Chapter 1

This wasn’t a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… and this certainly didn’t all start with the forging of some ring. And for as long as I could remember, it felt like there was something I had lost or was missing? Like that something… was an intrinsic part of my very being, and without it, everything seemed muted, lesser, dull, a haze.

Now you might say I felt depressed. My therapist did too, but it was the best way I had to describe it. And this, this is the story of my life and how I learned what goes on in the world underneath our mundane world. Where there were more things to worry about than what goes bump in the night.

And it all started on the first day of my freshman year of university…

I could hardly believe it. I had done it through hard work, lots of sleepless nights, and three years of summer community college. But I had finally made it to Morrison Butler Uni, the thriving heart of the city of Milestone, Ohio. Sometimes, it felt like this was all a dream. That I’d wake up and be back at home. Flipping burgers for a living.

But no, I shook my head and idly rested one hand on my medallion beneath my shirt, my only remaining memento from my grandfather, odd man that he was. While I looked at the map on my phone. The university itself was an impressive sight. I could understand why people called it one of the most prestigious in the country. It was a sprawling campus, with buildings of glass and marble. A mix of modern and historical architecture.

Following my map, I took a left at the next building, finally making it to my destination. The newly built Carter Hall.

I stood there for a moment. Feeling the weight of the fact that I was about to start a new chapter of my life. It was... a lot to take in.

Then, I swiped my student ID in the reader on the door. Hearing the click as the door unlocked. I took a breath and walked in.

The dorm was a hive of activity, fellow first years all busily moving in and out of the dorms, their hands laden with boxes and suitcases. But that was a given, seeing how it was move in day for the local first-year students. And I was an out of towner, so I had taken advantage of having my things shipped here. So I avoided the crush and took the stairs to the third floor, and found my room 321.

Slotting my student I.D. into the reader on the door. It chimed, and then the lock clicked open.

The dorm rooms in the newly built Carter Hall, unlike most dorms on campus, were more like four-bedroom co-ed apartments. Complete with a fully furnished kitchenette/ living room area separated by an island table, two bedrooms and a bathroom on either side of the combined kitchenette/ living room.

I was lucky that my roommates hadn’t arrived yet. That meant I got to pick my room first. In the end, the room I had chosen was at the far end of the apartment, with a window overlooking the campus and the clock tower at its center. Sunlight flowed through the window, giving the room a warm feel.

I set my bag on my bed, then headed out into the living room where my boxes were. Only there were more boxes than I had sent. ones marked Cam in a flowy cursive script.

Clearly, I wasn’t the only student from out of state here. With a shrug, I set them off to the side and got to work on my own boxes.

I was about halfway done with my boxes when I heard the door chime and unlock. I stuck my head out my door and locked eyes with a girl tall and leggy with piercing green eyes and ebony black hair. She stepped through the door. A shorter girl, who looked almost like a younger version of her, save for her crimson red locks and shocking blue eyes. If I had to guess, she was her sister. And she followed, a stack of boxes in hand.

She smiled when our eyes met. “Hi, looks like I’m your roommate.”

“Uh, yeah, nice to meet you. I’m Malik Douglass.” I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face, “but everyone just calls me Mal.”

“I’m Cassie, and this is my baby sis Dori.” Her sister gave a mulish glare at the nickname. “I’d shake your hand but...” she shrugged, gesturing at her boxes with a nod of her head.

“Here, let me help.” I said, stepping fully out into the hallway.

When I did, she eyed me up and down, letting out a low whistle. “Damn, you’re tall.”

She wasn’t wrong. Standing at 6’8 I was the tallest in my family.

She let out another low whistle when I took most of her boxes off her hands with ease. “strong, too.” She muttered under her breath.

“What was that?”

“nothing, nothing. Anyway, thank you.” she smiled up at me. “Here, I’ll just take this off your hands, Dori,” she said, taking the box from her sister and picking out a room of her own.

“It’s Dorea,” her sister huffed under her breath.

“What was that?” her older sister asked with a grin.

“Nothing.” Her younger sister sighed, then with a roll of her eyes followed her older sister.

Once I set her boxes in her room, I returned to finish my room, and before long; I had finished unpacking everything. Though by the time I had finished, the sun was setting and little Miss Dorea, Cassie’s sister, had long since left.

There was a knock at my door right as I broke down the last of my boxes.

“Hey Mal,” Cassie’s head popped through the doorway. Looking into my room as I was breaking down boxes. “So, you done unpacking?” She asked, glancing around my room with keen interest.

“Yeah...” I nodded, stretching as I stood; all that was left was to toss out the boxes, and that wouldn’t take long, really.

“So there’s this party...” she began, not that she needed to say more, not when she smiled that enchanting smile of hers. Hell, with a smile like that, she’d convince the dead to rise. I didn’t need convincing, no, sir. “It’s more of a back to school thing the upperclassmen host. more of a local tradition, really, but a lot of people are going to be there.” She smiled brightly.

Though I did have one question: “And you would know all about that?”

“Yes,” she huffed with a roll of her eyes, “born and raised, a local girl all my life.”

“Oh, okay then, lead the way, little Miss Milestone.”

“I’ll have you know that I was an excellent Miss Milestone,” she sniffed, sticking her nose high in the air while affecting a Southern belle accent. Though when she snorted in mirth, she utterly failed to maintain the act.

“Right,” I let out a chuckle of my own, “just let me get my coat.”

“Well, come on.” She urged, tugging at my arm playfully.

“Of course, of course.”

With a shrug and a roll of my eyes, I grabbed my jacket and followed her out.

In all honesty, the trip through campus was quite pleasant. The sky had taken on a golden-orange tint, and the night had already grown cool and refreshing. A gentle breeze rustled the trees as we made our way from Carter Hall down a path through campus. One that took us past the clock tower and further away from the thriving heart of the school.

“So... Mal,” Cassie began, “where are you from?”

“Well,” I hummed as I walked by her side, “believe it or not, I’m from this middle of nowhere town‌ called Bakersville. It’s near Cleveland.”

“A northern boy, eh,” she grinned, using that Southern belle drawl. “Well, what brought you all the way down here?”

“You mean aside from Morrison Butler having one of the best engineering departments that isn’t MIT, and one of the best schools in Ohio anywhere near Cleveland?” It also didn’t hurt that it was an HBCU.

“Yes, that aside,” Cassie laughed. “Tell me, what do you want to do when you graduate? What are you majoring in?”

“Well, I always liked science and technology, so engineering. There was always something about building something with your own two hands.” I admitted honestly, rubbing the back of my neck. “What about you?”

She looked at me over her shoulder, the barest hint of a smile on her lips as she snickered, “well if you must know, I’m majoring in business management.”

Then she skipped off towards the sounds of music and voices, calling back at me.

“Come on, Mal,” she shouted over her shoulder, skipping around the next corner.

I let out a sigh. She really was an exuberant girl. I followed, but only at a far more sedate pace. Really, there wasn’t much sense in rushing.

The place ‌she had taken me to was on the edge of campus. The building was an old theater, with one of those giant signboard marquees that hung over the box office and entrance.

Waiting there and grinning like a loon was Cassie. Her arms were held wide. “Well...?” she even did jazz hands.

I glanced at her, then at the marquee and entrance. When she had mentioned a party, I had assumed it was more of a rager house party. This ‘party’ was more akin to a quaint park festival, like a rib burn-off.

“Cassie...”

“Yes, Mal,” she fluttered long eyelashes innocently up at me.

“I’m starting to think that we have two very definitions of a party.” I snorted.

She blinked those innocent eyes up at me. Her brow furrowed, lips pursed in a little moe of confusion. As she pouted up at me.

“Just kidding…”

“Well then, come on ‌, we need to get our wristbands.” An enormous grin spread across her lips as she eagerly tugged me towards the ticket booth.

“wristbands?” I asked.

“Yeah, everyone has one.” True to her word, now that I knew what to look for, as far as I could see, everyone all had different wristbands. From red to blue and every color in between, without exception, everyone had one. “Students get in for free.”

“Two, please,” she said, flashing her student I.D. at the man in the booth.

“I need to see his I.D. too,” the man said, only glancing briefly at me.

“Alright,” I agreed, fishing out my wallet for my I.D. as well.

“So here's how it works,” Cassie began once I got my wristband. A deep blue color to match hers. “The bands are for easy identification. White means you’re not a student and also a minor who has paid the ticket price for admission. Deep blue like ours means we’re freshmen or sophomores and don’t have to pay. It also sadly keeps us away from liquor.” She pouted, “Red means you’re a junior or senior. And black means your faculty or an adult.”

She grinned, eyes gleaming with what was clearly mischief, and I suddenly had this sinking sense, like I had bitten off more than I could chew. “Now come on, time’s wasting.” She said, and then she pulled me off into the crowd.

For what it was worth, I hung in there for a good long while. Really, I did. It was hours. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every second, but things kind of blurred together after that third of what was more than likely a heavily spiked punch. I’d only made it through twelve more cups. Then I lost track.

I leaned against the brick facade of the theater. Not that it wasn’t fun, but on top of maxing out my quota for human contact for the month, I couldn’t keep up with that boundless energy she had. And somehow I hadn’t offended her when I had begged off for a breath of fresh air. Part of me expected her to be disappointed that I had tapped out, but no, she just gave a laugh, like she expected this to happen.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, relishing in the cool night air. Then I let it out in a deep exhale.

“Ah-” an odd clatter and what might have been a yell came from the alley on my right. Interrupting the quiet peace of my little sanctuary.

Part of me wanted to ignore it. To just go back and find Cassie.

But no, I couldn’t leave if someone was in trouble. As introverted as I was, that wasn’t me.

I pushed off the wall and entered the alley; I followed the sound.

At the other end of the alley was a girl, probably the single hottest girl I’d ever seen, pouty lips, crimson red hair, powder blue eyes. And surrounded by a group of drunken frat boys.

“Come on, baby,” one said. His voice was rough and slurred. Clearly intoxicated... “Don’t be like that. Let’s go have a little fun.”

“I think not,” she said stiffly, at least trying to maintain a facade of politeness. “You’ve clearly had too much to drink.”

“Aww, why not?” he slurred drunkenly. “Don’t jou know who I am?”

“No, I don’t know move! I’m not interested,” she sniped gruffly, making a rather rough attempt to move past him. Not that it made any difference.

The moment she did, the one who was clearly in charge, a big guy with dirty blonde hair and the college football team’s jersey with the number 34, made a grab for her arm the moment she did.

“Come on, babe, let me start over. Look I’m Ben. Ben Strong, star quarterback, captain of the team. You’ve heard of me, right? Ben Strong, son of Brady Strong?” trying to be as smooth as he drunkenly could, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“I’ve heard of you, yes,” she said, her tone icy as she pushed him off her. “But I don’t care.”

“You should care,” he snarled, his face turning an ugly shade of puce. “My old man’s a big deal here.”

“Hey!” I called out, unable to watch anymore. “She said she’s not interested!”

He spun to face me. “Stay out of this.”

My heart felt like it was pounding in my chest, thumping with what felt like the roar of an engine . And yet still I persisted. “Yeah, no.” but still I stood my ground.

Now, if this were a movie, he and his goons would scoff at me but back down. Sadly, this wasn’t a movie.

“No?” he scoffed.

I glanced at her over his shoulder, our eyes meeting for the briefest of moments, before I nodded back at him, my resolve hardening. “No.”

He laughed, the sound echoing down the alley, his goons joining in.

“Well,” he said, looking to his teammates, “well, you heard the man, boys.”

I’d never been one for a fight, but even I wasn’t cowardly enough to leave a girl alone with these guys. So I did the only thing I could do in this situation. I stored my glasses away in a case. Then, with a roar. I charged at them, bursting past two of the three other frat boys I had decided were Skinny, Funk, and Twink, and spearing Ben right in his ribs with all two hundred and fifty pounds of giant nerd.

For what it was worth when we went down, I think I broke some of his ribs... the rest of the fight... Well, heh, that went about as well as you’d think...

Once I was down, it was a simple matter for Funk, who actually looked like he had muscles on muscles, to just pull me off Ben, tossing me to the ground, where Twink and Skinny rained kicks down upon me.

And yeah, it hurt, but at least the girl got away, right?

And as I curled up into a ball, I hoped that at least she had gotten away. But no, that wasn’t the case. I caught sight of her with my good eye, the one that wasn’t swollen shut. She looked like she was just standing there watching as I got my ass kicked! Out of the corner of my eye.

It might have just been me or the concussion, but I could swear her eyes were glowing...

That was about the point where things got... funny...? And stranger still, if this were a normal jumping, they would have stopped by now. I was already down. And no one wanted a dead body on their hands. But they continued to land blows, kicks, and stomps to my face; at some point, I realized they weren’t going to stop. They were going to kill me...

It was the stark realization that put things into perspective.

The world stopped spinning; slowed down, and I felt a pounding in my chest and skull that wasn’t from the beating or adrenaline. I roared, fighting for my life with all I had. If I was going to go, I wasn’t going to go down, not without a fight. And with ‌stark clarity, something in me finally clicked into place. Roaring in my head, to lean on that feeling with all my might, to push and not let up, even as it felt like I might explode, like I was on fire. It was something instinctual, primal, welling up from within me. Then there was this bright light, blinding and all-consuming, and when I opened my eyes, my vision was spotty but I could tell Ben and his goons had fared much worse than I did and were all out cold, slightly singed, and looking like boiled lobsters.

I felt weak, but I managed to get to my feet. And all around me, there was this perfect circle, maybe three meters of singed grass.

Quickly, I remembered the girl and spun to look for her. Only when I saw movement. I froze when I saw what had become of her after she pushed Ben off ‌herself and sat up. She still had on that cropped sorority tee, though it was singed in places, and tight skinny jeans that had to be painted on. She looked nothing like she used to, not with snow-white hair and curled goat’s horns that sat upon her head like a laurel wreath. Eyes that were a shade of pink. And... she... had red skin that was more of a burnished bronze...! and she was looking at me!

“Oh, crap, oh crap!” I took a step back, tripped over Twink, fell on my ass, then scrabbled back on all fours.

When she stood, I noticed the spade-tipped tail. She sniffed, scenting the air, much like a hound. And when her pink eyes bleed into an eerie red. She smiled and let out an exultant gasp of bliss.

“REGALIA...”

With predatory grace, she approached me, her hips swaying seductively as she neared.

“Regalia?” I questioned, “Who, what is a regalia?” Steadily backing away. Whatever I had just done, I felt exhausted. I felt like I had just run a thousand miles all at once. My whole body ached. Like I had just spent the last seventy-two hours getting the most intense full-body workout ever. And that was on top of the beating I had just endured.

Her smile was wide and full of razor-sharp teeth. “Oh, I don’t bite, you don-!”

Whatever else she was about to say, the crack of thunder and the flash that followed cut her off. Two things happened at that moment. In a flash of lightning, a woman appeared in front of her.

The fierce scowl she wore did nothing to detract from her beauty. With eyes that glowed like a harvest moon, black hair adorned with multicolored feathers that seemed to gleam like spun gold and all the colors of the rainbow, and tanned skin adorned with triangle tattoos that glittered like gems around her slender neck and around one arm. The smell of ozone hung heavily in the air.

And in the next, her eyes shifted from that harvest moon color to a bloody red. And a mix of fire and thunder danced between her fingers. A clear warning.

“Thunderbird!” the girl hissed at the new arrival.

“Succubus...” she retorted drolly.

“This is no business of yours, thunder chicken,” she hissed, her tail lashing in anger. “He’s mine! I found him first!”

“No business of mine?” she scoffed. “No, I think you’ll find it is... we turn a blind eye when your kind feeds, but you know that there are rules here, especially for the chosen like him.”

She took a confident step towards the demonic girl. “If you don’t like it, you can fight and lose...”

The succubus took a long, hungry look at me, then she pouted. “No fair!” she stomped her foot, whining like a child. “I found him!” she sniffed.

“And you were about to gobble him all up.”

“Only a little.” She retorted huffily, “I would have taken him to Mother… eventually.”

“Oh, is that so...” she smirked, her crimson eyes flashing brighter in amusement, “or would it have been after you and your circle thoroughly had their way with him? By that point, you would have drained him dry and had your little hooks in his head. I’ve seen what your circle does to the football team from time to time... and their wolves!” she snorted derisively. “He would have been no better than a meat dildo.”

She scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine...! You can have him.”

Then, as if she’d forgotten all about talking about eating me, the girl’s demeanor shifted in a heartbeat. She leaned forward, her large breasts and cleavage on full display as she waved at me. “See you next time, cutie.” She smiled prettily at me.

and part of me couldn’t help but think that it would have been a good way to go... man...

Now that the other girl... the uh succubus...? had left, she turned to me now, with those glowing eyes of hers.

“So,” she began, “I know this is hard... and I bet you’re wondering what the hell is going on.” That was the understatement of the year. And I let out an exhausted huff. “And I’ll explain, I promise.” She offered me a hand up.

“Yeah, that would be great.” I said, taking the offered hand...

It was a mistake to take her hand. Thoughts, memories, emotions, all poured into my head all at once. I caught glimpses. A tribe, her father, a giant of a man, and a mother training their daughter, a mountain range,

A name… her name came to me unbidden, Cameron... it was all too much, too fast. I felt pain, then black...