VAMPWERGIC

CHAPTER 3

PAST                               
A wooden raft moved swiftly atop a fast flowing river. Its passenger paddled furiously as though his life depended on getting to the other side of the river. He was a Druid messenger wearing a hooded cloak which offered little visibility of his face.
In a distance, a Werewolf pack of five chased along on the hills, above the river with howls and snarls as their paws hit the earth, each stride bringing them closer to the Druid messenger.
"Cursed creatures." The Druid swore under his breath, increasing his pace until the protective boundary which separated his world from the outside world came into view; only a Druid could gain entrance through it's magic.
A brown wolf seemed to gain stride with his raft and would leap at him in minutes.  His hands grasped round a bow and some arrows fashioned out of silver. His arm pulled at the bow's string releasing an arrow with such strength that it took the werewolf out in it's chase. Several shots and he had successfully taken out the rest and he let out a heavy sigh. The air around him suddenly felt cold and the guttural growls from behind him could have only been from his imagination except there was a black Lycan on his raft; it's yellow pupils like all Lycans were like slits.
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The Druid's spell caused the Werewolf to burst into flames which consumed it's fur as it frantically clawed towards the Druid who took out some purplish powder on his palm, blowing it on the carcass which disintegrated instantly into ash.
"It's good to be home." He drew in a fresh intake of air as the raft crept through the protective boundary and into the Druid territory. He could see the well lit villages and children playing in the fields away from the river bank.
His footsteps quickened the moment he touched down from the raft, approaching the stairs of the town head's petit castle. Frightening sculpts of two gargoyles flanked the castle's walls. The ivory doors were guarded by two Druid guards in blue linen, holding long wooden staffs.
"Your pass? " One of the guards inquired, trying to catch a glimpse of the hooded face. "A newt's eye," he replied just as the doors swung open letting him through. The Town head and his own master, Gaius, stood at a table and he silently took off his hood.
"Here are the parcels, My Lord."
"Remove the seals," ordered the Town Head. The string binding each parcel came off revealing three stones which glittered with their unique colours. Gaius examined each stone before speaking.
"The Sapphire; treasure of the Lycans," the Sapphire glowed blue at his touch. "The Pearl;  precious stone of the Druid's," this glowed white. His eyes caught sight of the bluish-black stone which glowed on it's own and he scoffed.
"The Lapis Lazuli; the Vampire stone. Well-done Vernon, now all that is left is to find hosts representing each stone." Vernon bowed and then retreated.

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PRESENT
The sound of sneakers squeaking along the hallway of Madison High drew no attention as it's owner, a blond in a white tee and knee length shorts barged into a class already in session.
Their Geography teacher, Mr Carl Sinzky stopped midway in his speech to peer at him. "Of course, Master Max Henderson, what's your excuse this time? " questioned Mr. Sinzky with a smirk. "Hope it's good enough to buy you some minutes off detention." The class burst into giggles and Max sighed with a nod in the negative. "Have your seat then, see you at detention."
Max sat at his desk with a sulky face, he had a good reason for coming late this time but how could he explain to his irrational Geography teacher that he and his dad had found a dead body on their way to school.
"Now as I was saying before the interruption. The Stonehenge, Eiffel Tower and even the Great Wall of China, all have something in common... " His lesson was once again interrupted by a knock at the class door. "I swear whoever that is, is getting a week's detention...", his hand grabbed round the door's handle and he stood face to face with a familiar figure. "Oh! Principal Hugh, I wasn't expecting you."
The large African-American man in mid fifties strode into the classroom in his grey Italian suit. He took a full look at the students and then at Mr Sinzky.
"Sorry to come on short notice but you'd be having a new student join this class," said Principal Hugh Stokes as whispers came from all angles. "I was hoping you had someone in mind to help her adjust into the system."
Mr Carl made a slight smirk and gave a positive reply while the Principal nodded to the newbie to come in. After some few inaudible words, the Principal made his exit.
"Well class, this is Cassandra Stiles. Do well to be nice..." Max felt his eyes trail the new girl. She was just a blonde as he was and twice more attractive than any girl here at Madison's; maybe equal only to Jasmine. "...And uhm, Henderson! You'd be helping Miss Stiles here as her tour guide instead of detention."
Max grinned underneath and then presented a neutral face before answering. "Alright, Mr Sinzky." A quick wink at Cassandra who smiled back.
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"And that's the team's locker room," Max chirped locking the door shut. "There's also the school's fountain if you'd like to see." Cassandra made her lips into a pouty shape.
"A library, gym, football pitch, hockey court and even a school hall and yet I haven't seen your favorite spot in school." Cassandra questioned, looking him in the face.
"Where exactly would that be?" Asked Max watching her eyes and mouth, totally entranced by them. She replied with upraised brows, "I'm thinking the Art & Theatre room." Max groaned inwardly; he hated the theatre room and wouldn't dare sign up for it even if it were the last place on Earth.
"That's down the hallway by the left. The theatre room is quite magical." He said rolling his eyes as they both walked further outside the building and into the parking lot.
A pink Porsche rolled into the parking area and Max whistled. "Nice ride, I wonder whose it is?" He added loudly unaware of Cassandra's sudden change of expression.
"It's my dad's, I've gotta go," Cassandra mentioned kissing him lightly on the cheek before adding. "I'll see you tomorrow yeah?"
"Yeah." said a dazed Max as he watched her leave and the pink Porsche rolled out of the school. He stole a look at his watch and whistled loudly; it was getting late, his motorcycle was at repairs and unlike other people, he'd have to walk the whole way home.
The high school felt empty safe for the school janitor who locked up some offices with a bunch of keys. There was also someone else because he could hear footsteps up the hallway moving in his direction.
"Hey there. Henderson right? " Logan's deep voice placed all of Max's body hair on end. He turned to face the tanned muscular Native American.
"Oh! It's just you. I prefer Max though," Max said with a questioning look at Logan who just stared back. "It is rather late to be in school, don't you think?"
Logan saddled his sling bag and then shrugged. "I had to clean out the entire chemistry lab as detention," he took some steps ahead of Max.
"Yeah know how that feels, got detention too," Max commented with a slight grin remembering Cassandra's kiss on his cheek.
Logan scoffed. "Yeah right, I know about your thing with the new girl, wish I got that kind of detention. Want a ride?" Logan's attitude shocked him and before now he'd never seen Logan as a 'people person'. Logan raised his brow while gesturing with his hand awaiting a reply.
"Sure thing."

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The wind blew some of her hair into her face as she stroked it aside in a feminine gesture. The sounds of Chris Brown's 'Zero' came blasting out the stereo of the Porsche as her dad drove along.
"So who's the kid?" Jack Stiles, her middle aged dad asked with his hand on the steering wheel and eyes on the road.
"Max? Just a guy at school," Cassandra replied a bit irritated. Her dad's free hand was extended in front of her in a fist. He opened it to reveal a miniature flame ball and his eyes glowed white.
"Can he do this?" He questioned sarcastically now looking at her as she flinched knowing her answer.
"He can't," she replied resignedly as the flames died out and Jack's eyes turned a normal shade. "Then stop seeing him." His cold voice came just as her resolve to fight emerged.
"I've heard that statement so many times than I can remember and I don't think it matters anymore," Cassandra blurted out without looking her dad in the face. "I'm nineteen and soon to go to college. I don't wanna live my life as an outcast just because I'm a witch."
Jack groaned inwardly as he took a left turn into a parking space in front of a semidetached house with a mail box. "You're not a witch, you're a druid, there's a big difference." He looked out his window and back at her. "Fine but no late nights or any other hormone crazed stuff it is that you youngsters do." He completed with a sigh as Cassandra reached forward to kiss his forehead. He killed the Porsche's engines just as his daughter stepped out the vehicle. "And uhm Sandie..."
"Yeah?" Her lowered head appeared from her side of the door. "You can't tell anyone about your origins." He added while she nodded, entering their home.