City of fire

Chapter 2

"It's f*****g BULLSHIT" Anubis roared. He paced in the Moon Garden's courtyard, movements fluid and swift, a wolf stalking. The air inhaled, his form blurred and beside the fountain now stood a 5ft storm grey wolf, slate eyes staring back at us, perhaps a bit surprised by the sudden change. A chuckle escaped my lips, Nyx looked down at me. We were under the triumph trees and I was laying in her lap. She had been rubbing my back trying to sooth me.

"I always forget how expressive you guys are even in that form". I looked back over at the wolf "maybe more so for him..", slowly as to not scare me, Anubis began walking towards us. "Bis, you aren't scary and haven't been for a few years" I chuckled. Springing foward he licked my face! "YOURE SO GROSS!!" I yelled pushing off Nyx lap, standing; wiping the sober off my face. The large grey wolf smiled, a massive tongue rolled out, then sneezed right in my face and trotted off, far too happy with himself. Nyx still sitting at the base of the tree was rolled over laughing. Slowly I turned, facing her "What am I supposed to do with this?" I held my arms out and as if drenched. She doubled down laughing and a just as I thought it, I lunged for her,fully planning on smearing her too. Like dark mist she rolled away seconds before I could touch her. Faced with the open expanse of air my arms spun and feet tripped over the roots, just before my face kissed the earth her strong hand grabbed my shoulder pulling me back upright.

We smiled at each other and hugged "Thank you" I mutter. We both knew it was not for saving me from eating dirt but instead saving me from a deeper fall, that I never can stop alone. She patted my back and we broke away from each other and walked out of the Moon garden following Anubis' tail. I was one of The Lyulph Triplets I would never be alone.

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    I woke the next afternoon feeling lighter than I had at dinner, and got ready for class. I opened my bedroom door to find Lailah standing in the hallway practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. Far too much energy, Lai always had far too much energy. "It's noon. Classes aren't till one why are you out my bedroom door?" I leaned against the doorframe, the movement reminding me too much of how my sire had leaned on it the night before. Nearly jumping out if my skin I changed my stance. All under the watchful eye of Lailah. Her brow raised and flashed a knowing quick smile "Sooooo" she sang swinging her hands back and forth. "Wanna go get breakfast cause I'm starving!"

We walked out of the Den house, a large 3 story colonial manor that housed Alpha/Lunas family, and headed to the University cafeteria. Lailah linked her arm through mine as we walked through the cafeteria door. It was noisy and chaotic, most of its occupants in their 20s-30s and yet it still looked and feels like a high school lunchroom. Practicity demanded it, young Shifters have temperaments and strength to break more than furniture. We walked through the crowd to the line that was serving an assortment of bacons, hams, biscuits gravy, eggs, pancakes, crepes beignets and more. Filling our trays, we made our way to a one of the round tables in the corner. A few of the older Shifters' eyes cutting to me, a mix of disgust, pity and outright hatred staring at me. I sighed, rolled my shoulders and kept walking, Lailah never missing a beat flipped them off while walking away. I swatted her arm down as she just grinned at me " Why" I hissed. "Because they are d***s, because they think you're less" she growled out the word. "I cant shift" I said flatly. There was no room for argument. My siblings had true power and status, I was only extended the status due to being one of The Triplet. If I had been born into any other family I would have been cast out, barely above humans to most Shifters. I tugged at the curl of auburn that never seemed to stay behind my ears. The curl bounced in protest. " It's still bullshit" she muttered. I shrugged, the truth hit hard I am 19, 20 in a few months and still hadnt shifted. Nyx turned into a wolf at 12, youngest recorded, Anubis at 16. The familiar sting set in, I wasn't graceful, no speed, minimal strength, and no primal pull that every Shifter describes.

Standing I cleared the dirty trays between Lialah and I and made my way to the dish pit. On my way back someone shouldered into me, I gasped. It shouldn't be a huge surprise I was use to the stares, sneers, a comment thrown into the air when I walk into a room, but noone touches me. I am one of The Lyulph Triplets, I turned to face the them only to find her face down on the blue and white tiled floor, Nyx pinning her by the back of the neck. Nails just starting to shift to claws, squeezed. "Apologize" Nyx voice promised death. Karia, who I finally recognized as one of the few Shifters my age, eyes darted up to see Anubis crouched next to her. His head tilted, a predator assessing its prey, he looked at Nyx "She hasn't apologized." He said boredly "No, she hasn't" Nyx voice laced with violence a cruel smile spread across her face exposing the canines that started to elongate. " I'm Sorry I'm sorry" Karia stuttered tears lining her eyes, from anger or fear I wasn't sure, I didnt care, I turned and walked away leaving Karia to Nyx and Anubis.

The sound of the chatter resumed as Anubis walked out of the cafeteria with Karia. "I do not want to be her" Lialah said point her fork in Karia's direction. The air at our table went still and Nyx leveled a glare at Lialah "You are supposed to protect her" Lai balanched under Nyx's stare unsure where to look or what to say. I'm not sure if it was the way Nyx was looking at Lia or the words sinking in. Protect her. Anger rose as my stare turned towards Nyx. "What did you say?" I ground out. Nyx turned towards me, eyes hazed with anger, then surprise, then realization at what she said then, pity shone "No Cy, it's not like that.." The anger rose heating me to my very core I would explode if I sat here another moment while she had pity in her eyes. Slamming my hands down on the table I stood up and walked towards the door when I heard Nyx and Lialah talking about the fire in my eyes. Fire filled veins as I walked, red hot anger. I don't need protection; I muttered to myself; the words felt hollow it was a lie. I had no wolf. The fire died inside as I reached the door to the first class of the day.

Biology 101 was my first course; and one of the few without Lailah or my siblings. One long table in the classroom and 5 chairs, use to be 10. Bio 101 was only taught to new Shifters. Nyx took it at 12 when her wolf emerged during a friend's birthday party. She was young but once you turn there are some changes our body goes through and learning what they are and how to handle them is critical to our survival. Anubis and I along with the few other shifters our age were thrown into the class around 16, the normal age when most wolfs surface. All the students that started Bio 101 had aged out, their wolf emerged allowing them to move on years ago.

Four years of sitting in this chair relearning the same basic biological differences between Shifters, humans and witches(not that there were many if any left). I listened to the Professor drone on and on as all the other pups, and yes, I said pups, scribbled notes. The four chairs that surrounded me were the younger generation, most 15 or 16 themselves. "Primarily the biggest difference between humans and witches is their connection with the elements and their bond with Heretic, their Goddess of witchcraft. The witches are also bound the lunar cycles," Professor Lupin droned sounding just as bored delivering the lecture as I was listening to it. "Cyra," he called out "You have been in this class the longest," putting emphasis on the last word, a snicker escaped from one of the young students at the snear " Can you elaborate on why we mark the difference between us and witches?" I took a grounding breathe "Witches are physically stronger than humans and few have elemental magic but they were not chosen by Luna and gifted a second stronger form." "Very good, glad to see that in the" he paused "Four year is it now? That you have indeed been paying attention." His gaze shifted to the other students, back facing me as he said "How blessed and honored we are all by Goddess Luna to have our wolf form." Anger hot as fire sizzled at his insult, a dark thought creeped into my mind, to have claws like Nyx to be able to rip out his throat for turning his back to me. The room quited and the pups attention shifted away from Professor Lupin to me, a few let out a small gasp most just wide eyed. It was then Professor Lupin turned to look at me, the smug smile wiped away with surprise and fear. "Go to your next class, you're not needed here." The words clipped, they were supposed to carry authority but it fell short, fear, I scented fear. I gathered my belongs stood up and left. Next class wasn't for another hour, but if I didn't leave I would likely regret my next decision. Right as the door closed, I heard the last remark from a student "at least she leaving next week."

They knew the whole pack knew, that's why Nyx put Lailah on protection, that's why the increase in hostility. None expected me to come back from my trip with our sire, as if him taking me with was the final coupe-de-gra, a giant banner saying Disowned, Outcast; instead of the honor it would if he had chosen one of my siblings. I headed to the campus gym; I had an hour before my next class and needed to burn off the anger.