☼ Chapter XX ☼

picture; Sawyer Codaihme

song; "Feel Good Inc" by The Gorillaz

author's note; I love Sawyer. That is all. (:

Comment + Vote, enjoy!

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A weird loneliness assailed me tonight as I made my way alone to my Intricacies of Supernaturals lesson. It was very rare that Lorelai and I didn't walk together to the building where classes were held, and today may have been the first time I'd done it in years--since she'd gone home to undergo the First Shift.

I'd been missing the passed two days and I knew she would forgive me considering the fact that I was with Derik, but I wondered if she had felt this way going to lessons alone. My class wasn't going to start just yet, but being ten minutes early wasn't going to hurt anyone.

I waited until the hour before mine piled out of the room before entering and making my way towards Sawyer. He was sitting behind his grand black marble-top desk, reading some paper, his glasses clinging to the edge of his nose.

Sawyer's hair was artfully mussed up today and he was wearing a button-up black polo. He looked much more sleek than normal, and his tattoos were all covered up.

For a moment, I thought he could actually pass for an insanely hot college professor, if not for his violet-gray eyes. They were the only giveaway that he wasn't human.

"Mentor," I smiled as I approached and leaned my hip onto the edge of his desk.

"The M.I.A Princess. You're early for lesson, Sonya." Sawyer regarded me with his usual amusement, and once again to my surprise, he placed the page he'd been examining down and slouched back into his office chair.

How was this man so relaxed all the time? It was like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Yes, I came to apologize for my absence. I was wondering what I missed in the last lesson?" Unlike most schools, the Academy didn't really shell out homework to practice the things you learned, and of course, in IOS, there weren't even exams you took to test your knowledge. You're just expected to know these things and prove you know them during your field mission.

"Right, we wrapped up on Mating, but I think you might be a bit ahead of the curve." Sawyer's ever-present smirk widened slightly as he pointedly turned his gaze to my throat. I swiped my hand over Derik's Mark and nodded.

"Well, is there anything in particular I should know?" I insisted, and Sawyer shrugged.

"We covered the Rituals involving the Mating process and the Mate pull. Who has Mates and who don't. Who can. The laws about Chosen Mates."

"The laws about Chosen Mates. What are the laws?" Sawyer cocked his head to the side slightly, a glimmer of confusion flickering over his face. "My mom never told me really anything about her and my dad's relationship."

He seemed to understand and folded his hands together and leant forward on his desk. "Okay, well. To start, Chosen Mates are okay and allowed, however they are not taken as seriously as a Sufletul Oglinda Thread or True Mates.

"Typically there is no Thread that binds Chosen Mates whether it's between two supernaturals or between a supernatural and a human. An Anima Vinculum Thread is possible if of course both supernaturals are crapat or both have been Marked by Darkness. There is also the possibility of a Consort Thread between Chosen Mates, but supernaturals who choose humans as their Chosen Mate usually do not feed from them.

"The law is that only those who do not have titles or live within the Unknown World can take humans as Chosen Mates, like your parents. Your mother relinquished her titles years before even meeting your father, basically as soon as she became an adult in America from what I remember.

"However, between supernatural Chosen Mates, the law against punishing and torturing Mates does not apply." Sawyer seemed upset by what he just said, but I on the other hand didn't understand what he meant.

I remember Derik saying something about the Elders not being able to touch me because I was his. "There's a law against punishing and torturing Mates?"

"Yes, because True Mates and Sufletul Oglinda Threads cause the two supernaturals to become one, corporal punishment or other cruel physical or mental punishment for crimes is illegal because it can and most likely will affect the other Mate.

"It is especially forbidden for those Mated to Royal supernaturals." Sawyer seemed less upset about this, though I wondered why Royals always seem to be treated so much better than the masses. It's really unfair.

"The other law is that if the supernatural ever decides to renege on their relationship with their Chosen Mate, if they are human, they must be killed. The only exceptions are Chosen Mates of Royals and if there are children as a result of the relationship." His voice was too casual as he said this. How horribly disgusting. Did the Elders and the rest of the Empire really think so little of human life?

"Interesting." Was all I could manage to say. "I'm guessing that this is because of the danger of Hunters." Sawyer nodded, but I still didn't think it was right. Not every human is a hateful racist, and even if they were, they're so much weaker than all of the supernatural species. The only ones who can actually take us on are the Hunters apparently. "Is there anything else I missed?"

"That was the basis of it. Today we're going in to the First Shift, the Change, Awakening and Ascending." Sawyer informed me as he rose to his feet, instantly towering over me. The door was opened and Carson sauntered in first, offering me a friendly smile and a respectful nod to Sawyer. "See me after class is done, alright?"

With a tentative smile, I made my way to a seat beside Carson. "Hey," I greeted and he turned those warm cocoa eyes in my direction.

"Hey, you were missing last lesson." His eyes prickled against the skin on my neck, my Mark warming just under his gaze. Weird. "I think I know why, though."

"Ha, yeah." Even though I felt slightly uncomfortable under his scrutinizing and dancing brown eyes, I made no effort to cover my Mark. "Hope you didn't miss me too much." I joked easily, trying to relax.

It was so awkward that people instantly knew that I'd ditched the last two days to hole up and have sex with Derik again and again, but at the same time, it was totally normal, and no one was shaming me, just teasing.

Trent assaulted the forefront of my brain and I bit the inside of my cheek. He was the only person who really made me feel uncomfortable, but at the same time, it was understandable.

"Not at all." He teased as the classroom continued to fill up. "Did you ask Mentor Codaihme about what you missed already?"

"Yeah, he caught me up. Luckily it was just a few things I didn't know about Chosen Mates, but I'm good to go." Carson nodded as Sawyer began to call the attention of the class to himself.

"Good evening everyone. Tonight we're going over the Renaissance Stages. Open your text books to page eighty-four so we can begin with the Awakening.

"The Awakening is the first step towards starting the Change or Ascending. This step usually occurs between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-six for Vampyres and twenty to twenty-four for Nephilim and Sorcerers.

"The youngest recorded supernatural that naturally Awakened is seventeen, but Awakening even at the age of twenty-two is extremely rare. Trademark tells that a supernatural has Awakened are quick and severe difference in mood, actions, or reactions, the increase of several Gifts and Powers, and sometimes bloodlust.

"During the Awakening, a supernatural will begin to feel more superhuman and can behave drastically or boldly because of the difference in strength and power. The Awakening can be a gradual process or it can happen all at once, but even after a supernatural Awakens, it still can take months before the Change truly begins.

"An average range for the Awakening stage amongst Vampyres is one year, though for some it can be slightly longer or shorter.

"Easy tells that the Awakening is descending into the Change is a shift in perspective, meaning that supernaturals may become very pessimistic, show a mean streak they normally do not have, or can show hopelessness or depressive characteristics.

"An extreme emotional shock, fatal happening to the supernatural's body--or near death experience, or a Ritual such as Marking by Darkness can push a supernatural's body to rush into the Awakening. Vampyres, Nephilim, and Sorcerers all Awaken.

"For Sorcerers, however, their Awakening is usually a shorter period of time in comparison to Vampyres and Nephilim. The more drastic changes in Vampyres' and Nephilims' bodies are to blame for this.

"Because both Vampyres and Nephilim gain superhuman strength, senses, and many Gifts and Powers, they descend slower into the next Renaissance Stage as to not overwhelm the body. Sorcerers only begin to age at a much slower rate and do not have a radical increase in strength or senses such as sight or smell.

"The next Renaissance stage for Sorcerers and Nephilim is the Ascending. This is the last stage after Awakening for Nephilim and Sorcerers. Unlike Vampyres, Nephilim and Sorcerers do not undergo the Change. When a Nephilim or Sorcerer Ascends, the full potential of their Power is revealed and for Nephilim, they finally stop aging entirely.

"The Ascending is typically a faster process than both the Awakening and the Change. Sorcerers' deepest and most potent magick surfaces and they are able to wield it with much more control than possible during the Awakening. For those Marked by Darkness or carrying a dominant Dark Blood gene however, the Ascending is not as quick or simple as those who have not been affected by Darkness in any way.

"This stage will not take years to occur like the Change can, but the discovery of Dark Powers can seriously injure Nephilim and Sorcerers who are going through the process. Their perspective may also be clouded with pessimistic views, extreme mood swings--typically from normal or calm to anger or sadness, hallucinations, acute physical sickness, weakness, or fatigue.

"The Change is the final stage that Human Vampyres must go through in order to become a Full Vampyre. Unlike the Ascending and the Awakening, this stage is brutal and unfun. Vampyres also sense a shift in their Power and their true potential for strength is born.

"Within this stage, Vampyres typically experience extreme mood swings between deep despair and irreverent rage, bouts of unexplained violence, hallucinations, night terrors, bloodthirst, and acute physical sickness, weakness, and/or fatigue.

"It is possible to reject the Change just by dealing with the urges and refusing to kill, but it is incredibly difficult and can be a long process. The longest recorded rejected Change lasted up to three years, while the shortest rejected Change lasted up to six months.

"Supernaturals who reject the Change and still undergo symptoms for longer than eighteen months generally have a longer wait between normalcy and re-entering the Change, while supernaturals with a shorter time limit on a window to Change have a shorter wait before they re-enter the Change again.

"To completely reject the Change, a supernatural must tolerate the window to Change at least twice, but it can be up to six times before the body completely rejects its true nature. The probability of having a longer window to endure goes up if you are female, of Royal descent, or have a Dark Blood gene." I flinched at the information.

This is definitely something I didn't know about the Change. It can last for years and you will have to endure it at least twice before your body will give up and allow you to remain half-human. The fear of having to go through this intensified. Now I understand why so many Vampyres just get it over with. No one wants to live through that kind of torture for even months on end, let alone years.

"It can also increase if you have rejected the Change before," Sawyer continued, luring my attention away from the anxiety-ridden, morbid thoughts in my mind to the present. "or if you were at a later age when you first began the Change. After the Change, the window to reproduce for both men and women is typically only one year."

Something else I wasn't aware of. You still can have babies for up to a year after becoming a Full Vampyre. Good to know.

"Lycans only go through one Renaissance Stage, and that is the First Shift. While it's possible to Shift into their Lycan before they go through the First Shift, they do not gain all the true strength of their Lycan until they have undergone the First Shift. Lycans who haven't completed the First Shift also cannot maintain their Lycan state for extended periods of time, such as hours.

"Lycans usually undergo the Shift at around twenty-one years of age. The First Shift is normally a gruelling and long process that generally lasts anywhere between sixteen to eighteen hours.

"Females a majority of the time Shift faster than males, averaging more around thirteen to sixteen hours. The initial symptoms of the beginning of the First Shift is an intense fever, nausea and vomiting, severe body aches, chills, delirium, and confusion.

"If a Lycan has the Dark Blood gene, similar symptoms to the Change can arise including bouts of violence, acute physical sickness or weakness, fatigue, and hallucinations.

"The Dark Blood gene can also cause the days or weeks before the First Shift begins to have parallels to the Awakening such as pessimistic views, uncharacteristic meanness or cruelty, hopelessness or depressive moods. If a Lycan with the Dark Blood gene couples a Dark Mark, the Shift can kill the Lycan if the transformation isn't completed within twelve hours.

"However, if the Lycan has met their Mate before it comes time to complete the First Shift, their Mate can quicken the time it takes for the Shift to be completed by Shifting alongside them, regardless of if it is not a Full Shift, a First Shift, or a regular Shift.

"There are ways to hinder the First Shift and even bring it about earlier than normal. These slowed or hastened transformations include a Ritual that can only be done with the help of the Alpha of the Pack the Lycan belongs to. Typically only occurs with Deviant souls and those who are Marked by Darkness."

The bell cut through the air suddenly and Sawyer smiled good-naturedly. "I am perfect at timing, aren't I?" Chuckling crawled over the room of Novices as people gathered their things to make their exit. As people were filing towards the door, I made my way over to my Mentor, who for once was gathering his own things to leave. Another unusual thing he's done today.

"You wanted to see me when class was done." Sawyer nodded as he pulled on his chic trench coat. It looked quite expensive.

"Eloize has been home for about a week now and she wanted you to come to dinner tonight if you can. It's a small gathering, only family." My Mentor explained, and I narrowed my eyes.

"Family?" I quizzed, working to tiptoe around the accusing tone in my voice.

"Yes, a cousin of yours that attends the academy. Her name is Nora. I believe Trent is supposed to show his face, too. If he does, Ankiel will probably be following right behind." Sawyer rolled his eyes playfully at the thought, and I chuckled.

"Um, right. Is it alright if I bring my Mate along? I know he most likely wanted to see me tonight when I got done with classes."

"Sure. We live a few miles out in the Mentors' homes on the northeast side of the Academy grounds. Here's the address." He handed me a small lime green Post-It note and my eyes widened at the boldness of color.

Sawyer was definitely not like any Nephilim I'd ever met before.

Seriously, what grown man even uses sticky notes this outrageous color?

"Thanks, Sawyer. I'll see you all later tonight." Sawyer smiled brightly and then literally ruffled the curls on top of my head, as if I were a little kid. Then he casually left the classroom and I stood rooted to the spot by my confusion. "What a weirdo."