Mate: Level 8

by Heather Karn

  “Is everyone ready for tomorrow?” Oscar asked as we all dug into the soup. It was Clara’s specialty, homemade potato soup, and usually it was my favorite, but not tonight. My stomach turned. Couldn’t he have waited until my food was digested before he brought that subject up?

  “Let’s face it, I might as well show up in a dress and heels for all the good it’ll do me,” Clara giggled, tucking strands of her long, black hair behind her ear as the rest shimmered in the dim light hanging above the small round table we were eating at. “I’m never going to be Elite material. They shouldn’t even bother Interviewing me. It’ll be a waste of their time, and mine.”

  “Yeah, but you know the rules,” Oscar laughed. “They have to test you.”

  She shrugged. “And I’ll fail. I have no qualms about that. What about you two? Are you ready?”

  Lee groaned. “Between me and Koda we have the perfect candidate. She’s smarter than any person I know and can remember every word in our textbooks, but she can’t fight. Meanwhile, I can’t remember what I ate for breakfast, but I can lay someone flat in thirty seconds. However, I don’t think that’s going to help either one of us tomorrow.”

  “Not likely,” I mumbled before stuffing another spoonful of soup into my mouth. “I’ll do my best. That’s all I can say.”

  Clara drug a slice of bread through her soup. “Well, if you both fail tomorrow, we can have birthday cake and ice cream.”

  “What if we pass? No cake?” Lee grumbled. “I’d think we’d deserve it for passing.”

  She blinked at him. “Well, I suppose you’re right. I was thinking you might be too busy doing your new Elite duty to want to celebrate with us simpletons.”

  “Not if you keep cooking like this,” Oscar groaned, rubbing his full belly. “Even if I somehow make the Elite, I won’t be missing much of your cooking. I’ll be here every night.”

  “Unless they transfer you to a new location,” I pointed out. It had happened before, though they apparently tried to keep most of their trainees close to the college for the first year, or until after graduation.

  “Well, it’s not like I want to be an Elite. I’d purposefully bomb the Interview tomorrow if there was a chance I wouldn’t get in trouble for it. Then again, if I eat too much soup tonight because it tastes amazing, I could easily come up with a good reason for moving rather sluggish tomorrow.”

  We all laughed at Oscar’s dramatic moan as he stuffed another bite of soup in his mouth, followed by half a slice of bread. The panther shifter had a hefty appetite, but also a high metabolism. It wouldn’t matter how much he ate tonight. By the time the Interviews came, he’d be hungry again, even after a breakfast with the same amount of food ingested.

  The rest of dinner consisted of the boys talking about sports teams and me and Clara ignoring them. While the educational system had changed, with new classes being added on supernatural creatures and the Elite program, much of the world remained the same. Only now we knew who was a paranormal or supernatural creature and who was human. It made sense that most sports players were shifters of some kind and that witches and warlocks organized and participated in most of the world’s talent shows.

  The biggest difference in every day life were the ugly and dangerous creatures who now walked the streets openly with the rest of us. The old system of police officers was still in place for every day crimes and detective work on a simpler level while the Elite teams were called in when either the police couldn’t handle the situation or a far more dangerous supernatural was causing havoc. Like a vampire, or even a necromancer. The thought made me shudder, reminding me of tomorrow’s Interview. I had to pass so that I could help rid the world of those evils.

  “Okay, well I’m going to go do some studying before bed,” I announced, taking my bowl to the sink so Clara could wash it. I wasn’t lazy. She loved cleaning, and if I ever washed my bowl, I heard about it for a month at every meal afterward, and then some.

  “Koda, you already memorized every textbook we’ve been forced to read,” Oscar groaned, pulling his large body off the chair. His dark blond hair fell into his face to cover his eyes and he pushed it back behind his ear. “Can’t you take a break and not wear yourself out? Come watch a bit of TV.”

  I glanced from him to the living room. “Sorry, not interested. You know how much I love watching sports.”

  “Fine, you can watch whatever you want. I’ll even settle for a chick-flick.”

  “Sorry, Oz, but tomorrow’s a big day, and I don’t want to waste what precious little time I have left watching something pointless. If anyone wants to study with me, I’ll be in my room.” With that, I turned and walked away, already knowing that none of them would join me. None of them believed in last minute cramming. I usually didn’t, but tomorrow was the biggest day of our lives, and at least I’d be able to pass one part of the Interview.

  Chapter Two

  “Happy birthday!” three tone-deaf voices yelled, startling me awake. Before I realized it was my crazy housemates giving me their obnoxious birthday wishes, I reacted. In seconds flat, I was free of the comforter and standing in the center of my bed, hands fisted in a defensive stance.

  “Wow, I think she’s ready for today,” Clara observed, her voice dry as she shook her head.

  My racing heart pounded in my ears, and it took a few deep breaths to calm it. Swallowing hard, I relaxed, letting my hands slowly drop to my sides before slumping onto the bed. The room was bathed in the dim lamp light from the ceiling above us, but I could see through a slit in the curtains that the sun wasn’t even close to rising outside.

  “What time is it?” I asked them, rubbing my face with my hands to try and clear the fuzz that lingered in my brain.

  “Five o’clock.” Lee sounded too chipper and excited for being not only awake, but dressed at this ungodly hour. “We decided last night to do some stretching and warm up exercises together before heading to the Interviews. Since you were either studying or asleep, we made the executive decision to have you join us, and it’s our birthday. Don’t you want to start celebrating already?”

  I glared at him as my hands dropped to my lap. “I’m normally up for the idea, but today there’s only one five o’clock I want to see, and that’s tonight, but since I’m awake, I might as well join you.”

  “Not that we’d let you go back to sleep,” Oz snickered before leading the way out of the room. “Better change, Koda, or I’ll help you.”

  “Not on your life,” I yelled back, slamming the door behind Clara. Tugging my black hair into a messy ponytail, I dug an old pair of workout shorts and a tank top out of my dresser and quickly changed into them. While I hated sports bras because they always seemed to make what little cleavage I had disappear, I opted for one since I only had one clean bra left and I didn’t want it to get all sweaty today. There was no way I was doing laundry on my birthday.

  The three of them were already in the middle of a thigh stretch by the time I joined them, and I quickly settled into position. Even though I was still waking up, the stretching of my muscles eased me into the day, unlike the yelling I’d woken up to. After we’d stretched every muscle we knew how to stretch, we split into pairs to practice our punches and blocks. Unlike yesterday, this was less about killing the other person, and more about proper form and knowledge.

  After we were finished, I ran upstairs to change into my Interview clothes, a loose pair of workout pants and t-shirt with the school’s logo, before racing back downstairs for a light breakfast. Clara was finishing cooking a large pan of eggs while four slices of toast popped out of the toaster. While she placed four equal servings of egg on the same number of plates, I buttered each slice of toast. Lee joined us, pulling a carton of orange juice from the fridge while Oscar took glasses from the cupboard. Over the last three years, this had become our normal routine on testing days. It was almost a bit sad that this was likely our last testing day to be all together for breakfast, since I was certain, at the very least, that
Lee would be chosen for the Elite program. They’d be crazy not to take him.

  “Happy birthday,” I murmured to my brother as I set the saucer of toast slices on the table. He grinned at me before kissing my cheek and taking his seat beside me.

  No one spoke as we ate, all of us acutely aware of what the day would hold. It didn’t matter how hard I tried to keep myself calm, swarms of butterflies dodged the food I ate, making me feel sicker to my stomach. The only reason I ate at all was because I didn’t want to pass out from hunger mid test, and I needed as much energy as I could get before my Interview.

  It became apparent within a matter of minutes that I wasn’t the only person with the jitters. Clara dumped the dishes in the sink and left them there, something she’d never done. Oz left half the juice in his glass while Lee put the OJ in the cupboard with the glasses until I reminded him it went in the fridge. Shaking my head, I ran upstairs to grab a water bottle from the personal stash I kept in my closet. Once we were all ready, we headed out, Oz locking the door behind us.

  The classroom was buzzing with nervous energy when we arrived at twenty minutes to eight. I wasn’t sure how long some of the students had been in the room, but most of the seats were already filled. Today was the day everyone showed up early. Arriving late could cause you to fail the Interview completely or get you kicked out of college for your final year. Professor Heldon marked us in attendance as we walked in and took our usual seats.

  Some students had textbooks in front of them for some last second studying. There was no way I’d remember anything I read this morning, even with my photographic memory. The butterflies dive-bombing my stomach were enough to deal with as I sipped from my water bottle. However, I replayed every combat move we’d learned the last few years and prayed I’d be able to do more than remember them later. Perfect execution would be preferred over remembering.

  “Good morning, Juniors,” Professor Heldon announced, gaining our attention seconds before a large man in a black uniform entered the classroom at exactly eight o’clock, stopping in the doorway. He crossed his arms and I swallowed hard. This guy’s muscles had muscles. I could already envision me fighting this man and ending up a pile of goo on the floor.

  Professor Heldon nodded at the man. “General. Are you ready to begin?”

  “Yes,” the man grunted with a nod, eyeing us with a hungry stare like we were slices of juicy steak on an all you can eat buffet. I’d never met anyone as intimidating as this man. At least the shifters were used to dealing with strong pack Alphas. Humans didn’t quite have that luxury. And this guy was definitely a shifter of some kind. Probably a bear from the size of him.

  “Lacroy Danielson.”

  The student to my right flinched when Professor Heldon called his name. As Juniors, most of us were twenty. Lacroy looked to be no older than sixteen, even though I knew he was just over twenty-one. We’d celebrated Lacroy’s birthday a few weeks ago. The way he carried himself gave him away as a gentle shifter who was facing down the enemy. This man wasn’t Elite material, but like Clara, he had no choice but to be Interviewed.

  They disappeared through the doorway and when the door clicked shut behind them, a collective exhale filled the classroom. Professor Heldon watched us with a grim expression, his lips pressed into a thin line. From what I understood, every year it was the same. He was the Junior class advisor, and he sent us one by one to our Interviews. He’d call out who was next, and they’d follow the general to their Interview.

  Unlike a classroom test where you read and wrote answers, the Interviews were set up as verbal questions and answers. There was little time to stew over an answer as you were expected to give a response right away, and you couldn’t skip and go ahead to the next question. Then they tested your weapons and fighting skills. If you had magic, the ability to shift, or any other supernatural talent, they tested that as well. Humans weren’t tested that far. After the first two segments, there wasn’t anything left to test.

  One by one, my classmates were taken away by the general, which left the rest of us who remained in the classroom wondering who would be his next victim. There was no order, nor rhyme or reason behind who was chosen to be taken away. It was all up to Professor Heldon, and even I couldn’t figure out how he was choosing who left next. All I knew was that every time the general appeared, my stomach dipped and dived, and I never relaxed until he took the student away and the door shut behind them.

  The classroom was half empty when the general returned and Professor Heldon scanned the room. His eyes fell on me and I swallowed hard. This was it.

  “Lee Niklane,” he announced with a sly grin, turning his attention on my brother instead. As much as I wanted to sigh in relief that it wasn’t me, I couldn’t.

  Lee stood, setting his shoulders as he walked toward the much larger man who would lead him away. It was like Lee to look a situation in the face and not back down. He didn’t even bother to glance at me. To his credit, he was focused. As soon as the door closed, I sent up a prayer for his safety and success. Of either one of us, he was the one who deserved this chance.

  Seconds ticked on as if they were minutes, and when eternity had come and gone and come again, the classroom door swung open and the general stepped inside once more. I searched his rugged face and set jaw for any sign of how Lee had done, but like every other time he entered, there was nothing different. He wore the same intense expression and hard eyes.

  I was so wrapped up in my study of him that I almost missed my name being called. Again.

  “Koda Niklane.” Professor Heldon repeated, and I jerked my head in his direction. He stared at me in exasperation before nodding his head toward the general. Swallowing hard and giving myself a mental punch to the face for this stupid first impression, I stood too quick, knocking my thigh against the corner of my desk. With difficulty, I hid my cringe from the sudden spike of pain lancing up my leg. It was my luck that I’d injure myself before the physical section of the Interview.

  Following the giant man from the room, I waited as he closed the door and led me through the halls and out a side door. A smaller, brick building stood across a large parking lot that was nearly empty at this time of day. No one entered this particular building unless it was time for your Interview. You entered through one door. You exited another. Then you never went back inside.

  I swallowed hard, entering the structure behind the general. Unlike what I’d expected from this building, which was a series of rooms, I found it contained only one large room. The outside was merely a shell to keep the Interviews private. Almost twenty men and women milled about near the outer walls on all sides in small groups or by themselves. Since I didn’t know what shifters may be among them, I tried to calm my racing heart. Some breeds could smell emotion while others could tell by your heartrate. And there were certainly shifters in this room. Probably some magic users as well. In other words, most, if not all of them, weren’t human.

  “Stand,” the general ordered, pointing to a worn yellow X on the floor several feet in front of a plain desk. He sat in the chair behind the desk and lifted a pen to a piece of paper while I moved into position. “Name.”

  “Koda Niklane.”

  “Species.”

  “Human.”

  “Age.”

  “Twenty.”

  “Birthday.”

  “Today.”

  The general glanced up from his paperwork. “So was the boy we just had in here. Same last name as well. Twins?”

  “Not exactly, Sir. I’m adopted. It’s complicated.”

  He grunted and turned his attention back on the paper. After a few more personal information questions, all the while I was trying to remain still and not fidget with my hands or stutter, the man leaned back in his seat. “All right. Now for the interesting part. Tell me all you can about shifters.”

  Closing my eyes, I swallowed and recalled page after page of notes and text I’d read over the last three years in college, and anything I might have
learned in high school. “Not every animal breed has shifter representation. For the most part, it’s smaller mammals and predators who shift. Most aquatic animals can’t shift. Every race lives in their own version of a pack, even the rabbits, and each pack has an Alpha and a Beta. It’s against the law for predator shifters to attack another shifter race, even if provoked. If a weaker race provokes an attack, they will be punished. There are more feline races than any other race, and a wolf shifter is not the same as a werewolf.”

  “That’s enough,” he announced, cutting me off. “You brought up werewolves. Tell me about them.”

  “They’re like the stories that were told before the truth of their existence was revealed. They carry a sickness which spreads via bites because infected saliva is introduced into the healthy person’s bloodstream through the wound. Every full moon they shift. Any werewolf known to bite someone is put down, which is why all werewolves must register with the government and go to a secure location the day before the full moon shift. If they fail to register within the first month after being bitten, they are also put down.”

  “Good,” the general stated. “Tell me about a Familiar.”

  Now that the words were coming, they slipped from my mouth with ease. This was where I excelled. “Familiars are shifters who bond with a witch or warlock. They protect them with their lives and will never leave them. Most Familiars are a form of small cat or bird. In some cases, wolves or other canines have been known to bond. And a bond is not the same thing as a mating, though some wish to go that route in the relationship. For most of them, it is a partnership.”