Confessions of a Twenty-Something Monster Hunter

You're not sure how long you slept when you wake up. Going full-tilt like that always takes a lot out of you. There's a method to it, operating at that level. Tricks your family has picked up over the generations. A trance state learned from the Mahatmas of Shambhala. The divine madness of the Úlfhéðnar. The dizzying movements of Kalari. Or that's what it was called when you were growing up. Instead of a childhood, you were training, learning how to render yourself violently insane for a few precious moments, enough to end any threat you might come across.

You did end a threat last night. An old score, finally settled for good. You're supposed to feel pretty good about that. You ended a few lives last night, too. Sure, they would have returned the favor if you'd let them, possibly worse. They were utterly convinced in that moment that they were ancient vampires, and with the machine going they were technically right about that. At least right then. Still, a nagging voice reminds you that before that switch got flipped they were normal people in pancake makeup.

The 'succubus' you fought will live. That's a small comfort. Truth told, these feelings are only starting to hit home now that you've had a chance to rest. You'd known that this state removed all doubt while you were in it, but this is the first time you've really felt this way coming down off of it. The other missions your dad sent you on to make sure you were ready for this were a lot less morally murky.

You let out a sigh as you make your way into the kitchen, starting to mix up something you're not ashamed to admit has a lot in common with a hangover cure.

You're pretty sure Allegra and Morgan are trying to hide something from you. That stings a bit. They're a big reason you even have something resembling a normal life, and they just saw a side of you that you're not all that proud of. You're very aware that when you're in that state you're scary-focused. A little less than human, at least in your thinking. You're a bit of a monster yourself when you do that, so you can fight on their level.

Last night, you were so focused that your friends wound up in the shit while you were elsewhere. Did they get bitten? Were they just wearing those costumes to blend in? You're not sure. Werewolves are... a gray area. Some of them can manage their condition. Some of them need put down like literal rabid dogs.

If they're infected and not telling you, it might be because they're afraid you're going to kick their faces in. It's not that irrational a fear, either. Right now, nothing could be further from your mind. They're your friends. You don't want to hurt them. Still, if you were in 'business mode' things could get pretty damn dicey. Sometimes you really hate that you're like this.