"Hey, you look like shit," Jess said, dropping with a sigh at the seat opposite to hers with a frown. Alisaie looked up from the coffee she was nursing and smiled weakly at her friend, involuntarily admiring the other girl's attire.
Today Jessica apparently choose to look like a perfect picture of a goth in the mix of black and purple fitting her long hair. With dark, heavy makeup and quite a number of jewelry, she stood out in the crowd of casually dressed students filling the school's cafeteria – not to mention their class, but Jess seemingly didn't give a fuck about what others thought of her style…
…or, perhaps, that was the other girl's armor – in a sense.
Her friend placed her tray with lunch opposite of Alisaie's lonely cup of coffee and gave it – and her – and arched look.
"What gives, Ali?" she asked, tapping her long, black-pained nails against the surface of the table between them. "Whole day you've been off."
"Just…" she sighed and shook her head, leaning back in her seat and picking up the end of her long white braid while eyeing the other teen's purple highlights. Would it look as cool to get a similar one, but red…? She chuckled at the thought and put one leg on top of the other under the table while exhaling slowly and playing with the end of her braid. It was a nervous habit Alphinaud teased her about… and suddenly, she very much missed her insufferable twin for a moment. "…weird dreams, that's all," and understatement of a year!
"…oh?" Jess frowned, poured two spoons of sugar into her tea, and mixed it while not taking her green eyes off her. "Want to talk about it?"
Alisaie shook her head, praying her face wasn't as red as it felt. She definitely didn't want to talk about that!
An impossibly realistic, wet dream about a guy she barely knew… just wasn't something that she felt comfortable sharing. With anyone. She wasn't even comfortable thinking about it among the crowd of students… if you can call it that because the number of teenagers in this town was hardly impressive compared to her previous school.
And it was just… too weird. Everything was – ever since she arrived in this small, isolated town. Where everyone was too fucking nice and…
"Brett is such a fucking loser," she heard behind her and blinked with surprise, involuntarily turning her head to look at a group of six girls sitting at the table behind theirs. They all looked slightly younger – year at most – and all seemed to glare daggers toward the table near the window of the cafeteria overlooking a football field. Alisaie followed their glares with her gaze but didn't recognize the tall blonde guy sitting over there with two other boys and seemingly discussing something heatedly, occasionally bursting into… quite unpleasant laughter. He was definitely a handsome boy, but she grimaced involuntarily, easily recognizing the familiar type – her previous school didn't lack in overconfident jocks. "Too bad he didn't get suspended for longer… or kicked out," her eyes returned to a girl that was speaking, a blonde herself with green eyes.
"Mhmm," one of the other girl's agreed, a brunette with brown eyes looking coldly toward the boys. "Would be nice, Dani, but you know… I heard that since Raha didn't complain before, they're treating it as the first offense and all. Which is bullshit because we all saw that this moron was picking on him since the year started."
"That policy is so stupid," one of the other girls sighed, leaning forward and blowing into her cup while her seat still allowed her to look where others did. "We've been telling Miss Griffin to do something about it for months!"
"…and you know what she said," the brunette snarked, turning toward her plate and deepening her voice, clearly trying to imitate someone. "'We can't do anything until either of the boys come forward…' Which is a load of crap if you ask me," she finished in a normal voice.
"Adults," another girl said as if it was a curse, rolling her eyes as she leaned back in her seat. "I swear, sometimes I feel like they're stuck in the middle ages… or something. I wish I could make them play one of my fave games – it's all about bullying and what it can lead to," she pursed her lips when the other girls turned their eyes to her with deadpan stares. "…what?"
"I mean…" the blonde sighed, resting her cheek on her palm as she slowly stirred her drink. "…we aren't without a fault, either, you know? We saw what was going on… and could do more, yeah?"
"Like what?" the brunette countered, giving her friend a strange look. "The asshole is twice our size, ya know. And when you have him the 'speech,' Dani, it seemed to only get worse… right?" she shrugged helplessly when other girls looked between her and the blonde – who grimaced – with surprise.
"…you did?" one of them asked.
"Didn't do much good, as Mon says," she replied, glaring into her drink.
"But like… what did you tell him?" another asked.
"In general: to pick on someone his size, you know?" the blonde said with a roll of her eyes, then a sheepish chuckle. "And I might… Well, suggested that if he's picking on Raha because he has a crush, then it's fucking lame…"
The others stared at her for a moment before bursting into snickers.
"You didn't!" one of them managed, and the blonde shrugged.
"Make sense, though, right?" the brunette lowered her voice, bracing her elbows around her plate, and laced her fingers, resting her chin on top of them. "You know how it was with the twins when the year started, yeah? Well… how it always was with them, pretty much. Raha's so fucking focused on his brother he doesn't see anyone else – if trying to get his attention by bullying him is just… lame," she tilted her head to toss a narrowed look toward the boys again.
"I think you're giving him too much credit," the blonde suggested, nudging the brunette's side until she looked toward her with raised eyebrows. "I bet Brett's too repressed to realize he's jealous."
"Do you guys think he's going to cause issues when the twins are back?" one of the girls asked in a sifter voice.
"Honestly…?" the blonde chuckled, narrowing her green eyes toward the one that asked. "I pretty much hope so. Can you imagine what Senri is going to do to him…? He seemed so possessive," she sighed dreamily, theatrically fanning her face when the other girls giggled.
"Two more weeks, yeah?" the brunette said, leaning back and pulling out her phone.
"Last I heard, mhmm," her friend replied, then blinked, accidentally catching Alisaie's stare. "…oh? Hey, I know you… aren't you that new girl?"
"Ah… sorry for listening in," now she openly turned her seat, smiling sheepishly when all the girls looked toward her with various levels of surprise. "You're in a class with Raha and Damon?"
"Yeah, I'm Dani," the blonde said, then waved toward the brunette. "This is Monica, my bestie," she smirked at her, then similarly introduced the rest of the girls, with each nodding toward Alisaie. "Hope you don't mind me saying… but we've heard about you a lot. Is it true you meet the leader of shapeshifters?" she leaned toward her with true excitement on her face.
"Ah… yeah. I'm Alisaie, by the way, and that's Jess," she motioned toward her friend, who saluted and then returned to sipping her tea. Alisaie send her a sheepish smile, then turned back to the girls, involuntarily fascinated.
They apparently really didn't remember them meeting and talking before! But since she and Jess swore not to talk to anyone about yesterday's… mishap, she only smiled at the blonde.
"And I meet Ares, yes," she said carefully, lowering her voice. "He's actually… very nice for a big cat."
Now she definitely had their undivided attention.
"Wow… it's so weird," Dani exhaled, leaning back in her seat. "I mean… we heard about them our whole life, you know," she added at Alisaie's confused look. "It's like… myth coming to life, yeah? The other day… I mean, before it all went down and Senri came into our class being all cute and smitten… it was unreal! And now they say that Raha's actually some sort of a hybrid, yeah? He and Damon, I mean… and I actually asked him in a text about it, and he confirmed! Isn't that like… super romantic?"
"I guess…" Alisaie cleared her throat uncomfortably, then tossed a meaningful glance toward the boys they watched before. "But from what I'm getting – and sorry again from eavesdropping – but that guy… is the trouble?" she discreetly pointed toward the blonde.
"More like a nuisance," Monica replied with a roll of her brown eyes, grimacing. "He's like… trying to prove he's hyper-masculine, you know? And those two idiots that always follow him around aren't much smarter, either. Sadly, we've been 'blessed' with listening for a whole morning to a whole fucking homophobic speech whenever one of our teachers was out of class… 'cause, you know, he can't get the clue when you tell him to shut the fuck up, apparently!" she huffed with annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest.
"He's apparently convinced that it's going to make us forget that he's been doing the 'doe's eyes' at Raha ever since middle school," Dani added, rolling her eyes. "It would make me pity him, really, if he wasn't such a sore loser, you know?" she wrinkled her nose, then sighed and added in a softer voice. "My mom is a doctor – the only one in town, yeah? She tells me stuff sometimes… like, what she can without breaking the whole patient confidentiality and all. And when we were in middle school, all of us," she motioned between herself and her friends. "Raha got really, really sick. Like… it was so bad they thought he was not going to make it… and when he did, something… weird was going on with Damon. For a while, he didn't seem… all the way there, if you know what I mean. Our teacher at the time gathered our class when they were still out and told us to… well, stay clear of them. The twins' parents asked her to do that because they have been worried that…" She leaned in harder and lowered her voice when Alisaie reflected it. "…Damon could be dangerous to us if provoked. And when they returned to school… we got that, you know. He was really… out of it. He acted like… like…" she frowned, visibly looking for a word.
"…a robot," Monica supplied, shrugging when they all looked at her. "What? That was my impression until one got anywhere near his brother… The look he would give us…" she shuddered visibly, digging her gaze into the table and shrugging again. "…was something else."
"Yeah, so…" Dani said, waving her hand slightly. "…we kept away from them and all. After a few weeks, it seemed to go back to normal – between them – but… well, it felt awkward to go like: 'Is it okay to talk to you now?' and all that… so it kind of stayed like that," she sighed and frowned. "Then high school started and… dunno. Brett got into the football team, and suddenly instead of the 'doe eyes' we laughed about, he would spout all of that… homophobic nonsense. Pick on Raha constantly about his eyes and call him a 'freak' in class and out of it… I mean, whenever the teachers weren't in earshot. Then one day, Raha comes to school all beat up, and those idiots laugh about 'teaching him a lesson,' and… it only got worse from there. And we tried to make him go to the teachers – after what ours said, I mean… but he wouldn't. And I tried to reason with Brett… but yeah, it only worsened the situation, I think. Letting him know… that we knew, I mean, why he was picking on Raha. And…" she sighed and shook her head. "…I was serious. I hope he dares do or say something when Senri is around. I mean… when the boys are back and all."
"Think I get that," Alisaie said with a rueful smile, looking toward the tall blonde gesticulating animatedly while talking with two other boys. "I saw something similar in my previous school… the bullies, I mean. And it always sucks."
"Mhmm," the girls nodded then they all flinched at the loud sound of the bell announcing the end of the break. "…shit," Dani hissed, jumping to her feet and gathering her stuff rapidly. "Mon, give my tray back, OK? I gotta run to the bathroom! Nice meeting you, Alisaie! Hope we can talk again sometime!" and she was gone, heading toward the exit of cafeteria.
The other girl's started gathering their things while Alisaie turned back to her friend and frowned at the strange, calculating look in Jess's eyes as standing up and picking up her plate, she stared toward the subject the conversation: the boys seemingly ignoring the end of the break and still talking by the window.
"What are you thinking, Jess?" she asked, picking her cup and heading with her toward the counter destined for the dirty dishes.
"Nothing much," the other girl looked at her with a slightly wry smirk on her black-painted lips. "Only that I despise bullies, ya know? Especially one that pick on someone because he… or she wouldn't return their… interest."
"Oh...?" she frowned at her tone, then followed Jess out of the cafeteria. "Sounds kind of like you're speaking from experience…?"
"Perhaps," Jess replied, then sighed and wrapped her arm around Alisaie's shoulders. "Anyway… what do you think of paying our new friends a visit after school, Ali? You know, to make sure everything is alright after… yesterday?"
…and see Themis…?
"I don't… think that's a good idea," she muttered, staring under her boots as her face heated up again.
"Aww… don't be like that!" Jess whined, and she snorted involuntarily. "That's better… besides, don't wanna see your future boyfriend?"
"Jess!" she hissed, looking at her with mortification… and a completely red face. Her friend winked, and she decided to pay her back, smirking. "And aren't you worried that that blonde is still there?"
"I have no idea who you are talking about," Jess replied hauntingly, looking forward, but her scowl spoke volumes.
"Suuuure you don't," she drawled, wrapping her arm around her waist. "And your outfit today also sure has nothing to do with that… idea, hm?"
"Oh, shut up!" Jess rolled her eyes, then looked at her from the corner of her eye. "So… we're going?"
"Sure…" she sighed. "…why not?"
If nothing else… maybe at least she could find if her dream last night was really a dream… or perhaps something else.
Damon
When you're up, ditch Senri (ik how it sounds but do that) and meet me outside, brother. Text me when you're ready.
Raha frowned while reading the message again, then shoved his phone in the pocket of his jeans and headed toward the entrance of the lair. Senri wasn't happy to let him go alone, but he convinced him by sending his lover to check on – and help his brothers if necessary. Then he sent his twin an answering message after taking a short shower and headed out with his mate, splitting up at one of the 'crossroads' of the corridors with a brief kiss.
Along the way, giving a practiced by now smile toward the passed shapeshifters – still a tad unnerved by their increased 'worshipfulness' toward him and his brother, he passed the gate, motioning for the posted guards to stay in their place when the auburn and dark-brown Seekers looked ready to jump to their paws and follow him. They complied while visibly torn about it – if the misery on their muzzles was any indication.
He quickly spotted his twin by the edge of the forest – alone – leaning against one of the trees with hands shoved in his pockets and a very bored expression on his face. When Damon spotted him heading toward him, he pushed away from the tree and stepped onto the path leading down to the border and their town.
"What's up?" Raha asked with a frown when he stopped next to him and looked around.
"A short trip," his brother replied, going down the path and between the trees.
"Damon… we shouldn't leave alone," he said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. "Ares – and Senri – are going to freak."
"We're not going far, trust me," his twin rolled his eyes, freeing his arm and taking hold of Raha's as he pulled him along. He hesitated, looking back toward the gate of the lair, then sighed with resignation and let himself be pulled. He did trust his brother, but Senri… "I swear, it's just past the tree line, and if something's wrong, the guards will hear us call, yeah?"
"Okay… but what is past the tree line?" he asked, still frowning.
"You'll see…" Damon hummed but refused to elaborate until they reached a small clearing at the edge of the river cutting through the forest. It was pretty shallow, and the water looked clear like crystal… but what instantly stole Raha's attention was a fucking gigantic wolf sprawled on the other side of the area – behind the stream – looking toward them with bright green eyes that seemed even brighter compared to its impossibly dark fur.
Enough said, he gawked with open mouth while his twin tugged him to 'their' side of the river before stopping and addressing the wolf.
"So what did you want to tell us, Fenris?" there was no missing the apprehensive – and downright hostile – tone in his voice.
That was the leader of frost wolves…? Well… made sense…
Raha cleared his throat, freed his arm from his brother's grip and bowed politely toward the massive creature.
"Greetings," he said, hoping that he sounded more confident than he felt. "I'm Ra…"
"I know who you are," the wolf rumbled and fucking Shifted to a humanoid form with distinctively wolf-like features… but his skin seemed as black as his fur, cut by the lines of the pure white tattoos. And looking at him… felt weird. Very… off. Fenris seemed taller than Ares – who so far was the tallest of shapeshifters Raha met – and very muscular… in a way, even beautiful, but… this sensation of wrongness he got staring at him with astonishment was really… unsettling. "No one ever told you it's rude to gape, Raha?" but the male sounded amused, if anything, as he crossed the river and stopped in front of them, looking between the twins. "Fuck… but you're so tiny!"
"Who's rude now, hm?" his brother drawled with offense, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring daggers up at the man. Apparently not as intimidated as Raha couldn't help but feel… quite regretting now not having Senri along.
This whole thing seemed increasingly stupid by seconds – and he couldn't help but back away from the massive male slightly, flinching when it earned him a wide, too-predatory grin in an unnaturally dark face.
"Aww, do I scare you, cutie?" the Wolf leaned in from his impressive height, and Raha swallowed thickly, feeling all the blood drain from his face as far too many possibilities – most unpleasant – ran through his head.
"Do continue to try to scare him," his brother said in a chilly tone. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it when it lures in enraged Senri, right?"
"And that should scare me… why?" Fenris leaned away with a chuckle.
"Because…" Damon smiled at his downright sweetly. "…he very much shares his eldest brother's temperament, but opposite to Ares – apparently – doesn't know or like you. So, please, do continue… I'll enjoy watching him tear you limb from limb."
The Wolf laughed, unperturbed, but at least moved away, and Raha relaxed slightly, looking with confusion between the two of them.
"You're still jealous, kitten?" Fenris chortled when his twin scoffed, and his crimson eyes grew even colder. And knowing him… he did seem upset, unusually so.
"Only my mate has a right to call me that," he drawled through his teeth.
"What's going on?" Raha asked, hesitantly touching his brother's shoulder.
"He's pissing me off," Damon hissed, glaring when the male grinned at that.
"Your brother can't believe that I didn't fuck his lover," the Wolf announced, winking at him when Raha gasped and looked at him with wide-open eyes. "Not that I didn't try… but Ares was always unreasonably stubborn," he added, and his grin widened when Damon growled toward him, startling Raha. "Can you blame me… he's gorgeous!" Fenris pressed his hand over his heart, and he narrowed his eyes, grimacing toward the frost wolf.
"I think… you're purposefully trying to piss my brother off," he said softly. "I just don't understand why. Are you jealous, Fenris? That Ares is no longer… available?"
The grin fell, and for a long moment, the wolf looked toward him with some kind of consideration in his bright eyes before smiling ruefully.
"Perhaps," he grinned again, then without warning, fell to sit cross-legged among the thick grass, motioning for them to follow. "But that's not the reason why I asked your brother to get you. Sit down, boy, I don't bite… at least for now," he downright purred while they watched him warily. "Come on… don't you want to learn more about demigods?"
Raha blinked, then exchanged a hesitant look with his twin brother before he sighed and settled down on his knees, if at a careful distance from the wolf. Damon eventually followed his example, if still glaring at the male.
"What do you know about it?" he drawled suspiciously.
"Quite a bit," Fenris said, and his expression fell as he leaned back on his arms and looked up, staring at the sky visible between the treetops. "And as a part of their deal… my father asked me to teach you."
"Your…" Damon started and trailed off… and gasped. "Of course… How stupid of me. Your name isn't really 'Fenris,' is it?"
"Huh?" Raha hummed, looking between them with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Don't say it out loud. You never know who's listening," the wolf winked at his twin, then focused his amused, mischievous gaze on him… and Raha lost his breath as understanding dawned.
He learned a lot about various myths and legends since they moved in with shapeshifters. About gods of the many different pantheons and religions… And the most 'infamous' wolf in Norse mythology, because there was no mistaking the design of his tattoos…
"Oh… fuck…" he breathed, gawking at the black wolf as his heart thundered between his ears when he hugged his arms around himself.
The Wolf, truly… Fenrir, the Wolf God of Chaos, destined to slay Odin, the All-Father, among the fires of Ragnarok, the Norse Apocalypse. Son of God of Mischief, Loki, and giantess Angrboda. The Wolf that, according to the myth, was supposed to be chained down in Jotunheim, Norse frozen hell, and freed when the world was going to end…
"Well… we're listening," he heard his brother say through the blaring between his ears while unable to look away from 'Fenris's' grin. He nodded along weakly… because, yeah, who's better to teach them about demigods than one of the most infamous ones?