11. Violet

11

VIOLET

The night air is crisp and biting as I make my way across the snow-covered grounds of MistHallow. Snowflakes dance in the air, swirling around me in an ethereal ballet. As a vampire, the cold doesn't bother me as much as it once would have. I can enjoy these snowy days more now instead of grumbling about how I'm freezing my tits off. That reminds me it must be nearly Christmas now. It was almost mid-November when I was turned.

Christmas.

They won't celebrate that here. They won't have even heard of it. That makes me sad. It's always been my favourite time of year and now it's just going to pass by without any acknowledgement.

The castle looms over me as I make my way towards the main building, brushing aside my melancholy thoughts.

I push open the heavy oak doors, shaking the snow from my boots as I enter. The entrance hall is bustling with activity, and supernatural students of all kinds are hurrying to their evening classes. My eyes scan over Liam, and he gives me a reluctant half-wave born more from manners than any warmth or friendship. I wave back as half-heartedly as him with a sigh, seeing everyone glaring at me and giving me a wide berth. Apparently, I'm still on the hook for the witches' deaths in their eyes.

Slinking off, feeling more depressed than I want to, my first class of the night is Vampire History and Culture with Professor Blackthorne. I make my way to the lecture hall and slip quietly inside, finding a desk near the back and out of the way.

Professor Blackthorne sweeps into the room, his black robes billowing behind him. "Good evening," he begins, his voice carrying easily through the room. "In this lecture, we'll be delving further into the history of vampires and exploring the different bloodlines that have arisen throughout the centuries."

I become engrossed quite quickly as this was a topic we touched on a few days ago. The history he's describing is fascinating, although sometimes archaic and barbaric, and I take copious notes, marvelling at how much there is to learn about what I've become and how much worse it could've been centuries ago.

By the time the lecture ends, my head is spinning with new knowledge about vampire hierarchies, feeding practices, and the complex politics of immortal beings .

My next class is Blood Magick Basics.

But when I show up at the door, I find that I'm in the wrong place. The sign says: Blood Magick for Advanced Practitioners.

"Hi, sorry," I mumble to the Professor, a stern woman with steel grey hair and a pinched face. "I was looking for Blood Magick Basics. It was supposed to be here."

She regards me with sharp grey eyes, her gaze lingering on my hair. "Are you Violet?"

"Yes."

"Then you are in the right place. Take a seat, please."

"But I?—"

"Sit."

The short, clipped tone has me moving my backside to the nearest seat, wondering how the fuck I'm going to cope with an Advanced magick class.

In front of me, there are various magical implements and vials of different coloured liquids.

I stare at the array of unfamiliar objects before me, feeling completely out of my depth. The other students around me seem to know exactly what they're doing, confidently handling the vials and instruments.

"Today," the professor announces, "we will be working on blood imbuing. This advanced technique allows you to infuse objects with specific properties using your own blood as a catalyst."

My stomach churns. Blood imbuing? I can barely light a candle consistently, let alone do something this complex .

"You will each select an object from the tray in front of you," she continues. "Using the techniques we've discussed in previous classes; you will draw out a small amount of your own blood and use it to imbue the object with a property of your choosing. Strength, protection, clarity - the choice is yours. But choose wisely. The more complex the property, the more difficult the imbuing process."

The other students immediately begin selecting their objects and preparing their workstations. I sit frozen, panic rising in my chest.

"Is there a problem, Violet?" the professor asks, her steely gaze fixed on me.

"I don't think I'm supposed to be in this class," I stammer. "I've never done anything like this before."

She raises an eyebrow. "Professor Blackthorne specifically requested you be placed in this advanced course."

"Uhm, okay, but?—"

"I suggest you get to work. You have much to catch up on." She turns away, leaving me staring helplessly at the array of items before me.

With shaking hands, I select a small, smooth stone from the tray. It feels cool and heavy in my palm. I have no idea what I'm doing, but I can't just sit here doing nothing.

I glance around, trying to mimic what the other students are doing. They're all using small, sharp, silver blades to prick their fingers, letting drops of blood fall onto their chosen objects. I take a deep breath and pick up the blade.

"Okay, Violet," I mutter to myself. "You can do this. Just imbue it with something simple. Like strength. That's simple, right?"

I prick my finger, watching as a bead of dark red blood wells up. As I hold it over the stone, I try to focus on the idea of strength, imagining my blood carrying that property into the object.

To my surprise, I feel a faint warmth in my chest, similar to what I experienced during my training with Amara. The drop of blood falls onto the stone, and for a brief moment, I swear I see it glow faintly.

"Not bad for a first attempt," a voice says beside me. I look up to see a tall, willowy vampire with long black hair watching me. "I'm Gaida."

I stare at her, wondering if I hear her right. "Like the bagpipe?" I ask and then curse myself for my rudeness.

Fortunately, she laughs because she doesn't take offence but only because she has zero clue what I'm talking about. "What's a bagpipe?"

"An instrument for music," I mutter, my cheeks hotter than Hades. "I'm Violet."

"An instrument? I can live with that. I thought you could use a friend. Is it okay if we buddy up?"

I nod gratefully, relieved to have some help and also relieved Caine isn't here to scare her off. She seems sweet, but with everyone else accusing me of crimes I didn't commit, I keep my guard slightly up. "That would be great, thanks. I'm completely lost here. "

Gaida slides into the seat next to me. "Don't worry, I'll walk you through it. Blood imbuing can be tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad."

Gaida picks up her own stone, a piece of obsidian. She pricks her finger with the silver blade, but instead of letting the blood drop directly onto the stone, she holds it just above. I watch, fascinated, as the drop of blood seems to hover in the air, stretching and twisting into a thin strand.

"The key is to feel the connection between your blood and your intent," Gaida explains softly. "Your blood is an extension of your will."

Gaida's words resonate with me, reminding me of what Amara said about working with the magick, not against it. I watch intently as she guides the strand of blood onto the obsidian, her eyes closed in concentration.

"What are you imbuing it with?" I whisper.

"Clarity," she murmurs, eyes still closed. "For clear sight in dark times."

The blood seems to sink into the stone, leaving no trace on its glossy black surface. When Gaida opens her eyes, she smiles at me. "Your turn."

I take a deep breath and prick my finger again. This time, I try to focus on the connection between my blood and my intent, just as Gaida described. I think about strength - not just physical strength, but inner strength, the kind I'll need to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

To my amazement, the drop of blood hovers above my finger, trembling slightly. It's not as controlled as Gaida's was, but it's a start. Slowly, I guide it towards the stone.

"Good," Gaida encourages. "Now, push your intent into the blood. Feel the strength flowing from you into the stone."

I concentrate harder, picturing the strength I want to imbue. The hovering drop of blood glows faintly, a deep crimson light pulsing within it. As it touches the stone, I feel a sudden surge of energy. The stone grows warm in my hand, and for a brief moment, I swear I can feel a heartbeat within it, pulsing slowly in time with mine.

"I think it worked," I breathe, staring at the stone in awe.

Gaida leans in, examining my work. "It definitely did something," she confirms. "May I?"

I nod, handing her the stone. She holds it up to the light, her eyes narrowing as she studies it. "Impressive," she murmurs. "Especially for a first attempt. There's a definite aura of strength around it."

Pride swells in my chest, but it's quickly tempered by confusion. "But how? I've never done anything like this before. I can barely light a candle consistently."

Gaida hands the stone back to me, her expression thoughtful. "Blood magick is different from other forms of magick," she explains. "It's more instinctive. Especially for vampires. Our blood is our power, our life force. Using it in magick often comes more naturally than other forms."

I turn the stone over in my hand, feeling its comforting weight and storing that information away. "So, what exactly did I do? What can this stone do now?"

"Well, that depends on how you focused your intent," Gaida says. "Theoretically, whoever carries this stone should feel a boost of whatever you imbued it with."

"Theoretically?"

Gaida grins, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, there's only one way to find out for sure, isn't there?"

I raise an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Try it out," she says, nodding at the stone. "Hold it and see if you feel any different."

Curiosity piqued, I close my fingers around the smooth surface of the stone, concentrating on the sensation. At first, I don't notice anything unusual. But then, gradually, I become aware of a subtle warmth spreading through my palm and up my arm.

"I think..." I begin, then pause, trying to find the right words. "I feel stronger. Not physically, exactly, but more centred. More confident."

Gaida nods approvingly. "That sounds about right for a strength imbuing. It's not usually a dramatic change, more of a subtle boost."

"Fascinating," I murmur, turning the stone over in my hand. "So, this could actually help someone?"

"Absolutely," Gaida confirms. "Blood-imbued objects can be powerful tools. They're often used as protective charms or to enhance certain abilities."

I'm about to ask more questions when the professor' s voice cuts through the chatter of the classroom. "Time's up. Let's see what you've all managed to create."

As the professor makes her way around the room, examining each student's work, I smile at Gaida. She returns it and then lowers her voice to a whisper. "I've got your back, Violet. I don't believe the rumours so if you need a friend, I'm here, ‘kay?"

"Thanks," I mutter back as the professor comes around to examine our objects, short with praise, but at least she didn't tell me I'm rubbish at it.

Gaida and I part ways after the lecture. The snow is still falling as I make my way back to my room, but now, instead of feeling ominous, it seems almost magical. The world of night, once so alien and frightening, is becoming my world. It is my world, and I will embrace it, advanced classes where I don't know what the fuck I'm doing or not.