The Lion's Den

CHAPTER TWO

"Vincent, come down stairs. Breakfast is set" Mr. Danielson, Vincent's father called out.

On hearing that Vincent rolled over in bed, covering himself completely with the blanket. He was not in the mood to wake up though it was already 11 am. Well it was a Sunday morning and he needed a lot of rest.

He knew that anytime the next week would be full moon and he will need a lot of energy to shift. Though he had been a were since he was fourteen, he still found shifting stressful.

When his dad noticed he wasn't coming down for breakfast, he sent Drake, who has already eating, to go and bring him down.

Drake felt disturbed but had to go. With annoyance, Drake barged into the room without knocking and this woke Vincent up.

"Dude, can't you knock?" Vincent asked, sitting up on the bed and yawning.

"Why didn't you come down when dad called you? Or are you not fine?" Drake questioned.

"No, I'm not. Okay, let me freshen up. I'm coming down."

"Hurry up." Drake said and left.

Vincent yawned again, scratching his chin as he realized how dark and stuffy it was in his room. He loved the dark and his thick walls and thick black curtains helped in granting him that, but he needed the sun and air to wake up properly. On opening his window to let in light and fresh air, he froze in surprise.

Surprise one-The window opposite his that had always been closed since the last occupants left five years ago, was opened.

Surprise two- A girl was roaming about in that room.

On registering that was the same time the girl decided to move close to her window. He watched intently as her eyes widened in realization on sighting him. The look lingered on her face for some time before the sides of her lips turned up in a smile. Then she spoke.

"Hi. I'm Anika and I'm new here. You are?" She gave a shy wave with the smile still plastered on

Vincent opened his mouth to speak but changed his mind. He couldn't take his eyes off her and all that kept playing in his head like a broken record was the word 'beautiful'. He knew that would fall out of his mouth if he spoke, so he didn't.

On deciding that he rather not scare her with his cranky compliment, he continued staring. She had a nice toned skin a button nose, full pouty lips and black that were packed in a messy bun. He couldn't tell her height, but he knew her head wouldn't get above his chin, if they stood side by side.

Well, not that he has any plans of getting that close to this stranger. But the one feature that he couldn't look away from, were those blue eyes that reminded him of where the sky meet the sea. The distance didn't hinder him from seeing the endlessness and warmth it held.

Then a sound jerked him back to reality. He couldn't place what or where that distraction came from, but he was grateful for it. He was embarrassing himself by staring unapologetically at this girl he just met.

He decided to leave the window, and this he did without having a second thought. He closed the curtain with such force it almost fell from its hinges.

Vincent have you gone outs? Are you really dumbfounded by a girl? Actually she's not the only girl have met so why am I behaving like this? But really she looks...Vincent respect yourself and go down for breakfast.

Vincent thought as he rushed out of his room, ignoring the pull he felt to go back to that window.

*. *. *. *.

Seriously? Did he just snub me? Anika, why did you talk to him first? Well what did that earn you? Being snubbed like a piece of rag. Are these the type of people that live here? Such a proud guy. Anika soliloquized.

She went to the dining table to join her parents in having breakfast.

"Good morning mum, good morning dad." Anika greeted.

"Morning my angel," her dad replied.

"How was your night, love? Her mom asked.

"It was amazing mom, thanks."

"Okay pass your plate so you can have a sandwich and your cup for tea.

She passed it over and her mom filled both the plate and cup with her meal then passed it back to her.

"Thanks mom" Anika said, smiling and salivating.

After the meal Anika thanked her mom and dad and was about to stand up from her chair when her dad told that there is something important he wanted to tell her.

"What is it dad?"

"I have good news. Your mom and I have been searching the environment for a good school that you can attend and we found one and fortunately we have gotten everything ready for you so all you have to do is prepare to resume tomorrow."

Anika was short of words but later found her voice:

"Thanks mom thanks dad. How can I thank you?"

"Anything for you darling", her mom replied

Her uniform was a blue long sleeved shirt, a black blazer, a carton colour pleated skirt and tie. Her mother laid them out on the bed and watched Anika with a smile, waiting for her reaction.

The length of the skirt caught Anika's attention and when her mom told her to try it on, it stayed many inches above her knee and that made her uncomfortable.

"Mom. How do you expect me to wear this?" Anika whined.

"Of course you will"

"Mom!"

"I said you will"

"Mom, really?"

"You must and that is final".

That evening, Drake went to Vincent room and was shocked to see Vincent's carton colour trouser, blue long sleeved shirt, brazier and tie hung on his wardrobe door.

"What's up with you Vincent? I thought you said you ain't going to school for some time." Drake folded his arms as he rested on the door frame.

"Well I changed my mind and so?" Vincent replied, in a rude tone, his eyes fixed on one of the many books opened on his bed.

"Vincent, why are you being like this? I just asked cause I was surprised."

"Like you care." Vincent murmured under his breath.

"Of cause I do. But if you think I don't, you can have it that way. I'm in no mood to correct you." Drake replied, leaving the room.

Vincent and Drake were bothers but they didn't act like they were for a cause. The reason being that, when Vincent was at about fourteen years he fell very ill and when he was at the point of death, Drake who was already a Were, decide to use his powers to revive him and in the process Vincent became a Were too.

Ever since then, Vincent has been blaming Drake for turning him into the beast he is.