Hate by K.A Knight
Icrack my neck and grin, but go like a good girl. I don’t attack them now, I need information first. Information they have. I look to Dume and wink. “Be good, bull. I’ll be back.”
He roars and strains to try and get to me, his animal no doubt angry about me leaving him, but I have to if I have any hope of setting him free and my bull deserves freedom.
He roars again, but the cell door shuts and cuts it off. Huh, must be soundproofed. Veyo glances back at the door then to me with a question in his eyes I choose to ignore. He starts to walk, so I fall in next to him, ignoring the guards trooping behind us.
I’m led past more and more cell doors, and I wonder what they are keeping down here, but I hold my mouth shut, trying to play nice and let them think I’ve learned my lesson. The idiot obviously believes it because he struts taller, like a fucking peacock prancing.
“Where were the men who were with me?” I inquire politely as we walk. I can see him watching me out of the corner of his eye, wondering if I will attack him.
“I don’t know, we did not need them so we left them there.”
I relax a little at that, knowing Nos and Griffin are safe. I keep my mouth closed as we turn the corner and ascend some stairs into a formal sitting room. He sits down and surveys me. I sit also, relaxing like I belong here and don’t have a care in the world. He doesn’t scare me, I can feel his power and it’s low. No, he is nothing more than a pawn.
“You intrigue me, skinwalker. There hasn’t been one of you for centuries, so why now? I can’t help but wonder,” he questions, and I’m betting he doesn’t usually ruminate a lot.
I shrug and his eyes flare for a moment before he fluffs like a bird. “I bet you’re curious why we took you.”
“Not really.”
His eyes narrow, so I grin.
“I’m assuming for some nefarious purpose, though you clearly want to tell me, so please do.” Okay, not so good at this good girl act.
A laugh comes from the door, and I turn my head to see a man standing there, leaning against the frame. He is older looking, holding a black cane with a golden eagle head on the top, although I think it’s more of a statement than out of need. His hair is grey and pushed back, his eyes sharp and yellow...but I can feel his power. This isn’t a man to be fucked with, and I’m betting he’s the one in charge. “She’s smart, this one.”
He moves through the room and Veyo jumps to his feet, bowing his head, so I know I was right. The man sits heavily on the sofa and stares at me. I stare right back. He might be powerful, but he’s still a man. “I am Amos, the great eagle, and who are you?”
Huh, so he’s an eagle shifter like Veyo. Didn’t they say an eagle sat on the council? It only confirms that the council is behind the disappearances. My question is still why? What can they gain from experimenting on humans and stealing females of different races?
“Dawn,” I reply. He raises his eyebrows as if prompting me to carry on, so naturally, I do. “Fucker upper of men, the great killer of assholes who think they rule the world because of power and money.”
“I see,” he says with disdain.
“So, Assmos, I’m going to be honest—”
“Amos,” he corrects, and I nod.
“Of course, Assmos. I get the humans. Even if it’s fucked up, you are trying to make more supernaturals. I don’t know your reasoning, but why kidnap women from different races? You didn’t think they would talk to each other, but they did and they are hunting for the perpetrator. Though they don’t seem to know to look at their own ruling body.”
“It is Amos,” he repeats with a frown, clutching his cane harder like he’s imagining smacking me with it. “But yes, I suppose I owe you somewhat of an explanation. First, Dawn, how did you become a skinwalker?”
I debate my options, but I honestly don’t really know much, so I don’t see the harm in telling him. “I was murdered and buried, I was on death’s door when I...just didn’t die. I woke up and crawled from the grave and became what I am now.”
“The thing is, Dawn, our bloodlines are weakening. Each time another is born, their blood is diluted from interhuman breeding and supernaturals losing their powers. Humans are becoming the dominant species with the original gods gone, while more and more are born with latent blood running through their veins...waiting to be activated. Essentially, we are speaking of a whole army’s worth of supernaturals trapped in a sheep’s body. I think that happened to you.”
I grit my teeth as he carries on, what a prick.
“When you woke in the ground, so close to death, you had a choice. Yes, I see it in your eyes, you remember the moment. You chose life, you chose to keep fighting, and in doing so your body changed to keep you alive, your very cells evolving until you became what you are now. But those awakened do not always have the traditional blood of their ancestors, they are adapting. Whether it be the environment or human blood, some are stronger, their powers untold...like you.”
I do remember the moment he’s talking about, where I chose rage instead of peace. I chose to come back for revenge, to hurt those who hurt me. It was then the pain started and I changed—he’s right.
“And others?”
“Others are subspecies, not human and not enough to be one of us. Abominations.”
I snort. “Wow, monsters snubbing other monsters, and here I thought only humans were such assholes.”
“Whether you like it or not, Dawn, we are evolving, we must keep the lines as pure as we can.”
I lean forward. “That’s not all, is it? To me it sounds like a last-ditch effort. You said your numbers are dwindling, the humans are dominant, and I don’t think you like that. I believe you are trying to build an army…but for what? To take over? To make those you deem worthy in charge again? It would be chaos, humans will always come out on top. We are better off sticking to the shadows, we are monsters, after all.”
He sighs. “I can see you don’t understand yet, you will, maybe with a bit of effort and pain, you will see what we are trying to do is for the best of us all.” He stands, still clutching his cane.
“Doubt it, but please try. I do enjoy a bit of torture, really gets my blood going if you know what I mean.” I wink and he turns away, then he stops before Veyo.
“Break her, I want her obedient, I have plans for her,” he instructs, and sweeps from the room.
Veyo calls out, and guards with the glowing medallions—witch magic—step into the room. Getting to my feet, I crack my neck and let my monster out to play—my eyes bleeding black, my claws extending, and strength surging through me. It comes easier and easier each time. He was an asshole, but he’s right, we are changing. I’m becoming...more than just a skinwalker. I can feel it, the power growing within, wrapping me in its arms...the question is, what will I become and what are his plans for me?
I have a feeling Veyo doesn’t want to share that kind of information, even if he knew. No, he was ordered to break me, and he will try.
I will kill them, rip their faces from their bodies and wear them as I laugh. “Come on, boys, let’s play.”
Veyo nods and they rush me in a wave. They are stronger than humans, the magic of the witches running through them, making them almost as strong as me. Almost.
I throw myself at them, taking them down. I rip out one’s throat with my nails. I take the other’s own energy weapon from him and use my strength to stab it into his chest. He jolts and shakes with a scream as he’s locked in an endless cycle of electrocution.
Someone smashes theirs into my back, and I lurch before spinning with a howl and gutting them. More and more come at me, and I fight and slash, taking down as many as I can. I know I won’t win, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m going to hurt them, show them they might be able to subdue me, but they will never break me.
Tim couldn’t.
Death couldn’t.
These magicked up bitches can’t.
They start to overpower me and I end up on the floor, still hacking and kicking, but soon I have to curl up to protect myself, their boots and magic too much. Veyo cackles and I glare. Fuck these pricks and their agenda.
Refusing to let them see me hurt, I laugh, spitting my blood in their faces as they rain down punches and kicks on my curled up body. I continue to laugh until a boot slams down on my head, knocking me out.
