Chapter 2 Rune
rune
. . .
Dimitri and I were the last ones to walk into House of Twilight.
We were assigned the ground floor of the house.
Its design was reminiscent of the circular year-one house, only much larger.
Ten doors surrounded a shared living area.
Each door bore the silver-black House of Twilight crest, and the walls were black stone veined with shimmering silver threads that pulsed faintly with protection enchantments.
We entered the central shared space, where we saw the sunken common area and the kitchen, which gleamed from the polished steel appliances and black marble counters.
There were eight other students standing among the dark leather sofas and a low obsidian table in the middle. I noticed Cora, one of the siren triplets who were into my brother, standing to the side.
They crowded around another student, whose bright green eyes rested on us.
“Thanks for joining us. If you were a minute later, you’d be considered late,” he said condescendingly, running a hand through his black hair. “Not very prompt.”
“And?” Dimitri raised a brow at him.
“And that would be something to write you up for.” He flashed us a cocky grin.
I rolled my eyes. “And who the fuck are you?”
“Glad you asked, Rune.” He kept that grin on his face. “I’m your house head. My name’s Carson. I’m an incubus, and I’m thirty.”
I adjusted the strap on my shoulder as we walked toward the group. “And the house head does what, exactly?”
“I’m basically what Vel is,” he explained with a shrug. “I check on house members and make sure everything is running smoothly. Each year, a fourth-year within the House is promoted to this, and this year, it’s me.”
I nodded in understanding.
“I’m sorry, but are you Dimitri Nocturnus?” A woman with black hair and bright pink eyes was staring at Dimitri in a way that made my blood boil, even though I had no claim to him.
He nodded coldly and stayed next to me, but she slipped in beside him.
“Now that everyone’s here, I figured I’d make sure you were acquainted. Introduce yourself, starting with Cora,” Carson told us before waving his hand toward Cora, who had her long blonde hair back in a braid.
Her blue eyes met mine, and she smiled softly. “Hi, I’m Coralynn, but I go by Cora. I’m twenty-four, and I’m a siren.”
Carson handed her something small. “As house head, I’m also in charge of giving you welcome gifts into the house.
Each house handles these gifts differently, but House of Twilight makes sure the gifts are beneficial to you individually.
Professor Jarvins is the one who chooses these gifts.
Cora, this is a black pearl that records whispers or conversations within fifty feet.
It can be replayed later by soaking the pearl in water and using magical essence to activate it. ”
“Thank you.” She stared at it in awe. “This would’ve been useful a few years ago.”
Carson looked over at a man with swirling shadow tattoos covering every inch of his body except his face, even his ears.
He had a nose ring, eyebrow ring, and snake bite piercings on his lips.
His bright purple eyes met Carson’s with malice as he tousled his chocolate brown hair, and a sweet pear scent came my way.
His presence made my instincts perk up, like my magic was warning me he could be dangerous.
“Ominous Everglow,” he stated, bored. “I’m thirty-one and a shadow demon.”
“Everglow,” I muttered, brows knitting together. “Are you—”
“Gloria Everglow’s son, yeah.” He grinned.
“Who’s that?” Dimitri asked with a frown.
“The former dream demon representative on the Demon Council,” I explained before smiling at Ominous. “Even though Mom and Gloria were on different councils, before they merged, they were close. Your mom talked about you all the time.”
He smiled. “She still does, even though she’s enjoying retirement.”
Carson passed him a compact mirror. “This lets you use your essence and shadow magic to spy on things instead of physically going. Basically, only your shadows go.”
“Awesome.” He pocketed it.
Carson looked at Dimitri expectantly.
“Dimitri Nocturnus,” he stated flatly. “Vampire. Thirty-five.”
Carson gave him an opal ring. “It’s enchanted to burn when you lose control of your bloodlust. It can also leave a blood-red crest when pressed to skin or paper, doubling as a magical marker with the House of Twilight’s symbol.”
Dimitri’s fangs dropped. “Presumptuous that you think I have that problem. Is it because I’m a vampire?”
Carson leveled him with an unimpressed look. “It’s because Vel told Professor Jarvins about you losing control and biting Rune, and you know what followed that.”
Dimitri and I both blanched. How did Vel even know? For Fate’s sake…
The vampire with pink eyes glared at me, and I glared back.
Dimitri nudged me softly, and I noticed Carson staring at me expectantly.
“I’m Rune Bloodwyne.” I flashed my fangs with my smile. “Basilisk, and I’m twenty-four.”
Carson handed me a green crystal pendant. “It glows neon when you’re around a poison, venom, or potion that you haven’t consumed or been injected with yet. Drecken Grimsworn himself enchanted it, and I have to wonder why he took special attention to you like that.”
“Who cares?” someone mumbled under their breath.
Carson gestured to the next student, the woman with long black hair and pink eyes she couldn’t keep off Dimitri.
“Hi, I’m Brynn. Twenty-two, and I’m a vampire,” she all but purred.
Carson passed her an obsidian fang dagger crafted to resemble a vampire fang. “It can cut through flesh and wards.”
“Much better than a pendant,” she muttered to herself, tracing the edge of the blade with her fingertip until it bled.
I pulled my dagger from my sheath and did the same, but it didn’t cut me.
“Good thing I already have a dagger that I made myself of glass and bone that’s enchanted to hum when it senses I’m in danger, and it doesn’t hurt anyone I love.
I prefer my dagger to yours. Plus, the pendant is badass, thanks. ”
Brynn stomped her foot with a huff.
Carson chuckled. “Drama needs to be kept in house and not in class, but other than that, feel free to have your cat fights.”
Dimitri growled lowly as Carson nodded his head at a tall woman with short black hair and green eyes.
“Hi, I’m Zara Ashcroft. I’m a Kelpie. Twenty-four,” she said softly.
Carson passed her a blade. “It liquefies when thrown, reforming in your hand after it lands the hit. It’s good for stealth kills or intimidation.”
“I’m Seth Corvus,” a man with short gray hair and gray eyes introduced himself. “I’m a phantom. Twenty-eight, even with gray hair.”
Carson gave him a black cloak. “This erases you only when you’re in phantom state from all cameras, recordings, and human memory while worn.”
“I’m Kraig Greystone, gargoyle. I’m thirty-one,” the guy who mumbled ‘who cares’ under his breath earlier introduced himself. He had black hair and brown eyes and just gave off an asshole vibe.
Carson gave him a hand-held relic-shaped miniature gargoyle. “This is a resonator that emits low-frequency vibrations that crumble stone, crack walls, and disrupt enemy fortifications while drawing on your magical energy. Basically, it lets you do what you already can do but without being shifted.”
He nodded and took it.
“Hi, I’m Mara Veyra. I’m a Griffin, and I’m twenty-two.” A woman with golden-blonde hair and brown eyes smiled with a wave.
Carson handed over a harness with runes etched into it. “It’s a wing harness. It fits along your back and wings. It will enhance your flight speed, altitude, and maneuverability.”
“I’m Jonas Whiskell,” a man with gray hair and black eyes squeaked. “I’m a mouse shifter and twenty-nine.”
Carson gave him a foldable paper. “It’s enchanted to automatically chart out air ducts, crawlspaces, and hidden passageways in real time as you move in shifted form. All you have to do is activate it with your essence, and it uploads directly to the cloud.”
“Cool, thanks.”
“Not all of you will survive this year,” Carson told us blankly. “Year three has six students left. Year four, my year, has only three, and that’s including me.”
I nodded because I expected it, but everyone else seemed to be surprised.
“I’ll check in on you once a week, and your names are on the doors. Remember, the gifts are for you to use or not to use. Have a good rest. Tomorrow, you start year two classes,” Carson told us before leaving without looking back.
Dimitri and I found our rooms right next to each other.
“Hopefully, the walls are a little more soundproof,” he muttered more to himself, but my cheeks heated.
“Sorry,” I murmured. “I have a difficult time being quiet.”
“I can tell,” he croaked.
“Oh, my Fates, Dimitri, hi!” Brynn came up to him; her room was next to his on the other side. “I am a big fan. I can’t believe you’re here! No wonder you’ve missed your two recitals. Why don’t your fans know about this?”
A twinge pinched my chest, and I rubbed it away. “Night, Dimitri.”
“Night, lethal darling,” he murmured lowly as Brynn talked his ear off about his talents.
I didn’t realize Dimitri had been famous. I’d heard about him playing piano, but I didn’t know he had been that well-known. I hadn’t even heard him play before.
I opened my door and slammed it shut behind me, surprised that I didn’t hear anything from outside. Perhaps that was a blessing, so I didn’t have to hear Brynn talking to him.
I didn’t like her.
My gaze scanned my room with pleasant surprise.
It was a much bigger space. It had room for a queen bed against the right wall and a desk against the left next to a shelf.
I walked over to the only other door and opened it to see a private bathroom.
The sink and mirror were edged in a silver trim, and the fae orb lights gleamed brighter as I stepped in.
The doors were heavy and warded against intrusion, more so than the first-year room had been. I stripped out of my uniform and crawled into bed, wishing more than anything Slater and Zuko had been in this house with me.
I was proud of them for finding what they excelled in, but, Fates, I missed them desperately.
Pulling my phone out, I sent a message in a group chat with them both.
Rune Bloodwyne:
I’m naked and alone in this queen-sized bed, and all I can think about is you two.
Slater Havoc:
House of Innovation is cool and all, but everyone is boring. If our house head wasn’t such a stickler, I’d be in your room with you right now. Instead, I’ll be jacking off to thoughts of you.
Zuko Vyre:
These house heads are bullshit. I tried sneaking out as soon as you sent that text and was caught. I was threatened with a write-up. Looks like I’ll be stroking my Rune-tatted cock alone tonight.
Rune Bloodwyne:
And I’ll be touching myself, wishing it were you two.
Slater Havoc:
You don’t play fair, venom baby.
Zuko Vyre:
Just wait until I can get my hands on you again, pretty little poison.
Rune Bloodwyne:
Did you get house gifts? I got this pretty green crystal pendant that Drecken enchanted to glow when I’m in contact with a poison, venom, or potion I haven’t had before.
I snapped a picture and sent it.
Slater Havoc:
So pretty! Can’t wait to see it on you! I got an EMP bracelet that helps me bypass firewalls easier, but honestly, I don’t know if it’s going to help. Snakey’s got hacking down.
Zuko sent an image of him wearing a bandage that wrapped around his head, covering both of his pretty orange eyes.
Zuko Vyre:
House of Torment gives gifts that hinder special powers or regular powers to make sure we can break people without them. They found out about my special power to pull the truth from anyone I maintain eye contact with, of course, so I’m rocking this eye cover. What do you think of it?
Rune Bloodwyne:
It’s hot, toxin. I’m obsessed.
Slater Havoc:
I’m jealous. What about me?
He sent an image of him pouting.
Rune Bloodwyne:
Havoc baby, of course I’m obsessed with you, too. I’m going to look at my schedule more, but I miss you both.
Zuko Vyre:
Miss you more, pretty little poison.
Slater Havoc:
I miss you the most, venom baby.
My heart ached from their absence, but texting them helped ease the pain, if only slightly.