Page 3

CHAPTER 3

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I ’ve been sitting in this sterile, cold, and kind of creepy classroom for forty-five minutes, if the cracked clock on the wall is to be believed. After manhandling me down three long hallways, the guards unceremoniously dumped me in this empty room.

While there are rows of desks with blue chairs attached, a white board, and a desk at the front, there’s no one in here aside from me. I’m slowly going out of my mind sitting here wondering what will happen next, which I’m sure is the point.

I have the urge to get up and start pacing, just for something to do. The large mirror on the left side of the classroom stops me, though. I’m fairly certain it’s a two-way mirror, and I’d bet my spleen that the Knights are watching me. Instead of letting them know how much they’re getting to me, I sit here and do my best to appear unbothered.

Another five minutes tick by agonizingly slowly before a whirring noise sounds in the silent classroom. I look around in alarm, trying to figure out what’s happening. I slump back in my seat when I realize the noise was from a projector screen lowering. My face scrunches in confusion as some sort of movie starts playing.

“At the dawn of the universe,” a female voice starts, her speech echoing like a gunshot in the silent room as an animation of space and what looks like magic starts playing, “a blast of magic tore through space. From this raw magic dust, all life sprung forth. Our own planet was formed when a ball of pure magic generated enough gravitational force to draw rocks and other space debris to itself. Overtime, these space materials condensed down around the magic, liquifying it and forming our planet.”

As the woman talks, I only get more confused. Why are the Knights showing me a film about the start of the universe and Earth? How the universe and planets form is something every supernatural kindergartener learns. Humans are oblivious, understanding the mechanics behind planet formation, plate tectonics, and how Earth sustains life but not that magic powers it all.

“In Earth’s infancy, magic leaked out into the planet freely, spawning life of all sorts. But this unchecked magic created chaos.” The video cuts to scenes of dinosaurs ripping each other apart, giant sea creatures destroying other smaller ones, and primitive-looking humans warring with and killing their fellow people.

“Only the rise of technology stopped the rampant violence and brought order to the world.” Scenes of ancient Greek and Roman cities show people living in harmony with each other, a stark contrast to the bloody battles that were just on the screen.

Well, that’s just plain untrue.

The rise of human technology thousands of years ago is what ushered in the decline of magic and created the magicless humans that roam Earth today. No one knows why technology suppressed the natural magic on Earth so much. One theory is that magic sensed the danger of tech, like war machines and destructive agriculture tools, and retreated into Earth’s core to keep itself safe.

Humans that know about magic, like the Knights of Aeneas, have been butt hurt about it since. They’re obsessed with finding a way to access magic again.

“It is the Knights of Aeneas’s mission to preserve the peace technology created by ensuring that no one has magic. Only the Knights of Aeneas, the rightful stewards of magic, should be able to access this dangerous power. We thank you for your sacrifice. Without it, the important work we do here would be impossible.”

My what now?

Excuse me, random lady, but I never signed up to sacrifice anything. And I’m certainly not a willing participant in helping the Knights of Aeneas eradicate all supernaturals.

Maintaining order my ass. They are the ones who cause chaos, death, and destruction everywhere they go.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the nonsense that movie just spewed when a door next to the mirror, which definitely wasn’t there before, swings inward. A woman with her blonde hair pulled back into a severe bun walks through the door before it closes behind her with a click.

Her cold blue eyes lock on me. “If you’ll follow me, we need to run tests on you before we proceed to the next phase of your stay here.” She points one perfectly manicured hand at a door tucked next to the whiteboard.

I stand up from my chair and place it between her and me. “I’d rather not.”

In fact, I’d rather do just about anything else, like hug a porcupine, get bitten by a black mamba, or take a toaster bath.

Maybe if I ask nicely, the Knights will just let me go.

I nod to myself because that sounds like a fantastic plan.

The woman apparently doesn’t agree with me. She gives me a patronizing grin. “I wasn’t asking, mutt.” She whips out a baton with electricity crackling at the end. “This is your last chance to come willingly.”

Rude.

I’m not a mutt. I’m a hybrid. There’s clearly a difference—not that they know about the whole hybrid thing.

As much as I want to fight her, it won’t accomplish anything. I highly doubt she’s the only Knight here. With how weak I’m feeling, I don’t even know if I could take on the woman, much less however many armed guards are within shouting distance.

If I’m going to escape, and I will because I refuse to die here and let the Knights win, then I have to be smart about it. I need to know the lay of the land, observe guard movements, and formulate a well-thought-out plan.

I sigh and hang my head. Reluctantly, I walk to the door, and she follows me. When the woman comes to a stop behind me, the door swings into the room beyond. Peering curiously inside, I see the same white tiles and drab cinder block walls that make up the rest of the place. The only thing in the room is a light gray exam table, which the woman points me toward, and a row of cabinets with a sink.

With my steps dragging, I head over to the paper-covered table, which crinkles as I hop up. I swing my gray grippy-sock-clad feet back and forth as I wait for the woman to do something. Instead of coming into the room, she stays outside and shuts the door behind me.

Great.

Another room to be left in for forty-five minutes. If they’re trying to kill me with boredom, they’re doing an awesome job at it.

A few minutes pass, and I’m contemplating lying back on the exam table to take a nap when a different door than the one I came in squeaks as it opens. A man in a white doctor’s coat shuffles inside with a friendly smile pasted on his face. It doesn’t reach his flinty brown eyes hidden behind wire-rimmed glasses, though.

“Hello!” the man in his forties booms as he washes his hands and snaps on a pair of blue disposable gloves. “How are we today?”

I stare at him incredulously. “Great, other than the whole getting kidnapped thing.”

The doctor ignores my obvious sarcasm as he brushes curly brown hair off his forehead. “That’s fantastic to hear. Now, I’m just going to do a general exam and make sure you’re in good health. We can’t have you spreading infections to my other patients, now can we?”

I’m not really sure I want the answer, but I’m too curious. “What happens if I do?”

“If there’s an outbreak, then we’ll have to put down all of the existing specimens. It’s unfortunate but necessary. An outbreak is too costly to try to treat, so it’s best to prevent that from happening.” The doctor’s voice is bland as he drops that tidbit about the Knights.

My mouth hangs open in shock at the doctor just casually discussing killing however many supernaturals they have here like it’s an inconvenience. “How many times have there been outbreaks here?”

“Oh, it’s only happened a dozen or so times,” he says, as if trying to reassure me. “Now, open wide.”

His words only make my blood boil as I think about how many shifters, mages, and others have been killed here instead of treated with simple antibiotics. Even without antibiotics, most supernaturals’ immune systems will take care of infections within a week.

I want to scream at the senseless loss of life, but I don’t. Instead, I keep my mouth as closed as I can and mumble, “No thanks.”

The doctor shakes his head at me like I’m a misbehaving child. He then reaches up and pinches my arm hard enough that I gasp in pain. When my lips part, he shoves a tongue depressor into my mouth. I try not to choke on the flat wooden stick as he forces my jaw open to peer down my throat.

When he’s finished with his inspection, the doctor steps back and tsks at me. “This will only be as hard as you make it on yourself. Cooperate and save yourself unnecessary pain.”

Or, here’s a thought, he could respect my bodily autonomy and not hurt me when I refuse to let him inspect me.

Clenching my jaw because I know saying anything will only cause problems for me, I just glare at him silently. Seeming oblivious to the anger bubbling in my chest, the doctor inspects my ears and nose before taking my temperature. Once he’s finished with his exam, he snaps off his gloves and washes his hands.

He comes back over to me and pats me on the knee. I struggle not to flinch away from his touch, knowing how quick he is to kill people like me. “You’re in perfect health. If you start feeling under the weather, make sure to tell a guard. You wouldn’t want to be responsible for an outbreak, now would you?”

I mutely shake my head. The doctor flashes me a smile before striding out of the room without another word.

It’d be cool if anyone here would tell me what’s going to happen next. I’m a little sick of them just dropping me in rooms without any explanation.

With a moment to myself, I try to check in on Dido. Hey, Dido?

I don’t get a response. Panic tries to claw up my throat, but I force it down. I’m weak and exhausted. I’m sure Dido and my wolf are just resting right now. I’ll have to try again after I get some sleep.

Deciding I might as well rest until they retrieve me for the next phase, I lie down. As soon as my back brushes the crinkly paper, the door the doctor exited through slams open. I bolt upright and see the guard duo from earlier.

“Come with us,” the stocky one demands.

I reluctantly get up from the table and make my way over to them. “Where are you taking me?”

Instead of responding like a normal person, the guard backhands me across my face. I stumble backward from the blow. My lip stings, and I can taste the copper tang of blood in my mouth.

Rather than cry or show him that he hurt me, I just straighten up and stare him down with a blank face. I learned from Patrick that what people like this hate most is when you don’t show any reaction. They get off on your fear. While I can’t stop him from smacking me around, I can steal the satisfaction he gets from knowing he hurt me.

The shorter guard’s lips twist in a frown at my lack of reaction. His eyes narrow, and he takes a threatening step toward me. I can’t help my flinch at the sudden movement. He barks out a laugh and gives me a vicious grin dripping with satisfaction.

“Any other questions, cur?” he taunts. I tilt my chin up but don’t answer as I stare him down. His smug amusement drains away when I don’t say anything further. He steps close enough that I can smell his rancid breath. “Where you’re going, that hit will look like a gentle tap compared to what they’re going to do to you.”

With that warning delivered, the guard grabs my arm and drags me out of the room.