Page 5 of Feral
Ella was hardly even aware of the partial shift in her own fingertips. She’d had a hard enough time learning to hold her human form and never saw the point in trying to strengthen her ability in the other direction, but it came as naturally as anything. She dove at Marissa, digging her lengthened claws into the other woman’s shoulder.
Marissa let out a pained cry and her roommate came to intervene, grabbing Ella by her hair and yanking back. “You stupid bitch,” she seethed.
Ella turned on her immediately, and while she wasn’t fully aware of the face she was making, it had the effect of the other girl stumbling back, all the color draining from her face.
“Stay out of this,” Ella hissed, her voice more feline than human as she turned back to an equally stunned Marissa. The shock didn’t last long. Marissa rushed at her again and they went tumbling to the floor.
Ella was vaguely aware of the fact that the dorm room door had opened and a crowd had gathered to watch, but unlike the incident in the bathroom, none of them bothered ganging up on her.
Ella rolled as she hit the ground on her side and Marissa grabbed a fistful of her hair. She felt it being pulled out but managed to plant the tip of her shoe in the other queen’s stomach, pushing her off. Marissa grunted, struggling to get back on her knees. When her eyes met Ella’s, they were full of more spite than she had ever seen in them, but something else, too. If Ella didn’t know better, she’d almost think it was respect.
“You crazy bitch.”
“Funny, I was about to say the same to you,” Ella countered. Marissa took another swing at her and she blocked it, grabbing her wrist with swiftness she didn’t know she possessed. Marissa was taller and stronger, but Ella felt like some unseen force was rushing through her veins, giving her power and coordination. They rolled around on the floor, struggling for the upperhand, until Ella finally caught a break.
Seated on Marissa’s torso, she managed to wrap her clawed hands around the other girl’s throat. They were both panting, and Marissa’s eyes grew wide in disbelief as she realized she’d lost. And was now in the very same position she’d been so keen to exploit over Ella.
Ella had no doubt that Marissa would have drowned her if Axel hadn’t intervened. She might have lamented the punishment she received for it, but she wouldn’t have felt a shred of guilt. As Ella’s grip tightened and she heard the concerned murmurs of the other girls in the dorm like they were coming from somewhere far off, she realized just how easy it would be.
Her hands were trembling with the restraint it took. The desire to just crush her windpipe until she stopped breathing and could no longer lash out with her venomous tongue.
Whatever it was that had snapped inside of Ella seemed to snap back in that moment, and she felt as if she’d woken up from a dream. She loosened her grip on Marissa’s throat, just as the door to the lobby flew open.
“What on earth is going on here?” the dorm mother bellowed.
Ella jolted, looking up at the older queen as she pushed past the spectators and tore into the room.
“Ms. Doe!” she cried at the top of her lungs. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Ella scrambled off Marissa, but she knew the damage was done. She knew exactly what it looked like and doubted the other girls in the room would be quick to offer their testimony to clear her name.
“She started it,” Ella muttered in weak protest.
“Whatever happened between you two, that hardly justifies putting your hands around a classmate’s throat,” she scolded, grabbing Ella’s arm to pull her to her feet. “I shudder to think what would have happened if someone hadn’t called me.”
Ella looked at the crowd that had backed up into the lobby, wondering which one of them had snitched as Marissa got to her feet.
“Guess it’s just your lucky day,” Ella said with a bitter glance in Marissa’s direction. The other queen smirked.
Of course she would find a way to win, even when she lost.
* * *
As Ella sat in the waiting room outside the Headmaster’s office, waiting for Marissa to get done telling her fabricated version of the story, she found herself mulling over everything that had just happened. The tattered clothes, the impromptu confrontation, and the first fight she’d actually won, even if it didn’t feel like it.
She couldn’t bring herself to regret it, either. Whatever the consequences were, it feltgoodto finally put Marissa in her place. To prove that she wasn’t just going to roll over and show her belly every time the other woman lashed out.
She looked down at her hands and her nails, which had returned to normal. Did that have something to do with whatever had come over her? She’d never even tried to partially shift before, and it seemed strange that it would be something she just did instinctively.
Her phone buzzed and the first pang of regret hit her, but not on Marissa’s behalf. When Bishop’s number popped up on the screen asking if she was ready, and the Headmaster still hadn’t come out with Marissa, she knew there was no way she was going to make their date.
I’m sorry, she texted back.Something happened and I’m kind of stuck in the Headmaster’s office.
He wrote back almost immediately.The Headmaster? Why? Are you alright?
The messages came in such rapid succession she couldn’t respond to one before another appeared. No one had ever expressed so much concern over her wellbeing, and while she was eager to put his fears to rest, it was...nice. To say the least.
I’m fine. I just got in trouble,she admitted, knowing he was bound to find out anyway. She was surprised he hadn’t already heard, given how quickly gossip traveled around the school.
