4. Violet

4

VIOLET

I stare up at the sky, covered with a million stars and hundreds of leaves, and try tocatchmy breath. I guess that was a misnomer about vampires not breathing. I feel like my lungs have been shot out of my tits and then slammed back in with all theforceof a, gee, let me think, a hundred-footdropfrom the fucking sky.

Groaning, I turn over and get to my knees, ignoring for now the small crowd that has gathered around me. I ignore the whispers and the snickers.

"Dear girl!"a voice booms out over the top of me, and I look up to see a man looming over me, dressed in dark, flowing robes. He crouches down and grips my elbow, hauling me gently to my feet as he gives me a once-over with a critical eye."Who in the world are you?"

"Good question,"I groan as I straighten up andpullmy arm back."Let my brain bounce back into place, I might be able to tell you."

He glares at me and looks up. I follow his gaze, but the Dragon is gone.

"Where am I?"I ask.

"MistHallowAcademy, aUniversityfor supernatural beings, and your arrival here is most unprecedented, and undignified."The last two words are muttered under his breath."I'mProfessorBlackthorne, the Headmaster here, and you are?"he probes again.

"Violet."

"Violet?"

"Violet,"I repeat, my voice steadier now as I take in my surroundings. Thesnow-covered courtyard is ringed by toweringstonewalls, gothic spires reaching into the night sky. Students mill about, whispering and pointing at me. I feelexposedin mythinmaid'sdress, acutelyawareof how out of place I must look."No last name."I had one, but that was thehumanme. The old me. This, whatever I am now, isn't her. Not ever again.

ProfessorBlackthorne's eyes narrow as he studies me."And how exactly did you come to be dropped from the sky into our courtyard,Miss Violet?"

I open my mouth, then close it again. How much should I reveal? I don't know who I cantrusthere."It's complicated,"I finally say.

Theprofessorsighs, pinching the bridge of his nose."I see. Well, complicated or not, we can't have you standing out here freezing to death. Come along."

He turns and stridestowardsthe nearest building,clearlyexpecting me tofollow. I hesitate for a moment, then hurry after him, mybarefeet sinking into thesnow. The cold doesn't bother me as much as it should, it is another reminder of what I've become.

As we walk, I secretly marvel at the castle around us. It's like something out of a fairy tale, all soaring towers and intricate stonework. There's an undercurrent of power here, a thrumming energy that makes the hair on the back of my neckstandup. MistHallowUniversity. This is whereFlintsaid he was going. He must've dropped me off, but he is nowhere in sight. I look all around, and I can see creatures of every kind, some that look like me, others that look like creatures from my worst nightmares. But none of themseemto want to hurt me or the others around them. Icatchthe eye of a man about my age, looking at me with blue eyes that are almost impossibly inhuman. His dark hair falls artfully over his forehead but is cut short otherwise. He is dressed in a black combat pants and tee, and he holds mygazefor a moment, a flicker of curiosity passing over his face. But thenProfessorBlackthorneushers me through a set ofheavywooden doors, and I lose sight of him.

We enter a warmly lithall, thestonewallslined with flickering torches. I feel myself relax a little and then snap out of it. Relaxing isn't going to happen until I know I'msafehere.

"This way,"ProfessorBlackthornesays, leading me down a corridor and into a large office.Booksline thewallsfrom floor toceiling andcover various surfaces. Amassivedesk dominates one side of the room, behind which sits a plush, high-backed chair.

Blackthornesettles into the chair, gesturing for me to take a seat opposite him. I perch on the edge of the chair, my back straight, checking the exits, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.

"Now then,"he says, steepling his fingers under his chin."Let'sstartfrom the beginning, shall we?"

I take a deep breath, weighing my options. I don't know this man, creature, whatever he is. I don't know if I cantrusthim. But I'malonein astrangeplace, with no idea what to do next. Besides, Flinthad saidMistHallowcould help me.

"I was turned into avampire,"I begin hesitantly, watchingProfessorBlackthorne's face carefully for his reaction."Against my will. By avampirenamedNathaniel. He killed my parents and kept me prisoner forweeks. I just escaped tonight, with help from someone, aDragonhe said he was, namedFlint. He saidMistHallowcould protect me."

ProfessorBlackthorne's expression remains neutral, but I see a flicker of concern in his eyes."I see,"he says slowly."And you think it wasFlintthat brought you here? "

Inod."He turned into aDragonand flew me here. Dropped me right into your courtyard."

"No,"he says, shaking his head."That wasn'tFlint. He is impressive, I'll give you that, but no. So,startagain, MissViolet, and tell me the truth this time."

"Uhm…" If that wasn't Flint, who was it? "I?—"

We lock gazes, and I squirm. I'm unsure what I'm supposed to say.

"If it wasn'tFlint, then I don't know,"I say slowly."I was running away from themansionI was being kept in, and thisDragonflew overhead, scooped me up and then dumped me on your doorstep. That's all I have."I sink back into the chair, exhausted, terrified that he is going to turn me away, and Istartto cry, hating myself for the weakness but unable to stop it even if I wanted to.

The sudden rap at the door interrupts whatBlackthornewas about to say. He narrows his eyes and hands me a hanky he pulled out ofthinair. I take it and wipe my eyes, willing myself to be stronger. But I'm hungry and tired and hungry. It needs mentioning twice, three times even because I'm fucking starving.

"Excuse me,"he murmurs and rises, going to the door and opening it a crack. I look over to see him slip out and shut the door firmly behind him. I hear muffled voices, and I strain myvampirehearing, but it's like they are talking underwater.

When the door opens again, Blackthorne strides in and settles back behind his desk."I see your story checks out, with one small detail overlooked."

I sniffle in response but don't reply. I have nothing to say.

"TheDragonwho brought you was, in fact, Glacier, Flint's father."

"What?"I murmur, shock hitting me in thechest. Although that makes sense. The sheer size of him would suggest as much."Why?"

"According to him, his son asked him to."

Warmth spreads through my cold bones, a feeling that has been severely lacking in my life in the last few weeks. "What now?" I whisper. "Will I be safe here?"

"Now, we get you cleaned up, a room, and we offer you a sanctuary where you will definitely besafewhile you figure out your new abilities."

For a moment, I don't believe him. It sounds too good to be true.

"Don't look so shell-shocked,Miss Violet. We are asafespace, and we will always help those in need. We just needed clarification that you were, in fact, in trouble and not here to make trouble. We take the security and sanctity of our establishment very seriously."

"Oh-okay,"I murmur, still not trusting this because it all justseemsso surreal. Why would aDragonshifter who has never met me in his life before, assist me in running from someone who heclearlyhas somesortof a relationship with? It makes no sense.

"Come,"Blackthornesays, rising again and gesturing for me tofollow."Let's get you set up."

Inodstiffly and haul my arse out of the chair, wishing I could stay there and close my eyes for just a moment."I'm hungry,"I blurt out without even knowing where the words came from.

Blackthorneturns to me and blinks before narrowing his eyes."When was the last time you fed?"

"I had a cup of animal blood, I think it was, about…"I shake my head and gulp. I don't even know, so I guess."A few days ago."

He pauses, staring at me in pity and something else. Anger? But not at me."And you were turned a fewweeksago?"

I nod.

His expression turns kinder, like that of a fond uncle."Well, we cansortthis out for you as well. We have synthetichumanblood on tap, which will give you mostly the same effects as purehumanblood."

"Humanblood?"I frown at him. This is all wrong. This isn't my life.

I follow Professor Blackthorne out of his office, my mind reeling. Human blood. Synthetic or not, the thought both repulses and entices me. My gums ache, a sharp reminder of the fangs hidden there.

We walk through winding corridors, passing students who eye me curiously. I'm acutelyawareof how I must look —dishevelled, barefoot, wearing a ridiculousdressthat is filthy and torn. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to preserve what little dignity I have left.

We arrive in a circular foyer type area where a lady with blue skin sits behind a desk with a computer in front of her.

She eyes me sharply, but whenBlackthornehas a murmured word with her, her face falls into one of sympathy. I'm starting to loathe that look. Before all of this, I wasn't someone who should be pitied. Nor did I want to be. I definitely don't now. I lift my chin higher, and she adjusts her features, giving me a smile."Welcome toMistHallow,Violet,"she says."Let's see if we can get you a room set up."

I wait while she taps into her computer, and Blackthorn says,"I'll leave you in Eldra's capable hands."

"Thanks."I turn back to Eldra, and she shoves a clipboard at me.

"Can you fill that in? We need to know what classes to put you in."

"I can't pay for classes," I mutter, embarrassed beyond belief.

"ProfessorBlackthornesaid it was taken care of,"she says absently, staring at her screen.

"By who?"I ask, my blood chilling even more than I'm used to.

"By me."

I turn to see the two men I saw inNathaniel'shouse,Flintand his father, standing behind me, and my head spins.

"Why?"I croak weakly, suddenly in need of blood more than anything else."Why are you doing this?"

As I wait for an answer, I get distracted by thescentof the very thing I'm craving, and I spin around, pouncing.