There were more students around than I expected. Lizzie told me that classes were mixed for training and I quickly understood why.
'Hell' took place in a massive cave-like room. To the right, rows of professional training equipment sat, ready for use.
The furthest wall was transformed into a bouldering paradise, with rainbow colored rocks splattered across the boring gray stone. Large trampolines took up most space on the left, with gymnastics equipment around them.
In the middle there was a big area fitted with mats for martial arts, and a running track ran around the whole setup.
I was damned impressed.
"To be honest, I'm kinda sad I didn't bring my workout clothes."
I looked back at Lizzie. She didn't follow me into the chamber, instead choosing to linger on the doorstep. "Go talk to Cassandra. She'll appreciate your enthusiasm."
"You aren't coming?" I really wanted to chat with her some more. Extra information never hurts.
"No, I get winded too quickly because of my powers. I usually just go back up and sit in the library. I really like reading books there, it's nice and quiet." She explained with a smile.
"To each her own, I guess." I shrugged. Judging by the look on her face I wouldn't have been able to convince her. "See you later then."
She nodded and took off like the wind. I turned back to the class, searching for the scariest looking woman in the room.
Cassandra was tall and incredibly muscular, like a body builder. No wonder my classmates were so frightened. She had the same murderous aura around her as my father.
But that was old news for me. I put on my best nonchalant face and walked right through the group of students gathering around, waiting for instructions.
"Cassandra?" She turned to face me, her eyes immediately measuring me up for any signs of danger.
"Who are you?" Her tone was sharp.
"The new student, Avalynn Thorn. Nice to meet you."
She nodded. Neither of us offered a handshake.
"Where's your stuff?"
"In my room. I wasn't supposed to come in today."
"Typical." She grunted and started to turn back to the others, but I grabbed her arm.
"I was wondering if you had something in storage I could borrow. I'd love to try out some of those machines."
She kept staring at me for a couple of seconds, but then she pointed towards a small door on the side.
"The gymnastics uniform should fit you. Go get changed."
I did just that.
The uniform was black and red, representing both the school and the Blackbloods. It was tight, but oddly satisfying to wear.
When I got back in, others were already doing laps. I did a quick warmup then joined in. Hunters weren't as quick as other races, but we had the most stamina and raw strength. I settled in a jog, and wished I had some music to listen to.
"Hey, Ava!"
Damian ran up on my left side, slightly out of breath. He was running like that stupid roadrunner before, but now he slowed to my pace.
"Hi, Damian."
"You look great in this outfit." I frowned. I wasn't here to look good. But I guess I'll play along.
"Thanks, but these aren't really my colors."
A brown-haired guy caught up to my other side.
"Well, your ass caused a damned right traffic jam, so I'd say don't worry much about the colors." He said with a sincere face, and I nearly tripped on my own foot.
"Really, J, that's how you're going to introduce yourself to a lady?" Damien looked at the man with quiet disapproval.
" I'm just saying what's on everyone's mind, Dam. Don't shoot the messenger." He mimed being shot in the heart, then tried to collapse, but that was near impossible while running, so he just gave up halfway.
This guy clearly didn't take Damian seriously. He was playing around with one of the most influential guys in the school like he was in a comedy.
I always hated clowns.
"I apologize, Ava. J can be a …fool sometimes." Damian said, annoyed.
"Apology accepted. He just startled me a bit, that's all." I flashed a fake smile at him, then turned towards the new guy. Things started to make sense.
"So you're J, huh?"
"That I am." He said, with a smirk still on his lips.
"Lizzie's boyfriend J?" It was his turn to be surprised.
"Oh, you know her?"
"She saved me in the locker room from some psychotic fan girls."
"Oh, of course she did." J grinned, his fangs showing. "Isn't she just the cutest?"
"She was pretty nice to me." I nodded.
A whistle signaled the end of running, or so I assumed.
"Come to the barbells with us?" Damian asked. "I can help you with them if you want."
"Thanks, but I had those back home. I'm more interested in the trampolines and the resistance bands."
"I wouldn't go to that section now if I were you." Damian said with a sour expression.
"Why not?"
"Sin will attempt to break his record on the rings today. We had girls show up I've never even seen before." J said, and sure enough, a small crowd of mostly girls started to form around there.
"I guess that explains the commotion in the locker room." We had rings back home, and although I wasn't the best at them, I wasn't the worst either. "How long?"
"Two minutes and seventeen seconds. And some change."
I nearly laughed out loud. I always knew that there was a pretty large difference between them and us, but this was outright ridiculous.
"I can do better than that." I said, fully confident.
"Don't be so hasty, it's much harder than it looks." Damian said, but I already made up my mind and left behind him and J, heading towards the crowd.
Let's have ourselves a little fun, shall we?
Sin was doing a warmup routine that was more for pleasing the crowd than anything else. Cassandra was looking over him, her deadly presence enough to keep the fan girls at a safe distance. I pushed myself through the people, stepping into the ring that formed around the vampire.
"Cain!" I said to catch his attention. I saw a moment of anger rush through his face as he heard my voice, but he quickly regained his composure, greeting me with a predatory grin.
"Well look who's here. My favorite little bonbon, and in such a lovely wrapping." He eyed me up hungrily, and I could feel the fans' collective gasp. I just made a horde of enemies thanks to him.
"I want to challenge you. On the rings."
He raised one of his eyebrows. He looked like even more of an asshole now.
"How could I refuse the wish of such a sweet lady." His smile was syrupy and fake. Perfect for the crowd. "But we can't have a proper challenge without some friendly wager now, can we?" I knew where this was going.
"What do you want?"
"If I win, you offer me your precious neck."
Him drinking my blood would immediately reveal my identity, due to the Hunters' blood being 'addictively delicious' as some vampires boldly claimed. They didn't live for long afterwards.
Still, I was sure I could win this so that didn't matter. But what to ask for if I win. I couldn't just ask for access to all of their confidential files.
I pushed work aside for a moment in my head. I really just wanted to have some fun.
"And if I win, you'll walk around in a pink tutu for the rest of the week." As I said this, I knew two things for sure. One, Anne will be furious with me. Two, I should've asked for a month. Still, worth it.
"So shall it be." He gracefully nodded.
Both Cassandra and the crowd went silent as I walked over to him, to shake his hand. It was done.
I did some real warmup and powdered my hands.
"I'm ready when you are." I said.
"We're doing the iron cross. Please don't get hurt."
He was putting on another one of his shows. But this time, he'll fall on his face, hopefully literally.
"Worry about yourself."
We got up on the rings, and Cassandra started the timers for us. There was no need for them. Unless the ceiling fell down with us, I could hold myself for a good fifteen minutes without breaking a sweat. Thirty if I really pushed myself.
The whole crowd cheered for him. I ignored them.
I saw Damian, keeping a really close eye on me, no doubt to swoop in and catch me, in case I fell.
I also saw, from the corner of my eye, that Sin's arms started shaking. It won't be long now.
"And that's your old record, Sin." Cassandra called out. I could see his whole body shaking.
And he fell.
More like stumbled to the ground. The girls immediately surrounded him, making sure he was okay. I waited a bit more, to make it official – and to rub it in – and then gracefully let myself down.
As soon as I landed, I found Sin facing me with rage burning in his eyes. I wanted to laugh.
"You cheated." He hissed at me.
"Sore loser, are we?" I felt extremely satisfied with myself. I started to make my way through the crowd, to the doors. People parted before me, like water. That's a way to get famous I guess.
Sin stayed behind, shocked and exhausted.
I decided I made enough shenanigans for the day. But before going out the door, I had to put the cherry on top.
"Sore or not, a deal's a deal. See you later, pretty in pink.
I left the room with the biggest grin on my face.