Dakini's Hope

Chapter 9

Skipping ahead two days after that, my second to last lesson for the last day of the week is Archery. Again. Werewolves have very high energy levels and they like to keep their skills up whenever they get the chance. So 50% of our timetable is made up of PE/Archery lessons. Just when I'm about to head to the Archery range with my gear on, the werewolf PE teacher catches me in the corridor; a slightly concerned look on his face.

"You must be Dakini." He says, taking my hand and shaking it as I nod in response. "Your usual teacher is ill today; so you'll be joining in with my lesson today. I hope that's okay by you."

For a moment, I freeze in horror. I'm gonna be in the same room as Ryan, Jody and their two packs for a whole hour. Not only that; but I have to take part in whatever werewolf activities that the class will be doing. That's not good. My speed and strength are equivalent to that of a werewolf's, because I am one. This is going to be fun, trying to keep my abilities to myself. I realise that I've been silent for a while and I give my response as the teacher clicks his fingers in front of my hidden eyes to get my attention.

"Um..yeah. That's fine. I suppose. But, if I can't keep up, will I be allowed to sit out?"  I ask.

"We're not doing anything extravagant today. Just a dominance fight class." Says the teacher as he casually walks away towards the hall, where no doubt everyone else will be waiting, like fighting is part of the normal curriculum (which it unfortunately is!). 

I
Am
So
Fucking
Dead.

I gulp and then head back to the girls changing rooms to get changed into some spare PE clothes. Part of me wants to pretend that I'm sick or sprained my ankle to get out of it so that the others can assume that I've gone to Archery as usual. But I know that the teacher won't believe that now when he only saw me two minutes ago. Just...blend in. Be normal. Don't get picked to fight. Simple. I think to myself as I pull on my shorts and then head for the PE hall.

When I arrive, I hesitate right outside the door; my hand hovering as if I am going to push it open any second. My mind is screaming at me to get out of here right now but I know that if I don't turn up I will be in major trouble. My heart is beating so fast and my eyes changed in the changing rooms while I was getting into the PE clothes. Luckily, the Curse isn't itching to take over me.

Yet.

"Dakini - come in! I can see you hanging around the door!" calls the teacher from within the hall, his voice ricocheting off the walls like a dodgeball.

I want the ground to swallow me whole and not spit me back out right now as all the werewolves that are sitting on the floor inside turn to stare at me. And here I was hoping to get in and get out as quietly as possible without being noticed. Thanks teacher(!) I push open the door and sheepishly scurry to the side of the ring and I take my place between two other students, who back away from me as if I have a major disease or something. Not really surprised, but it still hurts all the same.

"Right, now that we're all here." Continues the teacher, his gaze focusing on the whole class and not just on me. "You all know that today's lesson is a dominance fight class. As you can see, Dakini is joining us today and she is not to be picked to fight under any circumstances."

A few of the students nudge each other and whisper, looking over in my direction and snickering to themselves. It appears I really am that much of a joke to them. I know I said I don't like hurting people, but jerks like Stacy and most of the students here deserve what they get from me. Be it a bloody nose or being beaten to a pulp.

"I have to take a phone call so let's make this quick." The teacher looks around the circle and points his finger at Ryan, who is sitting with his back to the teacher like nothing is happening. "Ryan. You're up."