"I'm sorry about your clothes," Holly sighed neatly folding up her towel. "I'll give them back to you tomorrow."

Holly set her towel down and took in a deep breath. "I've been thinking about what you did for me back there...I firstly want to give you a thousand thanks for what you did. Then...I want to know what exactly saved me. What are you Kassina?"

I frowned and closed my suitcase zipper. "I'm me."

I'm human with an evil ink being around me.

"No, I never saw someone with such power. Seth himself was stunned!" Holly cheered thinking what she last said was applaudable. "He toned down his own power and marveled at yours. I know what you are! You're must be a demigod."

"Demigods?" I smirked. "Well, sorry to disappoint, but I don't see any Jacksons around here. But for info, demigods as in kids with Zeus and Athena-."

"Athena bares no children. She is one of the goddesses of virginity. Don't you know of Medusa?"

"Medusa?" I nodded. "She was that woman who stole that bread from a temple...or was it someone stole from her..."

Holly cringed and growled. "The gods' actions are not to be laughed about Kassina."

I froze and tossed my suitcase on the floor. "So, in this wacky world they exist?"

"All legitimate gods exist here. Human religions, new or ancient, but-," Holly burst out laughing. "I heard some-," she grasped her shoulders as she laughed, "humans actually worship a man in a metal suit! His name- his name- Vader something! Humans now adays are kinda foolish."

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Kids from the 90's will only understand."

After the good laugh, the room went silent.

"I would have died tonight if it wasn't for you," Holly whispered. "I would have run to the barrier until I made it out or closed. If it closed, I'd have to run to the vampires. There, they would try to kill me. Better them not Sethrans...right?"

I looked down. "Why were you there anyway?"

"I was getting the stuff for my room. I changed rooms because I couldn't stand being so close the pack center. Sethrans room is in the building a mile from the western dorm, on the edge of the forest."

"Where's your new room?"

Holly brightened. "This dorm, furthest from Sethrans. My room is a couple levels down though. I was really surprised when I saw the occupancy to this place. This year, there aren't near a lot of witches. There were lots of rooms, floors even, that are just empty. I wanted a room surrounded by other rooms that are close to the bottom."

I turned away from Holly and yawned. "I bet you don't even have your key on you," I laughed jokingly.

"Sh...sha- oh no!" Holly jolted. "My room key was in my..." she covered her eyes, "pocket..."

I sighed. "I don't think making another trip to the wolf shack would do any good. You can take the bed Holly. I'll trip on the floor."

Holly sighed. "I really owe you Kassina. You let a stranger in your room and took care of me. I can't thank you enough Kassina."

I smiled. "What type of asshole would refuse to give help?"

I kept my eye on the door. I kept sight on the brown door that would possibly burst open any second. Holly went off to sleep instantly and I was left with a pillow and fear.

I outstretched my hand to a single wadded up paper in front of me.

I could travel at unsayable speeds, but I couldn't lift a ball? Can I run quickly? No...I'd wake Holly. Why can't I do this? What about the ink?

I flicked away the ball and as I watched to slowly come to a halt I caught scent of a dog.

I picked up my head and looked towards Holly. Why was there a dog smell?

I stood up and slowly slinked towards the doorway where the smell was getting stronger.

Was this my power, smell? I could smell dogs before the contract.

I put my hand on the lock of the door and slow moved it until the door was unlocked. On the other side of the door I heard an uneven breath, from someone who just stopped running.

Once I was sure the person was unsuspecting, I threw the door open as silent as I could.

In the dim hallway light, I saw the back of a roughed up pale teen. He was on his knees, head bowed.

Once he knew I saw him, he quietly spoke.

"I-I am Coby Mellark. Instructed by my Alpha, Sethrans, I am to deeply apologize to you and H- Miss Holly for the actions of this night. My Alpha in no way wants war on the school during the 'Cooperative Learning' experiences. Though, my Alpha wanted me to give you this."

Instinctively, my foot stepped on Coby's hand when he moved a little too quickly. I didn't control my actions at all. Something else controlled me for a second.

"Ah!" Coby groaned. "It's a note. Please, it's just a note!"

Spilled out next to his hand was a dirty white sheet of paper folded in half. I bent down and picked it up slowly. I moved my foot from Coby and lightly kicked his shoulder. "That all?"

"Yes...that was all I was meant to-."

I closed the door on Coby and locked the door.

I went into the bathroom and turned on the farthest light from the bedroom and read the poorly made note while on the rim of the bathtub.

"'To the Kassim who ruined my fun, I have something of Holly's since you were so determined to prevent contact with her, meet me at a certain wolfy restaurant tomorrow evening, La Chop it's called. If you don't show, I'll camp...her place. Signed the significant you know who.'"

"Yeah, I can chill, but where are you going?"

I sighed. "I'm going to go get a certain key. Stay here please." I closed the door and Holly locked it from the inside. I tucked my own key away in my pocket, far from where it could be taken.

"Now, just to that side of the school where we went last time..."

The restaurant district was off of the school and in a sort of 'town'. As far as I know, there weren't any towns nearby. The place with all of the place was still part of the school but just far enough to feel like a town. Walking there, at my typical slow pace, I'd be there in an hour. With Jun, at least it was a fun walk.

Where is Jun?

"Excuse me?" I roughly grabbed a weaker looking student that was passing by. His eyes widened in fear as he looked at me. "Do you know where La Chop is sir?"

He nodded and pointed over his shoulder. "At the end of the way and to the right. The place is just off of the lake."

I let go of his shirt and nodded. "Thank you."

The town was much different than others. There was no street, people here called them ways, 'at the end of the way' 'down that way to the end' 'this way leading onto the next way'.

But like a street, there were bold sidewalks, or walks, instead. The crowd moved in organized flows that conducted themselves. I never saw the area busy, but I guess it'd still conduct itself.

There weren't many shopping buildings like in L.A., but what was here was...something. The stores didn't have the best clothes and the shoes were poor. My stores compared to this garbage was atomically different. These stores were second hand shops.

Jun told me something good about the restaurants though. They were authentic to every person that goes to this school. But, that was before I found out about all the supernatural world.

I passed a bar composed of gothic looking people sipping on tall glasses of a red liquid.

"Stuff like that," I sighed putting my hands in my pockets.

I turned right on the street and saw a large shack at the end of the road. The name given was what was on the note.

Once I got inside I was greeted why a country looking man. He tipped his green hat to me. "Hello there little lady. Here by reservation or walking in?"

I shrugged. "I'm supposed to meet an asshole here."

"Are you the Kassim?"

I tensed. "Yes. I think I go by Kassim."

He scratched his nose. "Follow a' me please."

The self made waiter walked me through a pretty crowded dining area through a door into an area with four secluded booths on high rises like a gazebo, but dark wood and dank smelling.

"All the way to the end," he muttered leading me down the empty booths and around the corner to a grander booth with richer looking gazebo possibilities. "Right here Miss Kassim. Your friend said he will arrive shortly."

I approached the black seated booth and sighed as I sat down in the plush leather seat. Unlike cheap places, the seat left comfortable.

Dude said evening...he's not even here yet.

I looked around the booth and took in possibly fake memorabilia on the walls of biker gangs and thugs. I made me want to laugh.

Next to my seat was a wide window that showed a beautiful lake of crystal clear water.

Water...

I angrily turned from the window as I remembered a sour memory. "Neoman," I growled.

Long ago, back when I was dumb...er and foolish. I set my heart out on this dude everyone called Bull. His real name was Malcom something but out of all the people at school...he like me.

In our relationship, I begged for his love as he did mine, but we didn't sleep with each other. Our personalities blended that way. He was sweet and protective. There was nothing he wouldn't do for me. But many saw something off in our ages. When we first started going out, fourteen and he was sixteen. In our lives, no one truly approved of it, but Neo.

Neo was my best friend. He raised me to street knowledge and helped me when I was in danger.

When me and Bull first went out, Neo supported it, but after I turned fifteen Neo started say all types of negative things about Bull. Neo was eighteen then, so everyone really respected and feared him. Knowing that I knew that Bull wouldn't be doing half the things Neo said.

'He's a cheater. Yesterday, Kasey, I saw him with Shaunda!' Neo told me about what Bull did everyday until I finally confronted him.

Bull denied everything and questioned my love for him. He yelled at me, but he never hit me. He just denied everything.

By then I didn't know what to do. If couldn't trust Neo nor Bull's words, I had to go to the third most trustable guy, Brussel.

Brussel nervously shrugged at the matter and told me nothing. He too lied to my face. All three of them were lying, but only Brussel was the only one who didn't mean to hurt me.

One day, Bull and I ditched school one summer and went to a lavish beach. The sky was cloudy that day, but we still went on the empty shore. We played and laughed and...then I...in a place hidden from cameras and open sight...I consented to him. It was a strange short first time for me and thankfully. Bull saw that so... we hung out until Bull says he had to leave.

Things happened and I had to get Neo to pick me up from the beach. We made it halfway to Brussel's place when I found out I left my phone somewhere back at the shore or in Brussel's car.

Neo calls Brussel and finds out Brussel's back at the beach. Neo didn't tell why he needed to know and hung up saying 'Alright bro'.

When we got back to the shore, I saw two people dancing on the waves like how me and Bull did. But it happens to be Bull out there with a shorter, thinner girl, Shaunda.

I stood mortified as I saw them kissing and touching. Soon, I had anger and that made me call out his name to the setting sun. 'Malcom!' I screamed catching his attention, 'You liar! You-.'

Neo put an arm around my shoulder and comforted me as we walked back to his car. He drove us to this parking lot far from the beach and turned to me suddenly pointing to my phone under the seat.

His kind words and action lead to flirting and touching and...in the run down movie theater lot...I consented.

I was like revenge...but in spite and loss. I felt Neo was there when no one else was, but it was a lie.

A week of dating and doing Neo later, Brussel pulled me out of me stupid dreams and punched me. He told me...he told me...

Brussel had been chilling with Bull while puffing got some random info off him. Bull told about a game he was testing with Neo, one he hadn't done in ages.

After piecing thing together himself, Brussel found out what the game was. I was played. Played to fall for Bull, played to be 'betrayed', and played to run to Neo.

I could never scream...so loudly and so angrily... and so direly...into a pillow before.

I...didn't confront Neo of it. I just...spaced away from him...and everyone. I...wouldn't eat or drink...until one day I got one call from Bull himself.

In my distorted reality of depression, Bull's voice was the one I only wanted to hear. He wanted to meet to meet on that same beach...like a wondering child so desperate for love I went.

When I got there, it was dark and Bull was waiting on the top hood of his car. He apologized and asked for my forgiveness, 'I don't need it, you don't have to forgive me. I-I really do love you Kassina. It's just...I wish I never did this. You are beautiful. I wish...we could really be together.'

After that...Bull left and me and Neo were distant. But I couldn't afford to openly hate the most influential man of our area...so I just...ignored the fiasco and let it eat inside of me, day by day by day...by day...

"By day," I whispered to myself suddenly finding my eyes staring out over the lake. I wiped the streams of tears from my eyes and breathed deeply until I was calm.

Sethrans...kinda reminds me of Bull.

"Miss Kassim?" I turned to the country boy standing at the tip of the corner. "It seems your company is said to arrive later."

"Damnit," I whispered feeling a wave of calmness run over me.