Page 39 of The Princess's Pet

“Most people around here are. They think I’m gonna do some dark magic on their soul,” she said, shrugging.

“Why would you do that? Can you even do that?” I asked more curiously.

“I don’t know, it’s not like I have anything against anyone here and no I can’t, my magic isn’t that far developed,” she said, deflated.

“Don’t worry, we’re young, my dad told me that magic is always developing, unlike vampires and shifters we have unlimited potential,” I said, trying to cheer her up.

“I know, but being half-witch, I’m only a servant and my coven looks down on me. The fact my magic is slow to grow just bothers me, you know?” she explained.

I took her hand in mine. “There’s nothing less about us half-witches,” I told her. And I was glad I grew up in a mixed community. My school friends and neighbours were a mixture of part vampire, part shifter or part witch, even humans, and no one looked down on anyone based on their heritage.

“Oooh, what’s going on here? Looking cosy ladies, did I miss something, are you two witches kissy, kissy now? I heard your kind are into that free-loving shit.” Dylan announced his arrival in the most grotesque way he could.

“Dylan, could you not be an asshat for just one day?” Ana said angrily, and I let go of her hand to turn and glare at Dylan.

“Sorry, I was an ‘asshat’ was it?” we both nodded. “Yeah, sorry for being an asshat, I can’t help blurting what’s in my head sometimes. Plus, you two girls, that’s hot,” he finished. “Ow, WTF Percy?” he cried and rubbed his arm where I pinched him.

“You're a complete moron, Dylan,” I told him. Friends could touch and comfort each other without there being any sexual or romantic undertones. Even if there were, such innocent affection wouldn’t be for his entertainment. “Where’s Harris?” I asked, hoping he was nearby and would take up Dylan’s time.

Dylan shrugged.

“How do you not know where he is, you guys are roommates and have all the same classes?” Ana asked.

“I’m not his keeper,” Dylan answered.

Dr. Phears entered the small auditorium and the class became silent.

“Good morning, class,” she greeted as she set up her laptop and screen. “Today we will be going over the physical nature of your master or mistress. Burning questions we will be answering include: what are the physical capabilities of my master, how strong are they, how fast, how well can they hear, taste, or smell?” She paused to start her slides.

“As usual, we will be starting with pureblood vampires. What are the physical capabilities of pureblood vampires? Vampires are the strongest of purebloods, they have incredible strength and speed anywhere from 10 times that of a human to 100 times. Capabilities are tied strongly to family lines. A part vampire is usually only 2-3 times stronger and faster than an average human, as we can see the pureblood vampire is far superior.” She changed slides.

“Now in comparison, a pureblood shifter is anywhere from 5 to 25 times faster and stronger than the average human. This means that there are shifters that are more capable than some vampires. Again, capabilities are strongly linked to family lines. A part shifter of at least 50%, usually has strength and speed of slightly more than the average human around 2-3 times equal at least half vampires.” She paused, changing slides again.

“Witches, here is where things get interesting. Now technically pureblood witches have physical capabilities no greater than the average human, but their powers can make them dangerous to anyone foolish enough to get in their way. Witch powers rangefrom the benign, plant magic, for example,” Dr. Phears looked at me pointedly and I felt singled out as if I was weak. “To the malevolent, blood magic.” And she turned her gaze to Ana, and I felt less singled out and more annoyed. “Even only part witches of at least 50% can become incredibly powerful. But full witches, their potential is unlimited. Never get on the bad side of a witch, class, they’re known to keep grudges and seek deadly revenge.

“We’ve covered speed and strength. Now let’s look at senses. Pureblood vampire senses are the strongest followed closely by shifters. Some pureblood vampires can sense extremely small chemical changes. They can detect if you are anxious, scared, aroused, where you’ve been, and who you’ve been around. Some have lesser capabilities, similar to that of a pureblood shifter who can detect some smells, in particular identifying scents like people and places but chemical changes linked to emotional states, other than arousal, are undetectable. When it comes to hearing, some pureblood vampires can focus in on the sound of a heartbeat from across a room, others cannot. Pureblood shifters tend to have good hearing much better than any human but not as impressive as the most powerful of pureblood vampires. Witches have no specific sense above the average human, unless linked to their magic.”

?

“Do you feel like Dr. Phears was calling us out or is that just me?” Ana asked after the class ended as we walked together.

“I felt completely singled out,” I told her. “Like, look class at the weak little witch.”

“You’re not weak,” Ana told me. “Plant magic is important; without Flores witches, the kingdom would have starved before now. Nothing weak about that.”

“And you’re not malevolent, blood magic isn’t inherently bad. It can be used for good, depends on the witch,” I replied.

“Exactly, all these purebloods are prejudiced asshats!” Dylan said, walking in front of us.

“Yell a little louder, I don’t think everyone heard you,” Ana said sarcastically.

“ALL THESE PUREBLOODS ARE PREJUDICED ASSHATS!” he shouted down the hall. There were quite a few stares and some glowing eyes.

“Dylan! Shut up,” I exclaimed.

“Oh, don’t worry, Percy, they know I’m only joking... maybe.” He shrugged without care.

“If you keep this up, we’re not sitting with you,” Ana told him.

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