That night I left the Josu Rainforest feeling conflicted. I found a Cyan-Agaric, which was good. But I didn’t find an Aero-Teuthida, which was the task that actually had a time limit. I knew they were hard to find, but I didn’t think it would be this hard. Two days and I still haven’t caught even one.

One good thing about the Josu Rainforest is it was a good place to the level up — for a bloody price. Just shy of achieving another level, I had to give up and leave. My HP was a breath away from red, my body hurt and I felt more like a lump of swiss cheese than a person as I slowly walked across the clear, grassy field surrounding the Gate. Time-wise, I still had a couple more hours to look for one of those flying squids, but physically and emotionally I was done.

Just before I stepped through the Gate a deep voice called out. “Miss Devhro.”

I frowned, trying to place the voice. I think I knew it? I turned towards the sound and blinked at the group of Hunters walking towards me.

At the lead, walking just a half step ahead of Blake, was President Price. He flashed a smile that somewhat softened his square, somewhat handsome face. Too bad my thoughts weren’t anywhere near friendly right now.

“Fancy meeting you here.” Price waltzed right over, completely oblivious of the look that Blake was giving me over his shoulder. I’d say if looks could kill, I’d be dead. But the cold gleam in Blake’s eyes went a little further than that. He obviously didn’t just want me dead, he wanted me to disappear as if I never existed to begin with. What, he just couldn’t accept that his Guild leader was catering to a little E insect?

I forced a stiff smile while mentally screaming a round of crude cuss words. “President Price, good evening.”

Price looked down at me. In full black armor, he gave off the impression that he was larger than life. But, wait, was it just me, or were his lips starting to twitch from smiling? “It’s ironic that we ran into each other today, when I was just talking to Mason and Emma this morning.” From his tone, it was like he was talking about hanging out with his best friends. Completely opposite of the awkward stances that Emma and her team gave off this morning when they talked about interacting with Price.

I nodded slowly. “They are fun to talk to.” Why did this guy have to find me now? All I wanted to do was snuggle in my bed and sleep.

He paused tactfully, such an odd thing for such an imposing man. “I don’t suppose you’ve talked to them recently? I gave them a letter to pass onto you. Did you get it?” His mouth twitched again and a cool glint flashed across his eyes.

I nodded again, this time more sure. “Yes, I ran into them earlier and they gave me your letter.” What would have happened if they hadn’t given it to me? Nothing good, that was for sure. “But I’ve been busy,” I motioned to the Vale behind me. “I haven’t read it yet.” Maybe it was ballsy to tell that to his face, but if it gave me a chance to leave, I’d take it.

The smile slipped from his face as his lips thinned. How many people had told him to his face that his words weren’t important enough to read right away, and lived? Very few, I bet.

“Ah, well.” He forced the smile back on, this time his right eye twitching like a tick. “Well, where are my manners? You look exhausted, let me help you with that.”

Blake quickly schooled his expression, so when Price turned towards the party of Hunters, the president missed his killer look. God, what a fun game. Standing just behind Blake, was the ever-present Mark, Penny, and Daniella — the first two sneaking glances at Blake.

Price motioned to a Healer in the back of the group. “Quickly come heal this young woman.” He smirked, likely thinking that he was gracious. “One of the many perks about being in the Stone Mace Guild. Free healing from the best Healers in Eden.”

Right, as if the second best Healer in America wasn’t available in the Eden hospital for free, too. At least he didn’t glare at me like I was worthless, I thought, watching the Healer come to me. Still, I was too tired to care and let the woman touch me with her glowing fingers. I wasn’t that versed in healing, but I could tell that her ability was sub-par to Jonovan’s. Maybe I was spoiled or biased, but right now I just wanted to leave.

When she stepped back, I pressed out a better smile than before. “Thank you.”

She jerked her head in a nod and slipped to the back of the group again, apparently not wanting anything to do with me.

Price smiled at me. “Miss Devrho, I just wanted to extend you another offer to join the Stone Mace Guild.”

The smile almost slipped off my lips again but I kept it in place since I didn’t want to be rude. The guild president might be catering to me right now because of Kesstel, but in reality Price could crush me like a bug if I insulted him too much. Kesstel or not, and it’s not like he’d here right now anyway if Price lost control.

“Thank you for the consideration, but no.” Once again, I didn’t leave any room for compromise in my tone.

If his smile was twitching before, it was full-on spasming. His Hunter power flickered out, flattening the grass around him in a ten foot radius. I staggered back, my head pulsing painfully and feeling like an ant pressed under a giant’s thumb, but I refused to let my legs buckle. I would not bow down to him, no way in hell.

It took a couple seconds for Price to control his expressions. As his features smoothed, he retracted his aura. “Well, I hope that the next time we might, you’ll have a more favorable answer.” With that he looked at the group behind him and jerked his chin towards the Gate. He didn’t wait for them to respond before he walked away and disappeared through the black arch.

Not it wasn’t just Blake that scowled at me with disgust. Nearly the entire team of Hunters clearly thought that I was scum that deserved to die for turning down their leader. The only one who stared at me with curiosity instead of contempt was Penny, who obviously thought that I was off my rocker but in a comedic way. The only saving grace that I had was the fact that President Price was personally pursuing me to join their Guild — even if I pissed him off just barely. But as long as he was interested in me, Blake’s team wouldn’t attack me. Instead they walked past like I was trash on the side of the road.

I watched them disappear. Man, if I was a petty person I wouldn’t join for that alone. Ah, okay, I might be turning into a petty person. Still, Price’s people weren’t selling his Guild very well. Not if they treated everyone who wanted to join like that.

The last two people to walk through the Gate were Mark and Penny. Both of them glanced back at me with confused expressions before they disappeared.

I huffed out a breath and finally relaxed. God, I hoped that was the end of it.

I took a quick stop at Maveric’s shop to sell my drop items on my way home. Luckily, he didn’t pressure me about the Aero-Teuthida even though I hadn’t turned in one yet. I still had another four days till the deadline, so, another three days before I’d start panicking.

My mood had finally lifted by the time I got back to the Hostel. Henry handed me a plate of ham, mashed potatoes and gravy then motioned me over to the table. I sat down and started to eat while he washed the dishes.

The downstairs common room as a whole was rather empty. Aside from me and Henry, there was a woman reading on one of the couches in the living room, and two men sat on the other end of my long table, talking low with each other. Granted, that didn’t mean a whole lot to me. I could hear every word they said.

“... God, it felt great. Like flying,” the man farthest from me said. He brushed a hand through his dark hair and sighed. There was a skull eating a flower on his red shirt and a chain hanging on his jeans. I usually recognized everyone although I didn’t know most people’s names in the hostel. He was one of the exceptions. Marco, the guy who face-planted into the table a couple days ago during breakfast.

Marco’s friend hummed under his breath. With his back to me, all I could see was his pale brown hair and blue t-shirt. “I don’t know. It’s just … weird, you know? I mean, do you really believe all that shit?” He tapped his fork against his empty plate, beating out a nervous rhythm.

Marco laughed. “Nah. That shit’s wack. That nut job can talk all he wants. I just go to feel good. It helps to unwind after a hard week in the Gate.” He grabbed his cup and gulped down the rest of the water then set it down with a cluck.

“Seriously, man, I don’t think you should go anymore,” the friend muttered. “People are calling it a cult. I hear the Hunter Association is trying to catch them. What happens if you’re there when they show up? You’ll get sent to the Holding Place. No high is worth wasting away in there until you die.”

One word grabbed my attention like a noose. Cult. This guy, Marco, knew about the cult and he’d even been there before. I glanced up at Henry, but he must be too into washing the dishes or he couldn’t hear them from where he was. That was probably for the better.

I stood up and walked over to the men. They looked up when I stopped right behind them.

Marco donned a guarded expression. “What do you want?”

“I want to know more about what you’re talking about,” I said softly.

Jonovan was very clear on his opinion about the whole thing and had warned me away. But I wanted to know more about them. I wanted to know what they were saying. If it was crazy, druggy babbling or if there was some truth to it. If it was true — and I could get the drug away from them — maybe I’d have enough backing to make the Council believe me when I met with them in three months. With multiple testimonies, and hopefully solid evidence about the crystal caterpillars and human-changing white tunnels, maybe I could get enough help to hold off the parasitic planet until more people than just me could come up with a plan to save Earth.

The friend laughed nervously. “Ahaha, I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

I nearly rolled my eyes at him. Honestly, with Hunter hearing, it was hard to not overhear things. If they really wanted to keep it a secret, they should have talked about it in their room. Then again, most E’s hearing was about on par with most human’s, so I guess it wasn’t too much of a stretch for them to talk down here.

“The cult,” I stressed in a whisper. “I want to know more about it. Where are they meeting and when?”

Marco looked at me like I was crazy. “Nah, wait. You seriously don’t believe in that shit, do you?”

My lips twitched. Didn’t his friend just ask him nearly the exact same question a second ago? “I don’t know. It seems really far-fetched, but I want to know more about it.” I needed to know if there was more to this cult or not. If it was real or just a bunch of junkies getting high.

Marco’s friend let out a long breath and stood up, his chair skidding across the wood floor as he rose. “I’m out.” He took his plate over to Henry in the kitchen and disappeared through the doorway to the stairs.

Marco watched him go then glanced at me. “Hey, I don’t know you. But I know that you aren’t strong. A place like that isn’t for someone like you. Some weird shit goes on there. Too weird for a cute little girl.” He glanced at my figure, adding emphasis to his words.

I frowned and tilted my chin up. If he was trying to freak me out, it wasn’t working. “I heard that it was mostly full of humans and Es. If they can go, why can’t I?” Especially since I wasn’t an E anymore. And if that’s the only people who attended, I doubted any of them could hurt me.

He scowled and shoved off the table to his feet. Now that he was up, he towered over me a full head and a half taller. “I aint telling you shit. Everyone knows that Henry’s taken a shining to you and he’s a good guy for an old man. Don’t ask again unless you want to make him sad.” He picked up his plate, put it on the counter and left.

I watched him go, frowning. Huh, that wasn’t how I thought this would end. I thought I’d get a one-way ticket to the cult. I mean, in movies and stuff, they were climbing over themselves to get people to join right? Especially if their numbers kept dying off, even if it was their own fault.

Well, now what do I do?

*****