“Rude,” Florence muttered under her breath, and Valeria smiled slightly.
“Draw the circle, Will,” Xander told the sorcerer ignoring Florence. Will was grinning in excitement as he cast the dueling circle, the purple line wouldn’t allow anything in or out of the circle until the sparring session was finished. Florence gave Valeria a wink before she entered the ring at the same time as Callan entered his side.
Nebby had jumped from Florence’s shoulder and was now standing at the edge of the dueling circle, glaring at Callan. They both bowed to one another, Callan bowed in the traditional wolf way, bending at the waist with an arm over his chest and Florence simply inclined her head in the way vampires did, “You have ten minutes to gain the upper hand on your opponent...Begin!”
As soon as the words left Xander’s mouth, Callan had shifted into an enormous wolf that was easily taller than Florence. His coat was the same brown color as his hair with patches of black scattered throughout the fur. Then he was lunging at the vampire, but she was quick to dart out of his way and land a swift kick to his side. They moved in a blur, no one gaining advantage and no one landing a blow. Callan was strong and knew almost every fighting strategy out there, but Florence was quick and much more clever than the wolf. It was captivating to watch the swirling figures fight but could it even be considered fighting when they never touched each other. It was all near misses and quick dodging. Before Valeria knew it, Xander was counting down from ten, and the small crowd of beasts was holding their breaths. Finally, the timer sounded, and the wolf had his jaws around Florence’s throat, but she was smirking as if she won the fight and Valeria had never seen someone so pleased to be inches from death.
“It’s a tie,” Xander announced and that was when Valeria noticed Florence’s dagger pressed against Callan’s chest, ready to plunge in for the kill. The group around her burst into clapping and shouting at the fantastic display, Valeria herself was shocked out of the stupor. She had never in her life, seen her mother fight, and she looked at Florence as if seeing her for the first time.
“Get off me furball,” Florence pushed the wolf off her and gracefully rolled to her feet as Callan shifted back to his beastform, the shifting magic keeping his clothes intact. The only indication that her mom had been in a sparring match was the strands of hair that had fallen from her bun.
“You made me bleed,” Callan complained at the small cut on his chest, and he touched the crimson liquid leaking from his wound.
“Yes well you messed up my hair,” Florence replied, tucking the strands back into their place. Nebby had crawled back into her spot on Florence’s shoulder and began to glare at the wolf. Xander collected the attention of the room again as Will dissolved the purple dueling circle.
“Now the Team Captain of your assigned team will take you to their section of the building and give you a further introduction to the GSI. Good Luck!” Xander said with a smile then he moved over to where Florence and Callan stood. Valeria and Ziana quickly moved after him, they had signed up to be interns for Team A.
“Cheeks, did you see that your mom almost killed me?” Callan exclaimed looking to Emalia as she joined the trio.
“Cal, it’s barely a scratch, you’ll heal in the next thirty minutes,” Emalia said putting a hand over the wound and dabbing at it with a handkerchief she had in the pocket of her lab coat.
“You think that’s me trying to kill you?” Florence asked in an offended tone, “You just wait, Brat.”
“Why do you always call me a brat?” Callan whined, “That’s rude, Flo.”
“Call me Flo again, and they won’t find your body,” Florence threatened, placing her hand on the dagger where it was strapped by a side holster on her right thigh. The slight upturn of her lips indicating she was just playing.
Callan grinned, showing off all his teeth, “You wouldn’t. I’m practically your first born, remember? Besides, you wouldn’t break Em’s heart like that.”
“She’d get over it,” Florence scoffed at the wolf before turning back to Valeria and Ziana, “Valeria, Ziana. How did you enjoy the spar?”
“It was amazing. The two of you really are the best fighters I’ve ever seen. Lieutenant Claire, the way your moves are full of calculated aggression. The control you have over your strength is admirable and Princess Dracul I don’t even have words to describe your excellence, your highness. I’m unworthy to even stand before the two of you,” Ziana said, speaking more words than Valeria had ever heard the phoenix say in one sentence. Valeria looked at her in a mix of confusion and disgust, in the twenty-four hours that she has known the phoenix, she would never have taken her for a fangirl, especially for Callan.
“Thank you, Ziana and while we are in this building call me Lieutenant Dracul,” Florence said with a polite smile.
“Thanks, kid,’ it’s nice to see someone appreciate my greatness,” Callan said looking directly at his partner
“I would if there was something worth appreciating,” Florence teased the wolf before turning her gaze back to the pair, “Now I’m sure you’re both itching to see the top floor.”
“Yes your highness, I mean Lieutenant Dracul,” Ziana answered while Valeria continued to stare at the phoenix in shock.
“V, are you okay?” Emalia asked, bringing Valeria out of her stupor.
“I’m good,” Valeria responded, turning her gaze back to the others.
“Alright, well I need to get back to the lab,” Emalia stated to the group before turning her attention to Callan, “If that does not heal in thirty minutes come see me.”
“No thanks,” Callan replied, brushing his knuckle over Emalia’s cheekbone, “I want to bleed out so that your mother feels guilty.”
“By the creator, son. Why are you so petty?” Xander questioned, shaking his head in disappointment as Emalia rolled her eyes and walked away.
“Bye dear, have a good night,” Florence called after the wolf’s retreating figure who waved at them without turning around, “Now let’s get on with this tour before the sun rises.”
◆◆◆
Xander led Valeria and Ziana around the GSI building, giving them a tour while the other members all retreated to their respective offices. The tour was boring, as Valeria had been on it previously and once they finally got to the Team A floor, the members were all waiting for them.
“Alright, now time for you to meet the team,” Xander said, “you’ve already met First Lieutenant Dracul and Second Lieutenant Claire. Now for our other Agents. Agent Asher, please step forward.”
“You can both call me Will, I’m a Level ten caster, and the resident potions master around here,” The sorcerer grinned at them as he looked them over, “The interns just get cuter every cycle, don’t they?”
“Will, don’t scare the children,” Xander admonished before gesturing to the elf with vines lining her face, “This is Agent Dakota Bellin, the team strategist.”
The female elf simply waved at them before Xander pointed to the last pair of partners, “This is Agent Erin Vega and Agent Anna Quigley.”
“Nice to meet you,” Agent Vega said with a smile, she was a merperson with mossy green hair that matched her eyes and her partner was a female sorcerer with a tired expression on her face.
“Alright. You’re all dismissed,” Xander said to the group, and they dispersed to their offices, he watched for a second before turning away from his team and towards the pair, “Before I send you back to the Grey Academy, do you have any questions?”
“Why is Lieutenant Dracul partnered with Lieutenant Claire?” Ziana inquired, “I mean Lieutenant Dracul is twice his age.”
“She does, and she is a higher rank than him, but Lieutenant Claire can’t hold down a partner, and Lieutenant Dracul is a blood magic specialist, she is only assigned a partner so we can keep her full time, instead of part-time,” Xander explained, and Ziana nodded in understanding. Valeria looked over at her mother’s office, where she was typing rapidly on the projected keyboard wi
th an intent focus, and Callan was making his way towards where they stood.
“Do they hate it yet?” Callan asked, nudging his shoulder against Xander with a smirk.
“Not yet, but they will if you keep opening your mouth,” Xander replied, “We don’t want a repeat of last cycle.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Callan replied, looking off into the distance with a mock innocent expression.
“Teach me,” Ziana blurted out, surprising everyone, “Lieutenant Claire, please be my mentor.”
“Seriously?” Callan asked, shock coloring his expression as he stared at the phoenix, “Why me, kid?”
“I want to become the best fighter, I’ve already mastered fire magic, but I need a mentor to work on my brute strength. I want to avenge my family by solving the case and putting them behind bars to rot for the rest of their existence. I can’t do that if I’m not strong enough to pin them down,” Ziana explained, her expression was determined, and Callan looked to Xander who nodded, “And you Callan Claire are the most skilled fighter I’ve ever witnessed. I’ve never heard of anyone going toe to toe with the necromancer and living.”
“I don’t see why not,” Callan shrugged, “It’s not going to be easy though kid. I don’t babysit, and I don’t give shortcuts no matter how young you are.”
“I’m counting on it,” Ziana replied a pleased grin taking over her face and Callan offered his arm for her to grasp. The two of them shook in the Wolfish way.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow,” He said before breaking into a grin and turning to look towards his office where Florence was still typing. At that moment, Valeria couldn’t help but see him as a pup looking for approval, “I’m going to go tell Florence.”
“Alright, let’s get you two back to the bus before they send a search party,” Xander stated with a smile and led them to the elevator. Before they left Valeria looked back at her’ mother’s office, and Florence looked up, waving goodbye before turning back to her work. On the descent down, Valeria couldn’t help but stare at Ziana again. There was more to her partner than just another angry phoenix getting in fights with her roommates all the time, and Valeria was eager to find out just who Ziana was.
“Thanks, Captain Brantley,” Ziana said, looking up at the other phoenix. Valeria suddenly remembered her manners and thanked her Uncle as well.
“No thanks are necessary, I’m glad to do it,” Xander replied, smiling down at them, “I just hope that this is a positive experience for the two of you. This is an important time in a young beasts life. I’m honored to be a part of it for both of you.”
◆◆◆
“We should get to know each other better,” Willow stated from her spot on top of her bed, she was levitating a silver knife and staring at the ceiling. After everyone returned from their first night of internship, they all filed to the dining hall and finally were shooed off to bed. After getting back to the dorm, everyone started doing their own thing and lounging around thinking of tonight’s events, but Valeria couldn’t stop thinking of the previous night and the voices she heard.
“Who gave you a knife?” Edith asked, concern coloring her face as she watched the sorcerer twirl the weapon, and Willow rolled her eyes, “You know that weapons aren’t allowed on campus.”
“My internship is weapon making, Edith,” Willow explained, but she stored the weapon away and sat up to look at her roommates, “I’m serious. We should tell each other secrets or something.”
“Why would we do that?” Gita asked from her own bed, she sat reading about pottery, if the pictures were anything to go by, “Valeria is going to be here for two phases, and Ziana is leaving the Academy with her.”
“So what?” Ji-woo questioned, she was floating in her tank, her violet tail lazily keeping her afloat and her hair was slicked back from the water, “I think it’s a nice idea.”
“I wouldn’t mind it,” Valeria answered with a tentative smile at her roommates and Willow moved to sit on the floor, her familiar hopping into her lap.
“Well come on,” Willow said, beckoning the rest of the room into a circle, Valeria, Edith and Ji-woo all sat in a circle, Ziana and Gita not moving from their spots. The water on Ji-woo’s skin, absorbed into her and she shifted back into her beastform with two legs replacing the tail.
“Come on, Ziana,” Edith urged the phoenix, vines extended from her fingertips that wrapped around Ziana’s wrist to pull the phoenix into the circle.
“What did I say about pulling me around with those things?” Ziana glowered, but Edith ignored her and turned her smile to the girls sitting in the circle. Ji-woo was in a staring contest with Gita that lasted a few seconds before the wolf huffed and reluctantly joined the circle.
“This is so stupid,” Gita muttered, crossing her arms and looking very much like a grumpy pup.
“So let’s go around the circle and tell one secret,” Willow said, her eyes glinting with mischief and Ziana groaned.
“What are we hatchlings?” Ziana protested.
“I’ll start. I kissed a phoenix once and then accidentally spit water into his face,” Ji-woo confessed, causing the whole circle to laugh, even Ziana lips turned upwards in amusement, “Your turn, Gita.”
“I watched my parents cut off a’ traitor’s hand,” Gita supplied, and everyone was quiet for a minute before Willow clapped her hands.
“That’s nice,” The sorcerer said and turned towards Edith, “Your turn.”
“I used the wooden desks to cheat on exams,” Edith confessed, looking down at her hands and Ji-woo gasped, “It was only once or twice.”
“Never expected you to step out of line,” Gita laughed.
“Well it has been known to happen,” Edith replied before fixing Valeria with an expectant gaze.
“Oh um,” Valeria murmured, thinking about what she could tell them before an idea came to her, “I stole my dad’s dragon to fly to Kalissa two hours before dawn.”
“You stole the headmaster’s dragon?” Ziana gasped, looking at her for the first time that’ wasn’t with a glare or disdain attached to it and Valeria sat up a little straighter with a smile as if it was something to be proud of.
“I did,” Valeria nodded, and Ziana gave her an impressed look, “What’s your secret?”
“I never agreed to spill my secrets,” Ziana protested, “I didn’t even agree to sit in a circle like a bunch of hatchlings. The under forties dormitory is four buildings down.”
“Come on, Ziana,” Edith pleaded, bumping her shoulder against the phoenix and she sighed. Valeria noticed Ziana always had a hard time saying no to Edith but not earlier. Earlier Ziana refused to listen to her and so did Valeria, now she wondered why the phoenix swayed under Edith’s pleas.
“Fine, I had a poster of the Six in my bedroom when I was forty,” Ziana replied, and Willow rolled her eyes.
“We all did, Ziana. That’s not a secret,” Willow stated.
“I didn’t,” Valeria said, not really meaning to say it aloud but now everyone was looking at her.
“Of course, you didn’t. You had the real thing sleeping down the hall,” Willow laughed, “Now that you bring it up, what are the six like? What is Veronica like?”
“Um, I don’t really know. My mom doesn’t really like Veronica, and I’ve never met Zoar,” Valeria replied, shrugging her shoulders.
“Why?” Willow questioned, leaning slightly forward.
“Willow, stop,” Edith intervened, “She probably’ doesn’t even know. Let’s continue with the game, you still haven’t shared.”
“Whatever you say, Edie,” Willow replied, stroking the black cat in her lap, “My secret is that Nyla is really a Kitsune, not a cat. I turned her into a cat one night, and I can’t reverse it.”
“Isn’t that like bad for her?” Gita questioned her eyes bugging out of her head.
“She seems okay,” Willow shrugged, Nyla looked up at her and nuzzled her hand. Valeria watched and wondered what Nyla truly looked li
ke under the illusion, “Besides’ it’s really just an illusion at best. It doesn’t change her DNA or anything like that.”
“Wow,” Ziana remarked dryly and gave the sorcerer a look as if to say, you’re an idiot.
“So what do your guys mate marks look like?” Willow asked, changing the subject again before she lifted up her shirt, showing the green star on her stomach, “I was born with mine.”
“Same,” Ji-woo said, holding up her hair to show a tiny blue shell behind her ear.
“Me too,” Gita murmured but didn’t show her mark.
“Mine went black when I was little,” Edith said, pulling her knees to her chest. The room was silent for a moment as everyone gave the elf a sympathetic look, black marks meant death. Valeria thought back to her parents and the black marks that they bore. At least Edith didn’t know the pain of losing the mate, just of knowing that she’d never get to meet them. She wasn’t sure which was worse.
“I don’t have one,” Ziana replied, breaking the silence.
“I was born with mine too,” Valeria said, pulling her pant leg up to reveal the red swirls on her ankle. Hoping it would draw away the dreary, awkward silence that had fallen over the group.
“You have a red mark’ that’s so cool,” Ji-woo exclaimed, “you’re going to have a passionate relationship with your mate.”
“The colors don’t really mean anything Ji,” Gita said, sticking her nose in the air and crossing her arms.
“Yes, they do! Red means a consuming passion, orange is a passion that leads to success, yellow is a happy relationship that gives you a new start, blue gives you peace, green allows you to grow, purple brings wisdom and white is a pure relationship, never tainted by negative emotions,” Willow explained glaring angrily at the wolf, her own arms crossing. Nyla looked up, sensing her companion’s irritation.
“My parents had a blue mark, and they certainly didn’t bring each other peace,” Gita snapped returning the sorcerer’s glare with her own.
Beastmora- The Golden Six Page 8