“Hazel, I-” Rachel faltered the impatience from her previous outburst already disappearing after Hazel’s confession, “I’m sorry about snapping at you. If I’d known-”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Rachel.” Hazel said smiling at her reassuringly before she shrugged, “It was bound to happen anyway.”
Rachel smiled sheepishly at her before she brought up Gabriel, “So are you going to-”
“Hear his side of the story?” Hazel finished as she cocked her brow.
“Yeah, pretty much.” Rachel shrugged.
“It wouldn’t be fair to him if I didn’t.” Hazel reasoned before she looked back at the picturesque view, “And I don’t-”
“Want to risk your friendship?” Rachel said teasingly, “Or should I say relationship?”
Rachel couldn’t help but burst out into giggles as Hazel’s face flushed a bright red.
“Not funny guys!” Hazel whined as Phoenix joined in.
“Yes, it is.” Ace joined in as he sat beside his sister.
Hazel groaned in embarrassment as she hid her face in her hands as the twins, Phoenix, and Luna laughed at her state.
“What did I ever do to you guys?” Hazel muttered her face finally starting to cool down.
The twins looked at each other and exchanged smiles, glad that Hazel was somewhat back to normal. The five of them talked for a few more moments before Hazel’s stomach growled.
“Sorry.” Hazel said sheepishly as everyone turned to her, “I skipped breakfast.”
“Hazel that’s not healthy.” Rachel scolded her before she turned to Ace, “What time is it?”
“Nearly eight.” Ace said nervously as to what his sister would do to Hazel.
“You and Phoenix got an hour.” Rachel said as she quickly stood up, “Okay, everyone up! We’re going to the cafeteria.”
The other four only glanced at each other before Rachel folded her arms, “Well?”
“Yes ma’am.” Ace and Hazel said as Phoenix hopped off of Hazel’s lap and the two got up.
“Good.” Rachel said before she turned around and started walking to the cafeteria with the others following.
“Since when was Rachel into-” Hazel began whispering before she glanced at Rachel’s back, “tough love?”
“She’s always been like this.” Ace whispered back, “She sometimes acts like a mother when she’s like this.”
“Funny since she’s younger than either of us,” Hazel replied.
“Oh, definitely.” Ace said as they both stifled chuckles.
They only walked for a few moments before Rachel opened a pair of doors with a koala engraved on one and a bear on the other one.
‘It's less exciting than I thought.’ Hazel thought remembering the layout of The Hideout’s Mess Hall.
Like the Mess Hall’s layout, the entire hall was littered with picnic tables with a buffet table dividing the room into two.
‘That smells delicious.’ Hazel thought smiling as she smelled the aroma of the breakfast food before she turned to look at Phoenix, “What do you want boy?”
“Bacon, just bacon,” Phoenix said simply as he eyed the meat, a few meters away from them.
“Somethings never change,” Hazel said shaking her head, a smile on her face as the twins stifled their laughter with Luna rolling her eyes.
Hazel wasted no time in grabbing a plate and loading it up with egg, toast, fruit, and Phoenix’s bacon. She and the others sat down before she and Phoenix began to eat their breakfast.
“So, are we going to visit Gabriel later?” Ace asked.
“None of us have any plans, do we?” Rachel said arms folded on the table before she turned to Hazel, “What about you Hazel?”
Hazel looked at her before she swallowed the toast that was in her mouth, “Not really, unless they show us where we could train.”
“I could show you the Training Deck.” Charles said as he sat down beside Ace, “After I introduce you to Chancellor West though.”
“Why?” Ace and the girls asked, curious as to why his chancellor wanted to meet them.
“Said it had something to do with your chancellor.” Charles explained, “Didn’t say why though.”
“He’s working with Dark,” Hazel said urgently after she had quickly swallowed the food in her mouth.
“What?” Ace and Charles asked quickly before Hazel started coughing.
“Swallow slowly Hazel.” Rachel gently scolded her as she patted the purple-eyed girl on the back.
“She’s telling the truth.” Luna chirped in before the boys turned to stare at her, “Goodness did no one teach either of you that it’s rude to stare?”
“How long did you know about this?” Charles demanded.
“Since yesterday’s sunset,” Luna replied.
“And you just thought to tell me about this now!?” Charles yelled, slamming both his hands and standing up while catching the attention of the other Monster Hunters that were still in the cafeteria.
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“Need I remind you that I swore my loyalty to miss Abernathy.” Luna said haughtily, “Not to you or your chancellor.”
“Why you-” Charles began before Rachel interrupted him.
“Enough already.” Rachel said, a hard glare on her face, “Luna most probably didn’t tell us this yesterday because she knew none of us would sleep decently if we knew and from the events that happened last night, I doubt any of us would’ve been focused.”
Charles’ eyes widened shocked at Rachel’s sudden attitude change before he looked down, “My apologies Luna.”
“Apology somewhat accepted,” Luna said turning her back to the older man.
Hazel shook her head with a smile on her face before she and Phoenix finished their breakfast.
“Come on guys, don’t want to keep Chancellor West waiting,” Hazel said as she and Phoenix sat up with Luna perching on her shoulder.
“Good idea, she doesn’t like to wait for a long time,” Charles said as he and the twins stood up.
∞
“I see.” Chancellor West said quietly after Hazel, the twins, and Charles told them about the events from last night and the news Luna had given Hazel earlier that morning, “Interesting, according to my sources Ambrose Pasi has been off the grid for seven years.”
Ace’s eyes widened at that piece of information before he looked at his sister who mirrored his expression.
Chancellor West noticed their nearly unnoticeable exchange before she turned to Rachel, her piercing ice-blue eyes boring into her, “They also told me that your parents had agreed for you to be his future spouse.”
Hazel’s eyes widened at this before she gently patted Rachel’s shoulder – who sat next to her, “I’m so sorry for you.”
“Thanks, Hazel.” Rachel replied smiling a bit before she looked back at Chancellor West who sat behind her large desk, “Our parents never gave me any details of his-” Rachel paused as she thought over her words carefully, “abnormalities, or anything about him really. The only information they gave either of us about him was that he belonged to a powerful family.”
“Interesting.” Chancellor West muttered as she furrowed her brows, “You said that your friend was Ambrose’s younger brother.”
“Yes.” Ace said slowly nodding, “Why?”
“If it doesn’t bother you, do you mind if you ask him about his brother?” Chancellor West asked.
“I don’t know.” Rachel admitted sheepishly, “He seemed pretty angry at him.”
“Well, there’s someone he might open up to.” Ace said turning to the girl who sat across from him.
Hazel furrowed her brows before she pointed to herself, “Me?”
“Who else?” Ace replied, “He usually spills his entire heart and soul to you.”
“He-” Hazel began.
“Yes, he does, don’t even deny it.” Ace interrupted her, “Not to mention he still owes you an explanation.”
“I really have no choice, do I?” Hazel said before she sighed after seeing the twins nod, “Fine, I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Abernathy.” Chancellor West said smiling at her before she stood up, “You and your friends may leave now, I will see you all in the infirmary later.”
Hazel and the twins nodded before they, Phoenix, and Luna left the room, leaving the two older hunters to themselves. Once Chancellor West was certain that they were all out of hearing range she deeply sighed, catching the attention of her inferior.
“Is there something wrong Chancellor?” Charles asked as he stood up from the armchair he was previously sitting on and walked up to her desk, “Last time you acted like this The Hideout was attacked and we almost had to engage.”
Chancellor West furrowed her brows as she stared at the various maps and other important papers littered on top of her desk, “Joseph Nevermore turning traitor, Ambrose Pasi resurfacing, these can’t just be some minor coincidences. It has to be connected somehow.”
“Forgive me if I speak out of term Chancellor but I feel like you’re grasping at strings.” Charles said truthfully, “It almost seems like you’re trying to piece together two entirely different events.”
“Martinez you have exactly three seconds to be quiet before I make you quiet myself.” Chancellor West said threateningly as she glared at the man.
Charles only nodded in turn with the signs of a small smile on his face. The man’s smile didn’t go unnoticed by the white-haired woman though instead of threatening him again she only let out a small chuckle.
“So can I talk now?” Charles asked in a joking manner.
“I need you to watch them.” Chancellor West said looking at the man.
“Again?” Charles asked.
“I don’t know why but I feel like those three and the half-blood are the center of all this.” Chancellor West said choosing to ignore Charles’ question before she once again glared at the man, “And that was an order.”
Charles let out a low groan before the woman gave an even harsher glare – if that was even possible.
“Do you want to repeat that Martinez?” Chancellor West asked coldly.
“No ma’am.” Charles replied before he let out an empty sigh, “Is it alright if I leave now? I told Ms. Abernathy that I would show her where the Training Deck is.”
“Very well then.” Chancellor West said before Charles bowed slightly and walked out of the room.
∞
“Gabriel is a what!?” Abbey and Eve exclaimed in surprise after Matthew had told them the previous events of last night from Carla and Eliza.
“He’s a werewolf.” Cairo said thoughtfully, “A werewolf hybrid that can shift into two wolf forms.”
Kade then turned to his older brother, “Have you seen or heard anything like that?”
The white-haired boy folded his arms, furrowed his brows, and smiled nervously, “I want to say yes but then I would be lying.”
Matthew only stayed silent as he sat down on one of the armchairs in the library as Abbey, Cairo, Eve, James, and Kade talked.
‘Why didn’t he tell me about this?’ Matthew thought as he massaged his forehead, “Why are all these things happening?”
“Is something wrong?” A voice asked making them all jump, “Calm down everyone, it’s just me.”
They all turned to where the voice was coming from and tensed when they saw Chancellor Nevermore standing there.
“Eve, shouldn’t you be getting ready for tomorrow?” Chancellor Nevermore asked turning to look at his niece, “Your mother’s excited to see you again.”
Eve glanced at the others before saying in a nervous tone, “I-I was just saying bye to the others.”
Chancellor Nevermore stared at her for a moment before he cracked a smile, “Alright then. Just don’t take too long.”
“Okay,” Eve replied after letting out the breath she was holding.
Chancellor Nevermore gave her one last smile, excused himself, and left the room, leaving the other Monster Hunters to let out the breaths they were holding.
“That was close.” Abbey sighed before Kade nodded in agreement.
∞
Letting out a sigh Chancellor Nevermore sat down behind his desk with his brows furrowed.
“Something’s going on with those six.” Chancellor Nevermore muttered before a figure emerged from the shadows of the room.
“Perhaps they’re catching on.” The figure suggested as it traced its fingers along the various books in the room.
The figure was entirely made up of shadows and had a strong resemblance to Chancellor Nevermore, but what was most interesting about this figure were the two white glowing orbs where its eyes would’ve been.
“Why would you think that Voss?” Chancellor Nevermore asked.
“Don’t play dumb with me Joseph.” Voss warned, “You and I both know that Monster Hunters from The Hideout are the most skilled out of all the Monster Hunting posts. It wouldn’t really come as a surprise if they found out about your deal with Max Dark.”