The Dormant Queen of the Hybrid

Book 1, Chapter 15 Dook

He tried to avert his eyes from all the glimpse that they are throwing at him. Attraction is such a silly hassle to deal with when you are in public places. He would rather see them run away for their life. Far away from him. A guardian alpha is a dangerous kind. And not in a good way kind of danger. Every guardian alphas have a prick animal inside of them. Self righteous killers. Though Byakko, his inner tiger has been in his good manners, since his last outburst in the Star Hotel project excavation site. Dook even got his cooperation with saving Asterids from the specter’s attack.

“Hey, Mr. Popular! Who’s the lucky gal you picked? The one behind the madam in red looks promising! Look at those melons.” Speaking of the devil. Asterids kept annoyingly tried to take Dook’s attention towards her. Teasing him about the ladies who’re desperate to get his number. He was just playing it cool by ignoring them. Dook snarl at Asterids.

“Eh? Why are you so grumpy? Why did you even come here?”

“I’m just trying for a change of phase. But why did you even volunteer for this, huh? This is the project manager’s job,” he nagged. In reality, Dook is just trying to chaperone her today. Alvin, Simon and Theo had to focus on the other projects. The other goons are needed in the office as well. There were no update on Hamorabi. But he already have an appointment with Officer Gerdo. Plus it seems that Asterids is hiding something from him about her investigation of the old families in the witch district. He’ll have to interrogate her later. He’s free today anyway, because it’s his f*cking day off.

“I’m just trying to lighten the workload for them. The new Ayala Project is very stressful for everyone as it is,” the blue lady replied as she stepped forward in the building permit window aisle one.

“This would take hours.”

“Yes, boss. Which is why you shouldn’t have joined me today. Here. Take a gum and play with my phone.” Dook reluctantly obeyed and reached level 3 in Sudoku, and then he’s bored again.

“Here’s your phone back. You know, you should really put a pin lock on your phone.”

“No need, Boss. I only use the phone for calling and taking pictures. Got no important files here.” Asterids is filling out a form now. “You’re really bored aren’t you?”

Dook yawn. “I’m actually here to show my assistant the ropes. CEO style.” Then he begun mansplain the processes needed to be completed in the city hall, which Asterids ignored. “I can finish all this paperwork before lunch,” Dook dared.

“Interesting.. I accept the challeng—” His assistant was not able to complete her declaration, because a sudden panic erupted in the area.

“Crowd Control!” an irritated guard said. Seeing all the crowd fleeing from the floors above them, Dook asked one of the guards about what’s happening.

“The mayor and her secretary are dead!”

*** *** ***

The young alpha went on the third floor, where the mayor’s office is. He didn’t noticed that Asterids is following him at the back. He caught the Medical examiner giving instructions to the other guards. “Notify the Bureau of Emergency Communications! This is a possible code 55-A.”

“Homicide?” Dook asked, confirming the meaning of the code.

“Sorry you’re not allowed here, Sir!”

“I know the victim personally.”

“Who? The mayor?”

“The secretary is a member of my pack. He’s a shifter.”

“Okay but please don’t touch anything. We are sending the ambulance.” Dook is already exploring the room on his own, though. It seems that the Mayor was walking towards the door when the attack happened. Possibly the secretary was the main target and the mayor was just at the wrong place and time. The mayor is not a shifter. Nevertheless, seeing Hamorabi killed a none shifter is baffling enough. This year, the specter is not following any pattern. He’s just on a trigger happy prowling and murdering.

“Gods, Boss!” Asterids gasps, after seeing the two victims on the floor with eyeless bloody face.

Dook observed the black ether coming out of their faces. The black ether is thicker on the secretary’s than the mayor’s “I can’t believe it,” he said to himself, though Asterids heard it.

“Dook.” Asterids held his shoulder, pulling him in closer, so he can face and tell her what’s on his mind.

“The summoner is getting drunk from all the power he collected.. Asterids. The summoner has killed a witch.”

“Sh*t, boss.. The mayor?”

“Yes.” What’s your angle here Mr. Summoner? He ask himself. And then Dook saw it. Through his peripheral vision. A black shadow moving outside the window of the office.

“Hey, what’s that?” The medical examiner tried opening window, but Asterids stopped and yanked her away to safety. “No!”

“He’s still f*cking here!” And then Dook jump to the floor in front of Asterids, transforming while in the air, ripping his clothes off and landing on the ground in full animal form. He immediately roared to manifest a surge of electricity which pushed the specter, still not damaging it. The medical examiner and few guards begun screaming.

“We need to get out of here, Boss!” Asterids yanked the examiner again, to instruct her to keep everyone away from the whole building. “We’ll have to get his attention,” She added talking to Dook again.

The specter hover in the air, preparing for another attack. Trying to claw Asterids face with its cloth like hands. Dook roared, aiming for the specter’s face in return. His attack destroyed a solid wood table, but it only pushed the specter through the wall. Asterids on the other hand is leading all the people inside the floor to the near fire exit. It seems that she’s also trying to observe and sense around to check if the summoner is nearby. They usually are since the summoning spell is a type of Area Of Effect magic, as Dook’s assistant explains to him in one of their previous discussion about the case. The Area of effect refers to an area with radius in where all target can be affected by the curse command. And in this case, the attacks of Hamorabi.

“Boss! Lead the specter upstairs to the rooftop!” And so Dook the lion covered himself with his white aura to temp the specter Hamorabi. He run outside the office and saw the fire exit crowded. Not a good option. The escalator and the elevator lobby has the same scenario. Dook thought outside the box and aimed his roar to the ceiling of the mayor’s office. After one surge of attack, putting more effort since the ceiling and the rooftop floor are solid thick cement, he was able carve a hole to the outside of the building. He then jumped to the hole, going outside near the parapet. The specter followed him as per plan. The specter once again spoke in ancient language.

Ponudi mi ja dušata menuvač [Offer thy soul lowly shifter]

Dook did not waste anytime and roared an attack. This time he did not manifest the electricity. He only need the force to push the specter to the parapet wall. He would throw the specter his attacks continuously, since it’s the only thing working on Hamorabi.

It seems that Dook was right. The specter shriek, as the repeating air pressure tear on his ghostly air body. However, an old king he is, Hamorabi is cunning and already powerful. Suddenly, he cast a shadow mist and toss it to the alpha tiger. It was already too late when Dook jumped away. As it hit Dook’s right foot, the shadow turned into some kind of black liquid which decayed his fur coat, then his skin. Thunderous growl echoed in the building rooftop as the young alpha felt the pain. Meanwhile, Asterids followed them by using the fire exit, while on her phone yelling to the MCCDS. She already called her aunt and the goons for help. And seeing her boss, Asterids tried to go to him, but then Hamorabi rushed forward, to swipe her face again.

Finally, Dook was able to stand. He bumped his head to Asterids, telling her to ride on his back so they can escape. They plan to jump in the adjacent building’s roof to get the attention of Hamorabi and lead him somewhere far away from the people. Asterids obeyed her boss hesitantly. They maneuvered uncomfortably to the roof of the building, right of the city hall. Dook growled in pain with the first landing, but eventually he recovered and got his momentum as he jump to the following buildings. The wind crashes to their faces and bodies as they try to dash for their life. The sky, the trees around, the free uncaring clouds were the witness as they struggle. Heart beating fast, minds are focused, adrenaline is rushing to their veins, as they hold on to the hope of saving those innocent people and finding a way to defeat the specter. Asterids did not leave Hamorabi out of her sight looking back while mounted on the white tiger. She would shout the location of the specter so they can avoid his attacks.

Out of luck, Dook stepped on an old rusty galvanized iron roof, which made them out of balance. At the same time, taking his chance, Hamorabi’s shadow mist hit Dook’s right leg. They fell down to the muddy ground near a forest park. Screaming in agony. Asterids were fine except for the multiple small cuts on her legs and hands. Dook is weaken and in the verge of losing consciousness.

Hamorabi shrieked mockingly. He start speaking ancient words. Suddenly his shadow body starts to move in an eerie way. It’s as if there are multiple snakes slithering, rapidly moving and coiling inside his misty robe. Two sets of hands emerge from under the robe like worms coming out of their dark hiding hole. In few seconds, there are three of them. Hamorabi and his two underlings summoned from beyond.

Dook noticed his assistant whimper in fear. “Dook.. please hang on.” She tried standing up but fell back on the ground. Filth covering her clothes.

“Gods.. Please.. What do you want from us?!” She desperately cried to the murderers in front of them. Hamorabi only repeat his racism to her.

Ponudi mi ja dušata menuvač [Lowly shifter. Offer thy soul..]

Meanwhile, the young alpha started losing his consciousness. The blinding pain is giving his body trauma, making it shut down. Both his right foot and right leg are blighted by decay. He forced moving his other leg but it’s no use. His body was not able to struggle for long. The last thing he saw is the hands of Asterids leaving the cursed ring necklace and her phone beside him. She stands up and starts limping, getting the attention of Hamorabi, leading the three specters deep inside the forest.

Saving his life in exchange of hers.