First Lesson

The morning air carried the scent of rain and something else— wild and dangerous that made Isabella's newly awakened senses prickle with awareness. She had barely slept, her mind churning with questions that seemed to multiply with each passing hour.

Elena sat across from her at the kitchen table, methodically stirring honey into her tea. The old woman moved with deliberate precision, as if every gesture had meaning beyond the obvious.

"Your first lesson begins now," Elena said without looking up. "Tell me what you smell."

Isabella inhaled deeply, surprised by how much more she could detect than just days before. "Coffee, bacon, honey, your lavender soap, and..." she paused, concentrating, "something metallic. Like blood, but not quite."

"Good. The metallic scent is silver. Damien had weapons cleaned and blessed last night." Elena finally met Isabella's eyes. "What else?"