Hybrid

The Devil Among Us

Maria

"We don't have to transfer you to a new school. We have enough hunters in that building to keep you safe," My father explained.

"I would rather just go somewhere else," I sighed.

"Let me call one of the hunters we brought in and I can try to arrange for him to walk you around for a while until you're out of the building," My father offered.

"I can't just stay home until then?" I asked.

"It could take a while to get you into a new school, so no."

I stomped my feet and groaned like a small child throwing a tantrum. I was frustrated, and I knew it was stupid, but I did it anyway. I heard a timer going off, so I stopped acting like a fool and went into the kitchen to help my mother with dinner.

"So," My mother said, serving the food, "It seems like you need to make some new friends."

"I liked my old friends," I complained.

"They're not friends anymore, now are they," My father corrected me.

"Mom!" I said, getting excited, "Did I tell you about the play we were doing in school?"

"No, honey, you didn't."

"I had gotten one of the lead parts." I beamed up at her from my seat at the table, "It's just for one class, and I don't think it's going to go well, but maybe you can come."

"Well, you're transferring, so what does that mean for you?" She asked, distracted by her task.

"Oh, I wasn't thinking about that," I said.

She sat down and my father said a small prayer before we ate.

"I invited the hunter over to introduce you before school tomorrow," My father said.

"Tomorrow?" I groaned.

"Yes. Education is important and so is the law." My father shook his head at me.

"I haven't actually needed to follow the law in a long time. I miss it a little," I laughed.

"I would prefer you don't talk about that," My father said.

"You want me not to talk about my life?" I asked, getting defensive.

"Not that part at least."

"Being a wolf was an extremely big part of my life, and I know it makes you uncomfortable, but that's who I was," I bit back.

Silence fell over the table and my father tapped his foot anxiously.

"It seems like that's who you want to be," He replied.

"It's a little late for that now isn't it?" I frowned.

There was a knock at the door and my father welcomed the hunter into the house, leading him to the table.

"Hey Maria," Jophiel greeted me.

"No."

"Honey, don't be rude," My mother chastised me.

"I won't go anywhere with him," I said.

"He has classes with you. The other hunters we have don't. You'll have to put up with it for a while." My father pat Joe on the shoulder. 

"No."

"Don't talk back to your father, Maria," My mother said. 

"Did he tell you he's my ex-boyfriend," I said.

"He did, but he also says that he doesn't want you to get hurt, and if he can put that aside, so can you," My father said.

"We broke up for a reason," I said through clenched teeth.