“On the contrary, it’s not every day that Casper meets a lovely human.” A woman’s voice rang out from the door, signaling the arrival of someone else. “Do lighten up a little or else you’ll scare them off.”

Hannah blinked and glanced away to see a woman cautiously poke her head out of the door… as if still trying to check the atmosphere and safety of the world. She had beautiful long brown hair cascading down like silky waves, and gorgeous green eyes.

This newcomer looked at the end of the bat in the Vampire’s grip and followed the line of the wooden weapon up to Hannah’s hand and blinked once. Startled, probably. However, this woman still stepped out of the door with a pleasant smile on her face. She then touched the grouchy man’s shoulder as if the creature of the night wouldn’t just snap her hand off.

“Well, you know what they say, a little violence doesn’t hurt much, right, Louis?”

The creature of the night, who now had a name, sighed heavily and tossed the woman an unappreciative look. It clearly said it wasn’t the time for any jokes. Now that he wasn’t off to make Hannah leave with his hypnotic voice and gaze, it was clear to her that he was rather uninterested in the particular plight of her.

Or anyone except of his own, really.

“It doesn’t matter how you phrase it, I’d rather not welcome this individual into the establishment.”

“Nonsense!” The woman frowned at him.

“There is nothing nonsensical about exercising precaution,” Louis said crisply. “While we might have to interact with them on occasion, letting one of them visit is a bad idea. I do not understand why you wish to let… this particular one inside.”

“I’m quite sure that she has a name.” The woman glanced at Hannah then whispered into the man’s ear. “Uh, you don’t happen to know her name, do you?”

“Did you think that I would ask?” Louis raised a brow. “It does not concern me.”

If there was any lingering gratitude Hannah had towards him for saving her life again, well, she was glad that she didn’t get a chance to say it. The smile on her lips was frozen, and one of her eyes twitched. This guy was lucky that he was currently holding onto the bat, or she would have smacked him for real this time.

He was acting as if she wasn’t right here!

Hannah could hear everything he was saying… and perhaps he was intentionally saying it aloud to spite her. If it weren’t for the fact that she was currently in the face of beings who could probably kill her in a heartbeat? She would have harangued him for his blatant racism.

Compared to how this man treated Hannah as if she was nothing more but an insect he’d rather not deal with… he talked with the other woman politely and respectfully, though.

Double standards, Hannah could see it as clear as day.

Luckily for her, however, this woman seemed to be taking her side because of the black cat that Hannah totally did save.

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“You’re being quite judgemental,” the woman sighed at her friend.

“You weren’t there to see it, but from the moment I opened the door, she quickly set out to attack me,” he said. “If that doesn’t set out as a good example as to why we shouldn’t let her in, then you’ve grossly underestimated their capacity for trouble.”

The woman shook her head and patted the man’s shoulder idly. “I’m sure that the two of you have gotten on the wrong foot… so let me rectify that situation immediately. I give my greetings to you, human.”

Hannah, who seconds ago, was a spectator in the interaction of these two gorgeous people squabbling, now had the woman’s complete and undivided attention to her. Great. Just what she wanted.

It was forever since she actually had to be placed in a social setting and she was more used to being ignored even back then. She bit back down a gulp and nodded in greeting.

The woman’s eyes lit up at her reaction before she smiled warmly. “Ah, now there’s that wariness I’ve been expecting. Perchance I could get your name?”

“Oh it’s—”

“Also, do let me clarify that I did not mean getting your name for myself, if that is what you’re worried about.”

Hannah’s eyes bulged. What did she just say?

“Are you just a bit tongue-tied?” The woman tilted her head and covered the man’s face with her hand. “Or perhaps this man is frightening you with his gaze. If so, do ignore the man behind me. He means no harm.”

He lowered the woman’s hand and gruffly spoke.

“Do not speak for me.”

“Well, don’t scare her off, Louis.”

Hannah thought she was talkative, but this woman was on another level. If Louis already gave her vibes of someone dangerous, this woman was also enough to make her uneasy. Not to mention that she was pretty in ways that made Hannah all more aware of how unkempt she probably looked.

Still, Hannah had her pride, so she needed to say something! This woman said something about letting Hannah in their establishment, right? This was her chance to get inside of the building—which actually did seem like a good thing—because it had lights!

It meant electricity, and probably an actual functioning toilet?!

Hannah shouldn’t mess up her future!

And yet the look on Louis’ face as his gaze narrowed imperceptibly on her made her tongue go limp. As if Hannah ended up consuming an entire tub of toffee chocolate ice cream on a whim just to see how much she could talk while eating them and only found herself with a sore throat.

Dang it, now she suddenly missed ice cream.

Hannah shook her head, directed her gaze to the woman, and she went for a smile. Or tried her best to go, for one. She wasn’t particularly happy and so she was sure that it wasn’t the best of smiles.

Not to mention that she was more bothered than anything.

“Oh, yeah, er, well, you can call me Hannah…?”

Yes, Hannah was the master conversationalist as usual. Give her ten points to her Charm stat because she had it in spades. She was tempted to lie, actually, but then what if these folks could tell between lies and truth?

She’d rather not risk it.

“Charmed.” The woman smiled and curtsied. “My name is Agatha. I do apologize for my friend here. I’m afraid that he’s a lot more hissy compared to Casper, as you may know. Then again, it’s not too often that my familiar takes a liking to somebody else…”

Hannah knew that she was supposed to say something to that, but she couldn’t help but pick out a few details about Agatha that called out to her. Compared to the man who saved Hannah, this beautiful woman was dressed differently.

The Vampire appeared like someone who worked at a nightclub and had modern fashion taste, whereas this woman was dressed differently. It seemed like she was born at a different period of time. Well, she might have appeared closer to a nun, but the way her dark robes were fashioned loosely across her body and the way she spoke made Hannah think of something else entirely.

“A… Witch?”

Hannah muttered underneath her breath that she was shocked when Agatha clapped her hands all of a sudden. She nearly dropped her bat in fear as the woman came up to her. There was a gleam in her brilliant green eyes that now touched a shade of jade underneath the low lightning.

“Precisely!” Agatha said and beamed at Hannah as if she discovered the secret to life.

“If the two of you are truly going to converse.” Louis said at last, with far more reluctance in his voice. “I think it would be far better to do it inside instead of out here at the door, Witch Agatha.”