Page 18 of Huntress

“Hey, demon,” Elsie said, drawing his attention. “It would be a lot easier if you’d change to your human form. We can get you some clothes now instead of having to come back later.”

For a split-second, the fire flashed in his eyes, then he went back to nervously scanning for threats. His nostrils flared, and his ears perked up seconds before a recruit came around the corner with a mop bucket. The hound growled, his ears pinned back. His whole body tensed, and the hair on his scruff raised as he crouched like a cat, ready to pounce.

“Oh gods,” the recruit whimpered, stopping dead in his tracks. “What should I do?”

Elsie recognized this guy. He always clammed up when she walked into the room. He’d never been brave enough to speak to her directly before. Amusing, but also alarming. His fear had rendered him incapable of rational thought.

“Go find another hall to mop,” she advised, giving a sharp tug on the leash to change the demon’s focus. He snapped at her, his teeth coming within inches of her face. Elsie gave him her best ‘bored’ expression.

“Cut it out, he’s a kid. He isn’t going to hurt you.”

The kid was seventeen, and he’d already spent five years in training. He’d be perfectly capable of dealing some serious damage when he wasn’t taken off guard by a random demon in the hallway. She’d mention surprise training to some of the mentors. Their students should be ready for anything instead of panicking.

A minute later Marko returned with a cart loaded down with supplies. He pushed it through the half door, then shoved a list into Elsie’s hand. “Double-check everything. You’ll be responsible for these items, so you keep that demon in line and make sure he doesn’t lose his shit.”

Elsie scrolled down the list quickly. A fully stocked go bag, sleeping bag, cot, canteen, two blankets, a pillow, two pairs of gloves, boots, and uniforms of several sizes, among basic toiletries and a few fabrics. The demon was set.

The last page had things he’d thrown in for her. New gloves and some coconut leather. Her clothes had started to fall apart. She signed the bottom of the form, and Marko traded it for a ration card. She wouldn’t have to share her meals with the hound anymore.

“I’ll be seeing you tomorrow,” Marko drawled. “Don’t come back tonight. I’m closing up shop early today.”

Elsie frowned. She’d have to keep the demon in her room for at least the night, then. Even if Rosco approved her request, they’d be out of luck without access to registration.

“Thanks Marko, you’re the best.” Elsie gave the surly man a smile, then turned to the hound. “Let’s go.”

Wheeling the cart around, she steered it toward her room with one hand while holding the leash with the other. A member of another squad walked in their direction, then pivoted and went right back to where she’d come from.

Elsie chuckled. She could get used to his repellent qualities. Random soldiers typically felt the need to greet her wherever she went. Those she knew a little better would ask for tales about her latest mission.

Maybe with the demon around she’d get some peace. She turned one last corner and pulled the cart to a stop. All the rooms in the hallway belonged to the field captains, which meant it was generally quiet until someone’s birthday came around.

She’d lived in this same room since she’d arrived. Mordane had decided it was safest to put her in a room surrounded by captains, rather than risking the behavior of soldiers corrupting her innocent young mind. They hadn’t even made her join the other recruits in the barracks when she’d started her apprenticeship.

“Home sweet home,” she said, glancing up at the huge dog before opening the door. She unclipped the leash, and he walked inside without being told.

Elsie deposited the cart in the middle of her room, then watched the demon survey her cramped space. She had a twin-sized bed, a little bookshelf filled with her practice of the ancient language, and a closet to hold her clothes and shoes.

A tiny desk held her sewing machine, and a flowerpot containing a marigold plant that had survived the past fourteen years. The orange and yellow petals glowed with remnants of her mother’s magic.

The hound crowded against a wall, but there was hardly room to move. Maneuvering the cart against the door, Elsie situated the cot, skirting around the demon until he took a few steps back to watch her set it up. She unrolled the sleeping bag and set it on top, then tossed on the blankets and pillows. She’d be able to reach out and touch him in his sleep.

‘Mother, protect me,’ she sent up a prayer, hoping this one wouldn’t be met by the same silence as all the others.

“If you’re going to shower, you need to change into your human form,” she said firmly, grabbing the bag with uniforms inside. “Figure out what fits you. We’ll organize when we get back, this room is too small to have your gear lying around everywhere.”

Tossing everything else against a wall, she opened the door and left the cart out in the hallway. It was stifling inside, but at least they had some measure of breathing room. Besides, the arrangements were temporary, as long as she didn’t get herself into trouble for taking matters into her own hands.

Ignoring the silent hound, Elsie opened her closet and picked through her clothes, noting that her options were slim. Marko’s extra fabric saved her another trip to the supply room. Fighting demons was hard on a wardrobe. Thanks to her mother, she wasn’t doomed to wear the hunter uniform like everyone else.

She rarely wore the uniform, even on missions, which irritated almost everyone she hunted with, especially those outside her squad. Elsie figured the caliber of demons she hunted would scent or sense her regardless of her attire.

She picked out a warm, long-sleeved blouse and a pair of hip-hugging pants with pockets on her thighs for additional small weapons. Swapping out boots for sneakers, she gave a satisfied sigh. Elsie only had one pair of sneakers. They were difficult to find, so she only wore them at the compound.

When she closed the door, she almost choked. Standing with his back to her was the demon in his human form. The first thing she noticed was the riot of black curls reaching to the dark skin of his shoulder blades. The second was that apparently demons kept their clothes on when they shifted. He was in the middle of peeling a filthy, tattered black T-shirt off when he looked over at her, a sneer on his face.

Caught staring, Elsie continued looking at him for several more seconds before she could force language out of her mouth.

“Sorry, you surprised me,” she said, looking away. Nudity wasn’t generally a problem for hunters, but this was different. She wanted to look at him. She wanted to study those dark eyes and took an involuntary step closer.