Page 18 of Crimson Shadows
“There is no pretence about it, Miss Black. You are a vampire at your core. You need to blend in as much as possible while we work on developing your skills in secret.”
“Right,” I say, feeling overwhelmed. “But what about... feeding? Do I need to drink blood?”
“You can,” he replies. “It will enhance your abilities and healing, but it’s not strictly necessary for survival like it is for full vampires. We have synthetic blood available if you wish to try it, or you can stick to human food if you prefer.”
I don’t grimace at the thought of drinking blood, but I do turn my nose up at the synthetic kind. Let’s get real for a second. I’ve drunk my own blood. Who hasn’t, when you’ve cut yourself, and you put your finger to your lips… or, in my case, sliced into my arms and then licked them, whatever. Same diffs. I have always had a fascination with blood that makes sense to me now and doesn’t make me feel weird or gross. I just nod while thinking, what about my fangs?
“You’re wondering if you have fangs, aren’t you?” he chuckles.
“Obviously,” I retort. “Do I? How do I, you know…?” I stick my index fingers out to mimic fangs.
He snorts and snaps his fangs down. “Like that.”
“Like how? You didn’t show me anything except maybe how to show off.”
“Bare your teeth,” he says, “and then just…” He blinks, and his fangs snap back.
I stare at Professor Blackthorn, trying to mimic what he just did. I bare my teeth and concentrate, but nothing happens. I feel a bit silly, like I’m just making weird faces at him.
“Don’t force it,” he says gently. “It’s an instinct, like blinking. Try to relax and let it happen naturally.”
I nod and decide to forget about the fangs for now. I can practise on my own in my room in front of the mirror for homework. “So, what now?”
Professor Blackthorn clasps his hands together. “Now, we begin your training. But first, let’s get you acquainted with the campus and your schedule.”
He waves his hand, and a piece of parchment materialises, floating in the air between us. I reach out and grab it, scanning the contents. It’s a class schedule, packed with subjects I’ve never heard of before.
“Elemental Magick Theory? Paranormal Ethics? Advanced Bloodline Studies?” I read aloud, my eyebrows raised.
“All essential courses for someone of your unique background,” Blackthorn explains. “You’ll also have private sessions with me three times a week to start to work on controlling your amplification abilities.”
I nod, still feeling overwhelmed. “Right,” I mutter, tucking the schedule into my bag. “So, where to first?”
“Let’s start with a tour,” he says, moving towards the door. “It’s best you get familiar with the logical layout of the campus. MistHallow has a habit of shifting on occasion. Keeps us on our toes!”
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder with Orby bouncing next to me, we step out into the corridor, the feeling of excitement and trepidation hits me in the gut like a punch. This is my new life now - classes on magick, secrets to keep, and abilities I don’t fully understand. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
Professor Blackthorn leads me through winding hallways that shift and change as we walk. Portraits on the walls whisper and move, their eyes following us as we pass. We emerge into a sprawling courtyard, where students of all shapes and sizes are milling about.
“This is the main quad,” Blackthorn explains. “Most of your classes will be in the buildings surrounding it.”
I try not to stare as a group of what look like faeries flutter by, their wings glimmering in the sunlight. A boy with horns growing from his forehead growls as he passes by.
“Remember,” Blackthorn says in a low voice, “blend in. Act as if all of this is perfectly normal to you.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Right. Totally normal. Just another day at magical creature university.”
He gives me a wry smile. “You’ll get used to it faster than you think.”
As we continue our tour, I start to relax a bit. The campus is beautiful, and a sense of peace settles over me faster than I thought it would. We pass the library, a massive building that Blackthorn leads me inside. “On the top floor, you will find the section on vampires,” he says quietly. “I suggest you start there and learn all you can about that side of you, yes?”
I nod eagerly. I’m quite looking forward to submerging myself into the old texts.
“Your classes start on Monday night. We run a mixed night and day schedule to accommodate all the creatures who attend here.”
“Erm, I’ve just been wandering around in the daylight,” I mutter, eyes wide. “If I’m supposed to be a vampire, won’t people find that suspicious?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “Do you see any sunlight out there, Miss Black?”
