Chapter 9: Girls in Love

The group of ten hunters filed out of the tavern and grouped near Rosaline’s carriage. “We’ll arrive at Glendon by tomorrow,” she announced.

“It took us a fair bit longer than that to arrive here, Lady Rosaline,” Baron informed her.

With a sly, fanged grin, Rosaline held her hand up and removed the concealing magic that hid the horses’ true nature. “Pegasi from Greece,” she announced. “Not to worry, we won’t feel a thing while traveling in the carriage. Climb aboard.”

Everyone settled in the parlour while the Golem maids followed, carrying their confiscated equipment. “It’s bigger on the inside,” Calem observed. “Must be nice to be a vampire noble.”

“There are as many perks as there are responsibilities, especially given my position as a High Inquisitor,” Rosaline explained.

“Oh man, a High Inquisitor? Just how close were we to dying?” Juliet complained while eating a cookie.

“Close, either at my hand or the mana cores,” Rosaline answered. “Now, what do you know of your drivers? I’d like to find them first.”

“They’re new to the clan and friends with a traveling hunter that’s advising our leader, Gerald,” Baron explained.

“They had us hide in the carriages until they let us out on that trail to the castle. We thought it was so you wouldn’t spot us. Now we know it was all a deception,” Diana added.

“You wouldn’t have been able to get a good look at Colchester from the trail,” Rosaline concluded. “Well, you have free rein of the carriage except the storage room, and my room, naturally. The maids will be on hand to serve your meals. Just mind of your manners, they’re combat maid golems.”

With that, Rosaline left for her room while Baron evenly divided the remaining rooms amongst his hunters. They dispersed to relax and enjoy the accommodations as much as they could. It was rare for a group of hunters to enjoy such luxuries.

Diana and Juliet went to relax in their room. Clair brought a tower of snacks and a tray of tea for them to enjoy. Juliet sat on the large bed and leaned back against the headboard. “Wow. Her magic carriage rooms look better than any room I’ve ever been in. I think it’s bigger than our living room.” She marveled at the furniture, the sofa, chairs, tables, and the artwork that highlighted the owner’s refined and expensive taste.

“Yeah…” Diana absentmindedly agreed as she looked over a bookcase.

Juliet raised an eyebrow. “Diana, we’ve known one another since birth. Be honest with me: what happened last night?”

Diana quickly turned to her. “Nothing happened!”

“Something definitely happened,” Juliet stated. “Forget the hunter laws, it’s just the maid and us here, and I’ll go to war with the clan if they try to arrest you.”

Diana looked at her empty tea cup. “That’s the point, hunters don’t consort with monsters. I’d be exiled at best, and imprisoned at worst. You know that.”

Juliet moved to the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to her. Her friend sat beside her and didn’t struggle when Juliet held her close. “Yeah, that’s the rule, and it’s an open secret that it’s the rule most hunters break.”

Diana looked away and sighed. “Yeah, I know. My cousin ran off with a werewolf a while ago. He still sends letters.”

“See? It’s no grand sin to recognize that hunters and monsters have a lot in common. It’s why hunters work with organizations like the Shadow Inquisition.”

Diana gave her an annoyed look. “There’s a difference.”

Juliet smirked in reply. “I’ve seen how you two look at one another. Baron and the others saw it, too. It’s okay to admit that you have feelings for her.”

“Whatever feelings I may or may not have don’t matter. Rosaline is just having fun, nothing more.”

“I highly doubt that, but you can ask her just to be sure.”

“What?!” Diana’s eyes widened in surprise. She shook her head. “I…don’t know. I’ve never been in a relationship before, and she’s a vampire. We were raised and trained to hunt her kind. It’s…confusing.”

“That’s normal. It’s fine to be confused,” Juliet assured her. “Now, go talk to your vampire lover already.” Juliet playfully pushed at her friend.

“She’s not my lover!” Diana barked as she stood up and set her cup on the nearby table.

“Not yet~.” Juliet teased her.

“Shut up!” Diana stormed out of the room.

Clair approached Juliet and refilled her teacup. “You’re a very kind friend.”

“Why, thank you.” Juliet sipped the fresh tea.

“You’re not very kind to yourself, however.”

“Hmm?”

Clair set the teapot aside. “You have feelings for Ms. Diana. Rather than win her for yourself, you would push her into the arms of another,” she observed. “You’re kind to her, but not to yourself.”

Juliet’s cheeks were tinged with red. “Don’t tell her,” she pleaded. Her entire demeanor changed. “She’s my first love. Really, my only love. I was always too scared to find out how she felt because I was afraid it would ruin our friendship.” Juliet scoffed. “I discover that she likes women because she fell for another woman. Just my luck.”

“It is not too late to win her heart, Ms. Juliet. Perhaps you should go after her, if only to tell her the truth.”

Juliet smirked at her. “Says the maid who’s in the same position: in love with the girl she’s pushing into the arms of another.”

“My situation is quite different, you see. Lady Rosaline knows how I feel.”

Juliet was surprised. “And? What happened?”

“I will tell you only after you tell Ms. Diana how you feel.”

“You know,” Juliet quickly grabbed Clair’s wrist, a devilish smirk across her lips. “I’ve always wanted to take a maid to bed.”

Diana lingered outside of Rosaline’s room. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out the friends who merrily talked near a roaring fireplace. She raised her hand to knock, but she retreated right before her knuckles could touch the wood.

“How long are you going to make me wait, Diana?” Rosaline called from inside, startling the poor hunter.