Shadow Realm

2

It's been a long time since they last met. Cassie realizes that Robert knows more than she reveals, so after their first meeting, Cassie tells her mother about her suspicions. The woman assures him that Robert can be trusted because Robert was once a friend of her father.

Within a few days Robert began to be absent and within a few weeks he definitively left his teaching position.

"We're not going to go straight to training at the academy because it's under renovation, nobody has set foot there for years and I don't want anyone to get hurt during training, even if truthfully the life of the hunter is always in danger .. Surely you've been told that you shouldn't trust anyone, that it's not easy to have real friends, family, and children" Robert said as he stared at Cassie.

"But you'll know without a doubt that many of us have it done so I hope you can too ."

Robert's tone was sincere and Cassie thought that, perhaps, Robert was not just talking ordinary things, but he was speaking from his personal experience.

"Now I invite you to join my assistant to put together everything that will be needed during practice." Robert looked at Cassie one last time and left.

Robert's way of acting strangely Cassie wasn't the only one paying attention because now all her classmates were looking at her.

Cam puts a hand on Cassie's shoulder and takes her by surprise. Cassie was so deep in thought that she didn't hear Cam approaching.

"Is everything okay?"

Cassie wanted to say yes, but then she realized that Cam would realize she was lying, as usual.

"He knows who I am, Cam. I'm afraid of that..."

"He hasn't said anything until now, what makes you think he's going to do it now?" Cam is not wrong and even her mother tells her that Cassie can trust Robert, Cassie nods and smiles.

"Yes, maybe he won't say anything and will train me in the same way as he would with the others."

"Let's get our stuff" said Cam, putting his hand on Cassie's arm.

The idea of being found was very disturbing to Cassie. Cassie knew her secret wouldn't stay that way forever, that sooner or later someone would find out what was going on, and that a different pair of contact lenses and last names wouldn't help. All of this, however, could not change his mind. He wants to be a hunter and will be a hunter by all means.

From the moment Cassie found herself terrified by nightmares to the moment she set foot in school, she did nothing but think of those cursed nightmares, and looking at Robert White who was going to be his coach, he imagined a lot of bad things.

For years, the only ones who knew the truth were Fishers, his mother's old servant, and Robert. But it was Robert that Cassie could not believe. He wasn't entirely sure that Robert would keep his mouth shut.

They arrive at the classroom where the uniform divides and Cassie is a little hesitant to go inside. Cam must have noticed because he put his hand on Cassie's shoulder, as he did whenever he wanted to comfort Cassie, and gently Cam pushed Cassie inside.

"Come Cassie! Smile! The real training begins today!" Cassie smiled but she knew it didn't convince her friend. Cam sighed and became serious.

"Everything will be fine, I assure you!"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I'm here with you" Cam replied, squeezing Cassie's shoulder. That confidence Cam said made Cassie smile.

"Let's go in!"

Cassie was surprised to see both of Robert's assistants were so young.

Cassie's attention was on one of them. There's something strange about her, but Cassie doesn't know what.

"That's Nathan White, Robert's nephew" Cam said.

"He became a professional hunter before he finished his first year of school."

"professional hunter? But he's not obliged to attend.."

"Different."

"What does that mean?"

Cam sighed and moved a little closer to Cassie so that only Cassie could hear her.

"I can't tell you what. I just know it doesn't look how it should be ..."

Cam did not have time to finish his speech because they had been in front of the subject in question. Cassie tried to look at him without being discovered. Her hair was too light to be a wolf and her eyes were too dark to be a vampire or Nephilim.

"His eyes..."

"They're so obvious that they look almost fake, don't they?"

"Is everything clear?" However, Cassie was sure she saw them dark! Something's not right. But Cassie didn't say anything to her friend.

"Nobody cares if it's weird. He's great at his job and that's the most important thing" Cam continued.

They take a few more steps and arrive in front of the other boys and Cam becomes stiff.

"Cameron? What the hell happened to you?"

"Look at him" Cam replied slowly.

Cassie followed the direction of her gaze and understood why her friend had reacted that way. The boy in front of them might have blond hair and green eyes, but he was similar to Cassie.

Cassie remained motionless, and as the boy looked at her, Cassie felt a strange sensation and she was sure the man felt the same way as his eyes widened momentarily.

Cassi comes face to face with a boy who looks a lot like her.

"What size are you wearing?" he asked without even looking at Cassie.

"Little size."

The boy checked the box behind him and pursed his lips.

"Sorry, we don't have a uniform for you."

"So, what should I do?"

The boy looked up and smiled.

"Simple! See that boy over there?" he said pointing to Robert's nephew.

"Close to him and tell him you need a uniform." Cassie was silent for a few seconds staring at him, still a little surprised by his resemblance.

"Is it too hard for you or can you do it without me having to explain it again?"

"I'm not that stupid, I understand!" he answered, raising his voice a little.

The boy narrowed his eyes.

"How dare you speak to me in such a tone, wolf? Do you know who I am?" he said while puffing his chest.

Cassie crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Someone who thinks they have the authority to persecute someone just because they work for one of the greatest hunters in history" Cassie replied with a defiant grin.

But apparently the man did not respond to the girl's remarks. He went around the table and stood a few inches away from Cassie. Everyone looked shocked and even Cam was terrified watching the scene.

"I advise you not to be too arrogant. I can send you home with a snap of my fingers."

"Morgan, don't make a fuss," said a calm voice. Cassie turned around and saw that it was Robert's nephew.

"And you" he said, pointing at Cassie. "Here and tell me your name."

Morgan looked at his partner but said nothing more.

Cassie exchanged glances with Cam, then walked towards Nathan. Even Nathan, like Morgan, doesn't see Cassie.

"What do you need?"

"Punitive hunter! But he told me that there is no size for me and I have to talk to you."

"We don't have a small size. We didn't expect to find a woman here."

"But you found it, so..."

"Tomorrow you'll have your uniform. Say your name, hurry." Nathan was pretty grumpy too.

"What do you need it for?"

The boy looked up.

"Look, girl, don't waste my time!"

Cassie rolled her eyes.

"Casalia Weber," Cassie said, spelled her new last name correctly.

Nathan stared at him for a few seconds.

"Weber?" Nathan asked in a somewhat uncertain tone.

"Are you sure that's your last name? you look very..."

"Yes, Nathan, that's right" Robert White entered the room and stood beside Cassie.

"May I speak with you?" robert said with a note of attention.

Cassie nodded and followed Robert. Cam looked at Cassie and Cassie gestured for her to wait outside.

They walked through the hallways of the school and none of them said a word until they arrived in front of the principal's office.

Robert waved at her, looked into the hallway, locked the door, and sat across from her.

"Trs. White, may I know why you brought me here? Or would you rather we keep quiet at all times?"

The man smiled and shook his head.

"Call me Robert."

"So, Robert, can you explain to me why we're here?"

"You must be very careful Casalia Wistledes" Cassie stood up as soon as Robert spoke her real name.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. They are the ones you should be worried about" Robert said in a low voice.

"Does anyone else know about me...?" Cassie's heart started pounding.

'They have found me, ' he thought, 'They will kill me.'

"Nobody knows anything unless your School will test you and there's a risk someone will realize that there's something different about you."

"I don't understand what you're trying to tell me..."

"Cassie" The man circled the table and stood in front of him.

"How many times have you turned into a wolf?"