Northern

Chapter Two

     I am awake at eight. Technically, I have the day to myself after a taxing assignment like that—Mistress always says so, which she reminded me of in the note that came with my payment for successfully completing last night’s assignment. I feel no twinge of guilt that I only completed because I made a deal with my mark. Today, I could sleep in and relax, perhaps go out to a mall and use some of my money—which I rarely spend on anything other than essentials. I really should sleep more, though; Kandace always tells me that I have permanent dark circles beneath my eyes. However, I never sleep long or well. Today is no exception.

     I pull my hair into a ponytail after changing into black running shorts and a gray tank top. All I do with my time is train—I have to work much harder than everyone else at the Hub due to my chronic, incurable condition of being human.

     After a quick breakfast eaten alone, I stretch carefully. I can’t afford to pull a muscle. I would receive no quarter from Mistress and no sympathy from the other residents here. I begin the five-kilometer course at a steady jog, which was still grueling due to the upward slope of the hill. I crest the top, my breathing still even; I’ve run this course many times. The course is tough, will many hills and uncertain footing, but I know it well.

     “I do love to watch you struggle with this.”

     I say nothing. Elsa is a dryad, and although she is fairly young by tree-people standards, she carries a lot of authority with their Counsel. She is one of Mistress’s best assassins and sees me as a threat attempting to usurp Mistress’s attentions. As if; Mistress hates me nearly as much as Elsa does.

     “I heard about last night. The mysterious Netherworld creature,” she says, “and how no one knows what it is.” She keeps pace beside me as I run, hardly out of breath. Dryads are incredibly skilled athletes, every one of them. “How did you best it?”

     I continue to ignore her, but my temper rises. There are very few beings with the ability to elicit a reaction from me, but Elsa is at the very top of that list. I have my emotions tightly under control. I truly think I hate Elsa.

     She runs faster than me just to show that she can and is waiting for me back at the start of the course, since the course is simply a large loop. My breathing is ragged and I am drenched with sweat, while Elsa’s breathing has already returned to normal. “What could you possibly want?” I gasp slightly, with a tinge of irritation in my tone.

     Elsa’s eyes—green like all dryads’ eyes –glitter with amusement. “I want to know what you did into order to get the creature here,” she says.

     “I did what I always do—I succeed.”

     She smiles knowingly, no warmth in her smile. “You’re hiding something, human child. I know you are. Just wait until I figure out what it is.”

     I meet her gaze unflinchingly. “You can search all you like,” I say offhandedly, “but you won’t find a thing.”

     We engage in a private battle of wills, neither of us willing to look away. I try my best not to blink, but my human eyes need the moisture. Finally, Elsa says stiffly, “Mistress wants to see you, by the way.” I resist the urge to sigh; I’m certain that Elsa purposely waited to tell me. Mistress hates when others keep her waiting.

     I fix my ponytail on my way to Mistress’s office, regretting the lack of time to cool down properly. If I pull a muscle, I swear I’m going to murder Elsa. Mistress sits primly in the straight-backed chair behind her desk, her sharp gray eyes fixing me in place like a snake hypnotizing its prey before it strikes. I would know—the Netherworld offers up some nasty serpents.