Page 29 of Shadowed Fate

The guy who was staring at me in the dining hall on my first night. I didn’t imagine it. Up close, his features are even more striking—all sharp angles and obsidian black eyes that seem to look right through me. He’s dressed entirely in black again, and I notice tattoos on his knuckles and backs of his hands, symbols I don’t recognize.

Brigid, right?"

I suppress a shiver at the sound of his voice. It’s disturbing, for reasons I can’t explain. And how does he know my name?

"I'm Marius," he continues, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I hear you've got some— interesting abilities."

Something stirs within me, responding to his presence. I can feel the shadow magic, I’m sure that’s what it is. It’s the same sensation that occurred after I was attacked, and it feels almost like something shifting below my skin, fluid like silk.

I don't turn to look at him. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He chuckles softly. “Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Marius turns his attention back to the teacher.

Being in Grimstone makes me feel like I've just stepped onto a chessboard where I don't know the rules - or who's really moving the pieces.

"Pair up, everyone. You'll be working with your partner for the remainder of the semester," Professor Azaeron says.

Great. Just what I need. Forced socialization.

A soft tap on my shoulder takes me by surprise. I turn to see a girl with feather-like hair and big eyes behind oversize glasses.

"Hi," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm Eira. Want to partner up?"

Relief washes over me.

Finally, someone who doesn't look at me like I'm radioactive.

"Yeah, sure. I'm Brigid."

As we move our chairs closer, I see Marius watching us from where he’s taken a new seat next to a girl on the other side of the room. His eyes are calculating. It makes my skin crawl.

"So, what's his deal?" I ask Eira, nodding towards Marius.

Eira's eyes widen. "Marius? Oh, stay far away. He's crazy."

"Crazy how?"

She lowers her voice. "Let's just say he doesn't play well with others. Or by any rules. At all."

Before I can press for more details a shrill voice cuts through the classroom chatter.

"Well, well. If it isn't the charity case."

I look up to see Laria, the blonde bitch from the dining hall, sneering down at me. Her gaze rakes over my clothes with disdain.

"I know humans can be revolting, but did you raid a dumpster for this signature look?"

The old Brigid would have shrunk away, but I'm done being a punching bag.

I stand up slowly, meeting her venomous stare. "At least I don't have to compensate for my lack of personality by being an asshole."

Laria's face contorts. Alarmingly, I now see a set of fangs extending from her otherwise perfectly straight teeth.

Riiiight. Vampire.

Pissing her off might not have been the best of ideas.

Before I can think about what to do next, I feel the shadows. They start to vibrate and hum along my arms, like they’re waiting for me let them loose. My heart speeds up. It feels like if they get out I won’t be able to control them. Like when Sean and Gary attacked me in the woods.

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