CHAPTER 26It was 10:57 and i was standing right in front of the old damp structure where Manik brought me yesterday. Another training session for me yeah, i am just done with this crap. Taking in a deep breath i took a step forward when Cabir's cheerful voice intervened. " Hi Nandini. You're here. I thought you wont come." I looked at Cabir and a weird chill ran down my back. Cabir was carrying a huge wooden log over his shoulder followed by Dhruv. What are these people, superhumans. " And why would you think so." I asked raising my eyebrows and stepping a step back when Cabir passed me," Nah, just like that...to start a conversation." He quickly blinked at me and went away with Dhruv who slightly smiled back at me. I smiled a bit at Cbir's carefree attitude, if only people in the hunter community could be so chilled out. "Nandini!!! I am glad to see you here." I heard Navya call out to me who apparently was standing right behind me. Weird, why are these people so strange. I turned around to meet Navya's creepy shining golden eyes. I smiled slightly at her remark when she gestured to walk along with her. She silently led me to some area. Oh god not again, another open humiliation. Do i have to train among all these creepy eyed people. " Come along. Every one in the pack is so excited about meeting you." Ohh, so there are people who are excited about meeting me, strange. I followed Navya to a small gathering of around 100 hybrids. The huge wooden logs which were being carried by Cabir previously were now arranged properly in a circle, to form some kind of a seating arrangement. The hybrid community was not as large as the hunter one but for sure it seemed more welcoming. It was a pleasant shock for me when i entered the area to find smiling and excited expressions rather than those of disgust and fear. It actually seemed like people were excited about meeting me. No doubt there was a buzz all around the place but i guess it was more of a happy buzz, as if some celebrity was walking down the narrow passage. " Nandini, my dear child you are here." I heard Raghav Sir exclaim out in happiness to find me there. He came and swiftly hugged me then breaking the hug he got hold of my shoulders," Everyone's been waiting for your arrival since yesterday evening. God bless you." He lightly caressed my head and i felt that one empty void of my life being filled up by him, i felt like a daughter to a father. Tears brimmed my eyes but the 15 years of training in emotionally suppressing myself just came handy at the moment. " Ok ok, i know everyone's excited about meeting the new member but it wont start till everyone maintains silence. Good...now please take your seats young hybrids." Raghav Sir clapped hard and made everyone sit down. It was then when my eyes caught hold of the sight i have been quenching to look at-Manik. I smiled a bit when i realised that unlike other days he seemed happy and a bit excited as well i guess. He turned and looked at me and i swiftly shifted my gaze. I sat besides Raghav Sir secretly staring at Manik who was wearing a loose white shirt over denim jeans. " As we all know, today Nandini has officially joined the hybrid community. She is aware of her existence and the story of her family. I know everyone is excited about talking to her and meeting her but i suggest, please keep it under control. Do not scandalise the poor soul. Nandini is gonna train as a hybrid from today onwards and her trainer is the alpha of the pack, Manik. And no they are not gonna train with you all, they will train separately. So now you can go and meet her, but in a disciplined manner." Raghav Sir finished his speech giving me a minor heart attack. Train with Manik, alone!!!! Why???? I was still lost in my thoughts when a sudden push brought me back to the world. I was surrounded by hybrids, primarily young kids, the elders i think had the decency to stand at a corner and look at me. A young hybrid girl pulled my shirt and i looked at her," Are you The Nandini...daughter of Sharon Cole and Reyan Singhania??" The little girl asked me in the most adorable way and i just nodded my head. She immediately covered her mouth out of excitement. What was with them, why were they so crazy about me? Luckily my time with all the hybrids was spent well, every single one of them met me. It was weird and so different from my first visit to the hunter camp.
Well thanx to Raghav who dismissed all of them to train when he saw they were getting over my nerves," All of them, they idealise you" He said while i was walking along with him to where Manik was waiting for me. " Why? I mean i thought i was a sin right." I said remembering all those incidents that happened in the hunter camp. " Yes, for the hunter community, not for us. You signify power for us and strength to stand tall against all odds. You escaped your death years back and are still handling this power without deviation. And of course, we hybrids believe in cooperation, we stand up for our people and not desert them. " He replied and continued walking. I liked it over here, not because people idealised me, but because unlike the hunter community, at least they accepted me and promised to stand by me. " You dont like Neonika Aunt do you?" I said out of the blue. That look on Raghav Sir's face was bothering me since yesterday. I sensed that he was not very comfortable answering my questions," Why do you think so?" He asked me and i had the perfect answer," Because yesterday when we talked about her, you flinched." I said maintaining my command over my excitement," Huh...no doubt you are Reyan's daughter. Yes i dont like her because she is one of those who would end up pushing you into trouble." I slightly looked at him, a bit offended as well," But she is my Aunt..." i spoke trying to reason out with Raghav Sir," Do not forget Nandini, the man who tried to kill you first was your very own father." A sharp pain in my heart made me realise what he intended to say. I could not trust anyone in this world, no one. I was my own survivor and i had to sustain my self. " When i met her, she told me that it was the hybrid community which wanted to kill me but then yesterday you all said that it was the hunters. Why did she lie to me." I knew it she lied to me but why. Raghav Sir just huffed a bit and then replied," The hunters are very protective towards you, the last time they trusted a hybrid, they lost a gem." Raghav Sir replied to me with utmost sincerity and that is what caught my attention, he was hiding something, but what? " There, thats Manik. Go he must be waiting for you." He pointed at a tall figure leaning against a tree, ahhh Manik. With that Raghav Sir went away while i stood there bracing myself up.
" Hi.." I heard Manik speak out to me. His husky voice always managed to send shivers down my spine, but i knew i needed to have a control over me. I wanted answers and only then will i mend our relations. " Hi.." i replied coldly and dryly. I looked at him and found him smiling. Why is he smiling now, i just raised my eyebrows and he shrugged his shoulders as if i was a fool. This man can never change. " So...how was your day.." he asked me while i stood there with my hands crossed over my chest," Why do you even care." He smiled brighter and replied again," Because you are my student and a teacher should be aware of his students mood right...for better efficiency." He replied smirking at me. I narrowed my eyes and looked at him," Well Mr Teacher, concentrate on your lesson not on your students mood" I replied to him and he chuckled a bit. I knew he was doing this on purpose but even i knew how to hold on to the poker face. He without any word starting walking and i followed him. He led me to a beautiful area. There was a small pool, it was a clear area without much trees, just one right besides the pool. I was lost in the beauty when i heard Manik speak again," I know lately our relationship hasn't been very glittery, but now that you are a part of our community i would like to mend it...so yeah i am sorry for all that i said and did to you." I turned around and found him standing there with his hands under his pocket," the only relationship that we share is that of a student and a teacher...so there is no need to fake your apology." I replied and to be honest i was speaking my mind now. " I am sorry, trust me, i really am.." manik replied in a rather pleading tone but no i wont let this go now," Trust you!!! You were the only one who told me not to trust you ever...and how can i possibly trust a man who planned out my whole funeral." I replied with disgust and the look on his face was just enough for me to understand that i might get my answers today," Then tell me how can i earn your trust." he said sincerely and i just knew how to go about it," Answer all my questions." I said and he flinched a bit," Yes...and no!!" he replied in a hesitant tone and i did what first came in my mind," Ok then.." i said and turned around to walk away when his strong grip held my hands and stopped me from going away," Ok fine i will, for sure." He said looking into my eyes and as a reflex the first thing that came out of my mouth was the one which has been bothering me forever," Why did you kiss me that day and then walk away like nothing happened." I could sense Manik was not expecting this question because his face was flushed. I agree i was one insensitive person but even i had emotions and he had no right to play with them," I got attracted to you and lost my control that day...nothing else." He replied shamelessly on my face and i felt like the dumbest person on the surface of this earth. How could i even think he felt some thing for me? " When we met that day, why were you so angry?" He blankly looked at me for some time and then replied," It could have been dangerous for you, hybrids could have found you." I took in a deep breath to drink my raging anger, he was so conveniently lying to me. " Yeah of course, the hybrids who idealise me would have attacked me right..." I said it on his face and he just slightly closed his eyes. He understood that i caught him lying," The day before my birthday, did you keep that sketch on my bed?" I asked him and his next reply just made it clear he was faking it all," No i did not.." I just slightly shook my head in disgust and turned to leave when his next statement froze me on my spot," And would you believe me if i said that my every answer was a lie." I turned around and looked into his eyes, " Nandini, please understand, i have my own limitation. I cannot let down my guards for something that i cannot have. You wanted me to answer so i answered you, so please, for now let go of this. We have to train you, as soon as possible ok, and i promise when the time comes, i will tell you the truth." Manik replied in a low voice and somewhere deep down i think i believed in him
I was sitting besides Manik who was leaning against the tree and sitting over there. My legs were dipped in the water, i guess even though we didnt explicitly said it but yeah were more or less friends..for now. " So you are the strongest in your pack, Navya is the smartest, Dhruv the fastest. What about Cabir and Aliya?" I asked him and he replied to me," Cabir is the eldest among us, but the most immature too. but due to his experience, he is a great fighter. he is the best in martial arts and all. I have never in my life come across a hybrid who could defeat him. Aliya has a very strange power. She can seduce people,i know it sounds pretty weird but yes, she can seduce people and manipulate them into work. All the wars and stuff that we have won, Aliya has always played a big role in seducing people and killing them. Her power of seduction is unavoidable." Manik explained me and i was lost in my thoughts. These guy didnt have any specific power or stuff, it was just life long practice and thats it. I was thinking about them when a thought crossed my mind," You guys drink blood right...do you have fangs?" I asked Manik excited as hell and he just simply smiled at me. " You guys dont have fangs...what the hell, what kind of half vampires are you, with no fangs." I looked at Manik and saw him smirking at me. Manik and his smirks, ahh, i got up and stomped my foot. I barely turned around to leave when a sudden pull landed me over Manik. My hands rested over his chest and my face just few inches away from him. I could feel my breaths go fast with this proximity with him. I looked at his face and saw his smirk getting bigger and nastier." If you wanted to see my fangs, you should have told me." I heard him whisper slightly sending shivers down my spine. I looked up at his face, Manik slowly opened his mouth and then gradually i could see this upper canines grow down as fangs. It was weird but his fangs were fascinating. They were not as big as the movies and serials show it, but they were big enough and sharp enough. I really wanted fangs of my own, how cool it would be. I felt sudden urge to touch his fangs and i slowly brought my fingers near them. As soon as i touched them i felt Manik grab my waist hard. Realising our position i i looked up at his face and his eyes were bursting with raw desire and lust. The deep ocean of his chocolate brown eyes attracted me and i found myself loosing out to him. His grip over my waist got tighter and i unconsciously fisted his t shirt. My fingers naturally settled over his face cupping them perfectly in my small hand. Our faces were just inches apart and i could feel his warm breath over my lips, our noses touched but none of us took the lead. It was the most pleasurable feeling i had ever encountered. Unable to hold on any longer Manik swiftly pulled me over him and my lips directly landed over his. He penetrated his finger under the skin of my waist while my grip over his t-shirt grew tighter. Slightly opening his lips Manik swiftly grabbed mine and then slowly yet passionately sucked them. I moaned in his mouth and he just pulled further into himself. There was no gap between our bodies now. His back was supported by the tree trunk and i was completely lying over him. Manik broke the kiss and then tilting his face a bit he captured them again while shivered because of his soft and delicate touch. He softly kissed me the third time and this entering the boundaries of my mouth completely. My hand traveled from his face to the his nape for better access while Manik crazily explored every corner of my mouth. WE broke the kiss after what felt like an eternity. I slowly opened my eyes to find his already looking at me. A sudden dread clouded my mind. What if he walked away like he did the last time...as if nothing happened calling it a mistake. I slightly opened my mouth to say something when his expert lips took over the charge again, capturing my lips like never before holding me tight and kissing my lips like cotton candy. His hands fisted my hair and adjusted my face according his convenience while he seductively ate my lips. A smile came on my face when i realised that this he was not going anywhere. I was kissing him with the same passion when he sat straight while i wrapped my legs around his waist , my lips over his and his face slightly raised to match my artificial height returning his favour like anything, pulling his hair, scratching his neck while he showed his dominance in mouth. I felt weird orgasmic pleasure every time he pulled me closer and all i knew was, we were lost in each other and nothing else mattered to me now.
