Chapter 5
After dinner we split up. Selene goes to check out the sports teams, boy crazy girl, Heather goes to call her boyfriend back home, and I want to look at the gardens. Al decides to come with me. I am not sure if it is because of my meltdown, the Vamps in the cafeteria, or boredom.
"You know you can make friends with people other than me here. Maybe even Vampires."
"Why bother. I won't see them after I leave."
I sigh. Ahh, the antisocial goes deep with this one. "Well when you work you might."
"Not likely. I want to be a trainer. And teaching you has given me some ideas for teaching other races."
"So, you are going to open a dojo and have self-defense classes for all the races…including humans?"
"Yes. I have an inheritance. That will pay for my start up. I have a good reputation as a warrior. That will attract clients."
"As will your princely status. Ahh, to be trained by a royal."
He stops and looks at me, frown on his face. Did he seriously never think of that?
"So, people will hire me because of my status?"
I grab his hands and squeeze. "Maybe at first, they will Al, but once you have trained people a bit, they will see how amazing you really are and no one will think about it anymore. You will just be known as the best trainer in the world because you are. Soon everyone will forget you have a title and will just be amazed at how talented you are. I promise."
He squeezes back and we continue walking. I am glad I can make him feel better and kick myself for saying anything. I should know by now that Al won’t take it as a joke like I mean it. He is too serious for that.
"Thank you for earlier. Did you get in trouble for running out during class?"
"No. Do you think it's because I am a prince?"
I shrug. "Personally, I don’t care. I'm just glad you knew I needed help."
"I always know."
We are still walking around hands entwined and I look down at them before looking out at the people watching us walk by. How do they see us? As siblings like Heather? As lovers like Selene? As a Vampire and his pet? How does Al see us? I take a lot of liberties with him that others are not allowed to take.
"How?"
"What?"
"How do you always know?"
I keep walking swinging our clasped hands back and forth. Al lets me get away with it even though he thinks it is a useless way to vent pent up feelings or energy. Then I notice he won’t look at me.
"Al…why do you know?"
I stop walking and he tries to keep going and disconnect our hands. I dig my nails in better than a predatory bird can. "Al."
He looks around and tugs on me.
"Not here."
I follow him as we go through the gardens twisting and turning until we are nowhere near others. I pay little attention to the flora around us. I want to see it, but I want to know this more.
We come upon a bench and sit. Well he sits. I get down and put my fingers in the pond watching the fish come to try a nibble. They are too small to truly take a bite of me, but it is amusing to see them try.
"Mom and I hoped you and dad wouldn’t notice. Dad still doesn’t know…please keep it that way."
I nod not looking up. Al hates being stared at, ironic he wants be an instructor, and he hates being center of attention. He always tries to blend or fade into the background content to put me in center stage and back me up. I hate being center of attention too, but not as badly as him (I more hate large crowds stampeding me to death). He has finally developed enough self-awareness to be self-conscious.
"When I bit you…sometimes, when we feed, we create a type of emotional bond. You and I are so open with one another the emotional bond was already there. With my logic being suppressed and me taking your blood then putting my saliva in your body….and your reaction. Well it created the bond in a permanent way. We think it's permanent. We hope it's not.
"I can feel when your emotions are high. Not all of them. Only fear. Originally, this was so Vampires could make sure no one used their pets but them. I didn’t mean to do it…we are trying to break it…"
I sit next to him and grab his hand squeezing. This is the most upset I have ever seen him.
"It's not your fault. We didn’t plan on it happening and you weren't in your right mind. I wish you guys had told me. I might have been able to whip up something to help."
"We didn’t think of that. The bond…if it gets deeper, I could control your emotions to an extent. It's illegal to do and I could be charged for creating it in the first place, especially without your consent."
I tense with that statement. No wonder it is forbidden. Taking away a person's free will would strip them of…well everything.
"Al promise me you won't ever do that. If you swear to me, I don't care what happens to the bond. Take it or leave whatever. I just don’t ever want to be controlled by someone else ever again."
He scoots closer and puts an arm around my shoulders.
"Never. I swear."
I nod believing him and lay my head on his shoulder.
"The only thing we found was a way to make it work in reverse too, basically canceling one another out."
"What did that entail?"
He sighs.
"I would give you my blood and do the bond on purpose this time."
"Okay so I don’t want to drink blood, but if it's just once I think I could do it. What's the catch? I can tell by how stiff your arm is there is one."
Eyes closed I can feel the tension in him. It has to be bad.
"We have to petition to have it done and you wouldn’t be able to leave me…ever."
"Why, would I die or something?"
"I might."
That pulls me out of my daze. "What?!"
"I would only be able to have your blood so anytime I had to have it you would have to be there. Until you died and the bond broke."
Well shit that is intense.
"Does Vampire law require you guys to be punished for wanting to connect to a mortal?"
He snorts and shrugs.
"They didn’t make the biological rules, but it does seem that biology and law dissuade us. Still determined to change the rules?"
"What you think I can't beat biology and some stuffy old Vamps in a castle far, far away?"
"If someone is going to it will be you."
I am taking that as a compliment. And a leap of faith. "That’s right. It will be me. So no on the blood sharing. If Selene ends up being right, we can re-discuss."
I say nothing more and keep my head down and eyes closed. Al's heart doesn’t pick up, but he is the master of the bluff. If any shock were to show it'd be in his eyes and I am too afraid to look there. I don’t know what I will see. Or what I want to see.
He doesn’t say anything either so I keep my breathing even and my heartbeat steady. He has taught me how to be a better bluffer and I am using those lessons now. Though my nerves say something don’t they? I just don’t know what.
After wandering around a bit more and making a mental note of the names of certain gardeners I want to speak to we head back to the dorms. We separate to go our separate ways. I think about what Al said. I could be controlled emotionally if our bond deepens. I know he won’t do it on purpose, but he is new to strong emotions so it could happen on accident. I will have to see about making a serum to help. Note to self, contact Fiona.
When I get back to my room it is not empty. A group of girls, all very high class, their clothes and perfectly tweezed eye brows say high maintenance at the very least.
"There she is. The little royal want to be."
I let her supposed insult roll off me like water. I hadn't even known how closely related they are to royalty until today. Also, they chose me not the other way around. How can I be some kind of groupie? They better look in the mirror. I am sure Gwen would hump Al's leg if someone turned her into an animal…maybe even before that.
"Whatever Gwen."
>
Magic tosses me up and against the wall. I keep my breathing even and my mind blank. Al coming to save me will look suspicious if it happens too often. Now that I know why I have to hide it. I can’t be afraid. Besides, if she truly hurts me, she will be suspended or expelled.
"Mind letting me down, I have some forms to fill out and some calls to make back home."
Gwen's extremely smug expression falls. Anger and hate twisters her features. She is not used to people not being awed by her. That alone makes me unafraid. Not to mention she has nothing on Alastair when he loses control. No witch can be that terrifying…ever.
"Do you know what kind of witch I am?"
"Geez, how should I know? I mean you only lifted me up and tossed me into a wall. Oh, I know, a telekinetic one?!"
My sarcasm comes out when I am annoyed…her pettiness annoys me.
"I could crush your bones with my power."
"And that would leave you with a pissed off family of royal Vampires to deal with. I doubt the witch council would appreciate you starting a war over one little human you disliked."
I smile because I have her and she knows it. She drops the magic, but her face is red, her nails dig into her hands, and I am almost certain lasers will shoot out of her eyes soon. Oh yeah, she and I will be best friends.
"You think this is funny?"
"Well I suppose you don't. I am guessing you are not used to people disagreeing with you."
I walk up to her until we are almost nose to nose. Well we would be if I weren't four inches shorter than her.
"I am not like everyone else. Mess with me and I will make it so you can never do magic again. Did you ever wonder why a non-witch was staying in the witch dorms? Did you hear the rumors about my potions and their capabilities? I can strip you of your powers by dumping a liquid on you while you sleep. So, if I were you, I would swallow that pride and back the hell off."
I turn and sit at my desk pulling out the forms I need to fill in and shooting Fiona a text saying I will call her tomorrow. I have a feeling this little battle with Gwen is just beginning. But right now, I will ignore the hate filled looks the back of my head is receiving. Tomorrow has to be better, right?
Chapter 6
The next day is not better. I wake up to an empty dorm room and my entire side of the room vandalized. The only clothing not shredded is what I am wearing and one hidden set of undergarments. It is in case I ever hold off on laundry too long they would be there waiting. They are hidden so I won’t see them normally and will do my damn laundry.
I text Fiona asking her to bring me clothes and why. She texts saying it will be taken care of. I can almost feel the rage coming from the text. I do not want to be the administration here…especially since she will be here in person in two days…yeah, they will get it.
I then text Al and tell him because I know if I don’t when mom does, he will be pissed. Ahh damn, why did I run my mouth to Gwen yesterday? Maybe I have gotten cocky having Vampire backup. I never would have said this before they adopted me. Fiona says I am gaining confidence in my own self-worth and that is not a bad thing in my situation. Perhaps I have crossed that boundary?
Whatever, all I can do now is go to classes…in PJs. Awesome. I throw on my undergarments and grab my study snack stash. My alarm clock has also been broken so I missed breakfast and I don’t have time for anything else.
I make it to class and Al pulls out a brush and hair tie. Thank God he uses both these things. I brush my hair, throw it in a ponytail and go into the classroom to learn about Vampire history.
"After this class come grab one of my shirts. It'll be baggy, but not pajamas so it's less likely the teacher will say anything."
I nod. Luckily the dress code is lax but there are certain rules. No PJs, stomach covered, and nothing above the knee.
Al’s shirt will be long but luckily with his smell all over people will be less likely to mock me. Of course, it will have the opposite effect on Gwen, but what the hell can I do? She destroyed my stuff so I obviously can’t wear it.
Class is basically an overview of what we should have learned in high school and what we will be learning now. The first few days are always easy. Hurray for only emotional stress.
Our class runs a few minutes late and as we leave to hurry to Al's room Heather runs up to us holding jeans with holes all up and down the legs. Also grass stains.
"Here, I heard your clothing got torn up. This is the only pair I have that will fit you. You have more muscle than I do…"
Heather is thin. Not anorexic thin, but she is naturally thin and her magic burns calories. Weight gain doesn’t really happen. They likely are her magic jeans. She does gardening, magic lessons and so on in them and they are stretched enough to fit me, someone that has muscle tone because I work out with Vampires.
"Thanks."
"Do you have a shirt?"
"Al is going to give me one."
She nods.
"I have to run to get to class. I will see you later in witchy class."
We wave bye and hurry along. I change in Al's room while he keeps watch at the door for his roomie. I shove my pjs in my backpack. Nothing in there has been destroyed…. the stuff belonging to the school is fine. How could that have happened? I had been bluffing when I said I could make her lose her powers, but I am tempted to try making a potion for that purpose. She would deserve it.
"Ready. Let's go."
His shirt is too big. Way to big. Basically, I am wearing a cocktail dress and jeans. For a couple of days, I will have to deal. The undergarment thing will get bad though…I push the thought aside and go about my day. Next is physical education. I am in with the humans since I will not match any of the paranormals for strength or speed.
"So, it says here some of you have experience in self-defense? Raise your hand if this applies to you."
About ten of us raise our hands. More than I thought considering until lately they’d been slaves.
"How many were taught by their masters to put up enough fight to be fun?"
I put my hand down. Nope. I’d been taught to hold my own until family got there to save me. In a best-case scenario to incapacitate my enemy. My hand is the only one to go down. Our instructor looks at me and sizes me up. True I don’t look buff, but I am flexible, thank you yoga with Fiona, and stronger than my appearance, thanks to Al.
I size him up as well. Werewolf. Would seem less intimidating to most people. Most humans. Ones that haven't been tortured in school by one. I try not to let it cloud my vision and hold a grudge against the entire species. Remembering that prick almost raping me makes it hard to let go of the anger though. He must see the fire in my eyes because he smiles and I clench my fist to hold myself back from slapping him.
"You were trained by other humans?"
"I was trained in Vampire martial arts to hold off or incapacitate any supernatural threat until my family could get to me and help. Best case scenario I incapacitate or kill them."
"And you think they taught you well enough to do so?"
I do so I nod. "They wanted me to fight if needed so yes. My instructor mixed Vampire martial arts with things from human self-defense and customized it so I could alter the moves to fit my human capabilities against a supernatural foe. I believe after a year I am adequate. My classes will not stop while here. My adopted brother Alastair will be continuing my training."
"Ahh, the human owned by the Vampire royals. I heard of you."
"Well I haven't heard of you. And obviously you don't hear too well because they do not own me. They adopted me. I have their family name. My own room. My own business even. I get the same amount of shopping money as Alastair. Fiona cries if I don’t call her mom. I am not a slave, nor am I a pet. I can go where I want and do what I want when I want. Can a mutt answering to another say the same?"
All the other humans back up. Okay so keeping my low opinion of werewolves to myself failed. What is it about them that makes them have to shout 'arrogant fool
here'? They should let us all wear a t-shirt that said I am with stupid and pointing at our teacher…and every wolf I ever saw.
"How arrogant."
"Check a mirror."
I am fairly certain the other kids are not breathing. I however am calm. Speaking my mind actually makes me feel better. It should make me feel threatened since I can tell he is responding physically to my words. He is trying to hold back the change. It’s okay, I have trained to fight them in their animal form as well. It was part of the deal I made with the alpha pack back home. He wanted to apologize for his asshole of a son and make it up to me. Practice against a wolf in human and wolf form is what Al and I agreed on. It was the smart play and I’d finally found a few wolves I didn’t hate on sight.
Because of that training I am confident. I might die, but not without leaving him with some wound to remember me by.
I take my bag off my back and dump it against the wall. I open a gel I keep with me all the time and stick my finger nails in. The goo hardens onto my nails instantly. It dries clear so no one will know it is there until it is too late.
"Arrogant student, do you want to test your prowess in battle? Show the other students how to defend themselves against their Vampire dictators?"
"Well there are no Vampires here, but I am happy to show them how we punish bad dogs."
He bristles. I can see the little hairs on his arms standing straight up and patches on his knuckles getting thicker. He is so close to changing. But that u=is good.
Everyone thinks it is harder to deal with them in wolf form. Al taught me why that theory is wrong. In wolf form it is only instinct. They don’t use human logic, logic that warns them I am not just innocent, small, easy prey. Logic that would take their animal instincts and use them wisely.
I have been taught to use their instincts against them. They will howl and run straight in for the kill. And I can use that to dig into their skin with my gel invention. Instant silver poison. I have been inventing ways for people to hold their own against the supernatural even without self-defense training.
Rooming With the Supernatural Page 4