Magic Vs Science

Four

"Stop!" I screamed. I watched as Mom was taken by the men in white suits. Their demonic black eyes, taunting me. Daring me to try and save my Mom.

"Run! Now!" I heard her yell to me.

My feet wouldn't move. I kept crying out for them to leave my Mom alone, to let her go, but my cries landed on deaf ears. They wouldn't let her go. I screamed and covered my eyes. When I opened them again, I was in the jungle. Daddy was looking away while I relieved my bladder. I heard a growl, but didn't think much of it. When I was done, I stood up to fix my pants. I heard a growl again, but it was closer this time. I felt pain in my back. I screamed and fell to the ground. When I looked over my shoulder, a jaguar lunged at me, but before it could reach me, a large solid black tiger tackled it to the ground. I covered my eyes in fear. I heard a gun go off, making my ears ring. I looked around and found Daddy, naked and bleeding everywhere. "Daddy? Daddy you're bleeding." I cried.

He smiled at me and gently touched my cheek. "Be a good girl for-" He coughed and blood dripped from the side of his mouth. "For Mommy. I love you" His breath was ragged. "Tell Mommy that I love her. Go find her." He closed his eyes and his hand fell from my cheek to the ground.

"Daddy?" I shook him. "Daddy, wake up!" I yelled as I shook his lifeless body harder, tears burning my eyes. I screamed and cried.

"-- up" I sniffled and looked around. I thought I heard someone, but I didn't see anyone. Just the trees in the jungle and Daddy's body. "-- ake up!" I heard it again.

I stood up and looked around again. "Hello?" I called out.

"Wake up!" It sounded familiar, but I couldn't remember where I've heard this voice before.

I looked at Daddy again, but now, he wasn't there. The men in white suits who took my Mom were standing there. Right where Daddy was supposed to be. "It's your turn, little girl. Mommy and Daddy aren't here to save you anymore." His voice sounded like snakes. They stepped closer to me. I stepped back, but tripped, landing landing on my butt. The men quickly grabbed me, wrapping their hands around my neck.

"No!" I screamed and tried to fight them off, but the pain in my back and bleeding made it hard to fight.

"Ixora! Wake up!" The man who had me said. I furrowed my brow. He shook me hard. "No Mommy and Daddy now." He growled. "Ixora! Wake up!"

My eyes flew open. I screamed and fought the hands that held my shoulders. "No!" I screamed and clawed at the person holding me.

"f**k!" He growled. "Ixora! It's me, Ursis!" I rolled to my side and vomited beside the bed. "Are you back with me now?" Ursis asked after I had stopped vomiting.

My heart pounded in my chest as I hauled air into my lungs. I looked up at Ursis, who was sitting beside me. "I think so." I whispered.

"That was a nasty nightmare." He pushed my hair out of my face. "Want to talk about it?"

The images of my dream flooded back into my mind and I started trembling. I shook my head. "No. At least, not right now." Ursis nodded and pulled me into a hug. His hand lightly touched my back. I couldn't stop the scream of pain that left my lips. "That hurts!" I cried.

Ursis let go of me quickly. "What happened?" I shook my head. He got up and turned on a lantern he had hanging on the wall in the cave. The light from it lit up the bed I was sitting on. "What the f**k?!" I looked at him, but he was looking at the floor. I followed his gaze and looked at my vomit, except, it wasn't. It was blood. I gasped. "Where the f**k did those bruises come from?"

I looked at my arms and legs. "What bruises?" I started to get scared.

"The ones on your neck!" He yelled. He sounded just as scared as I felt. In two quick strides, he was next to me, removing my clothing completely. "You're bleeding!" Panic rose inside of me quickly. I felt like I couldn't breathe. "It's okay." He pulled my head to his chest. "Everything is going to be okay."

I broke into tears. How was everything going to be okay? I got injured in my dream and somehow, it affected my body in the real world.

I didn't end up going back to sleep. Instead, I stayed up and studied until it was time to go to school again. "Let me patch up your back again." Ursis had been very gentle with me since last night. He was worried that I might die. "Tonight we are going to stay at a hotel. It's run by our people, so it's safe. Humans stay there too, so my brother won't try anything." I nodded.

In school, I didn't pay attention at all. The teacher seemed to have noticed because he kept calling solely on me to answer the questions. Each time he called on me, I had to stand up and write me answers on the chalkboard, and each time, my back would ache and I would feel it tear open and bleed a little more. "Ixora! Come answer this, and don't forget to show your work." The teacher sneered at me.

I have had enough. I growled, feeling Onyx stir and rise inside me. "No! You have been calling on me to answer every f*****g question so far. Why don't you pick up that f*****g piece of chalk and solve the damn problem yourself, you f*****g asshole!" With that, I walked out of the classroom, slamming the door behind me.

I'm angry and not thinking straight. I kicked the door to Zack's classroom open and waltzed right in. "Hi. Sorry to bother you all. I'm just here to collect Zack and have a 'friendly' conversation with him." My words were laced with growls, but I didn't care one bit. I was way too pissed off. All heads turned to Zack. I watched him gulp. He looked terrified. "Let's go, Zack. I don't have all day."

I turned and waltzed out the door. I knew he was following me closely, simply because I could hear his heart racing. It didn't take long to reach the roof. "What do you want, Ixora?" He tried to sound tough, but his trembling and racing heart gave him away.

Quickly, I turned and pinned him against the wall by his throat. Onyx was on the surface, ready to take over at any moment. "Dial your father." I growled. Zack whimpered, but didn't move to get his phone out. "NOW!" I roared, inches from his face. I knew he could see my elongated fangs. I terrified him.

Quickly, Zack called his Dad. "What do you want?" I heard his Father sneer over the phone.

"Hi, D-Dad. S-someone wants to talk to you." He handed the phone to me, I grabbed it, letting out a low growl and tightening my grip on his throat as a warning to not try anything.

"Hello." I growled. "You are not going to say a f*****g word, but yes ma'am or no ma'am. Do I make myself clear?"

"Why should I listen to you?" I could hear the venom in his voice.

I held the phone close to Zack and snapped his finger, knowing his screams of pain will attract attention. "That's one broken finger on your sons hand. Not listening to me will lead to his death. After he is dead, I'll find another and another, until I get what I want."

"I couldn't care less what happens to that piece of trash, son of mine."

I laughed. "Did you hear that, Zack? Your Daddy doesn't care what happens to you. Maybe Viki's Daddy will care more for her." I snapped Zack's neck, then hung up the phone. I sent a text to Viki; "Meet me on the roof. It's important."

Viki; "What's wrong, Babe?"

I sighed. "I got info on Ixora."

Viki; "Did you find out that she has a Beast?"

"Yeah. Also turns out that she's their 'Savior'."

Viki; "EKK! OMG! OMW! I hope we get to be the ones to kill her!"

I rolled my eyes and hid Zack's limp body behind the AC unit and waited. Once Viki came up and I heard the door close behind her, I quickly pinned her against the door by her throat. "Dial your Daddy." I growled in he face. I could smell that she had pissed herself. I rolled my eyes and snatched her phone out of her hand. "What is the password?"

She gulped. "P-please don't hurt me! I-I s-swear I won't bully you anymore!" I growled, allowing my K9's to elongate again. "2901!" I opened her phone and called her Father, leaving the phone on speaker.

"Vivi? Why are you calling me? Is something wrong, Princess?" He sounded worried.

"D-Daddy. S-someone wants to t-talk to you."

I pulled the phone away, taking it off speaker. "Hello." I growled. "You are not going to say a f*****g word, but yes ma'am or no ma'am. Do I make myself clear?"

"Who are you and what have you done to me daughter, you filthy Beast?"

"Not listening to me, will lead your daughter to getting hurt." I growled.

"Daddy please! I don't want to die! Listen to her!" Viki cried. I groaned and rolled my eyes. I have come to realize, I hate girls like Viki. Too pampered for their own good.

"Alright, alright! I understand!"

I smiled. "Do you speak to the eldest brother?"

"Yeas, ma'am."

"Good. Give him a message for me. Now, before I tell you what the message is, I will tell you the rules. Rule number one; do not ask me my name. Simply call me, Deadly Nightshade." I glared at Viki, she nodded quickly. "Rule number two; all tasks that I give you, will be done within the time frame I provide. Failing to do so, will lead to little Vivi here, to get hurt. Last but not least, rule number three; telling me no, is not an option. Every time you tell me no, your daughter pays the price. Are you clear on your rules?"

I heard him take a shakey breath. "Yes, ma'am."

"Repeat my rules."

"Rule number one; do not ask your name. You are simply know as Deadly Nightshade. Rule number two; all tasks that I am given, will be done within the provided time. Failing to do so, will lead my daughter to get hurt. Rule number three; no is not an option. Every time I tell you no, my daughter pays the price."

"Good. You are already so much better than Zack's Father. He didn't care about his son. He wouldn't listen to me, so I killed his son. Are you going to listen to me, or are you going to get your daughter killed?"

"No, Miss. Nightshade. I will not get her killed. Please, Miss. Nightshade, what is my task?"

"Good boy. You have thirty minutes to deliver my message to the eldest brother. I am tired of watching my people die. Surrender, of I start killing your people one by one until you are the only one left."

"Thank you for my task, Miss. Nightshade."

"One more thing," I paused for a moment. "If you try to track her phone, she will die and I will go after her little sister, your youngest daughter."

"No, Miss. Nightshade. I will not have her phone tracked."

"Good. Your time starts now." I hung up the phone and looked right at Viki. "If you move, you will end up like Zack." I growled, letting her go and watched as she dropped to the ground.