Chapter 6

“Can I get you anything else Madame?” One of the many servants of the Black Watch castle was on her knees speaking, with her head hanging low.

“That will be all.” A feminine voice replied.

The servant leaned forward placing her hands on the floor so that she was on all fours then began crawling backwards out of the room. Once the door closed she stood up and hurried away, heart beating furiously.

“Humans… such frightful creatures.” The feminine voice said aloud, speaking to no one in particular. She stood at her window looking down at the city encapsulated within the high walls of the Black Watch Asylum.

A howling came from the city down below. Looking closely, she could see werewolves running the streets by themselves or in packs, chasing down anyone foolish enough to be out after dark. These werewolves were relishing the night air, and the thrill that came with being out after dark. To them, Black Watch Asylum was a place where they could run wild and free.

Out in the real world they’d be exposed and hunted. Modern day technology made it impossible to truly remain a secret. But here it was different. You could be anything you wanted and nobody would find out. The humans didn’t bother coming in here.

Knock! Knock-knock! Knock! Knock-knock!

Someone knocked on her door in a familiar pattern. “Come in.” She ordered once the pattern was finished.

In walked a young man with sleek black hair. “The mutts are howling at the moon as usual.”

“Is that really the first thing you say to me Luke? Especially when I’m half wolf?” The young woman at the window snapped.

“Forgive me Anza, I forget my place.”

Anza sighed. Turning around she took in the young man before her. She made direct eye contact and squared her shoulders keeping her back as straight as possible. The young man stared back but after a few seconds he looked down submissively.

“What do you want Luke?”

“As you know there have been more and more complaints from the human rights activists.”

Anza waved her hand in frustration. “Just throw money at it and keep them quiet.”

“I’m afraid it's not so simple. People are getting curious as to what really goes on in Black Watch Asylum. Your father managed to quiet some nosy people but now it’s made it to the public circuit. The people will not let it go so easily. They want action.”

The room went quiet for a minute before Luke spoke up again. “If we canceled the hunt—“

“No!” Anza said immediately cutting him off. “The hunt is for the influential humans. Not only does it bring us billions in revenues each year, it also allows us to have very influential people in our back pockets. They’re necessary to keep this place going.”

“Well with all due respect, it won’t matter if the people get their cameras in here and discover what’s really going on.” Luke replied.

Anza grew silent. The supernatural community and the real world were two forces that had to remain separate. Normal humans just wouldn’t accept them for who they were, it always turned into a bloody conflict. But humans were resilient creatures that spawned like mice. It was important to tread carefully when dealing with them, especially now that technology was so advance.

“We’ll set up a counseling center. Invite counselors we have dirt on and make sure there’s enough publicity about this event. Once people see we have allowed trained counselors to enter our walls we’ll be able to shut up those neigh-sayers. And if that doesn’t work then I’m sure they’ll change their opinions on this place once the counselors sent here to asses and rehabilitate inmates end up being killed by the very prisoners they’re advocating for.”

“Right away your highness.” Luke bowed then exited the room.

“Now time to work off this aggression.” Anza said in a low hiss. She leapt out of the window and landed on the ground lightly, making a sixty foot droop seem like it was nothing. She lunged forward and her body transformed into a four legged beast.

As she ran through the streets of Black Watch Asylum she kept her eyes open for anything interesting. After ten minutes she finally saw her first distraction for the evening. A pack of wolves were chasing something and had finally cornered it in an alley.

Anza took off in that direction. The pack of wolves had surrounded a woman who was on her knees begging and pleading for leniency. The wolves yipped at each other and teased the prostrating woman.

They abruptly turned to the mouth of the alley as Anza entered. “Who’re you?” One of them asked in a guttural voice.

“How sloppy. If you’re going to try and speak the human tongue while in your beast form at least get the transformation right.” Anza scoffed.

The pack of wolves grew wary as she approached. They were big wolves at least four feet high and two hundred to three hundred pounds. But Anza wasn’t afraid at all as she moved closer. Their large bodies dwarfing hers.

“I smell leech on her.” One of the wolves growled.

The wolves grew even more wary, completely forgetting about their human target.

“You must be new.” Anza chuckled softly.

The wolves couldn’t take the pressure no more. They attacked Anza out of fear. They were powerful werewolves but to Anza they were like playful puppies. She easily dealt with the five of them laying them out on the floor.

The last one growled at her. “You asked for it.” He spat before its body began to transform.

Werewolves had three stages of transformation. Their human form, their wolf form, and then their human-wolf hybrid. This human-wolf hybrid was the form with the most combat capability. Anza laughed as she watched the wolf transform.

“I’m surprised you can shift to hybrid. Not bad pup.” Anza’s body also transformed. Unlike the other werewolf, her transition was fast and painless. The other werewolf stared at her dumbfounded as he was suddenly faced with a she-wolf hybrid.

“Why do you smell like leech?” The werewolf asked.

Anza felt a flash of anger flash through her. “You’d do well not to insult me again. I am half vampire after all.”

The werewolf stared at her in openmouthed awe. Suddenly he kneeled on the floor putting his head to the ground. “Forgive me. I didn’t know you were a Legacy.”

“Don't tell me you're going to start grovelling now? Tch! How boring.” Anza tried to provoke the kneeling werewolf into attacking her by throwing a few more insults but he wouldn’t take the bait. Finally she left behind the pack of werewolves who were still groaning on the ground in pain. The hybrid werewolf still had its head on the ground.

…

“You called for me Grandmaster?” A man garbed in dark clothes kneeled in front of an old wizened man sitting on a throne.

“Yes. How far along are you in the Walker Massacre?” The wizened man said.

“Sir we’ve hit a dead end. There were no traces of foul play and the main suspect is beyond our reach.” The man kneeling on the floor replied.

“As I thought.” The wizened man nodded his head. For several minutes he remained quiet as he stroked his white beard. His gaze traveled around the room until they fell onto the man kneeling on the floor.

“What’re you doing here?’

The kneeling man froze before looking up at the Grandmaster. “You called for me?”

“Ah, yes! Almost forgot. I had news for you but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Give me a second.” The Grandmaster leaned on his hand thinking furiously. His visage resembled the ‘Thinking man’.

“Goddamit I knew it was something important I just can’t put my finger on it. Ackh! Leave me for now, I’ll tell you later.” The Grandmaster said waving his hand.

“Yes Grandmaster!” The man stood up and began walking towards the door.

“Ah! I remember! Come, come! There will be a team of counselors and other staff that will be entering the Black Watch Asylum. You will be part of this group and surveil the Walker kid.” The Grandmaster flicked his hand. The space before him formed a black hole and a laminated badge fell out of the black hole. Before it could hit the ground a gust of wind sent it flying towards the man in dark clothing.

The man caught the badge and bowed to the Grandmaster before making his way out the room. He made his way through the building until he ended up at the quartermaster’s office. “Adept Kiru checking in.”

“Adept Kiru…Adept Kiru… Adept Kiru, here you are. Say’s your to be provided with two months’ worth of runes. Half for combat and the other half for surveillance. Here you go.” The Quarter master handed him a bundle.

Kiru bowed to the Quarter master then went up to his room. After preparing a few things he was finally ready. Several rolled bundles were on his bed ready to go. “Black Watch Asylum is in San Diego. That’s half way across the world.” Kiru sighed.

With the flick of his hand a book materialized in front of him. He flipped through the pages then began reading an ancient language. The room vibrated as the words began growing in intensity. With a ‘pop’ the man and his belongings blinked out of the room and onto a rooftop of a building.

Kiru looked around at the palm trees and sunny skies. “San Diego… What nice weather.”

…

Nate blew out a breath. “You got this.” He said aloud trying to motivate himself.

“One, two, three!” On the count of three he imagined four ethereal hands sprouting out of him and grabbing onto the palm sized rocks. After getting a firm hold on the rocks he raised them slowly into the air.

As soon as they began to elevate he felt the strain on his mind. He moved the rocks up and down, spun them in a circle, crisscrossed them, all sorts of different direction. After an hour his brain hurt too much to go any further. The rocks dropped to the ground. Nate grabbed his head to try and massage out the pain.

It’s been a month since he arrived in Black Watch Asylum. After the hunt in the wilderness Nate was forced to give up two-thirds of his ration tokens. Not only that but when he went to the wall to get his supply of food he was forced to hand over some food then as well.

Leo’s reasoning was that since he had nobody and was only providing for himself then he shouldn’t need as many tokens, nor should he have as much food. Nate was pissed but everyone else accepted the decision as if it made the most sense in the world.

Ever since then Nate has kept his head down. He only had two hundred food tokens left and it had only been a month. He realized if he wanted to keep what he earned he’d need to strike out on his own. Become a loner.

He began training his telekinetic ability every day. It was a strange thing because it was like lifting weights, except it was with his mind. The more he used his ability the more strain it would put on his brain, but after it completely heals- which usually meant a good night’s sleep- he felt his mental strength grow.

Nate was about to pick up the rocks again when he heard a knock on the door. “Ugh…” He groaned.

He had an inkling about who was at the door and what they’d want from him but he was hoping he was wrong.

“Was good lil’ homie?” Nate recognized the man at the door, he had seen him a few times in the streets but that was it.

“What’s up?”

“Ay, Ima need some tokens bro.”

Nate scoffed. “Sure what do you got for trade.”

The man’s face screwed up in anger. “Listen lil nigga. You livin on our block. You jus showed up. Don’t think your hot shit just cuz you survived the hunt. Gimme some tokens otherwise I’ll beat the shit out of you and take em.”

“Shall we get Leo involved?”

“You gon bitch to Leo?!”

“The fuck’s the point in joining this fucking block if ima be robbed by my own people.” Nate spat angrily. He fell for their tricks the first couple times. Beautiful women would show up pleading and begging for some tokens. Nate wasn’t an asshole, he’d cave in, especially if he saw the person in such a rough state. But ever since then it’s gotten worse. Now this man didn’t even bother asking nicely, it was flat out robbery.

There were a few people on the streets walking by, several of them noticed the commotion and stopped to watch. There wasn't much entertainment inside the walls. As the argument began to heat up more spectators came out the wood works hoping for a fight.

The man in front of him continued to rage and act tough as if he would really fight when suddenly Leo called out. “What the hell’s goin on?!”

“I’ll tell you what, ever since I’ve been here I’ve had to give out my tokens to random ass people. I’m sick of this shit.” Nate said as soon as Leo got close enough to hear.

“Relax. We family here kay? Now I’m not going to tell you what to do, but these are the people that’ll have your back when the race war happens.” Leo said calmly.

“Am I supposed to believe that? Everyone here living like slaves and those beasts that come out at night keep people from even going outside past dark. You seriously expect me to believe a race war is going to happen?”

“You saying I’m lying?” Leo said in a dangerous whisper.

Nate stared off with Leo for a few seconds. “I’m leaving.”

Nate turned his back on Leo and walked inside. He paused when he realized he didn’t really have any belongings. Turning back to Leo he saw the rage on Leo’s face. “You gon leave?” Leo said incredulously.

“I’ll take my chances on my own.” Nate said walking towards the doorway. Leo blocked his way. So did a few other people from yesterdays welcoming party.

“That’s fine, but ima need all your tokens before you go.”

“The fuck?” Nate responded.

“Well you see once you step into the center of the Asylum you’re going to get robbed anyways. You’re practically handing over whatever tokens you got left to others. We might as well take those tokens off your hands now.”

Nate glared at Leo. Then he thought of an idea, and began to smile. “Let me talk to you alone for a minute.” He said while walking back into the living room and away from the street view.