Shadow Realm

3

"I can control both."

"What about the power of the Nephilim? How many times have you tried it?"

Cassie lowered her head and understood what the man meant.

"None" he replied in a whisper.

"In these few weeks you will expose that part of yourself, whether you want to or not. Do you think no one will notice that you are stronger than your fellow wolves? That your wounds will heal faster? That your eyes aren't exactly like the eyes of a fellow werewolf?"

Cassie wanted to deny everything but actually Robert was right.

"Are you going to tell me that I should resign? That I can't be a hunter because they can catch me?"

"No, I just want you to know the fact that if someone finds out about you, there's a good chance you'll be killed."

"I don't care" Cassie replied flatly. "I'll be a hunter, no matter what."

"You don't know what it's like to have to face a certain test."

"Robert..."

"Let me finish" said the man.

"I can't keep an eye on you all the time, someone can start meddling. Disarrangement and great chaos will ensue. But I want to protect you and I will."

"I don't need protection" replied the girl. "Do you really think I'm not going to make it?"

"I have to do it, okay? I have to do this for your father!"

"Ah okay, now everything is clear! You do it for your best friend, in the name of your good friendship."

"No, not just that. I'm doing this because I know you're going to be a great hunter and I don't want your talent to go to waste. And then I also do this for all the other hybrids. You're not the only one and you know it."

"I know I'm not the only one but I don't think there's much left to live."

"But there are and they are great hunters like you." Finally the man relaxed.

"Let me protect you, at least for now. Let me train you well."

Cassie thought for a few seconds. Robert is not entirely wrong. Being a blend of two species, hybrids can be the perfect hunter. Cassie has the opportunity to receive the most suitable training for her without arousing suspicion, does she really want to stay hidden?

"Alright" Cassie finally said. "I'm accepting your help."

🌺🌺🌺

Cam was getting worried. Cassie's been gone about half an hour and still hasn't returned.

"What did Mr White say to Cassie that was so important? What if he threatens her? And what if he's in danger?"

Cam was a little shaken to see the boy, Morgan. Morgan is so similar to Cassie that if Cam doesn't know how Cassie is doing, he'll think Morgan is Cassie's older brother.

Cam stands up, determined to find Cassie, when he sees Cassie walking towards him. Cam heaved a sigh of relief and walked towards Cassie.

Cassie smiles at Cam but obviously something bothers Cassie.

"Is everything okay?"

Cassie shook her head.

"We can't talk here."

"We're going home?"

The girl frowned.

"Do we not have to practice?"

"Wake Cassie! Training starts tomorrow!"

Cassie said nothing. That's normal, Cassie's quiet often. It was just that this time it was a different kind of silence, the kind of silence that made one lock themselves in when they thought of something that was troubling them.

"Now that we've come a long way, can you tell me what's going on?"

"Please promise me you won't tell anyone."

"I promise you."

When Cassie tells Cam what happened in the principal's office, the friend is not at all enthusiastic and tells him that it might be better not to trust this man. Cassie is also not entirely sure that it is the best thing to do, but there is a strange feeling of trust in the man that beats all other thoughts.

Cassie didn't say anything to her mother about what Robert told her. If it did, her mother might be worried and pack her bags, ready to move to another city, but Cassie didn't want to, she was tired of running away. He had lived in Holding for ten years and it was the only city where he really felt at home.

The other thing Casske was worried about was the boy, Morgan. The resemblance between the two of them was striking, and if he realized it, others would also notice it. But if this boy is very similar to him in appearance, his character is not so good. Morgan is very evil and very arrogant, a trait that Cassie has nothing at all.

Her eyes began to droop but then Cassie remembered what Robert had told her, there were others like her. Could it be that, during all these years, he had never met anyone like her?

A picture flashed through his mind. That other boy, Nathan. Her appearance was so unusual and also unusual that Cam thought her eyes were bright while she saw her completely black.

Cassie wonders if, as Robert's niece, Nathan finds out about her, but if it were, Nathan I would never ask her name.

Cassie sighed and decided right then and there that Robert might be trustworthy but she couldn't say the same for Nathan or anyone else.

Though Cassie tries to say otherwise, she doesn't want her family to find her. It wasn't death that scared her, but what would her mother do if her mother lost her?

🌺🌺🌺

The first week of training was not as difficult as they believed, and when Crystal asked Robert White until when they would discuss the basics of battle, Robert replied that until the academy was accessible, yes, it was, they should be satisfied with that...

But that morning, things changed from usual. In addition to Robert White there are also two "collaborators": his nephew Nathan and Morgan. They will wander among the boys and will look down on them with a superior attitude, smiling if someone makes a mistake or falls. This will make even the most patient person in the world nervous.

Cam is still mesmerized by the resemblance between Cassie and Morgan, but the girl seems completely unconcerned. Cam wants to start the conversation, but Cassie has already made it clear: Cam should not show anyone that Cam has noticed any resemblance between her and Morgan. This decision included, of course, the fact that Cassie did not want to talk about it. Cassie didn't tell him, but Cam understood. They have known each other for so long that sometimes there is no need to give too many explanations. A word, a look, a small gesture is enough to understand what they want to say.

Robert White walks into an old gym where would-be hunters train and sits in his chair. Silence falls in the room, and as she observes the faces of all her students, Cam takes the opportunity to see Morgan and Cassie better, who happen to be not far from each other.

"Today my two assistants will give a demonstration of how to fight the truth" Hearing those words, Cam turned to Robert.

"With empty hands?" ask a guy at the end of the line.

"Fright."

"But when will we learn to fight with weapons?"

Robert rolled his eyes.

"Crystals, I've already told you that until the old Academy is accessible, you guys should be satisfied with what we have!"

"It's too easy to fight empty-handed among the Nephilim" Morgan added "But because we can't avoid it..."

Within seconds the two boys were positioned facing each other on stage. They smiled but there was clearly competition between them. For some reason, Cam thought.

"Please," Nathan said with a smile.

"Are you sure I should get started?" Nathan nodded and Morgan just shrugged. It doesn't take a scientist to know that this guy doesn't like to talk a lot.

Even without taking a position, Morgan punches Nathan who is clearly unprepared, Nathan loses his balance and lands on the ground. Cam knew that Nathan could have done better, that he was strong and fast enough to knock Morgan down in minutes, but he was limited to a simple kick. From the way the boy behaved, it was not difficult to understand that he was there against his will.

After some "action", the men bowed and returned to their seats, completely surviving the fight, especially Morgan. Nathan lost but he showed no signs after the fight, not even a single sweat on his forehead.

"Who wants to try?" mr. White said breaking the silence that appeared in the gym.

"Are we going to fight each other?" asked a vampire boy with long hair tied up in a ponytail.

"Not among you" said Robert "You must fight them."

"That's impossible!" Crystal said in surprise "It's okay to fight between us, but with them ..."

Morgan smiled at him.

"Why don't you start first, baby? I've seen you before, you look so great." Crystal blush.

"Yes, but I..".

"Fight with me."