I've wanted to update for ages but i've had some problems with my computer =( so i couldn't update at all. But finally it's sorted out (touch wood). I'm trying to update regularly because i want to finish before Jealously comes out. =)

If you have time please review. =) Thanks.

Chapter 4, Thirst, again.

After two weeks of being at the Schola I was worried. I hadn't heard anything from Christophe and it scared me. Okay, I'd gone long this long before without seeing him, but that didn't stop me being concerned. After all it was clear that he wanted to find out where the traitor was what if he'd fallen into a trap, or had been killed?

I didn't tell Graves of my worries because every time I even tried to mention Christophe Graves would look all stony and freeze until I sighed and trailed off. He didn't want to hear it and he didn't care. I wish he would be willing to listen. And I couldn't talk about him to anyone else either because no one trusted him. I hung around with the Werwulfen for the most part, but in lessons I weren't with them I was with Sam, Clay, Tony and Nick. I had to admit that I liked them, when they weren't trying to impress me, that is. They were constantly trying to show off and be smart. And not smart in the clever sense.

Classes on the other hand were pretty good actually, there was the odd one which seemed insignificant, but most of them were interesting. I was still having one-on-one lessons with Curtis. And they were getting really good; I was still only using one Malaika sword, but he had taught me footwork and the right way to swing the blade and now he was teaching me defence.

'Excellent Dru, excellent', Curtis said beaming at me and he lowered his Malaika. 'You're really getting there now', he told me as I handed my sword back to him.

'I still feel like a beginner,' I answered.

'Yes, well I told you from the beginning Dru, patience, it is slow work.'

'I bet not everyone learns like this', I said.

'Well yes', Curtis admitted putting the Malaika in a cupboard and locking them safely away. 'Christophe Reynard did not learn like that, and he certainly did not teach like that.'

'Teach?' I repeated and then I remembered him telling me he'd taught my mother.

'Yes, he taught me to begin with,' Curtis said, 'he was harsh and rough, he expected you to learn from experience, trial and error I suppose you could say.'

'But you said to begin with.'

Curtis sighed and studied my expression for a moment. I wondered what he was looking for there. 'Yes, he was teaching me but then your mother was murdered and Christophe disappeared.'

'He just disappeared?' I asked slowly.

'Well there was going to be a hearing', Curtis shifted uncomfortably, 'they said it was an enquiry but someone tipped Christophe off that it was an execution.'

I gasped stunned, 'an execution, but then they'd already decided…'

'Yes, well I'm afraid Dru that all the evidence pointed to someone who was close to your mother, unfortunately that person was Christophe.'

I opened my mouth to ask another question but before I could a group of Djamphir trudged into the room. 'Oh sorry', one began.

'Not at all', Curtis said, 'We're finished here. Dru I'll see you next lesson.'

I nodded and walked out thinking hard. So Christophe had been sentenced to death because of his close relationship with my mother. That wasn't really new information, apart from the fact that he had been destined to die. But who had tipped him off? Perhaps Dylan the headmaster of the other Schola had forewarned him.

I was walking rather absently to my next lesson when suddenly a smell wafted into my path. A mouth-watering smell that suddenly pulled my Svetocha senses to the surface. At the back of my throat an inhuman spot tore open, dry and desperate for something to quench the thirst; something thick and liquid, something red and rust smelling. Blood. I whirled around, my teeth ached suddenly and I felt my fangs descend. Leaning against the wall was a Werwulfen bleeding and grumbling about a Djamphir who in sparring had injured him a great deal. Another two Werwulfen were stood with him. None of them had noticed me standing there ready to attack. The thirst was growing, the smell of blood taunting me.

And then I lost control. I launched forward to them, they noticed, but too late, I grabbed onto the bleeding one and we tumbled to the ground. Suddenly there was shouting but my senses were too focused to know what they were saying. I was atop the bleeding one but I couldn't get my fangs close enough to the skin because someone was pulling my hair so my head was snapped back. I growled like a feral dog, someone was tugging on my arms dragging me backwards. Big hands secured around my upper arms, but I was so strong that they could barely move me two inches. Then I felt more hands, I could hear blurred yelling and I was being forced backwards, I was screaming snapping my teeth.

'Dru!' I recognised Sabre's low, deep voice. 'Stop it, calm down!'

'Holy Shit! Dru!' now I could hear Graves, 'not again.'

'Get Milo away, damn it!' Curtis was yelling.

'She just went mental', Milo's high voice answered fading away as he repeated it over and over. 'She's mental'.

Five, perhaps six hands were hanging onto me, holding me back. 'Let me go!' I shouted, I sounded so different, like a wild animal, desperate, brutal and angry.

But none of their holds relinquished. And then everything went slow, I felt a roar of rage, a tidal wave of anger. It was building, it was so consuming that it blocked out everything but that deep animal instinct of the hunt. The surge of power that whipped through me was immense, all destroying and deadly.

I threw everyone off me, it was like I was an explosion and they flung backwards from the force. And then I was running, ripping through the mansion, chasing the scent of blood. WHAM! Someone heavy slammed into me taking me down with a massive bang. There was shouting and I was overwhelmed with people pinning me down. I managed to turn around on my back; faces were all staring down at me, shocked. I snarled again, Graves loomed over me. 'Dru!' he said his voice stern. 'Dru snap out of it, Jesus Christ.' But I couldn't.

'I'll sort this out', Shanks said his face coming into view. He balled his fist and punched me hard in the face. And everything went black.

*

When I came to, I imagined that how I was feeling now, was ten times worse than a hangover. The back of my throat was no longer burning dry but I could feel a sore spot like I'd been screaming for hours, which admittedly I had. And my teeth were painfully sore. I came aware of my surroundings after a long moment, I realised I was lying in my bed. I turned my head. Graves was sitting next to me. 'You okay Dru?' he asked very sensitively.

'No', I said sounding raw and very hurt. 'I nearly did it again Graves', I whispered.

The door opened before he could form an answer. It was Curtis. 'All's well Dru', he told me, 'Milo is fine, and you're going to be okay.'

'What happened then, how did she do that?' Graves asked.

'Svetocha's strength is immense, and with her hunger the force of it trebled. The thirst won't always be that way Dru, it's just because your blooming, once you've fully bloomed then you will be able to control it much more.' He left the room solemnly.

'He said your going to be okay, that's good', Graves said soothingly.

'No, I'm not going to be okay', I said quietly, I turned my head away and let the tears fall.