Comes with the Territory

Chapter 14 CWT

The receptionist stared at me, wide mouthed and unblinking. I met her stare head on, curling my lip up to smirk at her. We had been like that for a while now, and I was beginning to get bored.

What the heck is her problem, anyway? I asked Hellcat, knowing that she could guide me with her almighty wisdom.

Hear that Hellcat, I think you’re wise! Now you should be nice to me!

No, I don’t have to do anything. You still annoy me. But for the reason she is gaping at you? It’s because of the power I am now giving off of you, to assert my dominance in this school, she said, and I gasped.

But that’s not nice, Hellcat! Didn’t I ever tell you that scaring people is bad? I chastised, waggling a mental finger at her.

Um, you scare people all the time, Micey. Most people are terrified of you and your personality. I stuck a mental tongue out at her, not breaking eye contact with the poor lady who feel prey to my inner tiger.

“Are you okay, Miss?” I asked, making her blink and lose focus in me. Hellcat sent me a wave of obnoxious smugness, which I pushed away as she bowed her head and shuffled for some papers that were around her on the desk.

“Um, y-y-yes I’m f-f-fine,” she stuttered, pushing her chair further away from me.

“What’s your name?” she asked, pulling herself back together.

“I’m Mica Pazarie, ma’am,” I chirped brightly, flashing a smile. The corner of her mouth twitched, and I mentally fist bumped me on making some sort of smile.

We are the superior creature in this room, Mica! You must show your dominance, not try to bring her happiness! Hellcat snarled in my head, her voice shaking me physically.

But I’m not a meanie like you are, Hellcat, I smarted off at her. She growled, but slunk away once more. Mica- 1, Hellcat- 0. The secretary handed a salmon colored slip of paper to me with trembling fingers, making me feel guilty.

“Here you are, Third Mica,” she whispered, and I bowed my head at her.

“Thank you very much, ma’am!” I called to her as I exited the office, a bounce in my step. Quite literally, my way down the busy hall went like this; step, jump, step, jump, step, fall. I blinked, my nose smarting and I hugged the tile floor passionately. What the fish-flop just happened? I tilted my head up, my gaze traveling up past a pair of Nikes, faded blue jeans, and a zipped up blue hoodie to look the wall I walked into in the face. Shipmates, this guy was scary looking. Like, avoid at all costs when walking down a dark alleyway in the middle of the night in case he decides to mug you.

Though, if that were ever to happen, I would mug him first. It is the perfect solution! Mug your mugger, because he may have some mug-money on him! Then you can go and buy a sandwich! Oh boy, I’m hungry now, after thinking about mug-sandwiches.

“Watch where the heck you’re going, chick,” Mr. Mugger growled, and I knew he was an Inner Animal. So what do I do? I ask Hellcat to call on the power!

Hellcat, my sweet, gentle, and ever so generous Inner Animal, will you please make your radiation? She didn’t reply, but only started growling at Mr. Mugger in my head, making me vibrate. I could actually feel the power on my skin, like a warm layer of peanut butter, and I knew that the others in the hallway could feel it as well, especially Mr. Mugger. Everyone stilled all eyes on me as I pressed the palms of my hands and the balls of my feet on the floor in push-up position. I guess along with Hellcat just under the surface of erupting from my body, I also get some of her tiger-ness, because when I popped up into a standing position, I did it with much more grace than I will ever have as I full human.