“Is there a problem now?” I asked the girls, stamping down, with all of my will, the panic that was threatening to rise to the surface at the prospect of me being bullied in the store room. I could see one of the girls, Nina, bring out her phone from the slice in her jacket. They were going to video whatever was going to transpire here, whatever they were about to do. For a full minute, I regretted stopping here to eavesdrop. But then, would I have escaped this? They would have still waited for me. It was better that I had even eavesdropped. That way, I did have some hold over them. But then, I knew that I couldn’t use it now. It would be forcibly taken away, and my leverage would be gone before it could even be used. No, I couldn’t do that. But then, what do I do? How do I get free from this entanglement? I wondered, wishing almost frantically, that Raul would come here, to perhaps take something or anything at all. I wished that would come to check on me, and taunt me. During
MayaToday was my first day at the school’s cafeteria, or rather the second time after I was discovered to be without the wolf gene. The first time, after that life changing event, had been brutal and traumatizing. It was the first time I was bullied.Now, standing before the matron who was dishing my food, I wondered if I had made the right choice, listening to Naomi.Naomi was my only friend. The only one who had remained by my side after the pack doctor’s diagnosis on my sixteenth birthday: the diagnosis that had set my perfect life on fire.Naomi had insisted that I follow her here today. It’s been a year and six months since that fateful first day, yet the memory still had a firm grip on me. I was actually counting the seconds till someone threw me a juice can, or half eaten pizza.“Maya, stop fretting. Mother promised me that the Lycan King has resolved the bullying issue. It’s over finally, best friend. Take a deep breath. Your hands are shaking.”She was right. My hands were s
“What’s going on here?!” A voice suddenly roared in the cafeteria causing the throwing competition to come to an end. Who was that? What had taken them so long? I wondered, unable to open my eyes because they were covered with liquids and food particles that had been thrown on me, more than a hundred times. When Noah had chosen to make me a target for practice, the others in the cafeteria had taken it as a go ahead to replicate the mess. Everyone in the cafeteria, except Naomi, had emptied their lunch packs on me. “Who is that sitting on the floor? Stand up!” The same hoarse voice echoed. Mr Johnson, the principal. I was sure now.It can only mean that Naomi had made the report herself. Her father was an important member of the pack’s council—she couldn’t be ignored by the school’s authorities.I tried obeying the principal’s command, I tried standing up from the floor, but my feet and hands kept slipping on the slippery floor.A hand grabbed me by my arm—certainly Naomi—and hel
I looked damn good in a bikini. The feeling was a good one to have after the crushing feeling that stemmed from not knowing my roots.“C’mon Maya, get your butt out here!'' Naomi screamed from the pool area. A weary chuckle escaped my lips when I heard the splash of water. So much for diving in together.I did a 360-degree turn in front of her mirror, amazed at what I was seeing. I stopped looking in the mirror, when my stepsister broke mine two years ago, a day after that inauspicious event that ruined my perfect life. Her reason was that I shouldn’t be bothering the mirror with my ugliness. I had been so emotionally messed up then, that I had believed her. I had changed my wardrobe overnight to baggy trousers and polos, to cover the ‘fat’.Over the years, Naomi had tried destroying these insecurities—she did to an extent—but I never looked at the mirror again. Until now.I was beautiful. I did another 360-degree turn, still coming to terms with this truth.I was curvy and sexy. I
I was probably in my hundredth cookie when I suddenly felt a presence behind me. I knew it wasn’t Naomi because my friend had gone upstairs to get her phone. “How are you slim like a runway model when you eat like a pig?” The cookie fell to the floor instantly from my tottering hand, and my heart erratically went over the fence. What was Adam doing here?What did he want? Why was he right behind me? And where was Naomi now that I needed her?I was stiff, rimrod straight on the high kitchen stool, whilst my pulse jumped haphazardly when Adam suddenly started trailing his finger down my arm.I inhaled sharply the next minute, when he bit my ear lobe, when he slid his hand around my waist, when his kooky breathing slammed into my hearing neurons. How could someone be so brash? How could someone be so entitled? Did he think he could have his way with me because he was hot, because I was a mere statistic to him?He must be out of his mind!I jumped out of my stool without giving him a
Adam must have gotten tired of waiting for my answers because he dipped his head and pecked my lips softly. However, that was for a start, because immediately after that, he wrapped his hands around my waist, drew me closer to him, and pecked my lips again. He withdrew his face thereafter, taking note of my facial expression, to know if he should go on. I knew he was waiting for a go ahead, so that it wouldn’t be like he was bullying me into kissing him. Foolish me thought that the act was cute. I must have nodded my head at one time, because before I could say jack, his lips were on mine, and this time around, his tongue was attempting to push past the protection of my lips into my mouth. Yet I was not responsive. Not because I wasn't into the kiss, but because I didn't exactly know how to kiss. . “You haven’t kissed before?” A note of incredulity rang in his voice, as he withdrew from me the second time.I shook my head in reply, wondering if he would go away when I heard him
“Let her go, Claire.” Adam said, his voice as cold as steel. He folded his arms across his chest, sporting a countenance of aloofness.Behind me, Claire stilled. But that was to be expected. Adam has never rebuffed their attacks on me.I gasped, however, before I could ruminate on Adam’s strange behavior, when Claire roughly pushed me away from her. I fell to the group in a piteous heap.“That was totally unnecessary, Claire.” Adam walked up to me, to the shock of Claire and me, and helped me to my feet. “What are you doing, Adam?!” Claire screeched, flinging her hands apart in frustration. “Every girl, but her. She is cursed, for god sake! Did you forget that?”I would be surprised if the others by the pool weren’t hearing her questions.Adam said nothing in response.I was in Adam’s arms now. And I was so confused on what to do. Watch the lovers spat, or hurry upstairs to Naomi? Could I even shrug Adam’s hold off me?Fortunately, Adam made a choice for me.“Go upstairs, Maya. I wi
“Maya, get to the dining table for dinner,” I heard my mother shout from the kitchen, and nodded before I could stop myself. I should be talking. I mused, my eyes unable to leave the outfit that Naomi had finally settled on, the outfit I will be wearing for tomorrow’s classes. I still found the whole stuff overwhelming. The outfit consisted of a black crop top, an oversized blue jean jacket and baggy black striped denim jeans. I would be rocking it with Noami’s chunky boots. And this attire sufficed because I had refused to wear anything tight like the short skirt she had brought out or the tiny pants that had hugged every curve I owned. I didn't want Adam thinking that I was dressing up because of him. But was that notion unavoidable, especially since the whole school knew of my wardrobe?What manner of bullying will color my day tomorrow? Claire’s angry face before I left for Naomi’s room still colored my vision. I instantly jumped out of my bed when I heard my mother’s voice f
“Is there a problem now?” I asked the girls, stamping down, with all of my will, the panic that was threatening to rise to the surface at the prospect of me being bullied in the store room. I could see one of the girls, Nina, bring out her phone from the slice in her jacket. They were going to video whatever was going to transpire here, whatever they were about to do. For a full minute, I regretted stopping here to eavesdrop. But then, would I have escaped this? They would have still waited for me. It was better that I had even eavesdropped. That way, I did have some hold over them. But then, I knew that I couldn’t use it now. It would be forcibly taken away, and my leverage would be gone before it could even be used. No, I couldn’t do that. But then, what do I do? How do I get free from this entanglement? I wondered, wishing almost frantically, that Raul would come here, to perhaps take something or anything at all. I wished that would come to check on me, and taunt me. During
Why hadn’t the fourth girl spoken? I wondered, letting my eyes roam the lanky figure of the girl, who was short and wore nerd glasses. The girl had slightly spiked hair, as if they had just been pulled. My eyes rested and remained on her hands which were clasped in front of her. She wasn’t looking at me, rather she was staring at the floor like it was telling her something of importance. She was also carrying more than one bag. Now that I see it clearly, she was carrying the bag of the blondie. I knew because the blondie wasn’t carrying any. She was rather staring at me with annoyance mixed with faint curiosity. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was Chyra, noting the stance which reminded me of Peter and his brother, Dim. Yet, my eyes withdrew back to the fourth girl whom I hadn’t heard her voice. Another Levina. Of course , I could tell that she was their foot mat, another of their bullied. Was Rachel aware of this? I thought, remembering that I hadn’t seen the girl near them
“Oh…that? I haven’t met her particularly since she was born. I can’t bother myself with something of no value. That family grates on my nerves for some reason. I would go as far as saying that I hate them. I share my parents’ feelings about them.”I balked, stepping away from the door. Partly because of the hate I heard in Chyra’s voice, and partly because my mind had told me to. But I didn’t consider my mind’s individuality at the moment, rather on Chyra’s hate. Diana was six years old, or perhaps seven. And she didn’t know the girl that was my closest ally? At least you should know the names of your enemies. I thought, sinking my fingers into my hair, ruffling them out of anger and mild frustration. “You know, Nina. I don’t know which family we should be afraid of the most. Chyra’s or Rachel’s?” Nina. The name of the third person. I listened keenly to get her own voice. “I think we should fear Rachel’s the more. At least Chyra’s parents don’t have blood on their hands yet.”
Minions of Rachel? Interesting. I thought, taking another bite of the chocolate bar, the last one actually. My stomach grumbled when I was done, but I ignored it and stood up from the chair. I was done hearing them speak. I walked to the dustbin that was just next to the door, and dropped the wrap inside. “But to be honest, she might not go with the idea. As a matter of fact, she hasn’t responded to any of my texts since yesterday, or is it only me?” I paused, wanting to hear this. “Not at all. I think the queen might have confiscated her phone, or she just doesn’t want to talk.” “Well, I don’t blame her. She had been humiliated in front of the whole school. If you remembered, she hadn’t said a word after the cafeteria incident. Reasoning it now, I don’t think her mother had seized her phone. She just doesn’t want to talk with us. Perhaps, taking the days to process what exactly had happened. I’m still not sure why she didn't fight back.” “Yes, me too. Now that I think of it,
Finally. I mused, looking at the time. It was half past six. I yawned, feeling hunger yanking my intestines and stretching. The sumptuous food that the matrons had filled up my plate with at the cafeteria seemed to have evaporated. I knew that the principal had been behind it, the food I mean. I had expected the matrons to hiss and maybe spit in my food, but there had been a relief look and somewhat happiness shining in their eyes as I had kept passing my tray from one matron to the other. It was then I had understood that they had wanted to report the bullying scenario, but had been afraid for their lives, and for their families. I was not sure what Rachel had used as a threat over them, but it had been enough to keep their mouths shut, and I wouldn’t understand that if I wasn’t in their position. It was probably the only reason why I had given a short smile to Sinclair when our eyes had met in the hallway after school had dismissed. He had stumbled in his steps, but I was al
When I got to the shop, the first thing I noticed was that it was too crowded. When Peter and I had come here for the first time, when he had introduced the first shopkeeper whom I believed to be higher than the other one, it had been in the evening. There hadn’t been many people buying and selling in the big store then. Yet I had thought them many, I had thought I would be able to cope, having made the calculations in my head. I scoffed at myself now, at my mundane brain. Would I survive here? I found myself asking, taking in the bustling and shuffling of plenty of feet. “Dora! Over here!” I sharply turned toward the caller, relief tampering my nerves when I saw that it had been the first shopkeeper who was jovial, who Peter had introduced me to. Mr. Francis. “Good afternoon, Mr. Francis.” I greeted, when I got to him. “Good afternoon, Dora. How was school today?” He asked with a small smile on his face. Was he ever not smiling? Just throw a container of milk on the floor
I waited for ten minutes; I waited till I was sure that Sinclair wouldn’t be coming. Then, I went into the library, having been amazed by the sculptured cat just by the entrance. As I stood amidst the hushed aisles of the library, the scent of aged paper and leather bindings enveloped me like a familiar embrace. It was strangely comforting, this sanctuary of knowledge, amidst the chaos in the hallways. With a faint smile, I decided to explore the shelves, my curiosity piqued by the prospect of uncovering hidden secrets within the pages of dusty tomes.My first class teacher would have to forgive me.Approaching the front desk, I greeted the librarian, a stern-looking woman peering at me over the rim of her glasses. "Excuse me, do you have any books on magic beasts?" I inquired, trying to sound nonchalant despite the excitement bubbling within me.The librarian's expression softened slightly, her curiosity evident as she regarded me. "Magic beasts, you say?" She murmured, her gaz
I was dreaming.I found myself in a dense forest, the trees towering above me, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The air was thick with mist, curling around my ankles and making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. Shadows moved just beyond my sight, elusive and fleeting. The soft rustling of leaves accompanied by the distant call of an owl filled the air, creating an eerie symphony that sent chills down my spine.As I walked deeper into the woods, a strange feeling washed over me. It was as if I was being watched, a presence both comforting and unsettling, like an old friend you hadn’t seen in years. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of fear and curiosity driving me forward.Suddenly, the trees parted, and I was face to face with a beast. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its body seemed to be made of shadows and mist, shifting and swirling as if it were barely contained. It stood on four legs, each one ending in claws that dug into the earth, ye
At my question about the Queen’s vigilante beasts, Laura jerked and glanced at Peter, who in turn looked at Diana before finally landing his gaze on me. “How do you know about the beasts?”He asked, his tone taking a stern quality.I knew that it was on the tip of his tongue to ask if I had seen them, but then that was impossible, so he didn’t. Yet, it showed that Peter assumed anything was possible when it came to me, showed that I had a penchant for being at places or doing things quite spectacular. I could read that at least in his eyes.“Levina told me all about it when we had left the school’s premises. According to her, the beasts are being deployed as vigilantes in the community. Have any of you seen them?”Laura shook her head. “Levina must have told you that already. So, I don’t know why you would ask that…” She paused, probably seeing the slanting of my mouth in a smirk. “Quench that curiosity, Maya. Nothing good will come out of it this time around. The beasts aren’t Pro