Cain

Esha's POV

Why was I so afraid a while back? And what is the deal with the howlings? My mother didn't hear and despite the downpour, I heard it.

I can't focus on my reading because of this thought. It's Friday tomorrow so I think I should sleep and be up all night tomorrow. Last day of school. Hope it does not rain again.

Sleeping wouldn't be so hard if I stop this growing anxiety again. I am home and I am safe and nothing is wrong. I can feel someone watching me again.

Tsk.

I scanned the room, my not so vast room full of books and well not much.

Suddenly, the power went out. My heart started to race. Just then a pair of red eyes are looking at me, I jump back from my bed, pressing myself to the wall. I am stuck here and it's hard to move.

I should run but my mind came out empty and I keep looking at those pair of eyes, full of malice, I can feel it inside, trying to claw its sight and fill me with fear, which in fact is what I am really feeling right now.

I feel a hand touch my face and indistinct whispers. I can feel warm breath on my neck. I really wanted to scream but yes, my voice seems muted and I can't say anything. My eyes might have appeared bulging with fear from this person, whoever he or she is, looking at me. The whispers goes on and on even if I cannot catch one word from it. It's like those you watch on TVs on horror movies, where devils speak or some spell, something like that.

I can feel my hand moving. Taking this opportunity, I tried to push whatever or whoever is near me, holding my face. I found my voice and was able to scream. And in an instant, the power is back.

"Esha? Esha???"

My mother came rushing in.

"You look so pale? Have you dream or nightmare? I heard your scream from my room" she asked without giving me a chanc3 to answer, "It's 2 a.m. in the morning."

2 a.m.? As I remember, it's still 10 p.m. when the lights went out.

"There was a black out a while back, right?"

I asked. My mother looks clueless.

"No, there was no black out, I think you just had a nightmare" my mother said.

Impossible! That cannot be! Oh but that can be, maybe I just really had a bad dream, or more like a scare to death dream.

"I'll get you some warm water and milk so you can drink and get back to sleep, there're still a fews hours to sleep before you go to school" my mother said and patted me on the head.

I looked up at her and it seems like her eyes are shining. I'm a bit close with my mom and she's yet the most beautiful woman I know.

"O-okay" I managed to say.

She gave me a smile and hugged me before she went down stairs to get me milk and warm water.

How is this possible? Those red eyes are totally scary, really just a dream, huh?

***Friday morning at school***

"I want everyone to meet your new classmate, he just transferred here, obviously so be good" the homeroom teacher introduced the new student to us.

I can hear excitement from the girls about him being hot, gorgeous and all that. Well, I must admit that yes, he is totally gorgeous and handsome. Uhm, okay so I do notice people, at the least, how they appear and all that but I'm into their character and personality more.

"Well, you can start by introducing yourself, Mr. Thales" our homeroom teacher, Ms. Feng, said to the guy. She's American-Chinese, if you are wondering about her name. Okay, so back to that guy, who is making me feel uncomfortable with his gaze.

I don't know but maybe, I'm just imagining things cause he has been looking at me most of the time. Not sure if the others noticed or just that, I'm just being self-absord. Just kidding.

"My name is Koren Cain Thales but you can call me any of my two names, hope to have good times with all of you, that's all" the guy introduced himself.

"No additional?" Ms. Feng asked giving him a smile.

"None, ma'am, am good" Koren Cain said. I think, I'll just use Cain later.

"Well, okay then, Mr. Thales, you can sit at the empty seat you see on the second to the last row.

Wait! What? I stared at the empty seat at my right beside the window where a certain student deserted because she transferred to a different school like 2 weeks after school started. Never got her name, though. Clara is sitting at beside me, though, on my left.

And he walks towards the seat.

I did not look at him, maybe at his feet or shoes, oh gawd! Why does it have to be beside me? But well, normal! Everything will be normal. Just act friendly if he speaks to me or just ignore him. Am not popular anyway.

Ms. Feng instructed us to read pages on our textbook, history and some folklore or something. Why does she always give us some side lessons?

I can feel someone looking at me and I don't need to turn to know who it is. Minutes passed and I feel ticklish or more like annoyed. I faced him and stared at him back.

"Hi!" he said and waved his right hand.

"Hello" I just answered. So what now? "What are you looking at?"

"You" he answered.

"Why?" I furrowed my brows because I'm a bit annoyed. After what happened yesterday, I don't feel okay with people looking at me nor staring at me for a long time. If a few minutes or so is a long time. It feels like so.

"Nothing."

'You're weird and it's kind of creepy' thinking to myself.

"Apology, if I seem weird or creepy."

Uhmmmmmmmm???

Did he just read my thought? No. No. No. Maybe, just coincidence.

"Uhm, okay, probably continue reading now" I managed to say.

"What's your name?"

I pretended like I did not hear him.

"What's your name?"

"She's Alesha Mirsten" someone answered for me, I looked at my left, no time to guess who that was.

"Lovely name" Cain said and smiled.

Not to be so rude, I just look at him and gave a smiled then turned and furrowed my brows again at Clara.

I'm dreading for breaks now and going home. So when snack break timed in, I went to the library to find Gellie. She is a librarian, a student-librarian, to be exact and she's in a different class than mine.

"You look unwell"

"Oh"

"Did something happen?"

Gellie, the worrisome as always.

"I'm fine" I said, she looks unconvinced "Really, Gel, I'm fine, you're just a worry wart" I continued "Just kidding about that."

"Hmmmm" she mumbled a bit, "Okay, if you say so" she continued, "Anyway, I heard, there's a hot guy who's in your class today, he transferred from Romania, or somewhere."

"You're interested with guys now?" I asked a bit surprised, Gellie doesn't much talk about guys, well, she does but she's more into the book characters that are male than of real ones.

"Don't be mean, of course I am" she said, "So what's his name? Did you talk to him? Is he really cute or handsome or anything like that?"

"My name's Koren Cain" someone answered, "You flatter me with those words" I turned to look and well, not so surprising, he is there "You can call me any of that two names, if you like."

Gellie gasped and breathe out.

"You kinda gave a mini-heart attack but I'm fine now" she said. Her face is a bit odd. "Do you like to read?"

"Well, yeah, I do like to read but not bookwormish" he answered, "I'm here to see Alesha."

"Me?" okay so he is here to see me? Why oh why?

Gellie gave a delighted squeal but suppressed it immediately.

"Okay, so I'll head back and unpack the boxes of new book deliveries so I have to leave you two" Gellie said and smiled "Nice meeting you Koren."

She went on and left us. We were standing beside one of the library tables near the book shelf or history and mythologies.

"Uhm, why do you wanna see me?"

"Nothing."

And here we go again. That's strike two, Mr. Weird!

"That's pretty not so good for me" I said, "Sorry but it's kind of weird, yes, as you mentioned in class."

"Alesha, sorry about that, I just can't resist."

Resist?

"What do you mean by that?"

He pulled my right wrist and then held my hand with both of his.

"I found you."

***************

"Shira"

"Yes, alpha"

"Any more news for today?"

"The Thales are here in town."

"Oh, well, they came just in time for a show any time soon, then."

"Will you allow them here?"

"This is our territory here, our area is here and they are like nomads travelling different places" the alpha of the pack that was looking at Esha the other night, said.

"But --- "

"They are from a different pack, as you know well and we are still under the Lycan Law" the alpha said.

'Alpha Stephen is really frustrating sometimes' Shira thought. She has been with him most of her life but never really grasp the whole personality of the pack leader.

"As you say" she just agreed, "I'll observe the girl more and study her actions, I am sure she does not even have a clue."

"Shira, you really are good" Stephen said "Very well, then, go on, I'm a bit tired" he continued.

Shira turned to leave.

"Have Roxy come to my bedroom."

Shira turned to look at him, "Yes, alpha, I will" she bowed her head a bit, turned then walked out to call Roxy, the alpha's plaything for pleasure.

Roxy has no choice anyway as she had disobeyed the alpha's orders once and tried to leave the pack and almost killed one of theirs. She was not able to escape again.

'Such fate' Shira thought 'Such my fate as well, but life's boring anyway, those who disobey the pack rules and the alpha should be punished' she continued 'Now, I'll better continue with observing that girl, first.'