Page 14 of Crimson Shadows
When I push open the door, the place is dead. And I don’t mean in the vampire sense. It usually bustles with activity as live feedings are strictly forbidden on University property and are subject to an expulsion order, which is worse than it sounds. You are blocked, practically banished from the supernatural community. It’s a harsh punishment, but if you are stupid enough to break the most mundane of rules in a place where boundaries are meant to be pushed, then you deserve to be shunted up the arse by a wooden cross in the real world. They say MistHallow is the making of oneself, and they are not wrong. It’s an interesting place. Many come here to learn about focus and discipline with their powers and abilities, but some, like me, are here simply because it is a place of containment for those misfits who are more trouble on the outside than they are worth. My parents decided MistHallow was the best place to keep me out of trouble and learn some discipline. Little do they know, I’ve found plenty of ways to push boundaries here, too. Just more discreetly.
I saunter up to the bar, nodding at the bartender. “The usual, Grim.”
Grim, a hulking creature with ashen skin and glowing red eyes, grunts in acknowledgement. He reaches under the counter and pulls out a bottle of crimson liquid.
“First night special,” he rumbles, pouring me a generous glass. “O negative, fresh from the source.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh? And who might the source be?”
Grim’s lips curl into what passes for a smile on his skeletal face. “Let’s just say we had a very generous donor. But keep that between us, eh?”
“Always,” I murmur and take a sip, savouring the rich, coppery taste. It’s definitely high-quality, healthy virgin blood. It’s a cliché, but clichés are clichés for a reason, right?
As I’m enjoying my drink, the door swings open again. I turn, half-expecting to see the mysterious girl from the North Tower. Instead, it’s Lucian and Asher, two of my more aggressive enemies at MistHallow.
“Corvus!” Lucian calls out, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. “Starting early, are we?”
I take another sip of my drink, deliberately slow, before turning to face them fully. “Lucian, Asher. Lovely to see you both. I’d offer to buy you a drink, but I’m not sure they serve hybrid bottom-feeders here.”
Asher, the taller of the two vampires, bares his fangs in a snarl. “Watch it, Sanguine. We’re not here for your pathetic attempts at wit.”
“No?” I raise an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Then do enlighten me. What brings two parasites like yourselves to my favourite haunt?”
Lucian steps forward, his movements fluid and predatory. “Just checking in on our loathsome troublemaker,” he says, his voice dripping with false sweetness. “Making sure you’re not planning anything disruptive for the new year.”
I keep my face carefully neutral, even as my mind races. They’re fishing for information, but about what? “Is that so? And here I thought you two were too busy kissing the professors’ arses to care about little old me.”
Asher leans in, his eyes darting around as if checking for eavesdroppers. “We know you’re up to something, Corvus. You always are. This time, we’re going to catch you in the act and make sure you’re booted out of life. Permanently.”
I can’t hide my amusement at this. “My, my, aren’t we paranoid? I hate to disappoint you, boys, but I’m just hereenjoying a quiet drink. No nefarious schemes tonight, I’m afraid.”
Lucian’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “You expect us to believe that? Please. You’re always plotting something.”
I grin, all teeth and fangs. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. That’s for me to know and you to, well, never find out.”
For a moment, edginess crackles in the air between us. I can see the desire to start a fight burning in their eyes, and part of me welcomes it. It’s been too long since I’ve had a good brawl.
But I’m not about to let these two idiots provoke me into swinging first. Not now, not ever.
“As much as I’d love to continue this delightful conversation,” I say, draining the last of my drink, “I have better things to do with my evening than trade insults with you two morons.”
Lucian’s eyes flash dangerously. “This isn’t over, Corvus. We’re watching you.”
I stand, straightening to my full height of six feet, one inch. Even though both vampires are bulkier than me, not many match my height or my pure-blood strength. It would take two or more weaker hybrids, those who have been turned rather than born of vampires, to take me down, but these two didn’t seem to get the memo. Unless they’re hiding something, I’m unaware of. “Watch all you want,” I say, dropping my voice to a low and dangerous pitch. “But remember, not all shadows hide secrets. Sometimes, they bite back.”
With that, I brush past them, ignoring Asher’s muttered threats. My mind is racing as I step out into the cool night air. Something’s going on, something big enough to have Lucian and Asher on edge and looking to blame me for it. Part of me wonders if it’s connected to the girl I saw earlier.
I need to know more—not just out of curiosity now but out of necessity. If trouble is brewing at MistHallow, I need to beprepared. Whether to avoid it or dive headfirst into it, I’m not sure yet. That all depends on the players.
I start walking with no particular destination in mind. The campus is quieter now, most students either still settling in or already tucked away in their rooms. But I can feel an excitement in the air, a sense of anticipation. Something big is coming, and I have a hunch that mysterious girl is at the centre of it all.
As I pass by the North Tower again, I pause, looking up at the illuminated windows. Is she up there now? What is she thinking? Does she know the stir she’s causing just by being here?
I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I’m getting ahead of myself.
One thing is for certain—wherever this girl goes, I’ll be watching. And waiting.
After all, what’s university life without a little bit of stalking?
