Page 4 of Crimson Shadows
I stare at the envelope, my heart pounding. It’s tempting, so tempting, to just say no. To pretend this conversation never happened and go back to my normal life. Whatever that is. The choice seems simple. Continue struggling on a night schedule when most of this world operates during the day or go to a placewhere there are others like me, and I don’t have to pretend how fucked up I am, which takes more energy than I usually have to give.
But even as I think it, I know there is no choice. I’ve never fit in the human world. I’ve always felt like an outsider like there was something fundamentally wrong with me. And now I know why.
With trembling fingers, I pick up the envelope. It’s heavier than it looks, the paper is thick and expensive. I break the seal and pull out the letter inside, my eyes skimming over the words.
“Dear Ms Légère,” it reads. “We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to MistHallow University for Year 3 of 4...”
I look up at Randall, questions burning on my tongue. But before I can speak, my mother steps forward for the first time since this surreal conversation began.
“Addy,” she says softly, her voice thick with emotion. “I know this is a lot to take in, and I’m sorry that it has taken this many years for you to find out. The protection spells on you were strong. I made sure of it. Your father couldn’t see you. They broke today, which is why he is here now. You are an adult now, and this choice has to be yours. As much as I wish I could go on protecting you, this has gone on longer than it should’ve. I know you feel pain living in this world, so you have the choice now to decide what you want to do.”
I stare at her, feeling betrayal, yet understandingherchoices.
Tears shimmer in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I wanted to tell you so many times, but... something always stopped me.”
I look between them, these two people who have shaped my life in such different ways. My mother, always present, always loving, but hiding this enormous secret. Randall, my father, absent for so long but now offering me a key to understandingmyself. I can’t even deal with this knowledge of what I really am, and I can’t show how relieved I am within myself with them both staring at me like this.
I stand up abruptly, clutching the MistHallow acceptance letter in my hand. “I need some time,” I say, my voice shaking slightly.
Randall nods, looking disappointed but unsurprised. “Of course. But not too long. The year starts next week.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I turn and stride out of the living room, ignoring my mother’s soft call of my name. I climb the stairs two at a time, slamming my bedroom door behind me with more force than necessary.
In the sanctuary of my room, I sink onto my bed, staring at the letter in my hands. Excitement rushes up as I realise I can leave my dead-end job at the morgue and go and do something amazing. I’d always wanted to go to University and learn as many things as I could, but trying to drum up the energy for day classes was too much for me. Now, with vampires wandering the halls of MistHallow there will have to be night classes, and not just for a couple of hours like at the Tech down the road, but all night on all sorts of subjects.
I read through the letter. It outlines the unique curriculum at MistHallow, designed to help supernatural beings understand and control their abilities. There are courses in magickal theory, supernatural history, meditation and focus.
As I read, I feel that spark of excitement ignite. This is it. This is the explanation I’ve been searching for all my life.
I may want nothing to do with Randall Black, but this chance to understand myself, to belong somewhere is something I can’t pass up.
As thunder rumbles outside my window, I make my decision. I’m going to MistHallow University. I’m going to learn who and what I truly am.
And maybe, I’ll finally find where I belong.
Taking a deep breath, I feel something shift inside me. The darkness that I’ve always tried to suppress, the part of me that I’ve always been afraid of – it doesn’t seem so scary anymore. Instead, it feels like a strength, a power waiting to be unleashed.
For the first time in my life, I’m not afraid of who I am. I’m excited to find out more.
2
ADELAIDE
Sighing,I know I have to get up and go to work. Reality check central. The morgue doesn’t wait. As I get ready, I can hear muffled voices downstairs—Randall and Mum, probably hashing out years of unspoken tension.
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Right now, I’ve got bigger things on my mind.
I shove the acceptance letter under my pillow and grab my bag. Heading down the stairs, I’m waylaid by Randall again.
“Adelaide.”
“Not interested. I have to get to work.”
“Wait,” he says and as I turn to him, he pulls something else out of his jacket pocket.
“What now?”
