Chapter One; Demon

In a world where the human race is almost extinct, those with special abilities thrive to populate the planet, free from the shadow of exposure hanging over them. Earth is rife with magicians, vampires, werewolves – all just as different as the next.

Humans built this world; aliens feed from it.

-

A groan escaped Iantho’s lips as his back arched up from the mattress. Another peaceful sleep rudely interrupted, he thought wryly, opening his eyes so that they were only mere slits, another groan turning to a growl at the light that stung his larger-than-life pupils.

The bed sheets were tossed haphazardly across the room from days before. His father’s maid was persistent about making his bed thoroughly everyday, and Iantho had clearly shown her what he thought of this. She hadn’t been near his room since.

He swung his legs over the left side of the bed, opening his mouth in a yawn that resembled that of a hippo. His teeth, sharp and elongated brushed against his lips as he closed his mouth, licking the sleepy residue from his lips. His eyes, now opened to their full blue potential, flicked around the room, settling on the pack of cigarettes that lay upon the bedside table. Releasing a lazy and monotonous sigh, Iantho reached over, slipping one of the long sticks from the packet and perching it between his lips, not bothering to light it just yet.

At only nineteen, he had the physical body of a twenty six year old, muscles rippling over his arms and torso impressively. His naked torso would be one that would stop many. Blonde, almost white hair screamed all over his head in a dishevelled pile and it tugged in protest when Iantho ran a rough hand through it. Touching the end of the cigarette now, the tip began to glow, smouldering against his finger before he pulled it away and inhaled a large amount of the addictive smoke, exhaling it gustily through his nose and mouth.

“Alright,” he muttered to himself, “today is the day.”

His nose scrunched in disgust at the statement and he shook his head, stooping to grab a shirt from a nearby pile on the floor. He draped it over his shoulders, slipping his arms in and toying with the buttons before deciding to keep them open. His jeans, torn and worn, hung low at his hips and he stretched, pressing out some of the creases that had formed in the fabric while he slept.

A quiet, barely audible knock sounded against the door and he grimaced, taking another drag from the cigarette and walking over to the window of his room, peering out across the baron lands of rocks and rubble, feeling the heat pulse through his veins. They weren’t good enough to live in the same town as them, let alone the same dimension. The knock, louder this time, echoed through Iantho’s thoughts and he sighed, turning to lean on his windowsill and letting the cigarette dangle from his lips while he spoke.

“Come in.”

In response to his call, the door opened slowly and in stepped a small woman, head bowed as she clutched a rag to her chest. Her hair, a tinted chestnut, hung limply around her face and her clothes were simple and worn out.

“Sir, your father would like to speak with you.” Her voice was strong yet it raised an octave towards the end when her nerves got the best of her.

“Right.” Iantho left it at that – he felt sorry for the poor human, only here to be her father’s to and fro. He pushed himself from the windowsill and walked past the female, who seemed to shrink away from the burning heat of his skin. He flicked the butt of his cigarette out of a nearby window and headed for the main hall, where he could already hear his father’s booming voice.

“Where in Hell could he be, you miserable runts! If I don’t have him here in front of me in the next two minutes-” The booming cut short as the vast figure that stood central to the hall peered across at the entrance. His son stood, arms crossed over his chest while he studied the scurrying of humans and slaves. Raising his eyes, he stared at his father directly, their eyes mimicking each others in colour. The man stood at six feet seven and his shoulders seemed as wide as a mountain. Iantho, in comparison, seemed like a weed.

“There you are, boy. Don’t you know that you were called for an hour ago! The ceremony will start in a couple of minutes and you’re not even prepared to greet your new hosts!” The older man’s lip quivered, revealing his own set of sharp teeth momentarily before he regained himself. “Now, let us hope that they are prepared for what they are about to take on.” He muttered in an afterthought.

At the utterance of his last words, the door he stood beside flung open, revealing a set of stairs that grew purple, green and then finally a dull grey colour. Iantho straightened his shoulders and despite his awe and trepidation towards the stairwell, he swiftly walked past his father and carried on up the stone steps.

The door abruptly swung shut behind him, only to dissolve into the guise of a lonely brick wall. There was no going back now.

Author's Note; Sorry it's not so long! I'm just calling this one a quick fire chaptered novel! Also, I'll be messaging those who review to let them know when the rest of the chapters are posted, and also to ask for feedback; hope that's okay!