Excerpt: The Blessed Ones: A Story of Monsters and Heroes.

Simeon ran through the torch lit alleys with his men, the moon reflecting off of their armor. The rain caused the torches to flicker, but fortunately it was a mild rain, merely causing puddles and mud to form. At least the mud would make their quarry easier to catch.
As they ran, Simeon’s feet caught something, causing him to smash into the ground. Using his spear to prop himself up, Simeon scanned the ground looking for the cause of his fall. His eyes fell upon several streaks all heading towards the left, streaks that only could have been left by their quarry.
“This way men, he can’t be far now!” Simeon bellowed. His men gathered around and began to more stealthily follow the tracks. There would be spots where the streaks in the mud would stop, but they would always resume not so far away. The men slowed down once again, keeping their clanking to a minimum. After all, their quarry had just slain his entire family. Their bodies had been all gathered around the same area with many brutal and deep slash marks all over them. He was not to be underestimated and any element of surprise was to be used to their advantage.
A sudden burst of wind arose and the mild rain became a downpour. Many of the torches went out, leaving only the moon to light their way. Simeon hated these rural towns. If this had been a city, there would have been lamp posts lighting the way, covered lamps that would not have gone out merely because of weather. If they didn’t catch their quarry soon, then there may not even be a trail to follow.
As they proceeded to follow the tracks, the slash marks seemed to become more erratic, as if their quarry had become panicked, not knowing which way to turn. The trail eventually led to an alley that Simeon knew to be a dead end. It wouldn’t be long now. Just a few more turns and they would have him.
As they approached that final turn, Simeon began to hear a sobbing sound. Had their quarry struck again? Signaling his men to slow down with a raised clenched fist, Simeon began to peer around the corner. Clouds had just moved over the moon causing the alley to become very dark. Simeon’s eyes were drawn to a figure in the back of they alley. The figure was crumbled into a ball and the sobbing was very clearly coming from the figure.
Glancing cautiously around the alley, Simeon began to lead his small force in. There wasn’t anyone else in the alley as far as Simeon could see. Was it possible that this crying figure was the killer? As he got closer, a gust of wind parted a small piece of cloud from the moon, allowing a cylinder of light to come down upon the figure.
It was all Simeon could do to prevent himself from gasping, several of his men did gasp and one even emitted a cry. The figure that they saw before them was but a young man in very torn clothes. One would have hardly seen him as anything special if it weren’t for one thing. Three foot long blades of bone protruded from the figures elbows and knees. There were also several blades sticking out of his back, some of which curving around towards the front and some sticking straight back.
The figure continued to wail as Simeon and his men approached. As they got closer, the figure lifted it’s head revealing itself to be a young man, no more than 15 at the latest. His long black hair was soaked with blood, as well as his torn shirt and pants. As he lifted his head, Simeon saw the blades of the bone on the young man’s back begin to retract with a grinding noise. It was only then when he saw that the tears in the front of the man’s shirt revealed bloody wounds where it was possible that even more of the blades had come from.
“Where’s mom?” his voice cried out. “Is she ok? All I wanted was a hug! Honest! It was an accident!”
Simeon felt a pang of pity in his heart for but a moment. It was highly possible that it had all been an accident. After all, it wasn’t everyday that people sprouted blades out of their body. Even if it was an accident, could this…monster…be trusted? What should they do with him? With that kind of power he would become a threat to all who came near him.
A flicker of moonlight caught his eyes as there was some movement to his left. He saw one of his men raising his spear, preparing it for a throw. The boy obviously had no military training. He would have no chance of surviving. Turning his gaze back to the boy, he saw his eyes widen in terror.
Lightning flashed in the distance and a thought appeared in Simeon’s head. If this boy is not the only one who can do things like this, might it not be best to raise them up and use them? With that kind of power trained in the military, the boy would become a great asset. He should detain this one and report it to Drylar. Who knew, he might even finally be promoted out of this junk heap of a town.
Signaling for his men to lower their weapons, Simeon put his own weapon on the ground began approaching the lad. The lad watched him warily as he got closer.
“Do you have a name, boy?”
“My name is…my name is…my name…” The boy hesitated and then once again broke out into tears. “I don’t remember. I just want my family back.”
So this was the force he was hoping to turn into a weapon? Simeon almost stopped with the plan right then and there, but something kept him too it. If there were any more people like this in the country, then Simeon had plans for them. He was going to change them from monsters to heroes.
“I’m sorry, boy, but I’m afraid that they’ve left. I can’t bring them to you, but I can raise you and train you. I can even give you a name. Would you like that?”
The boy could only nod his head. The rain washing the remaining tears from his face.
“Well, this isn’t the most creative name in the world, but from here on, you’ll be called Spike, and you will be the first in a new order. Welcome to the family spike.”
Before Simeon could react, Spike had already gotten to his feet and wrapped him in a crushing embrace. That was something that Simeon was going to have to work with Spike on. Fortunately the blades didn’t seem to be coming out. Did Spike even remember how he used his powers. It didn’t matter, Simeon had a feeling that Spike was but the first of what would become an elite unit. They would be the Blessed Ones.”