What Lies Beneath His Pelt?

CHAPTER 1: THE HAIR STAYS UNTIL YOU FAIL

December 23, XX20 || 17:30:03

Daemomachi Tamagmine, Daemomachi, Iasa

Organized, level-headed, and independent.

Those were the words that I could use to describe myself, Calum Vallejo of Shufurbs Cathedral under the Rathe United Forces. I was well-respected because of my serious demeanor, outstanding focus, and precision in killing those who had no chance of redemption, and that earned me the nickname "Holy Hound of Death", even if I was technically half-human, half-wolf.

Yes, calling me 'Father' or 'Priest' was a stretch because even if I used Pure Spiritual Energy to deal with Fabulares Kage (or Fabukage-dark beings), I wasn't big on religion.

That was the reason why I couldn’t believe that I was strapped into a metal bed in a room filled with ability suppressants which rendered me useless and weak.

I tried everything I could to break free from my restraints, but if I was successful, I would be out there and those who dared to take me against my will would be fertilizer for my plants.

I growled in frustration, my voice raspier than usual as I had used all my strength for the past two days already.

At least the i***t who took me was kind enough to leave me some food and water, but I wanted to get out of here.

All of a sudden, the temperature dropped and I shivered, my body unsuited for such change. The air in my cell seemed thinner as well and I wheezed. My dry throat closed up, my breath came in short bursts and my eyes darted everywhere.

How cruel would the world be if I died because of an asthma attack and not because I was on duty or something more badass?

The shadows seemed to move toward me and they covered the light that filtered through one of the tiny windows.

I shouted for help but only echoes answered me back and I noticed that one of the shadow figures had reached me already.

My eyes widened as they formed into the shape of my grandfather, the same slicked-back white-blonde hair that fell until his waist, to the same pale skin, eyebrows, and lashes, but his icy blue eyes were feral.

My white-blonde hair was pulled from behind and I looked back to see that a disembodied hand with sharp nails held it.

“No, please, don’t!” I shouted as the hand slid down to my nape. It scratched my scalp and I was helpless. I squirmed against my restraints.

The phantom figure of my grandfather hovered above me and there was a grin on his face.

“What lovely hair you have. I think it needs a haircut.” It was my grandfather’s voice that came and when I looked at who held my head hostage, I saw that it was another phantom grandfather.

“No, please, no!” I begged. Tears streamed down my cheeks and I realized this was the first time I cried in a long time. However, my words fell on deaf ears as the grip on my head and hair tightened.

“NO!”

“Sir?” I looked at the train attendant who watched me curiously. I straightened in my chair, only to hiss in pain when I moved my sore shoulders. There was something sticky on my cheek and I was grateful no one knew me, otherwise, I would have been mortified.

“Uh, I’m sorry?” I asked as I tried to return the moisture in my dry mouth.

“I was asking if you wanted some dinner, sir? We have three more hours before we reach Daemomachi and dinner will start in thirty minutes. The restaurant is located in the middle of the train, just in case you want to eat,” the attendant continued. I looked out of the tiny window that showed the twilight horizon.

“Uh, yeah. I’ll check it out in a bit.” I replied, my mind still hazy. The attendant gave me a curt nod and moved on to the other passengers.

I cleared my head as I could already feel the energy of the full moon that would happen next week. The fatigue from three hours of air travel did not help as well, but luckily, the bullet train, or the Tamagmine as we called it, offered a rather comfortable seat with a view, so I was able to rest even for a short bit.

I sighed as I removed my beanie and ran a hand through my long, white-blonde hair that cascaded down to my waist.

I always viewed my hair as a symbol of my status and always kept it properly, but when I moved out of Opeure, I noticed that more people wore their hair long. It was as if I was just an ordinary citizen all of a sudden.

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the now-darkened window and groaned when I saw how messy my hair was. I undid the half-ponytail I had put it in, parted it into three sections, and weaved it into intricate braids.

I hummed as I tried to dispel the silence that surrounded me. Their hair was long but they did not have the slightest idea about how to fix it. That was what made me different.

Satisfied with my new style, I took out my headphones from my bag, chose my music, and made my way toward the meal carriage. After I ate, I checked my belongings one more time before I closed my eyes again.

When the Tamagmine came to a halt, it was around half-past nine in the evening and I was surprised at how bright the station looked despite the time.

True to the city's mandate, the building was made of lumber and stones. The floor-to-ceiling windows provided a glimpse of the thick pine forest and mountain range the region of Iasa was well-known for.

The terminal was clean and the scent of pine infiltrated my nostrils. I walked towards the moving walkway and the other passengers joined me as well. Just like the rest of them, I wore a thick coat and gloves along with my beanie, my backpack, and a duffel bag.

Besides its environment, Iasa is also known for its cold climate, thus making it a region for snowsports.

Daemomachi, the city that would be my new home, was the biggest city in the region and it was also known for being the “Creative City of Rathe”.

Daemomachi was dubbed as such as the city had a lot of year-round activities that catered to various topics of interest.

When I reached the main lobby, I noticed that the creative side of the city could be seen in the way it was decorated.

Wreaths adorned with pinecones, pine needles, poinsettia, and amaryllis were everywhere.

The sudden anticipation for the Yuletide season filled my heart as I took in the sights and I realized that the lobby resembled a ski lodge receiving area with a huge Christmas tree in the middle of it.

It was decorated with silver and gold ribbons, rustic lamps and pinecones, and more Christmasy plants.

Around the tree were lumps of bean bag chairs and cushions with faux fur.

Although the decorations were impressive, what caught my eye was the rustic cascading chandelier that was half the size of the high ceiling.

It brightened up the entire room and I was drawn to it. For what reason, I don’t know.

There was a sound of someone clearing their throat from behind me and I looked back. I realized I was blocking the way.

I mumbled a quick apology and removed my headphones before I moved to the side. I waited for people to shout at me but they merely said ‘Thanks’ and went on their way.

Confusion settled because if I was in Shufurbs, the person behind me could have glared at me or something, but here, they merely acknowledged me.

“Oh. This is kind of...refreshing,” I mumbled to myself, but was surprised when a chuckle came from behind me. The scent of leather infiltrated my nostrils and I turned in the direction of the scent.

“Indeed it is. That’s one of the things I love about here,” A guy with black hair in a bun and fair skin stood in front of me.

His dragon horns were out and he wore a black V-neck under his black coat and black jeans.

He finished the look with leather boots and some dark shades. Why is he wearing shades indoors?

When he held out his hand, I noticed that they were both covered with black scales and had long, pointy nails.

“What’s up, man? Glad you finally came here!” He greeted me. I became alert but did not show it.

“Yeah, I'm glad to finally meet you!” I replied. He grinned and offered me a fist bump. Subtly, he slipped a piece of paper into my hand.

“So, do you want to go or do you want to use the bathroom first?” I simply nodded and he gestured for me to follow him.

As we passed by a group of tourists, I noticed that three of them turned their attention to me. I tried to scent them but it was as if my senses were blocked and a sense of dread rested in my gut.

I looked at the guy who led me and he was alert too. We finally reached the bathroom. I went immediately to a stall.

After I made sure that I wasn’t being watched, I unfolded the piece of paper.

Father Vallejo, my name is Liam Himitsu. The RUF heard that you were sent here without any escort. You can trust me. 8463269-21-47-51795.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I tore the paper and threw some of it into the trash can.

Some went into the toilet and when I went out, I also let some fall into the sink. The paper was thin and easy to dissolve, so I didn’t have to worry about congesting the drainage system.

"Ready to go, Calum?” He asked as I dried my hands and met him outside.

“Yeah. The train ride was long. Shall we?”

“Yeah. Welcome to Daemomachi!" He exclaimed and I noticed that he looked at someone behind me.

"Calum. We need to move. They know you're here." He said in a whisper, but it was a good thing I had my superior hearing.

As he spoke, I also noticed two men watching us. If it weren't for my senses, I would have thought they were just normal tourists.

He just turned on his heel and gestured for me to follow. We blended in with a group of tourists. I simply grunted and put my headphones on again, but I didn’t play any music. I can get through this.

*****

Thank you so much for your support and patience! You can see chapter art from the story on my **, artbyellysse, or my Deviantart, reza-delavega. Do not forget to leave a comment if you want!