Shadow Realm

7

After that day, Cameron and Kristal often meet. Lately they've been going to school together and sometimes Cameron even takes Kristal home. That's so sweet! Crystal often smiles and blushes if Cameron praises her. Crystal isn't like Cassie. And now what does that have to do with it? In fact, this isn't the first time Cameron has thought about it since dating Kristal. Cameron even feels guilty sometimes, but then he realizes that it doesn't make sense, they're like brother and sister and there's no harm in him dating a girl who isn't Cassie.

"Is everything okay?"

They leave the gym after exercising all morning. They were just fighting each other and it was getting boring. When will the action come?

Cassie nodded "I'm so tired ..."

"Maybe we should go home."

"No, I'll stay a little longer..."

"Do what?"

"Exercise, what else?"

"But you said you were tired!"

"Yes, but I want to stay here a little longer..."

Cameron shrugged and left. Cameron's meeting Kristal again tonight, like every night for the past week. Although they have just dated, Cameron likes to think that maybe something serious could develop between them.

Now Cassie leaned against the door that led to the porch and turned her back to Cameron.

"Are you ready?" Nathan entered so quietly that the girl did not hear him coming and made her surprised. Cassie turned around and looked into his eyes.

"You scared me!"

"Are you thinking about your friend?"

Cassie looked down and sighed. "I feel guilty..."

"Why don't you reciprocate his feelings?" Cassie looked at Nathan and looked at him. Cassie no longer wears dark contact lenses.

"Sorry, I don't understand what you're thinking..."

"You're here to train yourself and not to be my psychologist." Cassie replied coldly.

"So let's go. I have to go home for dinner and if I'm late my mom will kill me!"

Ten minutes later they were facing each other, ready to practice again in a week. They had started classes at the academy, but they couldn't stay there, so Mr. White had "convinced" the principal to allow them to train at the gym where they trained for the first few weeks.

Cassie stood in front of Nathan, her legs slightly bent, looking at him defiantly. In other situations, this would upset Nathan, but not Cassie. Now that Cassie is showing herself what she is, hair down and simple eyes, she no longer looks like anyone else. The difference was noticeable, the fact that he was not just a wolf or just a Nephilim was too obvious.

Cassie ran and punched Nathan in the jaw, jolting him. It turns out that Cassie realizes that Nathan is surprised that Cassie is not giving up, instead, she keeps hitting him where she came before without taking her eyes off Nathan. They came out of the mat and Nathan lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"You crazy? You didn't even give me time to defend myself!"

Cassie rubbed her forehead to wipe off the sweat and returned to the middle of the mat.

"You taught me to do this, didn't you?"

Nathan smiled and walked towards Cassie.

"A very good girl, now I'll show you!"

Unlike before, this time Cassie waited for Nathan to attack first. They did not duck like when they first fought, but they actually hit each other. However, none of them let their guard down and they continued to kick and punch incessantly. However, at one point, Nathan had the upper hand, and although Cassie managed to avoid it, Cassie began to retreat and almost reached the edge of the mat.

"One more step and you're out, you lose" Nathan said between kicks.

Cassie reaches the limit and Nathan stops.

"For? Give me a coup!" Cassie's hair stuck to her forehead in sweat, but she wasn't out of breath. He is strong, there is no doubt about that, but will he win over the top hunters?

"In fact, at this exact moment I can decide whether to make you fall or help you. What will you choose?"

But Cassie didn't answer, or at least not with words. Cassie moved to the side, and somehow Nathan felt her behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'll do this if I have to kill you: I'll clamp even stronger until you suffocate" and Cassie completely clamp down.

For the first time in his life, Nathan can't control what happens.

"But this is just practice, so for today I'll let go." Cassie let go of her grip and only gave her a light push. Nathan can't keep his balance and falls to his knees.

"I can't believe, am I really defeated??

Nathan was too competitive to let him win. When Nathan realizes Cassie is walking towards the middle of the tapestry, Nathan slowly rises.

But when Cassie turned around, Cassie really didn't expect Nathan to hit her. The only thing Cassie managed to do was fend off the blow, but in order not to fall Nathan had to endure it.

They fell to the ground, one on top of the other. Their eyes meet again, but this time Nathan thinks they don't look like Morgan's eyes. She thinks they're beautiful, that Cassie is beautiful. Nathan's heart was pounding and he felt the girl as well. His body screamed at him to react, taking his face and... No, he couldn't allow himself to be carried away by certain emotions, not by Cassie. He stood up with lightning movements.

"We're done today, go home.."

"But Nathan..."

"Go home!" shouted Nathan.

Cassie did not answer. He stood up and walked away.

Cassie ran away without looking back. His legs hurt, but that didn't stop him from running as fast as the wind. Instead of being proud of himself for nearly taking Nathan down, he was angry at himself instead.

When Nathan was on it, when Nathan looked at him like that, his heart was pounding so hard that he was afraid to hear it. She had never felt that feeling before and thought that she was starting to feel overwhelmed with emotions. This is why he is angry!

Once again Cassie felt that someone was following her, but she did not turn around. He turned the corner and collided with something, or rather someone.

"Cameron!"

"What are you doing at the school gym with Nathan?"

"How do you know?" Cameron looked away.

"Are you following me?" Cameron did not answer.

"You're hiding too many things from me, Cassie! I'm worried about you!"

"So, would you rather follow me than ask what is going on? It's not like you..."

"In fact, you lied to me! I heard Morgan, he told someone that professional hunters are coming to see us next week. Are you training for this correctly? You know it!"

"Cam is not what you think..."

"And how's Cassie doing? You didn't tell me because I don't understand anything anymore! I think I'm important enough for you to know certain things, and instead I find you save yourself that they come to see us all, so what for? Ha?"

"I can explain Cam, really!"

"No Cassie, I don't care anymore..."

"What do you mean?"

Cameron looked at him with his big brown eyes.

"I'm disappointed, I'm so worried about you, Casalia... I almost feel guilty for dating Kristal..."

"I don't understand what you mean..."

"You're always too busy thinking about yourself, trying hard just because you don't want others to use your own weaknesses to hurt you." WEB." Cam stopped talking and his eyes started to light up.

"I love you Cassie..." His appearance seemed to be softening, but it lasted less than a second.

"But if you have to keep a secret, if you have to play a dirty game just to be a professional hunter, if you want to be superior to me, go ahead. I'm not going to talk about you, I'm not going to tell anyone else who you are, I'm not going to say what you're doing. Stay away from me."

The girl's self-control began to disappear.

"Cam, no need to do that... I really..."

"Forget over! It would be best if we didn't see each other for a while. You're no longer the same Casalia I knew ten years ago and if you have to be someone else, I can't be your friend, I'm sorry."

Cassie wanted to cry but she did not allow herself to be overwhelmed by emotions. He took a deep breath and looked in front of him.

"Cameron... I'm..."

But it's too late. Cameron is gone.

This time Nathan also watched the entire scene. Nathan is eager to contact Cassie, telling her that everything is fine and that Cam will understand, but he can't, not after what happened during practice.

But then Nathan sees Cassie staggering and thinks Cassie will pass out at any moment. Nathan thinks Cassie is crying, but he's pretty sure the girl is strong enough not to be knocked down by anything like that. Nathan also knows that keeping his training a secret is only to save his friend and his friend will eventually find out. He tried to get closer but a hand stopped him.

"Stay where you are."

"Robert, but..."

"Nate, don't make it harder!"