Kasadya (Hellhound Awakened) (5 page)

“Able to trick a fallen into either killing their partner, or they are taken into the underworld, never to return or be seen again. We lost many before we could find a solution. For example, your mother and father is a fighting pair. They go out into the field and fight together. If such a demon should cross their paths, one will be able to protect the other from the demon. That is why we pair you with counter sex
Custos
. When you go out into the field with them for your final training they will be able to protect you. You, in return, would be able to either protect them or act to protect them.”

“Okay, so clearly we are up against two demon types that not even the fallen could take on without each other’s help. Damn, that makes sense.

“What would happen if a fighting pair crossed path with two of these demons at the same time?” Juno asked, so serious I almost had a déjà vu moment from Chax. Oh yes, I forgot they are both vampires, not a people’s person. I wonder if they need to do the blood thing.

“None have been able to defeat both of the demons at the same time. They either die or are taken,” Vulcan replied, looking at her with the same serious face she had on permanently. Man that’s a bummer. So pray you never get the two demons in one spot together, or you and your partner are so dead.

“What do we call these demons?” Lada asked, leaning over the seat in front of her, very interested in the subject.

Vulcan looked at us for a minute
. “
The female is called a Haplai and the male Chiddigul,” he finished, and kept his eyes on us. Some caught their breaths, a boy whistled, and another girl made a choking sound. I looked at Lada, not understanding what the big deal is. Yeah, sure we are dead if we are alone or come across both of them. But at least we had a chance to take them on and get the hell out of there.

Vulcan then turned around and finished the law he was busy with. The rest of the class went by very quiet, everyone thinking over the discussion we had just had. I just shrugged and paid attention to Vulcan for the rest of the morning.

After we finally finished, we retired to the grub spot to get some food. Everyone walked in silence. Okay, so the discussion had everyone dumbstruck or something? I was just taking the first scoop of food and almost had it in my mouth, when Lotan spoke behind me, scaring the big jeepers out of me.

“Can I speak with you, Kas?”

Dropping the scoop of food half in my plate and half out of it, I was instantly irritated by the guy. Man, didn’t he notice everyone was in a dark, gloom and doom moment? I turned around to face him, and only when I saw him up close, did I notice blue finger marks around his neck. Oh crap, I didn’t mean to hurt him like that. Regret and shame taking place of my irritated moment, I replied to him, “Sure, let’s take the small table at the back. Will that be okay?”

“Yes, that will be fine,” he said. Nodding to Nanini and Lada, we walked to the small table at the back; it was always open because nobody liked it. In school this used to be my spot. I took a seat and Lotan took the one opposite me. We sat in silence for a moment.

“I’m really sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I started, just to break the ice.

“Don’t worry, I have looked much worse than this before, I should apologize for scaring you like that. Didn’t mean to, I’m just used to all the rest going at me full steam that the bite back thing is pretty much built into me. Sorry, it won’t happen again,” he said looking at me the entire time. He had the most beautiful green eyes.

“Of course you have to do it again. Who else is going to teach me how to take down an Impon?” I said to him smiling, and in return got a smile back from him.

“Well then, I promise to start with small bites,” he joked, taking a bite out of his steak.

Laughing at his come back, I put the first bite in my mouth and enjoyed it. We talked through lunch, exchanging info and getting to know each other. I must admit he was really nice, a totally different person than yesterday in the arena. No dangerous smiles, just good ones. When we finished, we walked back to the kitchen and dropped our plates in the wash bin.

He led the way out of the grub spot, and headed for the entertainment room.

“So you got Chax, hey?”

“Yeah, scares the hell out of me.”

“No kidding. Arianna used to be his
Apprendo
; she says that was the worst time in her life, but that she also wouldn’t be what she is today if he didn’t do what he did then. He’s considered to be the best
Custos
in the
Exsilium
; his
Apprendo’s
are a sight in the field.”

“Well, in that case I’ll make sure to make enough memories to brag over in a few years,” I replied, making him laugh.

“Greetings Kas,” Seth said, and I turned my head to the front to see him leaning on the wall next to the entertainment room.

“Hi, Seth you’re early today,” I replied

“Yes, thought I might catch you before Chax starts his training. Would you mind if I borrow her for a while Lotan?” he asked, smiling at me. My heart skipped a beat.

“No problem, see you later Kas,” Lotan greeted and walked into the room.

“We’ll have to walk and talk I’m afraid. Lord Chax is meeting me in the lobby,” I said, gesturing to the front.

“Yes, of course. I’m glad to see you are still in one piece and walking. I was worried that you might not have survived him.”

“Believe me, if it wasn’t for Lily and her amazing hands I wouldn’t be walking here next to you.”

“I’m glad you had some help getting on your feet. I take it the training was as brutal as Chax himself?”

“Oh yeah, he really needs a new hobby, he totally sucks at this one,” I replied, making him laugh a little.

“Indeed, he is not a person you invite to a dinner party or something. He’ll most likely kill the happy mood in the first minute,” he said making a face, and had me laughing.

“I can just see that, nope he’ll spoil everything,” I replied, as we reached the corner leading to the lobby. We both stopped knowing full well Chax was waiting at the front door.

“May I ask for some of your time tonight after supper?” he asked, looking at me with a sexy smile.

“Definitely, I’ll see you then,” I replied, giving him a smile back. Come sore muscles and everything, I wouldn’t miss out on this.

“Good, then I’ll see you tonight. Vale, Kas,” he greeted, and with a smile turned around and walked back. My heart was beating at a dangerous pace and it took me a minute or two to recompose myself. The moment I walked into the lobby Chax was on my case.

“I thought I made myself clear yesterday, or did my arrangement with you interrupt a moment in your life?”

“I don’t need to declare my life to you. Are we training or what?” I asked, so pissed off at him I felt like smacking him. How dare he pull rank in my personal life; I’m not his daughter, thank God.

Pissed off as usual, he got up, took two steps and grabbed my arm hard, shifting us to his training area at home. The moment we hit ground he released me, and walked over to a bench and removed his jacket.

Rubbing my arm, I watched him as he turned and walked back to me. My body went into full alert, and I prepared myself on the balls of my feet. No way in hell am I taking his bull today. He reached me and in a freaking fast movement, grabbed my arm again. The next moment we were standing in absolute darkness. He let go of me, and disappeared in silence. I stood there, preparing myself for anything; this guy is so not going to drop me today.

“Shifting takes much emotional energy from a fallen,” he said, somewhere to my left and I turned my head and tried to pinpoint his location.

“To be able to shift anywhere in the world you can’t hesitate or be afraid to. There will be no time to anticipate a safe place. You shift in the moment,” he went on, this time on my right. Oh crap, he was stalking me and shifting while at it.

“So to help you get over it, you will avoid me by shifting,” he said, somewhere further away in front of me. Oh hell, he is really going to do it! Turning in a slow circle, I tried to listen to any sound he might make. But I only got a freaking push from behind that had me landing on all fours, my knees digging into a hard surface that felt like rock.

Holy Crap, I’m in a freaking cave or something! The next moment he grabbed me around my shoulder, and threw me straight into a wall; my head hitting it full force and a scream escaped out of my mouth. Slowly I got up and braced myself against the wall.

“Let me guess, you’re mother spanked you as a little boy; now you’re taking it out on anything female. Or is this your idea of getting a girl’s attention?” I said, trying to provoke him into giving away his position. The air hummed with movement, and I was slammed into the wall; his whole body trapping me, my face squished against the wall.

“Don’t try and analyze me, I suggest you start avoiding me or there will be nothing left for Seth to look at tonight,” he growled, and for some strange reason I got goose bumps. Imagining my hellhound, I transformed just to feel him transform with me, the moment I felt the transformation completed, I pushed myself away from the wall, only to hit a solid chest at my back.

“Maybe you need some motivation,” he whispered into my ear, and felt his breath on my neck. Every freaking vampire movie I ever watched came crashing into my mind and I panicked. My emotions went haywire, and I shifted out of his embrace to somewhere else in the cave.

“You are such a prick!” I yelled at him in a deeper voice, a growl escaping after the last word. He just laughed. I felt the air move in the cave so I shifted to another spot, trying to avoid him.

“Well done, some inspiration for a change. Almost thought I had a problem for the first time in my existence,” he said, and the air moved again. I did the same thing, ending up smacking into a wall, and then dropping to the floor. Damn that hurt really bad. Lying on the floor, my head pounding from the impact, he was on top of me; grabbing my hands and pinning me down.

“Now you need to feel with your mind, to ensure you don’t end up smashing into a wall; then giving them the opportunity to kill you,” he instructed, his face pressed into mine. I just struggled beneath him, trying to get out from under him. I tried to shift, but I just couldn’t.

“Get. Off. Me!”

“Concentration is everything in our world,” he replied, and then I felt his breath on my neck again; goose bumps breaking out everywhere his mouth moved
.
“
Concentrate for heaven’s sake Kas
,” I told myself, but no luck. He kept breaking my concentration. After a while of brushing his mouth on my neck he stopped; then was off me. I laid there on the floor, breathing like a fish trying to calm down, but failing miserably.

I felt his hand on my knee and the next moment light exploded in my eyes. I had to use my hands to cover them from the impact. Tears started to roll down my cheeks, stinging my bruised cheeks along the way. It took me a while before my eyes could open in the light. I looked around to see I was at his house, on the grass outside, all alone. I got up slowly and then looked at my knees, blood covered my jeans. Then I looked at my hands, yip cut and bleeding as well. I lifted my head and turned around trying to find him but had no luck, so I walked up to the house, looking for him.

I went into every room I could find but he was gone. Just freaking great! First he beats me up, and then leaves me here all by myself. This guy is such a prick! To hell with him, and I closed my eyes and shifted to our room in
The Hellhouse
. Luckily the others were still busy with training so no one was there to see me all covered in my own blood. I walked over to my closet and grabbed new clothes.

I stormed into the bathroom, and started undressing at a very slow pace. Every part of me was bruised; my knees, hands, and face were bleeding like there is no tomorrow. Its official, I’m going to kill him. At this rate I won’t even have skin left at the end of training. Finally out of my clothing, I opened the water and got in. I braced myself against the wall, letting the water run down my back; next came my knees and hands.

I watched as the water pooling up at the bottom stayed red from my blood. After a while it started to clear, so I got to the very hard part of washing myself. Man, the soap stings like salt! I hope he gets his ass kicked in the field; damn this hurts. After the shower I slowly dried myself off, and got back into new clothes.

Pissed off at him, I walked down to the entertainment room, planted myself on the couch and switched over to MTV. I sat there and tried to watch, but the only thing stuck in my brain was the part where he was breathing on my neck, moving his mouth over my skin. Why the hell would I find the whole thing so amusing? There was no way in hell I was going to let him do that to me again. He can play his sick games with some other girl.

“Kas, are you okay?” Seth asked from behind me.

Oh man, just what I need; the guy I’m interested in seeing me totally messed up. “Yeah I’m fine,” I said keeping my face on the TV.

I heard his footsteps move to my front and quickly tried to avert my face but was stopped by his hand. Slowly he turned my face to look at him, and the moment he saw my face, his changed into complete anger. Closing his eyes, he just stayed like that for a while. “Man I’m going to kill Chax for this!”

“Is it that bad?” I asked. I never looked in the mirror; I was too pissed off at Chax.

He lifted his head and looked at me.
“Come with me,” he said, lifting me up with him. He took my hand and led me down the hall and around a corner. A few doors on, he stopped at a door and opened it. We walked inside to what looked like a medical room of sorts.

“Sit on the bed,” he instructed, pointing to the bed. I walked over to it, hopping on with my legs hanging over to the floor. He went to the wall unit and removed some cotton and a bottle of stuff, then turned around and came to stand in front of me. Looking down he dabbed a few drops of the bottle on the cotton then looked at me. “This may sting a little, but will speed up your healing,” he said, and I nodded.