Chapter One

Etablissement de Chasseur

The concealed are walking the streets of the mortal world. An assortment of creatures such as vampires, shifters, witches and much more make up the concealed population. They walk the streets of the mortal world everyday. Most know of them and some blind themselves to what’s right in front of them. Either way the world is a mixture of beings that need law and justice. The concealed who have no malice in their hearts live in peace. While those who do not are hunted. We are the hunters, raised from birth to be the executioners of evil. When the creatures of the concealed get out of line and break laws, we are the ones who hunt them and deliver justice. We do this to keep both the concealed world and human world safe at all times. That is who we are and what we do. My name is Shikari, part succubus and part unknown, I am the deadliest hunter to ever exist.

Shikari

You know those days that from the moment you wake up nothing goes right? Well, today is that day for me. First, I stubbed my toe getting out of bed, then dropped my toothbrush in the damn toilet. Then I spent an hour shopping only to get to the register and realized I left my wallet at home.

Now, to top it off, my ex is standing at my front door waiting for me.

FUCK! This is the last thing I’m in the mood to deal with.

He leans against my door frame with his perfectly styled blond hair and eyes as blue as the sea, wearing his usual khaki pants. He screams preppy in his white button-down with the sleeves rolled up, covered by a sweater vest, and of course matching boat shoes to complete the ensemble. He is just so… clean.

I don’t know any other way to describe him other than innocent and clean, the perfect-looking guy you’d want to bring home to Mom. He seemed so kind and respectful until the day I caught him getting a blow job in my car. "What do you want Ryan?" I don’t hide my irritation one bit.

"I missed you and wanted to see you. Is that so bad?"

Trying to sweet talk me with his smooth slick tongue. Ugh...I swear I’m going to gag!

"Interesting, why don't you check in with what’s her name, you know, blow girl? I mean, she’s the one you’ve been seeing since we broke up." The disdain is obvious in my voice. He’s going to mistake it for jealousy, but honestly it's not. I was already over him a month into our three-year relationship. Yes, I stayed with the putz for three long boring years. I had just needed to keep busy and keep my mind off a certain man, or "Asshat" as I like to call him, and Ryan was the perfect distraction. The complete opposite of Asshat.

"Oh, come on. Don’t be like that, Shikari. You know how much you meant to me. She was just a fling, a side thing, ya know? I told you, it would never happen again. I would drop her in a heartbeat for you. It was always you I wanted."

He comes closer as he reaches out a hand, which of course I slap away.

"Well, that’s horrible for you, then." I sigh, stopping to take a breath, but hold my tongue because the next words about to come out of my mouth would be shitty. I also know that if I lash out now, it will just turn into a fight, and I definitely don't have the energy for that right now. "Look, I’m tired and cranky, and it's been a long day and I truly just want to rest. You made your bed, so lay in it, Ryan. You and I were done long before that happened. So please, just leave," I say in the nicest voice I can muster with the day I had.

His face falls a bit as he leans into me and I can feel his breath against my cheek.

"Oh baby, I could help you relax. You know, like the old days?"

"LEAVE. NOW." I say in a much harsher tone that forces him to take a step back. I can’t help the growing smirk on my face, and I try to move around him so I can be ready to unlock my door. I see the hurt on his face as he mumbles something and makes his way down my stoop.

Just as I was about to turn and unlock my door, he spun around and surprised me for the first time in three years.

"Shikari, whatever that guy Birsha did to you… well, he fucked you up badly. Don't let one man make you heartless and cold." He turns quickly and walks away.

I’m stunned. Not at what he said really, I mean, I don’t speak of the Asshat and Ryan knows it. So, when he said the asshat's name, it’s a bit unsettling, but the real shock was that he spoke his mind. He was never too vocal, always stayed quiet and chill. Never seemed to let much bother him and hardly reacted to anything. That was refreshing at first. Especially with all the drama and action that tends to find me. Quiet, calm, and boring was what I thought I needed.

I was sadly mistaken. Boredom just leads to annoyance, and then to lack of sex drive. I really can’t blame him for stepping out. I mean, I think the little pink toy I keep in my drawer got more action than he did while we were together.

I walk into my studio apartment just as the phone starts to ring. Great and who could this be? I roll my eyes and pick up.

"Shi, we have an assignment."

My friend and one of my longtime partners uses the nickname she gave me when I was eleven.

"Mer, and I will be at your studio in thirty minutes." She states that simply and does her normal hang up with no goodbye.

Some would say that she was rude, not asking if I was busy, or because she just assumed I wouldn't be. However, everyone in the Establishment knows that no matter what else may be going on, when an order comes…everything else stops.

I sigh and put on a pot of peppermint tea to brew. It will calm whatever anxiety I have left from this awful day.

I shower then, rush to dress, but I pause to look in the mirror at the woman I’ve grown into. Can people see how broken I am inside? I used to be so confident before Asshat came into my life. I felt beautiful and exotic, and he made me feel so worshiped every moment I was with him. Now, all I see is a woman scorned. My dark curly hair and caramel skin is still the same, but my hazel eyes have lost the sparkle they used to have. I can't believe I fell so hard and let him break me. I sigh and try to shake off the memory of him walking out for coffee and never coming back. I have work to do and don’t have time for sad memories. Fuck him!