As I stepped into the gym area, my mind floated to what had happened in this very room just yesterday. The exhilarating experience of fighting with Jacob, the blades in my hand—who was I fooling? I was like a jacked-up junkie on Gordon’s voodoo magic trick that had me fighting Jacob like Jackie Chan. It was sweet—and I was lit!
There, I had made it, and on time, no less. I sat down on the bleachers with the rest of the class and waited with them. Of course, the beautiful Leigh strolled in with her two sidekicks in tow, and made their way to purposely sit behind me.
“I can’t wait to practice my new moves!” Leigh announced loud enough for me to hear.
Inside, I laughed. Outside, I just ignored her.
Gordon walked in, fully dressed in gym attire, sweats, and a short sleeve t-shirt—all blue and white, the school colors. He clapped his hands once for the attention of the class as he stepped in front of all of us.
“Alright, then.” He gave a quick overview of the attendees, which I counted was a total of seven, including myself. The small class consisted of four girls and three guys. “For a couple of you, this will be your beginner’s training. You’ll learn the basics and train with the rest of the group. This is not a class, but training. Each Bloodborne is trained in the arts of weapons and warfare. However, only High Guards proceed to the next level of their training in which they will compete for the position of High Guard to the Heirs. Saddle up, people, let’s begin!” He clapped his hands again, and everyone departed from the bench and walked out onto the gym floor.
Like the lost sheep I was, I followed behind the last person and stopped. Nervously, I looked around and noticed that everyone fit perfectly into pairs in two lines. I was the only one not paired up. I bit my bottom lip and held my spot at the end of the line, hoping and praying not to be the center of attention. In some ways, it felt like my old life had come back to haunt me, and I suddenly felt out of place again.
The first step we learned was Tai Chi for not only stretching but our defensive movements. Gordon said this was most effective to bring balance to our minds and body. I welcomed any balance to my unstable life at this point. After I finally got the stretches down, it felt good. He kept stressing that we should connect with the energy that flows in and around us. I closed my eyes and focused hard to feel that energy, like I did the first time. It became a little frustrating and hard to connect to what you couldn’t see. I opened my eyes and found I was out of sync with not only the teacher but everyone. This was just the stretching exercises—I could only imagine the more advanced practices.
Frustrated, I released a long sigh and mentally restarted. I moved slow and steady in my motions, carefully copying Gordon step by step. After a few more minutes, I finally managed to finish in sync with the class.
Gordon looked past the class as if someone had caught his attention behind us. “Keep focused, class, and continue.” He jogged back.
I continued the best I could, focusing on my breathing, and when I inhaled, I a soft shimmer of electricity waving through my chest and outward into my limbs. It felt fluid, like water, but a bit tingly as it breathed into each of my muscles. It felt good, and for all it was worth, I finally felt something that relaxed me.
“Okay, class! You all did great, and I’m letting you guys out a little early today. There is an urgent issue that I need to address. Be sure and practice, and be on time tomorrow!” Gordon announced as he walked back toward us.
My disappointment faded when I turned around and noticed Jacob talking to Gordon. My attempt to avoid him at all costs seemed to have failed when his gaze captured mine. As I walked over to the bleachers to grab my gym bag, Jacob jogged over behind me.
“Hey—I’m sorry about—”
“It’s nothing. I’m over it.” My voice was controlled, yet I was a bit determined to continue my avoidance. I threw the gym pack strap over my shoulder and walked off.
“Are you just going to walk away from me? At least hear me out!” Jacob called out.
For whatever reason, I couldn’t explain—I stopped, turned around, and walked back to him. There was no excuse he could give me that would justify his actions against their laws. His father wasn’t going to permit it, even if things worked out. It wasn’t worth risking a broken heart over.
“Go on, then.” I rolled my eyes and kept my distance from him.
“Jessie,” Jacob sucked in a quick breath and ran his right hand through his hair, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you everything.”
“You had me to believe—” A sudden movement of people behind Jacob drew my attention. I stopped dead-sentence as my bottom jaw dropped. No way. Gordon stood at the weapons table, with Evan and none other than Kyle. It appeared they had gotten into an in an in-depth discussion. Gordon’s dark expression—his brows knitted into a frown along with his arms crossed over his chest—showed that he clearly didn’t agree with the subject matter. Evan, however, motioned a lot with his hands, then folded one arm over his stomach, and rested his right elbow over his arm as he placed his forefinger on his lips. Maybe I had an overactive imagination, but there appeared to be a high level of concern surrounding Kyle.
“Jessie?” Jacob drew me out of my curious state, and my gaze shifted back to him.
“New student?” I nodded in the direction of Kyle.
Jacob turned and looked at the three, which caught Kyle’s attention. Kyle looked up in my direction, and back to Evan, then he took a second look. I guessed he didn’t recognize me at first. He spoke to Evan and then pointed his forefinger toward me.
“Jessie!” Evan called, then waved me over.
“Do you know him?” Jacob asked as he escorted me toward the group.
“Kind of. I mean, I just met him, like, once.” I stopped once I arrived in front of the three. Kyle eyed me up and down, then gave me an approving nod, closely followed by a sly grin.
“Wow—Jessie.” Kyle smiled and nodded.
“Well, thank you, Kyle. I’m surprised to see you here. What—” I couldn’t stop myself from being nosey.
Kyle chuckled, looked down at the floor, and then back to me as he folded his arms across his chest. “It’s just a business deal, actually.”
“More like a peace offering.” Jacob sneered.
“Jacob!” Evan sharply corrected. “Kyle is our guest at this point. We have a temporary truce until arrangements can be made.”
“I feel like this is not a conversation I need to hear.” I squinted and took a step back.
“It’s okay, Jessie, I wanted to talk to you privately.” Kyle’s gaze traveled from me to Gordon, and then Jacob. “We can talk while they meet with the rest of the Elders, over our offer.”
“This is crazy!” Jacob protested with a half-growl. “Dad! This isn’t right!”
Evan placed his hand against Jacob’s chest. “It’s not the time, Jacob. Let her go.”
Jacob’s anger felt like mine, unsettled, and barely controlled. Inside, my heart longed to hear his excuse, but my mind told me whatever he had to say, it wasn’t worth my time. Grams always said that keeping secrets is as good as telling a lie. This is what I believed. Jacob could have told me the truth, but didn’t. It wasn’t like I had dated him for months, or even years—but in some way, I felt very connected to him. I had looked up to him with admiration for saving my life. The kiss—I wanted it as much as him. But reality hit home, and I knew this was a love that couldn’t be. No matter what the attraction, having a broken heart wasn’t worth the risk.
Fate, for whatever reason, put me here, and now Kyle, the boy who just kept showing up, had come here, to a Sanctuary I didn’t even know had existed. However, I really didn’t know much outside the small town of Oconto where I had lived. As mysterious as Kyle appeared, there was something about him that made me believe I could trust him. Oddly enough, I thought I could trust Jacob—maybe I could, maybe I couldn’t. It was worth hearing what Kyle had to say, and then I would decide. The only place Kyle and I could talk in private woul
d the Garden. Most of the other students spent their available time in the Commons, which left the Gardens a good place for a private conversation.
“I know a place—follow me.” I turned and waited for Kyle to say his goodbye for now and then follow me.
Once we reached outside the gym, I had so many questions, I didn’t even know where to begin. My first thought was that Kyle could be my connection to the outside world. With that, maybe I could find out about my family.
“Did you know I was here?” I rambled out.
“Honestly, yes. It was a guess,” he whispered.
“You knew about this place?” I nearly gasped, and my voice rose a couple of octaves.
“Yes—and can we wait until we get outside first?” Kyle leaned closer and spoke softly.
“Stop.” I turned around and held my hand up. “Give me one good reason to trust you.”
The smile he had carried faded, and his eyes grew heavy with sadness. He sucked in a long breath, then released it slowly. “Because,” he said, “it is my job to protect you.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
∆
First reactions to any news, be it good or bad, always result in some form of emotional response. In my case, my first response wasn’t precisely what I’d expected after someone just told me that they were here to protect me. I slapped Kyle.
“Whoa!” He covered his hand over the red mark I’d left on his face. “What the hell Jessie?”
I shook my head, gritted my teeth, and if my eyes could shoot fire, that would have come next. “I’m sick of this! I feel like I’m in a never-ending nightmare. I’m dead— I’m not dead. My family thinks I’m dead. I now hear voices that aren’t there! AND oh!—as if that’s not bad enough? I got some banshee-ass beyotch and her mean girl crew telling me I don’t belong here. And now this? Please—just tell me you’re joking!” My voice rose a bit higher than I would have liked, because at the end I found myself shouting. The horrible pain I’d swore not to let in broke like a dam breaking into a massive river fall. Hot and salty tears burned my cheeks as they fell. “I can’t take this anymore.” My voice quivered, and my jaw clenched as I tried to dial down on the uncontrolled emotions that swelled within me.
There were so many changes that had happened within a week, I felt like I should have been back in my therapist’s office—
Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
I heard that familiar sound in my head and calmed down immediately. I sucked a deep, ragged breath in when Kyle pulled back. His finger touched underneath my chin, then lifted it up until my eyes met his. Those hazel gems peered deep into mine, and there was a glimmer—a spark that flamed hope in my heart.
“You have no idea how special you are, Jessie. And yeah, she was right—you don’t belong here.” Gently, his fingers moved to my cheek, where he wiped away the last tear that had fallen.
And just like that—another tear fell. A soft smile crossed Kyle’s lips as he gently brushed it away again. Without warning, the hairs on the back of my neck bristled and a cold chill swept up my spine. When I closed my eyes and reopened them, the world around me had changed into a bright and crisp image. My sight had been enhanced by one hundred percent. The wave I’d seen before was, according to Jacob, a doorway that led to another dimension.
At first, the crunch of heavy footsteps against the ground sounded. Kyle and I exchanged glances as we held our position and watched with curiosity.
NO!
Kyle suddenly drew his eyebrows together as his eyes darted around the area where we stood. He grabbed my arm and held it a little too tight for my taste, but his semi-crouching position indicated danger was near.
“What’s that?” My heart picked up speed, as my breath turned shallow. A wave of nausea swept over me, and I grabbed Kyle’s arm right back to steady myself.
“A doorway. Something’s here—” His tense voice added to the fear that had already stung my heart.
‘What?” I whispered as I moved closer to him. My fingers dug into his arm as we sauntered around in a circle, our eyes darting everywhere, looking for anything unusual.
Someone inside the Sanctuary screamed, and as Kyle and I headed for the door, it was as though we both ran into an invisible wall. We staggered back, then looked at one another and back to what appeared to be a bunch of waves in the air, much like you see when the heat is reflected off a car. But they weren’t heated waves—just a massive wall we couldn’t penetrate.
“Get behind me.” Kyle reached down to his hip and unhooked a black baton. At first, it looked like a police baton, then he held it out in front of him, and it popped out on both sides to make a long staff.
“Wow!” The staff looked wickedly sharp. “What is that?”
“It’s called a Bo Staff.” His voice tensed a bit more as he kept close to me. “Stay behind me. We’re going to have company.”
A crackling noise shimmered toward us, followed by a loud pop as a creature emerged through the watery haze. It was bigger than the one that attacked me at the lake, but the same type of creature. Same claws, shape of the head, and razor-sharp teeth.
“Is this what attacked you?” Kyle backed up, pushing backward with me hanging onto his upper arm.
“Yup—only this one is larger. Is that a dragon?”
“No—” He twirled the staff in his hand. “This is not a dragon—it looks like a demon hybrid.”
The creature took a couple of steps toward us, stopped, then opened its mouth and released a horrifying screech that almost deafened me. Immediately, I covered my ears with both hands, as Kyle bore the harsh sound to maintain his focus on the creature. He shook his head once, then regained his composure.
Swiftly, Kyle twisted the staff out, then under his left arm, with one end pointed at the creature. I, on the other hand, slowly crept backward and away from the fight. Since I didn’t have any more of Gordon’s Gojo Mojo, I figured it would be safer if I put a little distance between them and me.
“Jessie—” Kyle warned.
“I’m just making sure you don’t hit me accidentally.” I kept my voice calm.
“I told you to stay behind me—” Kyle moved slow and cautiously in a circle with the creature.
But it was too late. While Kyle had moved one way, I seemed to have moved the opposite direction, and the creature charged at me. I wanted to run. I wanted to scream. I wanted to do a lot of things, but didn’t. Instead, I just stood there, froze solid, as this beast ran toward me full speed ahead.
The next two seconds of my life were the most shocking I’d experienced yet. First, the creature stopped about a couple of feet in front of me. It tried to swipe me with its right claw, and I stepped back so fast that it missed. Secondly, the creature growled loudly and attempted to bite me. At that point, I punched it in the face as hard as I could and watched in amazement as the creature stumbled backward. Kyle moved forward in a flash and shoved the end of his Bo Staff into its head, killing it instantly.
“How did you do that?” I pointed to the staff.
“It has titanium blades at each end.” He put one foot on the creature’s shoulder and pulled out the staff. “I see you’ve got skills.”
I shook my head. “No, it was—it’s a long story.” To tell Kyle the story about how Gordon ramped up my fighting skills—well, let’s just say that a girl must keep some secrets, for the moment anyway. I really didn’t want to explain to Kyle what happened, especially since he and Jacob already seemed to be on the outs.
I walked over to where Kyle stood next to the creature. He looked down around its head and neck as if studying it for a moment before he spoke.
“This is—” He shook his head. “I don’t know what it is. It looks like someone took one of our dragons and fused it with a demon, but that’s impossible.”
Screams came from inside the Sanctuary again, which drew our attention forward. Kyle and I exchanged looks, then charged inside the doors to find a few younger students scattered about. One younger girl, to my far rig
ht, had crouched behind a chair as one of those demon hybrids lurked terribly close by. Mia and Karina were busy gathering students to a safe place, while I spotted Gordon, Evan, and Jacob fighting against three of those creatures.
It didn’t look too much of a fight— the creatures appeared to be roaming around as if searching for something, or someone. I looked around for anything that would be considered a weapon, but the hallway proved a futile attempt for dangerous items.
“Help them, and I’ll get this girl.” I pointed to a few of the others who Mia was rounding up. Kyle nodded and took off after a creature that headed their way.
“Okay, big boy—let’s see what you got.” I moved quickly, in record-speed, toward the creature. I finally got it now—I just had to think about moving faster, and I did. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the sudden urge that burned inside me to kill that creature. It was as though my body tingled all over, my muscles tensed, and a guttural growl erupted from within my throat.
Oh, but that wasn’t all that happened—I had actually grown fangs! Not just uppers, I had a set on the bottom too! They weren’t terribly large, like old-school vamp fangs. Just another thing I supposed I’d have to deal with. In some ways, I felt as though I were turning into a creature myself. Maybe that creature’s venom was turning me into what it was—I didn’t know.
I mean, what the hell, dude?
The creature turned in my direction, and its clawed hands splayed outwards as it leaned forward and growled back at me. Honestly, its growl shook me out of my stupor over those damned fangs. There was no fear inside me—my only focus was to kill it. Quickly, it moved toward me, each footstep hard and thunderous against the tiled floor. Its mouth opened, showing me its razor-sharp teeth, ready to devour me in one crunch if it so wished.
In a split second, I had an idea. There was a framed picture on the wall next to me, I grabbed it and broke it over my knee, leaving a piece of the frame as a dagger. As the creature made its way toward me, it swiped at me with its claw, and I moved out of its way before it had a chance to even notice I wasn’t there.
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