Chapter 1: Something for Nothing
I woke to a banging on my door. I opened my eyes groggily to find my mother rustling around my room. Pulling the covers over my head, I groaned loudly. The birds outside my window were singing me awake. I sighed knowing that the day was going to start off badly.
"What's the point in knocking if you're just going to come in anyways?" My mother pulled my comforter off of me and threw hung clothes onto my face.
"Common curtousy. Get your clothes on and do your hair or you're going to be late." I groaned once more, but got up to look at the clothes my mom had thrown at me.
'At least she's being reasonable today.' I quickly pulled my shirt off and grabbed my bra. The knock on my door was light this time, barely enough to hear.
"I'm getting ready mom hold on." I got my shirt on and went to open my door. I was surprised to see Jaceb leaning on my door jam, a hand on each side.
"Sorry Chazler, I didn't mean to intrude." I saw his eyebrow arch and remembered I was in my boxers.
"Oh, well if it's just you come in." I opened the door and he strolled into my room and sat on my bed, "Just don't look behind you." I got my pants on and walked to stand beside him.
"Is it safe?" I slapped his arm and he smiled opening his eyes. I flopped down on my bed and let the sun wash over my face.
The warmth of the sun seemed to soak into my pores. I had a strong urge to run outside and start picking the wild flowers that grew along the tree line behind my house. I threw my arms above me and stretched, my shirt rising above my belly button. Suddenly aware of Jaceb again, I opened one eye to catch him scanning my body, not letting any part of it escape his view. A little embarrassed, I sat up quickly grabbing my jacket and slipping on my socks.
"So who all is running the routes today?" I watched Jaceb as he hurried for an answer.
"Oh, Carlisle, Michelle and Toby during school and then me and you tonight." I nodded as I tied my shoes.
"I'm looking forward to the fresh air. My mom has been dragging me through stores trying to find what she calls 'Perfection to fit perfection'. She's suffocating me with all the makeup and skin tight dresses. I can't find the logic behind having a dinner before the Hunt and then a 'Feast' afterward, like there is a difference. Aren't you suppose to kill something with your mate to prove that the two of you are worthy to be leaders or some shit like that?" I sighed heavily and looked out the window, just wishing I was normal.
Unfortunately being normal was not on my agenda, being the mistress of the warrior clan, being paired by the elder at 18, the rite of passage we call the Hunt, yes all of that is on my agenda instead. My mother, my father, they were chasing after the clan elder, Kasleris, like the little lost puppies they were. It seemed as though if they were without leadership, they couldn't function.
They weren't always like that, no they used to be noble and proud, but now they were Kasleris' lap dogs or retrievers rather. There was a time when they were the most respected of our kind on the continent, but all of that changed when I decided to throw water in my mother's face one day from my highchair using the sink water. They were different after that, almost as if I were a priceless artifact to be boasted about. They started cavorting with Kasleris and his promise of the world. I held no respect for my mother or father and neither did my granddad.
My grandfather and I hated what our family had become. We were known throughout our land as ruthless killing machines. We were seen as savage Pit Bulls now, not the revered beings we used to be.
"Even if I did know, I couldn't tell you or you would be label Vashaad Lador, an outsider, compromised," He sighed deeply, "plus, you have to do it in order to become the clans High Mistress or maybe even the first female warrior clan alpha, besides I don't think you should worry about it. We both know you have this in the bag, whether they test your wit or strength." His smile had my mind reeling and his blonde swooping hair was almost butterscotch in the sunlight. His amber eyes were molten and his muscular figure had his shirt stretching across his chest.
"I know, I know, I just wonder how my father would take it if I became the next alpha or better yet, how I would take it. He has single handedly ruined our clans reputation as protectors and turned it into savage beasts who will kill on sight." I help up my hands as if they were claws.
"Honestly, I think you will be an amazing leader, loved by all," He smirked, "like King Arthur." We laughed at the irony.
"You really think so?" I was looking down at my shoes.
"Of course Chazler, now stop asking stupid questions and let's go." He smiled at me one more time and grabbed my hand.
"Hey Chaz." I handed Michelle a Philosophy book and waited for her to catch her breath before I played mom once again.
"You were almost late where were you?" My book had fallen open to the page painted on the white bored. I almost heard her teeth grind.
"I was at the hospital with Casvenn all night." She took her compact out of her purse and fixed her perfect, long brown curls.
"How is he anyways?" Jaceb, who was on the other side of Michelle, stared intently into his textbook, not making eye contact with Michelle. His voice was distant as well as if he were trying to not care.
A flaw that would make my blood boil.
If I thought for a second that he really didn't care.
"He isn't doing very well, he was getting better, but his doctors are ignorant to our world therefore there are complications to be expected," With a snap her compact was closed and back in her purse, "That wouldn't be happening if he was with his own kind, nothing against the humans, but if I could just get him out of that damn place and get the council to grant me a leave from school I could heal him! I could make him better…" I watched her catch her tears in the little hankie that she always had shoved in a sleeve.
"I know Michelle, but the council was clear the last time you tried to plea with them. They think they know what's best." I watched her face turn almost red.
"But they don't, I don't know why they won't let the healers, my family take care of him!" I grabbed her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. I watched her sigh in relief and did a double take of the front of the room.
Instead of our grey haired teacher shakily writing something on the white board, we were greeted by a god like figure standing tall and beautiful in front of his flowing script. Michelle bit the end of her pen seductively as he looked up into the lecture room to our seats. As his eyes came to me, I stared at him with a flirtatious smile on my face and it was only when Jaceb scoffed loudly that I realized Michelle was lifting herself over her desk to watch him bend over, simply because she sat back with a thump when she heard him.
"Oh, uh, hell what is—oh two forty-three, ok…" Michelle's nose was immediately buried in her book. I was giggling at the whole situation when, who the board identified him as Mr. Hensley, decided to start. The substitute couldn't have been any older than twenty three.
"Every being has a wild beast within them," My smile dropped, "Can anybody tell me what this means?" I narrowed my eyes dangerously and sat back crossing my arms.
'Not a human in here knows the true meaning of that.' I looked toward the window.
"Mrs.…Chazler is it? I am a sub after all." I nodded, "Ok, how about you tell me what this means." His English accent was smooth. I leaned forward in my chair.
"It means everyone has a hidden monster within them, whether it's anger, jealousy or even a guilty pleasure that may seem taboo to most, like, for example, If you eat raw deer meat in the forest." For a second I saw my pack mates tense in their seat and cut their eyes at me, I rolled mine, "That is only an example though," I looked down at my pencil, "that would, of course, be absolutely disgusting and barbaric." I saw Jaceb's face harden and Michelle sink into her chair avoiding my eyes.
"Well," The young teacher laughed, "what a wonderful sight don't you agree? Never the less, yes Chazler," He purred my name, "you are correct." I looked up at him and his eyes were scanning my body, something that I was very used to at public school. While his back was turned, Michelle handed me a note.
What the hell were you thinking?! You could be in serious trouble for saying something like that!
Why is it that the sub seems to be drooling over you? And don't act like you didn't notice either :D. why couldn't you be wearing one of your mother's choice of outfit. :/
I rolled my eyes and quickly wrote her back.
Look, you just need to chill before I decide to make you run a perimeter drill until you beat MY time!
I don't know Michelle, because I'm a wolf and I'm unexplored… territory and because I don't like them, they are uncomfortable and impractical. I don't have time to pay attention to minor details, I'm already overloaded.
When Michelle rolled her eyes and mouthed 'Yeah right!' I giggled and the teacher looked up at me raising an eyebrow. I just looked away and tried to keep from laughing to hard.
"Chazler may I see you after class?" He smiled wide, but my smile faded immediately.
"If you insist Mr. ," I glanced behind him and raised the corner of my mouth, "Hensley."
"Wonderful." I looked at Michelle who was making a humping movement at me and threw my pencil at her, which she, of course, caught and in one quick movement flicked it back at me. I pulled my head back just far enough for it to whistle past me.
The rest of first period was on a serious note. There wasn't a whole lot I got from the class that I didn't already know, so I found myself looking out the window thinking about the quote that had long since been erased.
'They have no idea what it's like to be a monster… a freak." I shifted in my seat. "It's not like they are forced to get married at eighteen, in fact I'm sure their parents frown upon that severely!" The bell rang just before I drove myself mad. I packed my things as the rest of the class was walking out of the room. I started down the stairs as Michelle sachet in front of me with a new found lollipop in her mouth. She stood beside me as Jaceb walked stone faced out of the lecture hall.
"See you later Michelle." I stayed facing the sub as I listened for her foot steps to fade and the click of the door behind her, "What do you need?" He was leaning against his desk. His eyes where a brighter green than at the beginning of the class and I knew what he was.
"Mistress, It is a pleasure to meet you." He bowed low and when he rose I could see the tips of his canines peeking out from under his upper lip.
"Ah, that explains a lot. You're an initiate aren't you?" I grabbed the apple that sat on his table and plopped down in his chair.
"Yes mistress and Kasleris has asked me to help you master your gift." I laughed and he smirked.
"How does he expect someone an initiate to help me? Are you going to school me in offensive magic that you don't have?" His smirk never faltered.
"You will be surprised at how much I can help you, in fact your lessons start today. Kasleris gave me your second hour to teach you, so therefore your new chemistry class is now advanced magic." I chuckled.
"Ok, what would you like me to do first? Show you something?" He shrugged his shoulders and nodded, "This should blow them little glasses right off your face my friend."
I took a bite of the apple that was in my hand then sat it flat on my outstretched palm. I simply thought of the Latin word for life and the apple started sprouting and soon its roots were wrapping around my hand and through my fingers. I thought of how I wanted its trunk to twist and coil and in effect, the trunk twisted. In the end the apple had sprouted into a bonsai tree, three foot tall and bearing fruit. I pulled my hand free from its roots and handed it to the awe struck teacher.
"Was this difficult for you?" I smiled as he put the tree on his desk and cut a root open with his thumb nail.
"Didn't even have to think about it." I smiled wider at his amazement.
"Absolutely extraordinary, you seem to have germinated the seeds inside the fruit! The pant also seems to be alive even after you detachment." his hands rand the length of the small many times before he continued, "We have to start immediately fallow me." We ran down the halls and through the back doors into the woods. We stopped a mile in and he stood in the middle of a ring of trees.
"What else can you do?" I laughed as he paced excitedly in front of me.
"Well, I can control nature," with that I moved my hands in front of me sending a gust of air in his direction, "I control fire," The gust was gone, replaced with a flame half a foot tall in my palm. "I can bring water up from under the ground, and I can throw my spirit outwards," I stomped a foot to the side of me conjuring a wall that deteriorated at touch, "among many other things." My teacher smile only widened.
"My name is Noah and I am your new instructor for this amazing gift that you have." He bowed again grabbing my hand and planting a kiss on my palm his eyes dangerous.