CHAPTER TWO: THE DEMON'S RETURN

I stretched my legs lazily on the bed as I woke up feeling energetic. It was 5:30AM. Today’s gonna be a good day. I convinced myself even though it would be impossible. I arranged my luggage and got prepared immediately for the day.

It was breakfast time. I figured I could blend in, if I stayed quiet and kept my head down, I’ll be alright eventually. I made my way to my seat, gently picking at the food on my tray. What were they even talking about? I don’t know what I was but getting judgements from gossipers was annoying. I wish they could learn to be quiet.

Suddenly, the room became silent. What just happened. I suddenly developed goosebumps, like a shift of air. It felt like everyone had seen a ghost in front of them.

I turned around, and that’s when I saw him. Xaphan.

The way he strolled into the cafeteria like he had ownership of this place, which, from the expressions of everyone in the room, he pretty much did. He was tall, with a black hair that fell below his broad shoulders, and hes eyes, so dark and they seemed like it could suck the light out of the room. He had this aura of danger as he walked, something untouchable, like he wasn’t from this world.

He walked straight towards me, ignoring the gasps and stares from the onlooking students, his expression unreadable.

“Out of my seat, newbie,” he sneered, his voice sounded a bit commanding.

I blinked, confused. “I’m sorry, what?”

“This is my seat,” he repeated, not even bothering to look at me. “And you’re in it.”

I was stupefied as I stared at him for a second, trying to process what he just said. Was this guy serious? The cafeteria was practically empty, and he came all the way here for me to give up my sit? For a moment, I wanted to stand up to avoid trouble, but the tone he used got on me the wrong way.

“Your name’s not written on it,” I shot back, as I raised an eyebrow at him.

That got his attention. His dark eyes finally met mine. He was staring at me with surprised on his face

“I don’t like to argue with… little babies,” Xaphan said, leaning down slightly, his face was dangerously close to mine. “Move, newbie.”

I was supposed to feel scared. My wolf spirit told me to get up and run, but instead, I sat there frozen. I could smell him. He was a demon, ancient but he looked just 17. I tried to read his mind, to my surprised I couldn’t maybe because he was too close to me.

Before I could utter any statement, Xaphan stood upright and walked away, and left me sitting there, dumbfounded. Students began bantering, shocked as to what just happened.

______________

The first two periods weren’t bad. History and Art. We had combat training next in the field. Everything was supposed to be easy, if I was cautious not to create a scene. Everyone there seemed to have known their origin, demons, witches or something else, and they moved without problem, confident of their abilities.

Then I was just here. No origin.

“Focus!!” the instructor yelled, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I have to concentrate, I convinced myself, focusing in the midst of the sounds of the other students in the field. The atmosphere of the room was filled with thuds of punches and kicks, and I could feel my heart thumping with every hit in the room. My opponent, was a girl with short brown hair and her brown eyes that sparkled like diamonds on the sunlight, a sly grin spread across her face. Her name is Ember, it was written on her name tag, and she looked as fiery as her name.

"So" Ember began, handing me a handshake. " You're the new girl everyone's been talking about. Alpha Michael's daughter, right?"

I swallowed, holding my training staff tighter. " Uh, I guess so."

She smirked. " Let's see what you've got."

The moment she trampled me on the floor, something inside me snapped. I could feel heat building behind my eyes as my vision blurred. I could feel power surge in me but was being suppressed by something.

I could hear Ember, chanting something I didn't understand. The room went silent. All pairs of eyes were on me as I laid there, panting, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't understand what had happened until I caught my reflection on the window of the building.

My eyes… they had flames in them. I gasped, stumbling back. I blinked my eyes only for tears to come out but the flames had gone.

The students erupted into whispers filling up the room.

“Did you see that?”

“She’s dangerous.”

“she’s not just a werewolf...”

The instructor rushed to where I was, saying something about calming down, but his voice sounded distant. It sounded like echoes. I could feel fire burning in my head as tears flowed freely down my face.

The students whisper grew louder.

“Class dismissed,” the instructor announced abruptly, his voice tight. “Go to your next classes.”

_______________

I was in the sickbay.

“Do you feel any pains in your head?” the sick bay attendant asked, shone an eye examiner in my eyes hoping to see any injury.

I nodded. I already seemed fine before I got to the bay. I wasn’t honestly speaking I was hell worried of what I was becoming.

“You seem fine, you just need some rest.” The attendant spoke with concern written on her face. She appeared nice. She handed me a glass of water to calm my nerves. I told her thank you and went to the class.

We were supposed to have politics and governance but it seemed the teacher was absent. Whispers filled the room again as soon as I entered.

“Didn’t you see how scared ember was?”

“She nearly burned her alive”

“Do you think she’s part-demon?”

“Maybe she’s not a werewolf at all…”

I wanted to crawl under the table. But instead, I sat down and pretended not to hear them until the period was over. I decided not to go for lunch. Not just because of the gossip but because I decided to avoid the cafeteria altogether. I wasn’t ready for another set of stares especially another incident with Xaphan.

Speaking of him I didn’t see him during lectures today. Better I didn’t. I just needed to learn what brought me to this school. I made my way to my room, hoping to find some peace and quiet.

But when I opened the door, my eyes landed on something I least expected that made my heart skip a beat….