The life of prey and a predator runs in an everlasting cycle of survival and just as smaller prey animals were being hunted by other larger predator animals and by humans, the same happens in the world of the supernatural and sometimes, this is where the natural and the supernatural collide, this is where reality meets mythical. Whether it was for food or it was for sport or maybe it was for other motives, it went on and on and would not stop as it is blended into nature, balanced or imbalanced.
Humans hunted animals, demons hunted humans, Angels hunted demons and the Angel hunters were a group of mixed-breed shapeshifters who called themselves, the Nadris. But the Nadris were not limited to just Angels, these never before seen and hardly heard of hidden creatures could hunt and capture any creature if they wanted to, they were like the police force of the mythical creatures, only that they were not myths, they were just extremely well hidden and it was easy too.
Nadris were never spoken of and they were never seen either, except of course, if they wanted to be seen. They were the most secluded of all hidden creatures, the most fierce, and the most disciplined. The most organized and strangely, they could be trusted as they never went against their code nor their words. Even in the dark and hidden side of nature, there was still some sort of law.
Now Nadris, being shapeshifters, were mostly in their human forms because it was easier to remain hidden that way, where they could blend in and not look suspicious as they had been living for centuries and millennium, well that was until the war happened and they had to retreat back into the darkest and most dense part of the forest where no one just happened to wander into. And their eye sights and ability to hear were unmatched in both worlds, in any world maybe. They had the ability to pick up the smallest of sounds, be it underneath the ground or above the ground, as long as they could feel the vibration, they could pinpoint, with utmost accuracy, the exact position of what they wanted to find, the reason why no Nadri has ever been caught, ever.
Nadri's were as organized as they were territorial and they were very disciplined, the whole group was overseen by the elders, they were their own gods, they were their own rules and they were their own laws. Ranking in the Nadri did not come by age but rather by experience and ability and it was this method of ranking, this experience, and ability that made Scott rise quickly, so quickly that he surpassed his elder brother and went even higher than the man he had known as a father all his life.
Jealousy was a common trait of the Nadris, so it was actually no surprise that Dan harbored both jealousy and hatred for Scott, he vehemently denied him as a brother and loathed him with everything in him, his refusal to acknowledge Scott as his brother caused a rivalry, a rivalry that was well accepted by the elders as they were of the opinion that such jealousy and open rivalry encouraged competition the brothers and other Nadris. A healthy competition which they, the elders, kept their attention upon to monitor.
"It would push them to strive for more power and ability to overshadow the other,, thereby increasing their efficiency and the game of the Nadris."
That was their thought and indeed it seemed to be like the best motivation for the brothers who were always attacking each other but Dan, no matter how hard he tried, was never able to overtake Scott and this added to Dan's grudges, fanning the flames of hatred and jealousy even hotter but no matter how hot the flames grew, Dan could never harm Scott. He was not allowed to. It was the one thing he wanted to so badly do but he could not because he knew of the punishment that would bring for him.
The Nadris had numerous rules which carried equal punishment for whoever would break or go against it but above all that was a strict rule, and probably the most important rule of all which bound all Nadris, bug or small, powerful or not, that prohibited them from killing each other. If a Nadri was to be killed for a crime, then only the elders could approve of such a punishment, and killing was preserved for only the most unforgivable and grievous of crimes. Unforgivable crimes like having an affair with a non Nadri creature. It was for this same crime that Noella was killed.
Noella had been found to have had an affair with a human male and her only punishment has been death, and although the sentencing had come from the elders, death had come to her through her own son, her firstborn, Dan.
When Dan had taken her life, he had taken it with all joy and pleasure, maybe it was because of the fact that she had betrayed him and his father and the entire Nadri clan, or maybe it was because of the fact that her sinful affair had resulted in the birth of Scott, a brother whom he did not want, a brother who made winning seem too easy, a brother whose shine overtook his or maybe it was because of the fact that she had dotted on Scott more than she had dotted on him.
Whatever the reason was, Dan had felt betrayed and hurt by his own mother, and whatever soft feelings he had for the female who had given birth to him had vanished completely. To him, he had not killed his mother but he had killed a traitor, he had removed a sinner from amongst them but that, according to him, had not erased the sin. The death of Noella had not taken the blemish off the Nadri's honor. He had wanted Scott to face the same punishment, he still wanted that to happen and he wanted it to happen by his hands.
To Dan, he was not fit and should neither be allowed to remain among-st the Nadris. He should not be allowed to remain alive. Scott was weak, Scott was fragile and Scott was only half Nadri and half-human. The fact that Scott was still able to rise above him despite all of his shortcomings was like salt on the open wounds of Dan's hurt pride and to make matters much worse, when the task had come to find and hunt down a mix blood human and Scott had been chosen to lead, he stood against the elders' decision.
"What makes you think that Scott is not fit to be placed as the leader over this operation, Dan?" An elder questioned him in a rather calm voice. The place they were in now was the meeting room and it was just Dan, Scott, and the three elders.
"Because he is not one of us!" Dan hollered. "And he can never be! Just look at him, I mean.... him? Really? What do you actually see in him?" Dan was finding it difficult to put himself under control, much less under the control of Scott.
"Well, I see someone who has risen higher in ranking by his sheer willpower and capabilities." An elder replied with an open palm while exchanging glances with the other two elders who nodded in approval.
"Maybe he did excel on the field but I see a human before us! A complete mistake that should never have happened!" Dan strongly voiced his opinion.
Scott clenched his fists below the very polished, round wooden table. He kept his eyes fixed on the elevated middle part and he felt his chest tighten with every word that rolled out carelessly of Dan's jealous tongue and he just wanted to reach out and yank the blabbing organ out of his evil mouth. He breathed steadily and kept quiet, at least the elders were on his side.
"Lest you forget, Dan." An elder warned. "He is human no doubt but only partly. He is still considered to be a Nadri."
"A half Nadri. And a half Nadri could never be a complete one, no matter how high he ranks or his abilities and capabilities. You are giving the leadership of a group of true Nadris to a human?"
"Half human." An elder corrected.
"Half Nadri." Another elder completed. "You keep omitting that part out Dan."
"He is still human!" Dan looked at Scott with hatred in his eyes and continued, not taking his eyes off him. "He should have been made to suffer the same punishment as his whore of a mother!"
Scott got up and dashed for Dan with so much force and an excellent speed that Dan did not get the time to react. Scott balled right-hand fist connected with the left side of Dan's jaw and the bitter Nadri stumbled backward in astonishment falling off the chair. He looked up at Scott who was standing, looming over him and breathing unevenly.
"Did you just...?"
"Do not disrespect our mother, ever!" Scott seethed.
"Our mother?!" Dan was vexed, he got up off the floor and slowly walked up to Scott. "Did you just call her our mother?" He scoffed. "No! She was never mine! She was only your mother, only always yours! You were always her little overly pampered brat!"
Scott chuckled, planting his hands on his hips. "Is that why you have been bitter towards me? Because I was her favorite?" He laughed loudly now.
"What?!"
"Do you ever grow up Dan?" Scott smirked. "You are still behaving like a child."
Dan shot him an angry look. "You were a mistake that should have been eliminated a long time ago."
"And I would love to see you try that."
"With all pleasure."
Dan grinned as he transformed into the Nadri creature which had a near resemblance to a Minotaur except that Nadris did not have a bull's head. He grew almost eight feet in height, his skin darkened and his claws extended. Scott, although pumped up and not afraid still took careful steps backward as he got ready for an attack. Dan charged at him.
"Enough!" The elders' voices boomed in the large room. Dan and Scott froze in their tracks but never took their eyes off each other.
"In as much as the rivalry is allowed within our society, this type of outburst will never be ignored, more so in the presence of the elders!"
Scott reluctantly turned to the elders and bowed in remorse but Dan remained indifferent and still in his full Nadri form looked on angrily at Scott. The anger and hatred in his eyes radiated throughout his body. He could just take a humongous bite out of his neck and Scott would be done for, but then so would he.
"Scott remains as leader of this operation and that will remain unquestioned and unchanged. Dan, for your insubordination, you will be placed under Scott! Maybe then you can learn a few things from him. Grow your capabilities and abilities and then maybe we could give you responsibility. This meeting has ended. Leave us."
Dan whipped his head around to face the elders as he heard their decision, settling down to his human form then he faced Scott who had a smile plastered on his face.
Scott turned to Dan and smirked. "See you on the field junior." Walking up to him, Scott leaned closer and whispered. "Do not be late for beginners practice boy."
Scott walked past Dan, deliberately bumping his shoulder into him, and headed out of the room. Dan stood a while, watching Scott stroll out of the room with both hands in his pockets and his shoulder puffed up with authority. He fumed because he had been denied by the elders and favored below a half-human and for the fact that he could not just end him when he really wanted to.
Dan sighed and took one last look at the elders who were already exiting the room using another door. If he could not get rid of that half-human, half-brother of his by the elders' approval then he would have to "accidentally" do so on the field. After all, not all soldiers return from war. He smirked and walked out. Let it begin.
https://m.goodnovel.com/book_info/31000039026/Paranormal/Hunter's-Chorus?shareuser=22216334&ch=apps
