Here is the second chapter. Only about the first 1/4 of the story is my own. The rest is based on the original plot of the story in 'Untamed', but it is a little different. Hope you guys like it. It is much longer than the first chapter. .
*Disclaimer: I don't own the series and any of the characters.
Hunted-When he first entered the Tulsa House of Night
This House of Night look just like any other House of Night I've ever been. Wonder why the council decided to build one here. There are so many religious people in Tulsa that do not like - or maybe even hate-vampyres and one of the reasons is that because we worship a goddess.
When I walked in the main building (the teaching building, whatever you want to call it), cats were everywhere. Another teacher who introduced herself as Lenobia, the equestrian instructor met us there. The cats saw Duchess and started hissing but one grey cat actually tried to scratch Duchess and of course, Duch thought it is a game and started barking and chasing after the cats, causing them to run into the dining hall, hissing and some growling like mad (that's one of the reasons why I don't like cats and prefer dogs instead).
I chased after the large, yellow and furry Duch when he burst into the cafeteria (dining hall, whatever). I was aware of the two teachers and a few of the Sons of Erebus Warriors chasing after me or her.
When I caught up with her, I clipped a leash to her pink leather collar with silver metallic spikes all around it (I specially chose it for her for her first birthday) and yelled triumphantly," Got ya!" The moment the leash was reattached, Duch stopped barking and came to a skidding halt, sitting down on the floor.
Duch stared up at me, panting heavily and gave me one of those 'I am so innocent' look and grin. "Yeah, great. Now you want to act right." I muttered to myself. Why must she learn how to behave after she has embarrassed me? Well, no matter what, I still love her.
My thoughts was interrupted by the loud hissing of all the cats in the cafeteria and the guy named Dragon spoke, frowning down at Duch.
"You see, James, this was what I was trying to explain to you earlier. That animal just won't work at this House of Night."
Argh!!! Firstly, how many times must I mention that I have already dropped my first name? Secondly, is what he was mumbling and stuttering earlier his explanation? Thirdly, Duch is not that animal, she have a name. Lastly, if Duch can work at the other House of Night, why not here? Gosh!
"It's Stark, not James." I am so not repeating myself again. "And like I was trying to explain to you earlier-the dog has to stay with me. It's just the way it is. If you want me-you get her, too."
I know that people might think that I am being rude and/or disrespectful but that's the way I am and I'm not goin to change it. After I finish speaking, I glanced around the cafeteria. Other than the cats, many people-fledglings-are staring, probably watching the show or at me, because thanks to Duch there, I totally lost face.
One particular face caught my eye. Her face is not like the other fledglings and she looked out of place as she has a coloured-in mark and beautiful lace-like sapphire blue tattoos, not as large or intricate as a vampyre, framing her beautiful face with long, silky black hair flowing down to her back. That's not all, tattoos similar to the one on her face but there are letterlike symbols intersped within the swirls can be seen on her shoulders as she is wearing a tank top. Well, that makes sense; we-both vamps and fledglings-don't really feel the cold anymore. She looks like an exotic foreign princess, just much prettier. She must be the legendary girl, so the rumors about her extra tattoos are true but what about her talent? Whatever, she is really, really pretty and hot-wonder what's her name…
I saw her checking the front of my vintage Pink Floyd T-shirt, probably lookin for my class insignia. Who wears their school uniform with the class insignia embroidered on board? I was snapped out of my own thoughts when the horse master-Lenobia, right?-spoke.
"Stark, it's just not possible to integrate a dog into this campus. You can see how much he's upsetting the cats." She said, obviously trying to reason with me but Duch is not a he but a she. At least she got my name right.
"They'll get used to him. They did at the Chicago House of Night. She's usually pretty good about not chasing them around, but that grey cat really did ask for it with that whole hissing and scratching thing." I retorted, repeating whatever I said to Dragon.
Another voice, a powerful voice, interrupted. "My goodness, what is all this noise about?" I looked towards the source of the voice and my eyes widened when I saw a beautiful, gorgeous woman vampyre with glossy auburn hair and almond-shaped mossy green eyes entering the room, looking completely in control and like her voice, powerful. She must be the High Priestess.
Dragon placed his fist over his heart and bowed respectfully to her (which confirmed my assumption) and tried to explain. "Neferet, I apologize for the disruption. This is my new fledgling. He arrived only moments ago."
She pointed at Duch and spoke again. "That explains how the fledgling got here. It does not explain how that got here."
She did not just refer Duchess as that. "She's with me," I spoke up. When she turned her attention on me, I bowed to her respectfully like what Dragon did. Better not offend her, it is always not good to get on the nerves of a High Priestess as they are always very powerful. I grinned and explained further,"She's my version of a cat."
She raised one eyebrow, "Really? Yet she looks oddly like a bear." Not so much of a surprise there, heard it lots of times. I must admit that the first time when I saw her, I also thought she looked like or is a bear.
I replied,"Well, Priestess, she's a Lab, but you're not the first person who's said she looks bearlike. Her paws are definitely big enough to be a bear's. Check it out." I turned back to Duch and told him," Gimme five, Duch." She lifted a paw and slapped it with me outraised hand. Phew, lucky she obeyed or else I will need to go into hiding, too embarrassed. This is one of the first tricks I taught her when I first got her as a present from my parents just before I got marked. Now, they wanted nothing to do with me. I ruffled her floppy ears and complimented her, "Good girl!"
I turned back to the High Priestess, Neferet according to Dragon. "But dog or bear, she and I have been together since I was Marked four years ago, so that makes her cat enough for me." I added the 'since I was Marked four years ago' part specially for the legendary girl as she seems to be curious about earlier. Anyway, I bet Neferet knows how long I've been marked. She specially asked for me to be transferred here, not stating any reasons.
The High Priestess walked around Duch, studying her. "A Labrador Retriever?" I thought I have already told her that. "She's awfully large."
"Well, yeah, Duch has always been a big girl, Priestess."
"Duch? That's her name?" Who has 'Duch' as a name? Well, close enough. I nodded and grinned again but continued, "It's short for Duchess."
"What is your name, child?" She asked me. Huh. So she haven't realized that I am the transfer student from Chicago and am I really still considered a child?-to her, I guess.
"Stark," I replied her.
Her jaw clenched a little and even I-standing right in front of her-barely noticed it. "James Stark?" This will be the last time I am repeating it. "A few months ago I dropped my first name. It's just Stark."
She completely ignored me and turned to Dragon, realization coming to her. "He's the transfer we've been expecting from the Chicago House of Night?"
"Yes, Priestess," Dragon replied.
She looked back at me, a calculating smile appearing on her face. Wonder what she is thinkin about. "I've heard quite a bit of you, Stark. You and I shall have to have a long talk soon." Still looking at me, she told Dragon,"Be sure that Stark has twenty-four-hour access to any and all archery equipment he might like to use."
I jerked a little, remembering the unfortunate incident and her grin widened. She continued speaking," Of course, news of your talent preceded you here, Stark. You mustn't get out of practice just because you've changed schools."
Must she remind me of what happened? That…That incident or what I think-accident. Remembering it, I got mad with myself. "I told them when they transferred me, I'd stop competing. Changing schools won't change that," I told her, volume a little softer than one would use in a normal conversation.
She actually laughed. That, I didn't expect. "Competing? You mean that banal archery competition between the different Houses of Night? It matters little to me if you compete or not. Remember, I am Nyx's mouthpiece here, and I say what is important is that you don't waste your Goddess-given talent. You never know when Nyx might call on you-and it won't be for some silly contest."
Obviously she doesn't understand my talent-or curse. I don't need to practice to get a good shot. Well, if it is just practicing, I suppose I can handle it. "No problem. I don't mind practicing, Priestess."
At this point, dragon spoke again,"Neferet, what is it you wish us to do about the, uh, dog?" Is it such a difficult thing to say the word 'dog'?
Neferet crouched down in front of Duch, letting her sniff her hand. A menacing hiss and a growl travelled from one side of the room. I looked up at found that it came from the table which the legendary girl is sitting at. Next to her are two girls holding the gray cat that tried to scratch Duchess. I bet that hiss came from him.
Neferet looked up at that table too. She gestured me and Duch to follow her while she walked slowly to that table. The grey cat hissed again before streaking off. The legendary girl was busy patting a small, orange cat on her lap, perhaps trying to calm her down as Duch got closer.
When we reached the table, Neferet's gaze jumped from the legendary girl to a blonde and came to rest on a guy with dark brown hair. Is he her boyfriend? Well, why do I care?
Neferet spoke to the boy,"I'm glad you're here, Damien. I'd like you to show Stark his room, and help him find his way around campus."
"I'd be happy to, Neferet," he replied her quickly and she smiled widely at him.
"Dragon will help you with the details," she said.
Then, she shifted her gaze to the legendary girl and spoke again. "And Zoey, this is Stark. Stark, this is Zoey Redbird, the leaders of our Dark Daughters."
So her name is Zoey Redbird, nice name. Hmm…Redbird, is she Cherokee? Well, maybe I like everything about her, even her cat. Trying to keep it as casual as possible, I nodded once at her and she returned it.
"Zoey, as you are our High Priestess in Training, I'll leave the issue of Stark's dog with you. I trust that one of the many abilities Nyx has gifted you with will help you acclimate Duchess into our school." She looked at Zoey with cold eyes. Am I just imagining it but is there really some static charge between them? I thought that Neferet is Zoey's mentor.
Made sense for Zoey to be the leader of the Dark Daughters and High Priestess in Training. Hmm. 'One of your many abilities' Does that mean it's true that she has affinities for all the five elements?
Zoey broke eye contact with Neferet and looked at me, giving me a tight smile. "I'd be happy to help your dog to fit in." Gosh, she looks even prettier-how impossible-when she smiles.
"Excellent. Oh, and Zoey, Damien, Shaunee and Erin, I've called a special Council Meeting for tonight at ten thirty." Neferet glanced at her watch then continued,"It's almost ten o'clock right now, so you need to finish up eating because I expect you prefects to be there, too."
What is with the prefect thing? What and who is a prefect? They don't have this kind of thing back at the Chicago House of Night. Perhaps things here are more different than I thought from the rest of the Houses of Nights.
"We will!" they answered together.
"Oh, Neferet, that reminds me. Aphrodite will be joining us. Since she's been gifted by Nyx with an earth affinity, we all agree that she should be on the Prefect Council, too." She spoke loudly such that you will still be able to hear her when you are at the furthest end of the cafeteria.
Earth affinity. That is also a great gift and very rare. Maybe the rumor about how each of Zoey's friends has affinities for one element is true as well. The most talented group of fledglings ever seen. The teachers were all talking about it. Wow!
A low growl coming from Zoey's cat broke the silence.
"How could Aphrodite be a Prefect? She is no longer a member of the Dark Daughters," Neferet said coldly.
Aphrodite. I've heard this name before back in Chicago. Oh! I remember now, she used to be the leader of the Dark Daughters and High Priestess in Training until Zoey took it over from her. Heard that she has visions of disasters and now she also have an affinity for Earth. Well, I still think that being able to control all five of the elements is more impressive. I mean, no one, no one at all has ever had an affinity for spirit.
Zoey put on a look of innocence and continued. "Did I forget to tell you? I'm so sorry, Neferet! It must have been because of all the horrible things that have happened recently. Aphrodite has rejoined the Dark Daughters. She swore to me, and to Nyx, to uphold our new code of conduct, and I allowed her back in." How selfless of her. Horrible things? Is she referring to how two vamps from here supposedly got killed by humans? Wait. What code of conduct is she talking about? Interesting, I am looking more forward about my days in this House of Night. Smart move of her to add in the 'and to Nyx'. "I mean, I thought that's what you'd want-to have her come back to our Goddess."
One of the two blondes, stood up, must be Aphrodite. "That's right. I've agreed to the new rules. I want to make up for my past mistakes."
Neferet smiled at the crowd of faces in the cafeteria and spoke. "How very generous of our Zoey to accept Aphrodite back into the bosom of the Dark Daughters, especially as she'll be held responsible for Aphrodite's conduct. But then our Zoey seems to be comfortable with a great deal of responsibility." She switched her gaze to Zoey. Was that hatred I saw in her eyes? "Do be careful that you don't strangle under so much self-inflicted pressure, Zoey dear."
She turned to me again, beaming. "Welcome to the House of Night, Stark."
Please review/comment please. Thanks! I will continue doing my best for the rest of the chapters. .