The Promise Breaker

The promise breaker’s sword Chapter 1 I am held hostage by demons This book is dedicate to my family and to a dear friend I opened my eyes. I had to blink twice before everything looked clear again. I had no idea where I was. All I could remember was saying goodbye to my best friend Ann from school and running from this hooded figure that was following me. Then my memory went blank. I took a wild guess that I probably fainted or something. I shivered. I was in a cold cellar with no comfort. I sighed. This was nothing strange to me. It had happened before. I was always followed by strange people. I would have liked to tell you that I feared none of this but that would be a lie. Of course I was scared. It was not everyday that a normal fifteen year old school boy got stalked by a strange hooded figure and got trapped in some cold cellar. I put my head on my knees mourning on my bad luck. Suddenly the door burst open. I sat up straight. Again there was that strange hooded figure except this time there was two of them. “Who are you people?” I demanded, “Where am I?” The hooded figures glided towards me. The one at the front let out a cold cackle. “This one smells really mouth watering” it hissed. “No, the boss said not to dispose of him until he gives it to us” Another one hissed. I was totally confused by now. What were they talking about? Give what to them? Dispose of him. I gulped. I would have been flattered to be called mouth watering. But when these things said it I totally wasn’t flattered. “Please let me out” I begged. “I’ll do anything.” All of the figures laughed. I felt pathetic. Yeah right. Why would they do that? “We want our dinner” the thing hissed. I had enough. I felt like they were talking code. “Look can you at least answer your dinner’s question?” I yelled angrily. The figure laughed. “We demons don’t talk to our dinner.” “Demons?” All the demons laughed. With that all of them glide out of the room slamming the door shut behind them.. I cursed the demons. What would happen to me now? Mum would be worried sick. Mum is really sick. I was the one who looked after her. I felt something vibrate in my pocket. It was my mobile. The demons were probably too arrogant to disarm me of communication. Or maybe they were too stupid to know that such a device existed. I quickly took the mobile out of the pocket and pressed the answer button.

“Hello?” I said in an excited tone. “Danan Richards” my sister’s voice shrieked from the other line. I should probably start telling you about myself. My name is Danan Richards which you would have probably guessed by now. I am fifteen years old. I have sandy hair and my eyes are the colour of honey. I am the right height for a fifteen year old and my skin is fair and rosy. I was a pretty normal average school boy until now. Anyways back to the problem. “Danan Richards” my sister’s voice shrieked from the other line. I smiled to myself. My sister’s name is Bethany. She likes to be called Becky but when I was little I was thinking of horses and then I called her Bucky. Everyone laughed and the name stuck forever. “Where’s the fire?” I asked sarcastically. “Don’t give me lip. You have been out for nearly two hours where are you? Mum is worried sick” Bucky yelled. “Look Bucky…” I began. “DON’T CALL ME BUCKY” Bucky yelled. “Shut up” I hissed. I heard footsteps. I quickly hung up the call and went back to my original position. The door burst open and in walked one of the demons. I pretended to act scared which was easy. The demon eyed me with thirsty blood red eyes. “Who are you talking to?” the demon asked. I gave the demon a glare. “I and my imaginary friend were just discussing how ugly and smelly you demons are” I sneered. “I mean no wonder this place stinks.” The demon roared and lunged for me. I kicked it in the face and ran towards the door that was ajar. I don’t know how long it takes for demons to heal but all I knew was that I had to run for my life. Demons came around every corner. I was trapped. I saw a fire extinguisher behind me. I grabbed it and threw it at one of the demons face but there was still plenty more demons around me. Two demons grabbed me by the arms and hauled me towards my prison cell. So close to freedom.

I opened my eyes again. I was lying on the cold floor of my prison cell. It had been 10 days since I was first captured. I have been a hostage of the demons for 10 days! Bucky tried to call me loads of times but every time I tried to talk to her the demons would start to come. Plus my mobile didn’t get charging so it went dead. I felt very weak. All the demons had given me was water and bread. I didn’t moan because then I wouldn’t get food at all. I felt very weak. I was so weak by now that I couldn’t sit up. The door swung open and about 6 demons entered. “Your time is up boy” the demon at the front hissed. “Tell us the whereabouts of the sword.” I had no idea what they were chatting about. An idea started to from in my head. If this plan worked I would be able to be free. If it didn’t work I would be dead.

“Why you demons are stupid after all. Don’t you know where it is?” I asked pretending to look astonished. “No that’s why we are asking you” one demon snarled. “So tell us where it is?” “Only if you promise to let me free” I blackmailed. All the demons started to grumble. “Fine but tell us where the sword is first.” I spoke the first thing that came to my mind. “It’s in Alaska” I blurted out. All the demons looked confused. “Who is Alaska?” one demon asked looking puzzled. I sighed. These Demons were really stupid. “It’s a country” I explained to them.

“I know that” the demon snapped. “We must alert the master!” a demon screamed. Suddenly all the demons burst into talk and arguments. While the demons were in their busy discussion I sneaked quietly towards the door. I already had a head start before they realised that I was gone. “We will ask the boy to take us to Alaska” the head demon quoted. “Where is the boy?” Suddenly there was uproar. I started to run faster even though it did make tired I ran. An alarm went off. I tried to run as fast as I could. Demons started to corner me everywhere. I hid behind a pillar just as a demon soared past. I started to run a different route. Home free I thought. Suddenly a demon blocked my path. “More lunch for me” the demon giggled. “Yes.” I would have said to him ‘time for me to punch you in the face yes’ but I was too scared to say that. The demon moved closer to me preparing for its kill. Suddenly a girl swooped before me. She had long flowing walnut hair. Her eyes were the colour of mustard and her skin was all rosy. She drew a sword and stabbed at the demon which vanished in a shower of green slime. She turned to face me when I suddenly felt something bang against my head. Then everything went dark.

* I was greeted with cold water. I sat up and spluttered.

“What the…?” I began “Shh” a girl’s voice hissed. “We are still in their territory.” I sat up and was staring at the girl with auburn hair and mustard eyes. “Who are you?” I asked. The girl frowned as though I had just kicked her grandma in the face. “I’m Summer and please don’t be rude next time” Summer replied in a distasteful tone. “I want to go home now!” I demanded. I knew I sounded spoilt but I was so desperate to get back to Mum. “Go then no one is stopping you but you would be a fool to wander off because we are still in demon territory” Summer replied casually as though this happened everyday. I gave a long blazing glare.

“I guess I’ll be hiking for the rest of my life” I said sadly crest fallen. “Good you need it” Summer muttered. I ignored that comment. “How am I going to get home then?” I asked Summer feeling quite annoyed.. “You can’t” Summer said softly. “Home is quite far for you now.” “No it isn’t” I snapped at her. “My home isn’t in the Atlantic ocean.” Summer didn’t say anything to this. After a long while she said, “I’m sorry Danan but there’s no way.” I sat down and buried my face in my hands. I didn’t even bother asking her how she knew my name. I was simply too sad. “You can come back with me to the Big House” Summer suggested. I was hopelessly confused by now. I stared at her blankly. She sighed. “It’s where all moonslayers live” Summer explained. I started to laugh. “I’m hopeless at science” I managed to choke out. Summer looked at me as though I was deluded. “Do not take this very lightly Danny. I just saved your butt just now” Summer snapped at me. I laughed again. “It was nice meeting you Summer but I better be getting home.” I pretended to look sad but it didn’t work. Summer just shrugged. “Like I said before there is no home for you now. So you’re just making yourself dinner for the demons” Summer said in a tone as though that solved the matter. I started to fume up at the part of ‘there is no home for you.’ “Listen here you have no right to tell me I don’t have a home. I have the best family ever. Just because you don’t have a family it doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t have a family because not everyone is a LONER LIKE YOU.” I shouted the last two words. Summer just glared at me. “Look I only saved your butt because I was ordered to. If I had my way I would have let the demons have you for their little banquet. When ever I go to get moonslayers they are always ungrateful stupid ugly gits so please for my sake don’t act like one for the day” Summer replied calmly. I suddenly realised why Summer looked so familiar. “You’re Ann’s sister” I stuttered. Summer raised an eyebrow. “You know Annabelle?” Summer asked looking surprised. I started to look at the floor. “Yeah she’s my best school friend” I explained. “You are Ann’s sister?” I added rather quickly. Summer started to become interested in her sword. For a minute I thought she wasn’t going to answer but she did. “Yes Annabelle is my sister. My parents always fussed about her because she was everything they wanted. Not that I’m jealous” Summer added quickly. Before I could ask any questions Summer suddenly said something. “Well are you coming or not?” Summer asked. I looked at the valley that we were in. I shrugged my shoulder. “Alright, what’s there to lose?” With that Summer started to walk straight. I followed the suit not knowing that with every step I took I was leading myself to more danger.

Chapter 2 THE BIG HOUSE. Summer kept walking fast. Not slowing the place. “Where’s the fire?” I asked sarcastically. Summer ignore this comment. We had been walking for almost an hour. I sighed finally Summer stopped and smiled. “Are we out of the demons territory?” I asked. Summer rolled her eyes. “We were out of their territory ages ago” Summer answered. “So why do you keep walking fast?” I asked sounding annoyed. Summer smiled again. Her mustard coloured eyes twinkling. “Because I know you hate walking fast.” With that Summer flounced ahead. I trailed after her muttering about how girls are hard to understand.

Summer stopped again. I sighed. “What now?” I asked sounding irritated. Summer rolled her eyes. “We wait for the bus.” I finally lost keeping my anger controlled. “How the hell are we going to find a bus here?” I asked furiously. Suddenly something red stopped in front of us. It was a bus. Summer smiled. “How the hell are we going to find a bus here?” Summer mimicked in a bad impression of my voice. I gave her a dirty look and hopped into the bus. Summer followed me in. As we got a seat together I shared my suspicion with her. “You had something to do with this” I told her. Summer frowned looking confused. “What are you talking about?” She asked me. “The bus” I said. “When I ask how we are going to find a bus. Boom next minute there’s a bus. You had something to do with it.” Summer laughed. “How could I make a bus appear out of thin air?” Said Summer still chortling. “Magic?” Summer looked at me as though I was mad. I bent my head in shame. Magic. How childish did that sound? “So your Ann’s sister?” I asked trying to start a conversation. Apparently I said something offensive because Summer gave a long blazing glare. “Yeah what’s it to you?” Summer snapped. Normally I don’t tolerate anyone to be rude to me but this was different. “It’s just that Ann never mentioned she had a sister” I tried to explain. Summer sighed.

“Of course she didn’t mention it to you because she doesn’t know she has a sister.” Summer saw my questioning look and answered it but very quickly. “I was about three years old when I got abducted. It happens to every moonslayers” Summer replied. “How come I haven’t been abducted?” I asked. Summer grinned. “You have but by me.” I was about to protest but Summer didn’t wait to listen. “Anyways Annabelle was only a baby when it happened. So she doesn’t remember me.” I was shocked. “Didn’t your parents try to…?” I tried to ask. Summer shook her head sadly. “My parents didn’t realise I was gone till 3 days later. I was at the park when I got abducted. My parents were too busy fussing over Annabelle that they never had time for me” Summer explained. “I wish I could see how Annabelle looks like now” Summer blinked to keep tears out of her eyes. “I’m sorry” I murmured to her. Summer didn’t hear apparently. “Look if I do ever get home I’ll tell Ann all about you” I offered. Summer smiled sadly. “You have very big hopes and dreams Danan. It’s not good.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Yeah well if you don’t believe in yourself you will never succeed” I quoted. Summer grumbled. “Loads of people say that. It’s just a load of rubbish.” I looked at her. Summer was a very disagreeable person. “If it’s a load of rubbish then how do you think some of the most well known people got there? How did George Washington become the first president? How did Michelangelo make all those fabulous sculptures? And how did Neil Armstrong become the first to make it to the moon and come back?” I asked quietly. “If you have a good answer for all those questions then there’s nothing I can do to.” “It was just luck” Summer said apprehensively. I looked at her. “Why are we having this conversation in the first place?” Summer snapped. With that she turned away from me. Summer was quiet throughout the whole bus ride. I didn’t even try to talk to her. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with spoilt brats. Summer wasn’t a spoilt brat. She was just so disagreeable. Suddenly the bus stopped. Summer started to get up. “This is our stop” She said quite grudgingly. “Thanks. My mum is going to be worried.” I started towards the exit but Summer pulled me back. “What now?” I asked. “When I meant we’re here I meant the big house” Summer explained to me. I sighed. “I’m going home” I said. “You are home. Your home is the big house” Summer tried to persuade me.

“My-home-is-not-the-big-house” I said through gritted teeth. “But….” “WHAT PART DO YOU NOT GET? MY HOME IS NOT THE BIG HOUSE” I yelled. Everyone stared in me and summers direction but I didn’t care. I strode towards the exit. The bus driver blocked my way. “Is there a problem sir?” The bus drive asked.

“Get out my way fatty” I snarled. “Excuse me but you do not….” “MOVE” I SCREAMED. With that I pushed the bus driver on the floor and stalked out of the bus. Summer hurried out of the bus without helping the bus driver to his feet. I didn’t even bother screaming at her. After all Summer got me in this mess. I turned at a road. “Mum?” I called out. “Mum are you here?” “Mum?” I ran to the road on the right. Summer followed after me. “Danan I think your mum isn’t her” Summer said softly. I ignored the comment. I started to run to the street on the right. I stood in silence watching my house in horror. Everything was ashes. I was rooted to the spot. Summer came after me and followed my gaze to my old house. Summer sighed. “Come on Danan let’s go” Summer urged me. I suddenly felt so angry. Here I was standing watching my house go up in ruins and my family could be dead and all she could say was let’s go. “MY FAMILY IS DEAD. MY HOUSE IS IN RUINS AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS LET’S GO” I yelled at her. Summer didn’t say anything. All there was on her face was pity. I sank on the floor and buried my head in my face. Summer sat down next to me. “Danan, listen to me.” Summer said softly. “I DON’T WANT TO LISTEN” I shouted. Summer sighed again. “I was exactly like you when I was all new to this. I felt angry and just wanted to get rid of the feeling. Don’t you?” Summer enquired. For once I realised she was telling the truth. I wanted to wash everything out of me. “Your mother isn’t dead” Summer said quietly. I looked at her confused. “Maybe it’s about time that you ring her.” Summer held out a phone to me. It was my mobile. “I thought I…..” I couldn’t finish the sentence off. So many things were happening to me that my brain couldn’t take it all in. “I didn’t want to see a nice mobile go to waste.” Summer grinned. I took the mobile and started to dial my mum’s number. “Hello?” a familiar voice asked. “Mum?” I managed to croak out. I was so relieved. “Danan?” My mum’s voice called out in surprise. “Danan I thought you were dead. I thought the demons would have had you for supper.” Mum broke out in sobs. So my mum knew about the demons too.

“Where are you?” I asked. My mum stopped her sobs. “Don’t come looking for me Danan” my mum said sounding deadly serious. I started to get worried. “Mum?” I asked. “Danan get to the big house. Train hard there. I know you will be the greatest Darkslayer ever.” I was totally confused. “Who’s Darkslayer? Mum? Where are you?” I asked panicked stricken. “Goodbye Danan.” The call disconnected. I threw the phone on the floor. Summer didn’t say anything. She jumped up and dusted dirt of her clothes. “We better get to the big house” Summer said without any hesitation. I didn’t say anything. I just stood up and followed her, leaving my previous life behind me.

* Summer gave the taxi a big wad of cash and gesture for me to follow her. I jumped out of the taxi and it drove off. Summer stopped in front of a tall building. She took a key out of her pocket and put it into the keyhole. It unlocked immediately. Summer smiled. “Welcome Danan to the big house.” I looked around. Everything looked white. The hall was crowded with lots of people. When they saw Summer coming in they all bowed. Summer didn’t react to this. “Should I bow too, your highness?” I asked Summer sarcastically. “Ha ha.” I smiled looking quite pleased with myself. Summer turned to face me. “Danan go to room 15 first corridors on your right. Sheffield will be there” Summer explained to me. I started sniggering. Summer rolled her eyes and muttered. “Get a grip.” I started to make my way to the corridors when I heard a boy yell out for help. I started to run towards the boy’s voice. He was tied by a rope to a tree. I ran towards him and quickly untied him. The boy grinned. He had jet black hair that was up to his neck and his eyes were electric blue. He was probably around my age. “Thanks. Nobody bothers to untie me.” “This happens all the time?” I asked him. The boy grinned showing milky white teeth. “Nothing new” he said. “Anyways are you new here? I haven’t seen you here before” the boy asked. I smiled. “I’m new here. I’m Danan” I said holding my hand out for a shake. The boy took it. “I’m Maximillian but most people call me Maxi.” We shook hands. “Nice to meet you. I better get going” I said. “Where are you off too?” Maxi asked. I shrugged my shoulders. “Someone call Sheffield.” Maxi went all pale.

“This is bad. Sheffield never meets any newbie’s unless they are very important. One of the 3 chiefs’ sons” Maxi explained. I shrugged my shoulders and walked away without saying goodbye. I finally made it to Sheffield’s office. I knocked on the door. “Enter which ever punk it is” a voice boomed from inside. Now normally I would get angry if someone called me a name I hated but I was too scared to make a fuss. I stepped inside looking around the small office. It was quite a weird one. There were walls painted blood red and there were knives hanging on them. There were three big stained glass windows at the back. Painted on the stained glass windows were scenes of battles. “You like my office then?” a familiar voice drawled. I turned to face the person sitting on the desk. My first impression was of a big fat potato sack. The woman looked like she had been pumped up and that she was going to explode. The woman had blonde short hair. Her face was really red and she wore a tweed jacket over a cocktail dress. “Ms. Puc?” I asked looking astonished. Ms. Puc shuffled uncomfortably in her chair. “That’s Sheffield for you” Ms. Puc-Sheffield wagged her chubby finger at me whenever I gave her lip. She glared at me. “Right, Danan. You have been subscribed to room 15. Second door. on your right. Any problems?” Sheffield asked. “Yeah I…” I began. “Well too bad” Sheffield interrupted. That’s when I exploded. “What am I doing here? Why aren’t you at the school? What is this place? And what am I doing here?” I yelled at her furiously. Sheffield stared at me blankly. “Didn’t Summer tell you?” she enquired. “Tell me what?” I demanded. Sheffield sighed. “I could kill that girl.” Suddenly a beep came from somewhere. Sheffield took a walkie talkie out of her pocket. “What?” Sheffield asked. “There is an urgent call from the big chief. He wants a meeting with a boy” a voice said from the walkie talkie. “What’s the boy’s name?” Sheffield asked. “Danan Richards.” Sheffield’s face started to turn pale. “Tell him he’s on his way.” Sheffield slammed the walkie talkie on to her desk and turned to face me. “Danan, what’s your father’s name?” Sheffield asked softly. I had never met my father. He left when I was very little. All my mum told me was his name. “Jonathon Morgue” I replied. Sheffield turned even paler. “You will go tomorrow to meet your father” Sheffield said finality. I started to get angry. Everyone made fun out of me and my family when my dad left me. I don’t know what they found so funny about being abandoned by your family relatives.

“What’s your problem?” I asked angrily. I should have mentioned something important to you. I tend to get angry very easily. In simple words I had anger problems. It was my fault. I was always looked down upon other people. It was just so annoying. “Danan, listen to me” Sheffield tried to say. That’s when I completely lost it. “What’s your problem?” I asked again hysterically. Sheffield started to get scared. “Sorry if I’m not a rich snotty fat cow like you” I yelled. Sheffield looked like she was going to faint. “D Danan” Sheffield stuttered. “SHUT UP” I roared. Then without realising I came straight at her. I had Sheffield pinned on the ground without realising. I spoke in a deadly quiet voice. “You will let me leave this place quietly” I said in a threatening voice. Sheffield’s eyes were wide opened. “I will let you leave this place quietly” Sheffield repeated in a trance. “You will not speak of this to anyone.” “I will not speak of this to anyone.” I smiled with a menace on my face. I got up to my feet slowly and ran to the door carefully shutting it behind me.

Don’t ask me how I did that thing with Sheffield. It always happened. Whenever I got angry the person I was angry with would suddenly be in a trance and then they would be under my control. It once happened with my English teacher. She said something that really pissed me off and then next minute she would be in a trance. I tried not to get angry because of that trance thing but I would always fail. There was only one person who wasn’t affected by my thing I could do. I was so deep in thought that I didn’t think about getting out quickly. I bumped into someone. “Where are you going?” Summer asked. I decided to use my special ability on her. What do I have to lose? “You will let me leave quietly” I said softly. My eyes started to change colour. Summer didn’t react to the way Sheffield did when I did that to her. Instead Summer reacted differently. Next minute I was pinned on the floor with a knife hovering above my throat. “Do that again and I’ll kill you” Summer hissed at me. I kicked her in the stomach. Summer crashed in to a pillar. I ran past her bolting towards the exit. “Your going to pay for that darky Summer yelled after me. Did she just call me a darky? Then I remember the last thing that happened to me was getting punched in the stomach.

CHAPTER 3 I HEAR THE TRUTH. A LITTLE BIT

Being lied to by your own family is not a pleasant thing. If this hasn’t happened to you I envy you. If this has happened to you then welcome to the club. Altogether I was not in a good mood. If you had run into one of your least favourite teacher, tried to escape from her, getting chased by half of the security and then getting punched in the stomach you wouldn’t be in the happiest moods. I remember waking up in some tiny cell. I started to freak out. This room was exactly the same as the one where the demons imprisoned me. The demons must have captured me. The door started to creak open. Probably one of those stupid retarded demons. “What do you want retard?” I asked bitterly to the demon. I didn’t even bother turning around to face it. “Excuse me?” A non demon Voice asked. Before I could say anything a familiar voice added something in. “Excuse him sir. He’s very rude. He has no respect at all for anyone” Summer sniffed. The man started to laugh. “He gets that from me I guess” the man said cheerfully even though I called him a retard. I decided to apologise to him. “Sorry” I said. “I thought you were one of those retarded demons.” The man started to laugh again. “Understandable” the man said in an approval tone. I started to have another one of my attitude problem. “Why do you keep laughing like that? You sound like a duck when you laugh” I snapped. Oops my bad. I was definite s that he would thwack me on my butt. Apparently he didn’t. “You remind me a lot of myself” the man added. That’s when I turned to face him. He had dark green eyes. His hair was chestnut brown and his face was very pudgy. “No way.” I said opened mouth. Jonathan smiled. “You have finally got….” I didn’t let him finish his sentence because I went charging towards him. My head slammed into his stomach. Jonathan slammed into the door. Summer screamed. She drew her knife and ran towards me. I stuck my leg out and tripped her up. Summer slammed into the wall. I started towards Jonathan who lay crippled by the door. Jonathan saw me and his eyes widened in terror when he saw Summers knife in my hand. “Danan, I understand your anger but you have to learn to control it” Jonathan told me. I kept walking not listening to a word that Jonathan said. “Danan, don’t do this.” My mum’s voice whispered in my ear. I froze in my walk. “Danan the hero.” I remember that. When It was time for me to go to sleep, I asked my mum to read me a bedtime story. She read me Hercules. He was my favourite hero when I was little. Then I told my mum that I can be a hero to. She laughed and then started to call me Danan the hero. Even now it was a pet name. I didn’t even get embarrassed about it. Whenever people asked what I’ll do when I grow up I said that I’ll be a hero. They all use to laugh at me. But I didn’t care. I still want to be Danan the hero. Tears trickled down my cheek. “Danan the hero” I murmured and then I dropped the knife on the brick floor. Jonathan looked at me stunned.

“I knew my own son…” I interrupted him “I might have not hurt you but I’m not your son” I said bitterly. Jonathan’s expression looked pained but I didn’t care. I looked towards Summer who lay crumpled near the wall. I walked towards her. “Summer?” I asked softly. Summer looked up and glared at me. “What do you want?” she asked angrily. She was clutching her ankle. “Sorry about the ankle” I said. Summer glared at me even more. “We must get going Danan. We will explain everything later” Jonathan pleaded. I nodded quietly and indicated for Summer to try to stand up. We were in a big room with a marble floor. Me, Summer and Jonathan were sitting at the big table. Jonathan was drinking tea in a mug. He offered it to me but I refused. I didn’t trust him. Not after what he did to my mother. I had finally calmed down. Every now and then I would give Jonathan a dirty look explaining how I felt about him. It definitely was not child love. Not even close. Summer was still scowling about me breaking her ankle. She wasn’t angry about me breaking her ankle. She was angry that I’d beaten her in a fight. “Danan I know you don’t trust me and you have every right not to. But please sit properly in you chair” Jonathan said calmly. I was sitting on the edge of my chair. I didn’t even realise that. “No” I said fiercely. “Danan you have no right to talk to me like that” Jonathan scolded. “Ha, who are you to talk about rights?” I demanded. “Who said you had the right to abandon my mother when she was really ill. She depended on you. What did you do? You abandoned her. I was left to look after her. She cooked and fed you when you were with her. What do you do to thank her? You just abandon and leave her heartbroken. You are just a stupid ungrateful git” I yelled. I had lost to control my anger but I was fuming. I was in one of my worst fits ever. Jonathan bit back his lip. “Danan just sit down” Jonathan urged. “I’ll….” I kicked my chair. It went soaring across the room. “What will you do? Abandon me and break my heart like you did to my mother. Well guess what? That will never happen. Hear that?” I yelled at him. Summer sighed. “Danan, stop being so….” Summer began. “Shut up” I snarled at her. With that I ran out of the room. I heard Jonathan call my name. Loads of footsteps started to echo across the floor. I hid behind a pillar. “Well that went well” I heard Summer say. “I wish he could the truth” Jonathan said sadly. “I didn’t break Emily’s heart. She told me to leave. She said it would be safer. But it didn’t turn out safe at all. Ariel’s plans are never great.” I heard what sounded like a sigh from Summer. “So how are we meant to tell him that he is a darkslayer and that he’s in great danger and that we have to kill him?” Summer enquired. I started to tremble. They were planning to kill me. That was enough for me to know that I have to escape. I leapt out

from the pillar. Summer gasped. I started to run to the exit. I was blocked by two people. I leapt over them and continued to run. Someone grabbed the back of my shirt. I tuned towards a fat boy with brown eyes. “You will let me leave quietly and tell the others that I’ve escaped” I hissed. The boy went into a trance and had let go of my shirt and started to wander the opposite direction. I burst out of the doors with relish and started to walk straight forward.

CHAPTER 4 SUMMERS DIARY ENTRY 1

Dear diary, Today I had the most weirdest day ever. I was meant to hunt down some demons because they had a moonslayer captive. I went there and battled the demons and then successfully escaped with the captive. His name is Danan. He has sandy hair and rosy cheeks. He had honey eyes that would every now and again change electric blue. That seriously freaked me out. He looked like a Darky and he was. He even had the nerve to use that creepy power of his on me. He even beat me in a fight. This boy isn’t like normal Darky’s. He doesn’t even look that evil like normal Darkies do. When he was using that gift on me., His expression looked like he was scared. That’s why it didn’t affect me. If you want the power to work you have got to have faith that your using it correctly. I still hate Danan. He’s a Darky but he’s quite interesting. His eyes are always focused. I’m still going to kill him no matter what I might kill him. I’ll see what kind of Darky he will be. Speaking of which, I have to make my mind up quickly. Because then Danan was dragged inside wet and weak which was the perfect time to kill him. CHAPTER 5 BECKY GETS A LAMBORGHINI

Okay I’ll explain how my escape plan failed. I was just getting a drink of water from a lake when something pounced on me. I fell into the river. I assumed that I became unconscious then and was dragged towards the big house because I woke up weak and spluttering on a cold marble floor. Summer was towering over me. She was holding a knife in her hand “Go on get over with it then” I said bitterly to her. Then I turned towards Jonathan. “Hope your happy” I said angrily. Jonathan looked pained. “My son…” he began.

“Don’t call me your son” I hissed. Summer raised the knife and then pushed it down on my arm. I didn’t even scream or cry out in pain. It just felt like a pinch. Summer gasped. Jonathan laughed. Summer started to get angry. “You knew and you didn’t even tell me” Summer shrieked at Jonathan. Jonathan laughed. “Well I thought it would be a surprise for you” Jonathan said cheerfully. “Well you don’t need to despair about the prophecy now.” Summer stormed out of the room. “What prophecy?” I asked. “The prophecy is that Summer shall retrieve a person. That person will help Summer make her dream come true. The person will be a darkslayer that is of the 5 eagles. I think that fits you very much Danan.” I was hopelessly confused now. “Who are the five eagles?” I asked. “There were five people. Two were girls and three were boys. They were powerful people who ruled the Earth. They were known as the five eagles. The five eagles decided that when they got too old to rule the Earth. Who would do it? They then made children known as the Darkslayers. They made many but they made five important ones. One for each of the five eagles. These important Darkslayers would always come back. If you killed them they would just appear again. The important Darkslayers was Codpillar. Son of Zelena, Emilaskus daughter of Hroth, Danansan son of Ariela, and Marialca daughter of Orpan and Devenine son of Copan” Jonathan explained. “So what does this have to do with me?” I asked. Jonathan smiled. “Your Ariela’s son.” “But my mum is dead. Her name is Serena. Not Ariela” I explained quickly. “I’m your son right?” Jonathan smiled sadly. “It’s a bit complicated. I’m not actually your father. I’m sort of like your guardian” Jonathan explained. “Then why do you keep calling me your son?” I asked. Jonathan smiled again. “It was only to make you feel better” Jonathan said. I sighed. “Why does Summer hate me so much?” I asked. Jonathan sighed. “Summer had a bad experience with a Darkslayer. It caused her to never see her family again” Jonathan replied mournfully. “Ever since she has

hated all Darkslayers.” “Don’t take it personally” Jonathan added hastily. I sighed. “Summer told me that her parents never noticed her. She said that they noticed 3 days later after she was taken away” I said. Jonathan shook his head sadly. “Summer is too young to understand the whole story.” Jonathan sighed. “I’ve got to go Danan. Go to room 18. That will be your bedroom.” With that Jonathan walked off. I guess I was stuck here then. As I made my way towards room 18 everyone kept looking at me and then started to murmur to their friends. I saw one of my friends and then started to walk towards him. “Hey Maxi” I said. Maxi slowly turned around. “Sorry I don’t talk to Darkies” Maxi sneered. Great, now Maxi hates me as well. “What are you talking about?” I asked trying to sound confused. This just made Maxi even angrier. “Now you’re taking a mick. Watch what I’ll do to you? I’ll arrange your legs in such a way that you will never be able to walk again” Maxi threatened. With that he started to walk away. *** . I made my way towards room 18. There was a schedule of all the lessons I had. Before I had a plan to escape but I felt like I belonged here. Whenever I was with my so called mother I didn’t feel like I belonged there. But over here in the big house, I felt I belonged here. I started to make my way towards the arena where they did sword fighting. When I went there I found a whole load of people in the arena. I tried to look for people I recognised but was sad that I only recognised Summer. I made my way towards her. “What’s going on?” I asked. Summer was looking very pale. “A punishment. That’s what’s going on” Summer replied grimly. “Order! Order!” a voice called. Everyone scrambled to their seats. Two people came out. One I recognised as Jonathan. The other man was quite skinny and had shaggy black hair. His eyes were beady red. He looked like he had just woken up. “That’s Ratagan” Summer whispered in my ear. I started to snicker. Summer gave me a warning look.

“Everyone. We are gathered here to witness a crime committed. I think we all know what the punishment is when someone breaks a rule.” Ratagan grinned cruelly. I gulped. “Bring the scum out” Ratagan yelled. A boy about one year younger then me was dragged into the arena all chained up. This was making me really angry. I tried to control my anger. “Who would like to kill this scum?” Ratagan asked. The boy turned completely pale. “Please sir. Don’t do this to me” the boy begged. “Shut up” Ratagan roared. The boy shrank away from Ratagan. This was the last straw. I stood up and yelled. “ENOUGH.” Everyone turned their heads towards me. Ratagan’s beady eyes started to gleam. “Who is this?” Ratagan asked. “I haven’t seen him anywhere in the big house.” I started to walk towards the arena. Everyone looked shocked. Summer buried her face in her hands. Finally I was standing right in front of Ratagan. “Leave him alone” I commanded. Ratagan started to smirk. “Or else what?” Ratagan asked. “Do you honestly want me to demonstrate?” I threatened. Ratagan’s smile faded. “He is a criminal” Ratagan said. “What was exactly his crime?” I enquired. Ratagan pursed his lips. “He refused to obey an order” Ratagan exclaimed. “He told me to kill someone’s parents” the boy yelled out. “But I’m not a filthy smelly git like Ratagan.” “Silence” Ratagan ordered. “Go back to your seat now.” I had an idea. It was a crazy one but there was no harm in trying. “Sure, right after I do this.” I aimed a kick in Ratagan’s face. Ratagan went smashing into a wall. I grabbed the boys chains and snapped it in half. “Go now” I said to the boy. The boy looked completely shocked. “Thank you.” With that he ran to his freedom. “GUARDS SEIZE HIM” Ratagan shrieked. Big guars dressed in armour came lumbering towards me. One of them picked me up by my shirt. I bit his hand. The guard yelled out in pain and dropped me and then I

punched him in the face. The guard went down. Suddenly everyone started to run around. I saw a guard lift Summer off her feet. I ran towards the guard full speed and head butted him in the stomach. The guard crumpled towards the floor. Summer dusted her clothes and then she scowled at me. “I could have handled it” she said. Before I could reply I was suddenly lifted off my feet. “Well it’s about time I kill you” Ratagan hissed in my ear. He slammed me into a wall and then dropped me. Everyone had stopped panicking. Everyone was watching me and Ratagan. Ratagan smiled menacingly. He held a knife in his hand. He made his way towards me. Ratagan towering over me. I then used a trick that my mother taught me whenever I was about to get beaten up. I wrapped my legs around Ratagan’s and then I moved my legs forward. It caused Ratagan to fall over. I got up and took the knife from his hand. I then stabbed the knife down on Ratagan’s chest “NOOO” Ratagan wailed and then he disintegrated to dust. I shivered. Everyone cheered and ran down to me. I went over to Summer. “Not bad” Summer said. “I thought I was the bad guy because I killed him” I said. “Ratagan was the bad guy. We have wanted him dead for so long. Don’t expect me to bow down to you just because you killed Ratagan.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Why do you hate me so much?” I asked. Summer pursed her lips. “We can’t be friends. I’m a moonslayer and you’re a Darkslayer” Summer explained. “So?” I asked. “We are more or less doing the same thing. We’re both slayers.” “There’s a difference” Summer hissed. “Darkslayers are sworn enemies of moonslayers. We just can’t be friends.” “So let’s change that. Let’s try and get along” I suggested. Summer shook her head and then she walked off. I sighed. *** After the fiasco with Ratagan I didn’t want to cause any other major events again. Everyone was now keeping their distance. I was suddenly now the one of the five Darkslayers who were dangerous and was hated by everyone. I was sitting by the sea trying to figure out what to do now. I was worried sick about my mother at home. Not the eagle one. The one

who I thought was my mother. I wondered what happened to Becky. She tried to call me when I was held hostage but I lost my phone so I couldn’t call her. “You look deep in thought” Someone remarked. I turned around it was Summer. “I thought you hate Darkslayers” I said miserably. Summer sighed. She sat down next to me. “Danan, it’s not that I hate you. I just hate who you are if that makes sense” Summer tried to explain. “Why do you hate Darkslayers? What have they ever done to you?” I demanded. Summer bit back her lip. “I told you it’s that….” Summer began. “No it isn’t” I interrupted. “You had a bad experience with a Darkslayer that took you away from your family.” Summer finally let her rage out. “Look I just hate Darkslayers. Is that too hard to understand?” Summer asked angrily. “Yes.” Summer rolled her eyes. “Look, if you can just tell me your reason for hating me then maybe I’ll stay away from you” I suggested. Summer put on a thoughtful look. “Hmm…. Let me think about that, no” Summer said sarcastically. I sighed. “I’m going to track down my sister and family tomorrow” I said. “So you won’t be seeing me again.” Summer gave me a pitiful look. “Danan, this is your family.” Summer pressed on. “Danan, perhaps it’s about time you contact Betty.” “Becky” I corrected. Summer led me back to the big house. Jonathan stood there waiting for us. When he saw me he let out a sigh of relief. “Danan, I thought you would have run off again” Jonathan said. I shrugged my shoulders. “Summer said I can talk to Becky. Is she here?” I scanned the room trying to see if she was here. Jonathan shook his head. “No Danan. You will see her in a holographic form.” Jonathan gestured for me and Summer to follow him. We were soon in a room that was filled with lots of machines. Jonathan wandered over to a small working

desk in a corner. He picked up a round silver disk and then he tossed it across the room like a Frisbee. Me and Summer had to duck to avoid getting wacked on the head. The Disk skittered across the floor and then it started to glow. Green light shot of the Frisbee and then there was a hologram of a boy and a girl sitting in a yellow Lamborghini. I recognised the girl as my Becky and I had no idea who the boy was. “Becky?” I asked uncertainly. “What is it Josh?” Becky asked the boy sitting next to her. The boy called Josh frowned. “What?” Josh asked. Becky rolled her eyes. Apparently the boy wasn’t really that bright. “Becky” I called out to her. Becky was starting to get irritated with the boy. “Josh, stop calling my name” Becky snapped. “I’m not” Josh protested. I suddenly had a bright idea. “Josh” I called out. “Josh. I am the ghost of Mary Alice and I have come to haunt you.” Josh screamed and fumbled for the handle of the Lamborghini. Josh fell out of the door. “AHHH. GHOST. SOMEONE HELP ME” Josh wailed as he ran for the nearest convienient store. I started to chortle. “Stop messing about” Summer snapped although she was trying hard not to laugh herself. “Summer’s right Danan. This is no time to mess about” Jonathan scolded. “Now hurry up.” I was still snickering but stayed focused. “Becky it isn’t a ghost. It’s me” I said. Becky didn’t say anything. I frowned. “Can she hear me?” I asked Jonathan. “She should be. I sent a signal to her phone so that she will be able to hear your voice” Jonathan explained. “Oh.” Jonathan pressed a button. “Her phone should be ringing.” As if on cue Becky’s phone started to ring. Becky got it out. “Hello?” she asked. “Hey Bucky” I greeted. Becky’s eyes went wide. “Danan, is that you\?” Becky asked. “The one and only.” Becky looked suddenly angry.

“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you non-stop but I was getting no signal.” “Where’s mum? Is she okay?” I asked. Becky looked exhausted. “She’s the same as ever and she’s worried sick about you.” I looked confused. I had seen the house in ruins. How could she be fine? “When was the last time you saw her?” I asked. “I talked to her on the phone weeks ago. I’m in university” Becky explained. “She’s dead” I said in a dead voice. Becky turned pale. “She’s not dead you idiot. She’s in the hospital.” “Then why did you say she’s the same as ever?” I asked irritably. “I didn’t say that” Becky denied. “Yeah you did. I asked you ….” I began to protest. “Got a Lamborghini to drive, bye.” The hologram flickered and then died out. I sighed. “You could have given me some privacy” I rounded on Summer. Summer shrugged her shoulders. “There is no privacy here. Now you see. This is your home” Summer said. I glared at her. “Why don’t you people understand? I’m not who you think I am” I persisted. Summer rolled her eyes. Jonathan had now stopped fiddling with the machines and was now listening to me. He frowned. “I don’t remember it being so hard to convince the others that they were important Darkslayers. Emila believed it straight away” Jonathan added. “Who’s Emila?” I asked. “Emilaskus. Daughter of Hroth” Summer explained. “She has good aim in archery.” “Isn’t she a Darkslayer?” I asked. Summer rolled her eyes. “No she’s one of Santa Clause’s elves” Summer said sarcastically. Jonathan cut in before I could say anything. “The point is that you are one of the big five. You were due to come in about a hundred year’s time. We waited for about a century. You still hadn’t come. We had almost given up on you. Ariela was getting worried that her hero was the only one that hadn’t come. But you have now. You probably came to save us from war” Jonathan emphasised.

“What do you want me to do about it?” I asked. Summer rolled her eyes. “This is what is so annoying about Darkies. It takes them ages to figure about what to do.” I had enough. “Why do you keep calling me Darkie?” I demanded. “How about I call you moony?” That was the last straw. Summer started to charge at me. I step sided her and then she went crashing into the wall. “AHHGH” Summer shrieked. Summer turned around to glare at me. I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but laugh. Summer had blood everywhere on her. From her forehead to her chin. But the funniest thing was that she had blood on the front of her nose. “Ha ha” I chuckled. Summer started to get even angrier. “YOU IDIOTIC MORON. LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE” Summer yelled. Jonathan sighed. Apparently our fighting was tiring him out. “Both of you. Stop fighting. It’s getting on my nerves” Jonathan said irritably. I smirked at Summer. “Danan’s getting on my nerves” Summer muttered. Then all three of us walked out of the room. CHAPTER 6 ME AND MAXI DO A TRUCE Okay. You must think by this time that I believed I was a Darkslayer. I did believe it now but I absolutely hated it. Everyone was now always horrible. It was divided in to halves. Half were Darkslayers. Half were moonslayers. The moonslayers were disgusted that I even existed. The Darkslayers welcomed me with open arms. My fight with Summer had spread. Darkslayers started to use the nickname I made up for moonslayers (moonies). It was like war between the moonslayers and Darkslayers. Summer steered right off me ever since I gave her a nosebleed. Summer’s nose was completely broken. So she had a plaster on it. It looked really funny. Some Darkslayers started to call her moony nose. I was always getting pushed around by moonslayers. I still did not get why Moonslayers and Darkslayers hated each other. I decided top ask this question to someone.

“Why do Moonslayers and Darkslayers hate each other?” I asked George Henry who was a fellow Darkslayer I knew. George started to adjust the arrow on his bow. “Sorry, what were you saying?” George asked. “Why do Darkslayers and Moonslayers hate each other?” I repeated. George’s face darkened. “It’s a long story. Have you heard of the five eagles?” “Yeah” I replied. “Well, there were other rulers under the employment of the five eagles. The employers of the eagles thought they were not being treated right. So they decided to rebel against the eagles. There were four leaders who led the rebellion. I don’t know their names so don’t ask. They were called the four moons. The rebellion obviously failed. But Ariela felt sorry for the slaves that rebelled so she persuaded the others if they could just be leaders of their own. So the 4 moons became leaders for the rest of the people. It was like a total different world. So the people who rebelled started to have children and so on and then bam that is how we are stuck with moonies” George explained in a bored tone. “Why are they called moonslayers?” I asked. George shrugged. “They slay all evils. Just like Darkslayers.” “That still doesn’t answer my question” I retorted. “Why do moonslayers hate Darkslayers?” “The moonies think we embarrassed their ancestors” George said with disgust. “Moonies are always trying to find faults in Darkslayers. It’s not our fault that their ancestors didn’t think logically.” I heard someone make an angry hissing noise behind George. “We can hear you know” Summer said in a angry tone. George just stared at her. All he said was “You are moony nose?” George enquired. “Shut up Darkie” Summer snapped. “Or what? Are you going to shine moonlit nose at me?” George sneered. Summer flushed. George aimed his arrow at the target and then he released it. The target board had a big hole on it as soon as the arrow landed on it. “Watch what you say moony or that’s what will happen to you” George threatened. With that he started to head off for the arena. I sighed. “Summer…” I began.

“Are you going to make another threat to me as well?” Summer shrieked at me holding back tears. With that she ran off to the big house. * I sat on the fields watching the calm sea. For some reason it always calmed me down when I had a lot of things on my mind. “The sea is quite peaceful” a voice from behind me said. I turned around. Jonathan stood leaning on an apple tree. He came and sat down on the grass beside me. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Why is Summer so difficult?” I blurted out angrily. “What is her problem? George only snapped at her and then she goes storming off.” Jonathan plucked an apple from the tree and started to roll it about in his hands. “I’m afraid that what George said was very offensive to Summer” Jonathan said calmly. He took a bite off the apple. I opened my mouth but Jonathan raised a hand. “I’m not going to explain. George knows why is what he said was offensive. I presumed he did it knowingly. I expect them to handle things maturely. So don’t worry about it.” I was still angry though. It always took me ages to calm down. I still had a question though. “Do you know who my father is?” I asked excitedly. Jonathan cast his eyes down on his half bitten apple. “I’m sorry to tell you this Danan but you don’t have a father” Jonathan said mournfully. I was confused. “But that’s impossible. It’s that…..” I struggled with words. “Don’t you know science?” I finished off lamely. Jonathan sighed. “Danan, you were not born as normal humans. You were sort of made out of ingredients. You were designed for a particular task. You’re not a human. You’re a…” “Darkslayer” I finished off. “So moonslayers are made the same as Darkslayers.” I said. Jonathan sighed. “There’s a difference. Moonslayers were not made. They were born. Darkslayers were made.” Jonathan rushed on. “Let me give you an example. Saying as if you made a metal brick and then you called it ugly. The brick wouldn’t start crying would it now?” Jonathan asked. “No it wouldn’t. it can’t” I replied in a reproachful tone. Jonathan smiled as if he was getting his point across.

“Why can’t it cry?” Jonathan asked. “Because it’s an inanimate object. It was manmade.” Jonathan smiled. “Same with you. You were manmade by Ariela. So what does that mean?” I shrugged my shoulders. First he starts talking about making a metal brick and then calling it ugly. Then starts saying that the brick can’t cry because it was manmade. It suddenly dawned on me. “You’re saying I have no feelings?” I said my voice quivering. Jonathan looked down. “No Danan, you’re different. You’re….” Jonathan began. “YEAH, I KNOW I’M DIFFERENT. JUST BECAUSE I’M SOME CHILD OF A STUPID MORONIC LEADER” I shouted. Jonathan looked panic stricken. “Danan, just calm down” Jonathan pleaded. But I was on the roll. “WHAT? I SHOULD HAVE RUN AWAY WHEN I COULD. WELL GUESS WHAT? THAT’S WHAT I’M GONNA DO RIGHT NOW” I screeched. I stomped back towards the big house. Jonathan didn’t even try and stop me. There were a whole load of people practicing in the arena. I crossed through it. Some of the people waved at me. Others shared looks of disgust. A boy was suddenly blocking my path. “Maxi, move” I said looking exhausted. Maxi tried to look fierce but he actually looked scared. “I want a duel” Maxi quivered. I stared at him. “Why?” I asked. Maxi glared at me. “Why do you think?” Maxi snarled. “Is it for entertainment?” I guessed. Maxi suddenly ran towards me with a sword in his hand. I suddenly let my instincts take over me. I grabbed the sword and flipped it over. Maxi yelped. He went soaring into the arena wall. I gasped. Maxi laid crumpled near the wall. He slowly got up to his feet. All the moonslayers groaned. “Maxi is such a waste” one moonslayer muttered. . “So are you” I snarled at the person. The person gave me a dirty look and flounced off. I ran to Maxi’s side. “Are you okay?” I asked looking concerned. Maxi had tears on his face. “I thought if I did it people would look at me and want to be my friend. I guess not” Maxi sobbed. I sighed. “I could be your friend” I suggested. Maxi shook his head as soon as I suggested it.

“Moonslayers and Darkslayers can never be friends” Maxi said sadly. “Let’s be the first to change that.” I held my hand out. Maxi took my hand reluctantly. “Truce” I said. “Truce” Maxi agreed. CHAPTER 7 TAYLOR DISSAPEARS No one knew about the truce me and maxi made. It passed on unnoticed. Me Maxi didn’t start to hang with each other. That would just look too suspicious. Whenever we passed each other we would just share a brief smile. Me and Maxi were starting to become good friends. Thirteen days had passed since I had been held hostage by the demons. I stood in the arena with an arrow in my hand. I aimed it at one of the targets and then I threw. It landed in front of the target. I sighed. “Need company?” a voice asked. I spun around and threw one of the arrows at the person. It obviously missed because I had pathetic aim. “You need to work on your aiming” Jonathan commented as he plucked the arrow of the ground. He handed it back to me. “Danan, I’m sorry about yesterday” Jonathan apologised. “I guess you were not ready yet.” I nodded my head silently. “I have noticed something about you” Jonathan added quickly. “If I said that to another Darkslayer, then they would have used there ah special ability. You just started to yell at me.” I sighed. “Why is it that you are always here to talk to me?” I asked. Jonathan shrugged his shoulders. “You are a very interesting young man Danan” Jonathan said thoughtfully. “It’s been millennia before I met someone as enchanting as you.” “How old are you exactly?” I enquired. Jonathan frowned. “Approximately 6000 years old” Jonathan estimated. I was completely awed. Jonathan chuckled. “I’m not old I’m quite young actually.” “Your way older than me” I pointed out. “We cannot exactly tell how old you are Danan. You may look fifteen but your way older than that.” I was shocked.

“What about moonslayers? Are they like that? Like no matter how many times you try to kill them, they’ll never die. They will just keep coming back.” “Moonslayers are made exactly the same as Darkslayers. The only difference is that Darkslayers are powerful rulers and Moonslayers are like just spirits” Jonathan replied. “Which one are you?” “Pardon?” Jonathan asked looking puzzled. “Are you a Moonslayer or a Darkslayer?” I asked. Jonathan’s face darkened. “I’m neither” Jonathan replied. I was confused. “Then what are you?” I said. “Danan” Jonathan said his voice impossibly soft. “I’m not a human. I’m a monster.” “You’re not a monster” I argued. “You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.” Jonathan smiled. “Thank you Danan but it’s true. I’m half monster. My father was a vampire. My mother married a vampire and then my father killed her by accident. He felt so guilty and then he went and killed himself. Quite tragic” Jonathan said conversationally. I felt bad. Jonathan must hate it to say things he was ashamed of. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…” I faltered. Jonathan raised a hand. “Don’t worry Danan. You did not offend me” Jonathan replied. I nodded in silence. “If Moonslayers are sprits then what are Darkslayers?” I asked hastily. Jonathan laughed. “You remind me so much of Deven” Jonathan commented fondly. “Both of you just want to know everything. Then we have the opposites. Maria and Emila who don’t want to know anything. Then we had Cod who…” Jonathan trailed off. He had obviously let something slip. “What happened to Cod?” I asked curiously. “Nothing happened to Cod” Jonathan said quickly. “I know something happened to Cod. What was it?” I said impatiently. “You already let it slip. So you might as well tell me it now.” Jonathan hesitated before he started to speak. “Basically Cod did something that was forbidden for all. Moonslayers and Darkslayers” Jonathan said finality.

“What was it?” I asked. Jonathan hesitated again. “It’s forbidden for both Darkslayers and Moonslayers to love each other. They can be friendly to each other but they cannot love. Cod had one day met this moonslayer girl. They started to chat to each other and next minute you know they were in love. It was meant to be a secret but Deven soon caught them together. Deven obviously didn’t like it but because Cod was his friend he kept it a secret. Then Cod proposed to his girl. Deven got hysterical and went and snitched on them to Zelena who was Cod’s mother. Zelena was outraged and then she took away the girl who Cod loved soul away. Cod was heartbroken. He wept for months. He then yelled that he was no longer Zelena’s son and then the next day he was gone” Jonathan explained mournfully. “What do you mean gone?” I asked. “I mean like he ran away. No one could ever find him” Jonathan snapped. I started to feel angry. How could Zelena do that to her son? She took away Cod’s only happiness. Deven was Cod’s friend. What did he do? He ruined his friend’s life. “How could Deven do that?” I asked feeling outraged. “Don’t judge Deven too harshly. He was still very young then” Jonathan said calmly. “It doesn’t matter how young you are. You should never betray your friends” I argued. “Deven regrets what he has done and he can never forgive himself for that” Jonathan stated. “I knew you would act this way because this was what had caused you to leave and not to come back for a long time.” I was confused. Jonathan rushed on. “When Cod disappeared. You were so angry with Deven that you left because of your anger. That’s why I keep telling you to control you emotions so that you don’t leave again.” I sighed. “How do you know if Cod just left as well?” I asked. “Zelena would know if Cod just left. She would be able to feel it. Cod may be angry with Zelena but he hasn’t left. He’s just hiding somewhere.” That was somehow wrong. Cod had every right to be angry with Zelena and Deven but it was not right to hide from everything. “Is Cod mad?” I said. “I was surprised at what Cod done as well. It is quite cowardly” Jonathan agreed. “This is not a good thing seeing as he’s the one to lead you and the others.” My ears pricked up.

“So what are we going to do about it?” I enquired. Jonathan looked down. “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do” Jonathan said sadly. “What do you mean there’s nothing we can’t do?” I snapped angrily. “You see. You give up too easily. This is why you always fail.” Jonathan started to get angrily. “Who are you to call me a failure?” Jonathan said heatedly. It was the first time I heard him raise his voice. “Let me see you come up with a bright idea.” With that he stomped off. *** Things were not going my way. I got into more fights with Summer and the other moonslayers. I also had not seen Maxi since we made our truce. He somehow didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. I also had a lot of questions I wanted answers to. Where were the other 3 important Darkslayers? What were they doing? What was this big war? And why was I so important in it? I wanted to ask these questions to Jonathan. Maybe he had the answers but after our fight I just didn’t want to see him. I lay on my bed thinking all these things. There was a knock on my door. “Get lost” I called. “Sheffield wants to speak to you” a voice called back. Uh oh. I hadn’t thought about Sheffield in a long time. I was surprised she didn’t talk to me as soon as I cam into the big house. I sighed and got off my bed. I started to head down the way towards the office. I hesitated before knocking. “Come in” a voice that did not belong to Sheffield called. I opened the door and came inside. Jonathan stood in front of the desk. He smiled wryly. “Hello Danan. Please sit down.” He pointed to a chair in a far corner. I did as instructed. “Where’s Sheffield?” I asked regretfully. “She’s been huddled in a corner murmuring ‘I will let you leave quietly’” “Oh.” Now I felt even worst. “But she will be back to normal tomorrow” Jonathan added. I was still no reassured. Jonathan quickly changed the subject. “After our last meeting I must have left you wanting more questions answered” Jonathan said. “Yeah you did” I replied. Jonathan smiled.

“Well the first answer you want is probably what this war is about?” When I didn’t say anything Jonathan continued. “It’s basically that as the five eagles get weaker more of their enemies are seeing this great opportunity to start a war. That’s the time when you and the other four will come and defend the five eagles. I don’t think Cod is at the moment willing to defend his mother. Cod was originally voted as the leader but now that he’s gone and run off I don’t who’s going to be the leader” Jonathan explained. “Why can’t you get another leader?” I asked. “It’s not that simple. Don’t you think I would have done that by now?” Jonathan said sounding exasperated. I sighed. “Well you really need to sort things out” I remarked. Jonathan looked down. “Well you see if there was one person that could convince Cod to change his mind it would be you” Jonathan quoted as if he had rehearsed what he was going to say. “You always had this way of getting people to change their minds. Your mother Ariela had that as well. It was one of her powers. Getting people to change what they were going to do.” “It can be very useful in wars” Jonathan added after a while. “What do you want me…?” It finally came to me on what Jonathan was hinting. I gulped. “How am I going to find Cod if no one knows where he is?” I asked Jonathan. Jonathan sighed. “I’m sorry Danan. I didn’t mean you to find Cod and convince him. I meant could try to help me figure out a plan?” Jonathan pleaded. I didn’t really want to add another thing to think about. “Alright” I said with defeat. Jonathan beamed. “You may leave Danan” Jonathan dismissed. I walked out of the office feeling even more miserable. There was no point in Jonathan asking me to help him. I would be completely useless. I made my way towards my archery class even though I wasn’t good at it. I saw Summer walking in front of me. We were both in the same archery class. Summer was better than me in archery. But I was better than her in sword fighting. Today in archery we were trying to aim and shoot from far. Summer of course was perfect. My aims went haywire. One of my arrows went flying into Martin Blacks butt. It was by accident but I didn’t apologise because Martin was very anti-Darkslayers. Summer was told to show me how to aim from far which was hell.

“You’re aiming the wrong way genius. Try holding it this way” Summer dictated. I purposely held it the wrong way and before Summer could protest I released the arrow so it went flying into one of Summer’s friends hair. The girl turned around to face me. “Summer told me to aim for your head” I said automatically. “I wish I aimed for your face so I wouldn’t have to see how ugly you were.” The girl came right for me but I was too quick for her. I step sided her so that she went crashing into Summer. Summer got up again and turned to glare at me. “That’s the sixth time you have caused me an injury” Summer snapped. I shrugged my shoulders. Summer rolled her eyes. The loud church bell rang signalling that it was the end of the lesson. I grabbed my arrows and stuffed it in to my duffel bag. I made my way towards the big house for lunch. I didn’t want to be the last in the line. Summer grabbed me by the arm. “What?” I hissed at her. “I need my lunch. They’ve got nectar sausages.” You must have thought what are nectar sausages? Well it’s like the name says. Sausages combined with nectar. When I first started at the big house I thought the food here was weird as well. The food actually tasted nice. The foods might have had weird names like the Origin Swiss Roll. To my surprise it tasted excellent. Anyways back to the story. “I know how to help you and Jonathan” Summer whispered. “It’s a plan.” I didn’t know how Summer found out. So I played dumb. “What are you chatting about?” I asked. Summer glared at me. “You know what I’m talking about” she said. I rolled my eyes. “Bye. See you in sword fighting” I replied. I started to walk towards the cafeteria. “You know where to find me if you change your mind” Summer called after me. When I finally got my Nectar Sausage and my Honeysuckle drink I chose a table with some of my distant Darkslayer friends. They were Joe Trotter, Jamie Barballow and Taylor Jack. Taylor and I didn’t exactly get along. Taylor was very mysterious. No one knew whether he was a Darkslayer or a Moonslayer. Everyone assumes he’s a Darkslayer since he hangs out with them. I sat down next to Jamie. He beamed at me. Probably proud that I hang out with him. It was really annoying to see Jamie smiling at you every now and then. “So what took you so long?” Taylor asked. Trust him to start a conversation like that. What surprised me more was that Joe joined in as well.

“Yeah. You don’t normally take this long” Joe added. They were all staring at me curiously. I sucked on my Honeysuckle casually. “I got held back in archery” I lied. They all nodded. They were not that surprised seeing as I was bad at archery. Taylor still looked suspicious. Eager to change the subject I moved on. “So how was wrestling?” I asked Joe. Joe grinned. “I trashed Jamie so much” Joe said with glee. “No” Jamie denied. “I twisted your leg. You started to squeal like a pig.” I rolled my eyes. Joe and Jamie were always arguing. Perhaps it was the reason that they were best friends. Taylor just sort of tagged along with them. Jamie didn’t have a problem at all with Taylor. The more people that hung out with him. The happier he was. Joe was completely different. He had that mistrustful look in his eyes. I think he didn’t even trust me when we first met. I got off the table. “I’ve got some things to do” I told all of them. Jamie and Joe were still arguing. Only Taylor was paying attention to what I said. “What sort of things?” Taylor enquired. “Stuff” I replied. With that I made my way towards Sheffield’s office. She was apparently meant to have returned today. I knocked on the door. “Come in” Sheffield’s voice called. I walked inside guiltily. Sheffield’s eyes widened in horror. “Please sir. Forgive me” Sheffield pleaded. “I did as you obeyed please.” I took one step towards her. She backed towards the wall. “Sheffield. I’m not going to harm you” I reassured her. Sheffield screamed. She crumpled towards the floor crying. I was shocked. Jonathan came running into the office. When he saw Sheffield he rushed to her side. “Sheffield, look at me. It’s me Jonathan.” “Jonathan? Oh Jonathan” Sheffield sobbed. “Help me please.” “Don’t worry darling. Everything is fine. I’m here. You won’t be harmed” Jonathan soothed. He got out his mobile and typed in a number. “Hello. Is that you Taylor? No. Everything is just perfect. Sheffield is having one of her fits again. Can you please come down here? I don’t care about your stupid video game. Get your skinny butt here now” Jonathan yelled angrily into the fun. I heard the person on the phone mutter some swear words. Jonathan disconnected the call. “And you” he wagged his finger at me. “Get to bed now.”

“It’s five pm” I said. “I know what the time is. You don’t need to tell me” Jonathan cried out. I shrugged my shoulders. I’d never seen Jonathan get so stressed out