"Neavie!" Called a perky blonde from the reading area, "why don't you come look at these flashcards with me?"
"No!" Neave spat as she sat playing with a badly aged rag doll on the soft flooring, surrounded by the other children in her class.
The perky blonde rose from her seat whilst groaning loudly and dragged herself over to her dark-haired colleague who wore an identical blue royal blue scrubs to her. "Apparently she can't say mom or dad but she can certainly tell you when she isn't interested in something. Since when did she become so stubborn?"
"I know! I've noticed that too! Then again, Heather Evergreen did spend most of the time with her, we haven't had chance to get to know her."
"Yeah, and now she's left to work for her friend Gigi and left us with this… little witch," snarled the blonde glaring at Neave as she played alone.
"I wouldn't say she was a witch, this age is quite challenging. It's probably normal."
"Jenna, none of the oter children are this 'challenging' I have no idea what to do with her! I mean anytime I go near her she growls at me, what is that about?" They both watched Neave carefully, she seemed content playing alone but she often stopped to violently rub her head. She squinted in discomfort as she pressed her hand against it roughly. "And why does she keep doing that?"
"Maybe she's tired? Should I put her down for a nap?"
The blonde watched as Neave stood up and began to wander over to a small crowd of children sat around the art table. She sat down next to a small boy who had firey red hair and a beaming smile as he scribbled crazily across the paper with a coloured crayon. "No," the blonde stated as she took notice of how closely Neave was watching the boy, "she seems fine." She then turned to her colleague, "so, how long do you think it'll be until Heather comes back this time?"
The dark hair girl laughed loudly, "last time she worked with her friend she lasted two weeks before she came crawling back!"
"Okay then, I give it a week!" The blonde joked with her friend.
They both burst out in to hysterically fits of laughter. They held on tightly to each other in order to help them regain their postures as they tried to compose themselves. However, their laughter was abruptly came to a halt when they heard a heart wrenching scream. The two young day care workers turned only to see Neave pinning the small boy to the art table. He fought frantically as Neave lay on top of him, slowly sinking her teeth further in to his delicate pale skin.
"Neave! NO!"
"No Alex," Justin sighed running his fingers through his thick gelled raven hair, "we can't allow for Pegasus stables to be built here at WizTech."
"What why?" She whined sitting on the edge of the long wooden table. She looked past the other council members and ahead at Justin on the other end of the table.
"Because Alex, they're an endangered species! Do you really expect a bunch of teenage wizards to care for them?"
"But they're so cute!"
"Alex if you think they're that cute then go visit them at the Wiz-Zoo, not my school! Now any other matters to discuss?" Justin asked his council. They all looked around at each other in curiosity and then one by one they shook their heads, informing Justin of their answer. "Okay then! Thank you for yet another productive meeting. Council dismissed."
Instantly, nearly all of the council member rose from their seats. Their chairs echoed across the stoned floor as they shoved them back, quickly rushing to leave. All but one, Chancellor Tootie Tootie, he remained comfortable sat in his seat, smugly ssmiling at his colleagues as he began to watch them leave. "Actually professor! I have something I'd like to put to the council."
Almost in unison all of the council members moaned loudly before dragging themselves back to their seats. Justin turned to Tootie Tootie who stared a him uncomfortably, he gave Justin a sly smirk which made him feel very uneasy.
"Of course, go ahead councillor."
Tootie Tootie nodded and leisurely rose from his seat, he stood in silence as his fellow council members looked up at him impatiently. But this did not signal to Tootie Tootie that he should get on with what he had to say, if anything seeing them all awaiting his ideas made him feel in complete control. He savoured the moment, knowing that all the power was all in his hands but only for a short amount of time.
"Fellow council members," he began, "I've been thinking lately, about something our very own professor and head of our council mentioned around the time when our new colleague Councillor Russo joined our team. About marriage and family wizard laws, but more specifically Hybrid children."
"What about them?" Alex interveined.
"I think there should be more awareness on them, how they are actually a big part of our society and how they should be involved."
"Really?" Justin questioned him, "that's it? No catch?"
"Why would there be a catch professor? I mean, we have the parent of a hybrid sat in this very room! They should be acknknowledged!"
"For what reasons though?" asked Alex, "how do we know your not going to make them look like freaks? Because they're not, my daughter is perfect and harmless."
"I never said she wasn't, all I said is that our fellow wizards should be made more aware of them."
The room was filled with silence, the council members sat contemplating Tootie Tooties suggestion, some even seeing it as a good thing. But Alex and Justjin turned to each other and gave each other a nervous glance. They had mixed feelings about this, mainly because it was coming from Tootie Tootie who to everyone's knowledge did not like monsters and wizards mixing, never mind having children.
"It's a very interesting point councillor," Justin told him, "but I think we should all think about this more carefully. We shall speak about it again at our next meeting."
"But why? If they're so harmless what is there to hide? It's like your ashamed of your niece?"
"I'm not!"
"Listen," Alex started, "there is nothing wrong with hybrid children, but personally I feel you are using my child as a poster person for this and I don't want her to be put out there for everyone to see. There are thousands of hybrids, all of them are different, so why make an example out of them? I know there is a stigma against them but surely there is another way-"
Alex paused as her wand began to ring in her leather boot.
"Excuse me," she muttered quietly before a ray emitted on her wand red, 'Mason calling.' She shrugged it off and ended the call before returning her wand to her boot. "Anyway, as I was saying. Yes there mybe some bad hybrids out there but most, like my daughter, are like anyone else! Just like there are bad wizards and good wizards so I don't see why we should expose them for this!"
Yet again Alex froze as her wand rang loudly, "I'm sorry," she laughed awkwardly, "just one second." She rushed to the back of the grand hall and answered the call. "Mason," she whispered, "what's the matter? I'm suppose to be working."
"I know love I'm sorry. But it's Neave, theres been an incident at her day care we've been called in to see the deputy principle."
"What? Is she okay? Whats happened? When do we need to go?"
"Now! Can you get out of work?"
"Uhh, yeah, sure. I'll see you there."
She hung up the call and turned to the council who all sat staring at her. Justin stood at the end of the table looking concerned. "I'm sorry, I need to go." She rushed to the door and flung it open but she felt someone grab her arm and hold her back.
She turned to see Justin, he held on to her tightly and pulled her closer and stuttered in a hushed tone, "what is it? Is something wrong with Neave?"
"I don't know, but I'm really sorry I've gotta go. I'll speak to you later."
Mason paced the length of the day care lobby anxiously as he waited for Alex. He saw various parents come and go with their children, all so small and innocent. He smiled thinking of his own little girl, her infectious smile and laugh that sent his heart fluttering like crazy. He loved the way her own bubbly personality was starting to show, it grew everyday making her become her own person. Despite how much that saddened Mason that she was not going to be his baby forever, he was proud of the girl he knew she would grow up to be.
Mason froze when he saw a young blonde staff member glaring at him, he recongised her from Neave's class. He awkwardly smiled as he nodded his head to say hello. Slowly, she swaggered towards him, flicking her long blonde locks. She stared at Mason emotionless, her face completely still. "The deputy principle will be with you soon," she informed him blankly, "we'll watch Neave while he speaks to you and Neave's mother."
"Thank you, I'll come and get her when we're done."
The blonde scoffed, "no problem." She turned and walked away before quietly muttering to herself, "thank god for that."
Mason swallowed nervously upon hearing her words, he tapped his foot impatiently and bit on his finger nail as he stood waiting quietly. His attention was soon drawn to the front entrance as Alex burst through the door, rushing over to him and engulfing him in a hug.
"Whats going on?" She asked in panic.
"I don't know, was Justin okay with you leaving?"
"Yeah he was fine with it. Has anyone talked to you?"
"Just one if her teachers saying the deputy principle is coming to talk to us, I haven't a clue whats going on."
"I know! I'm starting to know how my parents felt when my principle wanted to speak them."
"Lets just hope this isn't a regular thing then."
Alex nodded with him in agreement. They both stood with each other nervously watching as the clock slowly ticked away, making the time pass excruciating slower than it actually was. But their attention was soon divereted when they heard a chirpy voice call from down the hall.
"Hello! Lets see… Mr. Greyback and Miss Russo? Wait!" Both Alex and Mason watched on as a familiar figure walked in to the lobby, "Alex? Mason?"
"Zeke!"
Alex and Mason took a seat in Zeke's office, they looked around and took in all of his Captain Jim Bob memoribillia along with the endless amount of cat, robot and alien posters which were plastered across the plain beige walls. Zeke squeezed past them, walking behind the two wooden chairs they both sat uncomfortably on.
"Sorry, the office is abit of a squeeze," he told them laughing, "down side of only being the deputy!"
Zeke sat behind his desk and smiled widely at Alex and Mason who stared blankly at him, "wow!" he yelled enthusiastically, "this is crazy! I haven't seen you guys in so long and then it turns out your kid goes my day care! Actually, its crazy to think you have a kid, then again, I'm actually surprised you guys didn't have a baby sooner! I mean, remember that time Justin and I were playing video games in his room and we could hear you guys through the wall having-"
"Okay Zeke we get the point!" Interrupted Alex.
"Sorry, I'm just so excited to see you both!" Zeke beamed happily, "I mean I go to visit Justin a lot at WizTech, especially since Juliet broke up with him, but I just miss you guys so much! How is everybody? How's Harper doing? Does she like college? I knew she would go on to study fashion!"
"Zeke mate," began Mason calmly, "it's great too see you too and cathing up but do you mind telling us why we're here? Is everything okay with Neave?"
"Oh yeah sure!" He exclaimed regaining his composure whilst adjusting his black tie and short sleeved white shirt. "Well, there's been an incident in her class today."
"Oh my god! Is she okay?" Mason panicked, almost leaping up from his seat.
"Mason calm down!" Snapped Alex, "what is it Zeke?"
"I'm sorry to say there has been a problem with Neave's behaviour today. The girls working in her room caught her harming another child."
"Harming them how?" Alex asked chuckling, "I mean isn't that what kids do? God, the amount of stuff I use to do to Justin when I was a kid…"
"I'm afraid its more serious than that Alex."
"Serious how?"
Zeke pulled out a tablet from the first draw of his desk and began tapping at the device. Alex and Mason sat in complete silence watching him intently as he got a picture up on the screen. Gradually, Zeke hesitantly showed Alex and Mason the image. "I'm really sorry," he winced nervously.
Alex and Mason stared in disbelief as a cold chill crossed them, causing the hairs to stand up on the back of their necks. Alex gulped anxiously as she felt her mouth rapidly becoming dry and a sickly feeling building in her stomach. Her heart fluttered quickly and she began to fidget in her seat as she tried to distract herself from the picture. The gaping wound spread across the top of the small boy's shoulder. Layers of his raw flesh had been exposed, allowing the boy's blood to ooze from his wound and soak his soft skin and light t-shirt. Alex cringed as she noticed Neave's tiny teeth marks dotted across the wound in an almost circular motion.
"How could she do this?" Alex whispered to herself in disbelief.
Mason sat in utter stillness, he stared blankly at the picture and gripped the arms of the chair tightly. A sudden bloom of sweat came across him as his breath started to quicken. He lightly bounced his leg, feeling agitated and clenched his jaw together in order to try and regain his nerves.
"We don't usually take pictures," Zeke told them, "children this age biting is normal, but the girls felt this time it was necessary you seen this."
"This time?" Alex asked, "she's done this before?"
"Actually no, but apparently she has shown challenging behaviour before. Snatching, pushing, hitting, yelling and scratching the children."
"Why did no one tell us?"
"Well, settling in to a new setting can be difficult for a child this age. We like to give them time to settle before we discuss their behaviour with their parents encase it's due to their separation anxiety."
"And hows the kid?"
"Okay, his parents took him to a doctor and by the sounds of it, the injury looks worse than it is. But now I know that you're both her parents I have to ask, could this have anything to do with Neave's powers?"
"Neave's powers?" Alex laughed.
"No," spat Mason sternly, "she's one year old. She doesn't have any, it'd be impossible."
"Alright, no problem. I just thought I'd ask. I mean, knowing her background to me, that bite looks like something that could come from a young werewolf."
"No," Mason insisted, "it's not and she's not. Now if you don't mind is that everything or is there anything else?"
Zeke shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay well thanks mate but if that's all I'm going to get Neave." Mason rose from his seat laving Alex and Zeke staring up at him, "thanks mate, it's been good to see you. I'm sorry abut Neave, we'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Right Alex?"
"Right," Alex nodded slowly.
With that Mason left the room leaving Alex and Zeke alone. She turned and smiled at Zeke awkwardly as her cheeks began to blush light red. "I'm sorry about him, he finds it hard to hear anything bad about 'daddy's little angel.'"
Zeke chuckled to himself, "I totally understand, he's not the only dad around here who feels like that."
"Zeke, please be honest with me, do you think there's something wrong with Neave?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"I don't know," she sighed, "she just hasn't been herself lately. Everybody says she fine but I'm just not sure."
"Mother knows best. But personally, from what ive heard from the girls Neave is a very outgoing, cheeky and happy little girl. Hey who knows, she might just take after you!"
"Zeke, I thought you didn't want me to worry," joked Alex laughing.
"Sorry," he laughed, "but seriously Alex if you have any concerns just let me know. I'll do anything I can to help."
"Thank you Zeke."
"Alex!" they heard Mason call from the hallway, "are you ready to get Neave?"
"On my way!"
The car ride from the day care center was long and excruciatingly quiet, apart from the odd moment were Neave would babble happily to herself. Alex and Mason looked ahead on to the long open road and sat in silence, refusing to even look at each other. Neave roamed around in her car seat, giggling as she tried to claw at the window next to her and wriggle out of her restaints.
"Oh no," she gasped pointing to the window, "tee!"
"What love?" asked Mason, still not taking his eyes off the road.
"Tee!"
Alex snickered to herself, "I think she means a tree."
Mason nodded silently and continued to focus on his driving, tightening his grip on the steering wheel he spun the car around the corner and straight into a row of non-moving traffic. "Fantastic," he sighed throwing his head back on to the head restraint.
"Hey, are you okay?" Alex asked cautiously, "you've been really quiet for the whole ride."
"Fine," he mumbled. "I just want to get out of this traffic and to your parents before Neave gets antsy."
Alex nodded and watched Mason closely. She noticed him take several worried glances in to the interior mirror at Neave who was now tunefully chattering to herself, as if she was singing.
"She's okay you know."
Mason gave a heavy sigh, "yeah…"
Theresa stood around the burning stove as she slaved away cooking the dinner. Rapidly she sliced the sharp knife along the raw onion, hitting the wooden chopping board with a forceful thump with each cut she made. She quickly battered her long eye lashes as her eyes began to burn as an attempt to fight off the stinging sensation quickly spreading through her hazel eyes. Carefully, she wiped away the trails of tears slowly trekking down her flushed cheeks, making sure she did not smudge her makeup.
Jerry walked up the black spiral staircase and paused on the top step, he took a deep breath in and inhaled the intoxicating aromas coming from the kitchen. His stomach gave a low rumble and quickly Jerry made his way over the kitchen to investigate the intising smell.
"What is that?" he asked his wife as she took a break from chopping onions to stir the large pot boiling away on the stove.
"It's Fabada, my mothers recipe!"
Jerry's face grimaced, "that's not the one with the fish is it?"
"No," sighed Theresa, "that's Gazpachuelo. And you said you loved that!"
Before Jerry could answer the mustard coloured door swung open revealing Alex and Mason in the door way and Neave jumping around beside their feet. She rapidly run in to the room towards Jerry squealing happily, he turned to her smiling widely and welcomed her in to his open arms before scooping her up and swinging her around.
"Here's my baby girl!" He cooed whilst squeezing her tightly in his embrace.
Theresa watched her husband and granddaughter lovingly, sending a smile their way whenever she caught their eye contact. She then turned their attention to Alex and Mason, they also stood watching Jerry and Neave but they did not show any joy towards this union. Instead they watched their daughter with solemn expressions and cold glares. Theresa felt uneasy seeing them acting this way and instantly hundreds of thoughts shot through her mind.
Was they okay?
Is there something wrong with them?
Is there something wrong with Neave?
Have they been fighting?
Every scenario she created made her feel even more anxious and eventually Theresa found the nerve to speak up. "Hey guys," she anxiously walked over to them and hugged them weakly. "Are you both okay?"
Alex and Mason stayed silent and turned to each other. "We've been better," Alex began, "no thanks to your darling granddaughter over there."
"What?" Theresa asked in confusion, "you know what, tell me in a minute. dinners ready, let eat!"