Page 91 of Crimson Shadows
“You,” she hisses. “Will not last long here.”
“And you,” I hiss back, matching her cadence perfectly. “Will fuck off out of my sight right now before I smash this mirror with my bare hands.”
“Go for it,” she snarls. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She does, however, vanish from the mirror, but I can feel her presence pressing at my consciousness.
Turning on the tap, I splash cold water on my face, scrubbing away the evidence of whatever the fuck this is. The water runs pink for a moment before clearing. As I pat my face dry, I stare at my reflection, half expecting to see that other face again. But it’s just me—just Adelaide.
Or is it?
Am I even me anymore?
I lean closer to the mirror, studying my eyes. Are they a shade darker than before? Is there a hint of red in their depths? Or am I just being paranoid?
Shaking off the thought, I head back to my room and get dressed. The same old jeans and black tee I’ve been wearing all night and my combat boots. Minus any knickers. But it’s practical. I’m ready for anything. Because, at this point, anything could happen.
I need answers, and I know just where to start looking.
Hauling up my backpack, I jump a mile when Orby zooms out of it. I’d forgotten he went in there during classes and seems to have been asleep this entire time. At least, I hope he was and not being a semi-sentient voyeur to me and Corvus. “Orby,” I murmur.
He bounces around as usual, so I don’t think he saw anything he shouldn’t have. I’m going to have to remember that for the future.
Making my way downstairs, I cross the courtyard and head to the library. It’s quiet at this hour, nearing dawn. Perfect. I don’t need an audience for this. The smell of old books and dust fillsmy nostrils as I enter, a comforting scent that sets me firmly in reality.
I start in the vampire section, pulling out every book I can find on vampire lore and history. The weight of the old books is reassuring in my hands. Surely, among all this knowledge, I’ll find something about what’s happening to me.
But hours pass as I pore over dusty tomes and ancient scrolls, and I find nothing about any Crimson anything. My eyes burn from the strain, but I push on. I can’t stop. Not now. Not when the answers might be just a page away.
Crimson.I search for any mention of the name, any reference to vampires with red eyes or blood tears. But I come up empty. There’s plenty about vampires, their powers, their weaknesses. Stories of ancient bloodlines and legendary vampires. But nothing about whatever the fuck is happening to me.
“Fuck!” I exclaim, catching the attention of a vampire studying at a nearby table. He frowns at me, but then goes back to his work.
I read about vampires who can control minds, vampires who can turn into mist or animals. I learn about the politics of vampire society, the complex hierarchies and alliances. But nowhere do I find anything about a vampire with another presence inside them. A darker, more powerful self.
My frustration is ripping at my insides as I shelve the last book. I’ve been at this for too long, and I’m no closer to understanding what’s going on. The sun is high outside, and I’m getting tired.
Sighing, I gather my things and head out. I need air. I need to think. Then I need to sleep and start all over again after lectures tonight. The stuffy atmosphere of the library suddenly feels oppressive, the weight of all that useless knowledge pressing down on me.
Leaving it behind, I aim for the forest at the edge of the MistHallow grounds. The morning mist clings to the ground, swirling around my ankles as I walk. It’s peaceful, the sounds of the forest a welcome change from the stuffy silence of the library.
As I walk, my mind races. What the fuck is happening to me? Am I going crazy? Is this some weird vampire puberty shit that no one thought to warn me about? Or is it something else entirely? Something older, more powerful, more dangerous?
I think back to the bathroom mirror, to the face I saw. It was me, but not me. Older, maybe. Harder. And those eyes... blood-red and full of power. It was like looking at a version of myself from a dark future, a path I’m not sure I want to walk.
Or do I?
I can’t deny that the sheer power coming from her is alluring, tempting. It’s calling to me, and I want to give in. It would be easier than to fight her.
Crimson.The name echoes in my head, but it is meaningless.
A twig snaps under my foot, startling me out of my thoughts. I’ve wandered deeper into the forest than I meant to. The trees are thicker, the mist heavier, the chill icy. For a moment, I consider turning back. This far from the academy, who knows what kind of creatures might be lurking?
But something pulls me forward. A feeling, an instinct I can’t explain. It’s like there’s a thread connected to my very core, tugging me deeper into the woods.
I push on, the forest growing denser around me. The mist thickens, obscuring my vision. It’s like walking through a dream. Shapes loom out of the fog, settling into trees or rocks before fading away again.
Suddenly, the trees part, revealing a small clearing. In the centre stands a stone monolith, ancient and weathered. It’s different from the one I was in with Zephyr the other night.Symbols I don’t recognise are carved into its surface, barely visible under years of moss and lichen. It feels old. Older than MistHallow, which is saying something.
