Chapter 3

Estelle entered a room with apple green walls and was greeted by a pale, dark haired woman who bowed to her. The woman stayed bowing while muttering something under her breath. Estelle tried not to show her cluelessness, fidgeting around on her feet.

“Rise, Rennie.” The man, Moore, commanded softly. 

Rennie straightened herself and smiled at Moore, “Master Moore,” she nodded her head and turned to Estelle, “My Lady.” At this, she smiled wider, her pointed fangs showing. 

Vampire? Startled, fear slowly creeping in her at the thought of being in a territory that welcomes vampires. What the hell is this place? Werewolf and vampire don’t mix. They’re mortal enemies. That’s how it had always been. So, how is this possible?

Moore cleared his throat. “I told you not to call me that, Rennie.” He shifted his weight and leaned against the door frame, sliding his hands into his pocket. Which makes Estelle even more confused about how a werewolf could act so comfortable and familiar with the enemy. 

A light chuckle filled the room and Estelle looked up to see Rennie grinning, her posture light and gentle. 

“Yes. But unfortunately for you, Master, you know how we always follow traditions.” 

“Ah.. that, yes. I could never understand how you would abide by my every request but never that simple wish.” Moore sighed playfully. “No matter. I came here to ask you if you could do a check up on..” He turns to Estelle, who, till now still hasn't introduced herself. 

“My name’s Estelle.” She said softly.

Moore nodded, satisfied to finally learn his beloved’s name. “Are you busy now, Rennie?” He asked.

Rennie shook her head. She never understood why her Master would ask when he could just command. He does that to everyone, requesting and never once commanding them unless absolutely necessary. Like when someone betrays the pack. Still, she had only seen her master give a command once, years back when there was a war and they found a mole in their pack. 

Then again, her master always lived by a code; every person has a choice and should be free to choose and not forced. 

“No, Master. I was just experimenting with a new idea I had.” She waved to the table full of earth’s elements, bowls, spoons and papers. 

“Good. Thank you, Rennie.” Moore turned to Estelle and raised a hand as if to touch her shoulder but thought better of it. 

“I’ll leave you to her. I need to do something quick, I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He spoke gently. Estelle nodded, trying to hide her fear of being alone in a room with a vampire. She had never been taught how to defend herself and wondered what she would do if the vampire attacked her. Probably not put up much resistance and die quietly. She eyed the vampire. But then, Rennie doesn’t look dangerous. 

Never underestimate anyone. She reminded herself.

Moore went over to Rennie and whispered something in her ear. Estelle watched, suddenly having a weird feeling blaze in her at how close they were both standing, how intimate it looks from her view. With Moore towering over Rennie and his head dipped down by her ear, from the back it seems like he was kissing her.

A surge of energy washed over her and she felt like going over to Rennie and ripping her head off her neck with her teeth. Estelle shook her head. What is wrong with her?

A few seconds that felt like hours later, Moore turned and exited the room with a smile on his face. Estelle wondered what all of that was about but did not dare to ask. 

Rennie gestured her master’s beloved over to a wheeled bed that was placed at the side of the room. “Come, My Lady. You may rest yourself over here.” She prepared some stuff while Estelle placed herself on the bed. Taking a gloved hand, she put it over Estelle’s head and wrote some things on a notebook.

 She then took a piece of paper and rolled a kind of plant and lit it. Waving the thing around her, Estelle watched as the colors changed from green to yellow, almost turning red then to dark orange. 

“Um.. what is that?” She asked.

“It is a herb that when burned, it could detect a person’s state of health. It detects your inner health - mentally and basically what you don’t show. And then, it shows your physical state. Yellow, Green, Blue and White are used for the physical state. 

The severity of the condition is shown through the shades of the color it gave out. Green is the basic color it gives off when you first burn them, but it also means that you’re healthy. So, for example, if you light it and it stays green without changing, it means the person is fine. Yellow means you’re close to being healed. Blue represents fatal sickness or an urgent mental problem. 

When you’re sad to the point you can’t heal, mainly for witches, the smoke turns white. Purple is jealousy or purposely destroying one's own self. Betrayal, evil and all things bad are black. Grey and silver means you’re at peace with yourself, content.” She paused, turning around to put out the herb. She then looked at Estelle, staring deep in her eyes, as if trying to read her. “Red means losing hope. And orange... orange is fear.”

Estelle felt nervous. She didn’t know there were such things that could detect what a person is feeling. Tyler seldom speaks about life outside of what she knows so her knowledge is limited. 

“Do not worry, My Lady. I will tell Master Moore that you are healing well. But,” She gave Estelle a pointed look, “I feel I must say that you should not be afraid of him. He wouldn’t harm you. And I’m not saying that because you are his beloved but because he doesn’t hurt those who don’t deserve harm.” 

Estelle is aware of that. But she just couldn’t ignore her instinct and stop her reflexes. After spending years, literally her whole life, in an aggressive, dangerous and scary environment, she couldn’t help being like this. Distrustful. 

“I can’t help it. And you can’t ask me to not be afraid of him. He is a stranger.” She whispered, her body tense as if awaiting a slap from Rennie for speaking out. Rennie stared at the woman her Master is destined with. Her un-beating heart clenched in sympathy at what the woman had clearly gone through to have turned out like this.

“If I may ask, why do you cower at every little thing?” Rennie asked softly. Estelle kept quiet. Not because she doesn’t want to answer. But if she did, she is sure Rennie wouldn’t understand. 

Rennie sighed. “Alright then. You may go now, My Lady. I will send Master Moore a report of your health. Do you know how to get to his room?” Estelle shook her head. After telling Estelle the way to Moore’s room, she gave Estelle two vials of blue liquid for her to take every morning for two days. 

***

Estelle stood outside the black door with a tag that said ‘Moore Corcoran’. She didn’t know if she should knock, not wanting to disturb the guy if he was busy. But she didn’t know where else to go. There is no one in the house. 

Gathering her courage, she knocked on the door three times before letting her arm drop and began to fidget. There was a soft ‘come in’ and she turned the knob, entering the room. 

Moore smelled her outside his room and smiled to himself. He remembered the moment in Rennie’s office when he whispered in her ear to be careful while handling Estelle as he suspected that she had been abused. At that moment, he smelled and felt Estelle’s territorial scent clouding the room. Although he knew that she wasn't aware of what she was emitting, his heart swelled at the thought of her being jealous. 

He told Estelle to enter his room and calmly watched her. Noting the way she glanced around the room and fidget, tugging at the hem of her shirt. 

“So what did Rennie say?”

Estelle showed him the two vials she was given, “She told me to mix this with my drink for two mornings.” 

Moore nodded. “And what of your current health?” 

“I’m fine.” She said softly. He raised a brow but didn’t say anything. 

“You can go back to your room, if you want. Do you remember the way back?” She nodded yes, “Or you’re free to roam around the house or outside.”

Estelle wanted to look around the place outside but she wasn’t ready to face all those people out there. So she said that she’ll just be around the house which made Moore give a small sigh of relief. He knew that his people had been waiting to meet the lady that he had brought in running but he also knew that Estelle would be uncomfortable. He needed to help her gain a grain of confidence before letting her see his pack. 

And the woman before him is in such a mess that he is sure, it would take quite some time for her to shred that insecurity and fear that is surrounding her so thick, he could smell it. He knew that she had lied when she said that she was fine. He didn’t need to ask Rennie for the truth as he could see her aura but she didn’t need to know that.

 The purpose of introducing her to Rennie was so that she wouldn’t feel as intimidated. He knew that he can be much to take in for those that are not used to it. But he did not consider the fact that since she wasn’t exposed to much, she would be put off by Rennie’s species. He had thought that it was a mistake for letting her know Rennie but looking at her slightly more at ease now, perhaps it did do a little good. 

***