A/N: I have posted a new cover/title picture, let me know what you think!! Thanks to Electric__Love for this!! :)
Anyways hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Comment, vote, share what you think!
-E

I decided to change the subject. "So what's your story? How did Derek become a werewolf?"

"Uh, I'm actually not a werewolf. Not technically..."

"Oh-kayy what are you?"

"I'm a shapeshifter. There is only a handful of other beings that can shift, though the most common is the wolf. So yeah I guess you could call me that."

"And how'd you become one?" I continue pressing.

"Not how, more like why... See we, all of us shifters, are very strong. Our bones are like steel," he stops as we both eye his deformed leg. He continues as my mind wonders how hard the vampires must have hit him for that to have happened. "...muscles, vision, all that, hyperaware; ultrasensitive. But our bodies are built like that because we are considered protectors. The first shifter was made right when the first vampire was... it's a complicated story, but they were brothers."

"What?" I eye him in disbelief, "brothers? As in they were family?"

"Yup," he nods at me, understanding my surprise. "The stories vary depending where you hear it but my uncle told me it was because the village they lived in was in danger. Apparently they prayed for help from the gods, seeing that the enemy they would fight was also god-like."

"God-like how?" I cut him off.

He chuckles at my excitement. "Calm down, calm down, I'll finish. They were preparing to fight a - a Dragon." He says theatrically.

"A dragon," I repeat flatly.

"You are talking to a werewolf shapeshifter," he reminds me.

I sigh, shaking my head, "Ok, you got me. What happens next?"

"Well, the gods answered they're prayers. But it came with a price. They became their own weapon. Hence, the vampire, and the shapeshifter. But there was another. A third being that was also created; to make peace, make things even."

"Who?" I ask him, becoming engrossed in the story again.

"A witch," he waggles his brows at me before continuing. "Not just any man or woman though, it was their sister."

"The sister too? But why?"

"Balance. Having two beings that might forever lose themselves in battle against another was not the way. So, a vampire was created to bestow fear; represent evil, darkness. A shapeshifter was created to protect, defend; represent hope. And the witch was made to give, or take, both of these powers. The sister was the middle ground, having the choice to choose either brother."

"What do you mean choose?" I find myself leaning closer to him as the story progressed.

"Well, if it came to a time to have to choose, only she would tip the scale and worsen or better the battle. Of course the siblings never believed things would come to that, so they accepted the gifts and used them to fight. The shapeshifter chose to become a local legend, one the village people feared. It was known as Canis Maxis, an ancestor of the grey wolves you see today. This brother was the oldest, hence his protective nature, and he knew this fear could become a strength. The middle sister was given powers she could learn. And the youngest, some say the most naïve, became the vampire. One who could absorb the life of someone else. But only the life that he was. As in a-"

"A human," I finish for him, recalling my conversation with Evelyn and how she had weakened on animal blood.

"Yeah," he looks at me skeptically but carries on. "If a vampire were to ever pass their venom onto an animal, say an ape. Then the ape would essentially become a leech as well, bloodsucking on every other ape he could-"

"Ok, ok I get it. Morbid. Point taken, you don't like 'em."

When he didn't keep talking, I made a point to look at him and was about to give him a look until I saw his look. A mix of confusion, anger, disgust, and surprise all painted on his features. "What?"

"You like them."

"What, the vampires?" I say, incredulous. "You have got to be kidding me, no. No. I mean I've gotten to know some and they seem just like me. So yeah maybe I don't hate every single one of them. But why judge all for the actions of one? You were the one to tell me how there are good ones."

"Touché. Fine. I guess the same could be said about my people as well."

"Exactly... So, what happens to the family? The siblings?"

"Oh," he smiles at me. "Like the story huh?"

"Well yeah you got me into it now. I want to know!"

He nods and continues, "So the village was hearing rumors about this dragon. Not fire breathing like you heard in fairytales, but it did have wings. Basically a massive flying reptile. What was so scary about it though, was its' power. Supposedly no man of any strength could even penetrate its' skin, up until then."

"Right, but that's why those three were given powers, right? Strength to finally kill it?"

"Yup. They were given their powers in dreams. Each of them having a different experience with a differently described deity. That's why the stories vary so much. They were told different things, supposedly. Anyways, they all wake up with the same question; they had been praying for weeks, so why now? The dragon was to attack that day. Turns out that it did, and the brothers did defeat the dragon."

"Just like that? What did the sister do? I mean she didn't help?"

"Ahh, no. I told you, she was created for other reasons down the line. And unlike her brothers who were handed their strength and powers, she had to learn. So she wouldn't be fully capable until later, when of course, her powers became relevant. And yes, together the brothers defeated it, easily."

"Hmm, interesting," I voice my thoughts as another question comes to mind. "What about the witch? I mean, if she was given those powers to help create peace, where are the witches now?"

He seems saddened by my question, almost disappointed. "The witches were um... They were killed off. I don't know when. But not in our lifetimes."

"Oh," was all I could say. Then, "was it those Salem witch trials? In the United States, Massachusetts?"

"Those? I mean, they're could have been a few relatives having the blood without knowing it, but I doubt it."

"Well what if-" he cuts me off before I could finish that maybe some are out there now who don't know they have the blood.

"No, Alexis... Stop. Please. It's something I've seen friends die trying to find." He shakes his head, looking away from me, "there isn't any more out there to help now."

I stay quiet next to him, hoping the conversation would jump back into something else. Or that maybe there was more to the story he hadn't finished yet. But he says nothing else, doesn't even look back at me again. Clearly I had struck a nerve and gone too far with the questions.

Standing up, "I'm sorry about your friends Derek... I should probably go though now. I've been here a while." He nods at me then I pull the chains back up so that he is hanging again. I feel my stomach twist as my pulls on the chain create pain anew in his leg. He grunts over and over as I try several times to get the chain on the exact notch I had pulled it from.

Walking away was way too difficult. My conversation with him in there had distracted me from so many other things I had the gall to forget. Like Tyler, or my grandmother, even Cecil and whatever he was hiding from the prisoners here. Maybe I was thinking too much; worrying too much for everyone here when I really should just focus on myself. But I couldn't help it. I wanted answers. Especially now that they had more to do with my family; with me.

A sound comes from behind me, almost like a stone being moved. I quickly turn to see no one there. But the torch flame that had been lit when I walked through before was now out, making the hall noticeably darker. Frowning, I take a small step toward the flameless torch, my mind running through several possibilities. Chase had just discovered the halls behind the halls, could this be another? Tentatively, I place my hands on the wall, then push. Nothing happens at first, but I use more force and hear the same sound as before. The stone wall was moving back and to the side. It was just as Chase had showed me, but this was a much older part of the castle, one we weren't technically allowed into.

So I go into the dark hallway behind the main hall. It's not like I couldn't not go in there after I'd discovered it. Since I couldn't see, I use my hands to guide myself down the narrow path. It turns a corner almost immediately, even though the main hall kept straight. I stop, wondering whether I should continue or not; but what if I found Tyler? What if I could finally answer some questions I have been dying to know the answers to? No, I have been through a lot here, and I have survived. I can do this.

I press onward, with even less light and guidance than before, as the temperature and elevation begins to drop. This led down, below the castle, hmm...

Within seconds, I am forced to stop. A hammering sound echoes around me, as if metal against metal. Very loud, and very distinct, yet something else was there too. I take a small step forward and press my hand around another sharp turn. Then I press my body against the corner and strain my ears to hear beyond the continuous, distracting sound of the banging. Voices; harsh, quiet, whispers that I can barely understand.

"Th- group is still – large. I cannot contr- them," I hear bits and pieces of a male voice.

"GET them under control," a second voice states much louder, obviously upset. I recognize it almost immediately, though I take no time to consider the consequences of that information as I must strain to listen to the second voice.

"They are a thre- to us. The informat- is vital. We cannot –low them to conti-"

Cecil cuts him off, "of course we cannot let them continue out there! They know too much!"

"But how do we stop them?"

"They should have died the first time, now we will have to arrange something a little more...permanent."

My mind takes too long to process things as I realize I had heard the last part of the conversation too clearly. They had been coming towards me, which meant I had to get out. Now.

I bolt. My hands barley give me seconds to realize my new directions as I run blindly down the dark hall, giving slightly in my pace as I get back to the higher grounds of the castle. Then I run into the wall. It doesn't even shake as I use my own shaking hands to force the panel open. Now out in the dim main hall once more, I allow myself to take a breath. But seconds later I am back to running.

Back in a more popularly traversed hallway again, I slow down and look outside. The sun was setting already. I had been with Derek more than half of the day, and what just happened took only minutes. But my mind was spinning. They were talking about a group... out there? As in someone literally out there, as in free? Had the other man mean to say that whoever they were was a threat? I wish I could have heard better, but clearly they didn't want anyone overhearing them. I had gone in there to try to answer questions, and I only had come out with more. I shake it off and continue walking.

Several other students were wandering aimlessly throughout the halls, the closer I got to the dorms, and to the dining hall. I peek inside and notice several groups chatting on tables, some eating, others not. Was I transported back to high school or something? Why were there no guards? No order?

I couldn't believe myself. I hated the way they ran this place, and now I'm complaining? I shake off my suspicions and step outside. After two minutes, I'm not even back to Chase yet, and Renee confronts me. I'd completely forgotten about her.

She smirks knowingly at me. "Forget about something' sweetie?" She coos at me condescendingly. "Or were you too scared you'd lose?" She, along with her friends laugh at her lame attempt at a joke.

I pull my eyebrows up in the center, in disbelief at what I was hearing. Was I really getting bullied? After what had just happened. Psh. "Nah, I just thought I'd give ya time to warm up."

"Honey I was warm hours ago. I'm-"

"So what, you too cold now?" I cut her off.

"I warm pretty quick."

"Good," I say to her, although I'm already turned away and headed for the ring.

"What?" She steps beside me, keeping my pace easily. "Afraid of a little friendly competition?"

I stop, angling my head to look at her as my wandering eye briefly catches Chase watching us from his place at the archery station. He seemed as confused as I was about this girl who just came out of nowhere.

"You do realize I'm the one walking to the ring, right?" I don't give her time to reply, "I'm sorry, who are you?" She must be new. I don't have a stellar memory but I'm pretty sure I'd remember her before yesterday.

She smiles sideways at me, shifting her weight and placing her hand on her hip. "I'm guessing you're not asking about my name."

"No, unfortunately I do remember that."

"Funny. Well I'm new here. Trying to make a name for myself if ya know what I mean. Don't want to get stepped on around here."

"Ahh I see. So you thought you'd confront me for a fight. And what? You thought you'd win? Just like that?" My left eyebrow raising sarcastically.

She steps toward me, crossing her arms and leaning her head in. "Heard that's how you did it. No practice. Nothing. Just went up and won."

"Yeah. You wanna see how?"

"Something like that," her words drip with haughty disdain.

Individually, we ready for the match. But something didn't feel right when I couldn't see Tyler's figure standing on the sidelines; his presence was a comfort I hadn't realized I would miss. Instead Ross handles me roughly, practically ripping the gloves as he forces them on.

"Jeez," I yank my hands away from him. "I got it ok? Go do something else, go somewhere else!"

Snickering, "sorry princess. Guess Tyler isn't here to baby you anymore."

"He doesn't baby me," I defend.

"Sure. But he certainly doesn't treat you like the others... Weird huh?" his look becomes suspicious.

"Not at all. So you leaving or helping, or what?" I say too quickly, my impatience growing thin and his suspicion beginning to worry me if anyone other than Chase had found out about us.

"Sure, yeah... But I don't know how much help I'll be. Never seen her fight before."

"You assume that meant that I actually wanted you here."

"Don't you though?" He smiles smugly at me.

I shake my head, trying to ignore him as we both look over to see her putting her mouth guard in, readying herself. For some reason, watching her made me anxious. This girl didn't just talk, she seemed like she knew what she was doing. I remember my first day explicitly; and being able to put my equipment on was as much a struggle as any.

"Ok, you ready?" Ross says next to me, though I'm barely listening. I zone him out along with all of the noise around us and close my eyes. Focusing on my breathing, and feeling my body as I jump up and down and swing my arms around in a classic warm up style.

I open my eyes and center my attention on my opponent opposite me in the ring. Her gloves are up in defense as she jumps back in forth in a boxers shuffle. I move my body from side to side in the same fashion as we await the whistle. Once it blows, my sense awaken and things go into slow motion as I forget about Tyler, about my grandmother, about Derek. The only thing on my mind is the girl running towards me in attack.

Her hand swings forward towards my face at no less than a few inches away from me, when I at last make a move. Avoiding her hit, I duck and dodge to the right, sending a quick right cross to her abdomen. Unexpectedly, I feel a punch in my own abdomen at the same time. I step further to my right as she steps to her left to reposition for another attack. I make the first move, having recovered quicker, giving her a left jab in the face then a right hook in the shoulder.

She recovers just as quickly though, sending a swing my way, which I block easily. But she sends more and more and soon I am backing up. I had to get back on offensive again. Lowering my hands, I quickly side step to get out of the way of her swings. Now on her left flank, I throw a roundhouse kick to her but, sending her down to the ground. She is on her stomach now, about to rollover when I move to hover over her.

Within seconds she is back on her knees, jumping up as I hit her in the face at the same time. She falls backwards, her nose bleeding. But she comes back. I expect an upper body hit, so when I feel a kick to my side sending me to my left. I fall easily; too easily. My hands hit the ground first on instinct, I'm on all fours, leaving me face defenseless, to which a knee connects with immediately. I fall back, fully on my back now, dizzy from the blow. Wasting as little time as possible, I try to get up. She is quicker though, straddling my torso as she throws punch after punch to my face. I have my gloves up in defense, though they do very little to assuage the force.

Thinking of a move to make, I wiggle my body underneath her, trying to get some leverage. My legs bend as I throw my knees towards my chest and her over my head. I jump up and turn around, still close to the ground with one leg bent and one straighter. She is on her hands and knees facing away from me when I move to a squat positon to knee her in the side. I get in two kicks before she falls fully to the side and I slam my shin into place on her neck. Then I start punching. But I had left the rest of her body defenseless, as she, too easily, slides away from my pin hold, and throws a kick straight to my face as I try to get up.

I was knocked out, coming to only when Chase splashes water in my face. My eyes roam around me, trying to remember what had happened when I see her. She had a bloodied face, and a person next to her was trying to put her nose back into place. From her screams, it seemed like she had a tough win against me. Least I gave it my all.

"She deserves it, the way she was talking ya know," I say to Chase as we walk in to the dining hall together. He had been upset with me for being so rough with the girl, claiming it wasn't like me.

"I believe you. But it doesn't mean she deserved a broken nose, or bruised tailbone." Apparently my roundhouse kick to her but had been a little too powerful.

"Sorry they train us so well here," I stifled a laugh.

He chuckles as we sit down. "Can't say I don't agree with you. You have gotten better though. Wonder why you lost?"

He knew it had bothered me that I had lost against her, even though I had only walked away with a headache. "I don't know. She had been better than I thought she would. She wasn't even that g-"

"If that's true, then maybe you aren't as good as you thought... Or maybe you have other things on your mind."

I give him a look that told him I was done with the topic. We begin eating just as the rest of our group arrives. It had been a while since I had really spoken in depth with them so I decided I would stay longer at dinner tonight.

"Hey guys," I try to sound cheerful.

"Heard you got your ass kicked today," Tammy says.

"Well, I just heard it was a good fight," Bridget amends Tammy's statement.

"Jeez. She's the one with a broken nose, and her tailbone is literally bruised. So whose ass got kicked?"

"But she knocked you out. So she won," Tammy continued.

"I'm sorry, when have I ever seen you in the ring? And when have I ever criticized your archery?"

"Fine. I don't think I would ever lose in an archery competition though."

I couldn't look away from her as my mouth fell open. It was like she had this side of her that was so hostile, yet she came off so meek and mild.

"Sorry Alexis. It would bother me too if something were taken away from me."

"What do you mean, taken away? Like-" Bridget asks.

"Like my undefeated fights. All of them victories, except the one where Jasha won. Who is now dead because of it," I interrupt Bridget, fully facing Tammy, now furious.

Tammy only looks at me blankly, showing no sign of emotion. Someone coughs at the table just as I see her eyes begin to squint at me, just barely before finally turning away.

"Well it doesn't matter. Alexis is more healed than that girl is. You'll be back out there swinging in no time," Chase tried to make me feel better. Ironically, the conversation I had not wanted to have was exactly what we had been having here.

I sit up straighter as I purse my lips, visibly showing how hard I was trying to be pleasant. "So, how has everyone else's training been going?"

We finally move on to another topic besides me, and my fail of a fight today. I sat there listening to everyone, talking when I wanted as I tried to make myself stay longer than I normally would.

When it is finally time to leave, I notice Tammy walks by herself, heading in a different direction than the dorms. Where could she be going? I couldn't help my mind jumping to conclusions and being suspicious. And I also couldn't help but find out. I take a quick peek around me, making sure no one would notice my changed direction as well.

I take quick steps, darting around corners and lingering in the pockets where the torches hung as I stay a safe distance from her. I wasn't positive which way she was heading, but I was still surprised when I recognized the path. The wide hall of cells, empty except for Derek's, appeared around the next corner as I watch her continue confidently. So she wasn't afraid of getting caught... I stop here as I contemplate the consequences of following further. If I did, she was sure to see me, as Tyler had once before. But she wasn't a vampire, so maybe I'd be ok.

I slide my body against the wall, as I inch closer towards the cells. It was quiet, except for a small something coming from the hall. I just couldn't make out what and I couldn't stand the wait. I risk a glance and see the door to his cell is open. Sure enough, the light of the dying fire beside Derek's beaten body illuminates the shorter stance of Tammy and creates a shadow of a taller figure.

No words are exchanged but I cover my mouth when I see a bat of some kind swung upwards and into his ribs, eliciting a cough of blood to spew from his mouth. I bite my lip forcibly to hold back a sob as I watch helplessly while they continue to beat him, using the same sharp edge bat to bludgeon him.