I awoke earlier than usual, which meant I didn't get much sleep. Bakeries are a morning business though, so we always get up in the wee hours to start cooking things for the day. I walked to the bathroom, which was attached to my room in the attic, and began my morning routine. I brushed out my hair, washed my face, and returned to my room to choose an outfit. Today I went with a black long sleeve dress, which was about mid-thigh length, with a large gold moon embezzled on the chest. Black was a large portion of my wardrobe; I enjoyed the darker style. I found that it complimented my long light-brown hair nicely. To keep things more modest, I wore skin-colored thermal tights under it. Though I would be inside with the ovens, I decided to wear them just in case.

As I went downstairs, I already smelled the fresh pastries my parents had been baking. They were setting up shop for our morning customers, rolling dough, filling trays, and decorating doughnuts. As I passed the kitchen, an oven dinged and I used the mitt to pull the tray out carefully. These were our croissants that mom would add butter to. I set them in the shop and said good morning to my parents.

Since I finished school last year at seventeen, I was helping full-time at the shop. I had no plans to attend school further, or to find another job. I wasn't sure what to do, but luckily the family business always needed someone, and I was an only child so it made sense for me to take it over eventually. I didn't know if I wanted to though, I just went with the flow.

We opened at 8am, and it was a steady stream of customers. I spent the time ringing them up while my parents handled the food. At 9, a customer I recognized came in. It was Elizabeth's mother. Unlike her daughter, she was quite stuck up and looked down on others for being 'low class'. Luckily for our business she thought it noble to be providing the town with a service. In regards to people like Maddy, she found them despicable despite nothing in life being her fault. It was hard to meet anyone new when all you did was work in a bakery. Our customers were mostly old people.

I greeted her and asked how Elizabeth was; She told me her daughter started working at Lafeya, which was a high-end clothing boutique in town. It didn't surprise me that a wealthy person worked at a wealthy store. I could never afford clothes from there let alone be allowed in. That was a joke though, I knew I would have to stop in and say hello sometime. I rang her up and off she went. Her news had me thinking about my life again, which was never good. I quickly switched my focus to work and pushed those thoughts out of my head.

The day quietly turned to dark and I found myself alone again. After closing up shop at 8, we tidied the store and my parents went out on a dinner date. They invited me along, but I told them they should go without me. I didn't want to ruin their date. I stayed in and curled up on the chair in my room with a book. Before I knew it, a few hours had passed and my parents returned home. I said good night to them, but knew I wasn't going to sleep yet. It was nearing 11 now, I thought to myself it was time to head to the roof. After returning my book to the shelf, I went over to my wardrobe and pushed up the roof panel, climbing through.

I nearly fumbled when I saw what was on the roof. It was the man who had saved me last night. Why was he now on my roof? I was already up so I shut the panel and hoped he didn't want to eat me. He was only a few feet away, but I couldn't bring myself to look again because I was afraid. He did just murder someone in front of me last night, even if who he killed was evil.

After a minute of staring, my presence seemed to go unnoticed. I decided to address him. For was it a mere coincidence that tonight he perched on my roof?

"Who are you?" I ask quietly and with hesitation.

For a moment he gave no reaction. I almost resolved that he wished to not interact with me. I look away, towards the night sky. You could see only a few stars from here; the streetlights below, while faint, were enough to drown many out. I hear the man shift next to me, and glance over to see him side-eyeing me. Under the black cloth covering his eyes, the green light is there but so is something else. It's almost as if a gas is being emitted from them, and it seeps from the cloth and disappears. I was curious if he even had eyes at all... and yet why did it feel like his gaze was piercing my soul? I had never seen such a thing in my life; I was mesmerized.

He turned his body slightly toward me and said, "Who am I?" The sound hit like thunder and faded with a growl into the night. It was both deep and sultry, and captivated me like no voice I had heard before. Yet, his teeth scared me; they were razor sharp like an animals. I almost missed when he answered my question. "I am the demon hunter."

His voice was alien, I realized. Was it that of a demon after all? No matter if he was human or demon, I thought only of how tempting he was. I wanted everything about him, to know his secrets, his desires, and most of all to be consumed by him. My mind became a fog; my eyes I'm sure reflected that desire in them. He only looked at me curiously. Or was he angry? Annoyed? It was hard to tell.

Trying to perceive his emotion snapped me back to reality. What was I thinking letting dirty thoughts about this demon-man into my head? In embarrassment I blurt out, "How can you be a demon hunter if you yourself are a demon?"

His expression remains unfazed and unchanged, like a statue, with his eyes still staring at me. He replies quietly, "I was not always this way," he looks down for a moment, almost reminiscent. "Here they call me the bounty hunter. Have you not hear of me?" Thinking on it, I had heard mention of a bounty hunter in the area recently, though nothing of a demon hunter. The man I watched him kill must have had a bounty on him. I wasn't surprised, given the man kidnapped young girls. I shake my head though, hoping for clarification. "Hm," he mutters and looks back below us. Perhaps he was scanning the town for another bounty... yet, I couldn't help but wonder how he could see anyone. My gaze trails to his hand resting on the roof. It was human-like, but his nails ended in long sharp claws. He truly must be a demon, I thought.

If he was telling the truth and he was a bounty hunter, I had no reason to fear him. There was no bounty on my head. I felt a bit safer, but curiosity got the better of me and I risked offending him. "How do you see them? The people with bounties. How do you know it's them?" I look across at the city instead of at him, hoping he took my question well and would provide an answer.

From the corner of my eye, I notice his face scrunch up at my question. I couldn't tell what emotion was behind it; he only scowled without a word. After all, what reason did he have to tell me anything? Still, I couldn't help my curiosity. Eventually he conceded and replied, "Demon fire." He removes his blindfold and looks over at me. I stared into what should have been his eyes... but it was merely a green fire burning in the empty sockets. I was intrigued by them, but saw an opportunity to study his face closer instead. It was chisled; his square jaw line looked like it could cut through diamonds. His skin appeared purple-tinted, though maybe it was a trick of the moon light. I wanted to touch him, to feel his rough skin under my hand. But more than that, I wanted him to- "This is fel energy," he continued. "It allows me to see all forms of magic through any barrier. More specifically, human auras." He looked into my eyes, somehow, and then refastened his blindfold over them.

No wonder he would perch on rooftops and gaze into the city below. If he could see through anything, finding someone would be easy. I was in awe at what a powerful ability it was. It made me wonder how he became like this, or if he was born this way. Perhaps one of his parents was human and one was a demon. Or maybe he acquired these features somehow. I thought more on his words; what was he saying about auras? As far as I knew, auras were your spiritual energy, unable to be seen by human eyes, and were a certain color based on your mood or spiritual well-being. Did that mean he could see my aura, and know how I felt? I suddenly became embarrassed again and asked, "What color is my aura?"

He continued to stare at me but now his face displayed a smirk; he was somewhat amused by my question. It must've been because he could see my embarrassment and longing for him. He replied, "Yours is white and pink." He looked back toward the city. "And a bit red," he added.

I was no aura expert, but those seemed like good colors to me. I hoped he would give me clarification though. "What does that mean?" I question him, looking over and smiling. I was trying to be cute but I don't think he noticed.

"I think you know better than I."

I sighed and rested my head on my hand. It was beginning to feel chilly. The truth was I tried to think about anything except him. That was difficult though, given he was sitting next to me. I steal a glance at him, and watch as he squints his eyes, looking at something off in the distance. After a moment he says, "I must go."

He stands from his previous crouch position, and as he does his wings expand and I get a closer look at them. They were skeletal; as if they were connected by bone to his body and he could control their every movement. At the ends, they were tattered. He looks at me once again and I quickly ask, "Will I see you again?"

A devilish smile spreads across his face. He stared at me a moment and then said, "If you desire it."

I watch him turn away and fly off into the distance.