She then split us up into two teams, matched evenly. Khatara ended up on the team to protect me and so did Ronnie. I figured I would just hide it out for a while, but part of me wanted to see everyone in action to gage exactly what did I get myself into. The woman in the jersey walked to the side of the park and blew a whistle. All I had to do was get to the other side of the park. As soon as the whistle blew it was chaos. I noticed that vampires avoided other Vampires and likewise with werewolf on werewolf. The wizards had no such problem and began hurting each other as soon as they could. Once someone either fell or was threw on the ground they were deemed killed. I noticed that one wizard on the other team had the power of flight. She took to the air and was flying straight at me. Before she could reach me a vampire with extremely long hair jumped up and pulled her out of the sky. When I say jumped up, think of at least a twenty foot leap. I saw Khatara face off with both of the twins. I figured this was no contest. She instantly kicked Aimee in the stomach and she was out. She attempted an overhand right at Ivy, but Ivy ducked and followed up with a punch of her own. Everytime Khatara tried to strike, Ivy would somehow be out of reach and quickly retaliate. Her blows didn’t seem to hurt the big werewolf all that much, but she was landing often. I saw Ronnie going toe to toe with the small werewolf who clearly was getting the better of him until a girl jumped in and took the werewolf out in one blow. I took too long just being awestruck when I noticed someone clearing a path through the crowd.
I could not exactly see who was causing the ruckus, I could only see people drop left and right. Altogether it looked like we lost half our number and the other team looked to still be in good shape. I saw Khatara jump into whatever was tearing people up as Ivy was being helped off the field. The crowd parted a bit and I could see what was making all of the commotion. It was a boy, no more than 13 or 14. He was definitely younger than me with brown hair that was kept close cropped. He had green lights shooting out of his hand and everytime it struck someone they went down in a heap. I saw a vampire make a move for me in my peripheral vision. I turned to fight her and she just gave me a smile that sent chills up my spine. I fought a vampire before I figured I could get this one too. I feigned throwing a punch with my left and caught her beautifully with a right hook to the chin. She barely budged. One of my best shots barely registered. Note to self, these chicks were no freaking joke. She shoved me hard and kept smiling. She could take me out anytime and was just toying with me. I spit in her face and backpedaled as far as I could when the girl who took out the werewolf earlier jumped in front of me. I could see the vampire’s smile slip a bit, if I didn’t know better I would say she was nervous. She charged the blond and started delivering punishing blows. I could hear her hits ring off of the blond girl’s body but to her credit she took the blows like a champ. Suddenly two Vampires were fighting the blond girl and they were working her over pretty good. I jumped into the fight because it looked like they could really hurt her. I punched one of the vampires in the side of the head and felt instant pain in my hand. It felt like I had just broken my hand with that punch and the vampire didn’t seem as if it hurt her at all. She looked at me and was attempting to throw a punch but the blond girl recovered and took her out with a kick to the head. Now it was us two versus one Vampire but the guy with the lights was still coming towards me.
“I can hold her off” The blond girl looked at me and continued “Get out of here before Nick reaches you”.
I took off at a full sprint to the other end of the park. As I was running I could see the crowd shift and move towards me. The guy with the hands who I figured was Nick, turned towards me and really started letting people have it. I saw Khatara go down to his lights as another werewolf took her place to keep him distracted. A female wizard jumped in my path and started walking towards me. Normally I would have brought the pain but I had no idea what she could do. Ronnie ran in from the side to take her on. She suddenly vanished. I mean as in she was not there anymore. She appeared on my right side and gave me a kick to the back. I turned to return the blow just as she disappeared and kicked me again. I tried swing at her again but she vanished and continued her assault. Everytime I swung I connected with air and was beginning to get tired from the punishment I was taking. I decided on a different course of action. When she appeared and hit me from behind, instead of turning around and taking a swing, I started shadow boxing with all I had at the empty area in front of me. She reappeared just as I was throwing a right cross. I caught her square in the temple and she went out like a light. I couldn’t believe I had just hit a girl like that. As I was standing there stunned, I suddenly felt a wave of electricity wash over me and I felt face first on the ground unable to move.
I had never been tasered before but this had to be what it felt like. I stayed on the ground what felt like minutes but was probably only a couple of seconds. I could hear some type of alarm go off and then all the sounds of fighting died out. I was getting over whatever just happened to me when the blond girl from earlier came over and helped me up.
“You almost made it Cory, just a couple of more feet and we would have been home free!” The girl who fought off the vampires said. “Well maybe next time we can go all the way.”
“Um, do I know you?” I replied.
“Oh sorry!” she said continuing “I’m Summer, I know everything that goes on here. So how are you settling in?”
Before I could answer the vampire high jumper from earlier came over with a disgusted look on her face. She gave Summer a once over and turned to face me.
“Pathetic”, she started “All you had to do was run to the end of the field whenever they closed on you. What in that horrible little human brain of yours did not comprehend the meaning of your role?”
“Yeah it was my bad,” I replied, “I just wanted to help out Summer, it looked like she was getting worked over pretty good, not that I helped a whole bunch. Heck I think I even broke my hand!”
“Who cares about your stupid hand? This thing that is masquerading around as a student is of little consequence. You should have let it be destroyed. Right now we are talking about you and your failures.”
What a witch. She was talking about Summer like she wasn’t even there. I probably was the reason we lost, but in the end it’s just a stupid game. No need to tear me down. I took a glance at Summer and she looked like she wanted to go somewhere and crawl up and die. This Vampire must be one of the popular kids in her click. I didn’t know who this chick thought she was, but she was going to leave knowing I don’t care for her or her comments.
“I may be new here but I don’t care about this stupid game. Don’t come talk to me unless you act like you got some sense. Now get out of my face.”
She looked like she went into shock. She just stood there glaring at me and I could see her tighten her hands into a fist. She was shaking with rage and that was just what I wanted. While I doubt I could take her in a fight, she wasn’t going to do anything while everyone was around. She stepped up to me and got right into my face.
“You want a kiss or something?” I told her.
“I’ll be seeing you around human” she replied. “You better watch yourself.” She then walked away while glaring at me the whole time.
“Summer are you okay?” I asked worried. “You are a pretty good fighter, why would you take that type of crap off of her?”
“I’m just programmed that way”, she said sadly. “I don’t like to fight unless it is for a cause, I just want to make friends but nobody likes me.”
“Screw her,” I said angrily. “You don’t need friends like that. You need to change your programming then. She is programmed to start drama; you should alter your ways and beat the living heck outta people like her. I bet she would leave you alone then.”
“I don’t think you understand, I can’t just change my ways.” She said sadly.
“Cory, come quick or we will miss our next class” Ronnie said as he ran up to us. He then grabbed my arm and led me away.
I waved goodbye to Summer as I left.
This place was going to be interesting. I already got to play the knight in shining armor to a pretty hot chick that wasn’t full of herself. True I had made an enemy of that vampire chick but screw her.
“Cory we need to talk, seriously before you do something stupid.” Ronnie stated flatly.
“Talk about what? Listen I know I lost that stupid game, but it’s just a stupid game. I am surprised somebody didn’t get really hurt.”
“I am not talking about the game Cory; you are making enemies and friends with the wrong people”. Ronnie said continuing, “Summer is not to be trusted at any cost, there is a reason why you will never see anyone hanging around her. She is the principal’s so called daughter.”
“What do you mean so called daughter? I don’t know who the hell you think you are but I don’t swing that way and I’ll hang out with whoever the heck I feel like.”
“Cory, I should leave you to find out stuff the hard way. You too full of yourself, you are not hot at all, you are just the new guy. And if you don’t wanna hear what I gotta say, then fine. You will find out soon enough.” Ronnie then turned to walk away.
Part of me wanted to grab him and find out what he was talking about, the other part of me didn’t want to hang with him anyway. Who did he think he was telling me who I can and can’t hang out with, what an idiot. I probably should have kept my big mouth shut though since I did not know the way to my next class. I figured I would follow the biggest group of students and go into whatever class they did, since I did not see anyone I really recognize to ask, since me and Ronnie had our little spat. Turns out everyone was heading back to their apartment, to get showered up and changed. I hurried to my building to finish my personal hygiene. After I was done I figured I would just head to the building the principal was in since that was the only building I could see housing a real school, since it was the largest. I ended up finding my classes since the building had its own information desk. Everything passed by pretty quickly after that. It was normal classes for the rest of the morning and the afternoon passed by quickly too. It was 5 pm before I knew it. I did not talk to Ronnie the rest of the day, although he was in several of my classes. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be his friend or not, but I didn’t want an enemy either. I figured the best thing for me to do would be to apologize, then slowly stop hanging around. That way we would still be on friendly terms, just not as friendly as telling someone out who they can hang with. I wasn’t hungry and decided to forgo dinner that evening. I stayed to myself and walked back to my new home and figured I would stop by Ronnie’s after he finished eating.
CHAPTER 9
KHATARA
Khatara headed to the park with the rest of her pack. She had always enjoyed physical training, as she was stronger than the average werewolf. As of right now Khatara was the strongest wolf in this school as she was the Alpha. Khatara also had great speed and would have been the fastest wolf too, if not for her friend Kara. As she was stretching, she thought about her life, and how it had not always been this way. As the newly appointed Alpha, everyone looked to her to make decisions although she was only in her 14th year. She was not young by werewolf standards, but Alphas normally are at least 25 before they have the skill and muscle to challenge for the right of alpha wolf. Khatara had come upon this title accidentally, after besting the previous Alpha during an impromptu struggle. Most Alphas in a pack descended from the line of the previous Alpha. Since all werewolves we female, there had been no mixing of the lines.
Khatara was born to a lesser Omega. Her father, who she never knew, was said to be among one of the tallest wizards at the academy during his time there. The previous Alpha had her eyes set on him, but eventually went after another wizard who bested him in combat. When it was found out Khatara’s mother had mated outside of her place of letting the Beta have second pick, she was constantly harassed and injured. During one such attack three months ago, is where it all came to a head.
Khatara’s mother was in her 38th year, old by a werewolf standard since the average were lived to 40. As she was relaxing in the eatery, the Alpha’s daughter started trying to exert her dominance by telling Khatara’s mother to leave. The Alpha’s daughter Nezmeenah, was next in line and was then thought of as the best fighter of her generation. Khatara had enough of being treated like an Omega when she was so much bigger than everyone else. When Nezmeenah struck Khatara’s mother, the hybrid Kara was the first to relay the news.
“Khatara, they have you mother surrounded!” Kara cried out, nearly out of breath from her sprint. “I came as fast as I could, Nezmeenah has her on the ground in front of the eatery and was urinating on her when I left.”
Khatara’s features dimmed. She never was the type to wear her emotions on the outside, but she was furious. Scenting another wolf was the ultimate show of power. It was one thing for the Alpha to do it, it was her right. But for Nezmeenah to disrespect an older wolf was a sheer lack of respect, one Khatara would make sure she did not repeat.
“Come Kara, I made need you to watch my back” Khatara replied and headed off in the direction of the eatery.
When Khatara arrived she could see her mother on the ground, covered in her own blood and stinking of Jazmeenah’s urine. Her mother’s arm was bent at an unnatural angle and she was struggling to stand. Nezmeenah was in the eatery sitting down to a meal with her mother, the outgoing Alpha sharing a laugh, perhaps about what had just transpired.
“Kara get my mother home safely.” Khatara told the smaller wolf, all the while keeping her eyes on the pair that injured her mother.
“Khatara don’t be stupid, there is nothing we can do!” Kara cried out, trying to pull her friend away from the shop.
“There is something I must do though.” Khatara said matter of factly. “This is the last time my mother will be disrespected. I need you to get her out of here; I don’t want either of you hurt. After you get my mother safe call the principal. He normally does not care unless it is a wizard attacked, but I do not think he would sit around and watch what is about to take place. Tell him a wizard is being attacked if you have to.”
Khatara then went into the restaurant, unsure of her plan. The two Wolves had their backs to her, and it was likely that they did not know the danger they were facing. Khatara picked up and empty serving tray from on top of a trash can located in the eatery. Khatara was now up upon the two wolves, who were still oblivious to their peril. The human male behind the counter looked up and saw her intentions, and the quickly went into the kitchen. As Khatara brought the tray down upon the head of her Alpha, Jazmeenah had just turned around as the tray struck, sounding with a sickening crunch.
Khatara did not stop her assault on the older wolf, even as her daughter started to stand. For any success for her attack to work, she had to put at least one wolf out of commission. The Alpha was an excellent fighter and had not even been tested the many times other wolves had tried to unsurp her. Khatara hit her again and again as Nezmeenah got to her feet. Before Nezmeenah could mount an attack, Khatara stopped her assault on the Alpha and instead turned and swung the tray at the oncoming Nezmeenah, landing a significant blow which downed her opponent. Khatara then brought her focus back on the Alpha.
As the Alpha was raising her head up off the table, Khatara had dropped the tray and instead kept ramming the Alpha’s head into the table again and again. The fight was finally stopped when the rest of the pack entered the eatery along with the principal.
“Miss Shakrullah, I believe whatever point you are trying to make is made” the Principal spoke. “Unhand her, this instant!”
Khatara knew that her mission was not complete. Her mother’s tormentors would soon get the rest of the pack to attack her now. The way she fought these two would be seen as cowardly and the torment would continue. Thinking fast, Khatara had made up her mind. She knew what she must do.
“This is not your concern”, Khatara spoke with her voice breaking. “I am chall
enging for the position of Alpha. My challenge can either be accepted or she can forfeit her title.”
A murmur went through the other werewolves. Khatara was the first to challenge the Alpha in three years, mostly because the last two challengers had been badly maimed. Nezmeenah was on her feet now, her face twisted in rage.
“You cannot challenge for Alpha” Nezmeenah spoke her voice dripping with rage. “You had a cowards attack against us, you are shunned.”
“As soon as I kill the Alpha in combat, you are next” Khatara spoke, her voice now unwavering. “You were in line for Alpha, but you will not make it. It is my right to challenge the hierarchy and my position in it. In fact, I will challenge you now if the Alpha is not up for the challenge.”
“I was told a horrible murder was taking place”, the principal spoke. “I do not interfere with pack law. If there is going to be a change in hierarchy I only ask that it is not drawn out to the point it affects this schools readiness. I will take my leave of you.” The principal then turned to leave.
The Alpha now was on her feet. Her face was a mask of blood with fresh swelling around her eyes. She faced Khatara and stepped up to her. Khatara was now scared to be this close to her alpha. Khatara was taller than the alpha by around six inches, but the Alpha had much more defined muscles.
“I dare you attack me, it is not your place to challenge.” The Alpha spoke, her words slow and deliberate. “I should have killed your mother instead of having her around for entertainment, now you dare stand to me!”
The mention of her mother instantly snapped Khatara out of whatever nervousness she had. She had grown up always on the bottom of the pack hierarchy. She had seen her mother grovel at their feet just to be allowed to feed. Many in the pack had multiple litters; and had left and joined other schools around the nation. Her mother was only allowed one litter; she was the only pup they had allowed to live. Khatara thought about this which made her decision all the more easier.
The Spawn of Hate Page 5