The Hybrid of Lost River

Calypso

1.

Getting out the duct tape from my backpack, I quickly tape it around my shoe. The sole was beginning to fall off, causing it to flop and make me uncoordinated. I couldn't afford to get a new pair yet. They would have to hold out for a bit longer. The following five miles to the next homeless shelter are already annoying me. Bouncing around to different homeless shelters was getting more complicated. Humans tend to get suspicious of anything supernatural quite quickly. So I backpack up and down the country, trying to do the odd job here and there. 

You see, I was the outcast in the supernatural world. My mother was a lycan and, as an act of rebellion, decided to have a passing fling with my father, a vampire. Pretty sure my father must have had a death wish. Considering one bite from my mother and it would have been game over. She didn't know that her heat would be approaching the next day. 

She was equally as surprised when I came into the world being what I was. She wasn't sure until I became a toddler and had extra abilities that no other lycan child had. Her father was the alpha. I was impure to the bloodlines, so adoption or death. My mother spared me to the orphanage, but nobody wanted to adopt a hybrid. Something that shouldn't exist. 

Vampire covens turned their nose up at me, knowing that my bite would probably spell their demise. I wasn't pure enough for the Lycans; most Lycans were very fertile. Most didn't want to adopt, and if a lycan pup needed adopting, the pack would take them in. I was not one of them, though. 

I often thought of my mother, wondering if she ever thought of me or missed me. I was around six when I was forced to leave. Now, 15 years later, I doubt there was much love there. However, I never stayed in one place long enough to find out. So once I was old enough, I took off, deciding to try and make it on my own. I was broke and couldn't afford a pair of shoes, but I was free, so that was worth it.

These past two weeks, I let my wolf run at a national park to save some money on food. Plus, there weren't many safe locations to let her out without worrying about a human wanting to shoot me. National parks were illegal to hunt, which meant safety. Two weeks in wolf form meant that I smelled terrible. Thankfully I was approaching the doors of a homeless shelter, hoping to have a hot meal and a much-needed shower.

Before I could touch the doors, I felt something pinch my neck. Quickly reaching up to connect where a bee must have stung me, I pull out a dart. My vision began to blur, dots appearing behind my eyelids. I was suddenly no longer in control of my body. My legs began to give out, and my head hit the concrete as my vision went completely black. 

Opening my eyes, everything hurts. My stomach revolts, and I vomit onto the floor. My tongue feels like sandpaper in my mouth, desperately needing a drink. Squinting in the light, I look up seeing a bald man in a navy suit sitting at the table, watching me in disgust. Not a fan of you either, buddy. I wanted to tell him, but that would take up more energy than I could put forth now. 

“Calypso, do you know why you have been brought here?” The bald man said, knowing I didn't know the answer. I can tell by the smug grin on his face. I shake my head no, pushing myself into a seated position, using the wall for support. 

“You have been classified as a rogue, even though you haven't killed anyone. Therefore, it's our job to find both vampires and lycans to have them put down. You, however, are not exhibiting signs that rogue supernaturals have. No paranoid delusions, uncontrollable bloodlust, maulings, or becoming impulsive. So we have decided that you will be given a choice, either join a coven or pack.”

“No, coven would want me,” I said weakly, my strained voice cracking. “Water?” I asked him; I needed blood to heal. However, I can live off food and water, but my body needs blood to heal faster. All lycans heal fast, but I require blood after injuries or using my abilities too much.

The bald man snaps his fingers, and a cup of water and a blood bag are brought in. I wanted to rip the bag of blood open and drink it, but I didn't need to make him think I was going feral. So instead, I drank a little water before tearing off the end of the blood bag and drinking it like a juice box. 

I could feel my vision clearing with every sip. I have been depriving myself of blood. I usually would need blood at least once a week. However, it had been close to a month, and my body was hurting from the neglect of itself. I slowly stood up and decided to sit at the table with the suit. I could smell it now; he was a vampire and hated me on sight. 

“You're damn right about no coven wanting you. We have taken the liberty of sending out a message across the continent to all the packs. Two said they would take you, so you have a small choice. Either way, it's a choice, at least.” He pushed two files across the table to me before standing up and starting towards the door. “You will have 30 minutes to make a decision.” 

I wait until I hear the click of the door before opening each of the files. I opened the first file, and there was a picture of my grandfather's pack Pebblebrook looked like he was still running things, not looking like he had aged a day. The other pack, surprisingly, was very close in proximity to Pebblebrook. The Lost River pack. I remember my grandfather hated them growing up, jealous of their resources or nonsense. 

I slowly stand up and knock on the door. Baldy opens the door looking confused at me for a second. “You need something?”

“Nope, I decided where I would like to go. Could you see if I could have blood delivered there?” Hoping that would be a lot easier than having to sneak out and find fresh blood. Maybe they would like me a little more if they didn't think I would be snacking on all their necks.