Adrien

A Chapter by kaya manner

It was 3am, my first day as a junior started in five hours. A school night and here I was, waiting in a creepy, dark alleyway in the dead of night. The street light at the entrance was flickering off and on, the shadows of street mice dancing around. The walls covered in mindless, illegible graffiti. Inside the dumpster I was sitting on, I heard the echo of mice scattering at the bottom. That and my legs kicking against the side of the dumpster were the only sounds filling the silence as I sat there.

Then, the shadows scattered, replaced by five longer shadows.

“Good evening, Grand Council.” I hopped off the dumpster, turning towards them on my heels.

“A pleasure as usual, Adrien.” Raven was a tall, cream-toned beauty. A black curtain falling gently down her shoulders as she released it from the bun she usually wore her hair in. As she took off her glasses, her eyes went from aqua blue to black.

“Wish I could say the same.” I smirked, the man in the center of the group stepped forward. “ To what do I owe the pleasure, Lord Hades?”

The man was tall, brown hair and lanky, his eyes black as coal. “Now Adrien, don’t tell me you’re still bitter towards your fellow-”

“He doesn’t deserve your kindness Lord Hades.” To the left of Lord Hades was a short, dark skinned woman who looked like was in her twenties but I knew better. “You should be grateful the Lord allowed your existence let alone grace you with his presence.”

“Martha,” A blonde man with skin as pale as Lord Hades came up behind her, his hand on her shoulder as she had her fangs bared at me. “No need to filthy your hands with his worthless blood. He will soon learn the gift Lord Had do es had blessed upon it and show his undying gratitude.”

“Believe me Creen,” I spat. “I’d much rather be dead.”

“That’s easily be arranged you disgusting sea urchin.” Lance, the boyish looking and youngest of the council stepped towards me carrying his machete over his back. “However I can’t promise that it’ll be quick and painless.”

“Think if I just kill you, you won’t annoy me anymore?” I answered, leaning against the dumpster. “Or maybe you’ll just haunt me like the annoying troll you are.”

As Lance lunged for me, Raven’s eyes glowed silver, his machete being pulled from his hand and into hers. “Now is not the time for your foolish antics. Lord Hades has an important assignment for you, Adrien.”

Oh boy, here we go. “What do you need from me?” A polaroid floated from Raven’s purse and into my hands, I tried not to react to the picture. “Do you want me to kill her or something?”

“Don’t make me laugh.” Lance snickered. “As if Lord Hades would give you such an honor.”

“I actually need the exact opposite from you Adrien.” Hades explained. “I need you to keep a close eye on the girl in that photo, discreetly of course.”

“Why?” I asked in disgust. “What’s so special about this one person in particular?”

“Don’t worry about that.” Raven answered. “Just make sure you keep her alive. It is of vital importance that no harm comes to the girl.”

“Now if you’ll excuse us,” Lord Hades said as they all pulled their hoods back on. “Until next time Malek.”

They were gone in a blink of an eye. I looked back at the picture in my hand, glaring at the black haired, green eyed girl in the picture. “What did the council want?” There was a slight thud as Riley, the only one of my “species” I actually considered a friend landed on the dumpster.

“They gave me some stupid assignment.” I handed him the picture and walked out of the alleyway, Riley following me. “I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on her.”

“She’s cute man,” We rounded the dimly street lit corner. “I don’t see the issue here.”

“There’s nothing cute about that annoyingly peppy, hare-brained, clutz of an imbecile.” I spat as we made our way to my house two blocks away from the alleyway.

“Do y’know her or somethin’?”

“Know her?” I pulled a vile out from my hoodie pocket and took a swig from it. “Dude, she’s the reason I’m a blood lusting, undead demon.”

My mind flashed back to that night. The sound of her spine chilling screams coming from the docks. My hands covered in her blood as i carried her away from her attacker, my creator, only to wake up days later in a dark, cold cell, bound in chains as i craved the taste of vile, bitter blood. I was dead, yet I was still alive. Instead of my soul passing on to a better place, it had remained in my body. In Hell. All because I saved her. Because I couldn’t refrain myself from rescuing someone I once considered dear to me.

Looking in disgust at her photograph, after not seeing her since that night, I wondered if saving her would mean I would be bound to her until the Council killed her off. That had to be the reason they wanted me to watch her. Figure out her routines, where she lives, when she would be alone. Who would be an obstacle in getting to her? Who would notice if she were to suddenly disappear? These were all things they looked into before they went for the kill.

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