Hybrid Empire

I let out a deep sigh as I stand in front of an old, familiar two story house. It was ten years ago since I last saw this place and this old house. I smiled when an old woman in her seventies walk towards me smiling, saying my name.

“Cassandra!” She said with her arms spread wide and she’s ready to give me a hug. I smiled and walked towards her to hug her. Oh yes, it’s been ten years since I last saw and hugged her.

“The house is still the same Granny. Don’t you have any plans of renovating it?” I asked my granny as I return my gaze to the old house.

“Why should I renovate it when we have all our memories here and why are we even talking outside, let’s go inside, I prepared a very special snack for you” Says granny as she push me to go inside the house.

I walked around the house and nothing changed from ten years ago, everything is still the same. I think granny has zero intentions in letting go of the past. This place is where my mother grew up and where I grew up as a child.

Maybe granny really doesn’t want to change anything in this house since mom left a lot of memories here. I sighed, just thinking about my mother made me want to experience how to have a mother. Granny told me that my mother died when I was still a kid and she never told me something about my Father.

When I was ten, granny sent me in a dorm school in the city to study. She told me to never come back in this place because this place is too dangerous. I am just allowed to come back here only when I turn twenty, last month I just turned twenty and so granny told me to come here and visit her and so I did. I miss her anyway.

I just don’t understand the reason why I need to go to the city and to never come here unless she tells me to come here.

“So how was your study in the city?” Granny asked as she put down a cup of tea and a piece of cake in the table. I smiled and sat down in the sofa in front of the rocking chair where my granny is sitting down.

“Granny, I’m actually planning to study here. You see, we don’t have any relatives in the city and its too lonely there without you that’s why I’m planning to stay here with you, besides, I’m already twenty” I told her with my eyes pleading.

I was expecting to receive an opposition from her as I wait for her response but she just stared at me with those lonely eyes. Those lonely eyes obviously showed me how lonely and painful my granny went through when I was not around.

I wanted to ask her the reason why she has to send me to the city when I’m the only family member she has right now but every time I try to ask her the reason why, she would suddenly get angry and wouldn’t answer my call for a week.

“Granny, am I still not allowed staying here?” I asked but before I could even speak again, I saw drops of tears from her eyes.

“Granny, you okay?” I asked and rushed to get some tissue to wipe her tears, I tried to wipe her tears but I was startled when she gave me a hug instead.

“Of course Cassandra, I would love to have you here with me and I’m sorry for forbidding you to come here even if you’re so lonely in the city” She said hugging me tightly.

If she is this lonely all this time without me, then why did she send me to the city to study for ten years?

“All this time you’re lonely. If you are this lonely, then why do you have to send me to the city?” I asked granny.

Granny looked at me and then she smiled “The right time will come and if that day comes, you will be able to know” She said and left me curious of the things that I need to know.

…………………….

I placed my documents in an envelope and placed it carefully in my bag, I plan to transfer in this University that’s why I came here to fix my papers. Since I’m done fixing my documents, I chose to walk around this University.

I have to familiarize myself in this school and I need to memorize the buildings and rooms that I have to enter for my class, which is why I visited all the rooms of my classes one by one. It’s a little tiring though because the buildings are half kilometres apart and all the rooms are wider than I expected.

This is the only University in this place and so I think all the young adults in this place study here. After I visited all the rooms and buildings, I went in to the fields to watch a number of men playing soccer.

I looked at the sky and its getting darker, I didn’t know that I consumed hours just visiting every rooms and buildings for my classes. I gave back my gaze to the men playing in the fields, they are also around my age and it’s fascinating to watch them. It’s a little weird because they have this enhanced speed as they play the game.

I don’t know if it’s just me but I think it’s beyond human’s ability to have such speed like these players who are playing soccer. They run so fast that I’m starting to doubt myself if I really am seeing the right thing.

“A human” Says someone from behind me, I turned instinctively only to see a man my age dazzling with handsomeness and sexiness. I stared at him enjoying those handsome eyes, perfect nose and sexy lips, his perfectly built body matched with heavenly gorgeous face, how I wish I could have a man as perfect as him.

“Enjoying what you see?” He said as he smirk “S-sorry, I was out of myself” I apologized.

“A human shouldn’t walk around here at this hour” He said that made me almost laugh hard, he speaks as if his not a human.

“So, are you not a human? You told me that it’s too dangerous for humans to roam around at this hour. Looking at you walking around here freely, are you not a human then?” I asked.

He looked at me amused maybe because of what I said earlier.

“You’re a human and you’re not from this place?” He said and let out a fake laugh “How ironic, you will study in a place where you don’t know what kind of creatures are in? If I were you, I would go back to where I came from. This place is too dangerous for you lady” He said seriously like as if his giving an advice to a person who is about to die.

Okay, maybe I’m just tired that’s why everything or everyone is weird to me.

“You speak like as if you’re not a human. To pacify you, let’s just pretend that you really are not a human. Anyway, I have to go, as you said earlier, it’s getting darker and it will be too dangerous” I said, I was about to leave when he suddenly held my wrist and hugged me locking me in his arms.

“W-what are y---“ I wasn’t able to finish my sentence because he placed his palms in my mouth to stop me from talking.

“If you want to save yourself, shut up but if you want to die and become a prey from those wild wolves, scream and run away” He whispered. I don’t know how to react and when I’m about to speak, I heard a very loud and scary roar of a wolf in the field.

It was already dark and only the lights from the streets served as our light. My eyes wide open when I saw big wolves in the fields. The wolves are so big that it’s beyond reality.

Earlier, there were few men playing soccer in the field but now I see wolves. Just what happened to those men? Did those wolves ate them?

“Don’t move, if you move they may be able to smell your scent and if they do, they will eat you” The guy hugging me warned. I can’t speak nor move because he’s blocking my mouth and his hugging me tightly.

After a couple of seconds the wolves left the field and what’s left are me and him and finally he let go of me.

“Follow me, you need to go home now before you become someone’s dinner tonight” He said and started to walk. I have a lot of questions right now but I can’t ask him because I’m too scared to ask nor too scared to speak.

The last thing I knew, I was clinging unto him tightly, I’m too scared and the only person I can rely to is him. I never told him my address but he led me into my house like as if he knew my address.

Outside of the house was my granny waiting for me and I can see the fear painted in her face. When she saw me coming, she immediately ran towards me and hugged me tightly. “It’s a very good thing that you’re alive” She said hugging me tightly.

“Are you okay Cassandra? Were you not hurt?” Granny asked me.

“I’m okay granny, he helped me to escape from the wolves” I said and pointed at the man beside me. When granny saw the young man who helped me, she immediately kneeled and bowed down to him.

I was startled because of what granny did “Granny you don’t have to do that, we can just thank him in a normal way” I told her begging her to stand.

“Cassandra you should kneel too, you don’t know who you’re talking to” Granny said leaving me speechless.

“Stand, she’s new here and she doesn’t know what’s happening” The guy said and looked at granny.

“If you want her to stay and study here then tell her what she needs to know because if you don’t, she will not last long and she will die just like earlier” The guy said and left.

What did I just witness? How could a guy like him be so rude to let a granny bow to him?

“Granny---“

“Don’t talk and let’s go inside, it’s too dangerous outside” Granny said and forced me inside, just what in heaven’s sake is happening here?

“Granny you may not believe me but I experienced weird things this day” I said.

“Cassandra, you should go back to the city” Granny said making me curious of the things that are happening in this place.

“I’m sorry Cassandra I was too selfish to let you study here. You should have stayed in the city, it’s too dangerous here for you” Granny said.

“No granny I won’t, after seeing all those weird things here? I will not leave this place not unless you follow me in the city and I think you have a lot of things to tell me right now” I said.

“Cassandra listen to me—“

“Is that the reason why? The reason why you forbade me to come here for the past ten years is because of those wolves roaming around at night?” I asked but she didn’t respond.

“Tell me the things that I need to know granny, I can’t leave this place, not now that I know about those dangerous wolves” I said.

Granny sighed and stared at me “Why do you still want to stay here after knowing about those wolves? Are you not scared?” Granny asked.

“Of course I’m scared, I very terrified right now but I’m staying here because of you. I won’t leave you alone after knowing how dangerous this place could be? No way” I said, after saying that I heard granny’s second sigh.

“If you really want me to leave this place then come with me, we can both live in the city Granny. We can run away from those wolves” I said trying to persuade her.

“It’s not as easy as you think Cassandra, this is my place now and I want to die here. This place and this house is where I and your mother grew up and I already accepted the fact that I will serve the Hybrid Empire until I die. This house has your mother’s memories and so I can never abandon this place or this house” Granny explained.

“But it’s a different case for you Cassandra. You can run away and don’t worry about me because the Hybrids are protecting us from those Rebels” Granny said.

“Go back to the city now Cassandra, run away from this place while you still can” Granny pleaded.

I stared at granny “I left this place when I was ten and you we’re alone so why should I leave you here alone again? I’ll stay here with you granny, I know you need me” I insisted.

“Cassandra, you saw how dangerous this place could be” Granny said.

“But you told me that there is this Hybrid Empire who protects us humans from those Rebels and you yourself saw earlier that someone protected me from those wolves so why can’t I stay here?” I said.

After saying that, Granny stayed quiet for a couple of seconds and then she let out a deep long sigh “I guess I can’t stop you then, remember this Cassandra. Before 7 pm you should be inside the house because by 7 pm, rebelling wolves will appear” Granny said.

“This place is being ruled by the Hybrid Empire, specifically the Alpha. At night, there are rebelling wolves that hunts humans but since the Hybrid Empire is protecting the humans, rebelling wolves can’t hunt humans” Granny explained.

I nodded “So the reason why you sent me to the city when I was ten and the reason why you forbade me to come here for ten years was because of these wolves?” I asked.

Granny shook her head “I sent you to the city when you we’re ten because at that time, a prophet said that the Cardinal is already born in this place. When the rebels learned about the Cardinal’s existence, the rebels hunted humans even at day time. They searched for humans who are one year old to fifteen years old and they killed them because they are afraid that the Cardinal’s existence means the defeat of the Rebels” Granny explained.

“At that time you were ten years old and because I’m too scared that they might kill you, I sent you to a dorm school in the city to get you away from the Rebels” Granny added.

“What is a Cardinal?” I asked.

“Cardinals are humans with supreme blood, they say that the taste of a Cardinal’s blood is sweet and the scent is mysteriously addicting. Every generation, a Cardinal will be born to help the Alpha win the war against the rebels. They say that Cardinals are born to die” Granny said, curiosity is painted all over my face. Why would a precious human need to live to die?

“But you’re allowing me now to come here at this place again, does that mean that the Cardinal was already found?” I asked.

Granny nodded “Recently, the Hybrid Empire announced that the Cardinal was already found and she is in the hands of the Hybrid Empire and they told us humans that it’s safe to bring our children back here since the Rebels will not attack again” Granny said “That’s why I allowed you to come back here” Granny added.

“But Granny what is Hybrid Empire?” I asked.

“Hybrid Empire is the whole pack of human wolves which includes the Alpha to the Omega. This Empire is the Empire that the humans here are serving” Granny said.

I nodded and asked another question “About that Cardinal that you said earlier Granny, why is the Cardinal’s destiny to be born to die?” I asked.

“The Cardinal’s fate is to be sacrificed. The Alpha needs the Cardinal’s supreme blood and to do that, he needs to kill the Cardinal. Once the Alpha received the Cardinal’s blood, he will possess a very powerful strength, powerful enough to defeat the Rebels” Granny said, I nodded trying to understand the situation here.

It may seem difficult to actually understand the ‘beyond-reality-situation’ here but after experiencing what I have experienced earlier at the field made the situation more plausible.

…………………………………..

I entered the room for my first class. The room is too spacious for a class with only twenty students. I looked at my watch and its five minutes before our class starts, my subject is literature and I’m not surprised to see a less number of students in the class.

Literature is actually a very interesting topic but I guess just like the other students from other Universities, the students here have no interest in literature. I got a seat for me at the very right side of the room. The seat is beside a window facing the soccer field. It’s the soccer field where I almost became the wolves’ dinner for the night.

I actually like seats that are beside the windows because the air coming in from the outside is refreshing. The classroom is a little noisy because of the chitchats that the students are doing. Minutes have passed before our literature professor entered the class. He greeted us and immediately proceeds to his topic.

Granny told me that among all the people in this University, there are a lot of human wolves living with the humans and the number of wolves is twice bigger than the number of humans. I just wonder, among these twenty students in this classroom plus the professor, who could be the wolves and who could be the humans here?

The professor is talking about the nature of revenge using one of the lines in one of Shakespeare’s works.

“If you prick us, shall we not bleed? If you tickle us, shall we not laugh? If you poison us, shall we not die? And if you wronged us, shall we not seek revenge?”

I have read the Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare and the line was said by Shylock, one of my favourite characters in the Merchant of Venice.

“Revenge is not only natural to humans. Revenge is also applicable to Hybrids and to any other creatures because it’s innate to humans and to Hybrids to seek revenge when they are wronged. Basically, revenge is like an element to defend oneself” Says the professor.

As he was talking about the art of revenge, the door opened and someone very familiar to me entered the room. He is none other than the Delta, the guy who saved me from the wolves from the other night. His very presence made the room very quiet that I was able to hear the sounds of the cricket from the windows.

The professor paused and bowed down to him, following what the professor did, all of the students stood up just to bow down to him. I also stood up to show my respect and bowed down to him. After showing our respect, he nodded and walked to find a seat for him.

To my surprise, he chose the seat beside me and sat down beside me. The Delta, one of the most powerful figures in this place is sitting right beside me.

I sat down quietly and so the professor resumed his topic.

I showed my respect to the Delta even if I’m a human because Granny said that this place is being ruled by the Hybrids and the humans in this place are dedicated to serve the Hybrid Empire. In other words, we are like servants for the Hybrid Empire and it’s a fact that makes me seriously furious.

“Have you heard about the system here from your granny?” The Delta asked me while fixing his gaze to our professor. “Yes Delta, I heard everything from her that night and I would like to thank the Delta for saving me from the Rebels” I responded.

“Call me Yvan instead of Delta” The Delta said “I’m sorry?” I said.

“I’m giving you the opportunity to call me using my name, only my friends can do that and since I’m letting you call me that, you have the privilege to become the Delta’s friend” He said as he give me his flirty wink.

I blinked my eyes twice making me speechless “W-why would the Delta let me be his friend, I-I’m nothing special though” I said.

“I think you are. I love your scent” He said and leaned towards me, the next thing I knew, he’s all ready to smell my neck.

I raised my hand to push him away from me but his hands are too fast and he was able to hold both my hands. “D-delta what are you doing? Stop” I pleaded as he continue smelling my neck.

He stopped and smirked at me “You really have an addicting smell” He said.

I looked at him with anger painted all over my face “I know that in Hybrid Empire, you are one of the most powerful but what you did earlier offended me as a human and as a woman. You should apologize to me Delta” I told him seriously.

Granny said that if someone offended someone with a high rank in the Hybrid Empire, he or she will be punished. In my case, I was also offended and I think that it’s unfair that only the ones in higher ranks have the right to punish someone.

I am angry but what he did next made me angrier. He smiled, no, more like he smirked, again!

He caressed my hair and looked at me in my eyes “Of course you should be offended, you’re a human anyway” He said.

“I just can’t help it, you have this addicting smell that I can’t resist and to make it up to you, I’ll apologize” He said and lend me his hands.

“I’m sorry Cassandra, friends?” He said. Wrinkles formed in my forehead after hearing him say my name “How do you know my name?” I asked.

“You’re granny called you Cassandra when I brought you to your house didn’t she?” Delta said “Anyway, my hand is waiting” He said.

I looked at his hand waiting for a shake hand “Friends” I responded and held his hand. He smiled and gave his gaze back to the professor.

“You told me that I have this addicting smell, I don’t usually wear perfumes though” I said.

“I’m referring to your natural smell, It’s too addicting that I almost mistaken you as the Cardinal. If we don’t have the Cardinal right now, I would have thought that you are the Cardinal” He explained.

I half smiled “It would be tragic if I become the Cardinal” I commented, he looked at me.

“Don’t you want to be a Cardinal? Once you become a Cardinal, you will have a wealthy, easy going life in the Hybrid palace. The Hybrid Empire will give you everything that you need” The Delta said.

“But in exchange of that easy going life is my own life and I don’t want to end up as the Alpha’s prey” I said that made the Delta chuckle

“You do have a point, now I’m starting to like you. You have a very good smell and your humor is my type” He said. “I’m not joking though, I’m just pointing out what I feel” I defended.

He smiled “It’s a very good thing that I’m friends with a human whom I can relate to. Starting today, I’m ordering you to call me Yvan not Delta” He said.

“What does the Delta do anyway?” I asked “The Delta is the third in command, he takes over when the Alpha or the Beta is not around or busy to handle. The Delta also helps the Zetas to train and teach the Lotas and Kappas. In other words I am between the hierarchies” Yvan said.

“Another special ability that I have is that I can recognize a Cardinal. Aside from the Alpha, the Delta can also smell that addicting smell of the Cardinal” Yvan said.

“What about the Cardinal? Is the Cardinal a part of the Hybrid hierarchy?” I asked.

“Yes, once the Cardinal is introduced, the Cardinal’s rank in the Hybrid hierarchy will be the same to the rank of the Beta since the Cardinal is very important especially in war” Yvan explained.

I remembered the time when granny explained the hierarchy system in the Hybrid Empire. The one who is on top of the hierarchy is the Alpha couple, the Alpha and his mate. Next is the Beta and of course the Cardinal followed by the Delta which is fortunately and unfortunately my new friend Yvan.

Next are the Zetas, there are three Zetas and they are triplets, granny said that the Zetas are the commanders or leaders of the Lotas, the Lotas are the warriors who protects the humans, the wolves and the Hybrid Empire. After the Lotas, lower than them are the Kappas. Kappas are hunters, they do the orders of the ones higher than them and they also hunt rebels.

Last in hierarchy are the Omega couple, unlike the Alpha, Beta, Delta and Zeta, the Omega couple doesn’t have any power to order anyone. There only job is to give advice to the ones in the higher ranks and to take good care of the premature hybrids.

The class ended as the professor left the room and the students are also leaving.

“What’s your next class?” Yvan asked.

“I don’t have a class at this time, I have a two hour break before my next class” I told him.

“Cool, come with me, I’m hungry so you have to accompany me” He said.

“And why should I do that?” I asked “Because we’re friends and it’s normal for friends to eat together and if it’s not an enough reason for you, then let’s just say that it’s an order from the Delta” He said while displaying his annoying smirk in his face.

I rolled my eyes mentally, using his rank to get what he wants? How infuriating and despicable. I can’t believe I’m having a friend as illogical as him.

The next thing I knew, I’m already in the cafeteria sitting right in front of him watching him enjoy his snack. “How could my so-called-friend not treat me for a snack?” I said mocking him but he just paid me with an annoying smile.

“Because you cursed this so-called-friend of yours in your mind a million times earlier” He explained that made me raise my right eye brow.

“You can read my mind?” I asked “No, but I can read your eyes, you’re very innocent for not being able to hide what you think nor feel that’s why other humans or hybrids can read what you think or feel” Yvan explained.

I leaned backwards, yeah; I forgot that he is actually a Delta and that many pairs of eyes are looking at us, maybe their asking why a mere human is with a supreme hybrid, the Delta to be exact.

“I almost forgot that I’m friends with the Delta” I said, Yvan looked at me and then he smirked “You’re lucky that the Delta chose you” He said and continued gobbling up his food, tsk how greedy.

“Lucky? More like a punishment though, all pairs of eyes in this cafeteria are looking at us. Maybe curious of why a human and the Delta are with each other?” I said but he didn’t answer, instead he continued gobbling up his food like as if it’s the end of the world and as if it’s the last food he could eat.

Of course he’s not going to share his food with me. He’s a glutton after all.

“I need to use the comfort room” I said and stood up. “Make it faster, I hate eating alone” He said.

Again I rolled my eyes for the second time this day “You won’t even share your food with me” I said sarcastically but it seems like he doesn’t care and would not care because he’s busy eating alone and wouldn’t even look at me.

I sighed “Annoying, selfish wolf” I murmured and walked towards the comfort room annoyed.

He is the worst friend I ever had since my birth but what can I do? I’m the new kid in this place and I don’t have any friends. He’s the only one and so I need to bear with his annoying, jerk-like attitude.

I looked back to see Yvan and he’s still busy eating “Screw you” I murmured and since I’m not looking at my way, I bumped into a hard thing and ended up in the floor.

I heard the hard thing sigh “What an annoying day to meet a stupid human like you who is not looking at her way” The thing said. Stupid?! I looked at him with an angry face but to my heavenly surprise.

Another being with such supreme visuals showed up. That bored face made him sexier and at the same time cooler. He is a being gifted with great eyes, nose and lips, a being that the heavens adored so much to give such perfect visuals.

“Hey stupid, stand up and apologize to me” He said making my blood go up to the top of my head, I stood up and looked at his annoyingly handsome face.

Now I take back all the praises that I blabbered about earlier about his damn visuals, he is a handsome jerk with a devil like attitude, screw him. Screw him to the face of the earth.

“Stupid? And who gave you the right to call me stupid? If I’m stupid for bumping with you then I must say you’re also stupid for bumping with me. I guess we’re both stupid then” I told him using my most annoying face to of course annoy him.

He smirked and looked at me with his angry, scary face. He walked towards me and cornered me to the very side for me not to be able to escape from him. “You’re slowly getting in to my nerves human” He said showing me his scary side.

I gulped and showed him a braver Cassandra “You started it, calling me stupid? Don’t you think your being too full of yourself to call someone stupid just because he/she bumped with you? And who the freaking hell do you think you are to call me stupid?” I asked looking at his eyes.

He grinned “Who do I think I am?” He said and moved his face forward. I gasped. One wrong move and my lips will bump in to his. One wrong move and my precious first kiss will be given to this annoying jerk.

He smirked “I’m the Beta, the second most powerful creature in this place and because you messed with the Beta, a rightful punishment should be served for you” He said and showed me his red eyes and his long fangs.

My eyes grew wide “Stupid humans should be eaten alive” He said showing me his scary fangs and eyes ready to eat me, no, more like ready to kill me.