Athènia's POV
Time flies. It's already been a week since I got here, and every night I still have to suffer from the cursed pain of my so-called mate's betrayal. Oh, yeah, super. I step out of my room only to find Mara cooking. When she notices me, she flashes me a wide smile.
" Morning, Lis." said Mara
" Morning, Mara. You should have waited for me, I could've helped you cook." I said
" Yeah, I know, but I figured you'd be tired from the pain and those terrible visions." She says that as she brings me my breakfast and a glass of juice.
" Yeah." I replied
The truth is, it wasn't only the pain. It was also the visions—horrible ones, drenched in blood. I see a real bloodbath, so much death. The goddess keeps telling me that I can stop this dreadful war, but I still don't know how. I have to wait for my powers to awaken… or so Kora always says.
" We're going to have our powers." said Kora
"I'll just pretend to believe that." I said, She sighs, because she knows what I really think. I don't believe my powers will ever come. Sorcerers usually develop their gifts around the age of thirteen, but I still have nothing. I hear Kora sigh again.
" I already told you, Lis, but you don't believe me. We will have our powers." said Kora
"And I'm sure mine will be the weakest of all." I said
" We'll see." said Kora
She retreats into the back of my mind. Meanwhile, MJ and I finish eating and start getting ready for university. We're just stepping out of the apartment when the future Alpha leaves her room. Of course, I have to be respectful… like an idiot.
" Good morning." I said with a smile, but she only gives me a cold look before walking away. Seriously, what's her problem with me?
"That'll teach you to be polite. She's always like that whenever you greet her." said Mara with humor
"Well then, I won't bother saying good morning anymore. Let's go. Hopefully we don't get stuck in the same elevator with her—unless she decides to slam it in our faces." I said
We head toward the elevator. The future Alpha stands in one corner, while Mara and I take the other.
" Uh, Lis… have you heard the rumors?" said Mara
I raise an eyebrow at her.
" No, I haven't heard anything." I said
" They say we're getting another new student." Said Mara
" Not surprising. Remember, we enrolled when classes had already started a month ago." I said
" Yeah, fine. But we're still going to the movies." said Mara
I shrug.
" No, we can't." I said
" Why not?" asked Mara
" The special elite class starts today." I answered
" Do you even know what it is?" asked again Mara
" Not exactly, but I think it's some kind of training to teach us how to fight." I answered
" With a name like that, I'm pretty sure you're right." said Mara
She laughs as the elevator doors open. We step out and head toward the garage to get the car.
" I think the Alpha was interested in what we were saying." said Mara
" Yeah, she was listening closely." I answered
We get into the car and drive to campus. When we arrive, I park, and as usual, all eyes follow us as we walk across the lot.
" I wonder what the new guy will be like. Hopefully he's handsome… and my mate." said Mara
I laugh at her excitement.
" No, he's not your mate." I said
"How do you know?" said Mara
"I just do." I replied
I don't know why, but I have this strong feeling. I'd bet anything that Mara is Jiji's mate.
"And who are you betting with, that your friend is your brother's mate?" said Kora
"I know it. And don't tell me you don't feel it too." I said
" No. You're the only one with those illusions." said Kora
"No, I'm certain it's true." I said
"How about a bet? If you lose, you cut your hair. If you win, I won't transform for six months." said Kora
" Deal." I agreed
And I know I'm going to win. We head to class.
" Lis, I dreamed about a super handsome guy." said Mara
" Hmm, let me guess. Tall, muscular, blond hair, green eyes, and a Greek-god smile."I said
She stares at me, stunned. Take that, Kora.
" It was just a dream." said Kora
" How did you know?" asked Mara
" Intuition." I answered
We reach our classroom and take our seats.
" So, should we start plotting revenge against your 'mate' ?"
She said sarcastically, giving me a threatening look.
" Not yet. I haven't figured out the right way to make him pay." I said
" Well, I'm in whenever you're ready, girl." said Mara
The professor, Mr. Junes, walks in, followed by a boy who's ridiculously handsome.
" He's a hybrid. Half sorcerer, half demon." said Kora
Oh great. Another hybrid. I guess I should get used to this, but they're rare. The real danger, though, is a dihybrid—like Jinking STORM.
" All right, my dear students. Let me introduce our new classmate. Please, go ahead." said Mr. Junes
"My name's Garth Peterson. I'm eighteen, and I'm from Germany." presented the boy.
Mr. June sends him to sit behind us, next to Asher Swatson—another hybrid, half vampire, half siren. We get along well. He also lives in our building, just one floor down. Garth walks over and takes his seat beside Asher.
" Good morning, Princess Athènia." murmured Garth
" Good morning. Nice to meet you." I replied
Whispers immediately spread through the room. Everyone is buzzing about me knowing Garth, even though I've never seen him before in my life. Mr. Junes starts the lecture. Hours later, it finally ends—thank the heavens.
" So, girls, any plans?" said Asher
Mara sighs, turning toward him. I do the same.
" No, we don't." said Mara
"What about the movies?" asked Asher.
"Cancelled. Remember, we've got the special elite class." I answered.
Garth raises an eyebrow.
" What's that?" asked Garth
" Probably just P.E." suggested Asher
"No, I don't believe that." I said
" Why not?" asked Mara
I arch a brow at him.
" Because none of the humans are in this program. Only supernaturals. I think it's combat training for us ." I said
" 'us'? " asked Garth
Asher: Welcome to the club.
" Mind explaining?" said Garth
" Sure. But not here." replied Asher
" Isn't it lunchtime already?" said Mara
"Or maybe you're just hungry." I said
We all laugh a little and head to the cafeteria, once again under everyone's eyes. My mate is sitting there, of course, with that stupid Evera clinging to him. Whatever. We take a table together. After a while, Garth breaks the silence.
" So, what's our club called?" asked Garth
" HD." replied Asher.
"HD?" asked Garth
"Short for 'Hybrid.' " whispered Asher
" Wait—you're also…" said Garth
" Yes, we are." I interupted her, but I can feel my mate's gaze on me. When I look up, his eyes are fixed on mine, full of desire. What an idiot. He dares look at me like that when he's the one making me suffer every night. And right beside him is Evera—obviously the one he's screwing instead of recognizing me. From the corner of my eye, I notice the Alpha watching him too. Maybe she's in love with him. I quickly turn my attention back to my friends.
"So, Garth, where do you live?" I asked
"At the Elegance Apartments." he replied
Asher smirks.
" Lucky. We all live there too." said Asher
I shouldn't have, but I paid for a year of Asher's rent. He used to live in a motel, so I offered him a better place.
"So we're all in the same building." said Garth
" Never thought I'd end up living there." said Asher
"Why's that?" asked Garth
" Because I'm an orphan. My parents were killed—slaughtered—because their relationship was forbidden. They helped me escape, and I survived because they asked me to. I was just a kid. I had to do everything to stay alive. I worked my whole life, saved every cent I could for college. But I never had enough to afford anything better than a motel. When I met MJ and Lis, I realized they were like me. Lis found out where I was staying and insisted I move into their building. I'll always be grateful to her." explained Asher, I give him a little smile.
Asher looks at me, tears brimming in his eyes.
" Ash, you know you're my friend. I'll do everything I can for you. You've both had such hard lives, but you were strong enough to keep fighting." I said
Yeah. They mean so much to me—apart from Jiji, of course.
"Lis. Garth is the son of Father's older brother, Kevin." said Kora
" So… my grandparents' son?" I asked
" Not exactly. Grandfather had a relationship with Garth's Grandmother, Lea, before he married. A month before her wedding, Lea discovered she was already three months pregnant. But Grandfather cast her aside. She raised the child alone, working hard." explained Kora
So Garth is my cousin.
" And Garth, what about your parents?" I asked
" My mother died of cancer. My father worked tirelessly to support me and my grandmother. She worked even harder to give him an education, to make sure her only son could become someone. To honor her sacrifice, my father studied constantly until he made something of himself." said Garth
I look at him. His life wasn't easy either. A father buried in work, a mother taken by illness. At least he knows who his mother was.
Lunch ends. We rise and start walking.
" Uh, girls… do you know where the Great Immortal Hall is?" asked Asher
Me and Mara exchange a look. On our first day here, we explored every corner of the campus.
" Yes." I replied
"How?!" asked Asher
" The day we arrived, we wandered around everywhere. We saw almost everything." replied Mara
" If I'm not mistaken, that's where the special elite class takes place." said Garth
" Exactly. It's in the basement." I said
We walk, eyes following us again. Not even half a day has passed, and the new guy is already part of our group. What they don't know is that he's a hybrid—and my cousin, though I never met his father, my uncle. In the end, he doesn't seem nearly as bad as the rumors claimed. In fact, I'm starting to believe the opposite.