Chapter 2

Where I lived with my parents was on the outskirts of Tulum, so we were always close enough to protect the Eydis site. The other Guardians lived nearby but not too close. Panthers are very solitary and we don't like being really close to each other. We respected distance.

Luckily, there were no humans that lived nearby or else we would be getting a lot of calls of large and dangerous felines on the loose. I found my brother Stefan lying in his cat form on the front deck. His jewel green eyes glowed at me, surrounded by pitch black fur. He shifted and my brother grinned at me. "Another boring day on the job?" he asked, stretching. I nodded and pushed open the screen door.

I found my father sprawled on the couch asleep, a beer bottle in his hand. He snored softly. I carefully took his beer bottle and chucked in into the garbage. Mom was at the counter, preparing supper. She was losing patience with the can opener, trying to open tomato sauce. She willed her nail on her index finger to sharpen into claws and she plunged it into the can. I laughed and she turned, smiling. "Getting impatient with the can opener again?" I asked, shaking my head.

She nodded. "Well, I know claws can do so much better."

I laughed again. "That's true."

I turned to go to my room. "Oh. Melaina? One of your friends is waiting for you in your room," she said cheerfully. When I looked back at her, there was concern in her expression. Just by that, I knew it wasn't Ariana, my best friend.

It was someone else.

I walked up the stairs, body tense. I opened the door to my bedroom. Lying on the bed was Michael, one of the Keepers in charge. His dark brown eyes surveyed me and he smiled. "No need to be tense, Melaina. Come here," he said, opening his arms.

I grudgingly walked to him and sat on the bed. He touched my face and I jerked away. Michael favoured me. But he also favoured my best friend. The only way to protect her from him was to distract him. He gripped my chin so I wouldn't move. He touched my face again. I looked at my hands which were gripped into fists. I flexed them and I saw my nails lengthen into claws. I so wanted to claw Michael right now but I couldn't. Killing him would mean death for me and others.

I knew what Michael saw. My black hair that went down to my waist. Amber eyes that now had vertical slits as pupils. That only happened when I willed it or if I was scared. It was an instinct.

I stared directly at Michael and smiled, baring fangs. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. I felt his heartbeat stutter slightly in his hands. I purred in pleasure.

He kissed me forcefully, holding my face so I wouldn't escape. I had to do this. For Ariana. I let him kiss me, not resisting. His hands wandered and I had to hold on to all of my self control not to kill him then and there.

Time passed and he left, smiling. I laid down on my bed, drained of energy. I had no problem with my life. I went to a nice school, had a couple of friends, good parents. But with having a human body, I was vulnerable to the Keepers' tastes, especially Michael's. I loved being in my cat form. It was a way of escape from Michael and other troubles. There was freedom in the forest of Tulum. I was so tempted to run but I couldn't. Not without leaving the people that I loved vulnerable.

Being a black panther was a part of me and I would never give it up.

I would give up being human forever if I could.