Chapter 2

I couldn't believe how easily I found it. It was right there, as soon as I walked onto the campus I felt its energy. It took me a few extra seconds to pin-point its location, but when I did I was startled as I laid eyes on it.

Or, I guess I should say her. She was...attractive for a human. Her eyes were pretty. Green. A nice color. Her hair was nice and blonde, long enough for her to sit on. And her body was decent.

At least this is what I told myself.

She was gorgeous of course. Just looking at her made me bite my lip to restrain myself. And having four delicate fangs in my mouth made biting my lip extra painful. It was difficult to turn away, but I had to go get my new schedule from the administration office.

After I had that out of the way, I went back outside to see if she was still on the bench. She wasn't.

I sighed and started making my way to the main building of the campus, which had all the classrooms in it. I looked down at the paper that had my classes on it. My homeroom was Mrs. Graham. I was in there for forty minutes. Gag me.

I started at the unfamiliar phrase as it went through my mind. I rolled my eyes. The human world always effected me this way. I started behaving more and more like a human. But I would always be...

I shook my head to clear it. I couldn't think about that and fall into the familiar black haze of depression. Not while I had the Prince's task to complete. He would kill me without hesitation if I failed.

But I didn't feel like going to class just yet. So I decided to look around the city I would call home until I had Malachai's tool. And who knows how long that would take. I didn't know the girl. She could be a paranoid yuppie for all I knew. Or maybe she would welcome me with open arms into her life until I betrayed her. It was the inevitable. No one questioned the Black Prince's orders and lived to see the next morning.

I made my way behind the schools gym and checked to see if anybody was looking. Finding myself alone, I allowed power to surge through my veins like liquid fire, and my Underworld garments appeared back on my body, the same clothing I wore when the Prince gave me this task. I sighed as I felt my muscles expand like they always did when I was out of disguise.

I reached down to my belt and sliced my finger open on a special stud on my left hip. This particular stud was not flat like the others, but it pointed out and was very sharp for this exact purpose. I didn't even flinch at the pain, because it was such a small cut I didn't feel it anymore. I let my blood trickle down to the ground, black as the Price's body. As soon as it hit the dirt it started to grow and expand into a flawless piece of black glass that you couldn't see through, in the general shape of a surfboard.

I smiled down at the glass as it hovered a few inches above the ground, and stepped onto it. As soon as my foot hit the smooth, flat surface, my mind took control of the glass and we began to rise straight up, my hair flying around my face from the wind. I looked up at the sky and breathed in the refreshing human air with closed eyes. Amazing how different the air was in the Underworld.

I cleared the roof of the building and hovered there for a second, looking out over the human world. So beautiful and full of life it was, as were its inhabitants, although most of them didn't know it. Such an ignorant race the humans.

A few seconds later I was zipping through the air at the speed of light, my body poised and my feet braced apart along the glass so the force of the air around me wouldn't cause me to loose my balance. With my mind, I pulled the glass to a stop atop a tall building, the tallest I could see in the city and lucky for me, right in the center.

Stepping off the glass, it dissipated and plummeted down to the ground, dissolving as it did. I stood on top of the building and looked down at the city before me. I narrowed my eyes, feeling an unbelievably strong life force somewhere in the opposite direction of the school. Malachai was here. Watching his weapon no doubt. This could be a problem. The Black Prince hadn't mentioned that Malachai would be here. I hadn't prepared to fight with him.

This would take planning. With Malachai in the game, he would desperately try to protect the girl from me. I would be lucky if I got away without a scratch. I sighed. What a bother. I thought.

Suddenly I felt dread consume me as I felt Malachai's presence again. Right behind me. I whirled and drew Carkaroff from its scabbard and swung at Malachai's head. He ducked not moving to draw a weapon of any kind, and dropped to the ground, spinning around on the ball of his right foot, his left leg flying around, attempting to knock my legs out from under me. I jumped and did a somersault in the air over his head and landing behind him with Carkaroff raised to strike again.

Malachai rose slowly to his feet, hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Lucifer. So wonderful to see you again." His voice was pleasant and friendly. I glared at him.

"I wish I could say the same." I snarled.

"Stay your sword elder. I come not to fight, but to talk."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "What are you talking about?"

"I suppose Armand sent you to steal my weapon." He used the Black Prince's name casually and without fear. "I simply wish to tell you something that I want you to think about. I will not keep you from Nikki unless I see you as a potential threat."

Her name was Nikki. Excellent.

"I am a threat. There's nothing potential about it." I snapped at him. "And I grow tired of talking. Tell me what you wished to tell me."

Malachai smiled a knowing smile and leaned in close to my ear and whispered the words that changed my life.