15. Chapter 15
T he next day Eden’s heels clicked on the tile floor as she walked down the halls toward the guidance office. It was time to keep an eye on the woman Bloodfang seemed so interested in. I have to know more before I can prepare for any fight. She turned a corner down an empty hall, with the hope she could get the trust of the Elder- To let her think she was another distressed student. Approaching the door, the name on a small silver plaque that read, ‘Elder Andromeda Anderson’ in long elegant letters. With a raised hand she knocked on the door and found it was already cracked.
With a light push it opened, Eden peered around the corner of the to find the Elder at her desk. Her long straight brown hair covered most of her face as she read over students’ essays. The door let out a much louder creak than she wanted, in turn the sound alerted the woman to her entrance which caused her to glance up. Quickly, she moved to her feet and fixed her black pencil skirt, her cropped burnt orange satin blouse with balloon sleeves hung by her elbows, they swished as she moved around to the side of her desk. The shape of her sleeves a stark contrast to the deep V-shape and tight button-up corset around her waist. Modern 1950 succubus, I can see why Bloodfang has a thing for her.
Elder Anderson smiled brightly almost and seemed over excited someone had stopped in to see her. Eden had taken one of her classes the previous year and had gotten to know her as doating, kind, and at times protective. Andromeda treated her and every student as if they were her own children and was widely known among everyone in the school. After she had discovered her relation to Eloise, the Elder had invited her and a not-so-thrilled Elder Miller over for tea on multiple occasions. The memory of her mother's face when they got ready always made her laugh a little on the inside as the woman complained to herself about the need to keep up appearances. A high-pitched cheery voice bounced around the small office as she motioned to the set of chairs in front of her desk.
“Eden Miller, please come on in sweetheart. What can I do for you?” Andromeda asked and moved back behind her desk. Before she took a seat as she carefully pulled out a notepad and motioned for Eden to join her.
She took her own seat in front of the desk and paused as her eyes drifted to the notepad and pen. For a second she felt her throat tighten and Eloise’s voice entered her mind. Make sure to keep records of your time here to a minimum, school work only. When we leave it will be gathered and destroyed the week before. She would have to remember to make this office a stop when they went to leave.
“Nothing you say leaves this office, hun, I only take notes for my, and your, personal records. They are locked up safe and tight, no one will ever see this. Okay? Not even Eloise.” Eden looked back up to the woman who attempted to comfort her with a smile, bright blue eyes matched almost perfectly to the decade matching glasses she was wearing.
She nodded and spoke in a quiet voice and allowed a small tremble to lace her words. “Well, I know it’s only my second year here but… it already feels like home and I keep staying up, worried about the hunters. For my housemates. I went into the bathroom with Rue, we were talking and when I walked out of the stall… Everything went black.”
“Oh, my dear, I can understand feeling bad for surviving. For getting to continue your life while others leave us too early.” her excited voice softened. “The security team has called in for more reinforcements already. As I understand, Lennox and Aron have plans for security at the houses already in motion. If I know anything, it’s that your mother has everything handled at your place. Probably locked down tighter than anyone I’ve met. I promise you are safe. Can I get you some tea, maybe a snack?”
“No, I’m okay, thank you Elder Anderson.” Eden shook her head, keeping her face concerned despite the new information. She almost released the smallest chuckle at the shared knowledge Eloise was a known paranoid person.
Silence fell between them for a moment as the succubus’s gaze searched Eden’s eyes. Her expression shifted slowly into concern as if she knew there was more going on. The woman placed her pen down and let the quiet hang before seemingly deciding to speak.
“Feel free to just call me Andy, no need for the Elder Anderson titles here. Forgive me if I’m being too forward but I believe there’s more going on than just that. Is it just what happened at Club Crossroads?” She spoke matter-of-factly.
“Yes- No… I mean-.” Eden spoke too quickly. Every word she said felt like a possible risk, but she had to gain trust. She chewed on her words before she decided it was possibly safe enough to get some advice on Lennox. “It’s just- Eloise told me some things at the beginning of the year, and I’m not sure how to feel about it all.”
“Nothing you say leaves this office,” Andromeda repeated to her. She was able to hear the buzz of magic a succubus in her voice, the same emotional calm effect they had on their prey. “What did she tell you?”
“She told me that my birth mother is also attending the school. She told me who it was and I just… I see her every day and all I can think about is how she dumped me the first moment she could.” As she spoke, she felt the words speed up and spill out faster than she could think.
Eden knew the magic wasn’t malicious, however an underlying frustration brewed at the magics ability to so easily find itself behind one of her many walls. Damn succubus powers. The thought reminded her that the kind woman in front of her was one of the most powerful of the species and her powers were much stronger than her own.
“Are you excited that the woman who had you is here? What are your feelings about her?” She asked carefully, as she picked up her pen again.
“Well, I don’t honestly know. I love my mom, she’s the only person I know as a parent. There are so many…contradictory factors I don’t know if I should even try to approach her. Besides, according to Eloise she’s not the best person at times. Honestly, I don’t even think she wanted a child- I want to know more, hear her side but I don’t know if I’ll ever get the answers I want or believe the ones I get.”
“I see... Is Eloise the one telling you these things about your birth mother? Could she have personal reasons for not wanting you to meet her? Why do you think her opinion weighs so heavily for you?”
“Of course she is… But I think her reason is she wants to protect me from someone who she knows could hurt me…” Eden paused and considered the next question. “I mean she’s my mom of course her opinion matters, she just cares. I would do anything for my family.”
She didn’t question Eloise’s intentions on the subject. Honestly, it did just seem like she wanted to protect Eden from the hurt that she would probably experience if she and Lennox were to meet and have a normal conversation. Rejection had played on repeat since she even considered the thought.
“You have a pretty strong devotion to your family.” Andromeda pointed out.
“I do, they welcomed me in when no one ever wanted me.” She told her.
“I understand, more than you might think, my dear… Now you say your birth mother is a demon, which I can tell you're… at least part demon, and I know Eloise is not…” She stopped and seemed to consider her next words carefully. “Would your mom- Eloise... have any reason to feel the need to protect you from a... demon?”
Fuck, I slipped up . Her heart dropped into her stomach. She had already said too much. Eloise wouldn’t be happy with the impression she was giving. Eden fidgeted with her hair a bit trying to recover. Her eyes showed the lost feeling she had felt since being told.
“I don’t think it’s against all demons- I think it’s more against one specific one, and what she might say. Like before, she’s just trying to protect me from getting hurt.”
“How does this affect how you see yourself? This all comes down to what you want to do. You can do whatever you want to do about your birth mother whether you meet her and hear her out, or forget you ever knew about her. There could be an array of different reasons she had to give you up... you never know until you ask" She pointed out.
“I-” She thought on the first question, knowing as a posing demon she would have some feelings on that matter. To her surprise her next words were true. “I hate looking in the mirror.”
Andromeda seemed to debate on her next action but moved slowly watching Eden’s reaction close. She slid her glasses off, revealing her true blackened demon eyes. Eden had never seen the Elder do this, it was off-putting at first but she was giving her a comforting smile. At least who she thinks I am . Not letting herself have much of a visible reaction other than a quick blink of surprise. It wasn’t a daily thing for Eden to witness, but Eloise had prepared her to be mostly numb just in case.
“It’s okay to be who you are. The choice is all yours, not Eloise's,” Andy said, placing her glasses back on her face, her eyes returning to the previous blue. “If you're curious about demons and your own lineage, meeting your birth mom could be very beneficial to knowing what type of demon you could be... even if she turned demon after having you, it’s usually hereditary regardless.”
“I actually don’t know what I want,” Eden admitted. “I don’t think she’d have anything nice to say anyways. She didn’t want me then, no reason she’d want to know me now…. I’m sorry, I’m wasting your time.”
“Oh gosh honey not at all, this is exactly why I took this position, to help young demons, ghouls, and all sorts work through any issues they have. You have time to do what you need to for yourself. Until then, try to be more open to what you’re feeling and take action.”
Still conflicted from the emotions that arose, she pulled on the sleeve of her hoodie and made her way out of the office. With her head turned to the left she didn't notice someone walk around the corner straight into her path. The two almost collided but a set of hands stopped her, the touch caused Eden to jump and snap her head toward the person. Unexpectedly, she came face to face with Lennox, her bob-cut bright pink and white hair was the last thing she wanted to see right now.
“Hey there,” she took her hands off her arms and smiled. “Sorry, you kinda appeared outta nowhere. Everything okay?”
“Yeah- fine.” Eden told her awkwardly as the same dulled anger from the other day filled her ribcage. Don’t lose it. “Are you doing okay?”
“Yeah, you know just having a session with Andy.” Lennox admitted as she ran a hand through her hair.
Silver on Lennox’s arms reflected the dull light in the hall and instantly caught Eden’s attention. When her arm stopped, she saw the chain pattern coupled with strings of runes and sigils that weaved in and out of the links from her fingertips to her elbow. Completely distracted from her conversation with Elder Anderson, she couldn’t stop herself as curiosity took over.
“What are those markings?” She asked a little quickly as the words fell out.
Lennox smiled lightly and peered down at her arms. “They are devotional markings, I am a devotee of the god, Xemos.”
“Oh, I didn’t know it had physical markings.”
“It works kinda like the crosses on crossroad demons and sold-soul demons. Markings tell a demon's story in most cases. This one is just another story.” Lennox paused and her eyebrows rose slightly. “I’m surprised you’re not asking who he is, do you know of the mythology?”
“He’s come up in some of my studies since I got here. I know the basics just not the minor details like the markings. How did you do it?” She asked as the information could be hard to come by later.
“Well, usually you study him, there's a ceremony to call upon him. Bring some candles, a feather, some books, pomegranate seeds, and a shell to an iron gate and call for him. Sometimes he just shows up when someone needs him and they end up becoming devotees.” Lennox explained.
The demon motioned to the marking on the center of her forehead. A trident-looking shape with two strikes on the staff with three dots on either side of the three curved tips. She was surprised that Lennox, her real mother, was so forthcoming about something she would have considered personal. A warm sensation rose in her chest and made its way to the surface, comfort. As if just maybe someday they could actually talk about everything that had happened and just maybe she would have the answers she wanted, the true story.
“I’ll have to look into him some time.” Eden nodded and glanced over Lennox’s shoulder.
“If you need help, shoot me a text. I’m more than happy to answer any questions you may have.” She offered as she stepped aside for Eden and toward the office door. “I’ll see you later, yeah?”
“Of course,” she agreed with a small smile and continued away from the guidance office.
Suddenly, a voice came over the loudspeaker of the university. Vice Principal De Rosa bidded everyone a good afternoon and started off with a reminder of the curfew the school had set in place.
“Now students and Elders, I turn it over to the newest addition to the security team. Please everyone give an ear to Cleo Anderson.” The siren’s voice paused as the microphone was passed to this new person. Eden’s heart stopped at the name. Fuck… No- The Millers and Cleo were complete opposites as far as supernatural creature hunters. Hunters like Cleo were a danger to the Millers, willing to also attempt to cut a brutal family down.
“Hello, staff, students, various creatures. My name is Cleo Anderson, and I’ll get this out of the way, I am human, I am a hunter. That being said, I am here for one reason only. My sister Andromeda, to you Elder Anderson, has asked me to be here. Yes, we’re twin sisters, yes she’s a demon and I’m human, what’s it to you? I am not here for any of you, this is a place of peace and I intend to restore it. As hard as it may be to believe, some hunters have morals and just want both sides to get along. If you believe you may have helpful information I can be found around the grounds and my cell number will be posted around with the others on the security team. Thank you and I hope I can be of some help to you all.”
Finally, back down on the main floor. She had her phone out and her fingers already danced across her screen as she texted Bastien to see if he wanted to meet for lunch to talk about the announcement. As Eden made her way toward one of the side exits closest to Omega Alpha when the sound of a scuffle just around the corner caught her attention. Swiftly she put her phone in her pocket and her hand slipped up her sleeve for her knife. In one movement, she pressed her back to the wall and waited a few seconds before she turned her head around the corner, to see two familiar women having a very tense conversation.
“I’m not surprised you don’t remember- but I remember you, and your mother… If I remember right, you told her to put this on me,” Remi glared and motioned to herself where very visible scars covered every inch of visible skin. “Where’s dear old mother? I’d love to have a talk with her if I’m being honest.”
“Mother won’t be available to talk, and frankly there wouldn't be much to be said, would there?” She tilted her head, almost in a challenge to the wolf.
“There wouldn’t be- I think it would be more of a quick catch up followed by a funeral.”
“I don’t think that kind of threatening is necessary.”
The next few seconds were a blur of movement as Remi reached out with long claws that extended from her fingers. Before the werewolf could catch the Matriarch, she gripped her wrist and pulled her into an open empty classroom. With silent steps, Eden followed them and stayed hidden from the corner of the doorframe. She leaned enough to see Eloise with squinted eyes, her gaze on the pure silver rings on her hand pressed into Remi Moon’s neck. The skin exposed to the rings smoldered and Eden knew the smell of charred skin would soon follow.
“You’re not going to keep getting away with any of it. I’ve heard through the grapevine that your daughter goes to school here as well. I’d imagine like mother like daughter? I assume you’re in charge now, maybe I can cut off the seed before it becomes the next tree?” Remi growled in anger and pain.
“It would be hard to cut off anything from your proper home in hell.” She hissed at the girl, Eden could see the rage in her mother’s eyes. “You could have just walked away and we wouldn't have to be here, you wouldn’t be in this situation but you had to go and threaten me, and now my daughter? Now you're not getting off so easily.”
She slid her hand up to the wolf’s jaw, clenched her cheeks between her finger and thumb and forced Remi to look her in the eyes. With her free hand, Eloise reached into her pocket and pulled out a silver knife. Eloise pressed the tip to the student’s side and applied enough pressure to cut into her waist, her skin smoked at the site. Finally the smell of the burned skin found its way to Eden and filled the air around her. She went to the reserve of magic within her and pulled the blue string to open the flow of magic and quickly made the scent dissipate in case one of the wolves on the security team happened to be nearby.
“If you know what's good for you, you will keep our history from your newfound family.” Eloise punctuated each word in her sentence with a tighter squeeze on the girl’s face. “You will promise to never touch my daughter and if you break it- Your time in our basement all those years ago will look like a sunny day in the park. You’ll leave with more than the word dog on your body if you live.”
Eden could hear the sharp, pained intake of breath from Remi and had started to move further around the corner in case Eloise needed her. With the movement, her mother's eyes darted in her direction and widened before they returned back to the wolf. Silence followed Eloise’s words and she saw the knife dig its way deeper into her side. The girl didn’t seem to waver as if trying to fight through the pain.
“Don’t be foolish, my little puppy.” The hunter hissed to her prey.
“Fine-” Remi finally agreed.
“Say. It.”
“I won’t touch her!”
Eloise shoved her back toward the wall, pocketed her knife and stalked to where Eden was hidden. Her heels clicked on the tile and they grew closer until she grabbed her roughly and pulled her along. The two left Remi in the room as they made their way down the hall, Eloise’s eyes darted to the cameras above them every few seconds.
“What the hell was that?” Eden asked, trying to pull her arm away, but the grip only tightened as if she was eight years old again.
“I had that under control.” Her mother started angrily, her eyes flooded with something she couldn’t quite place. “She could have seen you and tried to get revenge right there.”
“I wasn’t about to walk away, mother. What if she had shifted and attacked you? What kind of past do you two have?” The bell rang signaling classes letting out once more.
“I will explain later. Go home.” Eloise let go of Eden’s arm and turned into her empty classroom.
She rubbed her arm a bit and kept going down the hall as the emotional whiplash from the last two hours hit her all at once. Her conversation with Elder Andromeda and Lennox weighed heavy on her mind, especially now that she had Xemos’s words to consider. The seed of doubt that had taken root inside her started to grow again and the sight of Eloise and Remi did nothing to improve that. This was something new; her mother was potentially already ready to lie and hide something from the past once more. With a frustrated sigh, she made her way back out of the school.