Five-and-a-half-year-old Elias Voss sat on the kitchen floor near the table, his small frame curled into a ball, his knees pulled to his chest.
His dark eyes were wide, darting to the windows with every crack of thunder, and his wooden toy knife was clutched tight in his small hands, the blade pressed against his shirt.
The lantern light flickered, making the shadows on the wall dance—long shapes that looked too much like the monsters Ruth had described in her stories.
Daniel Voss sat at the table, his broad frame hunched over the lore book, a pencil in one hand as he scribbled notes in the margins.
His flannel shirt was damp from checking the wards outside, and a fresh bruise darkened his jaw from a hunt the week before—a vampire nest that had gone south.
He glanced down at Elias, his hazel eyes softening as he caught the boy's tense posture.
"You alright down there, kid?" Daniel asked, his voice gruff but warm, setting the pencil down and leaning back in his chair.
"Storm's loud, but it's just noise. Nothing's getting in." Elias nodded quickly, his small hands tightening around the toy knife, but his eyes flicked to the window again, where a flash of lightning lit the yard in stark white.
"I know, Pa," he said, his voice small and shaky, barely audible over the rain. "But… what if it's not just a storm? What if something's out there?"
Daniel's brow furrowed, and he pushed the chair back, the legs scraping against the floor as he stood. He crouched down beside Elias, his broad hand resting on the boy's shoulder, steady and warm.
"Hey, look at me," he said, his tone firm but gentle, waiting until Elias's dark eyes met his. "Nothing's getting through those salt lines. I checked them myself and redrew every one before the rain started. And I've got iron and silver right here."
He nodded toward the rifle by the door, his voice steady. "We're safe, Elias. I promise."
Elias swallowed hard, his small chest rising and falling quickly, but he nodded, leaning into Daniel's hand a little. "Okay," he whispered, his voice still trembling. "But… what if it's a demon? Ruth said demons are sneaky. Said they can trick you."
Daniel chuckled, the sound rough but reassuring, and ruffled Elias's hair, his calloused fingers gentle against the boy's scalp. "Ruth's been filling your head with stories again, huh?" he said, his tone light, though his eyes held a flicker of concern.
"Demons are sneaky, sure, but they can't cross salt, and they can't get past a devil's trap. We've got both. And if one shows up, I'll send it back to Hell faster than you can say 'exorcizamus.'"
Elias's lips twitched into a small smile, his grip on the toy knife loosening slightly. "Exor-ciz-a-mus," he said slowly, trying to copy the word Ruth had taught him, his voice halting but determined. "Like that?"
Daniel grinned, a rare, full smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Close enough, kid," he said, his voice warm with pride. "You're getting it. Keep practicing, and you'll be exorcising demons with me in no time."
Elias's smile widened, but it faltered as another clap of thunder shook the house, the shadows on the wall stretching long and sharp, like claws reaching out.
He flinched, scooting closer to Daniel, his small body pressing against his father's side. "I don't like the shadows, Pa," he whispered, his voice barely audible, his dark eyes fixed on the wall.
"They look… bad."Daniel followed his gaze, his expression softening as he saw the fear in Elias's eyes. He shifted, sitting down fully on the floor beside him, his broad frame a solid shield between Elias and the window. "Shadows can't hurt you," he said, his voice low and steady, wrapping an arm around Elias's small shoulders.
"They're just light playing tricks. But if it makes you feel better, we can make them go away."
Elias looked up, his eyes wide with hope. "How?" he asked, his voice small but curious, leaning into Daniel's side.
Daniel reached over, pulling the lantern closer and turning up the wick, the flame flaring brighter and chasing the shadows back.
"There," he said, his tone triumphant, though his eyes stayed on Elias, watching for any sign of fear.
"See? No more claws. Just you, me, and the light." Elias stared at the wall, the shadows now soft and shapeless, and let out a small, shaky breath, his small hand resting on Daniel's arm. "Thanks, Pa," he said softly, his voice steadier now, a flicker of relief in his eyes.
"You're not scared of anything, are you?"Daniel's smile faded slightly, and he looked down at Elias, his expression turning serious, a quiet weight in his gaze.
"I get scared, kid," he admitted, his voice low, almost a whisper, the words heavy in the flickering light.
"Scared for your ma when she's out on a hunt. Scared for you, growing up in this life. But I don't let it stop me. You can't let fear stop you, Elias. You gotta keep going, no matter what."
Elias nodded slowly, his small brow furrowing as he took in his father's words, his dark eyes searching Daniel's face. "I'll keep going," he said, his voice small but firm, clutching the toy knife a little tighter.
"I wanna be brave like you, Pa." Daniel's throat tightened, and he pulled Elias closer, his arm a protective shield around the boy's small frame.
"You already are, Elias," he said, his voice rough with emotion, his hand resting on the back of Elias's head.
"Braver than I was at your age. You're gonna be one hell of a hunter someday."Elias smiled, his small body relaxing against Daniel's side, the storm outside fading to a distant rumble.
{And with this chapter, Volume 1 ends .}
The next volume will show Elias learning from real hunts with his parents. He will grow from a rookie hunter into the greatest of all time, his very name striking fear into monsters, demons, angels, and even gods themselves (some badass moments of course like Michael/Dean) as the story unfolds.
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Enjoy, fellow hunters!