Page 60 of Crimson Shadows
But the longer I sit there, the worse the tiredness becomes. Yawning again, I feel my eyes close.
I jolt awake,disoriented. The book has fallen to the floor and sunlight has moved away from the window, but it is still light outside. I must have dozed off for a while.
Groaning, I stretch and check the time. I’ve slept most of the day away, which I suppose is what I need to be doing to get on a full night schedule. The flask of blood catches my eye. Without thinking, I get up and grab it and take another long swig before I can talk myself out of it. The effect is immediate - a rush of energy and heightened senses.
“Fuck,” I mutter, recapping the flask. I need to be more careful with this stuff. It’s far too easy to lose control.
I set the flask down, trying to ignore the lingering taste of blood on my tongue. My mind is clearer now, the fog of sleep lifting. I need to get ready for my meeting with Professor Blackthorn. As I get dressed in jeans and a tee and gather my things, I can’t help but think about Zaiah and Corvus. The intensity of those encounters still lingers, making my skin tingle at the memory.
But there’s no time to dwell on that now. I have responsibilities, classes to attend, a whole new world of the supernatural to learn about. I can’t let myself get distracted, no matter how tempting it might be. I need to stay focused. I have a lot to learn, and I’m determined to make the most of my time at MistHallow now that I’m here.
Orby appears by my side. He seems to be flitting in and out at the moment and I find that I miss him when he isn’t there. “Come on then,” I say to him. “Let’s get this party started.”
I grab the flask and shove it in my backpack, but then think better of it and take it out. Blackthorn said human blood wasn’t allowed on campus. The vampires will be able to smell it a mile away.
As I descend the tower stairs, I steel myself for whatever the night might bring when I push open the tower door.
Startled, I come face to face with a burly creature, who I would say is a vampire, but I could be way off base. “Hey,” I say as I close the door behind me.
He is not lurking as such, but he isn’t exactly passing by either. “Hey, Adelaide, right? I’m Lucian.”
“Hi, Lucian and yeah, Adelaide.”
He grins, but there’s something predatory in his gaze that sets me on edge. “Pleasure to finally meet you. We’ve all been so curious about the new third-year vampire on campus.”
I force a smile, trying to keep my tone light. “Well, here I am. Nothing too exciting, I’m afraid.”
Lucian takes a step closer, invading my personal space. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. A vampire coming in so late is pretty fascinating if you ask me.”
My instincts are screaming at me to get away from him, but I stand my ground. “I guess. Look, I’m meeting Professor Blackthorn, I need to go.”
“Of course,” he says smoothly, but he doesn’t move. “I just wanted to introduce myself. Maybe we could grab a drink sometime? I’d love to hear more about how you didn’t know you were a vampire until recently.”
“Who says I didn’t?” I ask suspiciously.
That smile widens. “Word around campus.”
“Well, thanks for the offer, but I’m pretty busy getting settled in,” I reply, trying to sidestep him.
Lucian’s hand shoots out, gripping my arm. It’s not painful, but it’s firm enough to stop me in my tracks and to give me the biggest ick of my entire life. My skin wants to shrivel up and crumble from his touch through my jacket. “Come on, don’t be like that. We’re all friends here at MistHallow.”
I narrow my eyes, feeling a surge of anger. “Let go of me,” I snap.
For a moment, Lucian looks like he is going to argue but then a blur of black and purple zooms past me and slams Lucian into the tower wall, ripping him away from me and making me stumble.
“Zephyr,” I mutter as I see the Dark Fae snarling at the vampire he has in his grip.
“Don’tevertouch her,” Zephyr states, all coolness and calm while my heart is beating like a wild bird trying to escape my rib cage.
“We were just getting acquainted,” Lucian snaps back.
“No,” Zephyr says and flicks his fingers towards Lucian.
The Dark Fae magick, a black shadow of pure malevolence wraps around Lucian’s throat, choking him. His eyes widen in panic as he claws at the invisible force.
Zephyr turns to me, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. For a moment, I see the true power of the Dark Fae, and it’s disturbing. “Are you okay?”
Unable to speak, I simply nod, even though my arm feels bruised from the touch.
