l nodded in understanding as the bell rang.

"Wish me luck guys."

Senzo gave me a thumbs up and Phineas smiled. l picked up my bag and looked at Hung's table. His friends were still there laughing, but he was no longer there.

"Come on. We'll be late."

I jumped and looked back startled. Hung was by my side with his signature smirk. I rolled my eyes and picked up my tray. Hung and l walked to the trash cans and l threw away my leftovers. I placed my tray on the rack.

"Where are we going?" l asked Hung.

"History."

"History? I don't have history this period."

"You'll be following my schedule from now on. Drake thought it would benefit you to see yours truly in action."

I grumbled as l pushed open the cafeteria doors.

"I hate history."

Hung grinned. Why is he grinning?

"We're not going to have just any history class."

"What do you mean?" I furrowed my eyebrows as l asked.

"You'll see. You'll love this one."

"l doubt that."

Hung opened the door labelled A20 and l walked in. He closed the door behind me. The classroom already had all the students inside. I went to the teacher's desk; he was dark skinned with short hair -unlike Senzo who had an afro and he was very muscular. He looked more like a P.E teacher. In fact l would love to trade Drake for him-or anyone else really. He was seated at his desk reading a book. I cleared my throat to catch his attention.

"Uhmm... sir?"

"Hello, l'm going to be in your class today."

He smiled and nodded quietly. He looked away from me and scanned the students.

"You can sit with..."

There's a chance l will not sit with you know who. Yes! That made a smile beam on my face. Boy that would make my day.

"Hung," he spoke.

The smile on my face fell. The teacher returned his gaze to me.

"He is a model student. I'm sure he can help you."

"Do you need help to find him?"

He closed his book and l saw the cover. 'Those in Peril' by Wilbur Smith.

"No." I pushed my bag strap higher.

"I'll be able to find him myself."

I walked to the seat next to Hung, as l sat down he gave me a cocky smile.

"Hey you."

I rolled my eyes before scoffing.

The teacher wrote on the board.

"For our new student my name is Mr. Munashe. Today's topic is the fox spirit"

Oh, that's what Hung was talking about; monster history.

"The fox spirit like the Phoenix firebird is believed to be born from fire."

He wrote as he spoke. A boy raised his hand.

"Yes?" Mr. Munashe responded.

"Do we have to worry about the Firebirds as well?"

"Yes, they are extremely dangerous, but a topic for another day. Anyway, the fox spirit originates from Asia, in parts of China, Korea and Japan."

I took out my notepad and blue pencil case from my bag, unzipping it in a flash. I jotted down notes as he spoke.

"Hunters from Asia successfully exterminated these creatures a few decades ago. The fox spirit, however, crossed over the sea to Europe and soon invaded the Americas. It has mainly become a problem in North and South America, Canada, Russia and Czechoslovakia. Specialised hunters from Asia migrated to other countries to hunt them."

Hung cracked his knuckles and opened his bag.

"There is a species of fox spirit that can shoot flames from its tail and spit flames up to ten metres away. The fox appears mainly in the form of long legged, seductive women."

I raised my hand.

"Yes," he said as he continued to write on the board.

How did he see me?

"Sir is that the only form it can morph into?"

He remained quiet before he began writing again.

"It also can shape shift into little girls and old intellectuals. This ensures that they can lure prey into their clutches. Their preferred prey are human beings. It is classified in a group of monsters called morphers or shape shifters."

The boy from earlier on raised his hand again.

"Yes, Mr. Lance?"

"Why would fox thingies want to shape shift into people and not into animals?"

Everyone laughed. I don't know why though it was a pretty good question.

"Nice question, Nick." Hung chuckled.

Nick turned to the back and glared at Hung.

"Shut it, Li."

Hung continued to laugh at him. Geez, he only asked a question.

"I was getting to that, you see shape shifters all phase into forms that will increase their lifespan and improve their livelihoods. The Asian fox- another name it goes by- will prefer a more subtle form that will more easily lure prey. Wouldn't you agree women are more appealing? "

"Yeah, l totally agree." Nick smirked.

All the guys clapped and cheered in agreement. I huffed and many girls rolled their eyes.

Boys.

He laughed.

"Settle down now class."

I heard a crackling noise near me. Looking to my left l saw Hung eating jelly beans. WTF!?!

Is he eating in class?

"Hung," l whispered. "What are you doing?"

He looked away from the white board and smiled, before he ate another jelly bean.

"What does it look like l'm doing?"

He gobbled up yet another jelly bean.

"I thought you were a model student?"

He laughed quietly. "I am, but model students gotta eat too."

He smirked and put the packet of sweets in front of me.

"No way!" l said too loudly.

Gasping l quickly covered my mouth with my hands. Mr. Munashe stopped writing and he turned to look at me.

S***t!!!!

"Is there anything you would like to share with the class, Fuchsia?

Okay! This is bad, my first history class and l'm already in trouble. I cannot let that happen.

"Uh... umm is the fox spirit the only... uh shape shifter?"

"Interesting question. No, it is not. There are other ones and it is also..."

"A topic for another day." The class finished for him.

Hung threw jelly beans at me but l managed to dodge them. I glared at him.

"What!?!" I whispered angrily.

"Smooth save, Martin."

l rolled my eyes. Moron!

"Now to answer Mr. Lance's question, fox spirits long ago used to feed on animals, but as the temperatures began to climb their animal prey began to dwindle. This caused them to evolve like other creatures but in a more sinister way."

An Indian girl with long ebony hair in layers raised her hand.

"Yes, Amala." Mr. Munashe responded.

"Do they have any weaknesses?"

"Yes, like all monsters it has a weakness. The fire fox must be extinguished with salt water before being destroyed. To permanently destroy it you should decapitate it, and then set its remains on fire. It is crucial for you to bury its heart in the sands of running water, or it will be reborn."

I raised my hand again. The teacher smiled and nodded.

"What do you do with the ashes?"

"Hunters usually return with them because their ashes contain magical properties, and can be used for healing burns."

Once he finished that l rose a brow. He clapped his hands together.

"Enough questions. Now l have one for you guys."

Everyone became silent, fearing that they would be chosen to answer.

"Hung, what does the fox spirit look like in animal form?"

Hung managed to hide his sweets in his bag before Mr. Munashe saw. He sat back in his chair and straightened his hunched shoulders.

"The Asian fox looks like a typical fox until it is threatened. They typically look like Arctic foxes and Red foxes."

"Very good, Hung. I'd be careful if l were you kids, there is a fox problem in Maybelle at the moment."

That is ridiculous! Shape shifting foxes running around causing mischief and seducing people. Ha! What a laugh!

The bell rang. I closed my pencil case and notebook and packed them into my bag. As l was standing up our teacher put down the marker he was using.

"Thank you for joining us today, Ms.Martin. You have been a delight."

As soon as he said that everyone was staring at me with wide eyes.

Oh no!

This is what happens whenever someone finds out l'm a Martin-basically a superstar amongst hunters. I hated how people treated me after they find out.

"No problem sir, l really enjoyed it."

So far I've only trained with Drake and planned schedules with my mom-which was bound to end in arguments.

He smiled and handed me a slip of paper. I unfolded it and read it.

Club Moss Library

Room 21,2nd floor

I scrunched my brows.

"You seem interested in monsters. If you feel the need to, you can visit the library and check out some of the books there."

Cool.

"Thank you."

I smiled at him in appreciation before heading out the door.