Chapter 1:

I can't help but judge, I guess it's my nature, to seek everyone else's flaws and to make sure they know that they're flaws. Maybe it's because It makes me feel better about myself? But behind the curtain am I any better? I croquet myself I mock my pathetic life as if I should be better then them I hold myself at a higher standard like everyone else is a weaker species. I am better then you stronger faster my mind works in ways you couldn't even imagine I am a superior creature of god I am not human, I am nephilim.

The sun was slowly beginning to fall and I couldn't help but smile soon this day would be over and sleep would consume me and once again i would see my parents. i sat against a grand oak tree looking down at a large group of people all dressed in white, some were crying some silently praying. "In dust you came in dust you shall return, Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life." the pastor said throwing a handful of dirt over the two black coffins, the crowd slowly raised throwing dirt and bowing their heads for a silent prayer. "Let us go in the name of the Lord" the pastor announced. I watched in disgust, none of them cared that my parents had died no one in that crowed knew them for anything more then the couple in charge of the Dallas institute. They didn't know that Marcus and Magdalene Dawnwood had a life other then the institute that they spent their Sundays at church and after that they had a picnic at the lake and went fishing, that they were the last bit of family that i have...that now i have no one. "Mercy" i turn my head to find my close friend "Hey Judi" I say in a casual tone "You ok? You didn't give your farewell speech and I..I was worried." Judith said her expression remaining troubled "Yeah I'm fine" I said forcing a smile "and in the thirteen years you've known me? Have I ever given a speech for anything other then why I shouldn't have to make dinner on Tuesdays?" I herd a small giggle come from Judith "Fourteen and I suppose, not unless you want to call a well formed argument a speech." she said with a small smile, "well, I have to go meet with the council and discuss the institute.."

I said rising to my feet brushing the dirt of my short sleeved white shirt and white denim jeans .

"oh, that's gotta suck..." says Judi

"Yep" I said passing her and plummeting down the hill "Mercy!" she yelled but I was gone half jogging half running the city of Alicanti passing me in a blur.

"Mercy Ruth Dawnwood, daughter of Marcus and Magdalene Dawnwood, shadow hunter" a council women stated they were all dressed in council robes from what I could see there had to be at least twenty men and women some standing some sitting all staring directly at me. "Please state your appeal" the women said, I inhale and step forward forgetting to exhale.."as some of you may know my parents much like a few others died fighting here in Alicanti when the wards went down" I said in a stern voice "Yes we are aware of your parents passing" anger filled inside me her casualness in their tone disgusted me as if their deaths meant nothing, I swallowed down my anger and stepped closer to the women "well I'm sure you are aware that I am next in line to run the institute with their passing, but I am also aware that it is the law for the man or women to be at least eighteen to run an institute" "yes indeed we are aware, as for the institute due to other pressing matters we hadn't had the time to appoint a new leader to take charge of the institute" I swallowed down my anger once again. "I understand completely, what I am here ask is that because I will be eighteen in a matter of weeks that I remain in charge of the protection and well being of the institute" I slowly looked around analyzing the councils faces some looked shocked like they hadn't expected me to say such a thing some look smug like it wouldn't happen in a million years and some very few looked proud like me volunteering was unexpected but promising "Are you sure this is what you wish?" she asked with an stern expression "Yes ma'am."

"Very well, your appeal will be determined and we will call you back in when we have decided" "thank you Inquisitor as well as council" I say bowing my head and leaving the room. I took a seat directly on the floor outside of the council room off to the right there's a nice sitting room with clean white modern furniture with black square's for side tables hung on the walls were picture's of shadow hunters in mid fight, after a few minutes of staring mindlessly at the wall in front of me my eye's grew tired and before I knew it I am sleeping.

"Mercy." my eye's fly open and in front of me stands a tall blond man smiling down at me. I quickly look around but there's nothing only him and i standing in nothingness, "Were are we?" I ask he slowly looks around still smiling his golden eye's open wide glowing against his light skin. "Were nowhere of course" he said in a casual tone he's dressed in black gear and his hair is a curly mess. I should feel panicked or at least scared but strangely I felt safe, I took his arm and examined the white line's dancing across his skin...runes. "your a shadow hunter like me?" I said releasing his arm and looking back up at him, something about his face was so comforting so alluring he was defiantly gorgeous. A small laugh escaped his smile revealing his pearly white teeth, "it would seem that way wouldn't it?" he said slightly brushing his hand down my cheek, sending a warm feeling up my spine I could feel my cheeks turn red. "What do you mean?" I said with a slight smile, "I am not nephilim" he said no longer smiling but tranquil. "Then..then what are you?" I said no longer smiling "naturally I am a demon" he said with a smile gesturing his body and with a single snap he was gone and in his place stands a much taller Grey skinned demon with glowing white eyes still dressed in gear somehow fitting him perfectly the black shirt just tight enough to revel how muscular he is. "Oh.." I said trying to back away but my legs remained still, "he was beautiful wasn't he?"

The demon asked, nothing about it was calming just intimidating. My face now expressionless

"I saw him and couldn't resist it's been awhile since I've seen such a mesmerizing nephilim."

"Why are you here?" I demand the corner of his lip raises just slightly "aren't you hasty?" he said now fully grinning "Well...i guess I should tell you were I was when I caught a glimpse of the nephilim?" if demons had eyebrows I would bet he was raising one of them. "Tell me" I demanded, he exhaled loudly "Ah well cause you ask so nicely, it was a warm day in Alicanti there was nice breeze blowing the smell of blood in the air..." "You...you were in Alicanti when the wards went down?" I clenched my jaw "I was,do you want to know something interesting about my time there?" he asked his face calm and collected "I'm listening" he smiled "Well, much like the other demon's I had one goal...kill and destroy any nephilim I came in contact with..." he smiled shifting his weight onto his left side "i was strolling through the city enjoying the view...you know demons everywhere you look blood gore, ect ect anywhoo back to my point when I saw two very familiar faces fighting off a pack of Moloch demons nasty things.. anyway when they both successfully took down the pack I knew it was them Marcus and Magdalene Dawnwood." my heart sank into my chest and I clenched my jaw. He smiled once again showing of his still pearly white teeth..."You..." I spat "aw common no jumping ahead, let me at least finish my story" anger welled inside me I tried to move forward hurt him in some way but it was no use my body refused to move.."anyway like I was saying before you rudely interrupted..Marcus was laughing taking joy from the dead pack of demons and Magdalene had already sighted me...she looked terrified because she had also remembered me..." my mind was filled with terror he had killed my parents he was the demon that ruined my life...not terror rage. I tried with all my heart to move to punch at him but still it was no use, "it was about eleven years ago when I had last seen you and your parents...at first it was only you that I saw running around in the middle of the woods...you such a cute little girl what with your pigtails and rainbow explorer boots" he said with a faint smile he disgusted me but when I think about seven years ago my mind goes blank...i wanted to say something an insult maybe? But now not even my mouth couldn't move. "i was wondering the forest looking for something...well its been so long how could I possibly remember? When I smelt you a delicious sent if I might add, when I fallowed your sent I found you wondering alone I was almost sure it was the great mothers gift to me a small young angel child alone in the woods...defenseless, when I approached you you weren't scared at all brave little thing" he said with a smile pushing one of my hairs behind my eyes. I flinched now the only movement I had was my eyes I could feel a small tear forming but I blinked it away. "i had pushed you down before you even screamed...but then I heard your parents yelling for you by the time I could react they had been there staring down at me with such terror in there eyes your father dove into action his blade I think he called it "Micheal?" pointed straight at me along with your mother kicking me away from you tending to the scratches my claws had left in your bare skin, before I could get away your father stabbed me right in the neck...sending me back to hell" "You poor baby" I hissed realizing I could speak again. "ah but I'm not finished yet do you want to know just how I managed to murder your family?" anger filled inside of me "I'll kill you-"

"you and me both know you cant move so just enjoy the story ok?" he said his expression now seeming annoyed "with me being a Eidolon demon I can shape shift into anyone and anything as long has I've seen it before...and turning into you was just too easy" his words all

killing me inside he's a demon Mercy they lie in fact its in there job description..."Your lying" I yelled, he smiled once again this time his smile was demonic and dark "am I lying when I say that your mother and father didn't even fight back when I changed into you all they did was cry like little mundanes- "Stop!" I yelled all of a sudden I could move my body again and punched him directly in the chin but he didn't flinch his body didn't even move a muscle all he did was laugh "I'll kill you!" I yelled going for another punch but in mid air he grabbed my fist twisting my arm and pushing me to the floor, hes crouched above me smiling and with one snap of his finger he was gone and in his place was a slim auburn haired women with beautiful features a sharp nose and full lips...my mother "Mom..." I whispered I knew it wasn't her but I couldn't help it she looked so healthy and alive it was her. "shhh" she whispered pulling a knife from her weapons belt and holding it to my neck, "Mom!" I said a small tear falling down my cheek "Shhh soon we'll all be together again..i promise" she said slicing my neck and my eye's flew open.