"When blended with sexuality, the death instinct is transformed into more harmless impulses expressed in sadism or masochism. "

-Erich Fromm

I got to work just in time to see the common student body gushing over the newcomers.

Well, well, well, what do we have here?

They were good looking.

Stormy grey eyes.

You'd think that they were twins...but polar opposites.

The girl was skinny but had the aura of a model emanating from her. Her hair was fixed into a neat ponytail. No accessories. Just the uniform caressing her body. The sharp black Louboutins that graced her feet told you that she was a girl of subtle flex.

The boy on the other hand... Woah.

He was taller than me, even though I was wearing heels. His hair was perfectly done, just like his sister's, but it was dyed blue on the ends. From one ear dangled an earring and a hint of a tattoo snaked across his neck.

Typical e-boy.

The girl looked genuinely embarrassed by her brother. Her brother, on the other hand, seemed not to mind the curious stares he was getting. I smirked.

I can already see who I will take a liking to.

As soon as I started walking towards them, the crowd that had gathered around them scattered, none of them wanting to be around me.

I smiled at the now confused siblings.

"Good morning, welcome to Ajax High. My name is-"

"You're the big boss in here, right?" interrupted the boy.

"Refael!" chided his sister.

"I didn't say anything wrong," said the boy, "everyone scampered away as soon as they saw her."

I laughed.

"Well, so much for good impressions. Yes, I'm the big boss, though I'd like to consider myself the master of this playground. Octavia Hale is the name," I said extending my hand.

The girl shook it.

"Dinah. Dinah Koch. We're around the same age. This emo rainbow monkey is my brother, Refael."

I giggled, causing Refael to glare at me.

"Better a rainbow monkey than a damned tyrant," he said.

I smiled.

"My, my, very expressive aren't we Refael?" I asked.

He folded his arms.

"You won't quiet me. I've been in front of my father, you could never scare me!"

I chuckled.

Nothing I haven't heard before.

It's always the rich kids' dads that are intimidating, meanwhile, my dad is spineless.

"No worries. I won't try to scare you. Try not to do anything to upset me and you'll be good," I said, before turning to walk away.

"What makes you think I'll listen to you?" he asked.

"Refael!"

"You kiss up to her if you wanna Dinah. I'll do whatever the fuck I want!" he exclaimed.

I smirked and kept walking.

*****************************************

A few days later in class, there was a buzz.

"Did you hear? Flora and Ivan were hospitalized," said one of the girls.

"I hear they're transferring from the school," said another girl.

Good.

"Hey not just them, Amy too. And Brent."

"They were our only hope."

I smiled and walked in.

The class became so dangerously silent you could hear a fly land.

I felt the fear radiating from them and it filled me with joy and meaning.

At least my existence moves people in a way words can't.

"Good morning everyone," I muttered, taking a seat.

"Good morning Miss Hale."

Ah, music to my ears...mind you we are all the same age.

"Miss Hale, my mom baked cookies for you," said a girl, handing me a basket full of assorted cookies.

I nodded and took a bite of the delicious goodness.

I watched as everyone else's mouths watered. I couldn't blame them. The girl's parents were the top names in baked treats.

"Who would like a cookie?" I asked.

Nobody answered.

"That's fine, you'd have to do some pretty demeaning things to get one anyway."

I bit into another cookie and moaned.

Delicious!

"That's pretty mean of you and you know it."

I turned to face a rather upset looking Refael.

I smiled.

"Oh Rainbow Monkey, what's up? Want a cookie?" I asked, offering him one of the treats.

"No thanks, I don't take things from bullies."

There was an audible gasp. I turned and shot a glare and everyone scattered, pretending that they were doing something of importance.

I turned and gave Refael my sweetest smile.

"Mean? Me? Never."

There was a scoff that was quickly turned into a cough. Refael snickered.

"Seems like your prey thinks different Kobold."

One of the boys laughed and I felt my ears burn.

Kobold?

What?

I glared at him and he shrugged innocently.

"I've been thinking about which creature would describe you properly. Kobolds are creatures who worship fear. And you, you worship fear, you feed off of it in a cruel and sickening way," he said, grabbing a chocolate fudge cookie and munching on it.

I opened my mouth to speak but the words, they refused to come out correctly. 

"What are you doing in my class? Shouldn't you be in the 12th-grade classroom?" I asked.

Weak defense.

"I'm a bit disappointed. Did I tap into your character sketch so well that you have nothing to say except that?" he asked, reaching out to take another cookie.

I hate that he can read me.

I swatted his hand and he chuckled.

I hate how he chuckles.

"Think what you will Refael, still does not change the fact that I'm older than you."

He smiled.

I hate his smile.

"Are you telling me this or are you reminding yourself?" he asked, resting his head on my lap.

He looked up at me and I was speechless.

I hate his effect on me.

"Ooh," went the class.

I got up right away and threw the cookies at them, not caring who got hit.

Dragging Refael by the collar, we exited my classroom.

**************************************

When we got outside, I let go of him.

"Listen here you," I said, pointing a well-manicured finger at him, "I run this school and you are not going to mess that up."

He smiled.

"What is so wrong with being seen as human Ms. Hale?" he asked.

"Humans are weak, easy to scare and easy to read."

He stepped closer.

"So are you," he whispered.

I scoffed.

"Do you really think your fuckboy actions will move me?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Nah. You were moved the moment you dragged age into this Kobold."

"Stop calling me that."

He inched his face closer to mine.

"Kobold."

Our lips were a mere inch away from each other. I could smell the chocolate in his breath and the cologne he wore. He was messing with my senses and I hated it.

I hate him.

"You'll never break me, Octavia Hale," he whispered, "and do you know why? You think you're so tough, but the reality is that you're a scared little girl."

Never. I will never be broken.

I pushed him away and landed a punch to his face. 

He staggered and fell to the floor.

I pounced on him and landed blow after blow on his face.

People crowded around us, some too scared to even move.

And then out of nowhere... a laugh.

His laugh.

Everyone became silent.

I stopped punching him.

I recognized that laugh.

That was the laugh of someone who found pain in pleasure.

A fellow sadist.

He smiled at me, blood coming from his lips.

"You're a work of art."

Huh?

Before I could grasp the situation, I was flipped over with the precision of a master chef handling a frying pan.

With a not-so-graceful oomph, I landed on the floor.

I could hear laughing.

They were laughing.

At me.

Weak.

Pathetic.

These are the things that you are not.

His hands found their way to my cheeks and I snapped up to stare at him. I was momentarily lost in the greys of his eyes. They were like a calm storm waiting to consume anything within their path. I shivered.

He smirked.

"I can see the fear in your eyes. I thought you had no soul, but I was wrong. You have a long way to go."

Huh?

Before I could comprehend his words, Dinah pushed through the crowd.

"Refael, it is enough," she said.

At his sister's words, he rose to his feet and dusted himself off.

"I will break you, my little Kobald," he said, his words lingering with promise.

Then shooting me a smile, he walked away, leaving me in the dust, my eyes wide with confusion.

What the fuck.

**********************************

I know... this is the part where some of you will come at me with the typical

"ThE pLoT iS mOvInG tOo FaSt."

Ease me yeah, we ain't hit nowhere yet.

Sit tight and enjoy the flight.

Now that that is out of the way... hi.

What do you guys think about our dear Refael?

Next chapter coming whenever I get in the zone.

I really should be resting but I too love this book.

-Safiello