A few days later Robin was sitting at his desk grading papers when James came to Robin after class, holding the notebook. "Mr. Wood?" he asked, "about the deal" he whispered. Robin looked up, "you've got something?". James nodded and handed the moleskin. Robin could see he was still hesitant to give it away, but he knew he had to. He more than anyone, thought Robin, is eager to bring justice to the demons that haunt his dreams. Robin thanked him, promised he would look at it later and see what he could do about the new monster. But James was more eager than that and began asking questions. "how will you know what monster it is?" he asked.

"books" Robin answered shortly.

"what kind of books?" James said. "books about demons" Robin said. James groaned, "yeah, I got that. Can I read them?'"

Robin exhaled, "not now, James." But the boy didn't take that for an answer. "can you look at the drawing now? I need it back"

Robin reluctantly obeyed. Demons come in and out, Robin had once learned. Especially on a hellmouth. Its no use obsessing over every demon. But James didn't know that and Robin didn't feel like arguing with the boy. So he opened the moleskin to the last drawn page and inspected it, pretending to be more interested than he was.

The drawing was half full, only the bottom was sketched in. "I didn't finish it. It usually takes a while until the picture is clear enough in my head to do so" James explained. The picture so far was of a normal demon body, with spikes and horns and slimy skin. The picture was cut off on the chest, and Robin could see the places where the vision was blurry in James' mind. "so?" James ushered. "just an every day demon" Robin said. James didn't seem content with his response, but he took the notebook back and left.

Wilson was the only teacher left in the lounge when Robin was finished working. Since he didn't have time at night, on account of patrolling and researching, Robin was stuck late at work every day grading papers and checking homework. He was intent on getting over with It quickly tonight, so Robin hadn't paid attention to the literature teacher drinking through three full cups of coffee on the other side of the room. He passed him on his way out.

"what are you doing here so late at the end of the week?" Robin asked him. Wood hasn't talked to Wilson much, apart from their brief conversation on his first day. But from what he observed of him, Wilson was a strange man- he had a unique way of seeing things.

"I could ask the same- but that's pointless. Im simply here to warn you of something" Wilson snapped to attention when he heard Robin's voice. "so you waited for me? I was here for hours" Robin said.

"hours? You were only minutes. Man, I haven't seen anyone finish reading that many essays so quickly" Wilson said, "I wanted to give you a heads up about the new girl-"

"the new girl in my class?" Robin laughed.

"yes. You're new in the school, so I'll tell you. When a new kid comes, one with no backstory - it usually means demon" Wilson got up and turned to the counter behind him, flipping the kettle on. "coffee?" He asked Robin. Wood shook his head, "I say no in the face of caffeine"

"your loss"

"so, the girl- She's not a demon, she's a slayer" Robin said. Wilson chuckled softly, "right, exactly, demon"

"no, slayer. Vampire slayer?"

"slayers are demons"

"what?"

"never mind. I better be on my way, ill see you tomorrow?" Wilson said. Robin eyed him strangely, "tomorrow is a Saturday" he said. "I'm sure ill see you" Wilson assured him plainly.

Robin watched him poor monstrous amount of coffee and sugar into the cup, waiting for him to explain. But Wilson didn't say anything else. Robin left silently as the man stirred his cup slowly.

That was weird, Robin thought in his car minutes later. What a strange man.

When he got home, it was already dark out. Robin cooked himself a small dinner of eggs and beef before picking up his weapons and beginning his second, most favorite, part of the day- demon hunting.

Robin has been a demon hunter ever since his mother died when he was a kid. His mother was a slayer, one of the few who lived long enough to raise a child. When a vampire killed her, when Robin was four, her watcher adopted him as his own.

Being a son of a slayer, Robin still didn't have any supernatural powers- no super strength, or extensive healing- he had even tried witchcraft once but turned out to be very bad at it. Though his Mother's watcher trained him with weapons from an early age. In that, Robin turned out to be a prodigy. He was skilled with his broadsword, had exceptional aim and great stamina in battle. With his skills, most of his life Robin made a living out of demon bounty-hunting. He earned enough money to graduate collage and become a history professor. But he never stopped hunting vampires. Though he didn't always enjoy it- because it meant long tiring nights and unnecessary danger- demon hunting became part of him. Robin didn't know why he stuck to the tradition of patrolling. Perhaps it was a habit, or maybe Robin wanted to keep something from his childhood. Nevertheless, he did it every other night.

Ready to leave, Robin held his longsword in one hand, and a stake in the other, about to leave, when he heard a knock on the door. He quickly hid the weapons in their usual place under the bed, so the visitor won't see them and ask questions. But it was James' familiar voice calling from behind, "Mr. Wood, have you left yet?"

Robin opened the door, "here I am. What do you want?". James was panting and sweaty in the streetlight. "oh, good. I was just wondering if this time I could come with you?"

"you mean patrolling?" Robin laughed, "no. Sorry kid, it's to dangerous".

"but just once- I could really help" James begged. "I came all this way"

"no and that's final. You'll get yourself in trouble and only be a liability. Now go home- I better leave". He turned his back, ready to close the door. When James retorted, "you're the liability" and jumped in the house, "Im the one who sees things".

"where is all this peskiness coming from?" Robin asked, but James just begged some more. James usually obeyed Robin, now he was saying childish remarks.

"I'll stay behind" He promised.

"no you won't. Don't make me call someone" Robin said.

"Why not?" James pestered, "I thought we were a team"

"where are you parents?" Robin asked, But when James didn't answer, only gave him a wide-eyes look, he added, "look, I really appreciate you helping me, but patrolling is my job only. If you wanna be helpful, get some sleep and finish the drawing"

This really seemed to hurt James, but Robin was tired an impatient and didn't really care right now. He had to get going.

It was a quiet night, there weren't any vampires. The graveyard was in a deep slumber, breathing in cold breezes. Robin walk along the path sleepily, aiming his flashlight on the rocks in front of him so he wont slip, deep in thought.

He thought he was doing pretty well in his new job. The kids in the special class were tiring, always picking on each other and doing childish stuff. Some, Robin could tell, smoked or took drugs. Once in a blue moon one would show up with a hangover. But they listened in class, asked questions sometimes and copied homework off each other. They were normal kids. Robin still didn't understand what made them special.

And then there was the teachers' reaction when Robin told them the principle didn't cut down the class. And Wilson's joke. Robin didn't know what to take from that. He would have to ask other people about that class.

Suddenly a scream cut through the silence- and made Robin jump in place. It was a high-pitched sound that, in the quiet, seemed to pierce everything else. Without thinking twice, Robin broke into a run towards the direction of the sound- towards the middle of the graveyard. Another scream, closer, lead Robin to a large square crypt. "Stefanus" it read. Robin was about to burst through the door when he noticed a small object in front of it. Robin bent to pick it up- and stopped his breath.

It was James' notebook, muddy and open to his latest drawing- and it was complete. Even in the dark Robin couldn't mistake the filled in head for the body the head of Jeffery Ralf- Robin's student, James' bully. Dropping the notebook, Robin plunged through the wooden door and ran inside. he didn't stop to get an impression of the inside, as he quickly spotted a trap door open on the floor and, without thinking twice, ran down.

"James" he called, no answer. Down a few creaking stairs, the basemen was pitch black, and it felt like even with his flashlight Robin had to squint hard to see anything. He felt like the space was endless, though when he aimed the light he saw the close up, cave like walls. He felt his way down a narrow, low ceilinged hallway, to a larger oval room. Pointing the flashlight to the far end of the room, Robin saw the silhouette of Jeffery Ralf, only with a much bulkier body and rougher skin. He was holding a tearing James in his large muscular hands. James had a rag tied in his mouth, and around his hands. He was trying to tell Robin something but couldn't talk. So, he ended up making a few gagged noises.

"Hang on" Robin called to him. The beast stared at Robin in the eyes, tight but twitching as if he was about to pounce. but he didn't stir, while his mouth began salivating. the beast looked a lot like Jeffery, with the same, yet larger, body shape and the same face. even the mocking look felt similar. but Robin was enough years in the job to know not to take that into account. the beast was not his student, not Jeff. yet James probably didn't know that, by his frightened, shaking look. In his eyes, he was hostage by the same bully.

Robin approached the pair, slowly, broadsword drawn. "make it simple, will you?" he told the beast. when Robin was close enough to smell the beast's foul odour, his sword tight against his necks. The beast held James by his neck. They stood like that for a whole minute, tight, not breathing, until the beast finllay dropped James hard on the floor and lunged onto Robin, knocking him to the floor. the beast screamed loudly in his face. Oh, Robin thought, so, he was the sourse of the sound.

Robin shut the noise from his mind, though it pierced his ears, and rolled sideways, freeing himself from the beast's grip. they both stood up fast, and Robin used the momentary hesitation to launch a curved sword attack. it cut across the Jeff's left shoulder, and he shrieked in pain. Robin shot another poke at his belly, but Jeff deflected this one and threw a metal hard punch to Robin's face. Robin flew backwards, though he gained his balance quickly and in a fatal blow, cut the beast's head off.

he disappeared in a cloud of dust, and Robin ran though it, kneeling beside James. he used the sword to cut the rag off his hands, and James freed his own mouth, though he was too frightened to speak. "anything broken?" Robin asked. but James didn't answer, he was too focused on something behind Robin. Wood turned the flashlight around, to see three more pairs of bright green eyes staring at him. "let's get out" Robin grabbed James on his back and fled quickly to where he remembered the stairs to be. the eyes screamed after him, running up behind him. Through only when they exited the crypt, Robin dared look back for a moment, only for the shocking revelation to see the faces of three other of his students. Robin cursed, but continued running ahead. it was easy enough to hide the disappearance of one student. But four?

"Ow" groaned James in Robin's arms. Wood made sure the beasts have left them alone and let James down on the ground. "hey, its fine now. Where does it hurt?" he asked. James pointed at his left leg. Robin felt it gently with his hand, "broken" he confirmed, "come on, let's get you to a hospital."

Principle Shakes was waiting for Robin in his office, reading the newspaper. Robin knocked, and when Shakes said, "come in" Robin entered and sat on one of two leather chairs in front of the desk. "you wanted to see me?" Robin asked. Without even putting the paper down, Sherwood answered with another question. "How are you doing, really?". Robin didn't quite know how to answer that. He was doing great, but he did have a lot of questions about his class. "I'm fining my way" he answered shortly.

"well, that's great" Shakes said, faking enthusiasm. "let me just cut to the chase, though? I heard a kid from your class left the school"

Robin knew he was talking about Jeff. But what he was indicating, he wasn't sure. "yes, sir. He did" Robin said.

"well- I don't like when students leave my school. Its ad for the reputation" Shakes cocked and eyebrow. Robin wasn't tense about lying, it usually came to him easily. But something about the principle's ominous look unsettled him. He hoped the hesitation didn't leak into his voice when he recited the backstory, "there was nothing much I could do about it- the boy's family had to leave the city. His dad got a job elsewhere and-" he began, but Sherwood snapped into his words, interrupting him, "I didn't ask for the details"

"yes, sorry sir" Robin said, unsure where the sudden obedience came from.

"you could go now" Shakes dismissed Robin, "just- don't let it happen again, clear?"

"yes" Robin held the table for assistance and got up from the chair, feeling suddenly queezy.