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desperately wanted her to prove she was the ordained huntress destined to fight him. But alas, none of the hunters at his disposal were this precious fighter. Emily would have to do, for she was the best they had to work with.
    At first light, Ethan had awakened him to the discouraging news that Emily was threatening to leave. Knowing full well that Ethan had been losing control over her for the past two years, he thought it best for Ethan to try to assert some authority over her by himself. But then he returned a little later and informed him that Emily was inquiring about Morphus’ rising.
    He was rather surprised, but hopeful once more. He and all Chancellors’ before him had always been so careful. The subject was never spoken of but in complete secrecy. All written material had been kept under lock and key. It wasn’t completely surprising that Emily, of all the hunters, made this discovery. Surely she was curious for the reason why a vampire hunter would be forced to confront a demon. There was a demonic organization in place that dealt with demons, just as hunters dealt with vampires. She was trained to deal with only vampires.
    But here it was, out in the open, the secret kept from all hunters for eternity. Hunters unknowingly have a history with two demons. One now dead, one still in hibernation - he hoped. The Order had successfully kept these demons secret for all time; Eraticus for five hundred years, Morphus for thousands.
    Moore was drinking his second cup of coffee by the time his guests arrived. Ethan and Emily were accompanied by Jayden, who retreated to the back of the office for observation. Ethan took up residence in one of the elaborate velvet chairs, Emily nonchalantly browsed the bookshelves. He wasn’t fooled by her cool interest in the collection, but he had nothing to worry about. The subject she sought would not be found in the shelves for the casual eye.
    “Emily, may I inquire as to how you have come to learn about Morphus?”
    “Eraticus made me curious about some things.” She turned to him and sarcastically added, “Thanks for that, by the way.”
    He supposed he deserved that. “Would you have really wanted to know the exact day you were expected to die?” Emily’s interest was more into the books than the discussion. After a few seconds of silence, it was obvious she wasn’t going to respond. Moore beseeched her again. “How exactly did you come about this information?”
    She reluctantly sat in the velvet chair next to Ethan. “Look, you’re gonna need help. A lot of help. You’ve got a handful of inexperienced hunters to offer up for slaughter but we all know it’s not enough. I’ve accepted the fact that hunters have a short expiration date, but quite frankly, I’m not ready to die yet. And if exposing you to your worst fear means I may get to survive mine, then you’re gonna ask Abby for help.”
    Moore thought. He certainly couldn’t think of any Abby that would lead him to fear her. By the look on Ethan’s face, he too was having difficulty attaching the name to a corresponding memory. “Abby? Is she a demonic warrior?”
    “No. She’s a vampire huntress.” Emily replied, followed by a half smile. Her tense body lay back with ease.
    Memories suddenly rushed his head. None that he had witnessed personally, but accounts of stories told to him in secrecy by the Chancellor before him, who in turn was told by the Chancellor that preceded him, and so on for the past two hundred years. Even advisors were not privileged to the delicate information.
    Confused, Ethan replied, “Abby? We’ve never had an Abby.”
    “No,” Moore paused, his speech reluctant to release the forbidden information. “But we have had an Abigail.”
    Jayden suddenly became attentive to the conversation, which slightly annoyed Moore. Everyone had been a little on edge lately. Each had their own way of dealing with the stress, but Jayden’s response seemed to have included apathy and