A Werewolf's Promise (Scarwood Chronicles #1)

Chapter 12: To Burn Is To Smoulder

"Password?"

The woman sighed before straightening up a bit more, trying to make the heavy leaning on her cane a little less obvious.

"From ashes we come, to ashes we go." she said, voice devoid of warmth.

"Very well. Welcome back, Miss Hearthstone."

The door creaked open, and the woman entered, brushing past the now-silent doorman.

"Dana! You did come after all. I'm glad you got that promotion. I always knew you would fit in with us!" a man in a dark coat jumped up, and attempted to embrace her. She pushed him off easily.

"Evening, Dr Vex. Who else is present?" she said in her usual cold manner.

Dr Vex looked a little disappointed at being brushed off at first, but his expression soon turned to one of mild amusement.

"Solaria and Klaus are here, and already comparing their kids. If I didn't know better, I would think they're an old married couple, the way they bicker. Miss Hua and Sirius were first on the scene, pretty much. They've just been brooding in silence. Oh, and Carmilla, of course, she's hosting."

"I gathered that." Dana said as they rounded the corner to the meeting room, "Well then, to another productive meeting."

Dr Vex laughed.

"You know that will never happen. But, likewise; to another productive meeting."

The two quietly took their seats, before Dr Vex, feeling the need to fill the silence, wondered aloud:

"Hmm, the boss isn't showing today? I thought he would have wanted to be here and... oh, never mind. You're here..."

His gaze lingered on a rather plain figure, dressed in drab brown clothes, and face mostly obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. The only things about it to suggest it wasn't a scarecrow was the rifle strapped to its back, and the white porcelain mask on its face. At Dr Vex's words, it lifted its head, and gave a single, slow nod.

Dr Vex looked away as quickly as possible.

"Well then, since almost everyone is here, we might as well get along with the meeting. So, I heard the new principal at Scarwood is causing a lot of stir, eh?" he said, looking expectantly at his colleagues. This statement seemed to snap a blonde woman and bearded man out of their fierce discussion.

"Calling it 'a lot of stir' would be an understatement." was the reply from the blond-haired woman, "My daughters are quite alarmed, as is the case with Klaus' son."

"Too right, Solaria." Dr Vex nodded, before quickly swivelling to the chair at the head of the table, "what about you, Carmilla? Any thoughts?"

Then he sat back, looking pleased at having finally instigating some conversation... or maybe conflict.

"I don't know what kind of response that is supposed to draw from me, but I will say this: my sister left us long ago, due to her own traitorous thoughts. If you think I have any sympathy for her or conspired with her, you are most in the wrong." Carmilla growled, taking a sip from her wine glass, before noticing its stark emptiness. With an annoyed grunt, she turned around and barked an order out into the hallway.

"Jet! More wine."

The doorman skittered away from his post, and hurried into the kitchen.

"I am sure Dr Vex was not suggesting that." Dana half-said, half-sighed, "If he was, then I would have recommended you pry a little into his... old flame."

"Do we have to bring Iggy into this?" Dr Hex now slumped forward on the desk, "Dana... you're embarrassing me..."

"Not any more than you're already embarrassing yourself."