Breed of Innocence (The Breed Chronicles, #01) (11 page)

She hit the ground hard. “Bitch,” she muttered as she jumped back to her feet.

I circled around, trying to avoid her, and kept my fists up to block any hits she’d try to get in. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the crowd around us had grown.
Great. Just what we need—an audience.
“For crying out loud! I don’t want to fight you.”

Her brown eyes narrowed even more. “I don’t remember asking what you wanted.”

I tried blocking out the voices around me. Half the crowd was yelling ‘kick her ass!’, but I didn’t know which she was supposed to be kicking which she’s ass. The other half yelled for us to stop. Both options appealed to me. Unfortunately, judging by the look on Felecia’s face, only one option would please her.

She came at me again, this time feinting with a right punch. I pivoted around to avoid it and instead got a kick to the side of my right knee that had it collapsing under my weight. I groaned as I hit the ground, then closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. Inhaling deep, I held the air in for a few seconds. I pushed it back out slowly.

Enough was enough already.

Diplomacy hadn’t worked. Defending myself hadn’t worked. Trouble or not, I wasn’t letting psycho Felecia kick my kneecap in for no good reason.
You want a fight, you've got it now.
I stayed where I was and waited. Girls like Felecia were predictable, and I knew how they fought—especially when they thought their opponent was down.

Felecia came up behind me, but I was ready for it. When her shadow loomed over me, I reached up, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and pulled. She flew over my shoulder and landed on the ground a few feet away with a sickening thud, followed by a moan that was mostly a curse.

The crowd scurried out of the way.

I pushed to my feet, wincing when my right leg tried going out under me again. Keeping most of my weight on my left leg, I limped over to her. She moved to get up, but I put my foot on her chest, increasing the pressure slightly when she tried wiggling free. “We're done here. The next time we fight—because I know your type and you're too stupid to just let it go—I'm not going to be as nice.” I pressed down a little harder, just enough to make sure she knew I was serious.

I didn't mind fighting, not when I really had to, not when there was no other choice. I understood attacking someone for something stupid. I'd done it myself more than a few times since my family died. But what I hated, what I didn't care for, were people who attacked their opponents when they were down or not looking.

If you were going to fight someone—even over something ridiculously stupid—it should be a fair fight. That was what my mom had taught me.

I shook my head again and hobbled away, once again heading in the direction of the cafe. I wanted food. And aspirin. And, maybe more pressing than anything else on my short list, some damn ice for my throbbing knee.

I heard footsteps behind me and pivoted around. Felecia’s fist slammed into my jaw hard enough to make my teeth shake, and when I licked my lips, I tasted blood. She moved in for another hit. I ducked under her arm, sent my elbow cracking into the back of her head, and twisted away. A shockwave of pain ran up my arm. I made face, shook my arm out. “We’re done,” I said again.

Most of the crowd whooped and pointed. Some covered their mouths with their hands to stop from laughing. Felecia was livid. If this had been a cartoon, she would’ve had smoke coming out of her ears.

I gave it another minute, just to make sure she wouldn’t try anything again. When she didn’t move and just continued to look as if she were trying to transform herself into a Hulk-like figure, I walked away.

Everything ached, from my head to my toes. I should have just gone back to my room to cool off, but I was still starving. Gingerly, I touched my jaw and worked it side to side. Assuming, of course, I could actually eat.

While Linc and I hadn’t exactly set a time frame of when to meet up, it’d been long enough now that he’d probably left, which meant I’d be eating alone. At the Pond, I’d preferred it that way. After my little scuffle with Felecia, I was surprised that I
didn’t
want to be alone. Not tonight. Not here.

A few people smiled as I limped toward the café, and a few glared, but none spoke. Apparently, I had newbie written all over me.

I sighed and, just when I’d decided to forgo food for a shower, saw Linc pushing his way through the crowd. One glimpse of me and he winced. “So that was you, huh?” he said, shaking his head.

“What was me?”

“The fighting.” He stopped when he reached me and hooked his thumbs through the belt loops of his jeans. “I’m guessing with Felecia.”

I muttered something under my breath.

He rocked back on his heels and looked over my shoulder again. “Yup.”

“I want food,” I mumbled. The words were partially slurry.

His entire expression changed. It went from amused to concerned, and he moved to my side, putting one arm around my waist. He guided me to the café court. “Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?” I shook my head and sighed. “Sorry. Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Why did she fight you?”

“I ran into her trying to get here. Or she ran into me. Not sure which.”

“She’s getting worse,” he said under his breath.

“You mean she attacks everyone and isn’t taking an exception to me?”

He made a face. “Yes and…yes. She’s a little aggressive toward anyone who looks at her funny, and mostly when they’re not.” He rolled his eyes and sat me down at one of two dozen white-topped tables in the room. He disappeared for a few seconds, and when he came back, he had a bag of ice in his hand. He pressed it gently against my jaw and took the seat in front of me. “I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen her attack anyone before, though. Usually she sticks to intimidation or verbal abuse.”

“There was plenty of both.” I glanced over my shoulder now. Felecia was still in the outer hall with a small group of her friends. She caught me looking and flipped me the bird. I sighed and turned back. “So much for letting bygones be bygones.”

Linc looked around me, shook his head. “Nope.” A moment of silence passed. “Did you fight back?”

“I did. I gave as good as I got, though she got my knee. Which is throbbing something awful.” I pulled the bag of ice away from my face and set it on my knee.

“Really? Interesting.”

“What?”

“No one’s ever fought back—physically, anyway.”

My back went up. “Well, I wasn’t about to let her stomp all over me because of some stupid accident,” I said, my tone defensive now.

Did everyone but me think defending themselves was a bad thing? Weren’t people supposed to stick up for themselves, or were they supposed to—

“Whoa. Easy tiger.” Linc held up his hands. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have done what you did, just that no one else has before.”

I let out a huff of air. “Sorry. I’m pissy after a fight.”

The sides of his mouth twitched. “It’s okay. I’m usually pissy during one.”

“Wait.” I made a face and held up my hand. “No one’s fought back? Ever?”

He shook his head. “She’s been here almost two years and has pretty much ruled the place the entire time. Of course, she doesn’t typically go after anyone who could, or would, fight back. She usually sticks to the smaller girls, or the insecure ones.” His shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug. “They’re easier targets. Nervous to be here and scared to leave.”

“So how much trouble do you think I’ll be in? With Greene, I mean?”

“I…don’t know.” He didn’t frown, but it was close. “He’s pretty strict about fighting, which is another reason I’m surprised Felecia attacked you. Verbal fights are one thing. Unless they get really heated or look like they’ll turn into a physical fight, he usually lets them slide. But he wants us ‘working together’, not against each other.”

I dropped my head down onto the table, ignoring the small burst of pain from having literally dropped it. “Great. Haven’t even made it a full twenty-four hours and already I’m making shit lists.” And probably on my way to getting kicked out.

“Maybe not. Greene’s obviously got something in mind for you. He wouldn’t have went for you himself otherwise, I don’t think.”

While a part of me still disliked the idea of being handpicked by him or having any kind of special treatment that I didn’t deserve, another part of me hoped Linc was right. I didn’t want kicked out on my first day. “I guess we’ll see.”

My stomach made a sound that had heat rushing to my cheeks. Linc jumped up. “Shit, sorry. You need food—almost forgot. What sounds good? We have...” He jumped up from his chair and stood on his tiptoes, glancing over at the serving areas on the left side of the room. “Looks like some kind of chicken—probably not bad. Salad, if you're a rabbit. Or a vegetarian.” He glanced at me, tilted his head to the side. “You look like neither. Pizza—”

“Pizza. If it has lots of pepperoni, I’ll be your slave your life.” I leaned back in the chair and almost drooled. The scent had been teasing me since I arrived. “It’s been...” How long had it been since I’d had pizza? At least six months. Pizza had been a reward at the Pond, and not one I’d ever gotten. “Too long.”

“Excellent choice, Miss Hall,” he said in an almost-perfect imitation of Greene. “Be right back.”

“I can get it my—”

As I started to get to my feet, Linc came over and pushed me back down. “Sit.”

“When did you get so bossy?” I muttered.

He ignored me. “Just be good and stay here. Maybe I can get you two slices.” He winked, gave me a wicked grin, then strolled away before I could stop staring at the smile and get enough brains back to argue.

I watched as he stood in line with his hands in his pockets, swaying back and forth on his heels slightly as he talked to one of the servers. He was different from other guys I knew. Bossy, as I just discovered. And confident without being annoyingly cocky. Definitely hotter, too. His eyes were gorgeous and I’d already found myself staring into them at awkward times and could foresee it happening again.

Often.

He wasn’t as built as some of the other guys I’d seen, even here, but he was leaner. There was no denying his strength, even if it didn’t scream muscular. His hair was cut short, not quite shaved but not quite…not. It fit him.

I blinked a few times when Linc slid back into his seat. “You know,” he began, placing a plate of pizza in front of me, “you getting hurt has earned us both two slices of pizza. Maybe you should fight more often. I can boss you around and get extra pizza for it.”

I laughed before I could stop it and reached across to slap him. He dodged out of the way, so I settled with stealing his second slice. “Don’t even,” I said, pulling my plate out of reach when he grabbed for it. “You want me to get hurt more often, you jerk. And all because you’re greedy and want more food.” I slapped his hand when he tried stealing it again. “I’ve earned this pizza. All three slices.” And to prove it, I took a big bite of one and made a
mmmm
sound to rub it in.

“Fine.” He sat back in his chair, pouted. “I’ll get hurt and you can boss me around. Win/win.”

I tilted my head to the side as I considered his proposal. It had merit. “Deal.” I handed him back his slice. Maybe he did deserve it. He
had
gotten me the pizza in the first place. And, okay, he’d suckered someone into giving us both an extra slice. “But only because you’ve been here longer and obviously have better connections.”

“I feel so used.”

“You’re getting two slices of pizza. You’ll get over it.”

“I earned my extra piece too, you know.”

“Maybe. But only because you’re being kind of nice, in an annoyingly obnoxious-boss-you-around kind of way.”

“Hey, bossing people around burns calories.”

I shook my head softly and fought a smile. “I can’t decide if I want to maim you or steal your pizza again.”

“Maybe that’s a sign I should be quiet.”

“Probably,” I said with a grin.

When we finished our pizza, Linc walked me back to my room because he refused to let me go alone. I’d tried to get him to give me a tour, but since I was still limping slightly, he wouldn’t. It…was sweet, I decided, but still kind of annoying.

“Take it easy for the rest of the night, will you?”

“Nag, nag.”

“You’re lucky you weren’t sent back to Doc. If Greene had seen it, he would have made you go.”

“Shh,” I whispered, glancing around conspiratorially. “She might hear you.” He started to laugh and I glared. “Don’t laugh, or the next time I’m forced to go, I’ll make sure you have to go with me.”

“Are you threatening me, Hall?”

I smiled serenely. “Nope. I don't like threats. I try to deal in promises only. And I do keep my promises.”

“You're kind of mercenary,” he said after a minute. “I don't know why, but I think I like that about you.”

Chuckling, I shoved him aside and opened the door to my room. “Go away. Go far, far away.”

“I’ll show you around tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

“Hope the knee feels better.”

“Thanks.”

He nodded, waved, and went maybe ten feet down the hall before stopping.

I frowned. “What are you doing?”

He pointed to the door. “I live here too, you know,” he said, then swiped his card and went inside.

I didn't know why I expected his room to be somewhere else, on another floor or something. Maybe I shouldn't have. This place didn’t exactly have ‘normal’ written on it.

Shrugging, I went inside. The lights came on again as I walked in. I didn’t need so much light, so I went to the closet and dug out the lamp. Since I was there, I grabbed out the sheets for the bed too and tossed them on the mattress. I plugged in the small light, then went back to the door. There was a small brushed-metal panel to the right that had a narrow LED display, two buttons, and a knob. Something had to turn off the main lights. I pressed buttons and twisted the knob. The lights flashed, dimmed, then shut off.

“Do you need help?” a slightly-staticy voice said.

I jumped back, clutching my chest, and twisted in a circle. There was no one there.