1 Chapter 1. (1/2)

Once, long, long ago, there lived a girl who always wore a red cloak and lived on the edge of a great enchanted forest and often visited her granny who lived on the other side of the wood, the wood in which a great big and bad wolf resided....But this...this is not her story.

This is the story of Redalia Hood, a seemingly normal woman hiding a dark secret...this, is my story!

Present Day Sanctuary, West Virginia

Welcome to Sanctuary, located in good old West By-God Virginia! Hey, don't let any local hear you call her that though, only Mountaineers can call our home state by it's....”Proper Name” as it's referred to around here.

My names Redalia Hood and I own and operate The Dark Horse or TDH for short. What is The Dark Horse you ask? Well, if I tell ya I'd have to kill ya..... notice I didn't laugh, hence that was not a joke.....Oh I'm just having some fun with ya.

TDH is my dive bar. Coincidentally, it doubles as a sort of headquarters for the group of assassins known as The Elite. For centuries we have been trained since birth to protect the human race from what lies in the Dark Forest. The Dark Forest is what surrounds the county of Sanctuary. We're shielded on all sides by thick, dark, menacing woods and what lives inside the woods?

Well, at last count about 100 different kinds of evil. The worst is the Wolf King. Yeah, I know, I know ”Wolf King” sound's nuts! Hey, I get it, I really do, I mean, come on, it's 2016 not the dark ages and nobody believes in magic or goblins or even the boogeymen (yes boogeymen as in the plural....as in there are more than one).

Well, I'm here to tell ya if you don't believe...you should. The Wolf King is the worst of all evil beings. The legend say's that once he was nothing more than a two-bit magician named Doran, who barely made enough coin to survive due to his lack of skill in the area of magic. (Ironic huh?)

After year's of being on the bottom of the food chain the sniveling worm came up with a plan to gain more magical power than he could ever dream of possessing. Inside the wood, there lived a race of wolves who were of massive size. (We're talkin HUGE!)

Their king was Quinn, his name in old Gaelic meant ”Wise” which he very much was but he was also known to have a soft spot for children. (No not in the creepy way either, he was a great guy.....get your mind outta the gutter.)

Using this knowledge to his advantage Doran lured King Quinn from the protection of the woods, claiming a child was seen at the edge of the forest and was now lost.

The king immediately offered his services to aid in the hunt for the child, but as soon as he crossed the boarder he was stricken down in cold blood by the traitorous coward. He then used Draiochta Marbh or ”Dead Magic”

to extract the Wolf Essence from the dying king's body, giving him the power of the moon. He could now change into a massive, nearly impossible to kill wolf whenever he wanted. Consumed by power he took the dead king's Wolven army and wreaked havoc upon our land's.

With each year that passed Doran the magician faded away and was replaced by hate, anger, and the need for more power. The lands began to wither and the people began to slowly die off, it wasn't until the champion came that hope once again returned to Sanctuary. Leading a small rebellion the champion set us free from the Wolf King's tyranny.

Though he was not killed, he was driven back into the woods and sealed within its boarder's using light magic from what few good sorcerers were left living. Once the spell was set the champion locked it in place so it would never be broken. In order to accomplish such a feat he had to forfeit his own life, by using his life force as a staple to hold the spell to this earthly plane forever.

Seeing his sacrifice the Moon Goddess Cerridwen (Ker-a-dwen) sent forth her Great White Stag and Wolf to usher the champion's weary soul to her celestial forest where he would stay for all eternity and watch over her animals in peace. That champion's name was Caderyn Hood, my ancestor. After his burial the town came together and forged a council of sorts. This was no ordinary council though, oh no, no, no this was a special council.

These people decided the town needed watchers and protectors so using magic and blood from the fallen Wolven Army they created a serum. They then infused some of their own people with it, once they saw how well it worked and that there were no side effects they made their decision to release the serum into the drinking water. So only the certain few who already carry magic in their blood would be affected and they would become one of The Elite. The Elite is a group of highly trained and skilled assassins. Wanna know how to join our little club? Well, ya can't, sorry, you have to be born in Sanctuary, oh and your bloodline has to be tested at birth. (See above paragraph for info on on how you get special blood.)

Yes, you heard right tested.(No not like a pencil and paper, SAT tested), I mean they hold up a 1000-year-old Moonstone in front of you and if it glow's this really beautiful iridescent blue then your in! Yay me,so once your ”Chosen” you live with your parents like everything's normal and your a regular kid until you're about 5, that's when you begin your training.

By the time you're a teen your thoroughly skilled in hand to hand combat, karate, Brazilian Jujitsu and the art of stealth. By the time you're in your early twenty's you should be a master in all previously stated skill set's along with Taekwondo, Aikido, Judo, Muy Thai, Ninjutsu, and finally the ever popular Krav Maga. Now if you didn't already know about 90% of these styles of fighting end in your opponent's death.

Yes, I'm dead serious (no pun intended) So anyhoo growing up as an assassin isn't all that bad really. I mean sure we hunt and kill, but it's for the greater good! We don't run off all half cocked and go on a major killing spree unlike some people. (* Cough, C.D Flannery, Cough *)We simply go about our everyday lives until we're summoned.

When I say summoned I mean we feel the pull to our base compound which happens to be located in the heart of the city (convenient huh?). So when we feel the pull we sort of go into autopilot and head straight ”home” there we receive our order's. We have survived for hundred's of years by adhering to a strict code.

ELITE CODE OF CONDUCT

1.)NEVER HARM AN INNOCENT

2.)MOVE SWIFTLY AND SILENTLY

3.CLOSE ALL CONTRACTS

4.)NEVER GET CAUGHT

5.)NEVER MISS

THIS IS THE CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE

ELITE, AS SET DOWN TO US FROM OUR

ANCESTORS. THOSE FOUND BREAKING THE

CODE SHALL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED TO

THE FULL EXTENT OF THE ”DEARG MAC

TIRE BANRION” (The Red Wolf Queen). SHOULD

THERE BE NO DEARG MAC TIRE BANRION

AT THE TIME OF THE BREACH OF CODE THE

HIGH IONADAI (Representative) SHALL

RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PASS JUDGEMENT.

SO SAYETH THE ELITE COUNCIL. SO IT SHALL

BE DONE.

Anyway so there ya go, now you know all about me and my weird yet intriguing ”job”. So here's the skinny on my unsettling and strange night so far. I had just closed up the bar and was headed to my 73' Charger (jealous much? I prefer my truck, if I'm being honest.) when I heard a weird sound coming from behind the dumpster.

So, of course, my assassin instincts kick in immediately and I assume the crouched position and arm myself with my silver blade from its holster on my thigh. Funny thing, those thigh holster's, I was actually on the fence about them for a while. I didn't wanna look too Laura Croft, but they actually turned out to be a great buy!

Pretty proud of myself, I seriously got a great deal! Dang It!! There I go getting sidetracked again, Anyway so back to the action. I'm inching closer to the dumpster and I hear it again, this sort of low, deep growl like noise.

I'm thinking it's probably a Shifter from the Badlands (old decrepit part of town)or something. Either way though it's best to be prepared for anything. The closer I get to the dumpster the more I start catching whiffs of something on the wind.

I know this smell, deep earthiness with a slight metallic undertone, then it hit me. This is blood, and not just any blood, Shifter blood. I could practically taste the ”wild” in the air. I was directly in front of the dumpster by this point, it's now or never.

I grasped the side of the nasty (understatement of the year), slimy thing and tossed it aside, given my heightened strength it was practically like tossing a paperclip. (Oh did I mention I'm the reincarnated Dearg Mac Tire Banrion or in English, The Red Wolf Queen? Yea it has it's perk's, which we'll talk about later.).

Once the dumpster was outta the way I jumped back, ready to defend or attack if need be. To bad for me the Shifter I had tracked happened to be a freaking BEAR.

”Seriously?! Oh, come on!! First, the bar has a bad night, then my tip jar gets robbed.....AGAIN, then I lose my phone....my NEW phone!!! Now I stumble on a freakin'BEAR SHIFTER!?!?!”

(Aaaaaaand now you're up to speed on what's happened so far tonight. Back to live action folk's!)

Ok so huge bear in front of me what do I do? I go to my inner monologue, obviously, he's a Shifter, he's wounded, probably scared. Think, think, think, think, think Redalia!

Unfortunately, there is no time to think, he's attacking!

”Get in the game girlfriend!” I snap back to reality!

Just as I regain my composure the bear threw himself at me full force, thankfully I'm pretty darn fast, unfortunately not fast enough to get outta his way. I felt the full weight of that massive creature land on my rib's like a summer hog flop's down into the mud.

He was pretty quick to be so gargantuan. He was up and attacking me again in the blink of an eye, but I was quicker. I sidestepped his thrashing claw's and managed to pull my blade and slice through his outstretched arm.

He wailed in pain and for a moment I almost felt sorry for him but the feeling quickly vanished when he came at me again. Jaw's wide, teeth gnashing, he tried fervently to sink those chompers into my flesh.

I whipped around and landed on his back. Holding my dagger between my teeth I grasped two handfuls of his fur and pulled with all my might.He reared up until he was standing on his hind leg's. Suddenly he threw himself into a tucked position, trying to roll on-top of me.

I lurched and landed a few feet away. Having knocked his stupid self senseless, I took full advantage of the moment and bolted for my car. Reaching for the tranquilizer gun I kept in the back I whipped it around only to find the spot the bear had been now empty.

Now, I'm no idiot, I know creatures, even magical ones, don't just up and disappear without leaving a single trace. I carefully began inspecting the parking lot. Checking for any signs of life or traces of blood when all of a sudden, !!BAM!!, talk about missing by the skin of your teeth!

The bear went flying in front of me so fast it's fur tickled my nose! Now at this point, I'm starting to think something weird is going on.(Ya THINK?!?!)

Hmmm, Ok, so now there's a low growl coming from behind me, I can feel a presence but...it's not dangerous. Even though I hear the growl I feel like, I'm safe. Like I'm not the one in any actual danger, which is strange enough as it is, but it's made even stranger by the fact that this feeling is followed by another one, calm.

I feel...calm, and sort of like, I'm at peace. My arms relax along with my shoulder's and soon my whole body feel's like a warm sunny meadow. Calm and wonderful. Then something soft and muscular brushes under my hand. I like the way it tickles my thigh as it goes past me. Electricity flows through me into it and back into me from it, if that makes any kinda weird sense.

I wanted to keep feeling this magnificent calm and when I suddenly woke from this crazy trance I immediately wanted it back. I blinked a few times then shook my head for good measure, what I saw before me shook me to my core! A Wolven was standing directly between me and the Shifter. Wolven were the guardians of the Black Forest at one point in our history.

They were the Wolf King's most loyal sentries. It was said that when the old king was killed not one of his sentries would bow to Doran, so he cast a particularly evil spell on them all and made them his slaves. It is also said Doran, being the sniveling worm he is, decided the men would never find peace and so they were cursed with everlasting life. Doomed to watch everyone they love die, but never be able to join them in death and find peace.

Because of this people believed the Wolven slowly lost hope and one by one gave into Doran's evil way's and thus became his Dark Reapers. I'd never actually believed they were real, mostly because I'd never seen one. I mean seriously nobody has seen a Dark Reaper since the border was sealed.

Now here stand's one right in front of my very eyes! Speaking of thing's right in front of me, he had his back towards me like he was protecting me. But Dark Reapers are cold, heartless creatures that will kill anything with a pulse. They are said to be massive sized wolves with coal black jagged fur that feel's like ice spikes and blazing red eyes with thick nasty red saliva spewing from their broken, sharp fangs.

What stood before me though was the exact opposite (except for the massive size thing, I mean this thing id HUGE!)

his fur is brown and tan and beautiful, not to mention he's as soft as goose down! No more time to ponder this craziness as at that moment the Bear Shifter mad a move for my throat...AGAIN. I'm getting reeeeeal tired of this guy! I summoned my strength and at the very last (and I do mean VERY LAST) second I jumped into the air, summer salted and landed on his back.

I spun around threw, my legs around him, whipped out my dagger and held it to his throat.

”I know you can understand me! Now nod yes if you're coherent in there!”

Nothing, just growls and snarls. Ok, let's try this one more time. I twisted the blade and applied pressure until the edge was soaked in blood.

”Need I repeat myself?”

”Grrr.aaarrrggg...get off me, woman!”

”About time! I'm not budging an inch until you explain why you're trying to kill me!”

”I'll tell you nothing!”

”Well, its look's like I'm the one with the upper hand here my friend. I suggest you change that tone.”

”You'd have nothing if it weren't for that damned wolf! In fact, you'd be in pieces on the pavement if he hadn't ripped my arm to shred's!”

I chanced a swift glance at the wolf. He stood very calmly in a fighting stance, ready to pounce when need be. He watched me and the bear closely, as if making sure I was Ok. I quickly shook off that strange feeling creeping into my stomach and up my spine and focused on the bear.

”I'll ask only once more, why are you so determined to kill me? I was only trying to see where the blood was coming from. You could have ran off and I would never have given chase. Why did you choose to pursue me, Bear?!”

He was very quiet for a long moment, so quiet that I'd have thought him dead if I wasn't sitting on his erect back. He laughed suddenly. It was a deep maniacal laugh. It started slow and low then grew louder, his whole body shook. The wolf stiffened.

”I am a lowly Bear Shifter who was shot by a hunter. See here on my backleg, that is the open wound from the bullet. I thought you were the hunter coming to finish me off. I admit I was a bit rash but I'm calmer now and if you would allow me to shift back into human form I'll explain everything.”

Something inside me told me he was lying, it told me there was no hunter, no wound, just claws and teeth ready to kill me at the first chance they got. Still, though I felt like I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. THAT...that right there. That whole, benefit of the doubt crap, that's what made me different from all my assassin brothers in the ELITE. They killed without mercy, without hesitation.

It didn't matter to them whether the target was set up or innocent. It says plainly in the ELITE Code of Conduct no innocent blood shall ever be spilled. Yet I feel like over the year's plenty of it has been. I took a few step's back from the bear.

”Oh thank you Miss Hood. Thank you! Now come here I'll show you the wound to prove to you I'm not here to murder you.”

I started to take a step forward but before my foot ever left the ground a deep, masculine voice filled my ear's.

”Did you tell him your name?”

I looked around but there was nobody to be seen. (getting creep-ed out again!)

Suddenly it hit me, the word's I heard...they were right.

I didn't tell him my name. I looked up at the bear and slowly took a step back as I slid my hand down the length of my left thigh to grab the dagger secured there.(Two daggers are better than one I always say) The bear looked at me and turned his head slightly.

”Where are you going? You asked for proof and all I'm doing is trying to show you.”

Dagger's in hand I braced my right foot a bit behind me so I could push off of it.

”I never told you my name...”

You could see the moment it registered in his tiny brain, what he had done. His smile now turned to a twisted snarl. His eyes began to glow brown than red as his teeth elongated. He stood up on his hind leg's and roared into the night.

”For Doran, Wolf King I will kill the Dearg Mac Tire Banrion and take my rightful place upon his council!”

He roared again, an ear-splitting hideous noise. I bent my right knee and readied myself for impact, but it never came. The wolf suddenly came outta nowhere and latched onto the bear's throat. He clung to the ragged, thrashing creature until he collapsed to the ground in a massive bloodied heap. I watched as the wolf pulled himself from beneath the bear and with one swift toss of his head he ripped the bear's throat out.

Blood covered the parking lot, I stepped towards the wolf then hesitated. Was he actually a Dark Reaper sent by Doran to kill me as well? If so why did he protect me earlier? Why do I feel so strange around him as well? These were just a few question's I had for the wolf but they would have to wait.

He turned his huge head towards me and locked his beautiful green eye's with my own silver one's, then he fell to the blacktop. I made it to him just in time to catch his head before he busted it open. He really was massive! Bigger than my charger that's for sure. He was still breathing but just barely.

Upon closer inspection, his beautifully muscular body was riddled with scars. As was his face, I absentmindedly ran my hand down the length of his huge neck and in return I was graced with a low purr like sound. (I'm pretty sure Dark Reapers don't ”Purr”) In that moment I think I knew he was no Dark Reaper.

”But now how am I going to get you help? I can't put you in the charger, your way to big. Think Red, Think!”

Suddenly, he shifted beneath my hand's asa shimmering blue light covered his huge form, when it faded a naked, very attractive, man lay with his head on my lap....

”Ooooook, I think I can work with this!”

I slowly and very carefully placed his arm around my neck and lifted him up. (Super strength remember)

We made it back to my charger, I slung open the passenger door and after one or two tries I finally got all of him inside. Before shutting the door I happened to glance down and wouldn't you know it there sat my stupid phone!

Wedged between the door and the seat! It must have gotten stuck there when I was late to work the other night. I tend to just sorta throw it in the passenger seat when I'm in a hurry.

I snatched it up and shut the door as I powered the phone on I made my way to my door and pressed my speed dial button for Jaxon Sauder. The engine purred to life as Jaxon answered with a happy,

”Hey Red what can I do ya for?”

I threw the charger in gear and laid on the gas, leaving black tire mark's as I sped down the road towards my home.

”Jaxon, hey sorry about the late call but I need help.”

His voice took on a grave tone then.

”What's happened Red?”

I could hear voices in the background go quiet. Jaxon was a top dog in our secret society. He was also my best friend since childhood. He was dubbed my protector after the attack that nearly killed me and my parent's and since then he has never stopped watching out for me. If anyone could get the mess at The Dark Horse cleaned up it was him.

”A Bear Shifter attacked me tonight...”

”Are you hurt? How bad is it? Where are you now?”

”I'm Ok, just a little banged up, On my way to the manor, There's a huge mess in front of the bar, please Jaxon I need a clean up crew immediately, people are going to start driving by to head to work soon. Someone might see something they aren't supposed too.”