Changed (The Hunters #1)

by Rose J. Bell

They landed in the park. The people on the street didn’t even bother to look at them.

  The people in San Diego were used to angels. Every day, angels were flying over San Diego, living amongst the humans.

  Jason let his wings disappear. Philip did the same as they turned around.

  San Diego didn’t look like the old San Diego anymore. There were no more beautiful houses, beaches, bars, or palm trees. Everything had been destroyed. Everywhere you looked was rubble and destroyed buildings. On the beaches, there were remains of yachts and boats.

  Humans were moving very slowly with the rebuilding. Only one or two houses were built by the humans. Living in poverty, they had no real food, because all of their crops were destroyed. Numerous wars between the archangel and hunters had caused the same result throughout the world.

  Boston looks better than San Diego, Jason thought.

  Jason bet that somewhere in the world, there was a war going on where people were killed and houses were being destroyed.

  It was pointless in his opinion.

  In this never-ending war, the archangels and the hunters wanted power over the whole earth. Furthermore, they were searching for the talismans that held huge power.

  Jason did not really care about the war until his sister was captured. Then again, if they had not been at war, she never would have disappeared to begin with.

  His friend touched his arm. “It looks worse than last week,” Philip said.

  He nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”

  The archangels lived in a very expensive apartment, with enough food and drink. They did not care about the humans who were suffering after the war. They thought only of themselves.

  “Time to go,” said Philip.

  Jason nodded and they went to the apartment. His father’s apartment was at the end of the coast.

  All that was left of the previous San Diego was its sunny weather. The sun was shining in all its glory in the sky, brightening the blue ocean.

  After they had walked through the park for a while, they arrived at the apartment.

  It was huge and painted white. It had three floors and a front yard, which looked well maintained. Around the house, there was a large fence, separating the apartment from the debris that was located uptown near the beach.

  Jason and Philip walked through the iron gate to a large metal door.

  Philip knocked at the door. After a few seconds, the door opened. A woman in her mid-fifties, with long black hair and golden eyes stood in front them.

  Jason recognized her immediately.

  It was Sarah, his aunt.

  A smile spread across her face when she saw the two boys.

  “Jason! Philip! It’s so nice to see you again,” she said happily and stretched out her arms.

  “Aunt Sarah,” said Philip, and fell into her arms. “I missed you.”

  Like Jason and Jasmine, Aunt Sarah had also raised Philip. Philip didn’t know his parents. Some archangels could not stand for their children, and gave them to someone else to raise them.

  Aunt Sarah stroked Philip’s back. “I missed you too, dear.” She pulled away and gave him a kiss on the forehead. Then she turned to Jason.

  “Come here.” She opened her arms.

  Jason smiled and hugged her. “Glad to see you again, Aunt Sarah.”

  She held him tight. “I have missed you both. I am so happy you are back.”

  Jason broke away from her with a smile. “Aunt Sarah, it wasn’t even a week that we’ve been gone, and you miss us so much already?”

  She smiled so that her wrinkles deepened around her eyes. “You’re my little babies. I will miss you no matter how long you are away.”

  Aunt Sarah was the mother that he never had. Jason and Jasmine’s mother was a mortal and because of that, he didn’t know her. He was not allowed to meet his mortal mother. Gabriel was overextended with the educating of Jason and Jasmine, so he gave his children to his sister, so she was the one who raised Jason and Jasmine.

  Aunt Sarah was an archangel, but she was not like the others. She was very concerned about the poor humans and gave them something to eat and drink when she could, but she could not do much more than that.

  “Come,” said Aunt Sarah and they went inside.

  The lobby was huge. The floor was marble and glistening. The room, well lit by the huge chandelier, had no windows.

  In the middle of the room stood a fountain. A large staircase was leading to first floor. Everything seemed very expensive and modern.

  “And how is Boston?” Aunt Sarah asked. “Does it look the same as here?”

  Philip shook his head. “Not at all. Boston looks much better than here. It’s a little destroyed, but the humans don’t live on the streets like they do here,” he replied.

  “Yes, the hunters rebuild their cities, not like the angels. They don’t do anything.”

  “Dad wanted to talk to us,” Jason said. He didn’t want to stay long in this house. He hated it here.

  “Yes, of course. He is waiting in his room for you.”

  Jason nodded and they walked up the stairs to the first floor. The room of his father was at the end of the corridor.

  “You knock on the door,” said Jason, crossing his arms over his chest, as they stopped in front of the closed door

  “And why don’t you?” Philip asked as he arched an eyebrow.

  “Because I don’t want to touch his door.”

  “Why do you hate him so much?”

  Jason looked away. “Because I hate him.”

  Philip frowned, but said nothing. Then he knocked at the door and opened it.

  “Hello, Archangel Gabriel,” Philip greeted him with a friendly smile. Jason closed the door behind him and folded his arms across his chest.

  Gabriel, his father, rose from his chair and shook Philip’s hand.

  “Hello, Philip, how are you?” he asked.

  Philip smiled. “I’m fine, thank you. And you?”

  “I feel much better now that I’ve seen you.”

  Jason snorted. He felt much better, after seeing Philip and not him, his own son.

  Gabriel looked up to him. His smile disappeared and his face was expressionless.

  There stood his father, the great Archangel Gabriel, God’s Messenger.

  Jason looked much like his father. They had the same curly black hair and fine features. Gabriel was wearing his hair short, too, and as always, he wore a neatly pressed white shirt and black pants. He looked quite attractive for his more than five hundred years, but Jason knew that this wasn’t Gabriel’s real body.

  Archangels were spiritual beings who used human bodies as a shell for living in the human world. Humans weren’t able to see the real appearance of the archangels because they were invisible to them. Theoretically, Gabriel wasn’t his real father. Jason’s father was the man, whose body Gabriel used as a shell. But only theoretically.

  Jason found it funny that his father was immortal, and couldn’t die. Jason was going to die eventually, but Gabriel wouldn’t.

  He turned his gaze toward his father. The tension between the two could literally be felt. There was a long silence between them.

  “Jason,” Gabriel said.

  “Father,” Jason replied dryly.

  “I am glad that you came. I didn’t expect you would.”

  Jason smiled coolly. “I couldn’t miss this.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

  Gabriel’s eyes turned cold, but he said nothing. Instead, he sat down on his chair.

  “You’re probably wondering why I asked you to come here,” he began.

  “Not really,” Jason muttered. Philip punched him in the ribs. Gabriel didn’t react to Jason’s comment, continuing on.

  “I would like to introduce you to someone.” He stood up and smiled at them. Jason frowned and asked himself whom would Gabriel want them to meet.

  Gabriel went to the door. “She came from Germany.” He opened the door. “Madeleine, please come in.”

&n
bsp; The two boys looked toward to the door. Gabriel took a step back, as a girl entered.

  The girl was the same age as Jason and Philip. She had long, platinum blonde hair that fell over her back. Her golden eyes looked at Philip. Then her gaze slid to Jason. She wore jeans and a white T-shirt.

  The girl was pretty, and she smiled at them with a confident smile.

  Why is she here? Jason asked himself.

  As if Gabriel had read his thoughts, he said. “Madeleine is now living with us and will support you in your tasks.”

  Jason frowned. “And why?” He didn’t have anything against a pretty girl that would work with him, but he couldn’t understand why. Otherwise, he had always done everything on his own or with Philip and his friend, Marco. They never needed any help.

  Gabriel looked at him. “I thought you could use a little support.”

  Jason waited for a more extensive answer, but he did not get one.

  Philip went to Madeleine and gave her his hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Philip.”

  She smiled and took her hand. “I’m Madeleine.”

  “Jason,” Gabriel said with a stern tone.

  Jason took the hand of Madeleine. “I’m Jason, and of course it’s nice to meet you.” He winked at her.

  She blushed and shook his hand. “Likewise.” He let go of her hand.

  “Madeleine is a trained fighter and has already killed a few hunters. I’m sure she’ll be a huge help,” said Gabriel.

  Jason looked at her. She didn’t look like a fighter with her kind eyes and sweet smile. He would find out if she really was a good fighter.

  “Philip, Madeleine,” Gabriel said. “Would you please leave me alone with Jason? I have to discuss something with him”

  Philip and Madeleine nodded and left the room together. Jason crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow. The smile vanished from Gabriel’s face and he looked angrily at his son.

  “Jason, you will stay away from Madeleine,” he demanded and took a step closer, so he looked directly into his son’s eyes. Jason responded to his father’s gaze with hostility. He had never thought he could hate his father so much.

  “You’ll leave your hands off her, and leave your friend in your pants. I do not want to have the same story as with Tasha. Understand?”

  Jason gritted his teeth. “Of course, father,” he said through his teeth. He certainly wouldn’t do what his father told him. His father could not provide him anything.

  Gabriel looked at him suspiciously, but nodded. Jason turned around and started to leave, but Gabriel grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

  “I’m not finished yet,” he said in a stern voice.

  Jason took a deep breath. “Yes, father?” He pulled his arm from Gabriel’s grip.

  “How far are you with the search for Jasmine?”

  “I’ve got a lead that she could be in Boston. I’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  Gabriel nodded. He had put Jason in charge of finding Jasmine, no one else. Gabriel did not seem upset that the search had lasted months now.

  “Can I go now?” Jason asked impatiently.

  “There is something you have to do for me.”

  Jason shook his head. “No, father. I will not do it. Do your dirty work on your own. I have to find Jasmine.”

  He turned around, but then Gabriel grabbed him by the arm, and shoved him against the wall. Jason defended himself, but his father was stronger than he was. Gabriel grasped him by his throat, staring into Jason’s eyes. Feeling his breath on his face, Jason turned his head away. Gabriel caught his chin with his other hand and turned his head towards him.

  “You look at me when I’m talking to you!” he hissed between clenched teeth. Jason was about to spit in his father´s face, but he controlled himself.

  “I am your father! You do what I say. I do not accept no for an answer. Or do you want me to tell everyone how you really got this scar?” he asked, pointing to his scar.

  Anger rose in Jason. “A father doesn’t threaten his son.”

  Gabriel laughed, but left his hand on Jason’s neck. “A son doesn’t bring shame on the family.” His eyes hardened. “You know what Archangel Michael would do with you if he should learn the truth about your scar, and about Tasha. He would break your wings with his own hands and stab the dagger into your heart. I think you don’t want that, or do you, son?”

  Jason swallowed. Archangel Michael was the leader of the archangels and Nephilim all over the world. He was God’s deputy.

  He came first, then the other archangels, and at the end the Nephilim. Michael decided what should happen in the country, which ruled the angels. He was more than six hundred years old and a feared archangel. He ruled his country with an icy fist. Whoever broke his rule was immediately executed, and he did not tolerate mistakes.

  Jason had made a mistake. He had broken the rule and he would be dead if Michael knew it, but thanks to his father, who had covered up everything, and made it look different, he was still alive. Jason owed his father, and was very grateful.

  “Of course, father,” Jason replied, lowering his head. He could not fight against his father. He was aware that he could not win as long as his father knew his mistake and used it against him.

  Gabriel released him and nodded.

  Jason rubbed his throat. “What should I do?”

  “The usual. A couple of pets rebelled against us. You have to punish them,” he replied with a serene countenance, as if it were perfectly normal to kill humans—pets—only because they wanted a better life. The world worked like that when angels and hunters ruled it.

  “Take Madeleine with you,” Gabriel continued. “The pets are living on the beach in a wooden hut. Bring them to the prison and the rest … you know.”

  Jason nodded. Yes, he knew the rest and it was the worst part of the whole thing.

  “May I go now?” he asked.

  Gabriel nodded. “Of course. I’m done.” He smiled blankly.

  Jason said goodbye and walked out of the room. Philip and Madeleine were nowhere to be seen. He took a deep breath and asked himself why his life was such a bitch.

  Rosa struck the punching bag with full force again and again. Sweat ran from her forehead. Her sweaty T-shirt stuck to her belly. Her heart was pounding and her breath came in short bursts.

  Rosa let out her frustration and pain on the punching bag. Sports had always helped her—just like painting—to deal with her feelings. She let her emotions run wild. It relieved her.

  To tell Matt they couldn’t be together, and then watch his hurt face, was clearly too much for her. So she went immediately to the academy, and trained for more than an hour. Her muscles ached, but she ignored the pain.

  “I wouldn’t like to be the punching bag,” a familiar voice said behind her. Rosa stopped and turned around. Colin stood at the door; his arms were folded across his chest, and he was leaning on the doorframe with a little smirk on his face.

  “Yes, I would say that, too,” said Rosa, taking off her gloves.

  Colin came over to her and joined her.

  “What happened to your face and leg?” he asked concerned.

  “I fought against a mermaid.”

  He nodded understandingly as he gave her a strange look. Rosa raised an eyebrow.

  “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

  “Rosa, I think we both know exactly why I’m looking at you like that,” Colin replied.

  She nodded. Colin knew her too well. He always knew how she felt, or when something had happened.

  Rosa sat down on the floor and sighed deeply. Colin sat down in front of her, resting his chin in his hand. He looked at her expectantly.

  “What do you want me to tell you, Colin?” said Rosa, drawing her knees to her chest.

  “What happened?” he replied.

  Rosa took her time. She didn’t really want to talk about it.

  “It’s because of Matt,” she began.

&nbs
p; “Did he finally tell you he’s in love with you?” said Colin excitedly.

  “Why did everyone notice this except me?” Rosa threw her arms in the air.

  Colin smiled. “Everyone noticed it, Rosa. The way he always looks at you.” He sighed. “It was clear you didn’t see it, Ice Princess.”

  “Hey! What does that mean now?”

  “That means you don’t know anything about love.”

  Rosa nodded. “Yes, I know.”

  “And what about Matt?”

  “I told him I can’t be with him because of the hunter clan.”

  Colin eyes widened. “Oh, not good. How did he take it?”

  “What do you think? Of course, not well! I don’t know what to do now.”

  He squeezed her shoulder gently. “And are you in love with him?” he asked carefully.

  Rosa looked at him for a long time, and then she shook her head.

  “Did you tell him this?”

  She nodded.

  Colin grimaced. “Uh, pure drama.”

  “What is drama?” Valerie said as she entered the room.

  “The fact that Rosa told Matt that she doesn’t love him,” said Colin.

  Valerie grimaced, put her arm around Rosa’s shoulder, and pulled her close. Rosa put her head on her shoulder. Colin sat beside Rosa and laid his head on Rosa’s shoulder. For a while, the three friends just sat there, feeling comfort in each other.

  Then Valerie broke the silence. “If he really loves you, Rosa, then he will accept that you don’t love him and will still want to be your best friend.”

  Rosa sighed. “I hope he understands. I don’t want to lose him. Why did he have to fall in love with me?”

  “Welcome to the complicated and painful world of love, Ice Princess,” said Colin and sighed.

  “I should never have entered this world,” said Rosa as she straightened up. “I have nothing against the idea of getting old alone, and living with a lot of old cats in the forest.”

  Valerie laughed. “That’s what you want to do when you’re old?”

  Rosa nodded. “Yes, what else should I do? I can’t still be fighting at the age of sixty.”

  “Yes, that’s true. But you can live differently if you are old.”

  “Ladies, just one question,” Colin tampered. “Since when do women talk about ageing? I thought you were very careful, and bitchy about this topic.”