Pride X Familiar ReVamp (Pride X ReVamp Book 1) (27 page)

I heard sobbing.

“Simone, give it back,” Prissila cried pitifully. “You’re unforgiveable.”

I was pained to hear the tears in her voice. The urge to save her from the Countess quickly overwhelmed my better judgment.

What the heck? Was I trying to be some kind of hero?

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was mustering the courage to step into view when I heard something that held me back.

Prissila had stopped sobbing, but her voice was low and heavy hearted.

“Hey Simone, about what we talked about yesterday. I—I’ve changed my mind. Besides, I’m being discharged tomorrow. There’s no point now, right?”

“What are you saying?”

I heard Prissila sigh. “Well, I know he saved our lives. I know he used his talent as a Familiar, and the power of his Fragment. I’m truly grateful to be alive, and I’m forever indebted to him. But....”

“But what?”

“Well, how do I face him? I mean, I know he was rude to me, but I did call him a lowly Familiar. I know that Familiars resent that far more than Regulars dislike being called Regulars.”

“Go on….”

Another heavy sigh. “I don’t know how to say…thank you. I don’t know how to say, I’m sorry.”

I felt my heart skip a beat.

After a pause, she continued softly. “I can be…such a bitch. I was rude to Maya.”

“Yes, you were. You think she likes being compared to the rest of her family behind her back. Finding out she was a Familiar has been really hard on her. I know she hasn’t accepted it yet.”

“Yes, I know. I need to find a way to say I’m sorry.”

“All three of us are childhood friends, Prissila. Friends stick together. Friends support each other.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Maya needs our support—now more than ever. You know what that girl has been through. She tried running away and when that went horribly wrong she started building a wall around her. She’s putting a wall between her and us. I don’t want that to happen. I won’t allow it.”

“Simone, stop. I’ve done nothing but think about this since I landed in hospital. All this quiet has made me—has given me the opportunity to evaluate a lot of things.”

“Like what?”

“Like the fact I haven’t been very good to my friends. And I’ve been acting rather haughty in school. I’ve heard the girls say that if it wasn’t for my looks—and my family—the boys would have ostracized me.”

“Well, you’ve never had any male friends. I mean, good male friends.”

“That is true….”

I heard another sigh, and wondered if it belonged to the Countess.

“Prissila, I’ll tell you something about Caelum. I think he has a good heart. A very good heart.”

Her words made my chest tighten.

She was wrong. I hurt Haruka. I made myself believe it was for the best, but all I did was end up hurting her.

Simone was dead wrong about me.

Even now, I was struggling to accept Haruka was finally moving on.

Even now I was being selfish.

I heard Prissila say, “Did you know that Haruka Amiella is his friend. I asked around and I learnt they were childhood friends too. She’s a lovely girl, but I heard that Caelum hurt her when he learnt she was joining my Pride.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that. Maybe if you get to know him better, you can ask him about it.”

“No, no. It’s something personal. I’d feel very awkward asking him. And truthfully, I don’t see myself getting to know him. After all, we both got off on the wrong foot. How can I make things right between us?”

“Prissila, I did what you asked of me.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I asked Caelum to come by.”

“What? Oh no. Please tell me your joking. Please tell me you didn’t.”

“I’m not joking and he’s waiting outside.”

“No, no, I can’t have him see me like this.”

“Then stop acting like a character from one of those books. Now, wipe those tears. We need to make you presentable….”

I stepped outside the room. I was careful not to bump the door or make a sound as I retreated.

A minute or so later Simone approached the doorway.

I glanced down feeling guilty for eavesdropping, but she reached out and touched my shoulder.

She didn’t say anything, but her expression spoke volumes.

She was entrusting her friend to me.

I swallowed past the small lump in my throat, and gave her shallow nod.

Simone returned it with a smile, then she stepped past me and chose to wait in the hallway.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and stepped into the room. I rounded the L bend, and rapped lightly on the wall beside me.

Seated on the bed with the covers drawn over her lap, her golden hair flowing down her back and over her shoulders, Prissila looked beautiful. The haughty nobleness that she usually radiated was absent. Instead, I found her looking faintly nervous with a dose of shyness. She was wearing a simple nightdress, rather than a hospital gown. It had a lacy, flowery design that was remarkably mature. It followed the contours of her shapely figure and ample bosom quite well.

I swallowed again to clear my throat.

“Hello, Princess.”

For a little while she didn’t say anything. She simply sat there and studied me with a hint of trepidation. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Hello…Caelum.”

I walked up to her bedside, and offered her the collection of bright, vibrant roses. “They say roses are girl’s best friend.”

“Actually…it’s diamonds that are a girl’s best friend.”

“Really? Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I messed up right out of the gate.”

She took the bouquet from my hands, and shook her head slowly. “No, they are quite lovely.”

She looked up at me, and our eyes met. My heart skipped nervously along while she held my gaze. I wondered if her heart was misbehaving like mine was.

“Caelum…would you like to sit down?”

I spied a chair nearby with a cushion seat and padded backrest. “May I?”

She nodded faintly, and I brought the chair over to a spot beside her bed.

I was having a hard time keeping my nerves in check. My hands were beginning to sweat so I wiped them discretely on my trousered thighs before folding them on my lap.

I asked, “How are you? I mean, how are you feeling?”

“I’m alive. And that’s a good thing.”

“Yeah, a very good thing.”

I watched her hesitated and glance away for a heartbeat before meeting my eyes. “Caelum, I don’t usually say this, and I’m not very good with expressing my gratitude. But I truly mean it when I say thank you for saving me.”

I managed not to bite my lower lip, which was something of a nervous habit for me.

“Princess, may I say something.”

“By all means.”

“The one who attacked you and who killed many people at the restaurant, was a Familiar. Someone like me. I know you don’t think much of Familiars, and you don’t know me at all. But, I want you to know that I could never do what that person did. I could never agree with Crimson Crescent’s methods.”

I swallowed, feeling the tightness in my throat spread to my chest.

“What I’m trying to say is…I could never hurt you. Not deliberately. No, not ever.”

She was silent for a long, long while. She looked away, and her gaze settled on the roses across her lap.

I almost failed to catch her reply. Her voice was barely a whisper.

“I believe you.”

Surprise made me frown upwards.

She nodded once while staring at the flowers, and then slowly turned to face me. “I believe you, Caelum Desanto.”

I didn’t think it was right to look away and not meet her gaze, so I forced myself to look into her eyes.

“Princess, I’ve been asked to help protect the school. I told the Countess I had only one reason to do so. But now, I have two more reasons.”

She continued to look at me, so I kept my gaze steady.

After a little while, Prissila touched her chest with a questioning look in her eyes.

I nodded firmly. “Yes. You and Simone. And a friend of mine, someone I’ve known for a long time.”

“Haruka Amiella.”

I nodded again. “Yes.”

She brought the rose petals up to her nose and breathed in their scent for a little while. Then she placed the roses down on her lap once more.

“Caelum, would you stay for a little while. My family has ties to this hospital so visiting hours are not an issue. I can have the men outside arrange for a car to take you home.”

I hesitated and she noticed, so I quickly raised my hands. “Well, I don’t mind staying but I need to let the Countess know.”

As though on cue, I heard Simone step round the L bend in the room. “Caelum, stay as long as you like. Princess, I leave him in your care. Take good care of him.”

“Uh—I will. Please, you don’t have to be so formal. Go on, go home. Shoo shoo.” Prissila waved her hands impatiently at the Countess.

“Fine. Fine. Why don’t you have him read you a story? You have quite the collection in that slate.”

“Simone—get out of here. One more word and I promise to tell him every sordid detail about all your failed seductions.”

The Countess actually stammered. “Wh—what? You wouldn’t dare.”

“Yes I would. Caelum, have you heard her infamous method for seducing the boys she likes?”

I answered nervously while caught between the two glaring girls. “Uh, no. I haven’t.”

Prissila held up a hand and ticked off points using her fingers. “I’ll spell it out in three key points. Storeroom, her breasts, and an unbuttoned blouse.”

The Countess gasped loudly as though winded. “Why you little tramp. Where did you hear that?”

“Hah! You pulled that method right out of that book I gave you. You know, the one about the transfer student and the Student Council President who lays her eyes on him.”

“I never read it. I absolutely never read it.”

“Well, you tried it on that boy that caught your eye last year. It didn’t work, did it?”

I spoke up. “So I’m not the first she’s tried that on.”

I watched my words have a delayed reaction on Prissila.

For a moment she was completely still, then her eyes grew wide like saucers and her mouth fell open.

To my left, the Countess hissed sharply as though stabbed through the heart.

Prissila recovered first. She stared at the Countess through narrowed eyes, and spoke in a low, rather chilling whisper.

“Run, Simone. Run.”

Reflections – 10.

When the wielder of a Fragment expressed a particularly strong ‘intent’, otherwise known as a ‘killing intent’, their feelings were amplified by their Fragment, thus making them ‘visible’ to other Fragments in the vicinity.

I learnt of this not long after the incident at the restaurant in the crowded shopping arcade.

Kaleb described it as a sign of an inexperienced wielder, one that didn’t know how to control their emotions in a manner that would prevent them from flowing into the Fragment. Such a wielder could not bring out the best in his or her weapon. Their feelings acted as clutter, as ‘noise’ that interfered with the connection between Familiar and Fragment.

A clear mind.

A clear heart.

No noise.

That translated into perfect harmony with the Fragment.

In other words, if I wanted to use the Gauntlet to the best of its abilities and mine, I had to adopt a particular mindset.

The mindset of a cold-blooded killer.

Chapter 13
.

(Haruka)

School Week Two.

The medical exams began on the Wednesday.

This was the case for a handful of the other schools within Pharos, however the exams held at Galatea were specific to the Aventis.

In a Regular school, part of the examination was geared at testing students for their compatibility to the Symbiote.

At Galatea and its sister academies, that emphasis was on testing the harmony between the Symbiote and the host. Was there a degree of rejection? Was the Symbiote’s condition less than optimal? How well was it healing the host, and boosting said host’s physical and immunological abilities? How well was it attuned to the host body?

Although these exams were also performed at the local hospital or medical center, having them done for all the schools as a bi-annual affair was like conducting a twice yearly census. It ensured student medical data was recorded all at once, rather than piece meal or at random times during the year.

In order to perform the exams, mobile medical centers rolled into the Academy grounds. They were large buses, double-deckers in fact. Galatea had a dedicated medical room, one which was apart from the nurses office, but the sheer volume of students attending the Academy would have overwhelmed the facility. As a result, these mobile medical centers were used to bolster the facilities and churn through the two thousand students here at Galatea.

I had gym activity – physical education class – before lunch so I had to walk from the high school building to the gymnasium. There were change rooms for the guys and girls inside the gym building. My change of clothes was inside the small canvas carry-bag at my side.

The five med center buses sat parked in one of the sporting fields, no doubt disrupting the plans of the Track-and-Field club. I watched a hundred odd middle-schoolers lining up for the exams. They had changed into their gym clothes, and were being attended to on a class-by-class basis.

I’d heard the high schoolers like myself would be seen to sometime tomorrow or on Friday.

There would be a more definitive announcement during homeroom at the end of the day.

I looked at my classmates as we walked into the gym.

As expected there was a void around Caelum and Caprice. Yet they didn’t appear bothered by it as they walked at the tail end of the class. In fact, they were having a quiet conversation at times characterized by Caelum making swinging motions with his arms, and Caprice demonstrating a kick of some sort.

They were oblivious to me, and oblivious to the looks the others in my class cast their way.

I walked with the other girls into the women’s change room.

I saw Caprice stand outside for a moment watching Caelum walk away.

And I saw that faint smile again, the one she gave him at times when he was looking, and when he wasn’t.

She stepped into the change room, finding herself a spot away from the other girls in class.

I focused on changing into my gym shorts and sports bra and t-shirt.

Every so often I would glance her way.

She had a very feminine figure, though she lacked decent breasts. At best I didn’t think she was more than an Aye-cup whereas I was full Cee-cup on the cusp of graduating to a Dee-cup.

I snorted inwardly, feeling I had the upper hand in every way, but then I took another, more critical look at her.

Her body was tight and really well toned. In fact, she had strong abdominal muscles, and her arms and legs were well defined.

I realized this girl was probably close to her peak physical condition for a Familiar.

Just like Caelum.

I hadn’t missed seeing his toned, muscular physique when he took off his shirt in the garden. I could only imagine how much work he’d put into his body to achieve that look.

Thinking of that afternoon in the garden made me wonder what happened to those five seniors. I hadn’t heard anything about the incident during this week. Not even a rumor. It was like it never happened. It was as though someone had deliberately covered it up.

Caelum had shown no sign of injuries on the Monday when class resumed, and I’d missed my chance to ask him about it that Monday after school.

I finished getting dressed, put my clothes in my carry-bag, then placed it in the empty locker in front of me. I sat down on the bench running between the lockers and addressed tying up my gym shoes.

Again, I glanced at Caprice.

She had finished dressing and was tying up her laces, but when she finished she just sat there, staring at the floor.

She looked lonely.

For six months last year, while attending Galatea, that hadn’t bothered me in the slightest. Maybe it was because I was too wrapped up in my own problems – getting used to my new body, and trying to fit in at the new school. But I made friends soon enough, and I was welcomed into the class and into the Aventis community. I was made to feel at home, and to feel that I was special now.

I wasn’t a Regular anymore.

I was an Aventis, and a member of the proud Avenir Pride.

I hadn’t paid Caprice any attention.

I simply hadn’t cared.

So why…why did it bother me now? Seeing her sitting on the corner of the bench, well clear of the other girls, it made me feel empty inside.

No, it made me feel ashamed of my classmates and I.

I stared at the locker door in front of me.

I would have hit it if Siobhan and Alistair hadn’t shown up and pulled me to my feet.

“Time to go,” Siobhan said.

“What are we doing today?” I asked.

“Volleyball,” Alistair replied. “We need to form teams of six, so let’s hurry.”

“In that case, somebody might just get to play,” Siobhan muttered.

I jerked my arm out of Siobhan’s grip. “I can walk on my own,” I told her, and stormed ahead of the pair.

“Hey, Haruka. What’s wrong? What did I say?”

I didn’t answer. I just continued walking feeling my body tremble with a surge of irritation. It took a while for it to wash out my body.

I followed the girls out onto the gym floor. The volleyball nets were already up and two courts were ready to be used. That meant a total of twenty four girls could play at a time. I realized that was the exact number allocated to our class this year. If so, then just as Siobhan had said, no one would be left out.

Looking out across the gym floor, I saw the guys were already starting to form into basketball teams. With fourteen boys in our class, that meant two teams with four players benched. I saw Caelum sit on the bench. Actually, he lay on it with his arms for a pillow and stared up at the gym ceiling.

He wasn’t even bothering to participate.

The other guys noticed. Most shrugged and shook their heads.

I noticed their gym teacher wasn’t bothering to take him to task.

It was as though they’d decided to give up on him right from the start.

Or simply ignore the troublesome Familiar.

My attention was dragged back to my corner of the world when our gym teacher, Ms. Karsen snapped instructions for us to warm up. After five minutes stretching and flexing like human shaped jellybeans, the order was given to form into teams. I felt my stomach tighten as I wondered how this would play out.

My eyes searched for Caprice and found her going through the last of her stretches on her own. She wasn’t even bothering to pay Ms. Karsen any attention.

But Karsen wasn’t going to tolerate Caprice’s behavior. She walked over to Caprice, then yanked the girl harshly to her feet.

This surprised Caprice, even more so when Karsen told her to stand with the rest of the girls.

Caprice had to be pushed to get her moving.

I noticed Karsen’s surprise when the girl remained as immovable as a rock. Before she could give Caprice a second push – or at least try to – Caprice chose to move on her own. She avoided eye contact with the girls in our class, walking with her gaze dead ahead and her customary flat expression. She took a position at the end of the line farthest from Karsen.

Again we were instructed to form four teams.

Naturally I fell into a group with Siobhan and Alistair. Two other girls joined us, Éclair and Lauren.

A third girl, Dominique, was walking toward our group, but I suddenly raised a hand and waved her off, confusing the others beside me.

Siobhan asked, “Haruka, what are you doing?”

I started walking toward Caprice who was standing on her own and watching the other girls.

She looked expressionless as she regarded the activity before her.

Then she turned and started walking toward the benches at the edge of the courts.

Karsen’s voice rang out loudly. “Steiner, where the Hell are you going?”

Our gym teacher had a bamboo sword in her hand – a shinai – that she was tapping against her shoulder as she stared in disbelief at Caprice.

The girl ignored her and continued walking.

“Steiner, stop right there. I said stop!”

Karsen stormed after her, catching Caprice’s arm and dragging her to a halt.

Caprice stared up at the taller woman with an unreadable look.

Karsen sounded beyond annoyed. “Where do you think you’re going? This is gym class. We have four teams, perfect numbers and no one is skipping out.”

“Why are you bothering with me?”

“What?”

“Last year’s gym teacher didn’t mind. She was fine with me doing my own thing.”

“Why would I allow you to do your own thing?”

“Because I’m not with those girls.”

Now Karsen was growing angry. “Steiner, I’m not going to tolerate this segregation crap. Is that clear? You are a part of this class, and you participate as a part of this class.”

“But I’m not. I’m a Familiar, and they are Aventis. As a result, we cannot compete together.”

“That’s enough.”

“My lack of ability would only hinder them.”

“I said that’s enough. Now you get back there, and show me what you can do. You show your classmates what you can do.”

Caprice opened her mouth, but Karsen stormed over her complaint.

“Steiner, don’t give me that nonsense about lack of ability. I’ve seen how you look under those clothes. There isn’t an ounce of fat in your body. You’re as toned as a championship level Track-and-Field athlete.”

Caprice’s eyes narrowed but she remained silent. However, her eyes were unblinking and locked on Karsen’s face.

Karsen calmed down a little. “I won’t tolerate your act of self-pity, either. Now get over there, and take part in my class. Is that clear?”

I saw Caprice’s lower lip tremble, the first sign her perfect expressionless persona was starting to waver. I made up my mind a heartbeat later, and walked over to the girl.

“Caprice, we’re short a girl. Won’t you join our team?”

I held out my right hand to her.

Caprice stared at me without looking at it, then gave Karsen a flat glare.

Karsen said, “She’s waiting for an answer.”

I held my hand a little higher. “Please join our team.”

I saw her jaw muscles tighten as she clenched and unclenched it. “Fine. I accept.”

I lowered my hand, seeing as she wasn’t going to shake it.

Karsen inhaled deeply then said firmly, “Get going. We’re wasting time.”

I started walking back to my team but when I glanced back Caprice was clearly hesitating. Then I saw her cast a look toward the boy’s end of the gym.

I looked as well, and saw to my surprise that Caelum was on the court, playing defense. He wasn’t as tall as the other guys, but he moved fast. Very, very fast.

What the Hell is going on? Wasn’t he going to ‘sit out’ the gym session?

It seemed that was all it took for Caprice to make up her mind.

She caught up to me as I rejoined my group.

Siobhan, Alistair and the other two were giving me critical looks.

I swept my gaze over them, meeting their stares pound for pound. “Anyone have a problem with this?”

Siobhan crossed her arms. “And what if I do?”

Alistair grimaced. “I don’t like being kicked.”

Siobhan nodded. “Yeah, neither do I.”

I cocked my head. “Well maybe you need another kick.”

Siobhan snapped, “Huh?”

“If you don’t like my decision, go find another team,” I replied and folded my arms.

She looked shocked, then surly.

I ignored her and looked at Caprice. “You know the rules? You know how to play?”

Caprice didn’t reply except to regard me with a flat stare. Yet despite its nature, I could tell the girl was confused. The wheels were turning in her head, and she was trying to figure me out.

However, after a moment she gave me a single nod.

Karsen called us up to the two courts and shortly after we started to play a game.