6. Huntress Diana

“I still don’t understand how she could favor me.” I sat down on a comfy chair across from Mrs. Humphrey. “There’s literally nothing special about me. I suck at school. I never had friends...Luca marked me and now everyone thinks—” I paused, remembering where I was and in whose company I was in. I doubt they’d appreciate me referring to them as freaks. I peered at Elijah before my gaze settled back on Mrs. Humphrey. Elijah seemed decent. I have yet to decide how I felt about the high priestess.

“People back home aren’t exactly fond of werewolves. Everyone used to tell me scary stories about your people.”

Mrs. Humphrey sat forward in her seat. “Your people?” She arched her brow. “You mean, our people? You’re one of us, now, dear.”

I breathed out a long sigh. “It all feels so surreal.”

“I understand. I’ve been there myself.” She waved a hand toward Elijah. “Unlike him, who was born into this world, I was just like you. I grew up in a nice little neighborhood with very religious parents. They thought I was a demon spawn and had sinned greatly, kicking me out of the only home I ever had. I remember it like yesterday. But this world is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Just like me. I swallowed back the lump in my throat. Look, my parents weren’t great, but...They were still my family. They were all I had. Drunks, or not. “It’s just...How do I forget them?”

Mrs. Humphrey leaned forward and took hold of my hand. I shivered, her skin like ice. “Dear, as impossible as it seems, you will. They are horrible, moral-less people if they can throw you away like that.” It almost sounded like she was saying it for her own benefit, rather than for mine.

She patted my hand with a gentle smile before she straightened back in her seat. “I’m aware of what the outside world thinks of us. They believe us to be beasts. Cruel, blood-thirsty murderers. I promise you dear, we are anything but.”

Elijah shifted in his seat, like he wanted to add to the conversation, but decided against it.

“Just like humans, we have ones of our own who stray from us and do horrific things. However, because we stand out compared to humans, they will naturally turn all the negative attention to us instead of seeing their own capable of vile things. It’s in a human’s nature to want to be perfect and to turn a blind eye to what’s really there.”

I nodded, crossing my legs.

“Do tell me, girl, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”

“Does it matter?” I asked.

Mrs. Humphrey inclined her head. “Yes dear, it does. Now, share with me, what is the worst thing you’ve ever done in your life?”

My eyes narrowed as I considered her question. “I’m...not sure. I haven’t really done many bad things.”

“It doesn’t matter how many. I just want to know what the worst is that you’re capable of,” she encouraged.

I sighed, leveling my gaze on her. “I stole a doll from a thrift store.”

“Why?” Mrs. Humphrey enquired, pressing her fingers together on her lap.

My brows furrowed into a frown. “My parents refused to buy me dolls because they believed it was a waste of money. I never had any, and I always watched the girls at school having so much fun and bragging about how they got the newest Sally Beach doll…”

Elijah pulled a face, and I scowled at him. “I was seven, okay?”

“Yes?” Mrs. Humphrey prompted, ignoring Elijah’s questioning look.

“Anyway, I wanted to play with them. I wanted to belong.”

“I see.” Her lips pursed. “Do you want to know what’s the worst thing I’ve ever done?”

“Not sure if that’s going to make a difference,” I said.

“That’s where you are wrong.” She focused on me. “You see, I burned down a tree.”

I blinked. “Okay?”

“The point is, both our worst qualities are petty compared to what others are capable of.” She straightened. “You’ve heard of the Whitevalley serial killer?”

I nodded. “It was all over the news.”

“The killer is human,” she stated. “And look at you. Look at me, and the worst things we’ve done. We, the ones deemed monsters by people out there.”

“I see.” I shifted under her sharp gaze.

“The point is, I want you to understand that our kind isn’t as evil as you were taught to believe,” she spoke. “My words are useless, though, as I know it’s been ingrained into your mind since birth. The best I can offer you, is to prove it to you. Once you live in our world, with time you’ll be proven that it’s nothing as you were told. I know from personal experience you will grow to love this world. You’ll make friends here and grow ever-lasting bonds.”

It felt like she was making the sales pitch of her life. “What if I don’t want to stay?”

“It’s entirely up to you, dear. But it would be against the huntress’ wish if you did. I have no doubt she would punish you accordingly.”

I swallowed.

“Understand that I’m not trying to scare you, but...you do not vex the likes of our gracious huntress.”

***

Mrs. Humphrey dismissed Elijah once the girl’s dormitory matron showed up. Mrs. June was as sweet as she was old—and the polar opposite of Mrs. Humphrey.

June—as she preferred to be addressed as—was a plumpy, short lady with unruly hair and mismatched clothing.

She was also the only one who didn’t fall over herself to flatter Mrs. Humphrey or bow to her every whim.

When Mrs. Humphrey requested June bring her some tea, June refused and said that she was here to help me settle, not to be her maid.

I covered my mouth to hide my smile. In the short amount of time that I’ve been here, the two women have made me feel more welcome than my family ever did in my entire life combined.

Regardless of Mrs. Humphrey and June’s reassurance, I still couldn’t shed the fear pooling inside my belly. I sat in a corner watching the two women set up an altar dedicated to huntress Diana and lit candles. When they were done, June ushered me toward the altar and instructed me to take off my jacket. “It’s cold in here,” I shivered, rubbing my arms.

June placed a hand on my shoulder. “No worry, child, this should be fairly quick. You’re going to love the girl’s dorm. There’s a snug fireplace in the common room, and each room has a heater installed.”

“It was an expensive demand from the students, but worth it,” Mrs. Humphrey added. “It gets cold here in the evenings. But, what also makes me feel warm is a nice cup of tea.” She threw June a pointed look.

June rolled her eyes. “Are we going to do this, or are you going to wait for this poor thing to freeze her toosh off?”

I bit back a smile, watching Mrs. Humphrey do her work, her lips drawn tight with annoyance. When she finished drawing symbols on my neck and shoulder, she picked up a small crystal bowl filled with crushed herbs and sprinkled them across my skin.

A warm, tingling sensation formed wherever they touched, and Mrs. Humphrey chanted in an unfamiliar language.

I glanced at June, who held a candle inside her hand with her eyes closed. Her lips moved feverishly along with Mrs. Humphrey’s, but her voice wasn’t audible.

I turned my focus back to Mrs. Humphrey. She had turned and was drawing a circle on the floor in front of me.

Once her chanting stopped, her eyes settled on me. “Say the recruiter’s name, dear.”

“Luca?” I tested and gasped as a figure appeared out of thin air right in the middle of the circle. “Holy crap.”

June snorted. “Crap is certainly not holy, child.”

“What the hell?” Luca spun around to find me gaping at him. “Are you serious right now?”

“Don’t blame me. You’re the one that left me hanging,” I shrugged. “They’re trying to help me, unlike you.”

Luca’s eyes turned to slits when he spotted Mrs. Humphrey. “We meet again, old hag.”

Mrs. Humphrey blanched. “Get the guardians. Now!”

My eyes widened as June rushed out of the room, looking flustered.

I turned to Mrs. Humphrey. “Did I miss something here?”

“How did you do it?” Mrs. Humphrey ignored me, her face turning red. “How?”

“Like you all do. The huntress came to me and told me to mark her.” Luca smirked. “Didn’t think it would be such a big deal.”

“Liar. Once you’re exiled you can’t get in touch with the spiritual realm,” Mrs. Humphrey barked. “I’m asking you once more, how?”

“Exiled?” My brows knitted together.

“Let’s just say I got screwed over and kicked from the werewolf club.” Luca eyed me. “But the huntress still deemed me worthy enough to mark someone as valuable as you.”

“How am I valuable?”

“Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” he smirked.