This is a series of short stories, detailing the adventures of Chelsea Childling. You can start with her origin story or pick any story from the index.
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The blurry grey smudge of water meeting sky helped Chelsea breathe out the frustrations of the last five days. Her feet swung over the open water, and the wet dock swayed subtly with the water underneath. The damp breeze off the horizon chilled her exposed ears as it whipped wisps of red hair out of her eyes. Her hat was a black handwoven beanie she’d picked up further up the coast a while back, but it did nothing in this weather. Winter on the west coast was wet and dreary and beat the hell out of the days of snow they’d faced leaving New York City.

A road trip with two of her best friends and favorite hunting partners, away from the grey ice of the city, had sounded amazing in the beginning. She loved living out of her car with her giant dog. Stopping when she was tired or wanted to explore, wandering in whatever direction she needed to go. Neither Keegan nor Andy had enjoyed the experience. All three of them had a tendency towards snark, but when the guys slid into snide on the third day, Chelsea gave in to Andy’s bitching and followed the GPS.

Staying trapped in the car didn’t help. They’d paid for a single night in a hotel in five days. And only because Andy had needed a better internet connection. Mostly they’d switched off driving, napping in the backseat with Bentley when someone got tired, and showering at truck stops when the smell got too rank. The lack of sleep and close quarters was only part of the tension, though. Andy still hadn’t located Jackson and Amber.

No, let Andy do his thing. That’s why we’re here.

“If this is the ocean, where are the waves?” Keegan’s voice thudded out dull and full of sleep. He’d taken the afternoon driving shift yesterday and slept through their arrival in Bremerton early that morning.

“This is technically a bay. No waves, but it does rise and fall with the tides. Seattle is on the other side.” Chelsea had dropped Jackson off at the dock in that city nearly two months ago now. She’d crossed the country twice waiting for him to contact her. 

Keegan sighed before flopping down on the weathered wood beside her, thin arms curling around spindly legs to hold in heat. “Where’s our scent hound?”

“Took Bentley to talk to his contacts here.” Chelsea sucked in a breath. “And stop calling Andy a scent hound, please.”

Keegan shrugged. “Then he needs to lay off you.”

Chelsea quirked an eyebrow and Keegan smirked back. “He rides you about the Jackson and Amber thing too hard. If you won’t give him shit about it, I’ll just give him shit in general.”

“I thought I was overly emotional one who hated people?”

Damp wind blew dark hair way from his twinkling eyes. “So you do hate people.” 

From somewhere deep in her chest a laugh bubbled out. 

Andy’s melodic tones dropped in from behind them. “Now there’s a sound I haven’t been graced with in a while.”

A smirk slashed tight across Keegan’s face. “Maybe if you weren’t such a dick these days, she’d laugh more.” Andy heaved a sigh before sitting on Chelsea’s other side. Leaving the city had truly left him smaller. His dark, skyward curls had been tamed into lines of braids before they left, and those were covered by a knit hat. Even his usual giant backpack was gone. Replaced with smaller, less conspicuous bag. Though his black, cat-lined eyes were meticulously done up as always. He placed a hand over his heart. “Am I truly that bad?”

She glared at Keegan as she rested her head on Andy’s shoulder. “As I was about to explain to this asshole, you’ve always been upfront about doubting how Jackson, Amber, and I would ever work out. And I’ve always appreciated your honesty.”

A wuffle announced Bentley before he shoved his dark head between her and Andy. His massive body followed as he maneuvered them apart and sat down.

Andy scratched at the dog’s ears. “For the record, I do hope you three can find a solution. I just can’t see it.”

Chelsea leaned over to kiss his forehead. “And I have always appreciated your honesty.”

Grim determination flashed through his dark eyes. “You want the news?”

“Hit me.” Chelsea leaned into Keegan, bracing for whatever Andy had to say.

“They did come through here. Or Jackson did. My contact never saw Amber.”

Relief flooded through her. They had a place to start. “And?”

“And he was asking about a nightling.”

Keegan braced a long, thin arm around her neck, taking her weight. “A single nightling?”

Andy huffed out a heavy breath. “Yeah, a single nightling, not a nit.”

Keegan swore and gripped her tighter.

“Explain to the newbie,” she demanded.

“Younger nightlings travel in groups, nits, for protection, same as hunters.” Andy waved toward her and Keegan. “Someone to watch your back.”

“But demon lords don’t,” she prompted.

Andy’s answer was falsely chipper. “Ours doesn’t. Or didn’t back when he slaughtered our family and Amber’s. He usually has a minion or two and his hell hounds, but he doesn’t seem to travel with other nightlings.”

Chelsea forced her tired mind to work. “So they might really be hunting a demon lord.”

Andy’s lips pursed. “Or they think they are. Nobody mentioned hell hounds or weird dog attacks. And Jackson didn’t recruit anybody local to hunt with him.”

“Where are they now?” Keegan asked.

“Not here.” Andy winced as cold rain dribbled out of the grey sky. “And you call New York depressing in the winter.”

Chelsea’s eyes narrowed. “At least it’s not piles of grey slush while I’m surrounded by millions of people.”

“Focus, please.” Keegan interjected, his amusement clear in his voice. “Where do we go next?”

“Oh, please,” Andy replied with a eye roll. “We’ll know that by midnight, or as soon as we take out the Gumberoo.”

Keegan chuckled behind her as Chelsea’s grin grew wide. Of course, Andy already had a plan and a monster. “Let’s get a hotel room, some food, and maybe even a nap.”

Andy eyed her as she bounced to her feet. “You don’t even know what a gumberoo is.”

“But you do, and you plan the hunts.” She held out a hand for Keegan and hauled him to his feet. “I just show up and kill monsters.” Chelsea turned back the horizon. “My coat works everywhere, but I need a new hat. My beanie isn’t warm enough.”

Andy snorted as he slung an arm around her shoulders. “I offered to get you warm clothes before we left. You’re from Georgia. You don’t really know cold.”

She flicked his ear before holding out her arm. The wet wind fluttered through the black suede fringe. “I lived in South Dakota in the winter. By choice. Twice. This coat got me through it. I just need a better hat. Ask Keegan.”

Keegan nodded as he walked towards the car. “It’s true. She does have a death wish as well as terrible taste in fashion.”

Andy chuckled and walked her after Keegan. “We needed a favor, of course, but I figured you could use a fight. You’ve been on the road for days now. And for the record, the coat is chic.”

She beamed at him. “See, you get me. You just need to learn how to live out of a car.”

He winked at her, smiling widely. “Oh, hell no. Drive me to a real bed. Immediately.” 

Laughter warmed her as she hurried back the car. She might not know where Jackson and Amber were, but she didn’t doubt she’d find them anymore.