Headmistress' Office

After learning a bit more about where some of my classes are located and receiving a map of the property, we headed down from the roof to Headmistress Nacht's Office.

Since Javier bit me, I have been a whirlwind of emotions and my thoughts have been a jumbled mess. So much has been out of my control, that I have been trying to go with the flow of the river, rather than against it. I have been taking the changes in strides, and have been uncharacteristically quiet, but my brain is starting to catch up and I knows I need to start asking the tough questions.

The Headmistress leads me into her office and Ryker tells me he will wait in the front room for me to finish. When the door that closes behind us, separating me from Ryker and leaving me alone with the Headmistress, I can feel anger already pebbling under my skin.

I turn to Headmistress Nacht with my hackles raised, and her spine stiffens before she faces me. I can't control the anger I am feeling, and the air thickens in tension because of it.

"Please," she says as she motions for me to take a seat in front of her long, dark wood desk. When I don't move, she says with authority, "Sit".

A heavy pressure settles on my shoulders as her command bounces inside of my head. When the command takes root, the pressure is relieved and my feet are moving without any conscious thought.

I sit down in the chair and my eyebrows furrow in confusion.

The Headmistress sits elegantly in front of me, and gives me a sad smile.

"I'll start with a few explanations first". She tells me. "What you just felt is a command from an alpha. Since you have not chosen one, you are susceptible to any alpha command. And only the strongest among us are given the responsibility of becoming an alpha. The moon chooses us, and we are recognized by the council that oversees both factions of werewolves, Ponoćni Savet, or the Midnight Council. You will learn more about the Savet and its authority soon".

I pull my gaze from her and explore the office around me. Dark wood is used throughout the office and contrasts well with some of the white trinkets that decorate the space. There are also some dark green and dark purple ferns that litter the space, giving a feeling of a rainforest at night. She has good taste.

My gaze travels to a bookcase where a silver book holds my attention for a few moments before moving on. I almost feel a hum coming from the book, but with all the other strange things happening to me, I shrug it off.

She pulls two glasses from her desk and pulls out an elongated glass container that is shaped like a wine bottle but is clear in color. She pours the milky purple liquid into the two glasses and hands one of the drinks to me.

Headmistress Nacht winks at me and tells me, "It's a tincture. Just some harmless herbs."

I grab the glass and raise it to sniff the contents, and it smells lovely. I can distinguish notes of chamomile, nettle, honey and milk. I take a sip, and it tastes as divine as it smells. I relax as soon as it hits my system.

"When you were bitten," the Headmistress begins, "I assume you were upset. Perhaps even angry?"

I give her an unimpressed look. Upset doesn't begin to describe how I was feeling at that time.

"I was furious," I tell her. "I was in a rage".

She nods. "Understandably so. However, I need to talk to you about the implications of that moment, that goes beyond the bite. When someone is bitten, the emotions they are experiencing at that time will have repercussions throughout their time as a nipper. The stronger an emotion is, the more it will impact you. Since nowadays bites...usually happen in a loving environment, that emotion will be heightened for that wolf. The more love they felt, the more loving and in search of love the nipper will be." She clears her throat awkwardly. "For Javier, he was bitten during a moment of intimacy. In his case, he will experience a heightened sense of sensuality and will be driven towards carnal pleasures."

I remember Javier telling me that what happened was out of his control - it was instinct. Could that be true?

"So, what you are saying is...that Javier really couldn't control himself?"

She tilts her head back and forth in a noncommittal gesture. "Sort of. He was certainly in control of himself when he was bitten. He made the choice to have sex with a she-wolf, and when she offered the bite, he accepted it of clear mind. After that, however, it is likely that he is struggling with control."

"In my case..."

The Headmistress gives me a serious look. "In your case, you were feeling anger. And by the way you described it, you were in a fit of rage, and possibly violence."

"And those...those feelings will..."

She nods her head slowly. "Yes, Layla. During your time here, it is likely you will be easy to anger and will be quick to jump to violence. You will have to work extra hard to control your temper".

"I don't feel angry now, though. Tense, but not angry." I tell her.

"Yes, you were angry when we walked into the office and the tea I gave you helped calm you down". She says.

"Other than that first moment when we walked in here, I haven't felt angry since...since my house. Javier had broken into my room, and I was ready to lash out in violence. I had so much rage. But then Ryker was there, and I have been fine since".

She stares at me for a long moment in consideration before he stare turns distracted. "Interesting". She murmurs, while plucking her bottom lip between two fingers.

"What is interesting?"

Her gaze refocuses on me and she grins. "Oh, don't mind me! I was just thinking about something. Well, we will be keeping a close eye on your emotions to make sure that nothing gets out of hand".

"Okay...." I say slowly. It seems she doesn't want to share that last thought with me. "You mentioned earlier that there are two factions of werewolves?" I ask Headmistress Nacht.

"Nestati, or the Waning Moon faction, and Vosak, the Waxing Moon faction. Nippers from both factions attend here, so you will come to see the differences and similarities between them. One of the physical differences and quickest way to identify the faction a werewolf belongs to are the eyes. When the werewolf comes to the surface, and the person is ready to shift, their eyes will either glow a yellowish gold color if they are Nestati, or a icy blue if they are Vosak."

A pair of wild, yellow eyes flash in my mind.

"Javier's eyes...he is Nestati?"

"That is correct. Which now makes you a Nestati as well".