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[hr][color=crimson][b][h3]ISSUE #6
DEFEATED[/h3][hr][u]Alleyway beside the Royal Palace Hotel
New York City, New York[/u][/b][/color][/center]
When I came to the rain was beating down on my body, blood and water mixing into a pinkish puddle beneath me. With a groan, I pushed myself up to my feet and looked over my wounds. A few stabs, cuts, and, oh yeah, my sword sticking through my chest. Grunting, I grabbed the handle and pulled it out, a yelp of pain escaping my lips.

I gave a bitter chuckle at the events.

Deacon beat me.

I couldn't fight him in this state.

I was too weak.

I needed to get stronger.

I lifted my sword into its sheath and stumbled forward, beginning to make my way back to my office. Deacon probably thought I was dead, which I guess helped. He probably wouldn't come looking for me. And I'll be right under his nose, getting more powerful, and when least expects it I'll go get him and I will [i]end this[/i].[hr][center][color=crimson][b][u]An Hour Later
Outside a subway station[/u][/b][/color][/center]
At this time of night, this part of the city was quiet. My only company was the distant sound of cars passing by a few blocks over. I was walking past the entrance to a subway, when I heard gunshots below. As if on instinct, I began to make my way down, intent on finding out just what the hell was going on down there.

When I got down there I saw a hulking beast fighting against two humans. The beast was a werewolf, towering over them at 8 feet tall and growling ferociously at them. The two humans were heavily armed, but apparently their bullets weren't silver judging by the fact that the beast shrugged them off. One of them was a woman, the other a man who I recognized.

[color=crimson][b]"You having trouble there, Drake?"[/b][/color] I yelled, walking forward. The beast was distracted by my sudden entrance, and the hunter and his lady friend looked at me. Drake scowled, while the woman looked rather confused.

[color=mediumseagreen][b]"Well, if it isn't my dear old friend,"[/b][/color] Drake said with a scowl, before returning his attention to the werewolf. He and the girl continued to shoot at it to no avail. On instinct, I reached for the pistols beneath my coat, only to find nothing there. Right, I forgot Deacon had knocked both of them out of my hands when we fought.

Instead, I pulled my claymore from its sheath, knowing that one decisive blow from its silver blade would end this. [color=crimson][b]"Why don't I show you two how a [i]real[/i] hunter does his job?"[/b][/color] I stated, before rushing at the werewolf and swinging my blade.

The wolf dodged out of the way of the blow, swinging his paw at me. In my weakened state, I couldn't dodge out of the way, and the attack sent me flying into a trash can a few feet away, trash flying all over me. Drake snickered, while his friend remarked dryly: [color=tan][b]"Yeah, real impressive."[/b][/color] Despite myself, I let out a laugh. Now this was my kinda girl.

I pulled a banana peel off my head and jumped to my feet, charging at the beast yet again. He dodged my blow once more, but this time I was ready, and ducked beneath the attack he sent my way. With a yell, I jumped back up, ramming my sword through the beast's chest. I yanked the blade out of his skull as it shifted back into human form.

At my feet was a dying middle aged man, who let out a blood-tinged cough. [b]"What... Happened?"[/b]

I knelt down on my knee, sighing. [color=crimson][b]"Sorry, man. You were going nuts. Had to put you down."[/b][/color]

A weak laugh escaped his lips. [b]"... Should've known... One day this'd happen..."[/b] He let out his last breath, and then he was no more.

I stood up. [color=crimson][b]"And [i]that[/i] is how you take down a werewolf. The hell were you thinking, coming here without any silver bullets?"[/b][/color]

Drake stepped forward, probably about to let loose an angry remark, when his buddy stopped him by speaking first. [color=tan][b]"The job we got called here for wasn't him, was just a bunch of goblins screwing around with the circuitry. As we were leaving, he jumped out at us. We should have expected a werewolf would be around during a full moon, but I guess it slipped both of our minds."[/b][/color]

I looked her up and down, taking in her blonde hair and the scar running across her pale face. Aside from that scar, she was pretty banging. Her... Assets helped that too. I gave her a cocky grin, letting out a catcall. [color=crimson][b]"Never knew ya had a girlfriend, Drake."[/b][/color] The male hunter's cheeks flushed in both embarrassment and anger. [color=crimson][b]"What's your name, babe?"[/b][/color]

[b][i]*BANG!*[/i][/b]

My head bounced back as the bullet entered my skull. That crazy bitch just shot me!

As I set my sights back on her with a glare, I saw her smirk. [color=tan][b]"Rachel Van Helsing. And [i]don't[/i] call me babe."[/b][/color]

[color=crimson][b]"Whatever. 'Sides, all my interest in a woman is lost once she shoots me in the head."[/b][/color]

[color=mediumseagreen][b]"If you wouldn't mind, we were just leaving,"[/b][/color] Drake said. Without another word, he and Rachel began to make their leave.

[color=crimson][b]"And where you two going? Might need to hitch a ride, my place is kinda a few miles away."[/b][/color]

Drake turned back to yell at me, but once again Rachel interrupted him by speaking first. [color=tan][b]"We'll give you a ride. We need to head back to our place first. But [i]no[/i] talking."[/b][/color]

I made a motion as if zipping my lips shut, before striding forward, grinning at the astounded Drake as I walked past him and back up the steps.

[color=mediumseagreen][b]"The hell are you doing?"[/b][/color] I heard Drake hiss.

[color=tan][b]"Quincy said next time we meet him to take him with us if he's willing. The old man wants to talk to him."[/b][/color]

[color=mediumseagreen][b]"I never agreed to this!"[/b][/color]

[color=tan][b]"That's why he told [i]me[/i] and not you. Now come on, he's waiting."[/b][/color]

Ah, the wonders of enhanced hearing. Still, I pretended I didn't hear anything they said as they made their way up the stairs to meet me at the top. [color=crimson][b]"You guys weren't gossiping about me, were ya?"[/b][/color] I asked with my trademark shit eating grin.

[color=tan][b]"What did I say?"[/b][/color]

[color=crimson][b]"Right, right, no talking..."[/b][/color]

With that, we were on our way.
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