Page 26 of Prayer of the Damned

“Weird,” I admit. “But Valentina’s great, I think I’ve found my best friend.”

“Glad to hear it, darling,” I can hear the smile in his voice. “Bandini has never let me down, and I hope his daughter won’t either.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” I defend my friend. I’m not even sure why.

“Then why do I hear a note of concern in your voice?” he asks.

“Uh…” I try to organize my thoughts.

“I can’t read minds over the phone, Bellcolor, so you might as well tell me.”Really? That’s useful information. At least I’d have some measure of privacy during phone calls with my father.

“Your phosphorescent juice isn’t working on me. If anything, it’s having the opposite effect and I can’t stand its awful smell. It’s worse than human blood.” He’s silent for a few seconds, and I glance at the phone screen to make sure the call’s still live. “Dad?”

“Tell me everything,” he demands in a piercing voice.

“Valentina drank it and seemed to enjoy it, but when I brought the cup to my lips the smell turned my stomach. I’ve never felt so nauseated, not even the night I took all those pills. And when Valentina was talking about blood I thought of Libretto’s, and I had a panic attack. I couldn’t pull myself together until Valentina calmed me down. What does it mean?”

“You haven’t felt the need to feed yet? Not even on human food?”

“No, you know that. And I don’t feel hungry. Is that normal?” I ask because I really don’t know.

“No,” his answer immediately comes. “In fact, if we don’t feed, after a certain amount of time our blood starts rotting. And if we don’t renew our reserves we fade away, we start losing our power and we may even go comatose. It’s our weakness. But it doesn’t seem to be affecting you. A demon must feed at least once a day. Bellcolor, you won’t like it but I must report this to the Council. I’ll have to get back to you about it.”

He’s right. I don’t like it at all, and I regret letting him in on it. Lacking any alternative, I’m forced to agree: “Okay, but there’s one more thing,” I hurry to add before he hangs up. “We spent the night getting to know Beatrice and Greta’s trio.”

“Hmm…”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to join up with them after what happened with the Council.”

“The Council wants what’s best for you, Bellcolor.”Yeah, right. Even he went into a panic when he decided our stay at the castle was dangerous.

“Okay.” I give up. If he won’t tell me anything, that means I’ll have to discover the Council’s secrets on my own. Maybe friendship with the trio isn’t such a bad idea after all. “I have to get ready, Dad, we have a lecture about the rules in less than an hour.”

“Alright, Bellcolor. Please keep me posted. Have a wonderful day.” He hangs up, not waiting for me to wish him the same.

“I guess I should call my father too,” Valentina says as she leaves the bathroom. “Did he say anything about the incident with his miracle drink?”

“No, but he said he’d have to update the Council. Valentina, no one here can know about this. Turns out me not being hungry is really not normal.”

“I could’ve told you that myself.” She opens the mini-fridge in the corner of the room and removes a bottle containing more of the phosphorous drink. I watch her eagerly down the whole bottle. She must have been hungry. “I’d offer you some, but…”

I open my mouth, stick out my tongue and put a finger on it to illustrate my disgust. Valentina laughs in response.

“I’m gonna go take a shower.” A strong smell of alcohol wafts off me and my mouth tastes like death.

Valentina and I are seated in one of the last rows in the auditorium, by the aisle. Just before the University’s Dean takesthe stage, the trio pass by us and sit next to me. Valentina waves to them affectionately and they smile in response.

“Hey,” I whisper hesitantly. They still stress me out, despite having decided that it’d be better for us to be friends. Unlike Valentina, it’s not easy for me. We have to wear the school’s uniform to formal University events, and even though it’s the same outfit for everyone, it looks completely different on me. Tyra and Valentina look very feminine, and the brothers look like models. With the white eyes, they look like gods. I feel so out-of-place, and shrink in my seat, trying to disappear.

The curious looks fixed upon me last night at the get-together are falling on me in the auditorium too, and I wonder how long it’ll take for my transformation to be complete. I feel a little sorry for Valentina for getting stuck with me, and wonder if the siblings also joined up with us because they were explicitly ordered to do so by their parents. I can’t think of any other logical reason they’d want to befriend the weirdo.

“Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the University of Bologna,” the Dean greets us all as he adjusts the microphone on the stage. All heads turn to him and absolute silence falls where there had been clamor only a moment ago. “The faculty and I do our best every year to help you get acclimated in the easiest and swiftest way. I understand it’s not an easy transition for you, but if you follow the stages we’ve gone to great effort to construct for you, your assimilation is assured. That being said, there are a few rules you must not break under any circumstances. I know our entire essence as demons is to break rules, but you had better take these very seriously. The penalties for violating these rules will be unpleasant to say the least, and your future in our world is not guaranteed if you dare test us.” The Dean shoots us all a piercing stare, his eyes flashing dark and white intermittently. I get goosebumps and decide not to test him.

“Thus, the first rule – leaving the university compound without accompaniment by a faculty member or a senior student is absolutely forbidden. We’re in a city full of humans, but there’s a protective bubble around the university so you don’t need to worry about humans seeing you in your true form before you’re able to learn to control your camouflage. As long as you’re here, they’ll be completely blind to your presence in their world. The secret of our existence must remain as such, and if you cross the protective line you’ll endanger that secret. Be warned, the Council does not forgive those who break this rule.”

He again scans us all with his gaze, ensuring we’re all paying attention. I’m rooted to my seat and sure that everyone’s reacting just as I am. This demon is terrifying.

“The second rule – you are not to drink human blood during your first year of studies. We can’t afford blood-frenzied demons running around here, out of control. You could risk the secret of our existence. For your confidence, there are vending machines scattered all throughout campus. Please use them when your hunger awakens. Don’t test us on this matter.” He points at the crowd to emphasize his words. “Which brings me to the third rule – drinking the blood of demons is one of the most severe taboos among our kind…”

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