This was originally going to be the rest of Chapter 19, but I didn't have time.
A question was posed on why Blinkey's been so angry lately; Guys, he's stressed.
Congrats to Ninuhuju, for being the only one to guess the crucial information that Maggie is missing.
TrollhuntersFan: Your analytical skills are freaky on point.
One last thing, it doesn't matter if you're wearing the best mouth guard on the market... getting kicked in the face HURTS LIKE HELL! And blood is unavoidable.
Don't own stuff, we've been over this. Enjoy!
Chapter 20: Secrets and Lies
…
I purr, and press my forehead to the back of her neck. Resting, but not sleeping.
...
Staying like that till the alarm goes off and I need to wake her up.
I lick her cheek and nuzzle her till she wakes up.
Claire moans but reluctantly gets to her feet and makes her way to her trunk, pulling out her clothes and making her way to the bathroom.
I leave NotEnrique to sleep for the day… lucky imp, and go put on a shirt.
Making my way over to Maggie, I shake her shoulder till she wakes. "Ugh! What time is it?"
"Early," I say. "Get up, we've got to go soon if we want to swing by your house."
She grunts but swings her legs over the couch and stretches, yawning.
I hurriedly make the girls each their own lunch and pack myself some meat, tossing a can in my mouth. Maggie is staring with her jaw dropped, looking confused.
"Nope, just nope. Not gonna ask.
I pop another can in my mouth an monch on it trying not to laugh. I make sure Claire has all of her A-day books, and do the same for myself. Claire comes out trying to get her hair brushed, but is struggling.
Maggie enters the bathroom and I approach my mate. "Having trouble?" I snicker.
She sighs and rolls her eyes. "I washed all the goblin out, but I forgot how uncooperative it was," Claire smiles up at me. "Could you help me out?"
I take the brush from her hand and step behind her. "Well, I can't give you a bath right now, but I can work out the knots."
I crouch down and gently brush from the bottom up, licking as I brush. After a minute she sits on my thigh and I'm purring for her. Still waiting for Maggie to come back out, I continue to brush and lick.
After a minute maggie walks out and looks dumbfounded. "Wha…" Both of her hands drag down her face, shaking her head, and looking to the ceiling.
Claire and I laugh and I hand her back the brush. She stands and puts the brush away, and grabs our backpacks. She tosses my jacket and the mask my way and nods her head toward the door.
"Mags, get used to it," Claire says. "That wasn't even him bathing me." Then she leaves.
I laugh and stand, rubbing my face on the jacket once again before handing it to Maggie. I get her swords from the bedroom and we follow Claire out.
My mate is walking stiffly, and hissing at each of the crystal steps. I tuck the mask into my bag and lift her off her feet, taking the stairs in stride.
She almost begins to protest, but then goes limp in my arms. "You know, I don't even care. I feel so weak, I'm so sore."
I flick her cheek. "Sounds to me like we need to get back to training," there's probably an evil gleam in my eye that makes her moan and flop her head back to look at Maggie upside down.
"I don't know why you want him to train you. You're going to die."
With her head still flopped back I take the opportunity lick at her neck and nuzzle her, causing her to wriggle in my arms and giggle.
Maggie laughs. "You know, I'm starting to get passed how weird you are and seeing just what a couple you make."
I look to her, walking at my side. "Thanks Maggie, but Claire's right. I'm not going easy on you. And sleep is now non-essential, you're going to become nocturnal, and we're going to get you in trollhunter shape in no time," I declare. Claire laughs and we finally reach the top, I hand Maggie the horngazle. She looks at it in awe. "Go ahead," I give her a reassuring smile.
I set Claire down and she climbs on my back, Maggie opens the gateway and smiles at the shining stars. I take back the key and we come out from under the bridge.
"Alright Maggie, fist thing on the docket… A three mile run into town." I give a devilish grin.
Her eyes widen and she lets go of a held breath. She's about to speak but I quickly add.
"And that's not even a warm up," I smile with a snarl and take off with Claire clinging to me.
"Hey!" She yells and takes off after me, I'm running at a slow pace for me, but she's going as fast as she can.
"Three miles at your top speed, think you can manage that?" Claire asks.
Maggie narrows her eyes, determination spelled on her face, and pushes herself to run faster.
A shocked growl escapes my lips, this girl's got grit, and yet she somehow keeps surprising me. I match her pace, and don't push her more then that. Finally reaching the warehouse in about 25 minutes, Maggie collapses covered in sweat.
Still wearing my jacket, she uses the sleeve to wipe her forehead of perspiration. I crouch down, letting claire off my back and pull the mask from my bag. Claire helps her to her feet, her legs visibly shaking.
"That's impressive Maggie," Claire says.
"I gotta say Mags, you just keep surprising me."
She pants and looks up at us, a look that could only spell 'bring it'. "Why thank you, Jim."
I dip my head, showing my horns… on instinct?
I put the thought aside. "Alright, let's head over to your house so you can get ready. We've only got another hour before the sun starts to rise." I slip on the mask and we quickly make our way to Maggie's house.
She changes and gets ready quickly, and we arrive at the school in plenty of time.
As the sun starts to rise outside the school, I begin yawning. We're walking through the halls to our classes and Maggie glances at me.
"Now I feel bad for making fun of how you look when you're tired."
I roll my eyes and glare at her. "I don't actually sleep at night. I wasn't asleep while you guys were last night. I just don't have the ability to anymore."
"Jim, if you stopped skipping meals you wouldn't be so tired," Claire gives me a stern look.
"Wait, you don't have the ability anymore?" Maggie questions.
The first bell rings and we have to head to our first class. "Later, Mags," I say. Walking with Claire into History, a new seating chart on the projector screen. Claire and I are on one of the side rows, sitting next to each other.
I glance to Mr. Cunningham and he smiles and nods.
We take our seats and after Claire pulls out her things and I do the same, I take up her hand, waiting for Class to start.
Two familiar voices whine at the new seating arrangements, then an unbelieving glare is sent our way.
"Mr. Cunningham, why do Jim and Claire get to sit next to each other and we don't?!" Alex growls.
I return the rocker's glare and listen to the teacher's response.
"Well first of all, as I said at the first of the year, Jim gets to sit wherever he wants, which would be near Claire. Second, even if they are a couple, they do not distract one another in class, nor do they speak to the other during my lectures. They also have the highest grades of all my history classes." He says it calmly, and with kind eyes. His well posed argument shutting our other friends down. He walks up to an adminastrator in the doorway.
Alex and Kyle sigh, give saddened looks to each other and separate. Alex ends up next to Claire, who is on my right. Kyle near the middle isle.
"How are you feeling Claire?" Alex asks.
"I'm doing much better after some rest and a shower," Claire smiles to her friend.
"What even happened? It looked like a rose bush attacked you last night." Kyle leans closer.
Claire and I look at each other, silently deciding cluing them in on anything might end badly.
"Tripped in some of the forest shrubbery," she shrugs.
"Why were you two in the forest? Maggie went looking for you guys after you didn't come back for like, an hour," Alex states.
"We were handling something," I say.
"What?"
"None of your business," I growl with a lopsided grin.
Kyle and Alex lean away from me and hold up their hands as if to surrender. "Yesh dude, don't go all animal on us," Kyle breathes.
I mentally snarl at the 'animal' comment, but drop the topic as the bell rings and Mr. Cunningham steps up to the front of the classroom, his mood sulen as the administrator exits the room.
"Alright, before we start class, the school has an announcement. Last night during the Halloween dance, one of the attending students was attacked."
With that, mine and Claire's attention is grabbed. Her hand tightens in my grip, and all my movements still.
"Livia Moon, was found out in the woods. Covered in unidentified scratch marks, unconscious. Chaperones went looking for her after her boyfriend couldn't find her after the dance.
"We are unaware of dangerous animals in this area, but for now, all students are to remain inside the school during school hours. And if anyone has seen anything, let a teacher or administrator know. All outdoor sports are canceled until further notice."
Alex and Kyle's eyes drift to Claire and I. I look to my mate who is wearing a strained look of indifference. My mind is rushing.
When did she get attacked? Was this after Claire and I provoked the goblins? Is she okay?
Claire raises her hand, squeezing mine in the other.
"Yes Claire?" Mr. Cunningham asks.
"Is she ok?"
Our teacher nods and I can breathe a little better. "Livia is fine, she's in the hospital but she should be released soon."
The class whispers quietly for a moment, all the while two of our friends are glancing at us as if we were the ones who did this to her.
"I know this is stressful, but let's get to the lesson."
He began talking about the civil war, but I wasn't really paying attention. Not that I needed to, history is my best subject. Though my mind is on Livia. She was one of the girls in our P.E. class. She was one of the 'pretty girls' who kept making googly eyes at me at the first of the year. But she was still a nice girl, and the goblins had gotten to her.
I glance to at Claire, mouthing the words. 'We need to talk to her'.
Claire whispers back. 'One; make sure she's ok. Two; ask her what she saw, and what she remembers.'
I nod and wait for class to get over, doing my best (and failing) to pay attention.
As soon as the bell rings, Claire and I get out as fast as we can to avoid Alex and Kyle's questioning. We'll have to discuss this at lunch, without telling them we were killing goblins by the hundreds.
…And without Maggie spilling that she now knows anything.
Math took way too long, and I'm sure it was worse for Claire in Ms. Bennet's 'AP English Class of Doom,' as dubbed by every one of her students.
When lunch rolls around, I climb the pillar to eat my lunch, because Claire is right(as usual). I need to not skip meals if I'm not going to be so fatigued. I listen to the conversation below me.
"Did you hear about that girl?" Amanda asks.
"Yeah, they told every class at the start of first period," Maggie says, eating the lunch I made her.
"I want to know why Jim and Claire are so secretive about what they were doing out in the woods during the dance. I don't think it's a coincidence that they were out there and that Liv was hurt." Kyle folds his arms and leans on the table.
"What?" Amanda says, shocked at the thought.
"You don't really think Jim and Claire attacked her, do you?" Maggie said with angry disbelief.
"Hey guys, I am right here." Claire slams her hand on the table.
The group jumps.
"Then why don't you tell us what happened?" Alex states. "I mean, I honestly don't think you had anything to do with her getting hurt. But I think you do know what hurt her."
"Glad you think at least that, but I'm waiting for Jim before we answer that. He's better at lying to you straight faced." She smirks.
All their faces drop at her bluntness. I bark quietly as a laugh.
"Hey uh… Claire?" Maggie asks.
My mate is smiling at the shocked faces of the other three. "Hm?" Is her only response.
"Where is Jim?"
Claire gives a small laugh. "He's eating lunch."
Maggie makes a 'duh' face, and makes a 'where' gesture with her hands.
I'm sure Claire rolled her eyes, but she gestures toward the doors but tilts her head upward. Her eyes landing on me, sending a loving look.
Maggie narrows her eyes before she realized where I was. I wave from the rafters and she almost loses her facade of ignorance.
"Huh, I never would have guessed," she smiles. Eyes carefully flickering up to my position every now and again.
"Wait, Claire, what do you mean 'Jim is better at lying'?" Amanda asks. Her position is as if she was told to freeze mid movement.
Claire gains the most annoyed look on her face before starting.
"Ok guys, honestly, we know nothing about you. You think we're just going to tell you our biggest secrets without some kind of farce defending it? Like really, imagine this…
"Two individuals move here with secrets big enough to send the town into mass panic, and both with enough training we could take on a medieval army. We do our best to be normal kids by coming to school. We meet a group of kids, who for the most part, are nice. After a while, their friends start pushing harder and harder for extremely personal secret information that could send several different societal structures into a downward spiral.
"Then they threaten to dump a kid in the dumpster. This kid had the dumb unfortunate luck of finding out due to uncontrollable circumstances, he almost causes a downfal of an entire city.
"When their friends continue asking questions, what do you expect these two to do?"
Our friends are wide eyed at Claire's rant, except Maggie. Who is wearing a look of indifference, or maybe she's just having a hard time not laughing. It's hard to tell at this distance. I return the glamor and climb down, slowly making my way to my friends.
Although Claire's not done.
"No answers? Well, enorder to ensure the safety of everyone, they have to lie. Some of those lies are based off of the truth while some are purely fictitious. And even after so much explanation on why those friends can't know, they still push! Like it's their business to know."
By this point she's on her feet, banging on the table, almost yelling. Though the lunchroom is loud enough no one pays her any mind. Amanda, Alex and Kyle are leaning away from her.
She takes a deep breath before standing straight. "So tell me, is it your business to know our secrets?"
I walk behind her, subtly brushing my head on her shoulder. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and look at the group with a questioning gaze.
Maggie stands with a clap of her hands. "It's none of our business, so how about we leave it be. K?" Their still frozen. "No, really. Just stop asking about it entirely."
"I can not believe you've been lying to us!" Amanda yells.
"I thought we were your friends!"
Even after all that, just wow.
"Ok," I say. "You know what guys? We aren't going to tell you anything. Honestly. We won't tell you the truth for your own safety, and for the safety of my kind. If you ask us a question, we are going to start giving you the most obscene and outlandish lies.
"Here is the truth though. The only thing you get to know, is this. I am the defender of my species, I make sure both humans, and mystical creatures are safe in this world. It is my job to make sure that humans don't find out about my kind, or any other creature they shouldn't know about. So I will lie to you without hesitation to make sure that you and others don't find out about them.
"Stop asking. You four will eventually find out. Unless you keep pushing."
The group still silent, stares with gaping jaws. Even Maggie, but her expression is probably fake.
"You guys wanna know what we were doing out in the woods last night?" Claire snaps. "We were making out. Have your daily dose of lies. We're leaving, see you in chemistry."
With that, she grabs her bag and dragged me out of the lunch room to the library. Behind me a short conversation plays out.
"What just happened?" Kyle asks.
"Do we ask about them that much?" Alex sounds incredulous.
"Did he say specie?" Amanda gasps.
"Guys, I think we really need to stop asking questions. Think about it, if Liv was out in the woods and got attacked. And Jim and Claire were out in the woods… We know they're 'monster hunters' for crying out loud. Did it ever occur to you that what you find out won't pleasant? Once you know something, you can't unknow it."
That was the last of what I heard over the noise of the cafeteria.
"We should've told Maggie sooner," I say to Claire.
"Is she defending our secret with logic and not letting them know that she knows?"
I nod. "Effectively," I say.
…
The bell for third period rings, and bury my face in my hands, elbows pressing on my desk. Fourth period students start coming in, one of the first is Jim and Claire.
He makes a sound, I can't identify, and walks up to me. Claire in front of him. Both look overly concerned.
"Mr. Werber, are you feeling ok?" Jim asks.
I let out a long slow breath. "Not really, but mostly I'm worried about Livia, and what attacked her."
Both of their faces darken slightly before they catch themselves, Claire nods.
"Yeah, we are too," she says.
Getting a closer look, Claire is covered and scratches, cuts, claw marks… the same ones that Liv has. They look slightly more healed, but their there.
Jim, seeming to be extremely observant for his age, takes notice of me observing her. Immediately, he moves her behind him. A new look appears in his eyes, guilt.
These two, since they day they came here, have been one big mystery. An enigma inside a puzzle box at the center of a maze. Everything from his behavior, to his 'culture' and 'race' which I think is a bunch of bullshit. He's hiding something, something big. And although it's none of my business when it comes to those two, if one of my students got hurt because of it. It then becomes my business.
I lower my voice and lean slightly forward. "You know what happened to her, don't you?"
He tenses, but even before I spoke. I see claire, she's squeezing his hand and her mouth is moving, but I can't hear any words. Jim closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, but it sounds like he's growling.
Before opening his eyes he grits words out, quietly, but harshly. "Would you mind taking a few steps back?"
I look at my posture, and closeness, nothing seems off about it to me, but I still don't know what's going on with this kid. Confused, I take several steps back.
Jim opens his eyes, and I see a dangerous look reflecting in them. "Yes I do know what happened, but I can't tell you. I'm handling it, and I'll do my best to make sure no one else gets hurt." His voice is cold, and an icy chill runs down my spine. Jim quietly returns to his seat, gripping his hair roughly and staring at his hands like they stabbed him in the back, then he drops his head on the table with a loud thud.
I open my mouth to ask Clire a question, but she holds up a hand to stop me. "I will talk to you after class." with that she goes and sits down next to Jim. Rubbing his back affectionately.
The late bell rings, and I wait about ten minutes for the rest of the students to file in. Seeing the other four's faces almost doesn't surprise me. Alex, Kyle, Amanda, and Maggie.
Other than Maggie, they have angry, yet contemplative looks on their faces, directed toward Jim and Claire. Maggie alone looks both amused, excited, angry, and annoyed. Somehow.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, shake my head and start the lesson.
...
The final bell rings, and Mr. Werber asks everyone to put their chairs up.
"And six of you need to stay after, you know who you are."
I throw my head back and lean back in the chair, once again forgetting my weight. The chair tips back and I hit my head on the table behind me, knocking chairs on top of me. I lay there in a crumpled, awkward position till everyone is done laughing and leaves. My friends, and Werbz are staring at me with concern. My mate is crouched down next to me, stifling a laugh. She reaches out and holds my hand, giving it a squeeze before pulling me up. Loud noises from the chairs settling rack on my ears, making me wince.
"Are you ok Jim?!" Weber asks.
"I'm fine, my skin is really thick."
Out of the corner of my eye I see Maggie press her lips with a smile and hold up a finger in thought. I roll my eyes at her action.
"That's good," he says.
"What did you want to talk to us about Werbz?" Alex asks.
"I want to know what the heck is going on with you guys?!"
"What?" Kyle says flat toned.
"You guys," Werber pinches the bridge of his nose. "You're always having problems with these two." He points to Claire and I.
"They've been lying to us!" The three of them shout at once.
I flinch at the unexpected sound, snarling. Claire is at my side, brushing her fingers gently along my ears. I have to exercise a large amount of self restraint to not purr.
Almost the amount it took to not attack Mr. Werber at the start of class when he unintentionally challenged me. His close proximity, his stance, lower voice, asking for that kind of information. I'm always glad to have Claire with me.
I would feel awful if I hurt this man, he has such good intention. Claire talking me down, reminding me that he's just a stupid, uniformed human. That bit of humor probably saved him from a brutal hospital trip, and be my conscious and ability to show my face here.
I gently move Claire's hands away from my ears, her actions confusing everyone, but Maggie.
"What is wrong with you?" Kyle asks us.
Werber looks agast, I just smile and think up a quick stupid lie.
"I got dropped on my head as a baby." I raise one eyebrow, and throw out a sassy posture that says, 'try me'.
Maggie quietly laughs.
"That's a lie, isn't it?" Alex asks.
Claire nods.
"Wait, what?" Werber questions.
I look him in the eye, pushing the image of the previous fear I'd caused him out of my mind. "I told them anytime they ask a question about my life, I'm going to tell them a blatant lie. I figure the more they ask, the more stupid they'll get. I'm trying to see how far we get before I start involving legendary figures." I look back to our friends and give them a stupid grin, probably the most smug look I've ever worn as a human.
The most smug would have to be right after I threw Gunmar down a block into a building.
Werbz starts laughing, it takes him a minute to calm down before he can speak again. "I like the way you handle these things. Alright, you four are dismissed.
Maggie freezes as the others leave, I give her a subtle nod and she leaves too.
WEber pulls a chair off the pile that was on top of me and sits down, gesturing for Claire and I to do the same.
"Jim, don't expect you to answer, and you don't have to. But, what does a kid have to go through to handle things as well as you do?" The way he said it, I could only compare it to a strangled laugh.
I mull over my answer for a few minutes, Claire puts her hand on top of mine under the table. Before long I give a quiet bark, that also sounded like a strangled laugh, and look him in the eye. "A whole lot, Mr. Werber. I know you're worried about Livia, and the 'animal' that attacked her. But please just trust me, and know I've got it handled."
Claire nods. "We've been dealing with this for a long time. Jim longer than me."
"I appreciate your willingness to help, and your respect of our privacy. I really do. It's really refreshing coming from an adult."
He takes a breath and nods. "Can I ask about what it was at the beginning of class that got you so frustrated you started growling?"
I tense up and immediately my hand goes to my horn, only finding hair. I hate it when that happens.
Claire pats my shoulder with a small laugh.
"Just, keep in mind his head doesn't quite work like yours and mine. Your posture, tone of voice, and proximity… he felt like you were challenging him."
I glance up to Werber, he looks confused.
"My head is really screwed up. 'Doesn't work like yours' is a huge understatement." I give a shy smile.
He forces a laugh and stands, placing the chair on top of the table closest. "You tell me when you're ready. I'm more than willing to help you with whatever it is. For now, head home. Jim, you need to sleep."
"You know, I'd like to. But I can't." I say. Walking out of the room, Maggie waiting outside the door.
"Time for training?" She asks eagerly.
I pull out my phone and check the weather.
Sunny.
... -_-
"Not yet, I can't go outside right now. And you heard Werber. Sleep. You two can go to the library, or wait in the cafeteria with me until it gets dark."
"You said I'd have to be nocturnal, guess I'm sleeping." She smiles.
I laugh as we make our way to the lunch room. No one is in there as usual, so I scale the support beam and secure my backpack. Take off the mask and fall to sleep with My mate and Maggie below me.
Reviews are greatly appreciated, and motivate me to write better, longer chapters.