How to Survive Supernatural College (The Complications of Supernatural Adoption Book 2)

by Francheska Fifield

  I have been taught to use their instincts against them. They will howl and run straight in for the kill. And I can use that to dig into their skin with my gel invention. Instant silver poison. I have been inventing ways for people to hold their own against the supernatural even without self-defense training.

  Indivisible hardening silver nail casings, werewolf venom injections that will poison any Vampire. I have now decided to make a potion to strip witches of their powers because everything calls for balance. They all need me to hold a weakness to keep them all in check.

  I walk back to the middle of the gym and stand there waiting. My calm serene appearance causes growling.

  "Bad dog. You are supposed to teach the humans not terrorize them."

  Nothing pisses a wolf off more than being called a dog. Ironic because I like dogs better. Nicer by far. Also, much cuter. The point, however, is that to our instructor it is an insult.

  He finishes his change and charges me. I stand until he almost reaches me with his pounce. Then I drop my body down and my nails up. They scrap across his underbelly ripping off hair and leaving scratches. Not too deep since I don’t want to kill him. He is my teacher. But enough that the silver is in the bloodstream.

  He misses his landing because of numbness in the legs. I go over standing above him showing the invisible nails with pieces of fur on them.

  "If I had shoved up you would have been poisoned so bad, they wouldn’t have time to save you. Werewolves are the easiest supernatural to beat because they do not use logic. That can be used against you quite easily. In fact, they were the first supernatural I created a human self-defense technique against. I have one for Vampires, each type of Fae, and I am working on one for witches. None of you are indestructible. Remember that."

  I turn, walking to the door. I will need the dissolving potion to get these off, but maybe if people see it while I go to get help for the werewolf, they will be less likely to mess with me. Especially the other wolves since they will smell whose fur is on my nails.

  When I step into the nurse's office, she looks up shocked. I have furry invisible nails. Shock is not an unheard-of reaction. Poor sweet Fae healer

  "We need help in the gym."

  "Wolf lose control and attack?"

  I shake my head smiling at the furry nails. "This is our instructors. He is being poisoned by silver. He needed to learn humans aren't prey."

  I don’t wait for a response. I just turn and walk out. I could have used the werewolf healing potion I have, but it would provide instant relief and I want him to have to take a few days to get back to normal. Nothing produces results like pain…maybe I am a little Vampire-ish now. I shrug. Survival of the fittest. No one said the fittest had to be supernaturals.

  Chapter 7

  The rest of the day has me surrounded by humans. Cheering, boasting about me (which makes no sense to me), and shock mixes with awe. I don’t consider what I did as awe-worthy. I said I was able to defend myself. It is not my fault our teacher hadn't believed me.

  I got the gunk off my fingers once leaving the nurse’s office. Of course, now we have no gym class until next week. So, we have free time. We explore, eat, do some work for other classes. It is rather nice.

  What is not nice is the attention that now follows me everywhere. Not just humans. No, the werewolves are also whispering about their humiliation by my hands. I only remember humiliating one of them. Rolling my eyes, I can’t stop my thoughts from escaping me out loud. "Pack mentality."

  The witches are whispering as well. I don’t expect that is a good thing. I have no idea what Gwen said. I hope Heather doesn’t bear the brunt of my argument with Gwen. Stupid witches. The supernatural and I are just not friends today.

  I am torn from my thoughts by chair sounds. Looking around I see a very worried Heather…uh oh. A barely stopping herself from laughing Selene …who has no instincts for self-preservation. And last but not least, a tired-looking Al.

  "What's up, guys?"

  Selene raises an eyebrow at me before laughing her butt off.

  "Like you don’t know the whole class is talking about you giving your gym instructor silver poison."

  I shrug at Selene hoping no one will ask for details. I am honestly tired of talking about it. I can’t wait until next year. This year there is only this grade level. Next year a different freshman can do something stupid and take my spot in the limelight.

  "Amber."

  One word in Al's disappointed tone and I spill. It is like getting in trouble with your parents.

  "He mocked us. All of us. He made the others talk about learning self-defense so they could put up enough of a fight to make the chase interesting for the Vamps that owned them. He didn’t have to do it that way. Then he mocked my abilities, without even seeing them. He mocked me and you and mom. He didn’t care how competent I was. He just wanted to humiliate all of us. He's supposed to teach us how to defend ourselves in this world."

  Heather gasps and covers her mouth. Her eyes water.

  "Did he really make them talk about it?"

  "He made them all admit that was the extent of their self-defense knowledge. Right there in the gym in front of everyone."

  "How horrible!"

  I couldn’t agree more that’s why I lost my cool.

  "You weren't scared."

  It is meant as a statement because Al already knows I hadn't been, but he asks it. For the others. I shrug picking at my food. I have very little appetite.

  "No. You trained me to keep level-headed and win; not panic and lose."

  He pets the top of my head a couple of times and I shove his hand away.

  "Hello, not a baby you know."

  "Nope, you are a big bad wolf hunter now. Maybe we should get you a red cape."

  Al smirks and I roll my eyes at him. It is a funny reference to those that know the true story of little red. Miss Hood had been a part of a family of wolf and Vampire hunters. Her gram hadn't been sick she had been injured on a hunt.

  Being as strong-willed as the rest of her family she refused to listen when her parents said to stay home, the woods are dangerous right now. She set off with medicine for her gram, a poison they gave to hunters infected by a werewolf or Vampire venom so they didn’t become what they hunted.

  She was still in training, but she didn’t fear the man-eaters. She was being taught to kill them so why should she? But the alpha got her. The wolves back then had powers they didn’t now. They were bigger. So much bigger, and tied to the moon. The closer to a full moon the bigger they were. New moons meant a normal-sized wolf. It was the safest time to hunt them. Evolution has fixed that, but back then it was the truth.

  So little red had gone out during a full moon and been swallowed by the alpha. He didn’t expect she would be armed though. He and his pack went to attack the home of the weakened hunters.

  Upon hearing the sounds of humans and battle little red grabbed her silver knife from her pocket and stabbed the alpha. Over and over, turning his organs into mincemeat. Her family was able to cut her out before she suffocated.

  The pack, weaker with the loss of their alpha, were easy prey and destroyed. The woods were once again safe from man-eaters. People moved back and the town flourished. And little red went down in history as the little girl that outsmarted a werewolf.

  The similarity between her and my situation is not lost on me, but I refuse to wear a red cape. Blood hunters. A red cape means you are a hunter of "tainted" blood. I don’t think the supernaturals are tainted. No one can help what they are born as. A squirrel, a human, or a werewolf. How you act is much more important than what you are.

  "Get me a white one instead."

  A white cape is basically unheard of. It represents perfect unity between all races, human or other, and acceptance of all that exists. It hasn't been gifted to anyone (the official one created using magic and skills of ALL the races) in over five hundred years. I am determined to be the next one to receive it…. I should stop stabb
ing teachers first.

  "You think you could take the year-long voyage if you were offered it? Living in the wild of each supernatural home eating only what is gifted to you. "

  "Of course, I could Al. I just have to bring guardians from each race. I have three already. The werewolf will be much harder to get."

  Eyes pop out of my head and I smile sweetly. "My best friend witch, my best friend Fae, and of course Al has to come to protect me. You guys wouldn’t say no to me, would you? It's an honor to be chosen you know."

  "Umm, I am a garden and healing witch. Selene is a succubus. How could we protect you?"

  "Avoiding battle with flirting is protection. And healing when injured also important. I want people that resonate with my message. That I belong to everyone and want peace between the races."

  I shouldn’t have brought it up in the cafeteria but somewhere private where they can yell at me until I cry and they give in.

  "So, diplomacy before violence?"

  I nod. Selene is smart. She looks thoughtful. It is a face she doesn’t usually wear, despite her mind working a mile a minute.

  "It's not a bad plan. Sure I'm in."

  Heather sputters.

  "Just like that Selene?"

  Selene smiles shrugging.

  "She's my friend why would I say no? Besides she's right, it's an honor. After that year you are given riches, a home, and land in the Fae world. I get startup capital for my business."

  I am not going into detail about what that is because it is not fit to say out loud. Heather must have heard it too because she holds out one hand shushing Selene and covers her face with the other.

  "Stop. Okay fine. I'm in. Just do not tell me about your sex school again."

  Al looks at me questioning what he is hearing. I nod. Yeah, he heard that correctly.

  "So, all that’s left is for the Vampire to agree."

  We look at Selene who wears a challenging expression on her face. Then turns to look at Al.

  "Of course, I am going. Someone there has to know how to fight so when you three get in trouble you don't die."

  We all laugh and pat Al's arm. He’s not right, but well he’s not entirely wrong either.

  I am almost back to my room when I am summoned to the principal's office. By summoned I mean touching my doorknob one second and the next I am in the office. Teleportation witches are rare, but one heads our school. Likely because in an emergency they can get us out or help in. Also, to bring us here, to begin with. I never wondered how many witches and Fae it had taken to create the portal leading us here. Now I want to ask.

  "Amber. The human with the DNA twist. Is that correct?"

  "Yes. Why am I here?"

  She slams my folder shut and onto her desk.

  "You cannot be wondering that, can you? I was told you were bright."

  "I am. I know the rules of this school and I broke none of them."

  "Threatening a student…"

  "If you mean Gwen did she also tell you she threw me into a wall using her power and threatened me first? Or that she destroyed all my personal items? I am sure you will hear more from my mom when she gets here. You know the Vampire princess."

  Her lips tighten. I want to ask her how a witch ends up being such a muggle. No more Harry Potter for me. It will lead me to want to make bad, bad comments.

  "You attacked a teacher…"

  "He asked me to battle and show him my capabilities. You can ask the entire class. He was rude, arrogant, and downright mean because all of us are human. Like it was beneath him to teach us. He then challenged me to fight. I agreed. The only problem is I won. He wouldn’t have complained if he won and I bet it wouldn’t be an issue if I ended up in the nurse's office trying not to turn into a wolf because he bit me. Would it?"

  She says nothing. Nope. I am right. The issue is with who Gwen and the teacher are. And what I am. My actions are not being called into question. I am.

  "Discriminating against me because I am a human that can defend myself and am not scared of all of you is against the new council rules. I know because I helped them draft those rules. I am here not just as a student, but to oversee this school and report to the head council of each race what needs to be done to improve it. Including the teacher list. Even if that were not the truth, I do have the means to incapacitate you, everyone, here really. And if I am threatened, I will not hesitate to do so. Is there anything else I must answer too?"

  Mentioning the council is a bit of a power play dickhead move, but I feel it needs to be done. I am not sure this witch knows she can and will be replaced if all the students are not treated as equals.

  "Have a nice day Amber."

  "I plan to tomorrow. My mother is coming early as I have no clothes except these borrowed jeans and shirt and the PJs I was wearing while my stuff was destroyed. She is bringing me supplies. I have a feeling she will have something to say to the teachers here about how I am being treated."

  I slam the door behind me just to be willful. So, I am still a child. I shouldn’t act this way, but something about that woman just gets on my nerves. Some people just make me feel uneasy and she definitely tops the list.

  So had the werewolf. I have met others that don’t bother me so much. So why did this one get my back up the second I saw him? I will have to look into his history. So much to do and so little time.

  Chapter 8

  The teacher should have listened. Fiona and Fergus (didn't know he was coming) blew in like a tornado and a few hours later the headmaster and gym teacher were sacked. Parent's weekend was postponed until the headmaster could be replaced and the leader of Gwen's witch coven (aka her mother) came not long after the sacking took place. It is almost as if she was summoned.

  Alastair, Gwen, Fiona, Fergus, and the leader of the witchy world all met with me in the gym. Al looks completely nonchalant, but I am about to flip. That is a lot of adults with big tempers in one place. I am not even magical and I can sense the electricity in the air. Someone is about to explode.

  "Gwen is what this human says true?"

  "Of course, it is true! My daughter would not lie! We knew you would side with your precious daughter so we had a witch do a magical trace on my daughters’ stuff to prove it!"

  Fiona is in full mama bear mode right now. Heather walks in and hands a scroll to the leader of the witch world. Scary witchy looks way too much like Gwen not to be a relative. Great there are two of them.

  "Gwen…read these charges and tell me if that is all you did or not."

  If Fiona is fire this woman is ice. I feel like rubbing my arms to attempt to warm myself. I wish I wore sweaters like the other humans. Summer or not the ice queen here is just short of pulling a full-on Elsa.

  "Mother she said…"

  "Have I taught you nothing?"

  Gwen is cuffed and the paper torn from her grasp.

  "You think because you are this generation’s Gwen, that you can do as you please? That you do not have to take the covens, or our image, into consideration before you do anything? Did I raise you to think better of yourself than others? Because I believe I told you that the leader of the covens is a servant to the position. That means making the best impression of a witch to anyone whose path you cross! You are a disgrace. If this is how you behave, I feel it necessary to open the leadership to all candidates."

  Even Al raises his brows at that. What the hell does that mean? Is she disinherited? Will she be leaving? Am I free from her shit?

  "For the remainder of your schooling, I am demanding you wear this."

  She holds up a silver bracelet. It looks delicate and so very breakable. A black stone sits in the center of a heart. It looks less harmless than it apparently is. Gwen turns so white she looks like Casper. Heather takes an involuntary step back. What the hell is that thing?

  "Mother you cannot do that! I'm a witch; my power is my identity…"

  "Your power is blessed to you by the ancestors. You need to deserve it before you have it. I s
hould have done this years ago. I spoiled you too much and now we both must face the consequences. I have a daughter that is an embarrassment to our name and you must lose your powers to find the part of you the ancestors found worthy."

  Her mother holds her firm and slaps the bracelet on. It shrinks until it is skin-tight. No matter how much Gwen tries to get it off it is not budging. I would feel bad for her except…well, she ruined my stuff and brought it on herself.

  "Heather you will switch rooms with Gwen. A witch will better be able to deal with Gwen's…. situation now"

  Heather nods and leaves. Gwen is on the floor looking a bit like melting butter on a pancake. Her face is empty. She has no powers now. I want to say she is like the rest of us now, but I know better. Heather says it is like losing a piece of yourself. Her mother witnessed it once and the person was walking around like a doll. Of course, they had had their power ripped entirely away and Gwen's is only suspended for now, but I imagine it is much the same.

  Her mother turns to Fiona still looking like she has just punished any ‘ole witch and not her daughter. Harsh.

  "Is the punishment satisfactory princess?"

  Fiona nods and the woman leaves without blinking. Wow, royalty scares me. I go over to Gwen and wave a hand in front of her face. Nothing. No blinking, no acknowledgment that I am even here. Gwen has gone bye-bye.

  "What is the open season thing about?" I am not sure I want to know, but well…

  "It means they are saying she might not be the best person to lead. The one with the most power is usually the leader, but it's not always the case. It means she's lacking. It is the worst insult she could bring upon herself and her family."

  I stand flinching as Al wraps up his explanation.

  "You mean she was disowned?"

  "Not exactly, but her privileges as the next coven leader are gone and others may apply for the position. If chosen they will be adopted into the family and she will be forced to swear a blood oath of loyalty or have her powers permanently ripped out."