Breed of Havoc (The Breed Chronicles #3) (19 page)

Natalie raised her hand. “What about us? Why are we here, then?”

“Based off the reports I’ve received from our own hunters, as well as others in the state, we believe even the P3s will get a chance to go on C&Cs. Right now, our teams of hunters have been split from their usual groups of eight-to-ten, down to teams of only three to four. For some demons, as I hope you’re all very aware, this is acceptable. For higher class demons, that is a particularly disturbing number given the amount of demons they’ve been facing recently. Obviously we have no plans to send you against C3s or C4s, so we’ll be using you for the lower class demons. Teams will consist of two Prospects and three to four hunters.”

The standard whoops and cheers rang out at those words, but I wasn’t among them. I doubted I’d be able to go. Tasha, Chris, and Linc all grinned at me, then either remembering my situation or realizing I wasn’t thrilled, they quickly looked away. All but Linc. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “He wouldn’t have called you here if he wasn’t going to let you go.”

“I wish I could believe that,” I murmured. He wouldn’t have
not
called me here, either.

“At this time, I can’t say when everyone will go on a C&C. I am, unfortunately, relatively certain that we will be putting all of you to work sooner than we’d like.” He paused, then turned toward the P4s. “P4s, at least half of you will be going on a C&C as soon as tomorrow evening.”

There were over a dozen P4s, so that meant at least six different teams. “How is that right?”

“You have a question, Miss Hall?” Greene said.

My head jerked up. “Sorry. I just meant, there’ll be that many hunts going on in a single night so close together?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Demon activity in this region alone is, for unknown reasons, the highest it’s ever been. And our region isn’t the only one affected by this—many on the east coast are seeing a rise in demon activity. We’ve all seen this before, where one region sees a temporary rise. Typically, we’d transfer hunters from other facilities to help out, but with so many of them in a similar situation, there aren’t any to spare. We have to rely on our own people for this, and that includes using everyone we can. Even the P1s and P2s.”

“They’re going on hunts?” someone asked.

Greene shook his head. “No. The P2s will help keep the Demon Database updated, as will a number of select P1s.” He stepped down from the podium and walked to the front. “P4s, you’ll meet your teams in the Weapons Room tomorrow evening at five. P3s, we’ll call you as you’re needed.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I don’t need to remind you how serious this is, do I?”

Most of the Prospects shouted or muttered ‘no’ and a few shook their heads.

“Good. What we’re dealing with isn’t expected and I don’t want to hear about any accidents or injuries that could have been avoided. Do as you’re told, when you’re told.”

“Will we have to write reports?” Kristina asked.

Greene smiled. “I’m afraid so, Miss Ray.” She frowned, making Greene’s smile widen. “Thank you all for your time. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

As Linc, Tasha, Chris, and I headed out, Greene lifted his hand to me and called my name. I let out a breath, shot Linc a told-you-so look, then headed for Greene.
And here comes the ‘You’re not cleared to go, Miss Hall, I’m sorry’ speech.
I could’ve laughed.

“Good afternoon, Miss Hall.”

Not trusting my voice, I nodded and only said, “Hi.”

“I’m sure you’re anxious about the C&C as much as the others, if not more, considering—”

“I can’t go.”

“Can’t you?”

I eyed him. “Can I?”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Unless you have an outstanding appointment of which I’m unaware, I don’t see why not.”

“Oh. I thought you called me over to tell me I couldn’t go.”

His lip twitched. “I won’t deny thinking I should do just that. After speaking with Dr. Cherry, she seems relatively certain that, should the occasion arise where your skills will be needed, she could supply a list of safe demons. In fact, she believes your particular ‘skills’—and that’s her term, so you can save the glower for her—could be an asset, depending on the C&C.”

“Meaning it could be a C&C for a demon from my Friend List?”

“Friend List? Ah, I see. Yes, she believes those from your Friend List would be less of a threat toward you than anyone else.”

“She’s very…thorough,” I said, deciding that was the safest word to use. The fact was, last I’d heard, Dr. Cherry was still hesitant to add demons to the Friend list, and even the Foe list, always saying she needed to run more tests to be as certain as humanly—haha—possible. The fact that she’d cleared me for a hunt was news to me. Good news, but still.

Greene seemed to read my thoughts, because his eyes darkened and he said, “Which is the one and only reason I’m allowing this.”

I’d take it. “Thanks.”

“Thank Dr. Cherry. Personally, I’d feel better if you weren’t going.”

“Always so cheerful, Director Greene.”

“What can I say? I’m a pessimist by nature. It makes me better at my job.” He smiled and bowed his head slightly, then turned to leave. He turned back after a few steps. “One other thing.”

“Yeah?”

“If or when you go on any C&Cs, I thought it prudent for you and Mr. Stone to be paired together. You and he work well together and trust each other, but I also have two other reasons for that decision. The first being your DNA. Even with Dr. Cherry’s assurances, I’d rather not have anyone else around in case the worst happens.”

“You mean, in case Dr. Cherry’s wrong and the demon tries its best to kill me.”

“Bluntly put, but yes. You and Mr. Stone are both well aware of the risks.”

“And the second reason?”

“While I’m sure no one would do anything to intentionally see you harmed, I can’t be certain those who—”

“Hate me?”

“—hold a bias toward you,” he said in a sterner tone, “can keep that to themselves. Under normal circumstances, I’d say this is a perfect chance to test that, but with your history and your DNA, I’d rather not take any unnecessary risks.”

“No arguments from me.” Considering my first hunt—with Felecia—ended with me being bitten by a vampire, I wasn’t in any hurry to have anymore ‘accidents’, either.

“Very well.” He nodded. “I’ll let you and Mr. Stone know if and when your help is required. I hope you enjoy your Christmas break.” He paused and his lips raised in a small smile. “Let me know if you’d like another holo-tree. I know you’re partial to them.”

“Thanks,” I said, laughing. “I will.”

He bowed his head. “Good day, Miss Hall.”

“Have a good day, Director Greene.”

I didn’t know if I’d have a good Christmas break (though I was sure Linc, Tasha, and Chris would nag me until I did), but I did plan on getting another holo-tree.

*~*~*

Dear Journal,

Christmas break was a lot shorter than expected, because Greene said we had too much ground to cover this year. But it was a lot better than I thought it’d be—Linc, Tasha, and Chris all saw to that. We spent a few days in New Orlando at some snazzy hotel, stayed up until the sun rose, and slept maybe four hours the whole time. Chris surprised Tasha with a fancy dinner somewhere Christmas night (after giving her a purse and some sparkly hair thing that she ooh’ed and ahh’ed over for an hour). I gave her some dangly earrings and Linc found her a bracelet with purse charms (there was a lot more ooh’ing and ahh’ing).

Linc and I opted to stay in and ended up watching some old Christmas movies—including some horror flick I knew Linc wanted to watch. By the time the movie ended, I began to think leaving home on Christmas wasn’t a good idea. Note to self for next year: don’t leave the CGE on Christmas. Or maybe ever again. Note to self #2: do
not
renew video subscription for Linc unless you want to watch horror movies!

Besides the subscription (which wasn’t a present and now only a regret on my end), I got Linc an antique bow and arrow and some throwing stars to add to the collection he’d started over the summer. There was more ooh’ing and ahh’ing, but Linc-style (which meant staring and petting things. Totally weird.).

Linc didn’t give me my present on Christmas and instead made me wait until the next day. He disappeared in the morning after breakfast, then came back a few hours later with a little decorated box. I snuck the wrapping aside again first (mainly to annoy him) before he could steal it. Inside the box—which had a cute little clear window on it)—was a butterfly resin pendant on a silver chain. He said he got it for me because he knew I was worried about my ever-changing DNA and that he hoped it served as a reminder that not all changes were bad. He said some changes—like butterflies—were good, beautiful, unique, and that even the worst change would be okay, because I’d make it work for me.

He said a lot of other sweet stuff, but that was definitely the best part. That was the part that had me falling in love with him all over again.

That moment made everything that happened so far worth it.

Okay, better go before Linc—

I grinned to myself and set the journal aside as my door opened and Linc appeared.

He shot me a strange look. “What are you grinning at?”

I scowled. “I always smile when you’re around.”

“Yeah, but this isn’t a smile. It’s a grin. A creepy grin. What, did you have another psychic moment on me?” When my grin only widened, he gaped at me. “You did, didn’t you?”

To answer, I picked up the journal again and, covering most of the page except the last sentence, held it up for him to see.

He squinted to read (due to my crappy cursive) and then shook his head. “We need to work this new psychic gig to our advantage, Hall. Predict something good—”

I laughed. “I think you showing up is pretty good.”

“No, something really good, like winning the lottery—”

“We can’t play the lottery yet.”

“Okay, fine. We can—”

“Get breakfast,” I said, laughing as I put the journal away. “And then get to class.”

Linc grabbed my tablet and tucked it under his before taking my hand. “We have Tracking.” He eyed me as he closed the door. “You know Tasha’s going to complain about it.”

I grinned again as he led me toward the elevator. Mrs. Fletcher had warned us that our classes would be more extreme after break. “Oh, yeah. She’s not gonna be a happy camper.”

“Side bet on how long it takes before she makes the first comment about it?”

“You’re on, Stone.” Because if there was one thing I knew, it was Tasha and her habits.

As predicted, Tasha did complain about class at breakfast. I won the bet, despite the fact I was almost certain Linc tried to cheat. (As soon as he’d seen Chris, he’d pulled him aside. When they’d finished talking, Chris had tried too hard to
not
look at me.) Linc complained about losing, which made Tasha glare at us all and demand to know what the bet was. When he told her, she’d asked what he’d lost (twenty bucks), then laughed at him for taking a sucker bet.

Linc scowled at me all through breakfast and didn’t stop until we left for class. I didn’t stop grinning.

The door to the garage was already open as we reached it. Inside, I could hear people talking about it being so dark. Sure enough, once we were inside, I saw what they were talking about. The only visible light was filtering in from the hallway and the side exit.

Mrs. Fletcher was already there, tablet in hand—along with one of the agents—standing near the ramp to the second floor. Beyond her, I could just make out a dull red glow in the darkness.

Mrs. Fletcher cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “Today, we’re going to be doing some work with your senses—mostly scent, hearing, and touch. The class will be split into teams of two, with two teams working simultaneously. One pair will be with me on the second floor, and Agent Burk will take his pair to the third. We’re hoping everyone will get a chance to run the obstacle course today, though some might have to wait until next week.”

“What are we doing?” Linc asked.

She smiled at him. “A demon hunt obstacle course. I’ll explain more when it’s your turn. I will tell you this scenario involves a hunter and a demon. The Prospect playing the ‘demon’ will have the advantage since the ‘hunter’ will be blindfolded.”

Tasha mouthed ‘blindfolded’ and shot me a wide-eyed, help-me look. “This is it, isn’t it? This is the class I’m finally going to manage to accidentally kill someone!”

I wasn’t the only one who heard her since a few people chuckled around us. Judging Mrs. Fletcher’s face, who seemed like she was trying
not
to laugh, I assumed she’d heard, too. “Breathe,” I whispered.

Chris stepped up beside her and took her hand. “Don’t worry. You’ll do fine. You haven’t hurt anyone in weeks—not even me.”

She glared at him angrily. “I broke your arm!” she hissed. “And I managed to do that without a
blindfold
. Oh, man. Is it too late to call in sick or dead?”

“Seriously, breathe,” I repeated, eyeing her cautiously as her breathing quickened. “You’re going to hyperventilate or something.”

“At least then I’ll be excused!”

“Tasha—”

“I’ve got this,” Chris said. He pulled her away from the rest of the class.

Linc looked at me. “Think she’ll be okay?”

“I hope so,” I murmured. But I wasn’t sure. After Chris had been hurt, her confidence had been knocked down a few notches. She hadn’t hurt him—or anyone—in a few weeks, but that was mostly because she’d stopped doing, well, anything. I’d gotten her to work with me while Chris healed up, but even then, she was still a bit of a nervous wreck. She was terrified she’d hurt someone again.

While Chris continued to talk to Tasha, Mrs. Fletcher called out the first two pairs to run the so-called obstacle course. She pulled them away from the rest of us. When she was done talking to them, she sent the agent to the third floor with his pair. “Stay where you are and keep quiet,” she warned us before taking her team to the second floor.