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  Demon Hunter Academy

  Robert C. Gemmell

  1.

  The church on the cliffside hadn’t seen parishioners for at least half a century. Waves crashed against the shores and the sound of seagulls echoed throughout the Carolina costal sky.

  This was one of several entrances and a less popular destination. It was somewhere Cole wouldn’t have to worry about the crowds. Most of the others would be going to the old train station, or one of the lighthouses, there were so many lighthouses hiding their true nature as passages to one of the oldest and least known institutions on the eastern coast.

  The church was made of waterlogged and storm-beaten wood, almost rotting off the frame of the condemned building. As Cole approached it the waves splashed harder against the cliffside.

  “Think of how proud dad is going to be,” Cole said to himself as he forced the rickety and splintered wood of the doors open and made his way through the musty and dilapidated church.

  In that abandoned church on the bay of Charleston beach, Cole Longdren entered alone and approached the altar. Every day he could remember of his eighteen years was preparing him for this. He made sure to come a little later in the day so he wouldn’t have to deal with crowds. He wanted to avoid the curious eyes and gossiping tongues. Hopefully, most of them would already be at the Academy by the time he made his way there, and he hoped he wouldn’t be so late that he would be a point of attention when he entered the great hallowed halls.

  At the altar, he reached into his pocket for the medallion passed from his father, through his six brothers, and then to him. He looked down at it, two crossed bars of iron with a solid gold rim surrounding it and a flawless glittering ruby as a centerpiece. He placed the old medallion on the altar and felt a rumbling under his feet as the floor opened before him revealing a stairway. Cole took the Medallion and put it back in his pocket and took a deep breath as he made his way down the dark stairwell. A few yards in, torches on the wall began to light aflame on their own. He went down the twisting corridor and after a while, he could hear the murmurs and sound of the crowds underground. He made his way out and hopped that the crowds would be big enough that he could slip in unnoticed. Cole looked up as he exited the tunnel and saw the great chasm open up, and at the end of the chasm, carved into the very ground underneath the bay of the coast of Carolina were the great halls he had been waiting for, and dreading his entire young life.

  The East Coast Demon Hunter Academy. The finest institution for one to learn the ways of the Demon Hunters like Cole’s father, and his father before him, and the countless generations of great warriors that begat young Cole Longdren.

  Word was that this was the biggest class the Academy had seen since the turn of the century. The forces of darkness saw the new millennium as a prophesied time for their greatness, and luckily, they were wrong. Cecil Longdren, his oldest brother, saw his graduation that year and for his final exam, he fought side by side with his father in the middle of Times Square during a television blackout blamed on Y2K, saved the roaring crowd from an Arch-Demon so foul even the Morning Star wanted no part of its wicked ways.

  “A lot to live up to,” Cole thought as he made his way to the entrance. The great cave around him was lit by floating, glowing spheres of light that lit it up as bright and seamless as it would be had daylight been shining upon it.

  The other trainees were mingling with each other, introducing themselves, and the ones who could be bringing up who their illustrious families were no doubt. Cole wanted to keep socializing to a minimum as long as he could. Who knows how much any student who unfortunately recognized him would talk his ear off and try to get in good with him. As his eyes peered over the crowd, he noticed one girl leaning against the wall. Her skin was white as a ghost. Almost as if she had never seen the sun. The fairness of her skin contrasted heavily with the raven hair that hung in a bob going down to the top of her neck. She was wearing a denim jacket, a vintage My Chemical Romance shirt, a pleated black skirt, and black stockings. Around her neck was a gleaming golden necklace that looked very out of place with the rest of her ensemble. She leaned against the wall with her hands in her jacket pockets and a look on her face that said she was over all these festivities. There was something else about her, something that drew him to her. While everyone else was trying to find allies and make good connections for their family name, this girl was just waiting for the party to end. That was definitely the kind of person he wanted to meet.

  He approached her, and for a second he thought their eyes met, and in the second after that, he was pretty sure she purposefully looked away from him. Someone who didn’t want to talk to him? this girl was a dream come true. He had to get to know her.

  As Cole swallowed his nerve and took a step towards her, he was stopped by someone with a big hand tapping his shoulder, “Hey, you didn’t come in with the rest of us, who are you? One of these big shots I’ve heard about?” Cole turned and saw a young man with a solid build who was markedly taller than him, “I’m looking for someone who knows what they’re talking about, I can’t make heads or tails of this place,” he put his hand out for a shake and a warm greeting, “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “You don’t know me?” Cole asked, legitimately surprised, even a little thrilled, he was pretty sure that every soul in these halls would already know who he was.

  “Don’t take it personally, I don’t know anyone, hell I barely know anything, I’m Benny, Benny Paterellis,” he smiled as Cole took his hand.

  “Cole, Cole Longdren,” Cole said, giving him a shake.

  “Longdren, I think I heard that name somewhere,” Benny looked around, and pursed his eyebrows, “Am I supposed to know that name?” he asked.

  Cole couldn’t help but laugh, “I would hope not, I take it you’re new?” he asked.

  “Yeah, first-generation hunter,” Benny smiled.

  “First generation? We don’t get many of those, How did you come into this line of work?” he asked.

  “My mom,” Benny shrugged, “She was possessed by a demon, a bad one, took years for us to get her back,” Benny sighed, “The Hunter’s Order had to go deep to get her free, met a lot of your kind growing up, we had to see a lot of people, we were kind of let in on all the secrets. They made us swear to the mortal oath. I guess you could say I’m here to make sure no one else has to see their ma go through that,” Benny smiled, “Always wanted to enlist in the military, one of the Hunters told me this could be a career path to consider, said I might have a knack for it. The way I see it is I spent most of my childhood helping to fight a demon, so in for a penny, you know?” he said.

  Cole, smiled, “You’re going to do good here,” Cole said, “I got a feeling,” he said.

  “So, are you someone important? I don’t want to offend, especially if you really are someone important,” Benny said.

  “It’s complicated, I’m an old line, hunters going back over a thousand years, It’s a family business for me,” Cole said, “See, there’s this stupid thing that people think makes me important, but it’s a bunch of crap, people think it’s a big deal that I’m the-”

  “You!” A skinny but toned young man with glasses and a satchel hanging off his shoulder approached Cole and Benny, “There you are, I have been looking all over for you,” he said.

  “How are you looking for me, I’ve never even met you before,” Cole said.

  “Introduction, Gregor Munchouse,” he put his hand out, “Of the Munchouse medica line, my father was a head healer in the battle of the Millennium,” he said.

  Cole took the scrawny boy’s hand, “Cole-”

  “Cole Longdren, I know, the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,” he said, “Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Seventh son of a what?” Benny asked.

  “It’s a stupid platitude, doesn’t mean anything,” Cole said, “Some people think it’s a big deal that my father is the youngest son of seven sons, and idiots think it an even bigger deal that I’m also the seventh son of such a family,” Cole shook his head, “I tell you, I didn’t want anything more growing up then a sister,” he said.

  “Point of Order,” Gregory interrupted, “There hasn’t been a man born of that prophecy for over a thousand years, you are the destined hero, the hero that can’t be killed, the hero who can slay any evil that is put before him, if you don’t think it intrusive, I would offer my services as a healer for you. Knowing that you can face any demon and not need to worry about you losing makes you someone I want to know,” he said, reaching into his satchel, “I have a resume prepared, I spent my fostering years studying with healers of the highest order, learning every healing technique a hunter could need in the field, and in the mortal world I attended Duke University’s Medical program, this would be my senior year had I not taken a sabbatical to attend the Hunter Academy,”

  “Duke Medical?” Cole raised an eyebrow, “You’re eighteen years old,” he said, “The mortal world wouldn’t allow someone your age to study at their universities,” he said.

  “I’m quite proficient, perfect score on the MCAT at age thirteen. I’m what the mortal world calls a Prodigy Boy Genius, I got a free ride as a matter of fact,” he pulled a stack of papers from his satchel and handed them to Cole, “Sir, you will find a detailed list of all proficiencies I have, and not to say I’m a complete package, but on the side, I am also a nearly-Olympic qualifying fencer,” he said.

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  “Everything you’ve been doing, and you had time to have something on the side?” Cole asked.

  “I use my time very efficiently,” Gregor said.

  Cole thumbed through the twenty-page resume, “Uhm, that’s great and all, but I’m not really looking for an employee, I’m just hear the learn, just like the rest of you,” he looked up to Benny.

  “Wait, so you have six brothers?” Benny asked, “I got one, and even that is too much sometimes,” he shook his head.

  “Older or younger?” Cole asked.

  “Younger, Bryson, he’s annoying sometimes but he’s a good kid. Might be here himself in a few years,” Benny laughed.

  “Younger brother?” Cole laughed, “Count your blessings. I got six, older, hearing about everything they’ve accomplished before I even have a chance to do my own thing, it gets old,” he said.

  “I’ve one sister myself, sisters are no picnic either, believe me,” Gregor said, “Dealing with a sister should be worth at least two and a half brothers, younger or older,” he said.

  “Hey, we should bunk together,” Benny said, “You seem like the guy to know,” he slapped the back of his hand against Cole’s chest, “And you,” he turned to Gregory “I know this a school, and you seem like someone who could really help me,” he said, turning back to Cole, “Do they have tests here? Like, written test?” he turned back to Gregor, “Because I’m not going to lie, I’m really going to need someone to cheat off of. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean dishonestly cheat, but honestly cheat,” he said.

  “Honestly cheat?” Gregor asked, raising an eyebrow and quite perplexed by the idea of honest cheating.

  “You know, someone who can tell me all the answers the tests are going ask, ahead of time, so I know them,” Benny said.

  Gregor pursed his lips, and thought for a moment about what this large boy was talking about, “That’s called a tutor, you do know that studying isn’t cheating, right?” he asked.

  “Yeah, it’s not cheating-cheating, it’s honest cheating,” Benny smiled, “You know all the answers before the test starts, if that isn’t cheating, I don’t know what is,” he said.

  “I don’t care who I room with,” Cole shrugged, “Greg, are you in?” he asked.

  “Yes, befriending you can be beneficial to me, having to heal someone who can’t die will be markedly easier than some wild fool who isn’t protected by destiny,” he said.

  “At least you’re honest, I kind of like that,” Cole said.

  Cole, Benny, and Gregor began to notice more and more eyes coming toward Cole.

  “I’m sorry gentlemen, we can talk later,” he sighed, “Unfortunately I have to go deal with some people. I got to get this out of the way now, so they don’t try to bother me when I’m in class,” Cole said, heading into the crowd.

  Cole was made to shake hands and forced to receive compliments meant for the better members of his family. Out of the malaise of random faces and lookers-on, a beautiful woman made her way towards him, cutting through them. She was tall, but not too tall. She had an admiral bust, but it wasn’t outlandish or attention-seeking, just enough to make a weaker man wild. Her frame was fine, dainty, curved in just enough places at just the right angles to be both alluring and modest at the same time if that was possible. Her hair cascaded down in great blonde locks that were utterly perfect. Her eyes radiated a shade of blue most fair and her face contoured in this most perfect way. She truly was a vision of beauty blessed by the divine above itself.

  “I know you,” the beautiful blonde said as she made her way to Cole, “Hi,” she smiled, her teeth were so white, they radiated, and the light from the spheres above was bright, but her pearly whites were even brighter. “I’ve been waiting to meet you, waiting since I heard that a man of your heroic birth was going to be a member of our class. I feel it’s important we introduce ourselves,” her beaming smile turned to a calculated grin, “Angelica Loris Shorbian Cherubim,” she held her hand out at this dainty and proper kind of angle.

  “I’m Cole,” he said, taking her hand, “Cole-”

  “Cole Longdren, oh I’m well aware, to think I’ll be studying the arts of Demon hunting with such a prestigious man from such a prestigious family, I made sure to do all my research, you’re someone I want to get to know. The youngest son of the most famous family in the profession we’ve found ourselves in,” she perked up, “The youngest son of the most prestigious family of Demon Hunters the Divine has ever blessed us with, and the seventh son of a seventh son at that, you’re going to do amazing things here and it’s only my hope that I can help you,” she smiled.

  “Yeah, I was told that you have to make friends at the academy, it’s nice to meet you,” Cole let go of her hand, and found his eyes wandering, looking for that lonely girl with jet-black hair.

  “Well, not to brag but my mother was a Hunter in her youth, and she saw a life pious to the great above a noble calling, and in that calling, she was introduced to my father, the Cherub Lucious, I’m sure you’ve heard of him,” Angelica laughed, trying to tug on Cole’s sleeve and get him to pay attention to her.

  “Not too familiar with the angels, where does he rank?” Cole asked.

  “The Divine above doesn’t have rank, but that said my father is technically an Archangel, very powerful, and with my angelic blood I’m naturally made to hunt demons, I was born to root them from our world, no matter what form they may take,” she said.

  “Hey, I don’t mean to offend you, but I’m probably going to have to shake a lot of hands today,” Cole turned back to the crowd and tried to find that girl with jet-black hair.

  “You’re a man of status in these halls, you need to choose your allies wisely, the last thing you want is your good name dragged through the mud by way of consorting with the riff-raff,” Cole was trying to get away, but Angelica tugged his coat as she tried to keep him talking to her. “We’re all Demon Hunters here,” she said.

  “You seem like you’ve been getting around, meeting everyone,” Cole said.

  “We’ll I’ve been meeting the people I need to meet, that’s why I am so glad I ran into you,” she smiled, “As an angel, I have certain responsibilities, it’s my kind’s job to guide the warriors of the mortal world against the forces of the below, and I take my job very seriously,” she said. “You know after orientation is done, I’m having a meeting of some of the really interesting potential hunters, I would be honored if you joined,” she said.

  “You’ve been talking to people? Making rounds? Have you met this one girl, with dark hair, kind of pale, who wears a lot of black?” Cole asked, his mind laser-focused on that pale and mysterious girl he saw earlier.

  Angelica rolled her eyes, “Do you remember what I told you about riff-raff? I know who you’re talking about and an Angel such as myself can tell you that that girl is no one for a man of your stock to get involved with. Her name is Tavalia. Rumor is that she’s the daughter of the Betrayer, the man tempted by the below who allowed the EverDemon to escape, a little bit after the battle of the Millennium. She’s no one you need concern yourself with,” Angelica said. She held her shoulders high and straightened her back, “Real Demon Hunters, like us, we need to stick together, with you being the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,”

  “I’m aware of my place in my lineage, stop reminding me,” Cole said, rolling his eyes.

  “With you being who you are, and me being kissed by the divine and of angelic birth, not that I’m bragging,” she rolled her eyes and grinned with full knowledge of how beautiful she was, “The two of us together could really be a force in our class, I’m having a luncheon later, all the students whom I think show great potential are coming, you should join us,” she said, tugging on his sleeves and trying to invite the fellow child of prophecy into her inner circle.

  “I think I got to get around more before I start making friends, and don’t let my birth fool you,” Cole said, “I might disappoint if you’re expecting too much of me, I wouldn’t want someone of your birth and stature making the mistake of investing what I’m sure is your valuable time in someone who can’t live up to your expectations,” he said. He was only half joking, Cole knew his destiny was to be a hunter, but he was weary of the fact that his placement in his family line had put him right on the edge of prophecy. The last thing he wanted to do was to be brought into some insane angelic crusade this buxom young blonde was trying to drag him in. If prophecy was to come to Cole, so be it, he just wasn’t in any kind of rush to get there.

  Cole looked around, and Angelica was a bit taken aback that this man wasn’t bending over quite as far backward as every other young potential hero would when she introduced herself to them, even before they found out she was an angel.

  “I guess I’ll see you in class,” Cole said, waving her off as caught another look of that jet-black hair at the edge of the crowd, “I got a lot of people to meet,” he said, shoving her out of the way and trying to make his way through the crowd.

  “We can sit together in class, I’m very smart,” she said, “I’ll let you copy off of me,” she kept listing off reasons for a man like Cole to associate with a woman like her, but they were falling on deaf ears.

  “Hey,” he approached the raven-haired girl, “So you’re a hunter?” he asked.

  “We all are, that’s why we’re here,” the pale girl said, rolling her eyes.

  “It’s nice to meet you, this is so stupid, isn’t it? Stacking us all together just so we can compare families, I just want to get our lessons started,” Cole said, “Two years we’re going to be here, and people are already planning out their whole academic career,” he said.

  “Yeah, it’s kind of stupid, I guess,” she turned back to him, her eyes were this amazing dark kind of brown that almost had a reddish tint to them that popped against her pale skin and black eyeliner.

  “I’m Cole, Cole Longdren,” he smiled, and for the first time in his life hoped that name-dropping his family might actually impress on someone.

  “Longdren, oh, you’re that guy,” she said, turning to him and giving him a once-over.

  “Yeah,” Cole laughed nervously, there was something unearthly attractive about this girl, he was used to pretty girls throwing themselves at him, and here she was giving him a cold shoulder, “I’m that guy,” he said.

  “Do you even need to come here, I thought the men in your family were supposed to be born full-blown hunters,” she said, “I bet you’ve already killed more demons than even some of the professors,” she said, leaning against the cavern wall.

  “Nope, no Demon kills to my name yet, my first name at least, my last name, well that’s another story,” he couldn’t help but smile looking at her.

  “Longdren, I hear that name all the time, you must have like three or four brothers or something,” she said.

  “Six,” Cole said, “And I’m the youngest, not to brag, not that I believe in it or anything, but I’m the seventh, and my dad was the seventh of his brothers, I’m the-”

  “The Seventh son of a seventh son,” the girl laughed, “Of course, I end up in a class with someone like you,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “It’s just a story, and- wait, I haven’t asked your name, what’s your name?” he asked, that Angel girl already told him her name was Tavalia, but he wanted her to tell him her name herself.

  “I’m Tav, don’t ask what its short for,” she said, putting her hands in her pockets and raising her leg up as she leaned against the wall.

  “So what classes are you taking? He asked “I think it would be cool to study with you, you seem so calm. You’ll probably make a great hunter, people underestimate how important being calm is to a Hunter,” he said, “My brothers always tell me the most important thing when you’re hunting a demon is to stay calm,” Cole felt a bit out of his league, “Not that I listen to my brothers for everything, I’m here for me, not them,” he said.

  “You’re not the only one who’s here because of your family,” she turned and looked up at him, “You know that right?”

  “I sure hope so,” Cole thought about asking her about her family, but if what that blond girl Angelica said was true, her family was probably the last thing this Tav girl wanted to talk about, instead he tried to sound smart and suave, “Aren’t families the worst,” he laughed with a little bit of nerve in his voice, “I mean, I want to be a hunter, I just think it be easier without all this weight on me, I wish I could come here without all this burden,” he said.

  “You and me both,” Tav smiled, then laughed.

  “Something funny?” the blushing young man asked.

  “No, it’s just, you’re so lame,” she said, “Don’t take it personally,” she smiled, “it’s actually this endearing kind of cute lame,” she said.

  “Oh? Thanks, I guess,” Cole said. He had just batted off the advances of a literal angel without a second thought, but something about the odd charms and alluring presence of this black-clad girl left him with wobbly knees and knocked him far off his game.

  Tav looked to the crowd, there were already people gathering, looking at the two of them and gossiping, the Seventh son of a Seventh son talking to the Betrayer’s daughter, “You better get back to your adoring fans, you don’t want to be seen talking to me too much, might hurt your reputation,” she said, turning her back on him and walking away, leaving him stunned. She looked over her shoulder and gave him one last look as she walked into the crowd and seemed to disappear.