Ordained by Devon Ashley Page B

watching the hunters stretch as they prepared for their evening training session. Already bored with the view, she turned to leave. She came to an abrupt halt when Abby stepped out of the shadows and directly in her path. She pulled the musical buds from her ears. A soft and subtle tune hummed through.
    She seemed unaffected by the sight before her, as if she already knew. Abby had completely healed. No bandages or scars remained. It had only been four days since her encounter with the grinloch.
    Finally catching her in the light, Abby looked her up and down. Valerie had very distinct and attractive features - high cheekbones, sleek almond hair and rich green eyes the shade of moss. She too was naturally lean and semi-muscular but her lack of activity made her less firm than the rest of the huntresses.
    “So, you must be the Order’s resident psychic,” Abby said condescendingly.
    Sensing the annoyance in Abby’s voice, Valerie instinctively took a step back.
    “Yeah. Something like that.”
    “Then tell me…” Abby quickly punched Valerie in the eye. She fell backwards to the floor and smacked her head.
    “…did you see that coming?” she finished.
    Quite some time passed before Valerie returned to consciousness. Abby passed the time watching the hunters practice down below. She stayed in the shadows this time to avoid detection. A few had potential. The rest she wouldn’t trust to send out on their own. They had just dispersed for the evening and turned off the lights when Valerie stirred.
    She was propped up against the wall, faintly lit by the evening colors seeping in through the nearby window. Her puffy eye had already turned shades of purple and black.
    Still, Abby had no pity for her at the moment. “I’m guessing you were removed from training duties at a really young age. You lack the skills to fall properly.”
    Valerie wobbled as she climbed the wall to stand up. She caressed her face, particularly the muscles around the eye that were twitching. “Was that really necessary?” she asked with a sense of annoyance.
    “Well, I thought you were psychic. You did tell Noel about a beat-down I was gonna receive right before I got it. Thought you would’ve seen that coming too.”
    “My visions have no concept of time. I see past, present and future. I didn’t know it was gonna happen that night. The only way to differentiate my visions is by age appearance.” She paused, then added sharply, “Forgive me, but vampires don’t age.”
    Abby crossed her arms and took two steps forward, reducing the gap between them.
    “What do you know about that?”
    “More than you would like,” she answered, standing her ground.
    “And I take it you told the Order?”
    “They don’t know.”
    “Really? Cause they seem awfully nervous around me.”
    “Gee, I wonder why,” Valerie replied sarcastically. “Maybe they’re recalling why you were kicked out of here.”
    Abby didn’t recall getting kicked out of school but she also didn’t remember being here in the first place. She had always thought she was dismissed the same as every other hunter. Noel certainly hadn’t said anything over the years to make her think differently. “What do you mean I was kicked out?”
    Valerie’s face froze in confusion. “You’re kidding, right?” she asked suspiciously, expecting another trick.
    Annoyed, Abby responded, “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
    “You don’t remember?”
    “Remember what?” Abby asked impatiently.
    In awe, Valerie responded, “You don’t, do you? You’ve actually forgotten.”
    Abby’s head was beginning to ache. Perhaps she wasn’t as well rested as she thought. She gently stroked her eyebrows, releasing some of the pain. “Valerie, is it? You probably already know this, being a fortune-teller and all, but let me refresh your memory. I am not a patient person.”
    Whether she sensed Abby’s frustration or knew too well how aggravated Abby could become, Valerie waved the white