Jinx von Karnstein adjusted her Amulet of Daywalking as she left Mr. Estrada's Trigonometry class, her last for the day. She was relieved that there was a way she could continue her routine in daylight. The sun rays the filtered through the clouds and windows irritated her skin a bit, but a little itching sure beat burning.
Jinx strolled into the school commons. The public space was nearly empty, aside from Taylor Wagner. The werehyena shaman sat slone at a table, fiddling pensively with the pop tab of her soda. Jinx sat down next to her longtime friend.
"Hi, Taylor!" Jinx chirped. "Or should I still call you Sister Nightswan?"
"Taylor is fine," said Taylor. "That's what the pack calls me. Werebeasts don't go in for pretentious renames."
Jinx laughed. "Can't really say the same about vampires. They give every fledgling a fancy, gothy new name when they join the clan."
Taylor laughed. "You mean 'Alyssa' didn't sound soulful ENOUGH like a vampire name to them?"
"Guess not," said Jinx. "They gave me the name 'Jinx' at my initiation ritual. But it's all good; I really like that name."
"How's Liesel doing?" asked Taylor. "I heard this rumor that she got turned human."
"Liesel's doing better," said Jinx. "That punishment was always meant to be temporary, and Matriarch Carmilla called it off early so Liesel could start teaching me how to be a seer."
"I bet it's nice to be away from that boozy hag of an aunt you lived with," said Taylor.
"Damn straight!" said Jinx. "I bet it takes Aunt Cheryl a month before she sobers up enough to notice I'm gone. Not that she'll care once she does. Carmilla's planning to write to her and ask to formally take me off her hands. If that doesn't work, the von Karnsteins'll just take Aunt Cheryl for court for child abuse and let the government force her out of my life. Believe me, life with the von Karnsteins is just SO much better! Besides being filthy rich and surrounded by people happy to have me around, I feel like I'm finding a purpose in life by becoming a seer. But how 'bout you, Taylor? You look like you're brooding. What's up?"
Taylor sighed. "It's nothing. I was just talking with Dani, and she wants to bring a third person into our relationship."
"Who?" asked Jinx.
"Vivi Faye," Taylor answered, "Morgana's teenage daughter."
"And I guess you're not attracted to her?" said Jinx.
"I have no fucking idea!" said Taylor. "I haven't met her yet. Don't bother looking for her around here; her mom homeschools her. I'm just worrying Vivi and I won't click and Dani'll have to divide her attention between us. We'll have to see how it goes. Aside from that, I really wish I knew how to actually BE a shaman. I can always use Wicca to fake my way through a rite in a pinch, but I honestly want to use authentic werehyena traditions."
"I don't blame you for that," said Jinx. "You always have to work hard to keep cultural appropriation out of paganism or the New Age movement. Maybe you can find another shaman who can teach you. Oh, how are things with your parents? Do they suspect anything like Beck's do?"
"Not really," Taylor answered. "I run track, so they expect to see some developed muscle on me. They DO want to know why I'm always asking for permission to be out extra late, though. That, and why I suddenly love extra-rare steaks."
Jinx giggled. "It's kinda funny, really. A werebeast pack whose members all live with their human parents. Sounds like a sitcom!"
Taylor couldn't help but join in on the laugh. "It is a pretty big mess. Selena says we'll move out after we all graduate high school and find our own territory."
"Cool," said Jinx, taking a swig from her soda. "And don't let the whole Dani and Vivi thing get you down. Most varieties of magicals are just a but poly. Werefoxes take it to a whole new level. A werefox or werevixen'll usually at least five formal mates (sometimes as many as forty), plus some hot pieces of tail on the side."
Taylor laughed. "Yeah, I've joined a pretty crazy world. But daaaaaaaaamn if I don't love being part it!"