Page 78 of Crimson Shadows
“Time does that here,” Zaiah murmurs, clearly awake behind me now.
As Corvus and Zephyr leave, promising to see me later, I turn back to Zaiah. For a moment, as he looks at me, I see a vulnerability in his gaze that takes my breath away.
“Hey,” I say softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Sleep well?”
He smiles, reaching out to touch my face gently. His fingers are warm against my skin. “Better than I have in a while,” he murmurs. “How are you feeling?”
“Good,” I say, and I’m surprised to realise it’s true. Despite the disappointment of last night, despite the confusion and uncertainty of my new life, I feel alive. Vibrant. “Different, but good. Strong.”
Zaiah nods, his eyes searching my face. There’s an intensity in his gaze that makes me feel like he’s looking into my soul. “The Essence of Awakening is working its magick. Your abilities will continue to grow. Be careful, Adelaide. And remember, we’re here for you.”
With a final caress of my cheek, Zaiah rises. “I should go. You need to get ready for classes. But I’ll see you soon.”
As he leaves via the pocket dimension, I’m struck by a sense of loss, as if a part of me is walking away. The bond between us tugs at my heart, and I have to resist the urge to call him back. But I shake it off, focusing on getting ready for my first night of classes at MistHallow. I head upstairs to the bathroom and turn on the shower to let it heat while I strip off and change my tampon. I’m surprised to see that my period has stopped. “Well, I won’t miss you if this is a vampire side effect,” I mutter as I wrap it and bin it before turning on the shower.
The hot water cascades over me, washing away the last remnants of sleep. As I lather up, I replay the events of the past few days in my mind. The intensity of my connections withZaiah, Corvus, Zephyr and Ignatius—although he is a tougher one to figure out. He isn’t overtly interested in me, that I can tell. Not like the others. Maybe he is just looking for a friend. He definitely has one in me.
The last of the disappointment of not being chosen as House Captain washes away down the drain, and I focus on the strange new sensations coursing through my body as I finish up.
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around myself, wiping the steam from the mirror. I gasp as, for a moment, nothing stares back at me, but then I see my face, ghostly pale, almost translucent. I hold my hand up to my face, making sure that I’m still corporeal. The illusion in the mirror is chilling. My eyes are bright red, my fangs are drawn, my fingers hooked into claws.
It’s not a reflection at all, but itisme.
“Who are you?” I murmur.
“Crimson,” she hisses back. “Crimson Sha?—”
I leap back, stumbling over my piles of clothes, breaking the reflection. Gasping, my heart pumping, I look up from the floor to see the scary version of me is gone. “Fuck,” I mutter, shoving my hands into my hair. “What the fuck was that?”
There is no answer, but I don’t move. Not yet. I wait for my heartbeat to slow before I gather up my clothes and stand up. I risk a look in the mirror, but nothing stares back at me. “Well, I will miss you if this is a vampire side effect. My hair is going to be like a bird’s nest for eternity now.”
Sighing, I make my way back downstairs and attempt to get myself into some order. I dress in black jeans and a tee with a black cardigan over the top. Tying up my flat black boots, I see Orby whizz past me.
“You again. You’re like a cat at a fair, mate.”
He bobs up and down and nuzzles my cheek affectionately. I giggle and pat him. “We’re going to have to head to thelaundrette after class,” I say to him. “I’m running out of clean underwear.”
He jiggles from side to side in agreement, and I smile as I pick up my backpack. I don’t have any supplies, so hopefully, these will be provided somewhere. In the meantime, at least I have my phone to take notes if it comes down to that.
Making my way downstairs, I cross the courtyard and see many other students doing the same—some in groups, others alone like me. I pull my schedule out of my backpack and see that my first class is Vampire History and Culture. This should be interesting and informative.
Orby seems to know where he’s going, so I follow him through the corridors of the main academy building, excited but nervous. The hallways are filled with students of all kinds - vampires, witches, shifters, and beings I can’t even begin to identify. The air is thick with the mystical, and I can feel it vibrating all around me.
I arrive at my first lecture, eager to learn more about this world I’m now a part of. As I enter the lecture hall, I’m immediately struck by the diversity of the students. I thought they would all be vampires, but Lyra is here—who is definitely not a vampire, although her status remains to be seen—along with a handful of other creatures that bear no resemblance to the typical vampire, who, by all appearances, looks human.
I was hoping Corvus would be here, but I’m guessing he doesn’t need this class, so I take a seat near the back, trying not to draw attention to myself as Orby settles on my backpack. A notepad and pen magickally appear on the desk in front of me, to my relief. When the professor begins to speak, I find myself leaning forward, hanging on every word. We dive into the ancient origins of vampires, the different bloodlines and their unique traits, and the complex politics that have shaped vampire society over millennia. The Sanguine family come up as a casestudy for ancient vampire families and their political affiliations within the vampire community. I get now why Corvus isn’t here. Conflict of interest, or whatever they call it.
As the lecture progresses, I feel a strange sensation building. It’s as if the knowledge isn’t just entering my mind, but seeping into my being. I can feel my awareness expanding, my senses sharpening. By the time the class ends, I feel more like a vampire than I ever have before. Well, I assume that what this is, not having much to go.
Glancing at my schedule, I follow Orby, giving a quick wave to Lyra, who waves back and heads in the opposite direction. I wonder if I should have gone over and sat with her, but that is extrovert behaviour, and I am anything but that. I worry now that she has taken offence and thinks I’m avoiding her. I chew my lip and look over my shoulder, but she is gone, and Orby is racing ahead to my next lecture, so I forget it and race to catch up.
My next lecture is just called Blood Magick. I’m not sure why I’m here as Blackthorn said, I have nopowers,only abilities. I assumed that meant I couldn’t do magick. As I enter the room, I see Corvus wave me over to an empty seat next to him. I smile, grateful for the familiar face in this class, which I’m pretty sure is a wrong assignment for me.
“How’s your first night of classes going?” he asks as I sit down, his voice low and warm.
“Intense,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “But amazing. I feel like I’m finally starting to understand who and what I am.”
Corvus nods, a knowing look in his eyes. “It’ll get easier, and more complicated.”
