today. But the nights misty whisper has sent her many signs telling her something was coming. She nodded,
"Yes, but its not from here..." She said in a quick tone before sprinting quickly to where the meeting was being held. She knew well, that Ilena could keep up with her if she sprinted. As she ran her chest barely heaved. Unlike most creatures in the village, she was use to running for hours.Lina always got a rush from running ever since she was little, and if she wanted to she could out ran basically anything. Her brain now rattled as thoughts of the new mission cam and went. Slowing down to a easy pace Lina then began to walk. They had reachedthe hill within minutes, but she was so caught up in sprinting she wasn't paying much attention. As they came to the circle her eyes gazed around at the elders that sat in a line on a small lift in the hill. Kneeling onto one knee she bowed her head, left arm at her side and the other across her lap. Tilting her head up slightly she gazed out at them, her expression serious now and reay for the news to come. A elder stood now,a long white beard hung from his chin, wrinkles danced across his face as he spoke. Lina was able to hear the tiredness in his voice.

" The Wolf Assasins, Ilena and Lina. Welcome. You two took little time getting here, which is what we expected with the threat of the mission. It is best to use what little time you have."

Lina quirked her head up slightly hearing the old mans words about time. 'We usually get things done quickly,' she thought. It was rare for them not to finish within a few days at the most a week. She looked back at the elder waiting for him to continue.

Ilena slowed down shortly after Linahad. She gazed up at the elders wondering what had happened for it to be so urgent. She walked up to the cliff and then bowed her head, kneeling as the elder spoke.She peered up at the headelder who was a fox demon; One of thewisest. The secondelder to his right was one of the manyancient elf females.They called her Sprina. The last elder that she looked up to was one of the Wolves; Okami.

"Elders we're graced as always with yourpresence. As always we will accept anything you give us." Ilena told them in a rather stern voice.
Okami rose his hand as if to silence her, then he spoke again.
"The mission we have for you hasbeen offered .." she watched as he pausedas if giving time for us to listen. "Byahuman who's been a friend of ours for years. Wolf Assasins, your mission is to go to the land of the humans in theWest.There youwill go toa continent calledUlisamér(england) forfurther imformation.Do you accept?If so, this mission will take a long time to complete. Itmust be done cautiously."

When he was finished speaking Ilena felt overwhelmed. They knew of her grudge against humans, so why? She didn't understand, but she kept her mout shut, because if she took this job then she would be able to kill some of them, right?She turned and looked atLina,
"Lina,would you want to do this? I think we should talk to the human first."
She knew Lina could sense the doubt in her voice, as she pursed her lips and her golden eyes looked towards the massive temple behind the elders. She closed her eyes and bowed her head deeply as she thought; She wanted to be with her pack, but without her family there she had no point. Lina was now her only family, a sister that had been by her side for ages. Ilena opened her eyes and stared at the ground. An awkard silence began to creep up onto her shoulders as she studied the elders. She wanted someone tospeak...

"Lina. Ilena. Meet the man who has the mission." Sprina said putting out a handwhichlead their eyesto a man.


Lina had tilted her down listening to the elder and Ilenas words. Her jaw was tense as she clenched her teeth. It would seem like she was in deep meditation, or concentrating on something. But in all honesty she was trying to keep herself from snapping and raging out at the elders or Ilena. Everyone in their village knew about the pain and suffering the humans caused them, yet hey aided them. Though Lina didn't have the hardship of losing her pack since she was disgarded at birth, she still felt the pain Ilena felt every night she woke up screaming when she was younger. Linas eyes now shifted up to the approaching male figure that drew near the elders circle. She had heard Sprinas words, but didn't think they were true until she smelt the scent of him. His plain brown hair with brown eyes amde him seem dull and old, but Lina knew he was hardly in his thirties. Her eyes watched him carefully, her mouth still clenched closed. She could sense the man look at both Ilena and herself; She could sense the effect they were obviously having on him. She, herself could feel the anger radiate off Ilena, imagine the harsh stare that went with it. Fear had hit him, but there something else there...Desire? Just then she made a unlady like snort, as the man now stood beside Okami. A smirk had ran across his lips hearing Linas snort, obviously he got the hint she didn't like him. Her bubbly eyes now narrowed into dark slits, but she held back her growl as she controlled her tone.
"You've come to the right place for elite assasins. But if I may be so bold and ask why?"
Her eyes watched his motions and listened to see if he revealed anything he might not say.
"There's been a recent disturbance between the vampires and demons who live among the humans. It would seem both groups are searching for something or someone. As officer of the temple it was my job to investigate the matter..."
He was cut off as Lina piped up.
" Then why call upon us?"
He laughed for a few seconds, but it seemed know one cared to notice. He then continued,
" The leaders of both groups look like humans, and since 'us' humans dont have the skills and senses as your people do, we can't search them out and interogate them. There's where you come in."
Lina tilted her head as she looked to the elders then back at the man. They weren't cops...
"We're highly trained assasins, we don't do interogations thats the cops. Why aren't Claire and Liam on this?" she said knowing that they usually dealt with problems in the human realm. She then shifted to Okami who sighed and shook his head before speaking.
"We sent them out, unfortunatly they failed. The leaders of both the demon and vampires are strong opponents. Clarie and Liam had no chance agaisnt them once they found them."
Lina searched the other elders eyes hoping it was a lie. Claire and Liam had been Ilena and her's teachers. They were the best and coudlnt be taken down easily. She sighed deeply as her mind didnt accept the fact, her heart was pounding in her chest and her eyes were slightly wide. Lina then made a decsion on the spot without consulting Ilena first. She stated in a stern and rather harsh voice.
" We'll take the job."
She stood up immeditaly, and bowed her head.
"Send a runner with the information we need. We need to go and prepare..."
She then turned on her heels, squeezing Ilena's left shoulder suggesting her to follow. Looking over her shoulder once last time at the council then at the man, she headed back to the village in deep thought and in complete silence.

As she walked back to the village her mind swirled with questions. 'Why as this man confinding in them? There's something about that man I just don't trust.' Lina whinced at the thought of her friends dieing at the hands of mythical creatures. Lina refered to hells demons and vampires as mythical, since she had never actually seen them. Only heard about them from Liam and Claire. Lina thought again 'Its rare for them to go against eachother since the treaty was signed. There hasn't been many cases of them fighting.' She thought remembering her history of the seperation of species. Alréma had been the aftermath of another treaty, she just couldnt remember which one...

Ilena was lost for words when the news of her tutors had broke amongst them. A pounding rage grew in her chest as the need for revenge came. Her eyes now stared at the man with hatred, and sorrw behind them. 'The humans only wanted us to help them, because they were morbid and cruel beings. These vampires and demons willl never exist in my mind. ' She had thought to herself. A shiver rose up her back, as she came back to reality. She had heard Lina accpet the job, but she couldnt force herself to speak up. When Lina squeezed her shoulder to follow, she stood up and bowed. She fumed down the hill as a single tear fell from her right eye. She stopped at the base of the hill and watched Lina through her sad golden eyes. Remorse overtook her rage as she began to run fast. 'Claire..Liam..how could they die? They could still be alive," she continued to tell herself as she ran to the saloon. She need to talk to one of her sources. But she stopped mid-way and turned and headed to Linas house wanting to talk about the mission.

End of Chapter 1.

Coming soon: Chapter 2