Chapter 4 A New Dawn

❀ Maeve ❀

In my dream, a cock crowed, and then flew off its perch when the dream version of me chased it off.

“Maeve.” It crowed.

“Maeve.”

“Maeve.”

My eyes shot open.

My mother stood over me, her hand still connected to my shoulder where she’d shaken me awake.

Her brows furrowed. “You’re late.”

I sprang up. “Oh, shoot.”

I swung my legs to the floor before I realized my state of undress.

It wasn’t my nakedness that embarrassed me, but the dried flakes stuck to my inner thighs, and the whitish snail trails on my blanket.

Mortified, I felt my skin burn from my scalp to my toes.

“I’ll wait downstairs for you. But hurry,” she said, then walked out of my room.

I covered my face in shame. At least she hadn’t commented on it. But I knew she’d seen it. Evidence of my lewd behavior.

I hurriedly soaked my bedding, showered, dressed, and joined her outside.

She looked up expectantly at the sun while I secured the locks. “Pleasant day it’s looking out to be.”

“Yes, pleasant,” I mumbled, still guarded.

Smoothing down my simple green sundress, I followed behind her to the market square.

We lived in District 2, the median district between 1, which was closest to IronWolf pack, and 3, which was closest to Veilmoor.

“What is your tutor’s name?” Mother asked, glancing at me as we walked.

I pinched my lips, not wanting to broach the topic at all. “I don’t know… yet.”

“Well.” She breathed, and I caught the displeasure in her tone.

I held myself back from telling her this wasn’t a normal relationship, and she could hardly expect it to reach certain expectations.

We arrived at our stall, a simple wooden platform with plantain stems for shade, and racks for displaying our merchandise.

I helped her hang them all, then leaned over the makeshift counter of the stall with my elbows, watching others set their stalls up.

We never really mingled with the other traders. Being human and cautious, Mother kept to herself, and I followed suit.

Being human and the mother to a wolfless, anemic child didn’t make her popular either. But we kept each other company well enough.

I daydreamed about my tutor while Mother weaved. She forbade me from weaving since the day she decided I was going to attend the mating ceremony, to keep my hands soft and uncalloused, she said.

At this point I felt like a pampered, skinned goose presented to the wolves for dinner.

“Well, if it isn’t the virgin.”

The voice cut through my daydreaming.

Dressed in a garish yellow ball gown hardly suited for the market, she stared me down. Two of her minions flanked her on either side, nothing but accessories.

“Carmela. Need some weave work?”

Her nose wrinkled, mischief dancing in her eyes. “You couldn’t find one, huh?”

I stared straight past her, eager to be done with the conversation so I could go back to trying to decipher the letters burned into the skin of my sex.

“How would you know?”

“You still look pasty. I suspect that only lovemaking can bring some color to your skin.”

“I’ll have you know, I have no issues with my skin. So maybe focus on yours?”

I didn’t divulge the fact that this sudden confidence stemmed from my tutor calling me beautiful last night.

Carmela scoffed, eyed me, and turned to my mother. She flicked her hand impatiently.

“The basket, please. Lest I catch your daughter’s cooties.”

I didn’t rise to the bait, and neither did my mom, who handed her a medium-sized woven basket.

“I’m taking a change of clothes tonight. My tutor, Diverus, said I’ll be needing it.” She smirked. “You’d better find a tutor and some experience before the trial, sweetheart, or kiss your foolish dreams goodbye.”

With a scoff, she left.

So she knew her tutor’s name. And what sort of activities were they enacting to need a change of clothes? Sure that I would find out tonight, I waved the anxiety away.

I turned to Mother with a question on my lips, only to freeze as shouts rang out in the square.

Eyes wide, Mother and I watched as five burly men surrounded and pushed a cloaked figure around.

The figure stumbled, and the smell of burning flesh reached me.

“Get down, Maeve!” Mother hissed.

We peeked over our stall.

After some taunting kicks and pushes, one of the men, his eyes glowing gold, ripped the cloak off the figure.

With a bloodcurdling scream, the woman, from what I could see of her before the flames burst out of her now exposed face and skin, sank to her knees.

A vampire. In District 2? And during the day? A suicide mission.

With a hiss and weak swipe of her red-clawed hand, she sank to the ground, her clothes the only things left behind.

Ashes dissipated in the air as the werewolves cheered and high-fived themselves.

I’d just seen my first vampire lynching. My fingers tightened around my dress and my heart clenched.

My tutor was the only vampire I’d ever met personally, and contrary to the scary stories told about how ruthless, evil, and bloodthirsty they were. He was different.

I realized I was afraid for him.

Last night he’d walked me home from the shadows, but I couldn’t let him do that anymore. He could get caught.

I couldn’t bear to lose him.

I turned to Mother sharply as I rose to my feet.

“I have to go,” I declared. I had to warn him.

I had to see him again, and know his name. I had to have him.

“What?!” she exclaimed. “After what just happened? The vampires will go on a killing spree for revenge, I won’t allow it.”

She’s right. Every time there’s a vampire or werewolf’s death at the hands of the other, there’s always a slew of revenge huntings.

“He asked me to come early today, Mother. Said he has work to do later at night. You know that’s the only time he can come out safely.” I lied and pulled my shoes on.

“Besides, I need the practice if I’m going to get anywhere near the inner court at the mating ceremony.”

I knew her well, so my last sentence did the trick.

She grabbed my arm and whispered furiously, “Be careful!”