34. Adelaide

34

ADELAIDE

My senses gradually come alive as I drift out of a deep sleep filled with the most magnificent dreams. The first thing I notice is warmth - a solid, comforting presence beside me that I instinctively curl into. As I open my eyes, blinking against the soft, late afternoon light filtering through my curtains, I'm met with the sight of Zaiah's sleeping face.

For a moment, I'm struck by how peaceful he looks. The usual intensity that marks his features is softened in sleep, and I'm reminded of just how mystically beautiful he is. I resist the urge to trace the line of his jaw with my finger. My heart swells with emotion. Affection, desire, and something deeper, more profound.

Our bond, still new and not fully understood, pulses gently between us, a living thing. I can feel his presence not just physically but on a spiritual level, as if our souls are intertwined. It's a sensation that should frighten me with its intensity, but instead, I find it comforting. Like finding a piece of myself that I knew was missing all this time.

As I lie there, watching Zaiah sleep, I ponder the strange turns my life has taken. Just a few weeks ago, I was a somewhat normal twenty-year-old, apathetic towards most things in life, and now I'm a half-vampire with growing magickal abilities. The sheer absurdity of it all hits me, and I have to stifle a laugh to avoid waking Zaiah.

Is this fate? Some grand design that I'm only beginning to see and experience? The idea is wild but also comforting. I've never been one to believe in destiny, but how else can I explain the pull I feel towards these four, the way our lives seem to be inexorably intertwined?

A loud crack hits my window and interrupts my musings. Frowning, I carefully untangle myself from Zaiah, trying not to wake him. As I pad over to the window, I'm struck by how different I feel - stronger, more graceful, more aware. The Essence of Awakening that Zaiah gave me seems to have sharpened all my senses.

To my surprise, I see Zephyr and Corvus standing below. Zephyr tosses another small stone at the window. The courtyard below is shaded by the enormous trees overhead, and I smile and wave.

I open the window, leaning out slightly. "What are you two doing here?" I call down, not too loudly, mindful of Zaiah still sleeping behind me.

"Checking on you," Corvus says, his voice carrying easily in the quiet afternoon air. There's concern in his eyes, and I feel a warmth spread through me at the realisation that they cared enough to come. "Can we come up?"

I hesitate for a moment, glancing back at Zaiah's sleeping form. Part of me wants to keep this moment private, to stay in the bubble of peace I've found with Zaiah. But the concern in their eyes wins me over. "Okay," I say.

"Going to need more than that, princess," Zephyr says with a small smile. "Your tower doesn't like me."

"Likes me well enough," Corvus states and opens the door to step inside.

I giggle at Zephyr's scowl. "Yes, you can come up, my prince."

His eyes widen, and the smouldering look on his face makes me blush. "She's learning," he says and disappears through the open door, closing it behind him with a loud bang.

A few moments later, there's a soft knock at my bedroom door. I open it, and their eyes immediately land on Zaiah, still asleep on my bed. I see a flicker pass between them, but I can't decipher its meaning before they adjust their features.

"Come in," I say, stepping aside to let them enter. The room suddenly feels smaller with all of them here, the air charged with an energy I can't quite define.

"How are you doing?" Corvus asks, his voice gentle. "After last night, I mean."

I shrug, trying to appear calm even as I still feel a twinge of disappointment at the memory of not being chosen as House Captain. "I'm fine. Congratulations on becoming House Captain, by the way. You deserve it."

Corvus smiles, but there's a hint of concern in his eyes. "Thanks. But are you sure you're okay? We were worried about you. You seemed to take it a bit hard."

"Really, I'm fine," I insist, touched by their concern but also feeling a bit overwhelmed by it. "It was disappointing, but I'm learning that there's a lot more to all of this than titles and positions."

Corvus glances at his watch, his brow furrowing slightly. "We should go," he says. "Classes start soon, and we all need to get ready."

Time seems to move differently here at MistHallow, or maybe it's just the effect of being around these extraordinary beings. "Right, classes. That snuck up on me."

"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 with Zaiah, 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 it is me.

"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 the laundrette 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 case study 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 no powers, 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."

"Yeah." I glance around and then back at him. "I don't know what I'm doing here, though. I don't have magickal powers."

He frowns at me. "Yes, you do. All supernatural creatures do in some form. You, as a vampire, have access to Blood Magick."

"I do?" I frown back at him. Blackthorn told me I don't have powers. Then I recall his magickal ability. Was that Blood Magick? I have to assume so, but why did he tell me I don't have powers? Maybe he assumed such with me being only half vampire. But that raises the question of why I'm in this class then.

"You're overthinking something," Corvus mutters. "What's up?"

Focusing on him, I shake my head and force a smile. "Nothing. It's nothing."

We turn to the front as the professor begins the lecture, I notice a vampire glaring at me from across the room. His eyes are cold, filled with a hatred I don't understand. I try to ignore him, focusing instead on the intricate blood rituals we're learning about.

I get the impression I'm way behind everyone else in here. They seem to be taking in all the words as if they understand them, and I'm sitting here gawping like a goldfish, with it going in one ear and out the other.

"I can tutor you, don't stress," Corvus murmurs as he keeps his eyes on the professor as he calls for pairing off to practicals.

"Fuck," I mutter, looking at Corvus. "I don't know what I'm doing."

"I do. Don't worry."

"You keep saying that, but I'm going to fail."

"You aren't going to fail. Trust me. It's innate. You'll get it, and when you do, there will be no stopping you."

The professor has just finished demonstrating the blood-summoning spell, and now it is our turn to try. I prick my finger with a small, ornate dagger, watching as a bead of crimson forms on my skin. Focusing my energy, I begin to chant the incantation on the spell sheet in front of me.

At first, nothing happens. Then, slowly, the drop of blood quivers. It lifts off my skin, hovering in the air. Encouraged, I intensify my focus, willing the blood to move.

Suddenly, the droplet explodes into a scarlet mist. It swirls around me, responding to my thoughts and movements. With a flick of my wrist, I send the mist dancing across the room, weaving between startled classmates.

"Adelaide," Corvus mutters as he watches me.

But I ignore the warning in his tone.

As my confidence grows, so does the amount of blood I can control. More droplets rise from my finger, joining the swirling mist. It is exhilarating, feeling the connection between my will and the blood.

But then, something shifts. The mist pulses with a life of its own, growing denser and more agitated. I feel it pulling at me, draining my energy. Panic rises in my throat as I realise I'm losing control.

Just as the blood mist is about to overwhelm me, Corvus's hand clamps down on mine. His energy flows into me, steadying my power. Together, we rein in the wild magick, condensing the mist back into a single droplet that falls harmlessly to the desk.

Shaken, I glance up at Corvus, who gives me a small smile. "Do you see just how powerful you are now?"

"Wow," I breathe as the professor dismisses us, and we stand up to leave the lecture hall. "That was scary as fuck."

"Which is why next time I call your name, listen to me," he chides gently.

"Noted," I reply with a mock salute.

He chuckles, but it turns into a growl when the vampire who was glaring at me earlier approaches us outside in the corridor.

"Well, well," he sneers, his voice dripping with contempt. "If it isn't the newbie and her pet pureblood. How cute."

I tense, frozen, but Corvus moves smoothly, placing himself between me and the nasty vampire. The movement is casual, almost lazy, but I can sense the power coiled in his body, ready to strike.

"Back off, Asher," he says, his voice low and dangerous. "You're way out of your league here."

Asher's eyes narrow, a cruel smile playing at his lips. "Oh? And who's going to stop me? You?" He lunges at Corvus, fangs bared, a blur of motion and fury. But Corvus is faster, stronger. In a heartbeat, he has Asher pinned against the wall, one hand around his throat. The display of power is breathtaking and arousing.

"Yes," Corvus says calmly, as if he's discussing the weather rather than holding a snarling vampire against the wall. "I am. Now, have we got a problem here?"

Asher struggles for a moment, his eyes wild with rage and humiliation as the crowd of onlookers grows, some giggling, some growling, but no one else gets involved, thankfully. Then, slowly, he goes limp, admitting defeat. Corvus releases him, and Asher slinks away, shooting us one last venomous glare.

As Corvus turns back to me, I see a fire in his eyes that I've never noticed before. It's primal, possessive, and it sends a tingle down the back of my neck. Without warning, he pulls me close and kisses me.

It's passionate, claiming, and over far too quickly.

When Corvus pulls away, leaving me panting, I hear the hushed whispers around us.

"Are you okay?" he asks softly, his hand still cupping my face.

I nod, still a bit dazed from the kiss and the confrontation. "Yeah," I manage to say. "Who did that idiot think he was?"

"A complete arsehole who doesn't know when to quit," he snarls.

I nod, agreeing with the complete arsehole part. But while part of me is thrilled that Corvus staked his claim so publicly, another part worries about the complications this might bring. Have I made an enemy of this vampire who I've never even spoken to?

"What's next for you?" Corvus asks, interrupting my worrying.

"Uhm," I mutter, checking my schedule as Orby hovers nearby. "A break for an hour and then Vampires and Myths."

"Fancy a drink?" His hand finds mine as we walk, and I'm struck by how natural it feels, how perfectly our fingers intertwine.

"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit drained."

"I'm not surprised. You kicked butt back there."

"Hardly," I snort. "I lost control."

He snickers as we enter the dining hall to grab some synthetic blood. The hunger that's been gnawing at me since I woke is intensifying, and my stomach rumbles in protest.

Grabbing two to-go cups, we sip as we walk out into the courtyard, where we see Ignatius juggling balls of fire. The sight is beautiful and slightly terrifying, the flames dancing between his hands with a life of their own.

"Adelaide!" he calls, grinning as he sees us approach. "Corvus. How were classes?"

"Eventful," I say, watching the flames dance between Ignatius's hands. "I nearly lost control of a blood mist in Blood Magick class."

Ignatius extinguishes the fireballs with a snap of his fingers. "Oh?"

I shrug, still feeling uneasy about what happened. "It was more terrifying than impressive. If Corvus hadn't been there..."

"I told you, you're powerful," Corvus says, squeezing my hand. "You just need to learn control."

Ignatius nods, his eyes gleaming with interest. "I'd love to see what you can do sometime. Maybe we could practice together?"

"You do Blood Magick?"

"I do all magick," he replies with a smile.

"Well, go you," I giggle.

"What can I say? I'm an overachiever."

"And sweet with a cute accent, too. You're the whole package."

"Don't you forget it."

We laugh as Corvus watches this interaction with interest.

"Well," I say. "I suppose I'd better get over to my next lecture. Don't want to be late."

"I'll walk you," Corvus says. "If Asher shows up again, don't engage, okay? Walk away and tell me about it. I'll handle him."

"I don't need you to protect me from bullies," I mutter.

"I know you don't. But you will learn, Dollie, that I protect what's mine."

Sounds familiar.

I say nothing as we head to the next building over, hoping that this is a normal class without magick or bullies.