I brushed off the thought and forced my attention back to the room.
The woman turned toward us, "Please, everyone, take a seat."
Before anyone could even look around for chairs, Devon lifted his hand and waved it lazily through the air.
The reaction was immediate.
Gasps rippled through the room as chairs seemed to form out of thin air, appearing exactly where each of us stood.
Some of the humans spun around in shock, their eyes wide as they touched their chairs to make sure they were real.
I quickly sat down before anyone could see my own surprise.
Across the room, several human girls were staring at Devon like he had descended from heaven itself. Their faces were flushed, their expressions dreamy as they whispered among themselves.
I scoffed under my breath.
Idiots.
The hunters knew better than to waste their admiration on a demon.
The woman cleared her throat, instantly reclaiming the room's attention.
"My name is Miriam," she began, "I am the leader of one of Safe Land's rescue teams. We are thrilled to have you join our sanctuary."
She paused briefly, letting her gaze travel across the entire room. Her eyes were sharp, and observant. It felt like she was evaluating each of us individually. It was unnerving.
"Safe Land was built many years ago," she continued, "shielded by six impenetrable walls."
Murmurs of curiosity spread through the room.
"No one leaves except for the General and a select few," she explained, "and only when other regions need assistance during attacks."
Her voice carried easily across the room.
"Outside these walls lie countless weapons designed to protect us, making Safe Land a haven that has never faced invasion or defeat."
The way she said it made it sound almost legendary.
"Here," she added, "we live freely. Without fear. Without oppression."
The room broke into applause. I kept my hands in my lap. When the noise finally died down, Miriam continued.
"Inclusivity is the foundation of Safe Land. No being, no kind, is considered weak or inferior here. Vampires have stolen from us all, and we must unite to reclaim what is rightfully ours. Our freedom. Freedom to walk the earth unafraid. Freedom to live as the gods intended. Freedom to rebuild what was destroyed."
Her voice grew stronger with every sentence.
"This is not their world."
She paused.
"It is ours. And united, we will finish the war they started."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd, many nodding in agreement.
Her speech had clearly stirred something in them. But inside me, doubt lingered. Her words sounded powerful. Inspiring even. But were they realistic?
Could unity really rebuild everything the vampires had destroyed?
Could a few walls truly protect people from the madness in our world?
I didn't know.
Miriam continued speaking. "Here, everyone from the ages of eight to seventy trains and learns about our enemies. The elderly and infants reside in the main village, along with others who prefer a quieter life. But even they must report here for training daily."
As she spoke, a book appeared in my lap. I flinched hard, and heard the same startled rustle move through the room as everyone else received theirs. I opened it. The pages were dense with information; maps, building names and purposes, a schedule with my name at the top, time slots blocked out in a grid.
"Your schedules," she continued, "are determined by your grades."
The word caught my attention immediately.
"Grades determine your classes and training sessions. "
Her gaze moved across the room again.
"Humans will all start at Grade One."
Several humans exchanged looks.
"Hunters," she said, turning her attention toward us, "your grades will be determined based on your abilities."
My stomach tightened.
"Are there any questions?"
Nearly every hand shot up. Mine included.
Before Miriam could answer anyone, she stepped aside. Devon moved forward to take her place, and the energy in the room shifted the moment he got closer. The atmosphere became charged.
Hunters stiffened slightly, some balling their hands. Humans leaned forward with fascination.
Suddenly, I didn't feel like asking my question anymore. I lowered my hand quickly.
Devon scanned the room slowly. I wondered if the tension bothered him. Then he pointed toward someone behind me.
"Why are they keeping you here?" she asked, her voice sharp. It was obvious her question wasn't born from curiosity. But rather, a challenge.
Murmurs erupted.
I turned to see who had spoken, and I recognized her immediately. The green-tipped hair, the set of her jaw, the particular way she held herself when she was ready for a fight. It was the earth elemental from my village. My heart leaped.
Her gaze was fixed on Devon with open hostility. She was alive. She had made it out.
I had not let myself think about who else might have survived. It required too much hope. But seeing her there, glaring at Devon with everything she had, I felt something loosen in my chest.
If she had made it, maybe others had too. Maybe my mother —
I stopped that thought before it could go further. But it was already there, and it did not leave.
I tried to remember her name. We had not spoken much before the attack, but I knew her face, and I knew her gift, and I knew she had been fighting when I ran.
Miriam answered before Devon could. "Devon has proven himself invaluable to Safe Land. He is trusted here."
Devon's lips twitched. Plastered on his face was the expression of a person who had heard this particular argument many times and found it mildly entertaining. "Does that satisfy your curiosity, hunter?" he asked the earth elemental, his tone carrying just enough mockery to land.
She opened her mouth. Closed it. Said nothing. It was clearly not because she had nothing to say.
Devon moved on, pointing to a human boy near the back.
"Do we get breaks from training?" the boy asked, his voice careful.
"Yes. Check your books for the details."
A girl two rows ahead raised her hand next.
When Devon pointed to her, she turned crimson. "What is the highest grade?" she managed.
"Grade Twelve. Details are in your books."
She nodded, clearly unable to produce a follow-up.
The next question came from a girl who had apparently decided that no context was the wrong context.
"How old are you?" she asked.
"Old enough," Devon said. A glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" she pressed. Her tone was unmistakably flirtatious.
I stared at her.
The entire room stared at her.
Devon looked like he was about to entertain her, but Miriam moved faster. "Inappropriate questions can wait for private conversations," she said sharply. "We do not have time. We will proceed."
You would expect the girl to shrink in embarrassment, but she didn't. Niether did she take her hungry eyes off Devon.
Devon stepped aside without any visible objection. He looked, if anything, entertained.
I was beginning to understand that this was his default state. A kind of steady, unruffled amusement at everything around him, as if none of it could quite reach him. I did not know if that was a demon thing as I've known no demons or a Devon thing.
Miriam returned to the front. "All hunters, please stand and step forward."
Panic crept into my chest.
What did she want from us?
My hands began to tremble.
Should I stand?
Or stay seated?
If I stood, they would expect me to demonstrate powers.
If I stayed seated...
Would that be worse?
The practical calculation was simple and terrible: standing meant exposure, sitting meant a different kind of exposure, and there was no version of this moment where I came out without someone knowing more about me than I wanted them to.
I had been in Safe Land for less than a week for God's sake.
I remained frozen in place, hoping somehow I might be forgotten or ignored.
But of course—
Devon noticed
"Kira."
His voice carried clearly across the room.
"Last I checked," he added casually, "you were a hunter."
Every head turned.
Heat rushed to my face.
I stood, slowly, cursing him with every word I knew, and walked to the front of the room, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes following me.
When I reached the group of hunters gathered there, I saw the earth elemental smiling at me in recognition.
I returned the smile weakly.
It was comforting that I wasn't completely alone.
Miriam spoke again. "To determine your grades, we will test your strengths and abilities."
She gestured toward a towering man standing beside her. "Each of you will fight against James."
I stared at James.
He looked enormous.
Broad shoulders. Thick arms. A body that looked like it had been carved from stone. He could probably crush me with one finger.
The thought wasn't appealing.
"Miss Kira," Miriam said.
My stomach dropped.
"You'll go first."