Pride X Familiar ReVamp (Pride X ReVamp Book 1) (8 page)

Her neck bent down so fast her golden hair billowed upwards like a fountain.

Then she shrieked and stepped back.

“How dare you!”

I waved at her. “No need to praise me. It’s just a special talent I have. I really do approve. White suits you really well, though I believe black is more your color.”

She screamed and slapped me so hard I actually flew sideways before hitting the ground.

Damn she was strong for an Aventis.

I slowly rolled onto my back, then aimed my gaze at her skirt.

She slapped her hands down around her legs and pressed her thighs together.

She scowled. “I’m reporting you to the Student Council. I’ll have you publicly reprimanded.”

I raised a hand toward her.

“Please,” I begged her. “One more peek. If it’s one more I’ll happily bear a public hanging.”

I wasn’t prepared for what she did next.

Even overclocking wouldn’t have saved me.

The pain of her heel on my crotch bent me in half.

I thought I would spout bile as she ground her shoe into my jewels.

Why the Hell is she wearing high heels and not sensible shoes like every other girl in this school?

Her skirt fluttered up, but even the sight of her high cut, white silk panties wasn’t enough to warrant this much pain.

Even so, I made sure to save and file away the memory as adeptly as I could for future reference.

She cried out with tears in her eyes, “I’ll have you expelled.”

Damn, I made her cry. I truly am wretched.

She finally stopped grounding my jewels and stomped off.  Correction, she ran off.

Her four companions ran after her.

I rolled around on the floor for a bit.

Regardless of being a Familiar, pain is still pain.

Even if I could handle it better than a Regular, but not as well as an Aventis, it hurt like Hell. My manhood felt crushed beyond repair.

I’d have to inspect the damage later.

Then I saw a pair of slender, shapely legs in black silk stockings step up to me.

For a moment I forgot the pain burning away the lower half of my body.

The girl was holding a tray, peering down at me with a winter’s gaze.

She was pretty, and I’d noticed from before that she was sporting some winning curves.

But right now her chilling visage was taking center stage in my mind.

That and her gorgeous legs.

“Hello,” I muttered weakly, still bearing the brunt of the vicious assault on my lower extremities. “You must be Lady Maya. We haven’t been formally introduced.”

I raised a trembling hand toward her.

“My name’s Caelum—”

I stopped when I saw her raise the tray high over her head.

I gasped when I saw her fling it down.

I glimpsed a pair of violet, high cut panties with cute little bows tied at her hips.

Ah, the majestic design of Celestial Girl Aurora – from last year’s spring range.

I took the image with me as the tray slammed into my face and knocked me into darkness.

Reflections – 2.

The Prides called them Artifacts.

To the people of Pharos and the colonized systems under the control of the Prides, these Artifacts were powerful and mysterious devices found decades after the Cataclysm had torn our little corner of the galaxy apart. That is indeed true, since the Artifacts were
fished
out of the thick cloud of the Hurakan Nebula by numerous starships built for this kind of
salvage
.

Artifacts were also referred to as Fragments.

This is because Artifacts came in two packages.

An Artifact could be referred to as a Fragment if it was incomplete, that is, it was missing pieces that denied it becoming a full armor, a weapon, or some other category of device.

An Artifact could also be referred to as a Fragment if it was
locked down
, and this affected those Artifacts that possessed a Core.

Either way, Fragments and Artifacts were powerful enough to be nearly unstoppable by conventional means. For that reason, the Prides chose to keep them many of them locked away in secret vaults throughout the asteroid colony of Pharos, and probably elsewhere at covert installations deep within the Hurakan Nebula.

Another reason was that the Prides didn’t trust us Familiars, and we Familiars were the only ones that could operate a Fragment.

That being the case, what were Familiars? What made us so special?

Genetically we were almost identical to humans but there were differences, and those differences were what the Fragments reacted to. However, before Arisa’s blood triggered my awakening as a Familiar, my genetic sequencing looked unremarkably Regular.

During the bi-annual medical examination conducted at the school, I had recorded negative values when it came to deciding my compatibility to one of the eight Symbiotic strains. What I didn’t know was that there were two tests, one for deeming eligibility to a Pride, and one for deeming eligibility as a Familiar.

Two days before Caprice stabbed me on the rooftop, my impending Awakening as a Familiar became known to the Prides.

Two of those Prides moved to
acquire
me – the Raynars and the Lanfears.

What resulted was a skirmish that led many to believe the Raynars wanted me dead.

The truth was a little different, but I won’t spoil the fun at this point.

Because I was ‘bonded’ or ‘branded’ to the Lanfear Symbiote my abilities wouldn’t fully manifest unless I absorbed the blood of a Lanfear Aventis. If I drank the blood of other Prides, I wouldn’t
power up
to the same degree.

I did say
drink the blood
of other Prides.

The truth is we Familiars have one trait we share with fictional vampires.

We can drink blood and draw nutrients from it.

At first the thought of drinking human blood turned my stomach. The thought of drinking Aventis blood made me want to slit my wrists.

But I guess things changed, or rather, I changed.

Little by little, I stopped hating the Aventis as much as I did.

But I digress.

That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about.

I was talking about the drinking of Aventis blood.

Specifically, I was talking about drinking the blood of Arisa Imreh Lanfear.

My Awakening had triggered genetic and physiological changes. One of those was my ability to extend and retract my canines. I have to admit that was the creepiest change of all, and it made my skin crawl the one time I drew them in and out while watching myself in a mirror.

There were a handful of occasions when I made use of this new ability. I plunged my canines into Arisa’s tender flesh, and drank her warm blood as it flowed into my mouth. However, most of the time Arisa’s blood was injected into me whenever the Lanfear researchers wanted to test out the abilities of my Fragment with my body fully boosted by her blood.

I’ve mentioned Arisa a handful of times already.

Who is she?

She is an Aventis, and the niece of the Lanfear Pride’s Primogen, Yolanda Imreh Lanfear.

Yet she is someone who shares my pain.

She is someone I can connect with, even if only on one level.

That’s because Arisa lost her parents in the explosion that took the lives of my parents and hundreds of others.

They had been on the dock awaiting the arrival of the super freighter.

I was ten at the time, close to turning eleven.

She was seventeen, close to turning eighteen.

The moment the bomb on that freighter exploded, the red string of fate tied us together.

Chapter 2
.

(Haruka)

Caelum didn’t return to class until the second lecture after lunch break.

By then I’d heard about his violent altercation with the Princess of the Third Years – Prissila Ventiss Avenir.

I had met Prissila shortly after I transferred.

As a fellow Avenir, she felt it prudent to introduce herself.

I didn’t think of her as a bad person.

She acted like a princess, and everyone treated her like royalty, but that was to be expected of the eldest daughter of the Ventiss Family.

Did I mention she was rich?

Filthy rich.

I envied her.

Well, only her money.

So, needless to say, I was completely dumbfounded when I heard Caelum had sent the Princess running away in tears before a packed cafeteria audience.

I was even more shocked to find out he was recuperating in the infirmary.

Familiars heal quickly, though not as quickly as Aventis.

But his injuries must have been severe for him to be brought to the infirmary.

However, what really stunned me was how he went about getting injured while offending the Princess.

When Siobhan told me what she’d witnessed, I slammed my forehead into my smart desk.

“I can’t believe he did that,” I whined. “What a truly horrible thing to do.”

Siobhan giggled then laughed wildly.

I looked up to see my friend hugging herself like a strait jacket.

“Ah Haruka, you should have seen the Princess’s face. It was priceless.”

I thought Siobhan was being overly dramatic, but my friend disliked Prissila with a passion. However, Siobhan’s laughter was cut short when the bell for the resumption of class chimed throughout the school.

Caelum returned to class after being absent for a lesson.

He had a bandage over his nose and his face was visibly bruised.

He gave the teacher the slip the nurse had written out for him, bowed politely, then walked to the rear of the classroom and sat down at his smart desk.

I didn’t miss the wry look Caprice gave him as if to say, ‘you reap what you sow’.

Neither did I miss the smile of victory Caelum gave her in return.

I tried putting the matter out of mind, and barely succeeded.

But when classes ended for the day – a day which felt like it had been stretched to breaking point – there was another surprise in store for us.

A Student Council announcement was made.

Caelum Desanto, and two others were called to the Student Council’s chambers.

I peeked at him over my shoulder and caught the look of surprise on his face.

Then Caprice touched his arm, and gave him an unreadable look.

Well, it was unreadable to me, but Caelum appeared to read meaning in it.

He nodded faintly and stood up after collecting his school issued carry-bag.

I watched him walk out of the classroom on his way to face the Student Council.

#

(Caelum)

I followed the map on my palm-slate and arrived at the Student Council’s office after a five minute walk.

Galatea was a big school.

Very big.

In fact, Galatea sat on the equivalent of an entire district block.

From overhead, its various buildings were shaped like the letter ‘H’, lined up side-by-side across a very big patch of land.

There were three such buildings.

One for middle schoolers.

One for high schoolers.

One for administration and other duties. This was the smaller of the three buildings.

Surrounding the buildings were various plots of land designated for sporting activities. Track-and-Field had its own sporting field, as did the tennis, basketball, and soccer clubs. There was a large gymnasium and an aquatic center that sported two fifty meter pools.

Galatea had everything the young, future prospective leaders of the eight Prides could ever hope for in a school environment.

All it lacked was a mall.

The Student Council room was located on the fourth floor, in the corner of one wing of the building allocated to the high school student body.

I looked at the sturdy double doors made of real wood – not the synthetic variety, but real, honest to God wood – and trembled a little at the thought of what awaited me beyond those doors.

I knocked on one door loud enough to be heard without sounding like an ogre beating down a dungeon gate.

The door opened automatically a few moments later, and melodious voice called out, “Please enter.”

A melodious
female
voice.

My stomach lurched.

I stepped into the lioness’s den.

What greeted me was a room adorned in opulent, antique furnishings.

Along opposite walls hung the painted portraits of former Student Council presidents.

I looked at them, noticing the majority of past presidents were women.

All damn, fine good looking women.

I scowled inwardly at the handsome faces of the male presidents.

I guess it was to be expected. Appearances seemed to carry a great deal of weight around here.

It was a known fact the Symbiote had a habit of enacting cosmetic changes to the bodies of those it inhabited. Those changes took place in the first few weeks after the Symbiote entered the host’s body. The changes ranged from weight loss, muscle build-up, fuller lips, smoother skin and a near perfect complexion.

I found it all unfair to Regular humankind who had to resort to a plethora of creams and treatments as they struggled to remain on par with the Aventis.

I glared openly at the portraits of the male presidents.

“Ara ara, aren’t you making a scary face.”

I turned in the direction of the wide desk, antique desk that would have been perfectly at home in the manor of some rich company CEO. Again, there was no doubting the shine and luster of real, varnished wood. It probably cost more than my parents earned in a year before they passed away.

I stared at the occupant of the high backed leather chair that sat behind the desk.

Her legs were on the table, cast in sheer white stockings befitting the white skirt she wore. The owner of those impressive pins stood up and walked around the desk, choosing to prop herself on its edge. Her crossed legs swung back and forth slowly like pendulums.

My eyes followed her feet like a cat might follow a ball on a string.

She was the second person I’d come across wearing non-regulation footwear within Academy grounds.

“Jimmy Chan,” I pointed out, indicating her high heels. “Summer collection. Released last month.”

“Huh?”

“If I’m not mistaken they were designed by his protégé, Christian Ormund.”

“Oh?”

“May I?”

“Uh…sorry?”

I approached her. Rather, I approached her slowly swinging feet. Lowering myself on one knee, I took her left foot – since her left leg was crossed over her right one – and examined the stitching on the silver straps.

I nodded to myself. “I see, it really is leather as advertised. Ah, there it is—Christian’s signature. Right here, you see?”

“Oh, indeed you’re right. Silly me, I never noticed….”

I nodded sagely. “Truly remarkable. He has a talent for blending comfort, practicality and aesthetics into award winning designs.”

“Is that so? I see.”

I looked up at her.

Ash grey hair – what a peculiar color – azure almond eyes, and a heart-shaped face. She appeared to have inherited the best of a mixed heritage. I was certain the Symbiote had subsequently played a hand in enhancing her natural beauty.

After studying her face for a few moments, completely forgetting about her tender left foot in my hands, I asked, “I do apologize, but might I ask you a question?”

“Oh?” She raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows at me. “Ask away.”

“Where is the Student Council President?”

A mischievous smile curled her lips.

A loud banging on the doors interrupted any forthcoming reply.

“President—let me in. You have to let me in!”

The banging resumed.

The girl on the table said, “Ara ara, I was wondering how long it would take her to get here after I made that announcement.”

I noticed the pen-like remote control in her left hand. She waved the pen at the doors and they opened automatically.

A girl with radiant golden hair stumbled in with her fists held high over her head.

Behind her, two other girls waited by the entrance. I recognized one of them having met her just a few hours ago.

Maya Khayman.

The other girl I didn’t know.

But I certainly knew the golden haired, buxom beauty – the Princess of the Third Year student body

Prissila Ventiss Avenir.

She quickly straightened and glared at the girl whose foot I was still holding onto. “What the Hell are you doing sitting on the President’s desk? Don’t you know that was a gift donated by my father to inaugurate the President’s campaign victory?”

“Which he would never have won without my help,” the girl replied with a musical tone.

Listening to her voice was like eating smooth honey. I could listen to this girl read out the stock exchange listings all day.

The intruder pointed a perfectly manicured finger at the girl on the desk. “Raynar Witch, get your backside off that desk—what? What the Hell are you doing?”

That last part was directed at me.

The Princess pointed a trembling finger at my hands holding the girl’s perfectly shaped foot in its uber expensive designer brand shoe.

I lifted the girl’s foot a little higher for the Princess to see. “I was admiring her taste in footwear.”

The Princess grew pale, then flushed brightly. “Are you telling me you don’t limit your perversions to just underwear?”

“Of course not, your Highness,” I replied matter-of-factly. “I appreciate a woman from hair to painted toes, and everything she wears in between.”

The girl on the desk clapped her cheeks. “Ara ara. Am I in danger here? Save me Princess.”

“Stop calling me that you Raynar wench!” The Princess alternated her glare between the girl and I.

Behind her, Maya Khayman and her companion entered the room quietly, choosing to stand as far away from the Princess as they could.

One of them looked on in utter confusion.

The other affixed me with a cold stare that could snap frost water.

The Princess took a confrontational stance, crossing her arms proudly under her enormous breasts. “I can’t wait to see how the President deals with you.”

I stood up as smoothly as I could – before my legs could cramp up – and then took a couple of steps toward the Princess.

She took a half step back and immediately pressed down upon her skirt and clamped her thighs together. “Don’t you dare,” she warned me.

I knelt down before her and bowed with my forehead to the carpeted floor. “Your Highness, I apologize for any misunderstandings my earlier behavior might have caused.”

“Misunderstandings? I understood everything perfectly well. You’re a beast. You’re worse than a lecher.”

I spoke loudly. “Then allow me to atone for offending you.”

“Huh? Really?”

I nodded with my head to the floor.

“Is that so?”

I peeked up at her. She had a wicked smile plastered on her face. It grew wider with each passing moment.

The Princess laughed behind the palm of her left hand. “You expect me to take you seriously?”

“I most certainly do.”

She laughed again. “In that case, strip down to your underwear and run a lap around the school grounds.”

I stared at her for a moment. “Very well.”

I stood up and shrugged off my school jacket. Then I began unbuttoning my shirt from the collar to my navel. With each button I dealt with, the Princess’s eyes grew wider.

I decided to go for broke and took off my shirt.

I really had nothing to be ashamed off.

I was a decent five foot eight, with a slender, somewhat athletic build. Seven months of training with a slave driver like Caprice, and her trainer, had burnt away my childhood fat. I was now sporting washboard abdominal muscles and well defined pectorals. My arms were sculpted in hard muscle.

I’m not one to brag, but I could easily have posed for an underwear commercial. I wasn’t going to hide under a rock after seven months of grueling physical torture.

As they say, ‘no pain no gain’.

I started unbuckling my belt.

Then I heard the Princess gasp.