Breed of Innocence (The Breed Chronicles, #01)

by Jordan, Lanie

  Dropping the staff, Tasha threw a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with shock and/or embarrassment. “Oh, crap! I’m so sorry, Linc! I totally freaked.”

  Unlike the rest of the class, I tried to hide my laugh. I felt bad for him, but the look of surprise on his face as he got to his feet was priceless. Slowly, he narrowed his eyes and took a threatening step toward Tasha. She dropped to the ground, laughing until her eyes watered and clutching her stomach. Every time she tried to stop, she’d look up, see his face, and start laughing all over again.

  Even Mr. Elliot laughed. “Okay,” he said, trying to bring some order back to the class, “this is a perfect example of what not to do if you get growled at. You have to have focus when you’re fighting a demon—or,” he added, still trying not to chuckle, “during class—a student dressed as one.”

  For the next twenty minutes, any time Tasha found Linc looking at her, she ended up in another round of laughing fits.

  An hour before class was supposed to end, Mr. Elliot whistled to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, you’ve all been doing well this week and I promised you a small treat, right?”

  Everyone shouted their agreement.

  “Right, so your reward, should you choose to accept it, is picking the weapon of your choice and practicing with that.”

  “Uhh, isn’t that what we’re doing now?” a blonde-haired boy—Tony, I thought his name was—asked.

  “No, you’re practicing with replicas. I’m giving you all the chance to practice with the real deal in their designated areas only. You know where to go with them.”

  The entire class scrambled to pick their weapon. Most chose the weapon they’d been using in replica form—the staff. A few others picked up tasers or stakes.

  I walked up to Linc. “I thought the only things we could use in P1 were staffs and netting?”

  “Mr. Elliot gave us the run down on everything at the start of Phase,” he said. “Each month, if no one gets hurt—which happens more than you’d think—he shows us a few basic moves with an off-limits weapon.”

  “He rewards us for not getting hurt?”

  Grinning, Linc nodded. “Yup. It actually works pretty well. We all want to play with the Big Kid toys.”

  “You call them ‘toys’. If anyone shouldn’t be allowed to play with them, it’s you.”

  “And you just said ‘play’ with them, so you’re on that list too, Hall.”

  “Bite me. Or go away.”

  Still grinning, Linc strolled off.

  To keep myself occupied and out of the way, I wandered around the room and ended up standing in front of a case full of swords. My mom had collected them and, though she rarely let me practice with the real thing, had let me use some replicas. My mom had taught me a little, but I’d had no actual formal training. They were graceful yet strong, and I’d always liked the feel of them.

  “Do you like swords?”

  I spun toward the voice of Mr. Elliot, found his brown eyes watching me intently. “Yeah. My mom used to collect them.”

  “Do you know how to use one?”

  I squinted and made a face. “Basic stuff.”

  He pulled a set of keys from his pockets, then started to unlock the case. “Pick one.”

  “But—” I hadn’t touched one since before my mom died.

  “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, Jade. Or, of course, if you’re planning on attacking someone with it…”

  The laugh bubbled up unexpectedly. “What? No!”

  He pulled the door open wider, slowly, like he was trying to entice me. “Then take your pick. Just go to the other side of the room.” He pointed. “The blue bags are for swords. They have a kind of rubber that repels the blows without damaging the bag or the sword.”

  I glanced at the rows and knew the one I’d use. “Are you sure?”

  “If you lose any limbs, I’m denying giving you access and claiming you stole the keys from me. Deal?”

  I nodded. “Deal.”

  When I didn’t move, he shook his head. “Offer will expire in…three, two—”

  Reaching in, I pulled down the third one in the middle row. For someone who liked color, I’d had my eyes on the only one in a black sheath—the others were either red or green. I ran my hand over the case. It had a chain a few inches down from the sheath opening, like a little handle, and the opening had an intricate metal design that matched the guard.

  “Nice choice,” Mr. Elliot said, standing beside me. He winked. “You picked the best one.”

  “Really?” I frowned. “It looks so…”

  “Simple?”

  “I was going to say not fancy, but simple works.”

  He held out his hands for the sword. “May I?”

  I nodded and handed it over. “Sure.”

  Stepping back, he pulled the sword from its sheath. “Still simple looking, yes?”

  “Yeah.”

  He brought the sword up so the tip pointed to the ceiling. He turned the guard counter-clockwise once, then tapped his thumb on a button on the hilt. The sword began to glow a bright blue-white color. My eyes went wide.

  “Decapitating a vampire is very difficult, even with the sharpest sword. But since they don’t like UV light, this will either scare them off if you don’t want to fight, or do some serious damage if you have no other choice.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the rest of the class watching us.

  “And it does this…” He twisted the guard four times now, clockwise, then pressed the button again. The sword stopped glowing and retracted into itself until it was the size of a pocketknife. He tossed it to me and I caught it in one hand, staring down at it. “Nano technology. It’s a nice little thing to have, especially if you need a sword but don’t want to be seen walking around with one.” He shook his head. “Which I recommend not doing. People tend to get a little worried when a group of men—and women—are walking around with a bunch of swords. Cops don’t much appreciate it either, not when they have to respond to calls of ninjas wandering around.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Mr. Elliot turned, faced the class. “Don’t you all have something to do? Say, practice?”

  Felecia sauntered forward and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why does she get a sword? This is her first class.”

  “For three very straight forward reasons, Miss Fitzgerald. One, because I offered it to her and she accepted. Two, she’s used one before so I think she’ll be okay—and if she hurts anything, it’ll be a bag that’s meant to be used for practice. And three, what I think is the most important reason, because I’m the teacher and I get to make these nice rules.” He paused. “Any other questions?”

  She sputtered like a fish out of water. Linc made a face—one I recognized as him trying not to laugh—and turned so Felecia wouldn’t see. I doubted she would have anyway. She was too busy sending death-glares my way to pay him any attention.

  “Ignore her, Jade.”

  “Hm?”

  “I know that look. Cats get that same look before they try to rip each other’s throat out, and I’d hate to take away the sword before you get a chance to use it.”

  “I won’t do anything.”

  “Good. Turn it twice clock-wise, then press the little button on the guard. That’ll put it back to sword form.” He gave me a stern look. “I don’t need to remind you to have it pointing away from anything with flesh or bone, do I?”

  I snorted. “No.”

  He raised his chin toward the blue punching bag. “Then go.”

  I’d really been looking forward to it until the whole class started watching me. Even now, though they were supposed to be practicing, I could feel their eyes on me as I made my way to far corner of the room.

  I tried ignoring them. It didn’t work so well, especially when a P2 guy was so busy watching me that he narrowly avoided being tased as he stepped forward for a better look.

  The last thing I wanted was an audience.

&
nbsp; Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. If Felecia said or did something, I could accidentally hurt someone—the most likely candidate being myself.

  Slowly, I approached the bag, casting a quick look to my side. Yup, everyone was watching me.

  So did I give the sword back and balk, or did I just do it and pray everyone—myself included—kept all their limbs intact?

  With a shrug, I pointed the now-pocketknife away from me and turned the guard clock-wise twice, then pressed the button as instructed. The sword folded outward in under three seconds with more force than I’d been expecting. Yeah, I definitely liked the feel of it.

  After positioning my hands and legs, I brought the sword down onto the bag in an arc. I winced when the bag showed an uneven line.

  Obviously my technique needed work.

  Linc walked over, grinned. “Know what you’re doing, Hall?” he said quietly.

  My shoulders sagged. “Not anymore, apparently.”

  “Keep your feet separated more and follow through.” He put actions to words, his hands going to my hips as he stepped behind me and kicked my right foot out, away from my left. “Now balance yourself.”

  I may have nodded. Or responded verbally. I wasn’t sure. I tried not to look down at his hands, which of course left me staring.

  “Jade?”

  “Hmm?” I tore my gaze away and found myself drowning in his eyes. “Er, yeah?”

  His lips raised in one of his trademark half-smirks that made me think he was perfectly aware of where my thoughts were. Or where they weren’t. “Concentrate.”

  “I am concentrating.” And I was. Only it was on the wrong thing.

  Focus, you imbecile, before you start drooling! I let out a deep breath, forced myself to focus on the sword. I kept my arms steady, even as my heart tried racing its way out of my chest.

  “Stay level,” he said, close to my ear. His arm went over mine. “Think of your right hand as the force and your left as the balance.”

  “I feel a Star Wars joke coming on,” I murmured.

  He raised an eyebrow and leaned back slightly. “I’m impressed you even know of Star Wars. They’re way, way before our time.”

  “They’re classics.” I shrugged.

  “Points to you.”

  I wiggled my eyebrows. “Oh? Are we keeping score now?”

  “Shush,” he said, fighting a grin. “We’re concentrating, remember?”

  “Right. The force is with me. Got it.”

  *~*~*

  The rest of class went smoothly enough. Linc helped me work on my stance and strikes with the sword, though knowing what to do and being able to do it well were, unfortunately, two completely different things.

  As we all filed out of the classroom, Tasha ran up to Linc. “I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know why I did that.”

  Pretending to glare, he rubbed his slightly-purple jaw. “Uh huh. My jaw can feel how sorry you are.”

  She pressed her lips together, all but sucking them into her face to keep from laughing. Linc didn’t miss a beat and shook his head, which let loose another round of laughter. “Don’t look at me,” she said, only giggling slightly now. “I can’t stop when you look at me.”

  “Fine. I’ll keep my eyes straight ahead. Will that help you apologize more?”

  “Can’t hurt.”

  She looked around him, behind his back, and winked at me even as she rolled her eyes. “Can’t live with ‘em, and it’s against the rules to hurt ‘em,” she said.

  I couldn’t fight a quick grin. “Only if you’re caught.”

  “I’m standing right here.”

  We both chuckled at Linc’s growling tone. “I’m Tasha Monroe.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said.

  “And you need no introductions. You’re the infamous Jade Hall.”

  “Infamous?” I groaned. Great. Just what I needed.

  “Well, yeah. You’re the first Greene has personally picked up and the first he’s let go forward without hours of droning on and on about this or that and how we’re not prepared for that or this and…you get the idea.”

  Linc glanced down at me. “Told you so.”

  “Shush it,” I muttered, frowning. I didn’t want to be infamous or well known or…anything. I just wanted to be me and do what I came here for: learn, train, hunt.

  Tasha tilted her head to the side, gave me a curious look. “Why did he, anyway?”

  “Let me skip ahead? Not sure, really.” He’d given a few reasons, but I didn’t think any of those would make sense to anyone but him. They didn’t even make sense to me. (Not that I was complaining with his decision, because I wasn’t.)

  “Weird. Either way,” she said with a shrug, “it’s made you big news around the CGE block. Especially—” She waggled her eyebrows at me. “—your little feud with Felecia.”

  “There’s no feud. She just hates me.”

  “And your feelings on her?”

  I rolled my eyes and made a face—something between disgust and annoyance.

  Tasha laughed. “See? It’s a feud. When she harasses you, it’s normal. When she tries to fight you, then it’s a feud.”

  “Fine. It’s still stupid.”

  “Agreed. I saw the fight. You’re good. Though, I have to say, I would have knocked her on her ass after the first hit.”

  “I wanted to,” I muttered under my breath. Still did, kinda. But I wasn’t sure it would have helped anything.

  “Did you catch any grief from Director Greene?”

  “No. He just left a note, said he’d seen or heard about the fight, and that he’d talked to her.”

  She snorted. “I still say you should’ve knocked her ass out. If anyone deserves it, it’s her. I bet half the school would pay to see it too. And bet your ass I’d be first in line.”

  I laughed. “I guess I don’t need to ask what you think about her.”

  Tasha shot me a wicked grin. “You don’t even have to ask. I’ve put up with her and her I’m-the-shit attitude for almost a year. And the only type of shit she is is the kind you flush.”

  It took a second for her words to sink in, and when they did, I stopped dead in my tracks and closed my eyes as they watered with laughter. “Oh, man. I think I like you. No, no, I’m sure I do.”

  Linc’s shoulders shook. “Is this a girl moment? Should I leave you two alone?”

  Tasha rolled her eyes. “Ignore him. He’s just jealous because I’m prettier.”

  Someone called her name and she glanced over her shoulder. She smiled, threw up a hand in a wave. A second later, her eyes narrowed. “Speak of the little demon.”

  I let out a loud sigh. I didn’t need to ask who she meant. Felecia.

  What would she try this time? If yesterday was any indication, she hadn’t let the fight—or feud—drop, despite whatever Greene had said to her. Would she try ‘accidentally’ bumping into me again? Would she get bolder?

  I tried looking over my shoulder sly-like, but she spotted me and started walking faster.

  Brace for impact in five…four…three…

  Felecia stopped in her tracks. After a second, she spun around and headed in the opposite direction, moving fast.

  I turned back, found Greene walking toward us. “Good afternoon, Miss Hall, Mr. Stone, Miss Monroe,” he said when he approached.

  We all said hi.

  Tasha clapped a hand on my shoulder and one on Linc’s. “I’m going to go put my stuff away. Wanna meet up at the café?”

  Linc and I both nodded. “Definitely,” I said, waving as she excused herself.

  “I meant to find you Monday and ask how your first day was, but I had something to take care of.”

  “Oh. It was fine. Mr. Sheldon is great.”

  “I’m glad. He seems quite impressed with you.” His eyes drifted to Linc’s jaw. “Dare I ask what happened?”

  Linc shook his head. “Please don’t.”

  Greene inclined his head. “Very well,” he said, his tone hold
ing a laugh.

  “Um, I have a question,” I said.

  “Yes, Miss Hall?”

  “Did you find out anything about Celina?”

  He nodded. “She’s alive, but it’s too soon to tell how she’ll fare. Unfortunately, she was infected by the demon, so while the doctors are treating the bite wounds, it could be a while before we know how bad the infection is and if our treatments are helping.”

  “Oh. What about family? I didn’t think to ask her—”

  “She’s been unable to tell us of any and our research thus far hasn’t revealed any. We’re still looking.”

  My shoulders slumped. “Then why was she over there?”

  Linc squeezed my hand. “She might’ve been homeless, Jade.”

  I tried not to let either fact unsettle me, because she was alive and that was a good thing, but it still made me sad. She shouldn’t have to be alone. “Can I visit her?”

  Greene’s head was shaking before I’d finished speaking, as if he’d already guessed what I’d ask next. “No, I’m sorry. Until we’re sure about the infection, no one is permitted to see her except her doctors, who know what precautions to take. If—When,” he corrected, seeing my eyes narrow, “she’s better, then we’ll discuss it.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  Linc’s hand wrapped more tightly around mine. “She’s got some of the best working on her.”

  “Yes, she does.” Greene smiled down at me. “They’ll take care of her, I promise.” His expression changed, darkened slightly. “Was that Miss Fitzgerald I saw?”

  Just hearing her name had my eyes rolling and fists clenching.

  “I’ll take that as a yes, which means that angry look was meant for you and not me.” Greene nodded to himself. “I see my talk did nothing to help the situation. Perhaps she needs another one.”

  “Don’t bother,” I muttered. “It won’t help. I’ll just keep avoiding her.” Not that I was having much luck with that, especially today. Even yesterday, she’d either sought me out or found me by accident, but at least then she hadn’t done anything besides mutter insults at me.