When I arrived at Headmistress Vale’s office, she was already walking out. I had been running across campus and came to her panting heavily.
"I’m sorry I’m late," I said breathlessly, still trying to catch my breath. "I just woke up and—"
"No time for your excuses, Riggs. Let’s go," she cut me off sharply, already striding toward the parking lot.
We walked briskly to her car and drove for about ten minutes through a part of campus I’d never seen before, arriving at a beautiful house that looked like upscale staff quarters. The building was elegant and well-maintained, with manicured gardens.
When we arrived, two women were already waiting inside the house. Both of them wore face masks and the same slate-grey uniforms. They didn’t greet us. They just rose to their feet and bowed quietly to Vale.
"This is the girl," Vale told the women. "Transform her. I want her to be unforgettable, yet a face that is difficult to remember. Can you do that?"
"Good," Vale nodded, then turned to look at me. "Do whatever they ask you to do. No questions."
I couldn’t even form the question when she turned and walked up the stairs, leaving me alone with the masked women.
I turned to the women, suddenly feeling a spike of anxiety shoot through me. They looked harmless enough, but what did Vale mean by the transformation? What was she trying to communicate to them?
One of the older-looking women came towards me, took my hand, and led me into a room off the hallway.
It had pale grey walls, a glowing vanity, and an adjacent bathroom where the tub was already filling up. Steam rose from the surface, carrying floral and spiced scents of lavender, bergamot, rosewood, and something woodsy I couldn’t place.
Without saying a word, she began undressing me. She unbuttoned my shirts, unzipped my pants, and proceeded to remove the binding across my chest and the extra layers of singlets I’d worn to hide my peeking nipple.
When she was done, I stood naked before the woman.
Then, still silent, she gently guided me to an adjoining bathroom. The tub smelled incredible, even better up close now from the room. They had added what seemed like dozens of essential oils and bath salts, filling the air with an intoxicating floral scent.
I sank into the warm, fragrant water, trying not to moan from the sheer bliss of finally getting a bath after several weeks. As the essence soaked through my skin, she rubbed a rough sponge along my arms, legs, collarbones and even behind my ears.
After that, I was taken to the shower and bathed with fragrant soaps that felt expensive and left my skin so soft. She also gave me a thorough pedicure and manicure, and then slathered my entire body with oils that made my skin gleam like silk.
After the bath treatments, she led me to a vanity mirror where the second woman began working on my appearance. She fitted me with a long, flowing wig of lustrous brown hair that cascaded past my shoulders—then brushed the curls until they glistened.
Then she proceeded to apply my makeup. Light foundation, glowing highlighter, smoky eyes, perfectly contoured cheekbones, and lips painted a deep red that made them look fuller and more sensual.
When she stood back, I almost didn’t recognise the girl who stared back.
The woman who had bathed me went to the wardrobe and pulled out a shimmering black gown.
I stood silently as they helped me into the gown. By the time they finished, my heart sank. The dress could barely be called a dress. It fitted every part of my curves like a second skin and was so short that it stopped just below my bottom.
The neckline plunged so deep, exposing my cleavage, clinging only to my nipples for support.
"Are you serious? This...This is what you’re dressing me in?" I blurted out.
I caught the gaze of both women in the mirror, but they didn’t say a word; they just kept staring at me blankly.
"I can’t wear this," I protested, looking at myself in the mirror with horror. "This is practically nothing!"
The older woman replied in a clipped, professional tone, "This is the dress that was specifically made for you. There are no alternatives."
"But I’m practically naked! Surely there’s something more... appropriate? At least something that covers more."
"There’s nothing we can do, miss. You will wear what has been given and without complaints."
Before I could protest further, the door of the room opened and Headmistress Vale entered the room. She paused in the doorway, looking extremely pleased with the transformation.
"You’re a beautiful girl, Charis," she said with genuine admiration. "You would have had all the boys at Ravenshore fighting for your attention. Such a shame you chose to be a boy instead."
"I feel naked in this dress," I complained, tugging uselessly at the hem. "Can’t I wear something that covers more?"
Vale rolled her eyes with impatience.
"Oh, please, don’t start whining now. The dress feels uncomfortable now, but I assure you, you’ll get used to it after a few more minutes. Beauty requires sacrifice, and tonight you need to look stunning."
"I don’t think I want to look stunning , ma’am."
"Well, no one asked," she said sweetly. "Let’s go, we’re already running late."
"But where are we going? What is this for?"
"You’ll understand soon enough," she replied evasively. "We need to leave now."
Unable to say anything more and feeling self-conscious, I followed her out of the building. I noticed that Vale had also transformed herself. She now wore an equally fancy dress that hugged her figure perfectly.
Her hair, usually in a tight bun, had been let down and cascaded down her shoulders in waves. She even had her makeup done, making her look younger than she appeared to be.
A different car was waiting for us outside with a driver who opened the doors as soon as he saw us. When we entered the vehicle, the driver drove us towards the school, where we arrived at the school’s helipad, and a helicopter was already waiting.
At this point, I began to panic. Where were we going that needed us to get there by Helicopter?
I leaned toward Headmistress Vale and shouted over the deafening noise of the helicopter blades.
"Will you tell me now? Where are we going?"
She replied with that same mysterious smile, "You’ll find out soon enough."
An hour and forty-five minutes later, we landed on the roof of a towering skyscraper. I gasped in surprise when I realised we were no longer in werewolf world.
The scents surrounding me were completely different. It was humans. We were in the human world.
"Stay close," Vale instructed as we headed toward the exit from the helipad.
We moved through the rooftop staircase, descending until we reached a hallway with plush red carpet and brass railings. At the end of it, we arrived at a double door manned by a massive man in a velvet suit. He opened it for us.
We took an elevator down several floors until we arrived at what was a VVVIP exclusive club.
The space screamed of wealth and power.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and artwork that was not commonly found was displayed in every space on the walls. Everything, from the furniture to the glassware, looked as if it had cost more than most people’s annual salaries. Low jazz played from hidden speakers.
The clientele, comprising humans sipping wine alongside witches in sleek gowns and vampires who didn’t bother hiding their fangs, matched the venue’s exclusivity. They were all dressed in designer clothing and speaking in hushed tones.
As soon as we entered, every person in the room turned to look at us.
One elegantly dressed woman approached us, and I nearly peed on myself when I recognised her. Luna Alice Webb, Marcus’s mother, was striding towards us with a wide smile.
She looked ravishing in a mesh pantsuit that left little to the imagination. Her hair was coiled around one shoulder. She looked nothing like the doting maternal figure I’d seen at Ravenshore a few days ago.
"Vale, you’re here finally," she said, giving Vale a meaningful side glance before turning her attention to me. "And who is this stunning creature you’ve brought with you?"
She reached out as if to touch me, but Vale stepped in front of me instantly.
"She’s not yours," Vale told Luna Alice coldly.
"Excuse me?" She blinked.
"You know how he feels when his gifts are touched without permission."
That word gift made my stomach drop. They couldn’t be talking about me. Right?
At this point, I was desperately hoping they meant something innocent, because despite wanting to ignore the obvious, I couldn’t help drawing terrifying conclusions about where we were and what kind of establishment this might be.
Vale reached for my hand and pulled me toward the other end of the room, approaching a small, unmarked door. The door opened to reveal another floor with fewer people, all seated in plush chairs and engaged in quiet conversations over drinks.
We climbed another set of stairs and moved through a corridor lined with artwork and soft lighting until we reached a heavy wooden door. Vale knocked three times, and a gruff voice from inside asked, "Password?"
"Golden blood runs deepest," Vale replied.
The door opened, and my heart nearly stopped.