Chapter 135: The Talk
~ODETTE’S POV~
After the training lesson, the office gave me a job offer, and I’ll come here two times a week and train these kids.
I couldn’t believe how grateful they were to have me. A vampire. Teaching their shifters to fight.
Was this even real? This kind of acceptance.
As if she were reading my mind on the drive back Raven said to me "You don’t smell like a vampire anymore. You smell different, with the familiar smell of our alpha king. It’s easier to accept the unknown here, especially easier than accepting a vampire."
"How did you know what I was thinking?" Was she reading my thoughts and feelings like my mother would? What the hell?
"No, your face just reads like an open book test. Easy as fuck." Raven teased.
It was weird hearing her tease me, instead of mocking me.
"Touche." Was my response.
"Honestly, I love seeing the two of you get along so swell." Em added from the backseat.
Raven looked in her review mirror at Em narrowing her eyes. And I busted out in a hysterical laughter.
The ride back wasn’t as awkward or quiet as the ride to the school.
"I heard the grapevine; you’re not the bitch you pretend to be." I said to Raven.
"They lied. I’m every bit the bitch I pretend to be." She sounded serious and flat, but in the corner of her mouth she had a small smirk.
"Yeah, and I’m pure as the driven snow." I equally matched her tone.
Her smile widened, just a little.
Pulling up to the palace, Em gets out first and as I’m getting out of the car raven says "Wait."
I pause and look back at her.
"I want to tell you something before you leave."
I look to Em "Hey, I’ll catch up with you inside, I’m hungry, would you mind preparing us all something to eat?"
"You are my best friend and literally my boss, of course." She chuckled walking away.
She was just so easy to be around. It was always refreshing and light.
"I’m sorry." She led the conversation with that and it stunned me.
"I’m apologizing because I have too, orders from the alpha, but also, I mean it. Only a little though." She paused glancing over.
"I... a..." Was all I could really manage as a response. I was just in shock.
"Is this a joke or are you for real right now. Cause if it’s a joke, I’m really going to pummel you."
She sighed and her shoulders dipped down, heavy from unseen burdens.
"No. Look, Lady Isabella approached me and asked if I wanted in on this whole shit show she caused. I thought about it and at first, I was going to keep it to myself and watch it play out, but I changed my mind and went to go inform Ambrose. But before I got there, the dumb bitch acted rashly and almost got herself killed. So, I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. This whole drama episode could have been avoided." Raven openly confessed.
My jaw dropped and my mouth turned into cotton.
I didn’t hear a single lie. Like she really just gave me, me of all people, the whole truth.
"Thank you."
I guess I surprised her, because her jaw dropped just a little.
"You’re thanking me?" She asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. For your honesty just now. You could have kept quiet and I would have never known the truth. But you chose honesty. I respect that. I might still hate you for all those years of humiliation. But, you’re not bad."
"What the actual fuck is wrong with you?" She asked stunned. And I know she was wondering why I wasn’t lashing out. But I guess she doesn’t know me as well as she thought she did.
"A lot. Sometimes. I think. I don’t know, you’ve met my parents. Are any of us even okay at this point?" I joked.
"You are psychologically impaired, and nothing can convince me otherwise." Raven teased again. "But... You’re not as bad as I thought you were either."
"Oh, no, I’m every bit the annoying brat you think I am." I gave her a small smile before stepping out of the car. I wanted to leave on a good note.
"Em is making lunch, if you care to come with. We’ll be in the kitchen." I shut the door, not giving her a chance to respond.
Low pressure decision. This was my olive branch to her.
After being here so long, I was walking freely among the people in the palace. No one gave me disgusting looks or sneered when I walked by. They just looked at me and nodded, acknowledging my presence. It felt strange, yet oddly satisfying.
Just a few months here have completely altered my view of the world, and even with the sadness I feel miss my family and friends. Not being able to break up with Kalvin. I was happier here than I’ve ever been before. I feel more at home here with a bunch of wolves, than I do with my own kind.
Finding Emalea moving around the servant’s kitchen making lunch for us just solidified this feeling.
My mother was the only person who did this with or for me.
But here a girl I’ve known a few months is doing something, not just because it’s her job, but because she wants too.
Tersea must not have noticed me, when she walked in from outside. She walked up to Emalea and shoved her on the ground yelling, "You think your hot shit being friends with that princess freak, you’re nothing but a servant. Know your pl..."
SLAP!
She didn’t finish her statement before I had enough and moved with speed I wasn’t even aware I had in the moment and slapped her hard across the face.
She held her cheek. Completely shocked.
"Touch my friend and talk to her like that again and I’ll whip you personally as punishment for disrespecting someone’s status who is above your station." I barked at Tersea.
"You... You..." She stuttered.
"You will get the fuck out of my face before I slap the other side to make your cheeks match. And your humiliation reeks." I didn’t hold back.
You don’t treat my friends like that. And someone like her, they enjoy abusing their station and status for increasing their power. Let her struggle with losing her place to Em.