Piercing Silver

Chapter 1

The night in the cottage felt alien to Alison as this was the first time in her life she had slept without fear. The bed was small, but Alison felt like a princess. 'When you've been sleeping on the hard floor for a while, one tends to appreciate small pleasures like this,' she thought with a smile. The rules still baffled her, but she knew deep down this was the best option she could get.

Alison woke up at six in the morning and waited to be summoned to the mansion. When no one came by seven forty-five, she decided to go to the mansion.

On getting there, she was let in by a tall, dark man. His looks were easy on the eyes. He was built to perfection. She noticed his muscular build because he was shirtless. He didn't smile at her or tell her anything. His honey-coloured eyes were cold and very unwelcoming. Noticing his unwelcoming stare, Alison quickly looked down.

"In my office," Edna said, calling out to Alison. Alison immediately cleared her throat and politely excused herself. She walked down the hall, making sure she did not lose sight of Edna. Edna walked fast. Even though Alison was agile and quick, she found it quite a challenge keeping up with Edna's pace. The hall was long and dark. The mansion was bigger than she had presumed.

"Come on, hurry. I don't have all day," Edna said, entering a room at the end of the hall. Alison had to run to meet up.

The room was old but well-kept. The furnishings were definitely from a different time. Although there was electricity in the house, it was evident that a lot of its features were from a different time.

Edna cleared her throat to get Alison's attention.

"You need to sign this contract," she said, handing Alison a binder. In it were the contract papers. "You'll have to sign every page. I will make you a copy to keep." She completed.

" I...I think it's a bit too soon.." Alison began...

"So she speaks." A voice said. Alison looked around to see who it was but saw no one. Instead, she heard footsteps approach from behind the door that was by the bookshelf.

"And why is that?" Edna asked, ignoring the intrusion.

"Well, to start with, my job has not been properly defined. Your rules are very hard. Don't you think you should see if I can fit the position properly before offering me a contract?" Alison asked, hoping she hadn't offended Edna.

"Yes, your job hasn't been defined, and it might never be. Your roles will change from time to time. Secondly, our safety is of the utmost importance, hence the need to sign our confidentiality and non-disclosure contract. Lastly, for many reasons, which you might find out, if you remain with us, we cannot allow you to remain on our grounds without a binding contract. The contract ensures us you will keep to our rules. That is why your pay is very high," Edna explained.

"Sign, or leave," she finalised with a cold stare.

Edna was not going to give her time to think about it. Alison doubted if she would be given a chance to read the contract. Her hesitation was obvious. Edna stepped back and clapped her hands. Immediately, four hefty men entered the room.

"Take her," Edna instructed.

"No... What?... wait," Alison pleaded, shocked by what was happening. "I just wanted to read the contract," she explained.

"I have told you all you need to know. It is either you sign, or these gentlemen will escort you out of the premises."

" Please, madam, there's no need for all this. I read fast; it won't take long, I promise."

"Get her out of here!" Edna ordered. Alison could swear her eyes flashed a weird, unnatural shade of green, but she dismissed the thought.

Alison looked at the men; something told her they wouldn't be escorting her off the farm but out of the world. What had she gotten herself into? Steve had warned her, but she was tired of hunger and living on the streets; she had no choice. But right there in that room with Edna and her goons, she began to realise that the streets weren't so bad. She knew she had no option. It was clear that she either signed the contract or died.

Just as they were about to take her out, Alison screamed she would sign.

Edna gave a half-grin and gestured to the men to go away.

Alison signed her name in sweat and tears; her hands shook as she knew she had just signed her life away.

"I will need your blood," Edna said casually, and Alison's eyes widened.

"What ... for?" Alison asked, more afraid than she was when she realised she was about to die.

" Do we have to do this again?" Edna asked, rolling her eyes.

Alison immediately shook her head. Edna walked up to her and pricked her thumb three times with a needle. She pulled an old parchment from thin air and pressed Alison's bloody thumb on it. Everything happened so fast that the shock made Alison pass out.

While Alison lay on the ground, Edna stared at the parchment. What she saw troubled her. Alison's details had been printed in pure blue. This had never happened before. A human's life core was always in red. Humans were the only beings with a primary colour for a life core. This was because they were pure and undiluted. Other beings' life core consisted of colours that were mixtures as they were humans before they became magical and supernatural beings. A magical being's life core was either in pink, brown, orange, or grey. Supernatural beings' life cores were either in gold, silver, white or black. None had a primary colour for a life core.

Who this girl was baffled her. She was a pure breed of some kind unknown to her. Edna knew she had to find out who the young woman was. What she was. She called her guards to take Alison, who was still unconscious, into the most secure dungeon they had. Not knowing what Alison was, Edna wasn't going to take any chances.

Edna stood alone in her office in fear of what was to come. What had she done? Could this girl be a danger to her, her kind, and those alike? It was bad enough that they had to keep their existence away from humans. This was going to be hard. Edna watched as the parchment tried to reveal Alison's details, but instead of Alison, it read Dinah.

Had the lady lied about her name? Was she a wanted criminal? Edna waited for the surname to appear, but it never did. The girl had no father. She searched for her mother's name on the parchment. What she saw frightened her. There were over one thousand names printed as Alison's mother's name, the last name on the list read Natasha Atkins, and she was deceased.

How could a being have over a thousand birth mothers? Edna had never heard or read of such beings. She was tempted to kill Alison as she believed that would keep her and her people safe. Alison had to die first then she could try and figure out what she was later. She doubted the dungeon would hold the thing. She was about to head out to give the order when a werewolf walked in.

"In a hurry?" he asked, changing back to his human form.

"Abel," Edna scolded. "What are you doing here?"

" Well, to see our latest addition to the family," he replied. Abel was a handsome man. He had dark eyes and sharp edges. His muscles were toned, and his brown skin looked like silk.

He was human when he came to work on the farm settlement, but a tragic accident with the wolves had turned him. At first, it was a curse, but he soon adjusted and began to love his new life. He no longer needed to stay away from the people of the settlement; there was no need for secrecy, as he was now one of them, a supernatural being. He was also one of the best-looking men on the settlement, and that got him privileges with Edna. She always had a thing for handsome men.

"You need to leave," Edna ordered, "I have work to do."

"And what might that be?" Abel smiled, standing in full nakedness, which didn't bother either of them.

"That girl is an abomination," she explained.

"Just because she is strange doesn't mean she is an abomination. Aren't we all strange?" He asked with a grin.

"Who put brains in your head this morning?" Edna asked, surprised by Abel.

"I know I can't know the details, but I think you should consult with the mage before taking any actions. Besides, that girl seemed harmless. From her questions and how she behaved when they came to get her, she seems completely clueless." He explained.

"What if she is pretending?" Edna asked, admitting her fear.

"She wouldn't have signed your contract. And even if she was, she obviously couldn't overpower the people here, so she had to comply. Just don't be hasty to finish her off. She could come in handy someday," he said.

Abel shifted back to his silver wolf form and went back the way he came, through the door by the bookshelf.