The Spawn of Hate (13 page)

“Sit down Mr. Price. I do not plan on keeping anything from my students anyway. Tomorrow during class they would find out during an assembly. Mr. Price do you know how old I am?”

“I heard you were around 50” I answered.

“And have you wondered why I am the longest raining principal in school history?”

“Well not really, I never thought about it.” I replied truthfully.

“Well I am going to tell you. It is because I am smart. Sit down and let me tell you my story. Like many kids during that time, I was taken here as an infant. My younger years were not pleasant. I was always ridiculed and bullied. I had hoped when I reached puberty, my powers would manifest and I would be the strongest wizard there was.  I fantasized about leading the Alpha Team and having all those that bullied me tortured. Unfortunately, my only power was that of invention, and I did not recognize that until I was nearly 18. It wasn’t uncommon back then for people to live here who did not have any powers. Our elders and the Government kept a tight rein on the powered and their families. During a science fair, I invented a device that let you see in a person was powered or not. It wasn’t the present model you see now but something similar. The only way it could work was if the person you were scanning was already injected with a special fluid. You could tell by looking at their eardrums. They would glow blue. This discovery was the reason they suddenly started giving polio shots to children eventhough the disease had been virtually wiped out on our shores. The ear exam you took as a kid even though your hearing was fine, that was them trying to find out who was and wasn’t a wizard. The government had been trying to come up with a test ever since they found out about us and never could until I did. This allowed people living here that weren’t wizards or super natural to go about their lives. All the government had to do was threaten those of us you couldn’t leave to ensure their silence. That device also lets us find out how wizards lost their powers, by having intercourse or simply aging. No one here cared about my breakthrough. I had let their families go home and I was still bullied harder than ever. I eventually decided to build myself a friend. You met Winter earlier. I programmed her to have free thought. I wanted a girlfriend but the materials I had were not as advanced as my daughters. You may laugh, but I was still a boy, I figured friendship and I could have sex and yet technically remain a virgin. Winter was simply just a head at that time on a spider like body, very small like the size of a beagle. I put knowledge of all my inventions into her hard drive just in case I might have need of them when I eventually would lose my powers. One day I was beat up badly and unceremoniously I got my head placed in a toilet where they flushed it numerous times. This was not only my original tormentors who now where the core of alpha team, but kids as young as 14 participated as well. I went home that night with the intention to build Winter a body so she could protect me. It was then she convinced me to make a super powered suit, turning myself just as powerful as they were. I built my suit and Winter’s suit side by side. As the months went by, I had noticed Winter becoming distant, almost hostile. She had a body by now, but it was a crude metal endo skeleton as her suit was not yet complete. It was during this time I changed her programming to where she would always have to tell me the truth and that she could not use deadly force on any human, Wizard or otherwise. She was not happy with this development and started to openly challenge me around others. Bad enough I was known as Creepy Henry for building a woman. Now I was lampooned because not even she wanted anything to do with me. I stopped working on her suit and continued to evolve mine. Me and Winter eventually made up and that’s when I decided to have a daughter. Winter was not thrilled with having another Android around and begged me to finish her suit. I added a taser, and a pepper spray cannon and made sure that no other implements could be used on her suit. I feared she would attack me one day and I did not want to be hurt too badly. I stopped building Summer and continued to improve my suit. By now the government was very interested in my androids and gave me all types of materials for Summer. They also wanted to see what my suit could do. I feared both would be taken away from me so I made the suit only work with my DNA and stopped working on Summer to build other such devices, like the holding cell our lone prisoner is housed in right now. I was around 24 when the Alpha team went out on a mission. Their leader, now calling himself Meltdown was living fire went rogue as well as the rest of the team. Winter was with the team testing out her suit, per the orders of the then principal, a chap not more than 10 years my senior. That was the last time I saw Winter until today, some two plus decades later. As you know I finished Summer before I totally lost my gift and I fortunately finished my suit also before the inevitable happened. I became the leader of alpha team and along with Summer’s help, ended the war between all super naturals. I over threw the principal, partly because he decimated the already depleted Vampire and Werewolf community with that Waco debacle, and partly because he did nothing to stop my tormentors while in charge. I never expected to hear from Winter again, since I thought she was destroyed by the Alpha team. Unfortunately she showed up today, with all of my knowledge, including the secret entrance I made in what is now where the vampires live. I am sure you have questions I did not answer, so ask away.”

I did not expect to hear this guy’s life story, but what a loser. Being bullied was horrible, but it sounds like he never got back at them and they took his girl. He seemed so sad while telling me his story
I decided I probably wouldn’t do much better than he did because of his size. His mention of Summer though made thoughts flood back to my head. I instantly knew my first question.

“Summer, is she… is it alright?” I asked awkwardly.

“My daughter is fine, although I am sure she would not like to be called an ‘it’. She is programmed to behave like any normal teenage girl, and I am sure teenage girls resent being called an ‘it’. As we speak her body has been taken from your residence and I will attach her head later on today. Unfortunately, Winter was equipped with some sort of data transfer device. She did get some data from Summer, although what she got and what for remains unknown to me until I interrogate our prisoner.”

“You are going to torture somebody!”
I asked, not believing the way he just nonchalantly brought it up.

“Of course not.
I am not an animal and I prefer to be humane. Your friends the Park sisters will do the privilege. I am sure you are aware by now, they can be very hard to keep secrets from. If for some reason that does not work, I am sure the vampires would absolutely love to get the information out of our friend, but I dare say he would not survive the encounter for his role in their tragedy.”

“They attacked
everyone, I doubt they were specifically targeting the vampires.”

“Ah but they were Mr. Price. Vampires have been in short supply thanks to the way they reproduce. Female vampires are made from the bite of a male vampire. Male vampires are made from females giving birth.
What makes it difficult for them is the fact that females, all females are somewhat toxic to male vampires, that’s why they as we say ‘enjoy the company of other male vampires’. Female vampires are just not being made in the numbers they were because of the tragedy in Waco killed most of the males. In our school there were only three males here, and only one was of breeding age. The attack killed both of the male juveniles, sending the females into a frenzy. I would imagine you would behave the same way if you know your race was going extinct and the only person you have that could try to save it hates female company, and can only breed once or twice a year anyway.”

“Wow” was the only word I said. That explained why the vampires were throwing themselves in front of bullets to kill the intruders. It also answered why they took no prisoners and killed everyone they came across as gruesomely as possible. I had made an enemy of the vampires
already, I had better steer clear of them, at least in the short term.

“Well Sir, I know we have a lot going on, but can I call my folks? I know they are worried if they believe a gas explosion happened here.
”

“Mr. Price I thought I made it clear you were not to contact them. If it was suspected that they know about our organization they would be in danger. As I would give a quick death, other branches of the government would interrogate them to the point they would beg for death, before finally granting their wishes. And just imagine if any of our frien
ds who broke in here today found out about your parents. They were informed minutes ago that you were one of the people who perished in the explosion. You are not to see them or speak to them again or you put their lives in danger. Unlike the other students, you have a paper trail leading you to our base. All of your family is in danger enough as it is.”

I never thought about it that way. Cranberry ruined my life. I could not see my parents, who have to be feeling horrible now they believe I just died. It was too much for me to handle. I started weeping and turned towards the elevator when the principal’s voice snapped me out of despair.

“Mr. Price, the question you may want to ask now is, who is going to replace the field teams we just lost. I am sure your friends will wonder what you are doing in here and that is something you can share with them. As we speak, Miss Shakrullah and at least two of her werewolves are down stairs in pacing in front of this building. Since she is their Alpha as of right now and has her sights set on you, I am sure she will want to get information from you when you leave.”

“
Wha, what?” I asked snapping out of my daze. “What do you mean by has her sights set on me?”

“I am sure you have noticed the fact
that she tries to stare you into eye contact. That is the behavior all wolves use within their packs, to establish a sort of hierarchy without violence. By refusing to meet her gaze, you have confirmed that she could dominate you and you would make an excellent and docile mate. Well for as long as it last that is, around a fortnight I would say.”

“Okay how would you know this? Are you some kind of expert on Werewolf love habits? And how do you know what way she looked at me. Are you spying on me?”

The principal gave a good hearty laugh. “Mr. Price, I spy on everyone here. Do not think you are special. As for the werewolves, I have seen this act before. Many wizards fall prey to their charms. Before long a werewolf is with child and that wizard starts losing his powers to the point they become a drain on the economy. The wizard is segregated from the other students and preforms handy man slash janitor work until they are released from here. Many join the military and become stationed here upon release. However let’s make the wolves wait a while longer. Your friends the Park sisters have just arrived at our guests cell. Let’s see his real reason for being here. Grab my detector Mr. Price, I am not sure if we have a wizard on our hands or a normal human.

CHAPTER 15

Perry Mason Lives

The place the prisoner was being held was in the same building, just underground. Well what passed as underground since technically we were already there. The cell he was in was a box made of some type of glass that was open on the bottom, with the floor preventing him from escaping. The prisoner was no longer in the uniform I had fought him in and he was now in sweat pants and a t-shirt. I could see some sort of weird light in the room. When we arrived I saw Aimee, Ivy and the vampire I had the run in with during that stupid game.

“Miss Hamekova”, the principal spoke “I did not expect you here, what do I owe the pleasure?”

“It is my right to be here principal” the vampire spoke. I noticed she called him by his title. She called the rest of us ‘human’ like it was some sort of swear word. “This man was with the party who tried to kill off my race. As the current queen of my coven, I demand answers. I will have them or he will die.”

“Well we certainly would not want him dead, would we
Mr…. I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.” The principal spoke to the man.

The man seemed like he wanted to reply, but his voice was sluggish and he appeared to almost be falling out of his seat.

“Oh my apologies Sir, I forgot about that nasty light. By now you have discovered it has rather strong mind scrambling effects. Mr. Price hand me that device. If our friend is not one of the gifted, we can turn that awful light off.

The principal took the device and placed it on his head. After I couple of seconds he took it off and I could see a smile on his face. The principal handed be back the device.

“Well now that’s better” the principal spoke and the strange light automatically shut off. “I am sure you know this is an interrogation. I do not intend to lie to you or trick you. I only want information, then you will be let go. If you fail to divulge any information, I am afraid your safety cannot be guaranteed.”

“You grant this man clemency after what he has done?” The vampire spoke.  “Principal you deny the vampires vengeance like you deny us our basic rights. This man should be turned over to us.”

“Miss Hamekova, control yourself. I am tolerating your presence here, a situation I can quickly rectify.” The principal spoke, sounding more like an authority figure, than the fatherly interrogator he was previously. “Now then, what is your name Sir?” He asked the captive.

“I am not telling you anything old man” the prisoner answered.

“I see then, no reason to waste my time. Irina Hamekova, the prisoner is yours to do with as you wish. Come children, there is no need for you to see this.” The principal said and started walking away, as the prisoners cell started lifting towards the ceiling.

I could see the prisoner start to show fear. The vampire who I just found out was named Irina, had a determined look in her eye. I could see she started smiling, if it could be called that, it looked more like she was bearing her fangs, just with her mouth closed.

“Okay, Okay, I’ll answer whatever you want, just don’t leave me in here with her!” the man started pleading.

The principal stopped and walked back towards the prisoner.

“Do you believe I will leave you to die down here?”

“Yes I
do” the man replied.

“He is
lying Sir”, Aimee spoke.

“Thank you Miss Park.
I see I am wasting my time here.” The principal started to rise when Ivy spoke.

“Sir he is having a change of heart. Now he is unsure whether or not you would leave him to die. He is arguing that he is only 21 and you would not kill off a young man. Now he is figuring out the fact that I can read his mind. Now he just called me a….. Sir let’s leave him to his fate.”

Ivy started walking away and stopped suddenly.

“What is it Miss Park?” The principal asked.

“He is imagining a Tyrannosaurus Rex coming through the elevator. Now he is imagining himself covered in flames.”

“What did you do to me!” the prisoner screamed, this time looking right at me. “My gifts, you stole my gifts!” The prisoner then started breaking down and crying.

“Open his cage Principal; I will give this human something worth crying about.” Irina spoke coolly. “I will pluck the limbs from his body like pulling the wings off of a bug. Let me have him.”

“I suggest you become more helpful.” The Principal spoke to our prisoner. “You have been rude to my students and we have shown you respect. You will stop this crying and answer my questions or I will leave you here in the company of Miss Hamekova. It is your choice, now what is your name?”

“My name is Theodore.” Said the man quietly.

“Theodore why did you attack my school?”

“Sonar wanted your inventions and a way to weaken you. My mission was to keep you distracted long enough for the Android lady to destroy your android.”

“Theodore, how did you plan on keeping us distracted, were you behind the su
dden appearance of the reptilian?”

Theodore paused for a second like he was deep in thought. Finally Ivy spoke.

“He was behind it. His power is that he casts illusions with his mind. Now he is scared he lost his power forever. The last time he remembered using it was to make a copy of someone called Winter when Cory attacked him from behind. His mind is fuzzy after that.”

“Well then Theodore,” The principal spoke “Are you aware of any other plans by your master?”

“I do not know.” Theodore replied. “I only know that we were supposed to take out Alpha team, Bravo team and disable the android. I do not think there is a second part to this plan. With them out of the way our organization should finally have peace. Freedom from our government overlords.

“He is telling the truth” Aimee spoke.

“Well Theodore you have been most helpful. I am sure you know Sonar probably has been listening in on our conversation. Before I release you, I have a couple of questions, what do you know about the android you came here with and do you believe your life would be in danger if we released you?”

“Sir, I do not believe Sonar would harm me. He is not the monster you take him as. He just wants freedom to do as he chooses, not as the government chooses for him. The android has been there since before I was there. She leads in Sonar’s absence and it was her who started our organization”

Theodore’s words look like it hit the principal like a Mack Truck. The principal was shaking in his chair and was visibly in shock. He stayed that way for a couple of seconds before he composed himself.

“Theodore I thank you for your candor. Someone will be here to escort you to the surface. I implore you to avoid all Vampires. I do not think they were privy to your mission of killing the male vampires, since I did not count any Vampires among your number during your assault. Come students, let us depart. This includes you Miss Hamekova.”

I could tell Irina was at her boiling point but she turned and followed us in the elevator. The elevator’s walls started glowing and I could see some writing suddenly appear on them. The wall read:

Do not read this out loud
students; I am sure Sonar knows your voice by now, since Theodore had a two way radio implanted under his skin. Under his skin now is also a tracking device, the same tracking device I placed on the android Winter. Theodore will confirm their hideout for me when he returns to it, sometime in the future. We cannot begin to move on the hideout until we have the manpower. Reforming Alpha and Bravo squads are paramount, although this is the lowest Wizard levels we have had in years. Go to your rooms and speak of this to no one.

CHAPTER 16

IRINA

             
Irina had just heard what the human Fairplay had to say about the villain Sonar. The Alpha and Bravo teams both were dispatched to deal with the situation but Irina had a feeling something was not quite right. As far as apprehension went, the Bravo team had a lot more experience that the Alpha squad. Alpha was mostly called out to blow something up or kill some folks, they were not a snatch and grab squad. Irina also did not like the fact that Vampires were forbidden to join any of the teams. The principals of the different schools normally are picked from within the ranks of one of them teams. Not having membership meant not having supreme authority. If Irina was the head of this school, then her coven could flourish like never before. Irina thought about this as she made the walk towards her territory.

             
Upon getting to her territory, her small coven was outside of their building awaiting instructions.

             
“Okay ladies, we are to hold our ground and let the humans do most of the fighting. I want someone guarding our most precious treasures.”

             
Irina did not have to ask if they knew what she meant. They had discussed such a situation before. Some of her coven instantly broke off to guard their secret exit to the facility while others went off to guard the males. Irina then began placing her people when she heard a loud explosion coming from the secret exit, at the very back of her territory.

             
Irina ran as fast as she could to the source of the explosion and found the two vampires who broke off earlier to guard the exit blown apart by the blast. Figures clad in black started making their way through the newly expanded exit and began firing their weapons.

             
Irina dove for cover and slowly started trying to make her way around the gunfire. She wished she had the same invulnerability that the vampires in the movies had, instead she and other Vampires could be killed by simple gunfire. Irina made eye contact with Annova and started her move. Irina had a simple blade she kept on her and was now using it with devastating efficiency by cutting the men down. Irina looked and saw Annova doing the same thing with the small hatchet she carried on her belt when something Irina saw that made her heart stop.

             
Through the hole now came at least one hundred wolves, all headed towards Annova. Irina left her cover and picked up a weapon off of one of the men she killed. Irina did not really fancy guns, like most vampires she preferred something simpler. Irina emptied off her clip into the oncoming crowd of wolves but it was having no effect. Irina wasn’t the best with a gun but she figured she should have hit at least one.

             
Annova saw Irina firing and finally saw the danger she was in. She pulled her hatchet out of the man she had just killed and made a stand with Irina. Once Irina saw Annova stood with her she dropped the gun and this time pulled out the sword she kept strapped to her back as Annova did the same. By now she noticed plenty more vampires had joined her. Irina steeled her nerves and jumped right in the pack of wolves, swinging wildly as she did.

             
The sword passed right through the wolves like they weren’t there. The wolves were snapping at her sure but they did no damage. Irina deduced that it must have been some wizard trickery when she turned around to let her fellow vampires know, she felt a blow to the back of her head and her world went black.

             
Irina was slapped awake and it took her some time to remember where she was. She looked into the face of Vikonika.

             
“Be still your majesty,” Vikonika spoke, her voice low.

“What happened?” Irina spoke, pulling herself up and trying to stop her head from spinning.

              “It is not good your majesty”, Vikonika spoke. “We are hiding within one of the buildings across from our headquarters. You were knocked unconscious by a human female in some type of armored suit. The intruders than began a surge that overwhelmed us. They are in our headquarters right now and they have blocked the place off.”