Chapter 4
1927 Words
-Diana's POV-
Marco stares at me and I can only hope that he is believing my lies. I am not very good at lying.
He sits there thinking as he looks at me. He taps his fingers on the desk. Looks to me like he is making a decision about something.
Finally, he speaks. "Listen, I am giving you a chance. But if you start giving me trouble, then you'll have to leave.
I lift my left arm up on my side. "I promise you, I won't be any trouble, I swear!"
"It's the right hand." He says.
"Huh?"
"You swear with your right- never mind, whatever. Fine. Here..."
He hands me a card.
I take it and examine it. "What is this?"
"A... credit card..."
"Oh! hehe! I usually just use... cash... current currency?" I really need to shut my mouth.
His face scrunches in confusion.
"Uhm.. w-what is this for?" I ask.
"Every payday your money will be sent there. I installed an advance since it seems like you need it. You don't have any clothes." He says.
I can't believe that after lying through my teeth, this man has still accepted me here and I am sure that he can see through the lies.
I give him a nod. "Thank you."
He leans back on his chair. "Listen, a lot of crazy stuff happens around here. At the moment, our relationship with the hunters has changed. We are at odds. Many other things have happened but that's on a need to know, so don't concern yourself with that. If you see anything strange—other than the ordinary kind of strange—come to me immediately."
This sounds serious. How bad had things been going for them here?
I nod. "I understand."
"We found Cole!" Two people rush inside the office.
A tall guy carrying a box in his hands and a girl with him. The guy has the same color eyes as Marco and I know they have to be related. He is one of the gifted ones. But the girl... in her, I sense something else. Something tainted. Something not made out of my Mother's purity.
"Cole? When was Cole missing?" Marco asks.
"Not Cole, Cole. Cole the spider." The girl says.
She then looks at me and seems nervous because of the way I stare at her.
My curiosity peaks. "What are you?" I ask the girl.
The girl looks surprised and then she looks at Marco.
"Uhm..." Marco says. "Tinsley, Leon, this is Diana." She will be our new librarian." He looks at me next. "Diana, these are Leon and Tinsley, two of our students. Leon is my nephew and Tinsley is his mate."
I look at Marco. "Okay... but what is she?"
This bothers me too much to let it go and I don't know why.
"How can you tell that I am different?" Tinsley asks.
I don't know what it is but something in her bothers me. I can tell that the girl herself is not bad but something else in her is rotten.
"I just can. I have a way of telling when things are... different."
"Tinsley here is a... Hollow." Marco says.
Ah! And there it is. Werewolves that were cursed by my Mother for their betrayal. I know the girl has no fault but my nature and because of who I am and where my powers come from, my instincts make me reject her.
I give her a smile because I will not act on those feelings.
"I see. Must be hard controlling what is inside you." I say.
She sighs. "Yeah, it is."
I look at Leon.
Being mated to someone who can't die is a huge loophole and lucky for both of them. But things like this don't just happen. They must be important in all of this. I knew that following my instincts would lead me right where I was supposed to be. And this place IS where I a supposed to be.
"You are knowledgable on hollows?" Marco asks with surprise as I am deep in thought.
I turn to him and nod. "Yeah. I am knowledgeable in many things. Mythological and ancient history are my specialty along with fantastical creatures."
He now seems a bit impressed.
He looks at Leon. "Go give that thing to Abigail."
As he says this, I look back at both Leon and Tinsley but I can see something small and dark moving behind them.
I point to it. "Uhm... I think Cole is getting away."
They gasp. "Noooo!" They rush out trying to catch the spider.
The door closes behind them. I turn back to Marco and open my mouth to say something but I am interrupted.
"It won't come off!" A guy barges right in.
My face scrunches in confusion seeing something strange drawn on his face.
Is that... a man's genitals?
"Pfh!" I put my hand on my mouth to stop myself from laughing but they hear me and look at me while I try to contain myself.
The guy narrows his eyes. "I am going to kill that fairy!"
Aha! I knew it! I knew there was a fairy around. I knew that was fairy dust on the floor when I came in.
Fairy dust is invisible to most. Only fey and those beings close in nature to the fey can see it, like Celestial beings. My mother. So it makes sense that I can see it too.
"Cole, let me see." Marco says.
So this is the famous Cole that I keep hearing about.
Marco checks the guy's cheek.
"It's a bit lighter. This is not recommended for your face but... try hand sanitizer. Here..." Marco takes out a bottle of hand sanitizer and a napkin. He pulls Cole close to him and starts rubbing the napkin on his cheek. The ink starts to slowly fade.
"There, this works. Keep doing it." Marco hands him the napkin.
Cole sighs with relief. "Thanks., Marco."
When Cole leaves, I give Marco a wide-eyed stare.
"You have your hands full, don't you?" I say.
"You have no idea." He mumbles.
"You are like the mother goose of this place." I say.
He starts laughing and I smile. I haven't seen him even smile once since I met him so this is good.
"That's a way of putting it."
"I have a feeling that this place would not function properly without you. That's probably why you are so tired. You should make a habit of taking time off from time to time." I tell him.
"Yeah, I'd probably run into the woods and never come back. Live there where no one could find me." He says.
I laugh. "Oh, done that before. It's not so bad."
One of his eyebrows lifts up. "You have done that?"
"Uhm... yeah hehe... for like a week...ish"
Try a couple of hundred years but he doesn't need to know that.
"It was peaceful." I say.
"Maybe, camping is exactly what I need." He mutters, looking up.
He then looks at me and there is silence as he stares.
"Are you sure you are over twenty-one?" He asks and for some reason, he almost looks guilty.
Why does this bother him so much?
"This again? Yes, Marco, I am." I say.
Oh! Maybe it was because of my nakedness last night. It would definitely be weird if I was underage and I know I look much younger, always have.
"That's the only time that I have actually believed what you have said." He says.
My eyes widen. "You... you didn't believe anything I said before?"
"No, I know you have been lying to me."
I really hate lying and I am not sure I can keep doing this.
I sigh. "I am sorry. Things... are complicated for me but I really am over twenty-one."
He is serious but he nods. "I believe you."
"I am sorry for lying."
He puts a hand up. "I told you, as long as you don't bring any problems my way or to the school, you can stay."
I am here to help, not to bring problems.
I vigorously nod. "You'll have no problems with me."
"Good. Now, let me give you a tour-"
"We are back!"
Another couple comes through the doors, interrupting.
No one seems to ever knock.
"Verdict, nothing." A blond man says.
He looks young but his eyes tell me differently.
"Ezekiel, learn to knock already." Marco says sounding tired.
Ezekiel and the woman next to him look at me.
"Sorry, Marco. Didn't know you were busy." The woman says. She has burning marks on her face and body.
Poor thing. That must have been painful.
"Mademoiselle." Ezekiel gives me a small bow. "I'm Ezekiel and this is my other half, Aurora."
I can sense the magic in this woman. She is a witch and from a good strong bloodline and it is also the magic I sense around the school the most.
I smile. "I am Diana. It is nice to meet you."
"Diana will be our new librarian." Marco says.
"Oh! Are you a witch?" Aurora asks.
"Oh... no." I say, shaking my head.
"No?" She looks confused. "But I do sense magic in you."
"Well... I am not entirely normal."
"She's a Nymph." Marco says.
"Oh! Well, that's new!"
"What is your element?"
Oooh crap.
"Umh... I am a water Nymph."
I say but I really hope she doesn't make me try to use an elemental power cause I have none.
"Oh! Is that close to Moon magic?" She asks.
I try not to sigh.
"Well, a water Nymph can control water like a Moon witch can."
I am not lying. Nymphs can control part of the elements they are from.
They all look surprised and sad at the same time.
"What?...did I say something wrong?"
"No...it's just... we knew a girl that would have benefited strongly from some of your knowledge in controlling water elements. She was a moon witch."
Was? By their reaction, I can tell that it was not a good outcome.
"Anyway, welcome to the family." She says now with a smile.
I smile. "Thank you. It is just my first hour and it is already crazy around here."
"Oh, you have no idea." She laughs.
Ezekiel turns to Marco, away from our conversation. "How is he?"
"Same." Marco says.
Ezekiel nods as if he was expecting that answer.
"I see...alright then, we'll leave you to it." Ezekiel says and leaves with Aurora.
So many interesting people I have been meeting.
"Let's go before someone else interrupts." Marco mumbles.
He gets up. I follow him but he stops at the door and motions for me to go first.
Not a gentleman my ass. Handsome, kind, and dedicated. Every girl's dream.
He settles next to me in a walk and we are both quiet as we make our way to the stairs.
It is much more lively here in the day. Students and teachers—or at least I assume— walk around.
But my eyes are drawn to Marco. His demeanor is commanding— even though I can always see the pain in his eyes— almost like an Alpha but he is not. It is very different from being the headmaster of a school to being an Alpha of a pack.
As I think this, I look at him and am surprised when I catch him staring at me. Or rather, staring down at my body which honestly, I am not angry at.
- Writer
