The moon hung low up above, strangely bright in the dark sky.
But Blaine couldn't think about that now, he just had to keep running.
He barrelled his way through the trees, the branches nipping at his skin. Adelais flew beside him, her tiny wings beating slower than usual as to not overtake his small human legs.
Adelais was an Imp.
Imps are one of the fastest magical beings alive, but Adelais looks out for Blaine. She is his watcher, guiding and protecting him as he learns his way in the magical community. For the last eight months she has been by his side, helping him master his new Gifts. She also stood – hovered – by him in all the harder times, the physical therapy, the nightmares and the inevitable psychiatric appointments.
And now she stayed level with him as he ran through the woods at half past two in the morning from an evil vampire-like witch.
"Blaine! She's gaining on us!"
His pace picked up, "I know Adelais!"
The witch was an Aswang, a type of witch from the Philippines – which is why it was so odd being out here in the middle of Ohio, of all places. The Aswang were animalistic in nature, the one chasing them reminding Blaine of a giant vampire bat. Luckily, this Aswang had become unable to take to the skies after Blaine had injured its wings with a salt covered dagger. However, Aswang are quick to a superhuman extent and Blaine had only managed to keep in front using his magic.
Light had started to cover the sky by now, and Blaine knew he had to end it before some human saw something they shouldn't.
Bursting through the trees, he ended up in a tiny park overlooked by houses. Turning quickly, Blaine retrieved one of his daggers from the inside pocket of his jacket (this wasn't any old jacket – it was specially modified by Blaine to hold and contain potions and daggers alike). The small dagger he held had the hilt of a dragon and the metal had a hint of blue in it.
He waited.
He didn't wait long.
The Aswang breached the trees and dove towards him, but instead of getting close to kill him, the Aswang recoiled in pain.
Blaine stood there, smiling. He hadn't even moved.
"I understand that you're mad ma'am, but I'm afraid that, as long as I'm wearing this – "he held up a small pouch on a chain around his neck, "– you can't hurt me."
Inside the pouch, was an assortment of ginger and rosary, both of which warded against the Aswang, like how garlic and silver crosses warded against vampires.
"Now, my friend and I have a few questions for you ms – "
" – Domina."
Her voice was grotesque and came out as a low growl.
"Ah, Domina? That's Latin, correct? A beautiful name (he ignored Adelais small cough of how they couldn't say the same about the face), it means Lady, a title of nobility. Are you a noble, Domina?"
The Aswang drew itself out of its defensive position, drawing up to her full height, "I am indeed, young warlock."
Blaine hummed.
"I see," he smiled. "As far as I know, nobles rarely leave the safety of their coven unless in dire situations. Something you need to tell me Domina?"
Domina's smile sent shivers down his spine.
"We're looking for someone, however this does not concern you, warlock. There is a saying, a very old one that speaks of a Love. The unbreakable kind, surrounded with such power that it can give an old witch like me many more years on this world, and when the bond between them is formed it cannot be unbroken, even after death. Unless. Unless, you rip out their hearts and souls and consume them, their bond shall shatter and give any magical creature eternal life and power that surpasses all other living being on this god forsaken planet."
Um… Okay, Blaine wasn't expecting that.
He had honestly not expected her to tell him anything, so that was sort of a big surprise. Now Blaine needs to find out who this people are so he can protect them from future threats.
"Who are these people? Tell me!"
Shit! It's getting too bright, people might be passing by soon, they can't see what's going on!
Domina smiled, "we only know who one is, not the other. Watch out for the red moon my dear; it'll be when it begins."
Dammit! She's been trying to distract him so she can escape, he realizes a second too late. Luckily, Adelais had realized this early on and had got to work sawing a tree trunk just above Domina's head. It crashes down; hitting the Aswang, but Domina recovers quickly, unfortunately for her, not quick enough. Blaine throws his dagger covered in salt, hitting its mark on the juncture that connects her head to her neck. The salt spreads its way through her blood stream boiling her blood. The Aswang begins to convulse as her body destroys itself from the inside, her form begins to flake away until all that remains are the leather that once made up her wings.
"Ew, I hate Aswang's," Adelais exclaims.
"Eh, Blaine, do you think Voldemort was an Aswang?"
…
5:00am Westerville Ohio, The Anderson Residence
"Be careful! Your puny legs might slip!"
"Adelais, shut up!"
"What! I was offering what you humans call a warning…"
"My legs are not puny Adelais!"
Adelais grinned.
"I am not! Besides, your one to talk! You're the size of my palm."
Adelais giggled, ignoring everything Blaine said, watching joyously as he fumbled, and trying to get a grip on his window ledge while making sure his foot resting on the pipe wouldn't slip.
"This is why you shouldn't keep secrets Blaine; it's very unbecoming of a well-raised man such as yourself." Adelais mocked.
Blaine rolled his eyes as he finally got a grip on the ledge and pulled himself up, pushing his slightly open window all the way open.
"It's not like I can say, hey mom and dad, guess what, I have magic and every night after you've gone to bed I sneak out to fight dangerous, more-often-than-not insane magical creatures."
Blaine finally slipped inside, closing the window quietly, "I'm going to have a shower."
Adelais watched as he made his way into the bathroom and locked the door. She sighed and glanced around the room that became their home eight months ago when Blaine's parents decided to move them to Ohio.
Ohio, of all places, she thought.
The state didn't have much to offer Blaine at all, whilst it did have a higher rate of magical activity than Arizona; it just put him in even more danger. Adelais was just glad that the Andersons had picked Westerville to move too, one of the more civilised towns in Ohio. Not at all like Lima, well, that's not true, Lima is quite nice, but Lima Heights is definitely a place to avoid. Lima Heights had a strong aura of dark magic round the place, a type of dark magic that made Adelais shiver.
But that's totally off topic.
The fact was, now they sit in a large estate in Ohio after that dreadful attack at the Sadie Hawkins. The attack that left Blaine alone and dying in a hospital bed surrounded by tubes and a ventilator. The attack which forced her long-time friend, Marina, Blaine's Great-Grandmother, to unlock his Gifts four years too early, and tasked Adelais with guiding Blaine.
The day Blaine woke up was still imprinted in Adelais' nightmares.
…
Flashback to Gilbert Local Hospital, Arizona 2009 January 8th
"Gram?"
His voice was hoarse with disuse; however it still managed to shock the old lady into consciousness. "Oh, Blaine dear, you're awake! Thank heavens!"
"Gram, what are you doing here?"
"I came here to save you."
"Oh, the Dance, it…"
"I know, but Blaine, listen very carefully, I have a lot to explain to you. First, I'd like you to meet someone…"
Present day
That had been when Blaine had met Adelais and found out about the magical world hidden just beyond view. The day he had found out that he possessed magic through bloodline. The day that he had found out that his dad didn't possess magic because it skips one generation.
Blaine exited the bathroom, clad in his night wear.
"I don't understand why I have to go to school now, I was fine just being home schooled."
"Aw, but Blainey, a dashing young man such as yourself should be socializing with people your own age not out slaying evil of a night!"
"Stop mocking me Adelais! I'm being serious!"
Blaine pulled out his blazer from his wardrobe and laid it across his bed, huffing in annoyance.
"I only have two months left of Freshman year, there's no point of me going to some fancy prep school because my parents want to create an air of importance around our family."
...
The Next Morning, Outside of Dalton Academy for Boys
"Now, you promise me that you'll be good." Mrs Anderson spoke monotonously, her fingers straightening his blazers lapels. Her fingers only just missing Adelais who was perched on Blaine's shoulder.
"If anyone gives you trouble, call me and I'll pull you out of this school."
At that, Mrs Anderson turned on her heel and marched back to her car and drove away.
"Uh, don't worry," a student who had been introduced to him as soon as he got here lead him through the front doors, taking one of his bags. "No one's going to bother you here."
The student led Blaine to the dorms on the east side of the school. "This is your dorm, which is a single so you have the room to yourself. You'll also be living here in the East wing which houses all the students who belong to the Parks house."
"As in Rosa Parks?"
"Yes, even though we're a boys school, we believe it is important to remember the women who changed our country for the better."
Blaine thanked him, taking the keys to his dormitory and letting himself in. He carefully placed one box (containing the material that he uses to fight off wicked creatures) underneath his bed and then pulled out smaller box containing salts. He lined the window and the door lightly so the salt was barely noticeable and then stuck some herbs in hidden spaces around the corners of his room.
Satisfied with his work, Blaine smiled and started unpacking into his wardrobe.