9. Zephyr

9

ZEPHYR

Contemplatively leaning against one of the many trees in this forest, south of the main campus, I narrow my eyes at the top floor of the library, visible from my spot. Corvus is dangling precariously over my head in bat form, but as long as he doesn't shit on me, I don't particularly give a fuck.

"Randall Black's daughter," I murmur, unable to get that out of my head.

"The supernatural world's best kept secret," Zaiah says, blinking in next to me.

I give him a lazy once-over, not startled by his sudden appearance as he would hope. "Yet you knew and didn't tell us. Sneaky djinn."

"When will you learn? Sneaky is what I'm made of."

Corvus drops from his perch and shifts in mid-air to land at my feet, fully clothed, thank fuck. "No shit, djinn-lock. You got anything else to share? Like what the fuck she is doing here? How no one knew she existed until right now? And least of all, what the fuck is she?"

"She's a vampire," Zaiah shrugs.

"No," Corvus says with a fangy smile, which makes me roll my eyes. "Not a vampire."

"Totally a vampire," I say, pushing off from the tree, straightening my suit jacket, and brushing off imaginary dirt from my sleeve.

"And how would you know? Dark Fae have zero sense when it comes to not-vampires."

"Who cares, anyway?" I retort, caught out. Corvus is right. Dark Fae are completely useless at sensing other creatures. But I'm not about to admit that to him. "The point is, she's Randall Black's daughter. That makes her off-limits and dangerous."

Corvus snorts. "Since when has off-limits and dangerous ever stopped us? Daddy whip some sense into your arse over the summer, Zeph?"

"Fuck you," I grumble, although he isn't far wrong. Dad is a massive pain in my arse. King of the Dark Fae, although in no way close to retiring, or dying, he is brutal in his discipline, hoping to get me in line before I have to run the Kingdom. The chances of that happening are slim to none, though. I despise rules and will break them every chance I get. However, and there is a giant ‘but' to this conversation… she is Randall Black's daughter and that means something around here, whether we admit that to ourselves or not.

"You two are missing the point," Zaiah interjects, his white eyes gleaming with mischief. "Think about it. Randall Black's daughter, hidden away all this time, suddenly shows up at MistHallow? There's more to this than meets the eye."

I narrow my eyes, considering his words. He's right, of course. Nothing happens by chance in our world, especially not when it involves someone as powerful and influential as Randall Black.

"What do you know?" Corvus demands, taking a menacing step towards Zaiah, but he is all teeth, and Zaiah knows it.

Zaiah holds up his hands, still grinning. "Who said I knew anything? But I'm not blind or stupid, and I will say this—that girl is going to shake things up around here. And personally, I can't wait to see it happen."

I grunt at Zaiah's cryptic bullshit. Typical djinn, always speaking in riddles. But he's right about one thing - Miss Black's presence at MistHallow is going to cause waves. Big ones.

"What's her name?" I murmur.

"Adelaide," Zaiah replies. "In the human world, Adelaide Légère."

"Légère? Light. And yet her name here is Black. Interesting juxtaposition."

Corvus snorts. "Ooh, someone forced into Dark Fae Summer school, these last few weeks?"

I don't dignify that with a response. Despite my natural rebellious attitude, I enjoy learning.

"So, what's the play here?" Corvus asks, interrupting my thoughts, his eyes gleaming with predatory interest. "Now that I've smelt her, I'm not walking away from that."

"Eww," I mutter. "But we're not. Not a fucking chance. Little Light Dollie is going to turn all the way Black before the first term is out."

"You sense her aura?" Corvus asks, intrigued.

"Naturally," I scoff. "She is pure, not innocent, but she is na?ve, delicate. She is terrified of something out there, but more so of us. She is happy to be here, but confused and curious."

"You got all that from a few minutes with her?" Corvus asks, slightly jealous.

I grin, my sharp teeth on display. I may not have fangs, but my canines are wickedly knife-like and will draw blood just as easily. "I did. Blood is your thing, emotions are mine. She will be easy to manipulate for a while."

"Don't be so sure," Zaiah scoffs. "She caught on to me trying to get her to make a wish really fucking quickly. It was…" He breathes hard through his nose. "Irritating."

I raise an eyebrow at Zaiah's admission. It's rare for a djinn to be thwarted, especially him. This Adelaide is proving more interesting by the minute.

"Well, well," I drawl. "Looks like Little Light Dollie has some fire in her, after all."

Corvus chuckles darkly. "All the more reason to get closer. I do love a challenge. And if it's fire we're dealing with, you know who we need."

I chuckle. "Ignatius will be here tomorrow. He had… things to deal with."

"The volcanic eruption in Feeore?" Zaiah asks with a knowing smirk.

"Who am I to say? But back to Miss Black. There's something intoxicating about the idea of corrupting someone so pure."

"Oh, you have no idea how much I'm looking forward to it," Corvus mutters.

My mind drifts back to my summer in the Dark Fae Kingdom. The endless lessons on diplomacy and statecraft, the monotonous ritual ceremonies, the constant pressure to be the perfect prince—it was suffocating. But it also honed my skills and sharpened my powers in ways I hadn't expected. I have levelled up, and that is a secret that I intend to keep for as long as possible.

I flex my fingers, feeling the shadows dance between them. The darkness responds to me now more than ever, a living, breathing entity at my command. I can manipulate emotions with more finesse and weave illusions so real they can fool even the most discerning eye. The nature magick... well, let's just say the forest around MistHallow has never felt more alive to me. My dad's words echo in my head, a mantra drummed into me for the last twenty-one years: "We are necessary, Zephyr. We bring balance to the light; we remind the world of its shadows. Without us, there is no contrast, no depth to existence."

"You're plotting," Zaiah observes, pulling me from my incessantly wandering thoughts. "I can practically see the gears turning in that devious mind of yours."

I grin, not bothering to deny it. "Always, my friend. Always."

Corvus leans in, his interest piqued. "Care to share with the class?"

I consider for a moment. These two, along with Ignatius, are my closest allies at MistHallow, as much as I hate to admit it. We've caused our fair share of chaos together, pushed boundaries that should have remained untouched. But this... this feels different. Bigger.

"Not yet," I decide. "Let's see how our Little Light Dollie settles in first. Get a better read on her."

"Fine," he grumbles. "But don't think you can keep me out of this for long. I want a piece of the action."

I nod, acknowledging his claim. "You'll get your chance. We all will. Sharing is caring, after all."

Zaiah claps his hands together, his white eyes gleaming with excitement. "Well, gentlemen, this promises to be an interesting year. I, for one, can't wait to see how it all unfolds."

With that, he blinks out of existence, leaving behind nothing but a faint scent of sandalwood and magick.

Corvus lingers for a moment longer, his eyes searching mine. "Watch yourself, Zeph," he warns. "Randall Black isn't someone to be screwed with."

I give him a feral grin. "Neither am I, Corvus. Neither am I."

He nods, a hint of respect in his gaze, before morphing into his bat form again and taking flight. Do I envy this ability? Sometimes. Fae, unlike faeries, don't have wings, which is fine most days, but today, I'm agitated. Adelaide Black has sunk her claws into my soul and has a grip on it that won't let go.

Alone at last, I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of expectation settle on my shoulders. As the crown prince of the Dark Fae, I'm used to pressure. But this feels different. There's a charge in the air, a sense of impending change that makes my skin prickle with anticipation.

I close my eyes, reaching out with my senses. The forest around me pulses with life, each tree and blade of grass singing its own unique song. I can feel the emotions of the creatures that call this place home—the contentment of a rabbit in its burrow, the hunger of an owl on the hunt, and the nervous excitement of the new students arriving on campus.

And there, just at the edge of my perception, something new—a presence that feels both familiar and utterly foreign—Adelaide. Even from this distance, I can sense the turmoil of her emotions—fear, excitement, curiosity, all swirling together in an intoxicating blend.

I open my eyes, a slow smile spreading across my face. Oh yes, this is going to be fun.

With a thought, I meld into the shadows, allowing the darkness of the dense forest to envelop me. It's a comforting embrace, cool and familiar. I move through the trees unseen, heading back towards the main campus.

As I travel, my mind contrasts MistHallow with my home in the Dark Fae Kingdom. The endless corridors of the obsidian palace, the whispers and plots of the court, the weight of the world on my shoulders. It's a world so different from MistHallow, yet in many ways, the same. The rules, the discipline, the focus. It's an emotional drain when all I want to do is cause havoc and forget about what I am and just be who I am.

It's a freedom I cherish, even as I know it's temporary.

I emerge from the shadows near the library, my eyes immediately drawn to the window on the top floor again.

For a moment, I'm tempted to use my powers to observe her closely without her knowledge. A simple illusion could make me invisible, allowing me to sit next to her without her knowing. But something holds me back. Maybe it's the lingering influence of my father's lessons on honour and restraint. Or maybe it's just the thrill of the unknown, the anticipation of unravelling her mysteries slowly, piece by tantalising piece.

Instead, I turn away, heading towards my room in the East Wing. As I walk, I can feel the eyes of other students on me. Some filled with fear, others with admiration, still others with poorly disguised hatred. I ignore them all, used to the attention my status brings.

Classes will begin next week, and the games will be in full force. I intend to be at the centre of it all, pulling strings, weaving plots, and seeing just how far I can push before something—or someone—pushes back.

As I reach my room, I pause, my hand on the golden doorknob. Poor little Adelaide thrust into this world of supernatural politics and ancient grudges under the guise of a friendly learning institution. She's going to need allies, friends she can trust in this den of monsters.

With that thought, I enter my room, already planning my first move in this delicious new game. "Watch out, Little Dollie. Your light is about to meet the darkest shadows MistHallow has to offer."