Chapter 8 Never Be The Same

• High council headquarters
• Alderman Valentine of the council greeted the assembled members, saying, "Welcome, dear council members." He leaned in to speak, resting his hands on the chair. "It is no secret that the council is not fond of hybrids. We as the supernatural governing entity ensure that there is no chaos between species. Since the beginning of time, hybrids have been a threat to all supernaturals.”
• "We take appropriate measures to ensure that all species are safe, but the hybrids see our de-escalation tactics as an avenue to disrupt the balance that we seek to maintain," he said, clearing his throat.
• "Normally we would wait for an attack before defending our people, but no more.” A chorus erupted among the council members; the majority agreed with what their leader said, while others disagreed.
• "Alderman, are you proposing that we eliminate the hybrids?” Iris, the Witch Queen, inquired.Gasps echoed throughout the hall, as everyone talked over each other.
• Enraged Alderman Valentine banged his hands on the table, eliciting silence throughout the hall.
• The fae ruler, Lord Cain, spoke as his eyes darted between each council member's face and the corners of his mouth pulled downward, "We can not do that, it is against the supernatural code to eliminate a species.”
• Valentine's eyes narrowed and his lips tightened. "Your opinion is duly noted, Lord Cain, but we must follow due process. With that said, I hereby move the motion to curtail the hybrids.”
• “All in favor Raise your hands,” Alderman Valentine’s voice rang out as he scanned the hands raised, “It appears we have 8 out of 12 hands raised, therefore it has been decided by the majority that strategies would be developed as a way forward to take care of the hybrid issue going forward.”
• "This meeting is hereby adjourned until further notice," Alderman Valentine said, standing up to conclude the meeting.Walking out of the room, he could barely contain the grin that had spread across his face.
• In his office, he poured himself a glass of his best scotch to celebrate his win .At last, he successfully persuaded the council members to eradicate the hybrids. He let out a bark-like cackle as his hands ran across the yellowed and brittle pages of an ancient scroll, his chuckles growing louder as if he was being controlled by an entity.
• **********
• Raelynn’s POV
• Today is a new day, and I am hoping it will be better than yesterday.
• I reluctantly get out of bed to go about my daily routine.I look at myself in the mirror; my normally bright green eyes appear dull and tired.
• I ran a tired hand through my hair and jumped into the shower to get ready for school. A hot bath later and I was dressed and ready for the day.
• A knock rang on my door as I scrambled for the handle. I pulled the door open to reveal Alison; I doubt I would be able to get past her pink eyes.
• “Hey girl, how was your night?” She asked as she scanned my outfit, her lips curled downwards and her brows raised, "What are you wearing?”
• I looked down at my outfit, squinting my eyes at her, “Clothes?” I said with my reply coming out more like a question.
• She grimaced as she pointed to my outfit and said, "Those should never be classified as clothes.”
• I rolled my eyes as I walked out the door smoothing my shirt with my hands, “What’s wrong with my clothes?”
• “What’s right with your clothes?” She countered letting out a huff, “You’re lucky we’re late for breakfast otherwise I’d have burnt this monstrosity you call clothes.”
• We hurried to the breakfast hall, stumbling into Ashley in the hall. The three of us proceeded to grab breakfast, with me taking a plate of pancakes. We proceed to a table at the far end of the hall. Aly couldn’t stop complaining about my outfit throughout the meal.
• “Ash please tell Aly to stop,” I pleaded letting out a groan, my head was beginning to hurt from her incessant whining. Ash let out a chuckle shaking her head, “This is so funny.”
• Once we were done with our meal, we proceeded toward our respective classes, Aly and I bid Ash goodbye as the only class we had together was gym.
• Everything was normal for the most part of the day. Classes were normally extremely boring, but I finally convinced myself to forget about the vandalism in my room.
• It was finally lunchtime, and I raced out the door, shuffling towards my locker, eager to satisfy my starving stomach. My father once said, 'I had the appetite of a horse.’ I chuckled, shaking my head, trying to hold back the bile that rose up my throat as I remembered my parents.
• I adjusted my books as I stopped in front of my locker. I gingerly imputed the lock combination while grasping the cold metal handle, but it did not budge. Confused, I pulled the handle harder but it still didn’t open.
• ‘It appears that our locker is stuck shut,’ Lynn commented leisurely. I let out a huff, ‘No shit Sherlock.’
• “Come on,” I muttered, twisting the handle with more force, growing irritated. I slammed my shoulder against the locker, groaning as it did not move.Ashley and Alison approached me.
• “What’s the problem?” Alison inquired as she opened her locker with ease, shoving her books inside and closing it.
• “My locker won’t open,” I sighed, running my hands over my face, “Allow me,” she said, flexing her muscles before pulling at the handle to no avail, only to slam into the locker with the same force she used. I would have laughed at what transpired if it were not such a stressful situation.
• I was so angry that I yanked at the door with all my strength. Instead of the typical mess of gym clothes and textbooks, the door lurched open, revealing a gaping darkness. A cold, fetid air oozed out, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something far more sinister – decay.
• I froze, a scream trapped in my throat.A single, disembodied eye, glowing an unnatural green, peered out from the blackness. The stench intensified, making me gag. Panic surged through me, finally forcing the scream out. It echoed like a death knell in the packed hallway.
• The eye blinked, and then, with a sickening squelch, something long and sinuous slithered out of the locker's dark maw. Unable to tear my terrified gaze away, I knew my life would never be the same.