Untamed

the Benedictine sisters were involved with Street Cats," Aphrodite surprised me by saying.
    "Why, yes. We've been running Street Cats for the past two years. Cats are very spiritual creatures, don't you think?"
    Aphrodite snorted. "Spiritual? They've been killed for being witches' familiars and in league with the devil. If a black one walks across their path, people think it's bad luck. Is that what you mean by spiritual?"
    I wanted to smack her for how disrespectful she sounded, but the nun wasn't ruffled at all. "Don't you think that is because cats have always been so closely associated with women? Especially those considered wise women by the general public? So, naturally, in a predominately male-dominated society, a certain type of people would see sinister things in them."
    I felt Aphrodite's little start of surprise. "Yes, that's what I think. I'm surprised you think so, too, though," she said honestly. I noticed Darius had stopped pretending to shop and was listening to their exchange with obvious interest.
    "Young lady, just because I have a wimple over my head, it doesn't mean it has kept me from thinking or having a mind of my own. And I can guarantee you I have had many more run-ins with male domination than have you." Her smile made her words less harsh than they might have been.
    "Wimple! That's what it's called," I heard my stupid mouth blurt, and then felt my cheeks burn as they turned bright red.
    "Yes, that is exactly what it is called."
    "I'm sorry. I've—I've never met a nun before," I said, and blushed some more.
    "That's not surprising. There really aren't many of us. I'm Sister Mary Angela, prioress of our little abbey and manager of Street Cats." She turned her smile on Aphrodite. "Did you recognize our order because you're Catholic, child?"
    A little burst of laughter came out of Aphrodite. "I'm definitely not Catholic. I am the daughter of Charles LaFont, though."
    Sister Mary Angela nodded in understanding. "Ah, our mayor. Then, of course, you're familiar with the charitable work our order does." Then her brows lifted as she realized what else it meant that Aphrodite was the only daughter of Tulsa's mayor. "You are a vampyre fledgling."
    She didn't sound overly freaked, but I decided this was as good a time as any to let the nun know Satan was in the house. I took a deep breath and held out my hand for her to shake, saying in one big rush: "Yes, Aphrodite is a fledgling and I'm Zoey Redbird, vampyre fledgling and Leader of the Dark Daughters."
    Then I waited for the explosion, which didn't happen.
    Sister Mary Angela took her time before responding. Then she took my hand in her firm, warm grip. "Greetings, Zoey Redbird." She looked carefully from me to Aphrodite and then to Darius, who she raised one gray brow at and said, "You look rather mature for a fledgling."
    He nodded his head in a small respectful bow. "You are observant, Priestess. I am an adult vampyre, a Son of Erebus."
    Oh, great. He'd called her priestess. Again I waited for a freak-out that didn't come.
    "Ah, I see. You're the fledglings' escort." She turned her attention back to me. "Which means you two must be important young women to warrant such attention."
    "Well, like I said, I'm the Leader of the Dark Daughters and—"
    "We're important," Aphrodite interrupted me again, "but that's not the only reason Darius is with us. Two vampyres have been murdered in the past couple days, and our High Priestess wouldn't let us leave campus without protection."
    I gave Aphrodite a WTF look. It really wasn't like her to have diarrhea of the mouth.
    "Two vampyres have been killed? I had heard of only one murder."
    "Our Poet Laureate was killed three days ago." I couldn't say his name.
    Sister Mary Angela looked upset. "That is dreadful news. I will add him to our prayer list."
    "You'd pray for a vampyre?" The question seemed to escape my mouth without warning me first, and I felt my cheeks get warm again.
    "Of course I would, as would my sisters."
    "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be rude, but don't you think that all vampyres are doomed to hell because we worship a goddess?" I asked.
    "Child, what I believe is that your Nyx is just another incarnation of our Blessed Mother, Mary. I also believe devoutly in Matthew 7:1, which says 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' "
    "Too bad the People of Faith don't believe like you do," I said.
    "Some do, child. Try not to paint them all with the same brush. Remember that the judge not goes both ways.