Preditor & Prey: Chapter Three

Chapter Three

       Finally, I was able to tear my gaze away from Zev’s, and focus my attention on Mr. Mahoney, or, at least, look like I was. Still, throughout the lesson, I felt Zev glancing at me, attempting to be discreet. Not that he was the only guilty part o the matter, mind you; I was stealing my own fair share as well.

       Stop it. You need to focus. You need to-

       My earring buzzed. Yes, my earring. One of the ups of working for the Paranormal Assassination Force is that we get all of the new, top of the line, toys; my earring pager being one of them.

       I should know, I’ve been here the longest, with the exception of Will being as he had been trained to be an operative since he was an infant, where as I joined the program when I was five. Actually, I’m not sure that joined would be the correct word for what happened; I think forced fits it better. My parents gave me up, they didn’t want me, they handed me over to PAF like was a tool and not their daughter; they didn’t even give me a choice. They just left me, without a thing for me to remember them by; I don’t remember their voices, their names, or even a sliver of a face. Almost as if they never existed. There is only one thing that I have to remind me of my past, a dagger shaped birthmark in the small of my back; that’s it. But that’s okay. PAF gives me a purpose.

       And, right now, that purpose was to go on a mission, that’s what my pager was telling me, which means I have to get back to the compound.

      

My hand shot up as I formulated a plan to get me out of class without getting in trouble.

“What is it, Kira,” Mr. Mahoney asked.

“I don’t feel well sir. May I please go to the nurse,” I said, feigning illness.

“Yes, of course. I’ll get someone accompany you, we don’t want a new student to get lost, do we,” Mr. Mahoney answered, attempting to be helpful.

Oh, crap.

I stood up, collected my things, and began walking to the door.

“Now who will volunteer to escort Kira to the nurse?”

With my back turned there was no way for me to know who raised their hand.

“I will.” A somewhat familiar voice replied.

“Ah, thank you Zev. Remember to grab a pass on your way out,” our teacher reminded.

“My pleasure, Mr. Mahoney.”

I heard the rustling of papers Zev gathered his things.

Double crap.  

***

          I made sure I kept up my sick ploy as we made our way down the hall towards the main office. We had only traveled about three hall lengths before Zev stopped dead in his tracks and spun to face me.

          “What,” I questioned.

          Zev didn’t answer, and just stared at me like I was a puzzle that he was determined to figure out.

          “What!” I hissed.

          “You’re not sick,” Zev stated, looking me in the eyes, “So why are you in such a hurry to get out of class?”

          I was momentarily speechless; how had he figured that out? Not to brag, but I have some major acting skills.

          I opened my mouth to spin some lie, but Zev quickly hushed me.

He tilted his head slightly to the side as if he was listening to something, a couple minutes trickled by and I heard the faint sound of footsteps coming down the hall.

          With lightning speed, Zev dragged me down the hallway and ducked us into a janitor’s closet. He locked the door and flipped on the light before he turned to me, and locked his graze with mine, in his own. I looked into his green eyes and saw nothing but raw determination.

          “Now, answer my question.”

Preditor & Prey: Chapter Two Part Two

Chapter Two (continued)

       I stumbled into my biology class and barely remembered handing my passbook for Mrs. Tucker to sign before I took my seat. I couldn’t concentrate. Thoughts were a swirling through my mind, racing, and jumping over one another fighting for my attention. Questions and theories unwound themselves from the jumbled mess. There were two thing off about Zev, one I knew and one I did not. I had never known anyone who was able to sneak up on me or away without me knowing it, not even the extremely talented Will; and for the mysterious Zev to have done so twice in a row, so effortlessly? What a strange boy he was indeed.

A strange, gorgeous boy, my mind whispered.

       I squashed the thought immediately. I had a boyfriend. His name was Will. Will the most talented paranormal assassin that the world had ever seen. That meant strange, mysterious, beautiful boys were off limits.

       But that doesn’t stop you from looking.

       Did it? I didn’t have the time to ponder that because the bell rang, forcing me up out of my seat and out into the hallway.

       After that, it wasn’t long before Will caught up and kissed my cheek.

       “Hey,” hey whispered, wraping his arms around me.

       “Hey,” came my still distracted reply.

       “Babe? What’s wrong,” Will asked, concerned.

       I opened my mouth to tell him about Zev and how something was…off about him; but something stopped me. What it was- I don’t know.

       “Nothing, I’m fine. I just didn’t like my class, that’s all,” I lied.

       Will nodded, but didn’t seem to believe me. He kissed my cheek once more and dashed off to class.

Preditor & Prey: Chapter Two

Chapter Two

       I hid out for a few more minutes until I finally had to make an appearance in my classroom before Jasper found out that I had gone AWOL and cut me into little pieces- literally!

       I know that so far today Jasper has came off like a complete and utter stick in the mud, but she really isn’t. Stavros has just been on her case constantly lately, he blames her for the three of us getting kicked out of the last to schools we’ve attended, when, in reality, the blame rests solely on Will, and Stavros knows it. Not that he’d ever admit it. Will? His shining star? Never. So the target of his tirade is Jasper, the oldest and our team leader.

       I had been wandering the halls for a few minutes before I realized that I had absolutely no idea where I was going.

       “Dang it!” I growled.

       “Need some help?”

       I whirled around. Behind me stood one of the most gorgeous people I had ever seen in my life. A boy, around my age, awaited my reply.

       “Yeah. Do you know where Mrs. Tucker’s biology class is,” I asked coolly.

       “Sure. I’ll take you there, it’s on my way anyway. I’m Zev by the way,” he replied, his voice was deep and melodic as he held out his hand.

       “Kira,” I answered, and met his hand with my own only to yank it back as a warm shock made its way from my palm all the way up my arm.

       What the hell?

       Zev pulled his back as well and ran his hand through this longish hair that was darker than the night itself looking flustered.

       “Follow me,” he called, and darted down a random hallway, making me speed walk to catch up with him.

       We walked in silence for a bit before coming to a stopped in front of an open doorway.

       “Here you are,” Zev announced.

       It took a minute for his words to register; I was, at the moment deep in thought, trying the figure out how he had been able to sneak up on me after all my years of training.

       When they did though, I immediately spun around to thank him only to find myself alone in the hallway. Zev was nowhere in sight, and I hadn’t even heard him walk away.

       Again, what the hell?!

Preditor & Prey: Chapter One

Chapter One

       “Kira,” Mr. Delany called, taking roll, and, like most people, he pronounced my name with a long ‘I’ sound.

      

       I rolled my eyes in annoyance, “It’s pronounced ‘Key-ruh, Mt. Delany,” I corrected.

      

       Jasper’s stormy grey eyes glared daggers at me from under her sharp blue bangs. Yes, I said blue, a deep navy blue that contrasted well with her tan skin. And no, it isn’t dyed, it’s all natural, a weird side effect from the trauma of losing her parents at the young age of five.

      

       Don’t start, her eyes practically screamed.

      

       Chill, I won’t mess this up, my eyes said back.

      

       Jasper snorted and the bell rang signaling the end of homeroom.

      

       “I’m just saying, Kira. We don’t need to get kicked out of another school,” Jasper said as we collected out our books and made a B-line towards the door.

      

       She said another school because our team of three had managed to get expelled from our last two schools- I won’t go into detail just yet, but I’m pretty sure Stavros won’t tolerate another, and, believe me, you don’t want to be on his bad side.

      

       “Hey, baby,” a familiar voice said, wrapping their arms around me.

      

       He had obviously been waiting for us.

      

       “Hey, Will,” I said, turning around in his arms so I could stand on my tip-toes and kiss his cheek.

      

        William Dodds, the third member of our deadly trio, top Paranormal Assassin- and my boyfriend of two years. I studied him as that affectionate smile spread across his face. I drank him in, his six-three frame, his blonde hair, his grey eyes, and to think he’s just a year older than me. It has always puzzled me how this boy could be so ruthless as to kill in cold blood.

      

       “Will! Kira! No PDA on school grounds! I know it’s your first day but that’s no excuse,” a nearby teacher yelled.

      

       We both stepped away from each other and Will opened his mouth, to mutter what I’m sure was a witty comment, but stopped when he felt Jasper’s dagger poking into his back.

      

       Don’t even ask how we get our weapons through school security- it isn’t easy, trust me.

      

       I glanced around; nobody noticed the weapon Jasper had pressed against Will.

      

       “They’re sorry Miss Simmons, it won’t happen again,” she said sweetly.

      

       “Be sure that it doesn’t,” the teacher said and turned on her heel and walked away.

       “Do not mess this up! Go to class,” Jasper hissed, and stalked off.

      

       Will winked at me, and then took Jasper’s advice, leaving me alone.

      

       Instead of going to class I went to the restroom- Hey I’m new; I can always say that I got lost, right? - And observed myself in the mirror.

      

       Long black hair? Check.

      

       Blue eyes? Check.

      

       The irritating height of five-eight? Yup.

      

       All the looks of innocence, I thought as I fingered my switchblade in the concealed pocket of my jeans.

      

       But, true to my name, I’m a killer.

Preditor and Prey: Prologue

Prologue

       “Please, no, miss, I beg of you,” the ruby lipped, Caribbean blue eyed, platinum haired, fifteen year old looking, faerie cried dramatically.

      

        I sighed; I absolutely, positively, hate faerie jobs.

      

       Yes, sadly, faeries do exist. And no, they are not those good natured, woodsy, creatures that the fairy tales you were told as a child led you to believe. In truth, they are dramatic, mischievous, over-emotional, and downright vicious when they want to be.

      

       I rolled my eyes and leveled my glock at her, making it obvious that her ploy hadn’t worked.

      

       “Freeze,” I commanded coolly, “Under strict orders from P.A.F., I must either bring you in or terminate you here and now,”

      

       The faerie growled and dropped her glamour revealing clear blue cats eyes, porcelain skin, and a perfectly white, perfectly pointed, perfectly deadly, set of teeth.

      

       “So,” I continued, completely unfazed, this is a regular occurrence, “Which will it be?”

      

        The faerie lunged and knocked me over; I guess I had my answer.

      

         “Termination it is then,” I grunted, reaching into my boot for my iron switchblade.

      

         I grabbed it, flicked it open, and slashed at her arm, cutting her just enough so that so that the indigo liquid that was her blood started to trickle down her arm.

      

       She immediately shrieked in pain and rolled off of me, got to love iron. I jackknifed to my feet and scrambled over to my gun that had skidded across the forest floor in the midst of the struggle.

      

       Picking it up, I checked to make sure that all my iron bullets were loaded, they were, then I took aim and fired a single shot, leaving the faerie motionless on the ground with a new hole directly between its eyes.

      

        Re-holstering my glock, I walked a few paces away and unclipped my walkie-talkie, “Mission accomplished, Stavros,” I said, “Requesting cleanup crew and pick up.  Coordinates 10-73 Hangman’s Wood,”

      

        “Request granted, ETA five minutes,” my commanding officers voice responded.

      

       Another job well done.

      

       My name is Kira, I’m sixteen years old, and I’m a Paranormal Assassin.