We move around a lot. For obvious reasons. Namely, because mother is on the run. Oh, she tries to hide the fact from Dante and myself, but we know. We are the spawn of the ultimate traitor. She was his mate. She bred with him. Demon and hunter alike are after my mother. And us.
Hence, the vigorous relocating.
With new neighborhoods and school districts come new problems.
Bullies, mostly.
They are usually the male children, as the females find me and Dante 'cute'.
Disgusting.
Thankfully, my twin is more than willing to take my share of the admirers for himself. It's better that way. Contrary to what my mother believes, I take no joy in making the girls cry when I reject their advances. I hate their tears, actually. It shows me just how weak they really are. Do they honestly think that I would lower myself in such a way? Kiss them? Touch them? Please. I can hardly stand to look at them. Pretty or not.
And yes, I can distinguish human beauty. I'm just not interested in it.
Tangent aside, back to the topic at hand.
As I've said; with the new territory comes new shows of dominance from the local male primates.
Just towards me, however. They always like Dante and welcome him to join their ball games and such.
Apparently, if the females show more interest in a new male than that of the current 'alphas', despite my doing absolutely nothing to provoke it, it makes one a target for harassment. Being a loner didn't help matters much, either.
I know this. I've done research on human behaviors, seeing as I don't have any myself. If I'm to blend, I have to at least pretend like I know how to be human.
Not Dante, though. He is always the popular one.
Not that I care in the least. I prefer being left to my own devices. I don't bother anyone. I can't be arsed to. It's boring.
In fact, the only time I do retaliate is when one of them is foolish enough to start a physical altercation with me. Afterwards, word usually spreads quickly that I am not to be trifled with.
Today's account was different. I went a little too far this time. I might be subject to some unpleasant backlash.
We've been at this new school for several months now. As per usual, Dante made friends with the other children whereas I kept to myself on the play yard. Quite often, I'll be reading a book of some sort as I rarely associate with any of them.
This particular school was an elementary school combined with a secondary school. The ages of the children ran from as young as five to thirteen and fourteen.
I've just turned eight.
But I am big for my age. And tall. My physique is already well-muscled and ready for battle. Often, I am mistaken for much older than I really am. Because of this, a group of teenaged girls had taken to sit on the benches by me at lunchtime, where I normally read. They flip their hair, giggle loudly, and shoot obvious coy glances my way.
And, as always, I ignore it all.
Today, though, it didn't make a difference.
One of them was bold enough to sit next to me a give me a nudge.
Annoyed, I gave her a sidelong glance and nothing more.
"You're cute."
I didn't answer.
"Your name is Vergil, right?"
I didn't answer.
"My name is Lillian. What grade are you in?"
Finally, I looked over at her. Glared, actually. "Go away, Lillian."
She seemed surprised, "How come?"
"Because your voice is making me sick. As well as the stench of perfume you've seemed to have marinated yourself in this morning."
She gasped and, as expected, her eyes filled with tears. Off she scampered with her little twat-brigade. Off to the girl's restroom, where they would, no doubt, dry her eyes and re-stuff her bra and assure her that she was the prettiest one of all.
Later, after classes had ended, Dante stayed late for some sort of after school activity. As such, I walked home alone.
I enjoyed it. I strolled at my leisure. Until I was suddenly surrounded by a barrage of older boys.
Looking around, I saw the exact same group of girls standing off to one side. Watching. She'd told on me. Obviously. This gang of ruffians was the result. They were here to defend her dubious honor.
They hurled insults at me; "Albino!" "Freak!" "Nerd!"
Nothing I hadn't heard dozens of times before. This went on for a good while and I was actually beginning to become bored with it all. Usually, the name calling would either end, or it would escalate. Until it did, however, I merely stood there and pretended to be dismayed with my current situation. The largest boy there finally stepped forward and demanded an apology on his sister's behalf.
"No," I replied.
He swung without warning and hit me in the mouth. I felt my lips being crushed against my teeth. I felt them burst open and there was an explosion of vivid red. I healed almost instantly. Luckily, because of all the blood, it still appeared that I was injured and he didn't notice.
Again, he demanded that I apologize.
"No. Your sister is a future whore. I can smell it on her. It's foul and nauseating."
Gasps all around.
Again, he swung. This time, I caught his fist and squeezed.
He screamed and I let go before I did any serious damage.
The bully went to his knees, cradling his sprained hand against his chest. He didn't heal instantly. I smiled down at him, my own blood covering my front teeth. I imagine I appeared incredibly gruesome. Good. That would give them something else to relay to any other who'd dare try something as foolish as he. To my great surprise, however, all of them rushed me at once.
There was some pain as they rained punches and kicks down onto me, but it was negligible. Perhaps they thought they were giving me quite a thrashing. Patiently, I waited until they'd tired themselves out before I got to my feet again.
A small distance away, there was a chain link fence. It was old and falling apart. One of the metal posts had toppled over. I walked over to it and ignored the jeering behind me. They obviously thought that I was fleeing. Instead, though, I picked up the post and walked back over to them. The lead primate, despite his injuries, laughed at me.
"Ooh! The pretty boy has a big stick now. Whatcha gonna do, cutie? Hit me wiff it?" There was more chortling.
I didn't answer. Instead, I held the post at arm's length in front of me, one hand on each end. Slowly, I began to bend the metal, then I twisted it until it snapped in two.
They weren't laughing anymore.
I deliberately walked up to the lead boy and stared at him. He met my gaze frankly enough, but I could smell the fear on him.
"How old are you?" I asked.
He didn't answer so I hit him with one half of the ruined post. He flew backwards and landed on his back end. I'd split his head open. Blood flowed freely down the side of his face.
This made me laugh. I love blood.
"How old are you?" I asked again. "And you had better answer me this time."
"I-I'm sixteen," he replied, clutching his skull.
I knelt down in front of him and leaned close until our noses almost touched, "I'm only eight and I've bested you. You're nothing. If you ever bother me again, I will do to you what I just did to this pole. Only I will start with your fingers. And then your toes. Then your arms. Then your legs. And I won't stop until I've shattered every single bone in your body. And after I've left you a broken, twisted wreck before me? I'll start in on your slut sister. As well as the rest of your family."
With that, I turned and left them standing in my wake. Speechless. Once home, I hid the bloody clothing and showered. My wounds had healed and, barring a call from an angry mother, the evening would go on as it normally did.
At least I should have some peace for the duration that we remain. Once the gossip starts. Then, when we move, the cycle will begin all over again.
There has to be more to life than this. What will become of me if there isn't?