Ella walked home.
Though it was nearly eight, the bitumen was still hot on her feet as she carried her thongs.
Ella couldn't stop thinking about the weirdo from the tracks.
Though she originally thought him high or mentally unstable, if he'd been able to recognise Churchill as a skinwalker, he probably knew what he was talking about.
Churchill was actually a twenty-five year old man named Jake, who had the ability to turn into a cream coated greyhound at will.
When Ella first found out Churchill was a skinwalker (by accidentally feeding him peanut butter with a silver spoon) she'd been sure he was a paedophile.
But Churchill (Jake) had never done anything to harm her, only protect her and keep her company while her dad was working.
And as long as she didn't tell her Dad he was a skinwalker, he would never leave her.
Mathew Campbell had strong distrust for all things supernatural, regardless of whether or not they'd been proven to be harmless.
Churchill, who had previously been sniffing a suspicious looking plastic bag, lifted his head, growling softly.
His hackles were up and his ears back, and when Ella walked towards him, he moved protectively in front of her.
Knowing this meant he'd scented something, Ella pulled her knife from her bra. She may not enjoy hunting, but it didn't mean she didn't know how to fight.
Reaching into her back pocket, Ella pulled out her severely cracked phone and used it to light the dim street.
The soft wind, which had previously been blowing away from her, shifted.
She could now feel it caressing her face, she breathed in deeply to calm her nerves, and smelt something out of place on the summer's night.
Rotten eggs.
"Fuck." Ella muttered, "Demons."
"Oh, isn't she smart. The little girl recognises us, Jim." Said a black eyed creep to his companion, stepping out of the shadows.
"She needs to work on her manors. Maybe if I cut out her tongue, she'll learn not to use such bad words."
Before they could move, Churchill launched himself at them.
The first demon kicked out at Churchill and he went flying, his head smacking against a rock.
"Churchill!" Ella cried out.
The second demon, Jim, started towards Ella but before he could reach her she flung her ruined blade at his chest.
After watching the black eyed bitch flicker and die, she pulled another blade from her thigh sheath.
The first demon turned towards her, "You bitch! I'm going to skin you!"
"You'll have to catch me first." She spat.
He walked towards her, but before he could launch himself at Ella a blinding light filled the street.
The demon screamed, clutching his head and falling to the ground.
Ella turned to see the man from the track, glowing.
His eyes had turned an electric blue and the shadows of giant wings, his wings, could be seen against the houses.
Ella held her one remaining knife tightly. Though it was ruined against demons, she doubted it would be that effective against this winged creature.
"No more fighting." The creature commanded in his gravelly voice, "I don't like conflict."
Making a split second decision, Ella hurled her only knife at him, and he vanished, reappearing behind her instantaneously.
I forgot he could do that. Ella thought before she felt his arms wrap around her.
Grabbing her from behind, the winged man held on tight as she struggled, attempting to kick him in the knee caps.
"Please stop struggling, I don't enjoy fighting." Ella snorted, "And let you drag me off to your den to slaughter or eat me, no thanks mate."
Suddenly Ella snapped her head back, breaking the creature's nose.
His grip loosened as she felt his blood drip down her neck.
She broke free, and backed away slowly, watching as the creature brought his hands to his face and healed his broken nose, his hands emitting a glowing light as he did so.
She backed away, and Churchill began to stir, whimpering softly.
"Wha- what do you want from me?" Ella asked, her voice breaking as she saw how truly powerful the beast was.
He looked at her, tilting his head in a curious, puppy like manor.
"Did you say your name was Campbell?"