7. Adelaide
7
ADELAIDE
An incessant buzzing in my ear wakes me up. Opening my eyes, I realise I’m stiff, still in my clothes and starving. Sitting up on the sumptuous bed, I stretch and see Orby bobbing about, making that infernal racket.
“Shut it,” I mumble and climb off the bed to peer out of the floor-to-ceiling windows over the misty canopy of trees. “Well, I can’t fault the view,” I mutter. “But where is the bathroom and food place?”
Orby, being helpful in all things, zooms across the room to a panel in the wall that I wouldn’t have seen had he, yeah, yeah, he , not been dancing in front of it. “What’s up here then?” I ask, grabbing my toiletry bag in the hopes there is a bathroom… and a lift, seeing as I’m assuming the only place to go is up.
I’m right.
About going up. Not the lift. Sadly, there are only steps, but ones far more civilised than the ones that brought me to my room. Wide and wooden with a railing, I make my ascent, higher still, until I’m in a glorious bathroom nestled under the very top of the tower. “Wow,” I murmur as I take it all in. The shower is enormous and has a frosted glass pane that serves as the outer tower wall on the side. It has three shower heads.
But first things first. I’m bursting for a pee, and I need to brush my teeth.
Minutes later, I strip off my clothes and step into the luxurious shower, marvelling at the multiple shower heads, which are all pointing at me, making it feel like I’m standing under a waterfall. The intricate tile work laid out in deep blue and white mosaics is stunning. As the hot water cascades over me, I close my eyes and let out a contented sigh. For a moment, I can almost forget the strangeness of my situation and just enjoy the simple pleasure of a good shower.
Glad of the frosted pane when I see creatures swooping around outside, I giggle and wonder what it must be like to fly.
Washing up quickly, urged on by my growling stomach, I turn off the shower and wrap myself in a fluffy towel. I pad back down to my room, feeling refreshed but ravenous.
“So, where do I go for food?” I ask Orby—now his name—but then I remember the sandwiches my mum made and dig them out of my bag. I sit on the bed with the lunch box and tuck in, the cheese and ham hitting the spot and making things seem a bit less daunting.
Only a bit, though. I can’t hide out in this room forever, although I could quite happily do so. But Professor Blackthorn is expecting me, and I need to go downstairs and figure out how to find him. Perhaps the Blue Water lady can help me.
Finishing my breakfast, I get dressed quickly in a white shirt and black pants. The white makes me look paler than usual, but I think that’s what I’m going for. I don’t want to look human in a university full of non-humans. It makes sense to me, so I shrug and brush out my hair before snatching up my backpack and heading out with Orby next to my ear. I shut the door behind me and hear the lock click. With Orby leading the way, I head down the treacherous steps and out into the early morning, where the entire campus is quiet.
I would say dead , but the thought makes me snicker inwardly and is probably wholly inappropriate. Mist swirls around me as I make my way back to the Housing office, where the Blue Water lady helped me yesterday. I really need to find out what her species is called. She’d probably be insulted to know what I call her.
The doors open for me, and I step inside, looking around. There are a few students milling about, who appear to have arrived this morning, but no faculty members are in sight yet.
“Miss Black.”
I jump a fucking mile at the smooth voice coming from behind and above me. Turning, I clap eyes on the speaker, a distinguished, tall gentleman who appears to be in his early forties or so. He is dressed in a grey suit and flowing black robe.
“Yes, and you are?” I ask, wincing at how rude that sounds.
“Professor Blackthorn,” he states. “You are with me today.”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“We have much to go over. Have you eaten?”
“Yes, but where do I go for food? I had sandwiches from home.”
He blinks. “Do you have the map?”
I blink back. “Oh, the map, right…” I chew my lip. That is upstairs on the desk under the Welcome letter, which I’d forgotten all about.
Professor Blackthorn chuckles and snaps his fingers. A piece of parchment appears in his hand, and he holds it out for me. I take it and stare at it.
“There,” he says, pointing to an area on the map that says Dining .
“Ah, okay. Jolly good,” I say and then roll my eyes at myself. Jolly good? Who the fuck says that?
“Come,” Professor Blackthorn says and turns on his heel to lead me deeper into the building.
I feel eyes on me as I follow Blackthorn down a darkened corridor lit up intermittently by magickal fire torches. Or I assume they’re magickal. They don’t give off any heat as I pass them. My skin tingles, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I follow Professor Blackthorn down the winding corridor, trying not to gawk at the ever-changing portraits on the walls.
“So, Professor,” I say, breaking the silence, “what exactly does being a Vesperidae mean? I’m still trying to wrap my head around all this.”
He spins back around, his finger on his lips. “Hush, girl. Not so loud.”
“Huh?” I mutter, but lower my voice anyway. “Why not?”
“You are a well-kept secret and that is the way we intend to keep it. At least for now.”
“Why?”
“Many reasons,” he says cryptically. He pushes open a door to an ordinary-looking classroom, ushers me inside, and closes the door.
He bustles about, searching his pockets for something as Orby whizzes around the room before settling on top of my backpack, which I lean up against one of the tables. Finding whatever it is he was after, Blackthorn mumbles some words, and a box appears, bigger than a shoe box, but not by much.
“This is everything we know about your kind.”
I press my lips together. That doesn’t seem like a lot. “Uhm…”
“Quite,” he says wryly. “We believe you only found out about yourself yesterday and arrived here under the gun, as it were. Hunters?”
“Is that what Randall told you?” I venture.
He nods.
“Well, then, yes. My boss at the morgue staked a vampire in front of me and then decided I was next. Whatever protection spells my mother had on me dropped, so he must’ve been able to sense I wasn’t all human.” I mean, he seems to know about shit, and I’ve got nothing to hide. Maybe he can help me make sense of it all.
“Indeed,” he murmurs. “Randall did the right thing, bringing you to us right away. You are safe here, but I assume you have many questions.”
“Many is putting it mildly,” I say, sitting down. “Randall said there weren’t many of my kind around.”
“Three at the moment. Two who have been around for many years and, well, now, you.”
“How many years?”
“Centuries.”
“So, they’re immortal?”
“Yes.”
“But can be killed?”
“Stakes, fire, beheading, the usual suspects.”
“So, what makes me so special, then? Do I have powers?”
He smiles. “Powers, no. But abilities… yes. You have enhanced strength, speed, and reflexes, accelerated healing. You can consume blood for a boost, the usual vampiric stuff. But what makes you different from vampires, and this is the crux of your unique situation, Miss Black, you have the ability to amplify others’ powers when in physical contact with them.”
I stare at Professor Blackthorn, trying to process what he’s just told me. “I can amplify others’ powers? What does that even mean?”
He nods, his face sober. “It means, Miss Black, that when you touch someone with supernatural abilities, their powers become stronger. Significantly stronger.”
“But I’ve never noticed anything like that before,” I protest.
“Of course not,” he says, waving a hand dismissively. “You’ve never been in prolonged contact with other supernatural beings.”
Okay, duh. That makes total sense. I sink further into my chair, my mind reeling. “So what, I’m some kind of supernatural battery?”
Professor Blackthorn chuckles. “That’s one way to look at it, I suppose. But you’re much more than that. Your kind are incredibly rare and valuable. Which is why we must keep your true nature a secret for now.”
“Valuable to whom?” I ask, a shiver running down my spine.
His expression turns grave. “To many, Miss Black. There are those who would seek to use your abilities for their own gain. Some might even try to harm you to prevent others from using you.”
“Bloody hell,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “So what am I supposed to do? Hide in my room forever and not touch anyone?”
“Not at all,” he says, shaking his head. “You’re here to learn, to understand, and to control your abilities. But we must be cautious. For now, we’ll keep your true nature confidential. You’ll attend regular classes like any other student, but you’ll also have private sessions with me to work on harnessing your unique talents.”
I nod, trying to take it all in. “Okay, so do I pretend I’m a vampire, or what?”
“There is no pretence about it, Miss Black. You are a vampire at your core. You need to blend in as much as possible while we work on developing your skills in secret.”
“Right,” I say, feeling overwhelmed. “But what about... feeding? Do I need to drink blood?”
“You can,” he replies. “It will enhance your abilities and healing, but it’s not strictly necessary for survival like it is for full vampires. We have synthetic blood available if you wish to try it, or you can stick to human food if you prefer.”
I don’t grimace at the thought of drinking blood, but I do turn my nose up at the synthetic kind. Let’s get real for a second. I’ve drunk my own blood. Who hasn’t, when you’ve cut yourself, and you put your finger to your lips… or, in my case, sliced into my arms and then licked them, whatever. Same diffs. I have always had a fascination with blood that makes sense to me now and doesn’t make me feel weird or gross. I just nod while thinking, what about my fangs?
“You’re wondering if you have fangs, aren’t you?” he chuckles.
“Obviously,” I retort. “Do I? How do I, you know…?” I stick my index fingers out to mimic fangs.
He snorts and snaps his fangs down. “Like that.”
“Like how? You didn’t show me anything except maybe how to show off.”
“Bare your teeth,” he says, “and then just…” He blinks, and his fangs snap back.
I stare at Professor Blackthorn, trying to mimic what he just did. I bare my teeth and concentrate, but nothing happens. I feel a bit silly, like I’m just making weird faces at him.
“Don’t force it,” he says gently. “It’s an instinct, like blinking. Try to relax and let it happen naturally.”
I nod and decide to forget about the fangs for now. I can practise on my own in my room in front of the mirror for homework. “So, what now?”
Professor Blackthorn clasps his hands together. “Now, we begin your training. But first, let’s get you acquainted with the campus and your schedule.”
He waves his hand, and a piece of parchment materialises, floating in the air between us. I reach out and grab it, scanning the contents. It’s a class schedule, packed with subjects I’ve never heard of before.
“Elemental Magick Theory? Paranormal Ethics? Advanced Bloodline Studies?” I read aloud, my eyebrows raised.
“All essential courses for someone of your unique background,” Blackthorn explains. “You’ll also have private sessions with me three times a week to start to work on controlling your amplification abilities.”
I nod, still feeling overwhelmed. “Right,” I mutter, tucking the schedule into my bag. “So, where to first?”
“Let’s start with a tour,” he says, moving towards the door. “It’s best you get familiar with the logical layout of the campus. MistHallow has a habit of shifting on occasion. Keeps us on our toes!”
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder with Orby bouncing next to me, we step out into the corridor, the feeling of excitement and trepidation hits me in the gut like a punch. This is my new life now - classes on magick, secrets to keep, and abilities I don’t fully understand. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
Professor Blackthorn leads me through winding hallways that shift and change as we walk. Portraits on the walls whisper and move, their eyes following us as we pass. We emerge into a sprawling courtyard, where students of all shapes and sizes are milling about.
“This is the main quad,” Blackthorn explains. “Most of your classes will be in the buildings surrounding it.”
I try not to stare as a group of what look like faeries flutter by, their wings glimmering in the sunlight. A boy with horns growing from his forehead growls as he passes by.
“Remember,” Blackthorn says in a low voice, “blend in. Act as if all of this is perfectly normal to you.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Right. Totally normal. Just another day at magical creature university.”
He gives me a wry smile. “You’ll get used to it faster than you think.”
As we continue our tour, I start to relax a bit. The campus is beautiful, and a sense of peace settles over me faster than I thought it would. We pass the library, a massive building that Blackthorn leads me inside. “On the top floor, you will find the section on vampires,” he says quietly. “I suggest you start there and learn all you can about that side of you, yes?”
I nod eagerly. I’m quite looking forward to submerging myself into the old texts.
“Your classes start on Monday night. We run a mixed night and day schedule to accommodate all the creatures who attend here.”
“Erm, I’ve just been wandering around in the daylight,” I mutter, eyes wide. “If I’m supposed to be a vampire, won’t people find that suspicious?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “Do you see any sunlight out there, Miss Black?”
I peer back outside. It’s light but gloomy, shaded by the enormous trees surrounding the campus. “Oh, so it’s direct sunlight only that harms.”
He nods. “For most. Some are too weak to withstand the daylight as a whole. You are not one of them.”
“What do I tell people about me?” I whisper.
“You tell them that you are Randall Black’s daughter,” he states. “That is all they need to know.”
Easy for him to say. He isn’t the one who is going to be asked. But okay. I’ll try it his way.
For now.