Two Worlds Apart

Ari

I sat in a bar, the beer getting warm in my hand. The music was irritating and the crowd was bustling, which was not my place. I slugged down the liquor and growled at a guy who stumbled past me drunkenly.

Humans, I got up and stalked to the door. The bartender frowned when he saw me walk to the door without so much as a misstep.

Unfortunately, I am still as sober now as I was when I walked in a couple of hours earlier. I pushed out the door and squeezed the bottle until it gave way and the shards fell to the ground, glittering the sideway here in Livingstone.

I froze, something deep inside me stopping and awakening my senses. I was on edge and I frowned, scoping the area but not sensing any other Shifters nearby. I shook my head, hoping in vain that the 4 hours of drinking alcohol had seemed to have some affect. Maybe there was a club nearby, I reached for my sense of smell and breathed in deeply.

The nearest club was about half a kilometre away. I turned and headed over there, smirking as I watched the density of the people grew exponentially. A good crowd to hide from the wolves and maybe even get a little action. A dark grin crossed over my expression and I melted into the crowds of drunk 20 years old. I glanced at the carefree teens and found myself craving to enjoy my life as they were.

"Hey babe. You're not from around here... are you?" a girl giggled and stumbled with a drink in each hand. She thrust it at me and smirked under those lashes, her dark brown eyes twinkling seductively.

I took the bottle and slugged back the drink, the alcohol burning my throat but my state of mind stayed undisturbed. She was pretty, the type that promised an uncomplicated relationship and fun time, her red bob bouncing as she danced to the hypnotic bass.

"No. I'm new in town. Haven't been here long." I said slowly and her eyes grew at my accent, a carefully chosen smile that was designed to lure an unsuspecting victim to the kill.

"Well, come with me and I'll show you a good time you won't forget." She purred by my ear, the noise around us nearly drowning out her whisper.

Instinctively I breathed in, checking her scent, searching for Shifters nearby. She was clear but I tensed as smelt the scent of one of the gifted. A shifter was here amongst the mortals.

"How about we first enjoy the evening then you can show me the good time." I whispered back, but my eyes roamed through the throngs of people dancing to the music.

I found the silhouette, his eyes glittering in the streetlights. I ignored the girl as she tried taunting me, my focus on the silhouette which walked away from the partygoers. The girl forgotten, I left her and stalked after the stranger. I reached for my skill set, using the senses my shift allowed me to enhance my current capabilities.

About a kilometre later, I was in the nearby forestry, tracking the stranger by scent. I ran through the bushes, vaulting over shrubs and fallen trees, stretching my shifter enhancements to the limit while still remaining in my human form. Dodging the shrubs, the feeling of power surged through my veins and I wanted to shift but before I could, the silhouette was in front of me, watching me.

"You're fast, boy." A male voice sneered and I tensed, but showed no emotion. It sounded middle aged.

"What is your business, old man?" I gave the stranger a once overlook, tilting my head. I sniffed the air openly and smirked, he was one of us.

"I expect more respect, boy." The man growled and stepped into the moonlight, but his smirk made him seem amused.

His dark hair smoothed to the back with gel, revealed a middle aged face which was carved with a serious expression. His dark brown eyes were hardened and calculating, a common look on human war soldiers who fought hard and long up the ranks but his charcoal suit was one of the finest Armani I've seen, something corporate business men would wear.

"Why should I? What makes you so special?" I dared to challenge him.

"Because, little cub, I am your king." He smiled, but it was meant nothing compared with the glint in his eyes. "King Alessandro."

"I didn't know," my eyes widened I bowed my head in respect, worried as to why the king was looking for me.

"I have a job for you. It requires blending in with a crowd and as I saw, you seem to do rather well in that."

"What's the catch?" I narrowed my eyes, knowing that there are others more qualified than I am.

"You're the only person young enough to complete it. You were rather popular in your senior year, weren't you?" His eyes challenged me to deny the truth he spoke.

"I was well known at school. But not for good things." I smirked and folded my arms, leaning against a tree trunk. "But why am I going back to school?"

"Because, a high ranked Alpha is attending the school and I want you to investigate a person there. Miut Feles." He took a packet out of his pocket and threw it at me. I snatched it out of the air, inspecting the white envelope with my name carefully typed on it. "I'll pay the rest of it once your work is done."

"I accept." I said after careful thinking and tucked the envelope in my back pocket, pushing myself off the tree.

"Smart choice. I've already arranged everything needed, all you need to do is get there before the morning assembly."

"I think I can handle that. Where do I meet you?"

"Don't worry, I'll set up the time and place." He gave a curt nod and I took that as a dismissal, "Keep your phone on."

I bowed my head once again in respect and headed back the way I came.

"Oh, and Ari," I turned around to look at the man behind me, "Happy 21st birthday." He smirked and turned around, disappearing in the forestry leaving me with a chill running down my spine.

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The alarm woke me up, screaming for attention and I got up. Groaning I shut it off and ran a hand through my hair.

Thursday morning. Today was day 1 of my assignment. Last night I rode my bike like a man possessed to get to Silverlake, following the directions in the envelope to an apartment building. It was already furnished and a fresh new assortment of clothes were in the cupboard, as well as provisions for the next 3 years.

I splashed water on my face and hair, staring at the face looking back at me in the mirror. I really let my hair grow since last time I was on a job. It stuck out in all directions making me groan slightly but I dealt with it, running my fingers until it looked somewhat representable.

Dark brown eyes stared back at me, the pupils shrinking to slits. I smirked and blinked twice, the pupils dilating and making it seem as if the slits were imagined. My phone sprung to life and shook me out of the trance.

"Hello?"

"Miut won't be at school today, so you don't have to go. Meet me in the foyer at 3pm, we need to debrief you." A female voice instructed sharply and the line went dead.

I sighed and went to bed, hoping to catch some more rest before the debriefing.