First VK fic, be nice.

Prologue:

The hollow pounding on my locked, thick paneled wooden door woke me up. Grumbling, I sat up on my bed, rubbing the sleep from my hazel, non-transformed eyes. I ran a tanned hand through my copper-toned, tangled hair and stood, bending over at the waist with hands on my knees as I groaned. I had just returned from the infirmary after a long mission, battling a Wendigo. My teammate, Ashlen, had to call for back up after the canine-like beast had ripped my abdomen open. The healing witches had a hard time working on me due to the fact that my kind doesn't heal like mortals. Even though I was stitched up, I still held intense pain from any sudden movements.

I held my back straight and stretched my arms before walking across the stone floor to the door, my long, flowing sleeping pants (made out of rare silk, woven by the giant spiders that live in the Amazon) making swishing sounds as I walked. I lifted the bar off of my door, opening the lock, and turned the knob. Allowing myself to face a page, about the age of fourteen, who held a small figure. Judging by his pointed ears, upturned eyes, and lean figure, he's Elven.

"What is it?" I growled, baring my teeth as I snarled. The pain, as well as the time, makes me a very unhappy worker. The boy jumped back, eyes widened at my outburst and snarl.

"Leader needs to see you!" he said and I growled again, this time in exasperation. I come back, mortally wounded from one mission, and what does he do? Call me again! It's as if the man has no respect for others –Oh wait. He doesn't. I bit back my increasing frustration. As an Elite, I'm watched very carefully by the other creatures that live and work here. They can get away with any type of slaughter as long as it's excused with protecting Leader from a threat.

"Fine, tell him I'll be there in ten minutes," the boy saluted, then bowed, hand curled at the sternum, as is the custom in Elfish culture to show respect.

"Yes ma'am," the boy said, standing up straight. "I'll inform him immediately of your arrival. Try not to dally." With that, he turned and ran away, a long green ponytail –which stuck out from underneath his cap –bouncing as he ran. I hadn't even noticed the odd coloring of his hair.

I shut the door and grumbled, "Damn. That man… doesn't that man know not to wake a Werewolf during the day?"

I then went to my small trunk which held a meager batch of belongings –here, we aren't allowed to own much, and if we die, our things are then recycled and remade into something new that will benefit the organization. I took the key, which held like the medallion of a king around my neck, and stuck it into the latch, unlocking the cast iron lock that held fast the wooden trunk. After it had been open, I pulled out my mission clothing –all of which had been folded neatly by a serving fairy - and a few other necessities that I'd need to pack.

I grabbed a satchel from underneath my bed and began packing –extra mission clothing, regular clothes, disguises –such as wigs, colored contacts, and a magical device that looked like a necklace, only it could change make me invisible by pressing on the pendant -, and toiletries. I also threw in my wallet, some drachmas, and a few wads of different substances that would give me an upper hand against other creatures. After this was done, I changed into my mission clothes. They consisted of a black tank top, a pair of black shorts that were tight and went down to my mid/upper thigh, and black knee high boots. I pulled on my fishnet gloves and my golden badge with a large "E" written in calligraphy that signified me as one of the Elite.

I ran outside and used my Werewolf Speed (Or, as it is technically called, Ta Podia Toy Hermes (Feet of Hermes)) to make it to Leader on time. The speed that channeled throw my body tore at my abdomen, the fast, thin blood slipping slightly through the stitches. I frowned, slowing my rapid pace only slightly, and put my left hand against my gash, feeling only a small amount of blood. I sped up again, telling myself that it was ok and I could fix it with one of Ashlen's potions. While witchery couldn't cure or heal severe Lycan wounds, it'd be able to develop a small membrane that would keep me from reopening the deep gashes and loosing too much blood.

Finally, after many turns through the dark, torch lit corridors, I made it to the large ebony doors with gold and silver inlay that led to Leader's large chambers. Many things had changed about this place since he came into power. I only touched the cool stone slightly for the doors to open, albeit slowly. The magic that raced around the grounds created a sweet, but piercing scent. It shrouds everything, so scent-tracking is a difficult task. The smell of magic is strong. It usually covers that of others.

"Stella, tardy as usual. Even Ashlen was on time," he said and I glared at the floor in front of me. This man…

"Captain, I have no reason to disrespect you with my tardiness. I only had trouble reaching in a timely manner due to the short notice and the fact that I came out of the infirmary with the instructions to rest for a week or so and take it easy yesterday," I told him, smiling at him with an irritated air.

He ignored my comment and then said, "You've been resting far too long. We have many things going on in the outside world that need to be taken care of. Due to the increase in evil, there's an outbreak of dangerous creatures that want to destroy humankind. As you know, it's our job as Slayers to stop them in their tracks."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ashlen said, wanting to get straight to the point. He looked offended, purple eyes widened with outrage at her interruption as matching lavender insect wings flapped behind him –not enough to lift him off of his throne made from pure ruby –to show his anger. Ashlen ignored this and continued, "What did you need to see us for?"

"I have a mission for you…" he trailed off, a blue hand paused in mid gesture, as he tried to be dramatic. It got on my nerves.

"Well?" I asked impatiently, crossing my arms over my chest. Ashlen held her cool better, but still harshly blew a strand of curly brown hair out of her face. It had most likely slipped from her ponytail as she transported here.

"There is a school, called Cross Academy, it homes humans, as well as Vampires. I am sending you two to go and watch the school, making sure that the Vampires don't try anything with the humans. Because this is a covert mission, and you are both tired and injured from your previous mission, I've decided that you two would be the best choice to send. You most likely won't have to fight unless it's the easy task of taking out Level-E's or if any of the nobles decide they want to eat the humans. Alright?" He asked, we nodded in understanding, he then continued, "There is a Day Class and a Night Class. Stellas, you will be going to the Night Class, since you are a werewolf, and Ashlen, since you are a witch, you will be in the Day Class. I have already talked to Headmaster Cross, founder of the school, and he has agreed to let you two go and keep a watch. The school does have prefects, or guardians if you prefer, and they have been informed of your duties. Ashlen, because you are coming from here, you are to become another prefect. Do you have any questions?"

"Where is the mission?" I asked. Our last one, to discover the reason behind mysterious deaths was located in the Italian Alps. We had no idea it would be a Wendigo.

"Japan."

This caused Ashlen and I to glance at each other. While it made sense that the school would have Vampires, most of the breed stayed in their home of Romania after the bloody war against Werewolves and humans had ended. Only a few, those of the purest standing, had traveled to Japan.

"When do we leave?" Ashlen asked. Usually there's a day or two so that we can prepare for the-.

"Now," He answered, dismissing us with a wave of his perfectly manicured fingernails.

"Captain? What about transportation?" I asked. We transported in many ways, sometimes we would travel by foot, others by planes and trains and cars, and sometimes, one of the older witches or wizards would use magic to send us there. It really depends on the distance.

"The usual way, Stellas," he sighed. I nodded although every fiber in my being shouted to challenge his right of Alpha, then and there. I shook my head to clear it. He wasn't my Alpha. He wasn't one of us. It's a terrible thing to be a Werewolf. We're always looking for a leader, or, if there is none, to lead others. For us, it's a continuous battle for dominance.

"Yes sir," I said, feeling slightly stupid due to the quick and easy answer to my question.

"Good luck. And if you get killed, you will have a very honorable Slayer's United funeral," he said in mock happiness. I snorted. How could he say that? There weren't many Elite in Slayer's United, the only other group of hunters besides the Hunter's Association. Ashlen and I turned and then strode quickly, but with dignity, to the large doors. The wide doors opened without us touching them-magic at its finest- and we began to walk down the dark hallways made out of ebony as well.

The stones made to build everything –except for the occasional wood –here in headquarters were made from the essence of minerals. It's hard for me to comprehend what exactly that is, but from my understand from what Ashlen has told me and from what I've observed, this essence connects with whomever the newest leader of our organization is. It then forms itself to become stones that match the overall personality that the leader possesses. Our past leader, a Griffin named Neffirg, made everything light and beautiful. The place was constructed of gold, pearl, diamond, and other happy precious materials. We all loved him.

Now we're stuck with Redeal (it means King in Pixan).

"So, Vampires, huh?" Ashlen asked. I shrugged my shoulders, running a hand through my still tangled hair.

"Yeah, my sister race," I mused. She snapped her head around to me with confused look implanted on her face.

"What do you mean?" She inquired.

"Well, Vampires and Werewolves have the same mother species, the Ala. The Ala evolved into two different species, which was ours. We have some of the same traits," I told her and she rolled her blue-gray eyes when I gestured to my pointed fangs, which made me look like a Vampire from the outside.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" She told me and I shrugged but could tell where she was coming from. Ashlen and I have known each other since we both came to Slayer's United. I was seven, she was nine. There, we were put into training under a slightly older captain –Kazan –and given another teammate –Suzuki Sato –and we stayed in that group for years. However, Suzuki was sent away to work, and then Kazan got boosted into the Elite, Ashlen and I were left on our own.

"It never came up," I said and laughed a little. We continued to navigate our way through the giant building, passing hallways that housed the other Members and other hallways that were dead ends and were there for apparent reason. The Elite had their own houses, outside of the main house, but still on the grounds. This is because the other Members would try and kill us, to hope and get our place in the Elite. We arrived at the large onyx doors to the Transportation Section. They swung open.

"We need to be trans-" I started but the old woman cut me off.

"I know, I know. Come over here, so I can transport you," the old witch said and we did as we were bid.

"I can't send you directly to the Academy, but I can send you to the town that's near it," she informed us. I saw a blast of blue light envelope us and it started to swirl and undulate in an otherworldly fashion, sweeping around the room like an unearthly apparition. There was a pulling on the small of my back that felt as if, one by one, every single separate disk in my spine were being pulled out. Of course, magical transportation like this, in its basic breakdown, causes one's atom structures to split and then reform when they reach the destination. It's severely uncomfortable.

The pulsing light went away and we ended up in a town which looked as if it was Italian, not Japanese. I turned to Ashlen.

"Are you sure we've been transported to the right place? I've never seen a Japanese city that looked like this."

She shrugged, eyes glancing around, "We should be in the right place. Medea is usually always correct. Plus, if you haven't noticed, the signs are in Japanese."

I looked around, and laughed sheepishly, running a hand through my hair, "Right… heh…"Ashlen shook her head and we began to walk in silence. I felt compelled to yawn, but at the same time, my mind, senses, and Selves were awake in the luminescent moonlight. It's about 2200 here and my inner wolf was wide awake by now, if not a little disgruntled.

"We should head to the Academy. We don't need to waste any time. One of those Vampires could attack a human at any point," Ashlen said. I was the only one that knew of her intense hatred –and slight fear –of Vampires.

"Yeah," I said and we advanced on the Academy. I followed my nose, smelling out the intense, morbid Vampire smell. They leave a scent that resembles posies and blood. It's strange. We continued on, and sooner rather than later, we made it to the large gates. There, I smelled an unfamiliar pheromone, but I could tell that it was human. And female.

"Who are you?" the girl asked me. We stepped forwards into the light so she could see our faces. She must be a guardian.

"Stellas Marris and Ashlen Baker," I informed her and the girl came out to where we could see her.

"The Headmaster told me to escort you to his office," she said. "I'm Yuki, by the way." She observed us with large, deep red eyes. Her short brown hair came down to a black skirt with a black jacket. An armband rested on her sleeve.

"Yuki, are they the new students from Greece?" another voice said, this time male, said. His scent washed across my nose. Vampire, but not a natural one. His scent doesn't smell of posies like a noble, natural Vampire. Humans that are made into Vampires still retain a human stench, but their Vampire smell is more rancid and violent. It's one that causes Werewolves –even Purebloods like myself with large amounts of self-control –to go berserk if kept around it too long. It makes me wonder if other Vampires are affected in the same way. It probably just disgusts them.

"Yes they are!" Yuki told him, putting her hands on her hips.

I tuned out of the conversation once I learned that his name was Zero Kiryuu, and focused on smelling out the Night Class. They are too far away. I can't get a distinct scent, but the aroma of Vampire is rank.

"Stella… Stella… Snap out of it," Ashlen said before slapping me in the arm. I wrenched myself out of my thoughts and involuntarily bared my teeth at her.

"Heh… Heh… Sorry. What's up?" I asked sheepishly.

"Their taking us to the Headmaster now," Ashlen told me, rolling her eyes as she did so.

I rubbed the back of my head and laughed sheepishly… I'm really out of it. Maybe it's because the Vampire stench is so rampant. Yeah, that's probably it.

.

.

.

We reached the Headmaster's office at around 2250. The inside of the school was yellow. That's all I need to say about this place.

The Headmaster is not what I expected. He is childish and has a carefree smile, as if he doesn't care that one of his students could be killed by a Vampire at any second.

"Oh! You must be the new students!" He cried out, then jumped at Yuki to hug her. She side stepped. "Why?! My dear daughter!"

I sweat dropped and so did Ashlen. This man was the Headmaster?

"Yuki, please escort Stellas to the Moon Dorms. Ashlen is going to be in the Sun Dorms," He said. I already knew that. It was because I am nocturnal, and Leader thinks that as a Werewolf, I would be less vulnerable than my Witch teammate. Vampires and Werewolves are sister races after all.

"O-Ok!" Yuki said and grabbed my arm. I glared at her hand, debating whether or not to bite it. I don't like being touched. I looked at the others in the room, wondering if they knew what we were. Leader did say that they knew where we were from, but he never told us if they knew our species. In hindsight, that would have been a marvelous thing to ask him.

But since it was just a hypothesis that they know, I settled for removing it. "I don't like being touched. It brings back bad memories," I muttered, not meeting her eyes. I could feel Ashlen send me a pitying look.

"Um, we might as well get going then!" Yuki told me, and I followed her out the door.

Review. This is the edited prologue.