My mouth seemed to have stopped working. Was she going to speak to me or simply glare daggers at me? Why'd she hate me, anyways? I offered a smile and started to walk away and then she finally spoke.

"It won't work, you know." She sighed then.

I paused at her words, soft spoken and yet still slightly bitter. I shuffled nervously, wanting to walk away and ignore her completely. Instead, I waited to hear if she'd say more.

"I know you've been going on missions," Ashley continued. "You're putting everyone you go with in danger."

I had considered this often. I was more a liability than anything. I'd managed to get people injured, but hearing it from her made it worse. I was talking before I could stop myself.

"I'll learn to defend myself then." I murmured.

She chuckled then, "You can't defend yourself. Humans are weak. Always have been, always will be."

I'd heard enough and started to ascend the stairs.

"You'll end up just like Sabrina." She said, and then I heard her heels clicking away.

I had paused on the first step, eyes prickling. However, instead of feeling sad, I knew what I had to do. My feet carried me to the top of the stairs and along the corridor. I knocked on the office door and opened it. When I saw Chris, my heart fluttered, but I had to be determined.

"I-i want to be trained for missions." I demanded.

"Good afternoon to you too," He chuckled. I kind of expected him to say no, call me weak. "Ok then."

"What? Really?" I said, blinking dumbly at him.

"Yes, really."

**********************

This was the worst. I'd ended up coming to the training room straight after lectures. I'd borrowed some sweatpants from Victoria and paired them with a t-shirt. I'd tied my hair back. Andy had trained me last time so he'd probably be my mentor again. Poor him.

I didn't expect my boyfriend to walk through the door. He even looked hot in sweatpants and a plain, black t-shirt. I noticed his piercings were ever present.

"You should take them out, maybe," I faltered when Chris smirked. "It would hurt if I managed to snag one."

"That's assuming you manage to do any damage to me." He grinned.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I guessed I wasn't really in the same league as a legion leader, but did he have to be so smug about it. My lower lip jutted out and he laughed.

"I'll have you know I'm very dangerous." I snapped.

"You don't say. I always thought you were like a mouse." He replied, dodging when I threw a nearby volleyball at him.

Most of the techniques I learned were defensive and involved rolling away or avoiding attacks. I knew ghosts could touch things, but I also knew it took a lot of energy to do so.

"I can move out the way. What about offensive stuff?" I said.

"I'd rather you didn't run straight into danger." Chris replied, sitting down.

I pouted again and grinned. He'd turned his back on me. I snuck closer and lifted my hands. I got right behind him. I was so close I could see the glint of the spikes on his head and see how soft his hair was. I lowered my hands just below his shoulders. How ticklish were demons?
Before I could do anything, he'd looked round, smirking at me.

"I knew you were there." He said.

"Shut up. I scared you." I smiled, reaching out to tickle him.

He grabbed my hand, yanking me closer so I was on his lap. He tickled me and I started laughing.

"N-no, stop it. T-this isn't fair." I gasped between laughter.

Somehow I managed to twist my body and face him. Our eyes met as my giggles subsided. Our noses were inches apart and my eyes quickly avoided his. His lips touched mine and I parted my lips willingly. My hands slid round his shoulders.

I had almost forgotten that I was on top of him until his hands slid down. I gasped when he squeezed the backs of my legs, pressing me closer. I was soon lowered onto the training mats with Chris on top of me. Our lips were still connected. His hand was still holding my leg, pressing us closer.

We pulled apart, reluctantly. I knew my face was warm and flushed. His pupils had nearly dilated till they were black. He seemed to be fighting for control.

"Tell me to stop." He said, voice slightly deeper.

A part of me really wanted to carry on and see how far we'd go, but another side of me was worried. Something was niggling at the back of my mind. It must have shown on my face because he frowned.

"D-do you love me?" I asked.

He pulled back, sitting slightly away from me. He hadn't replied and I sat up too. It had been a few months. What was the benchmark for love? I had read that people say it when they feel it. I'd been feeling it for a couple of weeks now.

"I care about you." Chris said.

"Oh." I murmured.

My throat felt thick and I swallowed. Chris shifted closer and I let him bring me onto his lap again. My head pressed against his chest. I could smell him.

"I would rather fall in love slowly, get to know you properly." He said, gripping my chin so we could look at each other.

"Did you and Sabrina fall in love slowly?" I asked, and his eyes flashed with melancoly, but it disappeared.

"No, we fell too quickly." He replied.

I barely heard the footsteps till someone cleared their throat. I glanced round to see Lemmy staring at us. He was grinning, like he'd discovered something he shouldn't.

"How adorable." He snickered.

Chris narrowed his eyes and Lemmy held up his free hand, the one not clutching a glass of whiskey.

"Sorry to bother you both. Eric called a meeting," Lemmy sighed then. "Thought you should know."

I glanced at Chris and he rolled his eyes. I clambered off him and he stood. I stayed seated on the mat.

"When for?" Chris asked.

"Right now. This second." Lemmy stated.

"Well, I'd like to get changed first, or is that not allowed." Chris snapped.

Lemmy chuckled and nodded. Chris glanced at me, leaning down and pressing a sweet kiss to my lips. I smiled and felt my cheeks heat up. Chris stood and joined Lemmy. I watched them go and sighed, laying back on the mat.

The training room ceiling was open, revealing the purple sky, streaked with red. I laid there for a while, just watching the sky.

*******************

2 Hours earlier

"May God have mercy on your soul." The man said.

The demon screamed and disintegrated, ash scattering across the pathway. The man sighed, closing the bible with a snap of his wrist. The young preist with him was smiling.

"That was amazing, Father Samuels," The man beamed. "Truely a sight to behold."

"Indeed it is. There is nothing more purifying than destroying these foul creatures." Father Samuels replied, glancing skywards.

The sky above had darkened considerably, turning almost blood red as day time transitioned into night. Father Samuels seated himself on the back of his pick-up truck. His eyes went to the house where that monster had been loitering.

He'd heard rumours of this house. Local legend stated it was haunted. He sighed, wearily. If such a thing was true then he would be the one to solve the problem. The young preist had sat down too.

"How goes your son's schooling?" He asked.

"Very well, although it perplexes me." Father Samuels admitted.

"How so?" The young preist asked.

"My son studies sports," Father Samuels said. "I rather hoped he would take after myself."

"Yes, it is rather disappointing when children do not adhere to the plans laid out for them." The young preist agreed.

"Indeed, however my son has proved himself useful," Father Samuels smiled then. "He has informed that Crocell had emerged. Not only that, but he holds a young girl within his grasp."

The young priest gasped, dramatcially. If he was a stranger then it could be said that the gasp was put on, but the young priest meant every word of his devouteness. Father Samuels stood, unscrewing the cap on his hip flask, taking a long swig. He screwed the top back on and tucked it back into his pocket.

"May the blood of Christ cleanse us." Father Samuels said, solemnly.

The two of them climbed into the truck and Father Samuels marked a circle on the map laid out on the dashboard. He put the truck into drive and they pulled away from the house.

A screech of fury rose from the house as they drove away and a claw mark appeared on the window, black venom streaking the glass and corroding it.

Notes