Chapter 12 : Battle

MAXINE. That’s it. I got him right where I wanted him and he’s not going to take this away from me. I know that what I did was wrong. I didn’t really plan on following Theo around with the full intent of exposing him. I just followed him around in the hopes of having a conversation with him about this little rebellion that he’s apparently planning. Needless to say, that didn’t fly so well. And that is the reason why I’m here now, sitting across him from the table, threatening to expose the tunnel I saw him digging up. I didn’t even know that wasn’t supposed to be there until he reacted violently. If he laughed it off, I wouldn’t have known any better. But it seems that he’s someone who’s honest. At least honest enough to panic when a bit of truth is exposed. Either that, or he’s just mega sleazy and he would do anything to keep things hidden. Whatever it is, I’m just feeling a rush of relief and happiness that he finally said yes to me. “So everything is set then,” I say, starting to stand up. I’m so hungry I could cry but the news is making me feel more energized. “I want to know what you have so far. I was a good student back in the Human world, and I think I might be able to offer some insight on a lot of things, considering that you….” I trail off with the serious look Theo is giving me. “What’s wrong?” I ask. He narrows his eyes. “You don’t even know what exactly you’re signing up for and yet here you are, as eager as ever. I think I might be making a big mistake here.” “You’re just trying to rile me up,” I decide. “That’s not going to happen. I can show you that I’m so much more than the reckless thing that you saved.” For some reason, that makes him let out a laugh. “Well, then. If you insist, then you are in. But you need to prove yourself before I tell you anything about my plans.” “How do I do that?” I square up. “What can I do for you?” He smirks. “You’ll see in due time.” With that, he just focuses back on his food and starts to eat. Jonathan does the same with a guilty expression, giving me pitiful glances. It gets so bad that I start to feel even more pathetic, so I just take that as my cue to leave. * * * The next morning, the routine is the same. Wake up at exactly six in the morning, make the bed, and stand in waiting for Amarantha to come. This time, it’s really her who appears. I thought she would end up smashing my head against the door to retaliate for yesterday, but she silently gives me a new schedule before leaving. And the first thing on my schedule is training. “Training for what?” I ask Bianca as the three of us make our way down the stairs. “I honestly can’t imagine anything we should be training for since we’re just here basically carrying out tasks for the Overseer.” She glances at me. “It’s for fighting.” Without another word, she and Vivienne go ahead, leading me to a very secluded area behind the apartments. It’s an amphitheater, the benches cut from the stone of the side of the hill. It’s big, facing a low cliff with the ocean roaring below. It’s quite beautiful, but all I can think about is how I didn’t even wonder what state this facility in. Judging by the weather and the ocean and the sunlight, I can safely say that we are somewhere in the West Coast. “California,” someone says behind me as though reading my mind. I flinch and turn around, only to find that it’s Theo. He gives me a little curtsy, which seems to be pretty sarcastic. But he punctures this with the words, “Lucky you, just being handed knowledge like that. You know, fifty percent of the Unclaimed population don’t even know where we are. We’re not allowed to know.” “That’s chilling.” I frown. “I suppose it’s for secrecy and—” “They want us to be mindless, hopeless, angry sheep,” he interjects, eyeing the Werewolf guards now crowding around the amphitheater like they’re waiting for something bad to happen. At first, I didn’t know what Theo meant and why the guards are there. But then I start to see the Unclaimed campers pick up weapons and use all of them with great ease. Biance is firing a single arrow through five or more targets, the force of her blow making the blade pierce through wood. Vivienne starts to spar with Jonathan, and their pace is so fast and so heated that I forget momentarily that this is sanctioned by the entire camp. I look around at the other campers. They’re all fighting and practicing like a well-oiled machine. They’re just efficient and smooth at it. No mistakes. No other flaws. But what I notice the most is the fact that for the first time since I have been here, they seem to be alive. They seem to be enjoying themselves. Some of them are smiling. Some of them are glaring at targets like they’re thinking of something else. “They’re all so good at it,” I note. “Why are they being kept here? Why is no one interested in taking them?” “Because we’re the backup,” he mutters. I open my mouth to ask him what he means by that, but he just faces me all of a sudden, cracking his neck. “Remember when I said you need to prove yourself?” “Yeah?” I whisper, watching him get into a fighting stance. “Theo, I’m sorry but I don’t think I can—” “You tried to stuff your schedule into Amarantha’s mouth,” he cuts me off. “Now you have to face me. Do you want to be in or not?” I pause. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not refusing because I’m worried about him. I’m worried that he would kill me and make it look like an accident. I’ve seen him fight Amarantha and the odds are not looking too well for me right now. But I still get into a fighting stance. “That’s it,” Theo muses. “Now beat me.” He leans in and gets really close to me, so much so that he can kiss me if he wants to, and the thought is making my heart flutter for some reason…. Clenching my fists to lose this feeling, I focus on his face, thinking about what part I should attack first. He signals a countdown from three with his hand, and just as he finishes, he shifts midair, swipes his muzzle at me, and pushes me to the ground with his powerful paws. I groan with the impact, trying to turn my body in a more comfortable angle to push him off me. Fuck. He just flung me around like a ragdoll and now everyone is watching. He goes back to his Human form and stands over me. “Be quick, Maxine. Watch my movements. Remember what’s at stake.” Concentrating on my rage and how much I want to prove myself, I rush towards him with a punch and a scratch on his face. I could have wounded him, but he is too quick. He shifts again. Before I can claw his face into ribbons, he dodges and leaps away from me, leaving me free to get up. But I didn’t expect to be swiped down by his paw the moment I get upright. I almost get hit, but thankfully I manage to leap aside and avoid his attack. However, before I can think to retaliate, he’s already charging towards me, closing his mouth over my side. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but he’s not hurting me. All I can feel is the pressure of his jaw. Still, I manage to get away and kick him, buying me a bit of time so I can get away. He’s too fast. He’s too strong for me. I took a slow breath, getting myself ready to get away and unexpectedly noticing how good he smelled. The smell of sweat and musk mixed to create something entirely new. Before I can get away, he lunges at me and pins me to the ground. Then, as if this isn’t enough, he grazes my neck with his teeth. I felt my nipples stiffen as his teeth touch me and I resisted the urge to cringe. My stupid body was reacting in a way I hadn't expected. It’s taking my whole concentration to turn into a Werewolf and have this curse yield something good for once, but nothing is happening. I’m a perfectly formed human trapped under a beast with everyone watching. It’s over. He won. If this was a real fight, I would have had my jugular cut out. I would have bled in four minutes. I lost. Theo shifts into his human form and gets off me. “Looks like you’re not a new member after all.”