"Can I eat him?" I purred.

I smirked at the man dressed in black. He took a step back and moved his hand to his side. He was reaching his hand to a strap on his waist. Probably his gun.

I bared a toothy grin for him and raised my hand. Ready to snap my fingers.

"Enough Alister." The beast growled. 

He turned to me and shot me a death glare. But I glared right back at him. It didn't take long for me to look away though. I could tell he was serious right now. Probably wanted brownie points.

"Tch, you’re no fun…" I huffed.

I moved my hand down. Stupid leader.

"I apologize for him. He smells fear." The beast said with a sigh.

The beast looked me over one last time. It was like I was some leashless dog to him...

"S-smells fear?" One of the other men in black stuttered out. 

"Dude on the right reeks of it~." I hummed.

"Enough." Reaper roared out.

Which genuinely sent chills down my spine. This dude almost never talked. Let alone yells. He usually just let us bicker. I guess this president guy was important to him.

"Lively bunch this year I see." The old man in the middle chuckled out. 

Who I assumed was the president everyone's been swooning about.

I was shocked he wasn't the one reeking of fear. In fact, he seemed more relaxed than his two bodyguards. 

He was a dark skinned man with a patchy beard. His hair was as white as snow. And he has yet to stop smiling.

"Too lively if you ask me…" Reaper muttered. 

I could still barely see the reaper’s face behind his hooded attire. The night sky didn't help illuminate anything either. 

"I'm sure you'll make them fine Hunters! I remember when you were new to all this yourself." The old man laughed

"Seems like forever ago. Anyways, have the Blairs been notified?" 

"Yes, and here's the file for the job."

The old man held out a file towards Reaper. I decided while the leaders talked business I'd have some fun. The guard who was reeking was eyeing me like a zoo animal. 

I smirked as I finally made eye contact. I smiled and he clearly got more uneasy. His hand held the strap at his waist tightly now.

That's when I started to search him.

A vision of a cobra snake appeared in my mind. I could see him without his fancy black suit and black shades. He was in a flowery button up and shorts. Snakes of all caliber appeared around him. Then it flashed to him locked into a room with a bunch of dolls. That slowly moved everytime he wasn't looking. 

Snakes and dolls huh? Humans are so boring…

Why couldn't anyone be scared of something more fun? Like a ground monster or something!? Ah, I can imagine it now. It would whisper to you with the voice of a lost loved one. Leading you astray deep into the woods. Then once you're far enough away. The ground would rumble and shake, opening up and swallowing you whole! 

Was it even worth scaring this guy? I looked over to the beast. He seemed compelled listening to the reaper and the old man talk. I looked to Casper. She seemed bored out of her mind.

Well, I wasn't doing anything better anyways. I held out my hand and stared at the guy. I could see him shaking visibly now. 

Ooh! I can fuse them together!

I focused on the image of the snake and the dolls. Then stared into his eyes. Three, two….

"Hehehe." 

We began to hear the laughter of a little girl. The sound was trailing up from the tree lines around us. I could see his eyes dart to the sound of the voice. I tried my best to conceal the smile that was etching across my face. 

"C-can you hear that?" The guard stuttered out.

"Mister, can you help me…" The little girl's voice got more distorted as she talked. Getting deeper and deeper.

"W-ha-?" The man muttered. 

"What are you doing pumpkin brain?" Casper whispered to me.

"Shut up and watch. I'm showing you how I make my first impressions."

"Do you remember what the president is pumpkin brain!?"

"You know you want to see this guy freak out just as much as I do." I persisted. 

I looked over casper. She bit her lip as her red eyes darted from me to beast.

She fixed a strand of her long white hair, and tucked it behind her ear. Then slowly step back. Which was my confirmation to keep going.

"Mister?" The little girl asked.

She appeared out of thin air in front of the man. But once he blinked. The little girl wasn't a little girl anymore. But a plain raggedy anne doll.

The guard jumped back and pulled out his gun. His hand was shaking around like a popping popcorn kernel. 

"Caven, put the weapon down! What are you aiming at!?" The other guard roared over to him.

The old man looked over toward us. A look of concern in his eyes. That's when they both looked at me. Reaper and The Beast. I whistled and looked away from them.

"Guy must've got spooked. I mean, we are monsters after all." I chimed with a smirk.

"T-the doll! The doll! It was moving and talking!"

"Doll? What doll?" His partner asked.

The doll slowly crept forward. The guard stepped back. The doll jerked slightly. He could see something swimming around inside the dolls face. 

"That doll! The doll right in front of me!"

It's no use big guy. My spell only lets me and you see my beautiful creation. Unless I choose to materialize it that is.

Suddenly the doll's eye burst open! The slimy ooze of the snake's skin leaked out as he slither around some more. The stitches from the doll's mouth slowly became undone. 

The red eyes from the snake peered out from the doll's mouth. The wriggling body of the snake slithered around. Fighting for freedom. 

Then I had the doll scream for it's last breath. 

That's what got him. The guard spazzed out and shot round after round at the doll. The other guard ran over to him. Grabbing his wrist and holding his weapon down. 

"Put the weapon down! Cease fire!" The partner started to wail.

I started to snicker. Oh my gosh this was hilarious! The elite guard for the president! Fooled so easily. The human world really was for sissies. 

"Remember human." My voice appeared next to his ear. "I am the demon from the veil. The shadows you see scurrying at night. I am the voice in the back of your mind."

I displayed my red eyes proudly to them both. Letting the glow pierce through the night. I gave them a toothy grin. Displaying rows of sharp jagged teeth for them.

I blinked. And when I opened my eyes, the point end of a scythe was at my throat. Reaper...

"Alister, cut it out. Now." He growled.

I dispelled the illusions and sighed. I slowly stepped back from the blade and the guards. 

"You said make a good first impression right? Well I couldn't think of a better one."

I tilted my black fedora over my face slightly. Hiding my eyes from the men.

"Forgive him please si-" Reaper started but the president just started to laugh over him.

"Ah! You remind me so much of your king when I first met him! Those must've been illusions I presume?" The old man inquired. 

I looked up and into his eyes. I was a bit surprised. This old fart knew that bag of bones? Guess it was an old person thing.

"Something like that." I replied.

"Show him respect!" 

Beast smacked my arm as he roared at me.

I just rolled my eyes.

"Skull told me alot about you Allister." The old man started. 

I raised my brow.

"Oh? I bet that bag of bones is just talking crap on me."

"On the contrary, he speaks very highly of you. He has a lot of high expectations. I also knew your father when he was a hunter. I see you take after his old tactics."

My dad's face appeared in my head. I felt this warmth in my chest as I thought about him. It's been a long time since someone brought him up. I growled.

I quickly glared up at him and activated my spell. Alright old man! Let's see what you fe-

Nothing, I-I wasn't seeing anything at all. Which meant, he's already faced his fears. Or he has none…

"For someone who claims to be a devil." He leaned in close to me. "You sure get shaken up easily."

I was at a loss for words. W-what the hell was this guy?

He stood up straight and stepped away from me. I looked around and I could see the guards keeping their distance. Something wasn't right here...

"Whatever." I muttered.

"We should get going." Reaper spoke up. 

"Right, thank you! I was really excited to see what the new generation had to bring! Your king and I worked hard for just this very day." He chimed.

"I understand. If you need anything you have my number president." Reaper gave him a nod and we turned around. 

He started down the hill and we all followed behind. 

"Reaps, what is that guy?" I asked.

"Even I can't answer that. You're better off watching your step around him. I'm sure you noticed as well as I did. Those guards were just for decoration." Reaper replied.

The human world. It just gets more interesting by the second.

….

It was odd being back. I'd grown accustomed to the red sky and black clouds of Astraya. I stared at the white clouds as we drove down the winding road. The sky seemed so much more inviting here. Like it was beckoning me up to the rest on the clouds.

I wondered if she was looking at the same sky as me right now. I wondered if she would even recognize me. I instinctively reached up and grabbed my hat. My fingers slowly rubbing over the cheap fabric material. Memories of her flooded into my mind. Her big dorky smile, her golden blonde hair that always seemed to shine when it hit the sun.

I just need to ignore that thought...

I looked over to the right at casper. She was staring intently out the window. Like she was expecting something. Casper was wearing grey jeans, and a white t-shirt with black sleeves. Her white hair glistened in the sun. I’d probably think she was cute. That is, if her voice didn’t make me want to run a thousand forks on a chalkboard. She’s so annoying. She thinks she’s my mom or something. Always nagging me over and over! Don't use your illusions here! Don’t blow things up! I don’t even remember what her actual name was anymore. I’ve been calling her Casper since I’ve seen Casper the friendly ghost. She hates it.

My eyes glazed over from her and then landed on the passenger seat. There sat our oh-so smart leader, Beast. He thinks just because he has some intense reputation that You're just supposed to listen to him. The hell do I look like taking orders from a guy named Eugene!? People don't even know that's his real name. They just call him The Beast. I like to point that out when we're in public together. He was a strong guy. Like, lift a car for fun strong. He kept his hair short, and I’m sure it was blonde at one point. But it almost looked grey now. Another odd thing about him was his pointy ears. I really didn’t get his hype. Dude’s name was Eugene and he had fairy ears. Might as well sell him off to Neverland.

I looked myself over in the window’s reflection; my red eyes seemed to shine. My hair wasn't hidden well under my hat. It was poking out all over the place. I looked over my black fedora. My eyes trailing around the grey line that connected the hat and the bill.

Those bastards are gonna regret what they did to me. What they did to us. Just you wait, Doctor. Your worst fear is coming.