Page 1 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

Chapter One

Serenity

I looked around my dorm room at Crescent Moon University, taking it all in. The clean, crisp scent of fresh linens and the faint aroma of coffee from the mug on my desk were in sharp contrast to the stench of stale beer and rotting food that had constantly permeated my childhood home. My mom passed away when I was fourteen, and with my stepfather’s drinking and poker buddies always coming and going, it had been a constant struggle for me to keep the place clean.

I was excited. This dorm represented my chance at a fresh start, an escape from the chaos that had defined my life for the last four years. My eyes drifted to my poster of Captain America on the wall, his shield gleaming with the promise of justice and protection. It had been the first thingI put up when I moved in. Growing up, I had always dreamed of meeting a hero like him, someone who could swoop in and save me from the villains that always seemed to surround me at every turn, even though in my eighteen years I had learned the hard truth—heroes didn’t exist, at least not in my world.

Instead, I was stuck with my stepfather, Freddie, the leader of the pack of lowlifes that had taken over our home the moment Mom was in the ground. He was the kind of villain who didn’t need any superpowers; his cruelty and manipulation were more than enough to make my life a living hell. But now, standing in this small, tidy room that was all my own, I felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, I could finally break free of him and start living life on my own terms.

I smiled at my best friend, Joy DuPont. “Can you believe it? I’m actually here.”

Joy, her raven-black hair pulled back in a ponytail and dressed in pink sweatpants that made her look like an athletic version of Barbie, sat down next to me on my twin bed. “You worked your ass off to get here, girl. I don’t know many people that could work three jobs like you,” she said, leaning her head on my shoulder and gesturing toward my poster. “Just like Captain America—I can do this all day.”

I let out a deep sigh and squeezed her hand tight. “Even better, I finally escaped Freaky Freddie’s clutches.” My heart sang at the idea of never having to lock my bedroom or bathroom door again or needing to constantly be looking over my shoulder.

Joy returned the squeeze with a thoughtful nod. “Yup.On the scale of creepy dudes, Freddie tops them all. But hey, that’s all behind you now. You’re safe here, and I’m right by your side to make sure it stays that way.”

I grinned, feeling truly free for the first time in ages. “And I never have to see that man again, thanks to you and your dad.”

She winked playfully. “Having a family of cops comes with certain perks,” she said, elbowing me gently. “Besides, my dad thinks of you as a daughter. Trust me, slapping that restraining order on Freddie totally made his day.”

Freddie had beaten me countless times but had always weaseled his way out of getting arrested. He was friends with some corrupt cops, and they always made sure the paperwork disappeared…until Joy’s dad made detective, that is. Then everything changed.

Her trademark smile lit up her face. “Let’s celebrate. Classes don’t start until tomorrow. Apparently, some of the girls on our floor are going to The Junction to get to know each other. I think we should go too. We haven’t really met anyone on this floor, and it would be good to make some new friends.”

The Junction was a restaurant across the street from our dorm and a popular local hangout for college students. It was rumored to have the absolute best pan-sized fresh baked cookies with homemade ice cream, beignets, and chunky bread pudding. I wasn’t completely convinced on the bread pudding because that had been Mom’s specialty. But I hadn’t had some for a long time, and it sounded tempting.

I frowned, looking down at my dirty sweatshirt and pants. “I look like crap.”

Joy giggled. “It’s not for another hour,” she said, giving me another playful nudge with her elbow. “Plenty of time to spruce up. Come on, it’ll be a blast—and hey, who cares if we’re a bit messy? We’re going for the food, not a fashion show! Please?”

She batted her eyelashes, and I laughed. I never could deny her anything.

I leaned my head on her shoulder. “Okay.”

“Yay!” Joy hopped off the bed, but her socked feet slid on the smooth wooden floor, causing her to lose her balance. She stumbled and hit her head on the floor with a loud thud.

I rushed over and knelt down next to her. “Oh my god, are you all right?”

Her smile was forced as she rubbed her forehead. “I think I saw stars for a moment.”

I gently placed my palm on her forehead, and as soon as I did, the familiar tingling sensations rushed through my hand. My head snapped back, and…yep, there it was…my nose started bleeding. I dropped my arm and quickly grabbed a tissue. “Feel better?”

She rubbed her forehead. “Yes, much, thank you. I’m not dizzy or anything. Wow. You’ve definitely got the healing touch, girl,” Joy said with a relieved smile, winking at me to lighten the moment.

My shoulders sagged, and I stared at the hardwood floor. “I wish I knew how I’m doing it.” I blinked away tears. “And I really wish I’d had it when Mom got cancer.” My voice caught, and I struggled to keep the tears away.

The memory of my mom’s final, horrible days flooded my mind. Why couldn’t I have already had thisability then?

Joy got up from the floor and pulled me into a tight bear hug. “I know,” she whispered, her own voice shaking with emotion. “Your mom would have been so proud of you. But hey, I’m sure she’s smiling down on you, seeing all the amazing things you’re doing.”

We held each other for a few minutes before she pulled away, wiping her cheeks. “Enough of this. We gotta get ready and head over to The Junction to meet up with everyone else on our floor. We don’t wanna be late, right? It’ll be super fun to finally get to know our neighbors better. Let’s just throw on something cute and comfy, do a quick makeup touch-up, and we’ll be good to go!”

I sniffed and took a deep breath, then held up my palms. “Okay. Okay. I don’t want to think about Mom or what happened after she died, anyway. Those memories can stay buried. Let me just take out this last bit of trash, then I’ll get dressed and we can go.”

Joy laughed and clapped her hands. “Yay! I’ll be out of the shower by the time you get back. I’m so excited to meet everyone. This is gonna be an amazing night, for sure!”

“No rush,” I said as I picked up our trash can that was filled to overflowing.

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