3. Adelaide

3

ADELAIDE

The car glides smoothly through the night, streetlights flashing by in a hypnotic rhythm. I stare out the window, watching as the familiar streets of my hometown give way to the unfamiliar countryside. The silence in the car is thick and heavy, with unasked questions and unspoken truths.

Randall clears his throat, breaking the silence. "I know this is a lot to take in, Adelaide."

I snort, unable to help myself. "That's the understatement of the century."

He sighs, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "I understand you're angry with me. You have every right to be. But I hope you'll give me a chance to explain everything."

I turn to look at him, really look at him for the first time. His profile is sharp and aristocratic. In the dim light of the car, his skin seems almost translucent. It's strange how I can see bits of myself in his features—the shape of his nose, his eyes, his hair, that superior look he gets that I've been accused of getting.

"Fine," I say, crossing my arms. "Explain."

Randall takes a deep breath. "Where to begin?"

"How old are you?"

He snorts. "Wow, okay, going in for the kill. I am one thousand, five hundred years old."

I baulk.

I don't think I have ever baulked before 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 we had 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 protected by 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."

The idea is both thrilling and terrifying. All my life, I've felt like an outsider, never quite fitting in, and now I'm heading to a place where I might finally belong. But it also means leaving behind everything I've ever known.

I lean back in my seat, letting out a long breath. "This is a lot to take in."

Randall's nod is bordering on sympathetic, but I doubt he has that emotion after so long. "I know. I'm sorry it's all happening so fast. But after what you saw tonight with Wesley, we don't have the luxury of time. I'm glad you have taken this in your stride, Adelaide. It shows me your fortitude."

I think back to the morgue, to Wesley staking that vampire. A shudder runs through me. "Staking, beheading, fire? All these things can kill you?"

"Me? No. You? Yes."

"Am I immortal?"

"Yes and no. With your human side in control, you will age."

"And if my vampire side is in control?" My voice is hushed as I didn't even realise this was an option.

"Then you will be like me."

I swallow back the whimper that nearly escaped. Be like him . Ancient, jaded, a bit frightening. Is that what I want for my life?

"So, what can kill you?" I venture.

"Not much."

"But something?" He is being too evasive for my liking now. I want answers.

He sighs. "I'm not being deliberately obtuse, Adelaide. It's unknown."

"Untested?"

He smirks. "You could say that."

"Is that why Wesley didn't stop earlier?"

"It's likely," Randall says grimly. "But Hunters are relentless once they've identified a target. But don't worry, you'll be safe at MistHallow."

We lapse into silence again as the car speeds through the night. I watch as the landscape changes, becoming wilder and more rugged. We're heading deep into Northumberland National Park now, the roads becoming narrower and more winding.

I sink back into the leather seat, my mind whirling with everything I've learned. The countryside whizzes by outside, dark and unfamiliar.

"So, tell me more about MistHallow," I say, breaking the silence that's fallen between us. "What's it like?"

"It's quite unlike anywhere else you've ever been. The campus itself is hidden deep in Kielder Forest, cloaked by powerful magick that keeps it invisible to human eyes. The buildings are a mix of ancient stone structures and more modern facilities."

"And the students?" I ask, curious about who I'll be studying alongside.

"A diverse group," Randall replies. "Vampires, fae, elementals, shifters and other supernatural beings you've probably never even heard of."

I try to imagine a school filled with creatures I've only read about in books or seen in movies. It seems surreal.

"What about the professors?" I ask.

Randall's expression grows serious. "Some of the most knowledgeable and powerful supernatural beings in the world. Many of them have been teaching at MistHallow for centuries."

Centuries. The word still sends a jolt through me. I'm still struggling to understand the idea of such long lifetimes.

After what feels like hours, Randall turns off the road onto a dirt track that leads into a dense forest. The trees loom over us, their branches creating a canopy that blocks out what little moonlight there was.

"Uhm," I murmur.

"We're nearly there," Randall says softly.

I peer out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of this mysterious University, but all I can see is darkness and trees. Then, suddenly, we are driving through a cloud of shimmering mist, and the forest opens up.

I gasp.

Before us stands an enormous castle, its turrets and spires reaching up into the night sky. It looks ancient, like something out of a fairytale, with ivy climbing up its stone walls and gargoyles perched on its battlements. But there are also modern touches - large glass windows that gleam with warm light and sleek buildings that seem to blend seamlessly with the older structures, all lit up with floodlights that I doubt are powered by electricity.

"Welcome to MistHallow University," Randall says.

I stare in awe as we drive through wrought iron gates that open up on our approach and up a winding driveway. Other cars are parked along the edges, and I can see figures moving about.

As we pull up, Randall turns to me. "Are you ready?"

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "As I'll ever be."

"Just remember you belong here, Adelaide."

I nod, taking that ominous-sounding warning and holding onto it. Intimidated doesn't quite cover the sensation that crashes over me as I step out of the car.

"You need to go it alone from here," Randall says, grabbing my holdall and placing it at my feet. "Head to the Housing office as soon as you can."

"And where is that?" I murmur, looking around in awe.

Randall gestures to a large stone building to our right, its windows glowing warmly. "That's the Housing office. They'll get you sorted with your room."

I nod, suddenly feeling very small and alone. "You're not coming with me?"

He shakes his head. "This is your journey now, Adelaide. I can't hold your hand through it. But I'll be around if you need me." He hands me a small black card with a phone number on it.

I take the card, slipping it into my pocket. "Right. Okay then."

Randall gives me a small smile. "You'll be fine. Remember, you belong here."

With that, he gets back into the car and drives away, leaving me standing alone in front of this imposing castle. I take a deep breath, shoulder my backpack, and grip my holdall tighter.

"Here goes nothing," I mutter as I inhale deeply and try to steady my nerves, which are firing on all cylinders. "Here goes everything."