Page 121 of Halfblood Deceived

With that, and a friendly smile at Aella, he left.

“Is it best if I refer to you as Lady Kamilla?” Aella asked.

Kamilla shook her head, waving an inviting hand at one of the fancy black leather chairs across from her desk. “Please, don’t. I’ve spent almost fifty years trying to get Dyson to call me by my name. Only my employees and citizens call me by that title. You are my friend, so you can call me as you wish.”

Aella bit her lip to quell the burning in her eyes. “Okay.” She cleared her throat. “I, um. Diana mentioned you were short-staffed, and that you were needing a hostess. So, I was wondering if you would have me. I have no work experience, and no formal education, but I have done chores since I can remember, so it can’t be that hard. I would understand if you said no, of course. I’m sure there are others more qualified.” Aella’s stomach knotted. “I’m doing this wrong, aren’t I? I’m supposed to talk about things that I’m good at, not everything that’s wrong with me and how bad—”

Kamilla lifted a hand. “Aella. Take a deep breath, dear. You have the job already. I just wanted to talk to you.”

Aella obeyed, breathing deeply and blinking at Kamilla. “B-but you don’t know if I’ll be bad at it. Or if I’ll make the others uncomfortable.”

Kamilla’s brow furrowed. She stood to get something from the small cooler by the right side of her desk. As always, she was clad in a dress that fitted her like a second skin and heels. Her pale legs were endless and perfect. “Why would you make the others uncomfortable?” she asked as she handed Aella a bottle of lemonade, and sat again, opening a bottle of water for herself.

“I’m a gargoyle.” Aella opened her lemonade and took a few gulps. “Admittedly, I’m a pathetic gargoyle. I can’t even shift. But after learning what my kind has done to supernaturals, I can understand why they would hate me. I can’t even blame Chloe and Cassidy for wanting to kill me.”

Kamilla drummed her red, perfectly manicured nails on the desk. Oddly, the ones in the middle and forefinger of her left hand were very blunt, unlike the others that had sharpened points. “There is a lot to unpack there. Let’s start with the most important thing. You are not pathetic. You should not insult yourself. There are plenty of arseholes out there who will call you horrible names. So try to be kind to yourself.”

Aella drank more of her lemonade to try to swallow the lump in her throat, but no such luck. Kamilla’s advice was the complete opposite of what she’d heard all her life. You should be embarrassed of yourself. You are nothing. You’re pathetic. You disgust me. She’d heard that nearly every day for over twenty years, and even more recently. She couldn’t promise to stop being unkind to herself, just like that. But Kamilla didn’t ask her to, her shrewd gaze loaded with understanding.

“And you absolutely can blame those two idiots for trying to kill you.” Kam let out a frustrated breath. “Chloe and Cassidy had a very difficult life before coming here. They were running from the gargoyles’ brutality like many more of my citizens. But that’s no excuse to hurt someone who wouldn’t hurt them. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t go around destroying every church and gargoyle I lay eyes upon. I’ve only ever destroyed people who have hurt me, mine, or innocents. That’s one of the rules we live by around here: never harm unless it’s in self-defense or to protect someone who needs it. If people defy that rule, they’ll pay for it. Prejudice and hatred aren’t good excuses for violence.”

Aella nodded. That she could agree with. She wouldn’t hurt someone ever again unless it was to protect herself or someone who needed it.

That reminded her she still needed to apologize to Zeydan for stabbing him.

“So the job is yours if you want it, and for as long as you want it,” Kamilla announced. “You’ll have to sign a contract detailing some privacy rules and granting you some benefits like health services, a bank account, and pension, of course.”

Aella felt giddy with excitement and nervousness. “I want the job. Thank you.”

Kamilla smiled. “You are welcome.” She stretched a pen and a stack of papers toward Aella. “You can take your time to read them…”

Aella skimmed the three sheets of paper full of black ink and signed her name in all the right places in less than two minutes. “When can I start?”

“Today if you wish.” Kamilla gave her a probing glance, her topaz eyes intense. “Is that alright, or do you want to have one more night of freedom?”

Aella immediately shook her head. “No. The last thing I need is more time alone with my thoughts.” She bit her tongue, feeling exposed, but there was no surprise in Kam’s eyes, only something like knowing sadness. “Diana told you about what I tried to do, didn’t she?”

Kamilla shook her head. “No, I had a vision.”

Aella blinked. “A vision?”

“I’m a vampire witch,” Kamilla said with a rueful smile. “My mother was a very powerful witch. Kerian and I inherited many of her gifts. My premonition and psychic skills aren’t even half as mighty as Mother’s were. I can rarely use them to stop bad things from happening, for instance. The more I try to hone my sight for a purpose, the murkier it gets, and I can only see flashes of events from those closest to me. But I saw you standing at the edge of a cliff. I felt your pain.” Her throat bobbed. “I am very glad you decided to stay with us, Aella.”

Aella felt hot and cold with shame. She hadn’t decided to stay. A supernatural, giant wolf who seemed to understand her better than anyone, and cared about her for some mysterious reason, had persuaded her to live.

“I wasn’t glad at first,” Aella admitted. “But I think I am now. There are things I want to do.”

Kamilla reached out a hand and grasped Aella’s. Her touch was warm and soothing, as always. “I am here if you want to talk, alright? In fact, we can meet every day half an hour before your shift starts and talk for a while. Would you like that?”

Part of Aella wanted to refuse, but the gaping abyss inside her remained as deep and dark as ever. The wolf and her sister’s embrace had dulled its sharp edges. But It was only a matter of time before it devoured her again. Unless she did something about it.

“Alright,” Aella agreed. “I would appreciate that.”

Kamilla patted her hand. “Good. Your uniform is waiting in the bathroom if you still want to start today.”

Aella chewed on the inside of her lip. Leaving the comfort of her soft hoodie was more nerve-wracking than she anticipated.

“You can keep the hoodie if you wish,” Kamilla said, perceptive as always.

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