[The Trybid Chronicles 1] Fated at First Sight

Chapter Four: Promises

Justin

After Niky came back into my life, my head was a mess. I had just left the Sadie Hawkins dance after arguing with her again. I was getting tired of this. We had spent most of the summer break fighting about everything that had happened. I didn’t expect her to forgive me, but it would be nice not to fight for once. I don’t know what I was thinking, or maybe I wasn’t. Regardless, I found myself at the nearest bar. I knew I shouldn’t be here, but I was, and I had my fake I.D. on me. I always carry it, though I am unsure how it ever works.

I entered the bar, fishing out my I.D. while I walked. The woman behind the bar smiled at me, but it was nothing compared to Niky's smile before she realized who I was. “Can I get a Jack and Coke?”

“Sure thing, doll.” The woman said with a wink before turning away from me.

While she made my drink, I looked around the almost empty bar. The clock on the wall read 8:30. I knew the bar would fill up soon enough. It was Friday, after all. The bartender slid my drink to me, and I chugged it. I really needed to forget this week.

The bartender stared at me. “Rough week, I take it, hon?”

“Something like that,” I muttered. “Can I get a whiskey neat? Please keep them coming.”

“Sure thing.” She said before turning again. She returned a moment later with my drink, and I downed that one too.

All I could think about was Niky. The events of the week kept running through my head. I deserved all her hate, but that didn’t mean it didn’t suck. At some point, I lost track of how many drinks I had. I placed two hundred dollars on the counter and tried to stand, but my vision swam in front of me. I fell right into someone. I think he might have been a biker, but I’m not sure,

“Woah buddy.” The guy said. “Watch where you are going.”

“Sorry,” I muttered, my words slurring. The edge of my vision was blurring. “s**t!” I thought. I can’t go home like this. My parents will kill me.

I tried to move but realized that the man was holding me still. “Hey kid, you okay?”

“I’m fine!” I snapped. “Let me go.” I tried to wiggle free.

“You are not okay.” The man said. “Let me take you home.”

“No thanks, I can’t go home yet.” The words sounded foreign in my ears. Is that my voice?

“Why not, son?” The man asked.

Before I could stop them, the words of truth came out of my mouth. “Because my parents would kill me.”

“Why would your parents kill you?” The man asked.

“Why are you so nosy, man!” I yelled. “Let me go.”

“No, not until you tell me why you tell me why you think your parents will kill you.” The man said.

At this point, I was angry and drunk, so I knew I wasn’t thinking straight because the next thing I knew, I was punching the man. He barely budged. “s**t, he’s probably supernatural.”

Before I could think, my face hit the bar top, and I felt the cold metallic click of handcuffs. “s**t, this is worse than I thought. He’s a cop.”

“Come on, young man, you are coming with me.” The man said, and now I realized he was wearing a badge around his neck. I didn’t even bother trying to fight him. I let him lead me out of the bar and to his cruiser.

*****

I woke up a little while later in a single cell. My head was throbbing, and I didn’t know where I was at. I sit up, putting my head in my hands. “What the f**k happened?”

“You got drunk and picked a fight with a cop.” A voice said in my head.

“Who’s there?” I yelled, looking around the tiny room. I was alone. “Jesus, now I am going insane.”

“Nope.” The voice said. “You aren’t going insane. This is just the first time I have been able to talk to you. Though I have been trying to get through to you all week.”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am Arrow.” The voice said. “I’ll explain everything, but first, I recommend you use your inside voice. This is a human jail, so talking out loud might make them think you are insane.”

“I’m not insane?” I asked. “Who are you, Arrow?”

“I am your spirit animal. I awoke earlier this week when you found our mate.” Arrow told me.

“Yeah, about that-” I hesitated. How do you tell your animal spirit that your mate hates you?

“I already know. I share all of your memories. Plus, I talked to Silver, our mate’s animal spirit counterpart.” Arrow told me.

“Oh, okay. So I am a wolf after all, huh?” I asked.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?” I snapped. “If I have an animal spirit, then I have to be a wolf because my dad, brother, and cousins are wolves.”

I hear Arrow sigh. “What I am about to tell, you must promise to never tell another soul. At least until we shift. Can you do that?”

“I guess?” I responded.

“We are actually feline shifters,” Arrow says.

“That’s impossible. Feline shifters went extinct thousands of years ago.” I snapped. “That’s not funny, Arrow!”

“Do you think I would joke about something like that!” Arrow hisses. “This is not something to take lightly, Justin!”

I shivered as I remembered an old story Niky’s mom used to tell us. About a prophecy from the last time Feline shifters existed. “Wait, is Silver a feline shifter as well?” I hoped his answer was no.

“Yes. Niky and Silver have known for years, but they kept their mouths shut just like you need to.” Arrow stated.

“I need to talk to Niky; this is bad.” I told him.

“Do you really think that’s the best idea?” Arrow asked. “How do you know she will want to talk to you?”

“I don’t, but it’s worth a shot. She knows more than I do.” I told him. “I just need to get out of here first.”

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching. A man comes into view; he looks vaguely familiar. “Oh good, you’re awake.”

“Look, sir, I am sorry I punched you,” I said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, you shouldn’t have Justin.” The man said, making me groan. He knows my name, which means he knows that I am underage. “My name is Captain Robert Hollows. Do you want to tell me what a sixteen-year-old was doing at a bar drunk off his ass?”

“Look, Captain, I know it was wrong, plus I assaulted a police officer, but I was having a terrible week,” I told him. “What’s the punishment?”

The Captain stared at me. “Nothing.”

“What?” I asked incredulously. “No jail time, no community service, no fines?”

“No, because I am impressed.” The Captain told me.

“Huh with what?” I asked.

“That was a very grownup thing to do, Justin. I have a proposition for you.” Captain Robert said. “I have a program for kids like you. The program allows you to gain some guidance and puts you on the path of being a doctor, a cop, and so on. Would you be interested?”

I thought about it. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a detective, but I didn’t think that was in the cards anymore. “Can I think about it?”

“Of course.” The Captain said. “I have an information packet on my desk. I will check up on you next Friday.” He unlocked the door and held it open. “Your Dad is here, by the way, and I don’t think he will kill you, but he is definitely irate.”

I sighed. I am grounded for sure. I followed the Captain to the main room but stopped in my tracks. The man that was here to get me was not my Dad. It’s Daniel. Niky was standing next to him. “Come on, son, it’s time to go home.”

Daniel thanked the Captain and then escorted the two of us out. Once we were in the car, he lit into me. “You are a fortunate young man. I showed up to pick up Niky and overheard them talking about you. I stopped them from calling your parents Justin.”

“Thank you, sir-” I started.

“Don’t thank me. You two need to talk this s**t out. If your Mother hears about this, Niky, she will force you to go home. Is that what you want?” Daniel snapped.

“No Daddy.” Niky whimpered.

“Good, now you two stay here and talk s**t out. I will be right back.” Daniel said as he got out of the car.

“What were you doing here?” I asked her.

“I got into a fistfight at Dairy Queen.” She tells me. “You?”

I almost smiled when she said that. “I got drunk and punched a police officer.”

“Justin!” Niky gasped. “What the f**k?”

“The only reason I was drinking was because of you!” I yelled right back.

“Oh so now it’s my fault?” She screamed.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” I sighed. “I can’t get you out of my head, and I thought alcohol would help. It didn’t.”

She snorted. “That’s why I was eating ice cream. Then some girl from school commented about you, and I saw red. I couldn’t stop myself. I punched her.”

“I take it the ice cream didn’t help.” I laughed.

“No.” She said, turning red.

I took a moment to collect my thoughts. This was the first time we were alone and not trying to kill each other. “Niky, I know I messed up, but I am sorry. You were my best friend and have every reason to hate me, but I hope we can fix our relationship.”

“Justin, when you left, a piece of me died. The night you told me we couldn’t be friends was when I met-” She stopped talking suddenly, looking really nervous.

“Silver.” I decided to finish her sentence. She just stared at me in shock. “Look, I get it. I broke your trust, but I will do anything to earn it back. Even if it takes me the rest of my life.”

“First step to earning my trust back is to tell me how you know about Silver!” Niky yelled.

“Look, it’s been a long night, and I am not entirely sure what happened, but tonight I met my animal counterpart. He told me he woke up when we ran into each other at Freak Nation a week ago.” I told her. “He told me his name is Arrow; he said he spoke to Silver. That’s how I know.”

“I see, and What else did he tell you?” She asked.

“He told me that we are feline shifters and can’t tell anyone until we shift,” I said.

Niky nodded. “So I guess I don’t have a choice.”

“What do you mean?” I tilt my head in question.

“I have to learn how to trust you again. We now carry the biggest secret on the planet with us.” Niky told me. “I am not saying I trust you, but I am willing to give you a chance.”

“Thank you, Niky,” I told her, and I meant it. I put my hand out so she could shake it in agreement, but instead, she leaned in and kissed my cheek.

Sparks erupted on my skin. It was a brief peck, but it was enough to make a promise that one day she would trust me enough that those lips would be on mine, and I wouldn’t rest until she was fully mine.

*****

When I got home, it was already two in the morning, and I had many things to think about. I quietly slipped into the house and made my way upstairs. Before I could reach my room, I was intercepted by Dylan. “Where the hell were you?” He hissed. “And why the hell were you with Niky?”

“What?” I asked.

“Don’t play dumb, Justin. My window faces the driveway. I saw her and her Dad. Not only that, but she hugged you before you came into the house.” Dylan growled.

“Look man it’s been a long night, but I am happy to tell you all of this in the morning. I am exhausted.” I told him.

Dylan grimaced. “Your breath stinks. So yeah, unless you want me to tell Mom and Dad where you were, you had better fill me in. Now go to bed.”

I nodded. “s**t, do I tell him about you?”

“That’s up to you, but I think you better talk to our mate before you tell him anything. She might be able to help keep him calm.” Arrow told me, and I agreed.

I didn’t even bother changing my clothes. I just fell on my bed and went straight to sleep. The sun was streaming through the window. I jumped when I saw Dylan sitting at my desk. “Man, what the f**k?”

“Mom and Dad have gone to work, so now you can tell me what the hell happened last night,” Dylan stated, not even looking at me.

“Can I shower and have some coffee first?” I asked, startled that he was even talking to me.

“Fine, but hurry. I have things to do today.” Dylan said as he got up and left.

“I need to get a hold of Niky,” I told Arrow. “Can you help?”

“Sure, I might be able to link you together even though we haven’t mated. I will be right back. Go shower.” Arrow said before retreating to the back of my mind.

I went to my bathroom and turned the water as hot as possible. Then I stripped and stepped in. After a few minutes, I felt pressure in my head and then a pop. “Justin, is that you?”

“Niky, thank god it worked.” I said.

“Silver said Arrow told her you needed to talk to me?” She asked.

“Yes, Dylan caught me with you last night, and he has questions. Can you come over? I don’t want to say anything without you here.”

“Yeah, I will be over in about ten minutes.” Niky told me. “You better hurry in the shower.”

I felt myself blush. “You can’t see anything, can you?”

“No, but Arrow said you were showering.” Niky laughed. “See you soon.”

I felt the connection end. “Arrow, is there a way to make the mind link permanent?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Mark our mate.” Arrow laughed as he receded into my mind.

I rolled my eyes and quickly finished my shower. I ran down the stairs while pulling a shirt on. I got there just in time to see Dylan opening the door for Niky. “Niky, what are you doing here?”

“Justin asked me to come over, I hear that you want an explanation for last night, and I agree that you deserve one.” Niky told him.

“Come in, I guess.” He said, holding the door open for her. Dylan shot me a dirty look.

Niky came in and sat down on the loveseat. I stood by the stairs. This was awkward. Dylan sat in the recliner, and Niky looked at me. “Justin, come sit next to me.”

“I think-” My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat. “I think I am good right here.”

I couldn’t be that close to her right now. “Justin, get over here now.” She snapped.

Well, I tried. I walked over and sat next to her. She smelled amazing, like peanut butter and chocolate. I groaned internally. “Damn it, this will be harder than I thought.”

“So, Dylan, what do you want to know?” I asked, trying to focus my attention elsewhere.

“I would like to start with where the f**k you were last night.” Dylan snapped.

“I got arrested for getting drunk and punching a police officer,” I told him.

Dylan blinked at me in disbelief. “How did you end up with Niky?”

“I got arrested as well,” Niky said. “Though not for the same reason. My Dad was there to pick me up and overheard the cops talking about Justin. So he told them he would take Justin as well.”

“How did that end with you two hugging?” Dylan asked.

“Dad made us talk,” Niky said.

“And we had a lot to talk about,” I added. “Dylan, we need to tell you something, but you can’t tell anyone.”

“It’s very dangerous, Dylan, and it could get us killed.” Niky added.

“What is it?” Dylan asked, his eyes wide with curiosity. I couldn’t help but wonder if telling him was a good idea.

Niky began filling him in, and I added my story where needed. By the time we finished, Dylan looked horrified. He was staring at us but not really seeing us. “Dylan?” I snapped my fingers, but he didn’t move.

“Did we break him?” I asked.

“No, I am just trying to process everything.” Dylan finally replied. “You are telling me that you are both feline shifters, that there is a prophecy about you two, and you have decided to try and fix your relationship?”

“Yes, Dyl,” Niky answered. “But that’s not all.”

“What?” We both yelped.

“The prophecy doesn’t just talk about two feline shifters; it also mentions a wolf shifter,” Niky said.

“And?” I asked.

“Dylan, I think you are the third,” Niky told us. “I think you are the third Trybrid.”