Forbidden

One, Really Good One

Van

When Van went to school on Monday, no one spoke of the accident- at least, not with their mouths. Their eyes were shouting. Some with questions, others with concern, but many with hostility. Those were part of the Isaiah fan club. Mostly girls with crushes born less out of a physical attraction and more out of attraction to the power he would one day possess as her father's favorite.

Correction, she thought, ex-favorite. But surely that wasn't why everyone was angry at her? Her father made no secret at home that Isaiah was out of favor, but while much of Abe Helsing was still a mystery to her, his pride in professionalism was not.

"Guess you're enemy number one," Hailey said, sidling up to Van as she walked out of her last class.

Her flushed cheeks and messy hair meant she had just finished training, and for once, Van was jealous. It had been a very dull, hour-long lecture about the various treaties Slayers had with the supernatural world. It could have been interesting if the person teaching wasn't older than most of the treaties themselves. Still, she did her best to pay attention, jotting down every word on the off chance she would find some miraculous solution among her notes later.

"I see. Do you know why?"

Hailey flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and leveled an incredulous stare at the redhead. Dark lashes fluttered over blue eyes, and she remained silent for a few seconds as if she expected Van to say just kidding. All she received was an arched brow urging her to hurry with the explanation.

"Because their prince missed school."

"Because of his own stupidity."

Pink lips popped open in mock horror. "It would never be his fault. You prompted him to act so foolishly."

"Ridiculous," Van muttered as they walked past a trio of fan clubbers. She answered their glares with a bright smile before stomping at them, her combat boot landing on the marble floor with a satisfying thwack.

"You are a disgrace to the Holy Asylum," the ringleader snapped when she regained her composure.

"Have you told my father?"

Fake baked complexions paled, and they scurried away without another word or glare. Now, the smile on Van's face was genuine, and it only grew bigger when she saw Hailey shaking her head.

"What? I have found very few perks to being the daughter of the Supreme. Let me use them when I can."

"Do you want to come over this afternoon?

"I can't. Trixie is supposed to be giving me private lessons this afternoon, and then I'm meeting-"

Breathing became hard as her heart skittered about in her chest. Had she really been about to tell Hailey she was meeting Luca later? The other girl knew about her friendship with the shifter but not of the rescue plans.

"Van," Hailey touched Van's shoulder, "I meant what I said the other night. I want in."

She thought maybe she'd imagined her saying those words, but hearing them in the light of day didn't make her trust them anymore. Looking around for eavesdroppers, she stepped closer and lowered her voice.

"What does that even mean?"

"I know you're up to something with Luca. Probably to get his brother out. Livy too, now."

"And why haven't you reported me?"

She tilted her head. "Honestly, I didn't think you would get very far, and it was better to stay in your good graces."