Page 21 of On Wings of Blood

The room was nestled in an upper level of the tower, so some of the walls of the room were curved.

In the center stood a large four-poster bed of dark wood, draped in heavy, velvet curtains of deep blue. At the foot of the bed rested a large wooden trunk. Somewhere to put the belongings I didn’t possess.

On the far side of the room stood a tall wardrobe of dark oak, the handles shaped like coiled dragon tails.

Three tall, arched windows looked out over the churning sea below, where waves crashed against the rocky cliffs. Near the windows stood a small wooden desk, just large enough for scribbling or studying.

It was simple but seemed comfortable enough. I supposed I should be thankful it wasn’t a cell in the Black Keep dungeon.

“I’m Florence, by the way. Florence Shen. I’m one of the wardens for the First Year dormitory.”

I eyed her cautiously. “Wardens?”

She laughed. “Don’t worry. It’s not as severe as it sounds. You’re not in prison. It just means I help to shepherd new students around and to answer their questions.”

I tried not to look too skeptical. After all, to me this was a prison. Though Florence certainly looked very pleased to be here.

“So you aren’t a new student?” I asked.

“No, I am. But I’ve been here over part of the summer. My mother is one of the librarians. I’m more familiar with the school than most students, especially most blightborn. That’s probably why they selected me.”

“Then you aren’t a vampire?” The next instant I felt like an idiot. “Of course, you aren’t. Your hair.”

She smiled. “Exactly. And no, I’m not. Though there are halfborns. I don’t believe we have any in our cohort this year. None of the students in our dormitory are highbloods. Eventually, the best of us will be selected into one of the four houses and that’s when we’ll choose a specialty and eventually be assigned to squads.”

I stared at her. “And you... want that to happen? You want to be part of a vampire house?”

“It’s the highest honor in Sangratha,” she said simply. “Just being here at Bloodwing is beyond my wildest dreams. It’s a huge honor for my family. I mean, it’s just my mother and I, but she’s completely over the moon.”

The girl seemed nice. She also seemed helpful.

She did not seem stark raving mad. But I supposed looks could be deceiving.

I decided telling her how completely absolutely insane her excitement seemed to me wouldn’t be the best idea at the moment.

Not until I’d gotten to know her better.

With a sinking heart I realized something.

“No bath,” I said, my voice sounding hollow with disappointment, even to me.

Florence perked up. “You actually have your own private bathing room just through here.”

She pointed to a door I’d mistaken for a closet and I sighed in relief.

“Hot water?” I asked hopefully.

She nodded. “That’s one of the nice things about being at Bloodwing. You don’t even need to call upon a servant to fetch it. We have real copper plumbing. They’ve had it here for centuries. Highbloods are extraordinary. They really think of everything.” She beamed.

“Everything that can benefit themselves, I’m sure,” I couldn’t help but say.

She looked a little taken aback.

“Anyhow, thanks for showing me around,” I said quickly. “How did you know who I was?”

She gestured and I looked down at my hair.

“Oh. Right. I guess I stand out like a sore thumb now.”

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