Coach Namir “Coach!”
Coach Namir
“Coach!”
“Yea!?”
I picked at my growing nails as I leaned back in the black office chair hearing the squeaks and twisted sound of leather and metal.
My office was cluttered with equipment and things preparing for the games at the end of the summer.
From posters to paperwork about deadlines and permits.
The building plans for the arena and a bunch of other minor details that played a major role in pulling this off, and I was in charge of it all.
“Yea?!” I called out again before looking up.
I could see Coach Moore hanging on the doorway with his hand as he spoke to someone else in the hallway.
When he waved his hand, motioning that he would speak to me later, I went back to picking at my nail before glancing up at the TV I recently installed in the corner of my office.
I picked up my nose in the air for a quick check, catching a familiar scent before a black cat came trotting into my office.
“Close my door,” I said, watching Quan’s body shift upward into a grown black man with nothing but black shorts that barely covered his thighs.
I don’t know why they didn’t make it mandatory for shifters to wear the appropriate skin wear made for their bodies.
Wouldn’t have all these ass naked men on the field and in classrooms who still didn’t know how to control the urge.
“Have you seen what they’ve been saying on the news?” Quan asked as he plopped down on the couch after slipping on some DCU basketball shorts. His bright yellowish eyes blinked twice at me before he drew a white t-shirt over his head and chest.
“Is it just more he said she said bullshit?” I asked dryly.
“Nah, they got him talking today.”
I grabbed my remote to change the channel from ESPN to Underground Network News as the typical picture and mugshot of Dr. Marvin T.
Holmes was plastered on the screen. It’s all they talked about, and you could see where some of the reporters were camped just outside of the school.
It was already stated that no student was allowed to speak to any media let alone be caught on camera in their uniforms outside of the Grounds, but with them at our back door, I wasn’t sure how long this was going to hold up.
“Authorities say that cooperation is expected from Dr. Holmes. Although this is not the first time The First Family has been brought in for questioning in regard to power and control. It is however the first time one has been formally prosecuted, and more are expected to come…”
“This shit is crazy,” I muttered as they kept replaying the clip of Dr. Holmes walking up the court steps. They showed the historic white church where everything took place and a picture of Wilhelmina Holmes along with the faces of the vampires she created.
“What people need to understand is…”
It cut to a screen where a bunch of idiots sat around the round table talking with Dr. Holmes’s face along with Maggie Grey beside him, plastered in the background. My fist tightened while Quan’s brows raised as he glanced at me.
“This isn’t just about The First Family as a whole––”
“Exactly. This is about accountability, influence, and unchecked power that has gone on far enough. We need to talk about what could possibly happen going forward because it’s obvious they’re protecting the granddaughter.”
“You know I was around when the pack and the First Family went at it badly…I mean nobody was spared ... If there is any group of mythics in the Underground that are next in line to possibly take advantage of the weak, it’s those of canine descent.”
“Ahhh I remember what happened. Nobody wanted a part of that because it meant death, no matter how you look at it. Today, there are others in place, not just Dr. Holmes that sit at the top from judges to national agencies to officers that are in the field. What do you think can happen going forward and what does this mean for Drew Collins and the Underground as a community?”
“Well,” another said as he cleared his throat.
They continued to show images of Dr. Holmes and the First Family members that have long since passed, including Wilhelmina Holmes.
“We can see major differences in how things are handled. There is a growing divide on whether those of predator descent even belong in the Underground and should there be checks and balances to identify who is safe enough to stay and who needs to go. There are talks of groups forming and unfortunately, those who sympathize with the threat are at risk themselves…”
“Let’s take it back to the church incident and what exactly do we know so far…”
I reached for the remote to change the channel and smiled when I saw a commercial for the games.
“THIS SUMMER! THE GAMES RETURN AS TRADITION ONCE AGAIN IS TRIED AND TESTED! DREW COLLINS UNIVERSITY IS TO HOST THE SUMMER TRIALS AND GAMES!”
I watched them play clips of me running with a ball tucked under my arm and leapt off of what looked like a cliff. Just to dive down into complete darkness before the screen went black. They began showing the list of schools participating and information about when tickets go on sale.
“This is going to be a good year,” I said after cutting the TV off. Quan looked at me as I nodded. “I’m claiming it. It’s going to be a good year. I’m good. My girl is good. My job pays well… My mom is safe…”
Maggie suddenly flashed into my head before I shook away the vision and small guilt.
“Everything is going to work itself out,” I told myself.
Quan leaned back into the sofa as he put his feet up.
Before he could reply, there was a small knock on the door only to see a short pixie cut and cat-like eyes peek inside.
I stood up as the new Dean of Drew Collins University walked in with her pink blazer and skirt.
She was short with a dimpled smile and hard cheekbones that looked like two knots on the side of her face.
Her makeup was bright, almost like a gold shimmer between her forehead when she cleared her throat.
“Coach Namir, I don’t believe we’ve met formally,” she said. “My name is Dr. Joy Vaughn, how are you?”
She extended her hand, and the instant scent of mint and cocoa hit my nose.
She smelled like chocolate mint when we shook hands, and I sat back down.
When she looked at Quan, he simply got up and stepped out without a word.
I figured by the way her natural scent smelled and the way she sat down like she was moving a tail to the side; she was of feline ancestry.
If not, she was most likely a true familiar.
Everything from how she turned her head to look around to the sensual way she rolled her shoulders back was feline like.
“I just wanted to come and meet you personally. You’re just as famous as some of our other students here…”
I leaned back into the chair knowing exactly who she was speaking about without having to say her name.
“She’s more famous than me,” I replied coolly.
“Charming,” she grinned before clearing her throat. “I just wanted to stop by, lay eyes on you. I am aware that this university ranges in levels of age and maturity. I respect the fact that you do not flaunt your relationship with Ms. Grey, however…”
“However,” I repeated.
“The rules in place are there for a reason. It’s not appropriate given your title that you are engaging in acts with a student. You’re very popular amongst the women here. They speak highly of you.”
I threw my hands out with a shrug and a boyish smile.
“That comes with the territory but unless you’ve seen me and Maggie fucking in the classroom or car somewhere, this conversation really isn’t necessary.
My relationship with this very grown woman does not interfere with her studies nor does it interfere with my job.
What other women say about me, that can’t be helped.
My priority is my students, my athletes, and staff when I’m working on the Grounds.
When I’m not working and it concerns my private life, then that’s just what it is, private.
I’ve respected the rules in place this far and will continue to do so. ”
Dr. Joy Vaughn stared at me before nodding as she stood up.
“Good. You’re talented and much loved here. I would hate for you to get caught up in the political war that’s brewing because of her family last name.”
She walked out of my office as I stared at the door.
I was still for a moment hearing the hidden meaning and threat in her words when my phone suddenly went off.
It was a screenshot from Souxie where Maggie was texting their group chat about her parents and what they should do.
Sighing, I swiped through my contacts before pressing the name as I waited for him to pick up.
“All Dogs Go to Heaven, this is Bellamy Adrias Holmes speaking.”
Rolling my eyes at the piss poor joke, I turned the volume down and spoke.
“What’s the latest on your mom? What’s happening? What are we doing?”
“Patience…patience…. I’m finalizing everything now. Apparently, they needed to confirm if the body was still buried in the backyard or not if it’s been removed given what my mother is.”
I looked at the phone, confused.
“Body?”