Sighing deeply as she left Heather’s house, and feeling her fellow females were sometimes more difficult to get to know than the males, she wandered to the house next door to Heather’s place. After a few moments, the door opened and a girl she’d definitely seen at school stepped out onto the porch to greet her. As she came out, Candace put her bright smile back on and said once again, “Hello! I’m Candace Miranae. I am staying just over there,” she once again turned and pointed to her house across the street, “and I just came over to meet my neighbors and classmates. I think I saw you at school earlier today.”
After a moment of obvious reflection, the girl smiled warmly, “Oh yes, I think I remember seeing you briefly also. My name is Florence. I think Faith mentioned to me she’d run into a late arrival. You’re right across the street? We should get together and share meals sometimes! Oh! But why I am keeping you here talking on the porch? It’s a bit nippy out tonight, isn’t it? Would you like to come in?” She re-opened the door and gestured inside.
Candace stepped in and looked around with genuine appreciation at the cozy interior in black brick and blue carpet with warm wood furniture, and an actual stove-pipe stove in one corner of the room. “Oh, this is lovely! It must be so warm when the nights are cold, too.” Florence smiled back, “Yes, I was lucky to get it. My mom helped me stalk the listings until we managed to rent this place in particular. I love the wood and stone everything is made out of.”
Candace nodded appreciatively. “I can’t really imagine what that must be like,” she stated matter of factly. “My Great Aunt had arranged for my housing far in advance, it seems, and I knew nothing about it until about 3 days ago.” She tilted her head to one side and considered. “I haven’t actually asked, but I think she might actually own the house I’m staying in. Or owned it. I wonder if that means that technically I own it now? Or I will own it?” She trailed off, staring into the distance a bit.
Florence tilted her head inquisitively, and then said, “It sounds very confusing!” She smiled and gave a very soft chuckle, making it clear it was a joke. Candace focused on her once more. “You know, it IS, rather.” Then the two of them laughed together. “I’ll be glad to hear all about it sometime, but you may want to head back home soon. Curfew is at 9pm, and you don’t want to be caught out after curfew.” Candace blinked. “Curfew? There’s a curfew here?” Florence nodded, “Oh yes, for anyone under 18. They say it’s best for youngsters not to be out after-hours, for their own safety.”
Candace thought back over her day. She herself was a witch. At least one fellow classmate was a vampire. She thought she’d caught a glimpse of a werewolf at school as well. And yet, magic was ‘not a fit subject for studies’. What an interesting, odd, and sometimes confusing town. She wondered if there were mysteries to unravel here. She addressed herself to Florence again, “Well, thank you very much for letting me know. I suppose I ought to be going then.” Florence showed her back out and bid her goodnight.
Outside, Candace looked around, and then nonchalantly swiped Florence’s bicycle before heading back across the street. It looked like the lights in the house next to hers were still on. She’d stow the bicycle and then make one last visit before curfew time.
