Diana wasn't sure what was in the package Hela had sent to her. She was looking at the box on her bed, nervous and excited. She requested it a few days ago, asking for clothes that she described as "more human". While she didn't mind wearing Hateful attire, she was concerned about how they might perceive her. To her, it would seem an attempt to assimilate herself too much. If she was going to break down the walls between their races, she needed to remain unmistakably her own race.

  So Hela had found her some "human clothes", having grinned at Diana upon handing her the package. Diana was confident that she could trust Hela; there was a genuine quality to the leader of the Hateful. Diana could feel her warmth and care as they interacted.

  She seems to have taken to me, Diana thought, still staring at the box with anticipation. A part of her wondered how Hela even got these clothes. Except for Lucifer, the Hateful never appeared to leave the Institute. Unable to come up with a satisfactory answer, she shrugged before lifting the lid. At first she saw a large forest green jumper, causing Diana to frown as she lifted it out, unsure if she would've chosen it herself. A pair of blue jeans was followed by a brown leather belt and white trainers. As she tried them all together and regarded herself in the mirror, she found the clothes fit her perfectly, suiting her slim frame.

  You wouldn't think the Hateful would have a sense of style, Diana thought, considering how they all essentially wore the same outfit. She wondered why they would choose to do this. Evidently, Hela had an inclination towards choice, but Diana still wondered why she never tried human clothes. Diana resolved to ask her about this. She had many questions to ask her. Some revolved around Philippe Zimbardo's book, but most concerned what she had learnt from the Hateful man she had met a couple of days ago; the More Cursed Hateful man known as Reni.

  Diana had visited him most days since that night, and he had changed most of the preconceived notions she had about the Hateful. Simply, Reni was perhaps the most intelligent and observant person she had ever known. His philosophical insights had been fascinating, but where he shone was in his psychological dissections of his own race. To him, most of the behaviours and obsessive routines were preceded by fear, which fuelled their desire for control. Fascinated, Diana had asked why this was.

  "The fear of the unknown, Diana, of what could happen. We desire control because it means safety to us. However, unlike most of your kind, we possess no wish to rule another because we have no interest in doing so. We want to be left alone. It is humanity that seems insistent on forcing things to be done as they wish. This, along with historical reasons, is perhaps the greatest reason our kind dislikes yours, and why we don't venture beyond the walls."

  Diana was stunned, not quite able to believe what fuelled the Hateful's fears were far from the reality most humans feared with them. Of course, she decided not to mention that; not yet. It needed noting down and considering. She then pursued more information about the Less Cursed of the Hateful in more detail, learning that despite their apparently cold and uncaring exterior, they longed for social contact. They just needed time away. Diana figured such a contradiction to be difficult to navigate, saddening when Reni revealed to her it was an unfulfilled need. When she asked how she might help, his answer had amazed her.

  "Be open to them. Show understanding. Be everything you've been with me. If you do, they'll love you as much as I do."

  Those words had shaken Diana the most. She hadn't realised until that point just how much Reni appreciated her, how she listened and attempted to see him. Diana asked if all the More Cursed of his kind were like him, intelligent souls trapped within bodies that were prisons to them. Reni had stayed silent then, either considering his answer or perhaps feeling that it had touched a little too close to his soul. A few seconds had passed in silence before she had become afraid, praying that she hadn't offended him. That had been the moment he had replied, silencing her.

  "I'm not sure, Diana, but it wouldn't surprise me. After all, I believed I was trapped until I met you. You were the first person to give me an outlet for my thoughts. You saved my life, Diana. Perhaps if more of your kind joined us and listened, the air of nihilism and apathy that pervades this place would die. I believe that is what we need most, not a god."

  Diana had given him a stunned look at that, amazed at the rather unsubtle reference to Lucifer. There had been stories concerning him, rumours that he was hunting and assassinating members of the Council in Exia. Prior to having seen Reni on this occasion, she had tried discussing this with Hela, watching her become tight-lipped. She was still struggling with him, but it still didn't explain how Reni knew about Lucifer and his dream. When she asked him, he had chuckled before answering, explaining that because no one knew of his ability, most talked aloud as they wandered the corridors. Surprised at the simplicity of such an answer, Diana turned the conversation towards Hela, about whether she knew about his ability to communicate and whether he wanted her to tell Hela about it. Reni's response was wise and considerate of what was to come.

  "She will already know, Diana. Perhaps she has always known. Still, I'm not sure she could spare a moment to see me. She struggles to bear the responsibility of our race. Guilt pervades her soul, and the likes of Lucifer and her brother compound her shame. Hela sees so much of him within Lucifer that she fears the past being repeated. She needs help, perhaps more than I do. She has never opened her heart since what happened to Philippe, keeping that memory locked inside. It traps her to stagnation.

  "This is what I believe urged Lucifer to act, but even he acts in fear and shame. When I consider it more, perhaps both of them are symptomatic of the issues that pervade our minds, Diana. We've been left to our own devices for so long that we're scraping by, yet our condition is part of the reason why we struggle. Emotions cripple us because they're amplified, because we cannot understand them and they cause chaos within. Our brains work differently, and because comprehension is a struggle, it materialises in frustration and anger. The problems exist within. In Lucifer's case, Vennifer and the emotions she draws out of him add to this."

  Diana had remained silent, trying to memorise everything so she could write it down later. It was becoming clear that she was dealing with more complex issues. As she considered that, she asked further about Lucifer and his relationship with Vennifer.

  "In their case, difficult feelings must be involved. Lucifer's struggles align not only with his condition, but also his past, I believe. I'm not sure about that, though. Perhaps you could speak to Hela. Regarding Vennifer, he's caught between love and fear. He longs for the former, but the latter is winning his mind. The feelings he has, alongside the other emotions that come with it, terrify him. Lucifer senses a loss of control, and this is a horrific sensation for our kind, especially as it's amplified. Yet he's drawn to it, which is why he reacts in impulsive and quickened responses. He clings to an internal fallacy, the same one most of us fall prey to. The delusion of believing that we are in control by performing these actions, even if by doing so it proves the opposite. Lucifer struggles with this contradiction, which is probably why he came up with his dream, because it provides a centre of focus. If you stare long enough at a specific point, everything around it becomes fuzzy and irrelevant."

  'He's fascinating,' Diana mumbled, unsure if she was referring to Lucifer or Reni; both, perhaps. She tried to record what she had learnt from him in a notebook Hela had provided her, trying to distil her thoughts and form them into something comprehensible. She glanced at the clock on her phone and saw that it was 11:53. Unable to help herself, she grimaced, knowing what was to come.

  Meal time with the Hateful.

  What became obvious to Diana was how meticulous the Hateful were with their routines and established order. The eating arrangements they abided by emphasised this. Breakfast was always at 8:00, lunch at 12:00 and dinner at 17:00, without fail, no deviations. When Diana first witnessed this, she had found it perplexing, but now, considering Reni's wisdom, it made a lot more sense. Control. Order. Routine. It served the same purpose, but knowing that didn't remove the dread that rose in Diana's mind as she prepared herself for the proverbial minefield she was about to enter.

  The canteen.

  A large hall full of tables and chairs, it served food through an internal window, manned by Hateful chefs. To Diana, the place reminded her of a school dining hall. The fundamental difference was that the people filling it were fully grown adults, with very peculiar ways of doing thing. They always sat in the same location, eating the same food. The peculiarity didn't stop there, for each tower had a timed allocation too. This never deviated. The problem was that it created an awkward system where if anyone (meaning her) dared to mess with any of this order and predictability, they were met with eruptions of rage. The emotion and sheer anger of the first few outbursts had caught her unawares, forcing her to rise from her seat and apologise before proceeding to find another.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  It was for this reason Diana noticed her anxiety returning as she collected her food. She had chosen a fish and potato meal, which smelled as though they had covered it in a variety of spices. Diana scanned around, pretending not to notice the disdainful glances that came her way. It had become obvious that they didn't want her here, but part of her expected that, ignoring such looks as she searched for a free seat.

  If I were my mother, I'd take whatever I wanted and tell them to look elsewhere, she thought ruefully. Diana continued to scan the hostile territory before spotting an empty table to the far right. On it sat a Hateful woman eating alone. Sensing hope and opportunity – it had become obvious that more of the Hateful were male than female – Diana made her way towards it. From a distance, the Hateful woman looked similar to Hela, but less voluptuous and closer to Diana's age. Diana opened her mouth to say something as she approached, but then realised the woman appeared quite depressed, toying with her food with a distracted look on her face. Diana put on a more sympathetic expression as she stood by the table, considering a different tactic.

  'Hey, are you alright?' she asked, prompting the Hateful woman to look up and eye her, before she smiled sadly.

  'I know you,' the Hateful woman said. 'You're Diana. Hela can't stop talking about you.'

  'Really?' Diana said. She sensed someone walking right behind her, which made her shiver. By the time she realised what she had done, she returned her gaze to the Hateful woman, whose smile had grown.

  'They giving you a hard time?' she asked.

  Diana figured there was no point in denying it, nodding. 'They seem to like their seats,' she said.

  'They do, but they don't own them. Kicking and screaming shouldn't get them what they want,' the Hateful woman said, straightening. 'They've probably seen the trick work and are following the others. You gotta be firm with them, Diana. They'll learn soon enough.'

  'And if they all turn on me?'

  'Then stand strong. Don't give them an inch. Show them you will not be intimidated and that you won't accept their behaviour. Trust me, most of it is just hot air and smoke. They won't touch you.'

  'How do you know that?'

  'Because you have Hela.'

  'Oh,' Diana said, now realising what the Hateful woman meant. It should've been obvious. Of course, they'd have Hela to answer to. Acknowledging this, she then stepped towards the table and took a seat, sensing the familiar pangs of anxiety that accompanied this, but deciding not to let them stop her. Diana then ate a couple of mouthfuls of food before glancing up and seeing the Hateful woman smiling at her. She smiled back before she swallowed her food.

  'Are you alright?' she asked again, hoping that the Hateful woman would give her an answer. For a moment, it appeared as though she wouldn't, but then she sighed.

  'It's complicated,' she said.

  Diana said nothing, figuring that silence was the best response. She focused more on her food as she reached down to take a spoonful.

  'Actually, can I ask you a question?' the Hateful woman asked.

  Taking another mouthful, Diana nodded.

  'How do you humans deal with complicated emotions, like love?'

  Diana almost spat out her food, having not expected that. She pondered it before a flash of inspiration struck her, recognising who this Hateful woman was.

  'You're Vennifer!'

  'Yes, I am,' she confirmed, 'And you probably guessed why I asked that question. Still, I'd like to hear your perspective. I love Lucifer, but he keeps running away every time we get close. I just want him to love who he is. What would you do?'

  Diana was unsure of where to take this. She considered the answer, her mind coming up with blanks as she became more conscious of how long the silence was stretching for. She then looked at Vennifer, seeing hope in her expression.

  Oh, Divinity. I don't have an answer, Vennifer. I'm as terrified of love as he is…

  Diana shook her head then, disappointed with herself but knowing that Vennifer would appreciate the truth. 'I'm not sure,' she admitted. 'We humans struggle with it too. We feel the same emotions, and we don't even understand them. The only thing I can say is to keep trying. Chances are Lucifer is struggling because he feels the same way. Sometimes, people just need time to work through things on their own. If they don't…'

  Diana paused then, considering. She studied Vennifer's intent expression, absorbing her every word. She knew then that she needed to finish her point. Vennifer needed to hear the full truth as she saw it, even if it risked hurting her.

  'Then sometimes you have to move on,' Diana said, her own face hardening. 'You can only do so much. If someone won't help themselves, then you have to live your own life, Vennifer. Of course, I don't know Lucifer that well, and I understand nothing about your relationship with him, but it's important to understand how far you're willing to go. Love is complicated, and as much as I wish I could give you a straightforward answer, I'd be lying if I tried to do so. I'm sorry.'

  Vennifer nodded, glancing down at her food while maintaining her smile. She then rose to her feet, regarding Diana while reaching for her tray.

  'I see why Hela has high hopes for you,' she said. 'You have an openness that our kind needs. Get Pauli on your side. I think you two could do much for us.'

  Vennifer then walked away, leaving Diana to ponder much as she turned back towards her food. When she ate again, her instincts soon informed her that someone was standing behind her. Making sure that she didn't appear rushed, she finished her latest mouthful and turned. There stood a huge Hateful man, a colossal mass of muscle who held a tray of food that looked tiny by comparison. He appeared on the verge of bursting into anger. Diana knew what was coming, armed with Vennifer's insights.

  'Can I help you?' she began, as the Hateful man sneered.

  'You're in my seat, human,' he said, saying the last word as though it disgusted him. Diana remained calm, gesturing towards the myriad of empty seats alongside her.

  'There’s plenty of space. By all means, join me.'

  Diana had expected some screaming or shouting, but she hadn't expected the Hateful man's sneer to turn into rage, slamming his tray into the table and snapping it in half. The action even spilt her drink as the rest of the canteen fell silent. Diana felt every hair on her body prickle with anxiety. However, she knew what she needed to do next. She stood up and turned towards the Hateful man, standing defiantly as he bore into her.

  'THIS IS MY—' he roared, before Diana raised her index finger and silenced him. She then whipped her finger towards where her drink had once been.

  'You just spilt my drink,' she said, in a calm matter-of-fact tone, 'and you will get me another before apologising for acting like a spoilt child.'

  The Hateful man regarded her in momentary disbelief, before the scowl returned and Diana sensed he was about to launch into another tirade. However, she placed her hands on her hips, leaning forward as though daring him to do so.

  'Yes? You have something to say?' she said. 'Because if you do, then you will speak to me properly!'

  Diana then gestured to the tables on which sat all the cutlery and trays, whipping her finger towards it as though aiming a gun.

  'Now clean up this mess. I'll be waiting right here for my drink and my apology. Understand?'

  The entire room regarded her in a stunned silence. Yet the Hateful man turned and went to the serving counter, collecting two drinks alongside some paper towels and another tray of food. When he returned, he placed one drink near where her first had been, then cleaned up all the mess he had made. When he was done, he picked the same seat where Vennifer had sat, looking away awkwardly while holding his drink. Diana regarded him and decided not to say anything further. She had sent her message. That was good enough. Yet, while taking her seat and resuming eating, she noticed the Hateful man flickering his eyes towards her in her peripheral vision.

  'I'm sorry,' he then said, and Diana pondered whether her mind was playing tricks on her. Yet, as she looked towards the Hateful man, she realised he appeared quite remorseful. 'We were afraid you were here to make us live like you.'

  Diana contemplated that in amazement, taking in all the Hateful men and women surrounding her, realising that they were listening.

  'Is that what you all think?' she asked, unable to mask the disbelief in her voice, before facing the Hateful man, shaking her head. 'No, I'm here because I want to learn about you, so I can break down the walls that exist between your kind and mine. I have no intention of trying to force you to live a certain way. I only want to understand you, how you think and feel.'

  Her answer seemed to assure the Hateful man, even making him smile.

  'Then I want to sit with you and understand how humans think,' he said. At once, Diana realised something vital.

  Their resistance isn't because I'm human; it's because they're afraid I'll take away the little freedom they have.