Feral

7 ⇞ Diner Rats

This establishment is on neutral grounds.

Leave all conflict outside.

Violators will be revoked privileges for the Diner,

the Bar, and the Bakery.

Nadia didn't fully understand why a simple diner would have the authority to so boldly declare themselves neutral territory, but she liked the simplicity of the sign at the entrance. It told her this wasn't a place that tolerated pretenses and the complicated speak she so often had to mull over. This clean diner did seem like a terrible place to hold a hostile meeting, however—not that she was a qualified judge of such things. Still, Nadia couldn't say she didn't like it. The cheery waitress had even given her a seat with a clear view of the place and easy access to the exit. She was almost sure it had been on purpose, the young woman smelled too much like lightning. The twins smelled the exact same way when they used their abilities, though the waitress's scent was slightly different, like she was a similar flavor of candy.

Nadia suspected the waitress's actions would be the only bright spot of this entire meeting once the representatives from the shifter den arrived. She hoped the cheery woman would check on them frequently. If only so Nadia could find something to keep herself from doing something stupid.

Because she had no clue what to expect from the next few hours.

And she was itching to feel the ground beneath her bare feet.

The door was right there. They couldn't dream of catching her if she ran now. It would be so, so easy.

"Here you go," the waitress piped up, unexpectedly stopping at their rather large table. She placed a pitcher of what Nadia thought might be hot water, packets of something that smelled like dried plants, and a cup in front of her. "Prep the tea how you'd like miss, it's on the house! As for the fang-y three here, Renny is grabbing blood from the bar. If any of you want to suggest we poisoned something, you're free to leave or interrupt your elder's busy schedule!"

Having caught the scent of cinnamon, Nadia was already opening the packets—she'd belatedly realized they were bagged tea leaves, something she'd only ever heard of—when the waitress made that casual declaration. It took everything she had not to snicker at the abhorrent looks on both Jane's and the head guard's faces. The look on Marcel's face, however, allowed her to sober up fast. It was the exact look he gave the people sent to her. A polite smile ruined by the odd way his muddy blood eyes refracted the light. It was like they went orange.

"No need to worry, young miss, we would never accuse such a welcoming establishment of such crude things," Marcel said calmly, acting every inch the kind sire he tricked his spies to believe him to be.

It made Nadia sick to even hear the placating tone of his voice. The waitress must have agreed because her smile was sharp. "Standard warning we give to all the vampires, we don't aim to hurt anyone's pride here. All we care about is serving good food. Now then, will you need anything else before the blood arrives?"

"No, we will be fine." Marcel's answer was said in the same sickening tone but she caught the notes of withheld rage.

After Nadia's new favorite person left them with a smile that plainly said she could care less about hurting Marcel's feelings, she resumed opening the packet of tea. The task would keep her mind off the doubts circling her thoughts. The tea itself would keep her calm, the smell of cinnamon enough to tell her that. If she kept her cup filled throughout the meeting and kept what little she'd learned close, Nadia would make it through. She had to, not for herself or for Tessa's last request, but for the twins.