Page 9 of Crimson Shadows
I baulk.
I don’t think I have everbaulkedbefore in my entire life, but here I am… baulking at him. “Come again,” I splutter.
“One and a half kay,” he murmurs with a slow smile.
“Jesus fuck,” I groan, dropping my head into my hands. “This is like some sort of sick joke.”
“Sadly not. I’m old.”
“No shit, Sherlock. You’re like early Dark Ages old.”
“Well, fuck,” he mutters. “When you put it like that.”
“I can do Maths. I’m quite good at it. You’re not old; you’re ancient.”
He chuckles, and I feel myself relaxing. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m starting to truly accept this bizarre reality or if it’s just the absurdity of the situation, but I find myself laughing along with him.
“So, you’ve seen a lot in your lifetime,” I say, trying to wrap my head around his age.
Randall nods. “More than you can imagine. I’ve witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth of new technologies, the changing of the world.”
“And where do I fit into all this?” I ask the question that’s been burning in my mind since he showed up at our door.
He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on the dark road ahead. “You, Adelaide, are something truly special. A Vesperidae—half vampire, half human. It’s an incredibly rare occurrence.”
“But why?” I press. “Why did you spawn a child with my mother?”
Randall’s expression softens slightly. “I loved your mother, Adelaide. I still do, in my own way. But our worlds were too different. She wanted a normal life for you, away from the dangers of the supernatural world, and it’s not like wehad a choice. Vampires can procreate with other vampires on occasion. Those vampires are also quite rare and very powerful, but mixed-species births are… unique.”
“But more of my kind exist?” I shake my head.My kind.
“A couple, no more.”
“Do you know them?”
“I know of them. A Vesperidae, or Vesper, hasn’t been born for several centuries.”
I gulp back the enormity of that news as Randall checks the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. “Are we being followed?”
“No, not yet.”
“Not yet.”
“Your true nature has been found out. They will come.” His blunt statement does nothing to calm my growing nerves again as we travel deeper into the very north of the English countryside.
I shiver, staring out into the darkness beyond the car windows. The reality of my new situation is starting to sink in again. But this time, it’s not just some fantasy that I wish to be true. I actually know now that all of this is real. I’m not just leaving home—I’m running from danger, from people who apparently want to hunt me down.
“So, these Hunters,” I say, breaking the tense silence. “What exactly do they want with me?”
Randall’s jaw tightens. “As I’ve said, Vespers are incredibly rare and powerful. Some Hunters would want to study you and experiment on you. Others would simply want to eliminate you, seeing you as an abomination.”
A chill runs down my spine. “Experiment on me? Eliminate me? Jesus.”
“Which is why MistHallow is so important,” Randall continues. “It’s not just a school - it’s a sanctuary. It is protectedby ancient magicks that keep it hidden from those who would do harm to supernatural beings. That’s why I want you there, Adelaide.”
I nod slowly, trying to process everything. “And what will I learn there? How to be a vampire?”
Randall chuckles. “Among other things. You’ll learn about your heritage, how to control your abilities, the history and customs of the supernatural world. But more importantly, you’ll be among others like yourself.”
