Chapter 3

I hit the mats hard, earth crumpling under me, my breath left me and I wheezed for a moment. The blooodhunger slipped free as I smelled my own blood. Aurora was twice as good as a fighter as Christophe will ever be, she was deadly and had been whooping my ass all this week. She had one of those special baths and I was fixed up every day ready to be beaten again. My claws slipped free and I launched at her, lost to the monster rage that consumed me. In less than a second I met the floor yet again in a bone crushing embrace. I rolled onto my side, gasping for breath, squeezing my eyes shut so they didn't tear up. Aurora sheathed a big shinning knife and sliced the sparkling blade down her finger. The smell of her blood made the hunger burn in my throat. I felt like I was being choked by the consuming hunger.

"Dru, you're in control, it's not in control of you, calm your breathing and lick your tongue over your canine and remember you are the master of it not the other way round" Aurora advised. I sat up and licked over my canine.

On the one-hundred and fifty-something time I managed to do it. I was no star pupil but I was proud of my success. I threw my arms in the air. "I did it!"

"Yep" She smiled. "Now can you control it in a fight?" She questioned then gave me a mere second to defend myself. She pushed me further into the artificial light, away from the outside and the others; who were disgusted by my aspect and Aurora's just scared them. Then Aurora switched, she was now on the defensive as I on the offensive. She moved at sucker speed, with a power and skill I could never possess, she struck in my cheek, lip, nose, chin, ribs, legs, basically everywhere. When I punched, a drop of blood pooled in the corner of her mouth . She smiled red rimmed teeth and attacked. Hands in claws as she swiped at me. She caught my arm and pain flared and I blocked her moves. I fended her off for a good five minutes but she wacked my arms and I stumbled back. "You're getting better" She complimented. She moved before I could see her and I was looking up at her on the floor, no surprise there. "But your balance is still a problem" She smiled and held her hand out. She pulled back at the last second and we both chuckled. I got up on my own and knew that she was pushing me because my body was screaming out in pain. I only imagine what it must have been like for her, she was eight when they first started training her and she was completely human. Unlike Christophe she gave me everything I got and more, but she did play dirty and bended the rules in fighting. Our head turned to Graves, standing sleepy, hair ruffled in a messy way. He was wearing only a t-shirt as his shoulders stood out. Aurora walked closer to Graves. "How about you spar with her?" She questioned.

"No" He said firmly. Aurora walked around him without leaving a single footprint. Graves took out a cigarette and lit it.

"Graves!" I screamed, I remembered him telling me he would stop.

"I'll stop tomorrow" He growled. That made Aurora laugh and she zoomed past Graves taking his light, packet and the lit cigarette. She took a quick drag. "Spar her and you can have it back" She tested him. Graves scowled at her and turned to face me, face softer and shy.

"Sorry Dru wouldn't want to hurt you" Graves said and shrugged.

"Like you could" Aurora remarked and walked off. "I love it how I can't die of cancer" She called cheerfully and blew out the smoke in Graves face.

It was somewhere in the middle of the forth week, I had completed 70% of my training and I was just stretching when I heard it. The sound of metal helicopter blades. They had found us! Aurora wasn't here; she had driven into town to grab food for the Wulfen so she wasn't here. Shanks, Nat dib and Graves all stood by me as the helicopter landed. "None of you mention Aurora, never" I said and they all nodded. They had me boxed in and I sensed my Djamphir guards minus one. Christophe, Ben and some other Djamphir I had seen before. "Dru!" Christophe called running closer to us. I didn't even look or even act like I was even remotely interested in whatever he was saying. They dragged us onto the helicopter and flew us back to the schola. Christophe reached out and touch my shoulders and I surprised myself by hissing at him like a rabid cobra.

Could cobra's be rabid? He sat back with a stony expression on his face for the rest of the flight.

The wooden chair/throne back at the schola council room, a I chair hadn't sat in for over a month felt too familiar. The people around me felt too familiar. "Dru what were you thinking running off, your fully bloomed and not trained!" Hiro accused.

"My physically training was almost complete before you interrupted us" I spat and took pride in their mystified expressions.

"I haven't been alone for the pass month and I and my friends will not give you a name, try and get the answer out of them and their will be consequences, I'm going to my room goodnight" I loomed over the djamphirs and spat agitated.

Once in my room and just about ready for bed Christophe tried to come see me but Nat close the door on him, it was only open a crack and I could see his agitated expression. "Dru please talk to me it wasn't me it was Leon he set me up!" Christophe begged.

"I know but I can't forgive you for sending Graves away" I said and saw a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"The la garoupe" He sounded harsh.

"Yes, so please go away" I asked and he zoomed off his anger radiating off him.