"There goes my next fifty."
"You bet mister! Don't bet against me!"
"I am learning that more every day I am near you."
I smile and release Al to skip in front of him. I am so happy I could twirl like a little girl in a princess gown.
"Hey, Al I forgot to tell you something this morning."
"What?"
"You looked way more like an avenging angel than a glittery vampire this morning. And now you just look…beautiful. You still stand out from the other Vamps, even if all of you are sparkling pink and purple."
He smiles and ruffles my hair. Dang, I had just got that back to normal after dad had pet me!
"Thanks, princess."
I look at him wondering what the hell he is thinking.
"Hey my mom is a princess and I am a prince. You are part of the family, even dad recognizes it. You are officially a princess. Don’t all little girls want to be one at some point in their lives?"
Have I ever wanted to be a princess? All I can think is I wanted to be safe. Now I am both.
"Never too late to start!"
This time I do twirl while Al laughs and walks by me.
"True."
"Hey wait up!"
I run to catch up with him as he starts talking tiaras and make-up. Oh, that is so not happening. We argue about it all the way back to my and Heather's room.
Chapter 12
The sports games are starting and Heather and I are indeed ready before Selene can show up. She scowls, but Heather has a boyfriend so she is off the hook. It doesn’t matter what she looks like anymore. Her boyfriend isn’t here to see what she looks like or she might have still ended up like me. Listening to Selene complains that tank top and jean capris are not sexy enough to nab a college guy or make guys notice me enough to make Al act more lover-like. It is annoying as hell. Ahh, I so miss Selene when she is gone…maybe…sometimes.
"Selene, I am not after a guy."
We are walking outside to get to the auditorium as a new headmaster is put in charge. Who got the job I wonder.
It is packed when we arrive. When there are all four years here and school-wide events, they will need way more room. Like a separate building. Something to tell the council in my reports.
Al joins us, as do a bunch of humans, a couple of Heather's witch friends that also hate Gwen, and some other sirens Selene knows. I am shocked she can make friends with girls hot enough to be her competition.
One teacher stands up, a Vampire I can tell by her movements, and introduces our new gym teacher and headmaster. I don’t know the headmaster, but I sure as hell recognize the gym teacher. Al and I just look at one another hoping it was a dream.
"Did you know…?"
He shakes his head leaving me to sigh and respond. He is too shocked to respond. Not the first time today.
"Me either."
We both look to the front and think oh shit. Dad is our new gym teacher. Which means he is also overseeing the sports events. Crap on toast.
After the little get-together where Fergus is introduced, we all go to the sports stadium. Twice as large as any human field, it is a supernatural playground. Fergus reads the rules and the whole school laughs as each nation comes out with sparkling Vampires in tow. To be honest I am fairly certain the other races on the teams laugh at their members. That really won't help them work together.
Fergus keeps a straight face and I am glad he had a chance to laugh it out of his system earlier. If he lost it here, I doubt he would be staying on as a teacher. Not that I am looking forward to that. The humans are all terrified of Vamps I can’t see being taught self-defense with one will be easy. I am so looking forward to that.
For now, though I just look onto the field as names of countries are drawn out of a hat. We so need a mascot…not that it will matter being the only all-inclusive college for supernaturals. I can see the debate over what animal to pick. I am thinking something everyone hates because no way will there be anything everyone can agree on. Like a fluffy little bunny…. or a unicorn. Hell, let’s go all the way with this. This is a collection of people that shouldn’t exist, might as well make our mascot something cool and on the folklore side of things. Dragon…who says no to a dragon?!
"Amber look it’s Al!"
I look to where the girls are pointing and they are right. Al is there ignoring the ribbing the other supes are dishing out to the Vamps. Of course, he is given much less than the others. No one pisses off a Vampire prince…or at least not from what I have seen. I wave, but I doubt he can see me in this throng.
"He winked at us. I never thought I would see my son wink."
Fiona sits down smiling. "He winked…at us?"
"He can always find family. It's part of Vampire magic."
I don’t know much about it and I know those with me know even less. The Vampire princess talking about it around tons of other supernaturals is proof of how committed she is to help me on this path. Hopefully, her dad is okay with it.
I also know what she isn’t saying. I can read…or hear…between the lines. Al can sense me. I am connected to him by blood; he will be able to find me, for as long as I live. It makes me feel safe. Any other Vamp and I would be terrified, but not Al. He will always come to my aid, even before the connection he had. I trust him.
"So what game is this?"
I look to Selene and back to the field. She has a point. After all, the supes wouldn’t be wearing padding or armor. Just jerseys of various colors so we know which countries are out there. No numbers, no names, just yellows, and reds to let us in the stands know which countries are up.
"I think soccer."
The ball looks like a soccer one. But for some reason not. It is brightly colored, again for the audience, but something about it seems off. It is visible to me from here…and I have human eyes.
"Hey is that ball…"
"Bigger and filled so it's heavier. Yes."
I am sure all three of us stare at Fiona like she is insane.
"Filled with what?"
"Lead I believe. They cannot use silver with the werewolves down there. And there is no way iron could be used not knowing which Fae will participate or not."
"Lead?"
Heather is about to go all humanitarian on this place. Selene and I each grab an arm and pull her back down. This is the last thing we need.
"Heather, they knew what they signed up for…"
"But not all are the same strength! How are the witches going to move that?!"
She has a point. They aren’t beefed up in the physical department like Weres and Vamps.
"They are allowed to use spells on the ball or themselves. If a spell touches another player they are banned. But they can increase their speed or strength or even make the ball as light as air for themselves if they wish. This was all thought out while the council discussed details."
Well, thank goodness for Fiona. She is a fountain of knowledge. I also look to Heather and she glances at me sideways. I know that look and I agree. The other supes don’t know it yet, but that makes witches potentially the most powerful, and useful, players in the game. I wonder how long the others will take to figure it out.
"If they use a spell of accuracy…"
I nod my agreement. The ball will go wherever they want it to no matter how bad their kick is. Well, this will be fascinating.
"Does anyone know the rules? I find it hard enough to remember anything without adding supernatural insanity to the mix."
Everyone laughs, shrugs, and starts cheering as the games begin.
I am right, I understand nothing about the game other than the fact that the ball goes into the goal and it is time to cheer. I am okay with it. None of us know the technical talk so we just root for our American team. Those whose team is not up yet pick a side and go with it.
Supes, I am finding, are as competitive as humans. They watch and want certain teams to win because it will be 'awesome to see our team crush them in the next rou
nd'. Even with my human ears, I hear it all around.
The second thing I learned is that supernaturals playing soccer is very little like human soccer. I mean the basic structure is there but, well, it almost looks like some rugby matches I have seen in passing. It is the only human thing Fergus watches.
Soccer has never been this violent. Not to mention the teams learn very quickly the witches are indeed the most valuable players. They have spells of speed, agility, and the wonderful slippery spell. That is not its official name, but basically, it makes you slippery to outside influences. So, when a Were or Vamp goes to grab you, you slide right out of their normally unbreakable grip.
As a result, the vampires and werewolves have to decide who will defend the witches from the other team, after all every team has witches. Some use them for defense, some offense, and some sneak attacks. It is complete carnage and by the end, it is obvious the teams need a game plan.
By the end, the races are off the field discussing things in groups. Not groups of vamps on one side, witches elsewhere, and so on. No, they are grouped by team and talking. Real communication is happening. The four of us, Fiona still hangs with us, high five saying nothing. Maybe this isn’t a pipe dream after all.
We meet up with Al after he showers. He might have bruises, but the bonus to our glitter bombs it cakes the skin so the vamps are the only ones able to boast being bruise-free. Suddenly our joke becomes not just a way for humans to assert themselves, but something the vamps can use to pick on their teammates. It is spreading. I am supernatural freaking Santa. Goodwill and all that.
"Alastair you did your team proud."
I have to agree with mom. She kept a closer eye than I had been able to with the speed thing and told me what my weak little eyes missed. Damn supes.
"Yeah, I saw some of it and you looked like a freaking linebacker. Mom says that’s football though. I didn’t see much difference the way you guys play."
"Wait until there is enough interest for a girls’ team to come about."
I roll my eyes. "Don't look forward to me being included. I would have so many PTSD moments they would never let me stay in school after."
I meant it as a joke, but I should have known better. Heather and Selene feel guilty because they hadn't stood up to Adam. No one but Al had. Everyone assumed the worst about me. Fiona, as my mother, was angry I had been born to my biological mother. All of them wish I had not suffered so much or that they had been aware or brave enough to help me.
"Guys, it was a joke."
I often try to joke things away I am uncomfortable with. It is the only thing Fiona and I fight about. I do it to hide my distress, but she’s been taught to internalize, and later share it with her mate. Joking about it is not an option. We never agree on it and Al steps up to play referee, but it doesn’t help. I have broken the habit, for the most part, though sometimes it still sneaks up when I think about something that likely will lead to my panic returning.
"Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that."
Al throws an arm around my shoulder and tucks me against his side protectively. He can feel the truth in my somewhat joking words. He can also sense mom's anger and he doesn’t want me exposed to it when I already feel bad. I am not sure how we will keep this hidden the entire four years of college.
We have been close the last few years so the ones that came from our community will know, but most here haven't and we are so far from subtle. Well, Al is far from it anyway. Mom still needs to have that conversation with him. If she has already it didn't work. But since I am still feeling vulnerable, I just throw an arm around Al's waist and let myself be protected. It is then I hear a growl coming from Al's stomach. I laugh and everyone else joins in as we continue the walk to the cafeteria.
There is no way they aren’t going to feed the supes after that display. Likely they will have to import a butt load more food. I mean the wolves have sprouted doggy hair and are looking rabid. The vampires are swallowing every time they see a throat, human or other. Big order of raw steaks and blood stat!
"As hungry as everyone looks, I am glad I have some supernatural muscle protecting me."
Selene harrumphs at me, but I notice her slide a bit closer to Al.
"You and me both girl! These Vamps are looking some kind of hungry! Al has some amazing control."
She is not wrong but I can see his jaw grind a bit every minute or so. I know mom does as well and is trying to stay close enough to interfere if he loses it. I am fairly certain he won’t. If he does, I am the easiest target and there is no way she will get him in time. Still, it is nice to know she is ready in case bad things happen.
"Al, take the full offer of blood today and tomorrow."
He looks down and I see his eyes dilating a bit. Oh, he is craving bad and I smell good again. I am not sure what he sees in my face as I remember the pain then the embarrassing pleasure when he healed me. I am still working on my poker face. He nods his agreement and sits us at a table before using vampire speed to get to the buffet. Fiona follows him partly to eat and partly to keep him from fighting over blood with others.
Everyone, not a wolf or vamp is sitting and waiting for them to get their 'food'. Though the increase in adrenaline makes the Fae a bit hungry and the witches exhausted (constant spell casting does that) they are not nearly as affected as the other two groups and no one wants them to lose control and rampage when most of the people capable of keeping them in line are exhausted. It is just smarter to do it this way.
"Look at them eat…yet another reason to not participate in sports."
We laugh at Selene and get up to get our food. Well I guess eating everything in front of you would be bad for a siren, I have never seen an overweight one and I am not sure if it is possible but she is taking no chances.
"Yeah Selene, that’s why you won't try it."
She elbows me and we sit down to an interesting post sports lunch.
Chapter 13
The next morning sees Fiona going home. Despite Fergus getting a job here and staying she will be back to her normal job. Luckily, they own their own company and she can do it all herself. She is more than qualified to run their contracting business. Even I worked there before subbing in for their secretary for a few months while she was on maternity leave.
Fiona will be working double-time with Fergus gone, but she is glad. She is not used to being alone anymore and she says without the extra work she will go nuts. I promise to visit her as often as I can get away. Things are going to get super busy from now on so it won’t be often enough for either of us.
"You look sad Amber."
"Will you think I am a baby if I say I already miss mom?"
Al shakes his glittery head. Then he grabs my hand and walks me towards the halls. He takes me from one to the next describing the scenes on all the tapestries, or the ones he knows the stories behind.
To anyone looking it is likely pure insanity. We walk around holding hands, but Al is in full-on teacher mode. Except for the witch dorms, I know far more of those stories than he does and our roles reverse. It doesn’t bother either of us that people are unsure of how to take our relationship.
Al has the right idea though; it proves a worthy distraction for the night. At least until I get into bed and remember I am going to be taking gym class with dad tomorrow…. yeah, that will be fun.
"My name is Fergus; many of you know my daughter Amber. You see she is well treated and has been taught to defend herself, even against supernaturals. I am a harsh taskmaster; I will push you to your limits. If I don't you cannot surpass them. And I expect by the end of this school year that all of you will be far more capable than you ever believed. If any of you have issues with learning self-defense from me speak up now. I won't be angry and I will talk to the people in charge of bringing in someone else. For those of you interested be prepared it is hard work to challenge yourself enough to be proficient."
Everyone looks at me of course. I am his daughter, so to speak, and I h
ave the most experience with him. The problem is I didn’t train with Fergus. I trained with Al and occasionally Fiona as Al thought I should learn to face different size people; it would’ve been silly to grow used to fighting one person and be attacked by someone nothing like him.
"Fergus is tough but fair. He can seem scary but he's more bark than bite. He always keeps his word."
Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it took him years to finally accept me as family. Then again, he hasn't made them get rid of me either. Tough but honorable is fairly accurate. Oddly enough that is enough for everyone to turn their attention back to him.
"My daughter's teacher is my son, but he and I have gone over the things he taught her and the order he taught them. This semester we need to work on building muscle.
"When Amber came to us, she was malnourished and scared of her own shadow. The same goes for most of you now so the steps we take will be the same. She will be my human assistant. My son will be here as my vampire assistant and I have invited a werewolf from my hometown to participate as well. No one understands bodybuilding better than a wolf."
Oh great. Is he insane? I hate most of that pack, at least the ones our age. They hadn't agreed to send their kids here, despite living in the one community that is already doing a similar thing to what my vision is…except my vision is worldwide and cooperation more intense than just keeping the supernaturals secret.
Al comes in with a werewolf. My spine snaps to attention and I find myself ready to kill Fergus. Good dad my ass. Al looks his normal bored to anyone that doesn’t know him, but I can tell he is tense and pissed. Dad will know it too…if not now later for sure. Al won’t even need our bond as an excuse. He knows how terrified I am of Adam…the bane of my existence…a real dickhead.
Fergus smiles at me and I know his game. I am supposed to show the humans how brave they can be. Adam is my version of their vampire nightmare…I hate werewolves because of him. Well, I guess we will see how well Al has trained me to keep emotions out of it. Or at least how well I listened.
How to Survive Supernatural College (The Complications of Supernatural Adoption Book 2) Page 8