Page 5 of Poison

“Seriously?!” I growl, spinning in a circle, my mind trying to deny what I’m seeing. “She did it, what the hell?!” I snap in my head, grabbing a branch off the floor and launching it into the woods in an outburst. “She couldn’t even have Tanika teleport me into the grounds, like a normal person. Nope, she had to dump my arse miles away from anything!”

Tears pool in the corners of my eyes as I stand in the middle of God knows where, panting and trying to get my breathing under control. Mainly because having a tantrum in front of a predator due to my aunt being a bitch, is not the best idea.

“Ah!” he says with a chuckle at my outburst, his brows scrunched together. “This makes sense now. You must be the defective girl.”

Defective? What the hell? She even told people what’s wrong with me! I know it’s almost common knowledge now, but still…

Narrowing my eyes at him, I have to bite my tongue to stop myself from firing something back. That’s only going to get me in trouble or eaten. Or in my case, it would probably be both, because I have a habit of not exactly doing the sanest things. ButthisI can do. I keep my eyes on the ground. That’s the best way to deal with this, avoid making eye contact with him. Again.

“Do you speak, girl?” His voice vibrates the very ground under my feet, causing a shiver to pass down my spine with dread.

My body trembles as fear and anger and a whole host of emotions war within me. I’ve only ever met the few dragons we have in the clan, but that was always at clan functions. The ones I have met seemed friendly enough, with the exception of the douchebag at the wedding, however, they did give off predator vibes. This guy though, is on another level. A deep growl fills the area, and my head snaps to the man in front of me. His eyes narrow, making my brain freeze, rendering me speechless.

I’m not stupid enough to think my aunt wouldn’t follow through with this. She needs to keep the clan in power and having someone like me is a sign of weakness that she just can’t allow. But she parades me round at as many events as she can, just so she can tell people even though I’m not like them; I am still family, ha! My minds at war with emotions running rampant through my brain. On one hand, everything in me is screaming to run for the hills because of the strange being in front of me. But then I know I wouldn’t make it very far. On the other hand, he hasn’t tried to kill me yet, so maybe I’m better off listening to what he has to say and go from there.

I’ve heard the stories of Morgansyth Academy, and just thinking about the place has my fear amplifying. “She won’t last a week.” The words play like a tormenting reminder in my head, like I’ve just been given a death sentence. I really wish Kevin was here, because I know he would help me through this.

I take a deep breath with the intention of calming my mind. I’m just going to have to hope that the school isn’t as bad as the rumours say.

“Do not make me ask you again!” The command snaps me out of wallowing in my own self-pity, and I remember the fact that I am in the presence of one of the deadliest shifters known to the world.

“My name’s Pop,” I reply with as much conviction as I can. Hopefully, he believes he doesn’t scare the absolute shit out of me.

“Your full name, girl.”

“Poison Draken,” I mumble sheepishly. I hate when I have to use my full name. Why couldn’t my parents have called me something normal, instead of Poison?

“But I prefer people to call me Pop,” I blurt quickly before he can remark on how weird it is. He quirks his brow at me, the edges of his mouth tipping up before it settles back into a scowl.

“Welcome to Morgansyth Academy, Poison.” He chuckles darkly, spinning on his heels before heading off in to the trees.

Well that’s helpful. What am I meant to do now? Wait here and hope a wendigo doesn’t show up and think I’m a midnight snack? Howls fill the air as I stand frozen in my landing spot, shivering from the cold night, the temperature so low that it’s slowly seeping into my bones.

“You may want to get moving if you want to make it to the school before the wolves descend,” he throws over his shoulder, then turns his attention in the direction he’s going again.

Something rustles in the treeline, pulling a scream from me as amber eyes shine from within the leaves. A deep booming laugh fills the area, and the howls ring out again, like they’re making a symphony, but they’re louder this time. If I’m not mistaken, they sound a lot closer than they were a moment ago. I haven’t got the bottle to look over my shoulder to see if I’m right.

“Who are you?” I question to his back as I finally move, treading my way carefully through the forest after him, but the moonlight isn’t reaching this far now so my vision is impaired by darkness. I can hear the heavy stomp of his feet on the forest floor that lets me know he’s in front of me, but with my human eyesight, it’s difficult for me to make him out.

“My name is Mr. Haims, I am a teacher here at the school,” he says without turning to acknowledge me. It almost sounds annoyed because I don’t know who he is.

“You teach what?” I blurt, trying to make conversation to keep my mind off the many sets of amber eyes following us in the shadows. They haven’t left us as they pick their way through the trees silently. The only way I know they’re there is the shining of their eyes.

“Battle training,” he says with a pointed look.

I gulp at the intention in his words. What sort of school teaches their students battle training? Oh no, it hits me like a freight train when realisation dawns on me that this school is definitely going to kill me.

“Are you okay, Poison?” he asks with a concerned look as we continue our trudge through the woods.

“Um,” is the only word I manage to push between my teeth as my anxiety grows. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this, how am I going to survive this? If Kevin was here, he would help me. I know I’d make it. He’s always been my rock, but now I have no idea where he is, or even if he’s okay.

“Do you want my advice?” he asks with a soothing tone as he stops walking and turns to face me.

I just stare, wide-eyed, not answering because what can I really say to him…?No, I don’t?I keep my eyes on him, waiting for what he has to tell me.

“Don’t cower to anyone. You may be without your abilities at the moment, but this school will help you bring them out,” he says with a soft smile. “Well, that’s if you have any.”

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