Her birthday had been yesterday, and I wake up feeling anxious and worried. The past month has been a bit too peaceful as far as werewolf and vampire clashes, but that doesn't mean there's been peace. The werewolves have taken to heading toward the mountains and slaughtering animals more than they are willing to eat. Such waste is not to be tolerated, but the students are frustrated and furious and taking out their frustrations on the animals.
The vampires are likewise feeling a bit caged up. They haven’t been allowed to leave Blood Haven Academy, and this time, there’s no sneaking past the guards. Unfortunately, all of this doesn’t mean that nothing terrible has happened. On the contrary. Humans are still brought in for the vampires to feed on. Well, the vampires aside from Romelia, and, well, the vampires did what vampires do when pushed to the brink.
Something is going to give. Something is going to happen. I can just feel it, and my wolf feels it too. He's so anxious and worked up that he has me feeling the same, and I pace back and forth in my room, trying to work off some of that apprehensive, restless energy.
It’s Saturday, so there aren’t even any classes to occupy my mind. Yes, I can try to get work done. There are eight more weeks of classes and then eight weeks off before classes resume for our second years toward the end of August. I’m already unnerved about how the break is going to be. Will Romelia and I be able to see ourselves more? Or less? But whatever I’m feeling about summer, it doesn’t touch the uneasiness in my chest.
It’s the same uneasiness I felt so long ago, before Bermon suggested attending Red Moon Ball.
Speaking of Bermon, I really should thank him. I know this year has had some devastating lows, but the highs have been sky-high, and the highs have all resulted from Romelia, from meeting her, teasing her, hugging her, talking to her, kissing her…
She is my reason for everything I do.
Intent on finding Bermon, I check the entire castle over, but I soon realize I’m the only werewolf inside. Puzzled, I leave the castle behind.
Some of the students run by, but they’re running in their wolves. It seems I’m not the only one who feels anxious.
Even more puzzled and worried, I remove my phone from my pocket. Mercy mysteriously claimed to found it the day after it had been stolen. For the next few days after, she watched me carefully.
Finally, I asked, “What are you looking for? To see if I’m going to start crying?”
Her face clouded over. “I don’t know what you mean—”
“Did you really think that deleting the texts you sent would be enough?”
“She told you,” Mercy said flatly.
“I wish you would find love. I really do. Then, you’ll understand you can’t pick who you love. It happens, and when it does, it’s magical.”
“When you do, it’s chaos,” she mumbled.
“Maybe love is chaos,” I agreed, and she blinked in surprise. “But chaos isn’t always evil. It isn’t always something to be feared. Love is so many things all at once, but it’s…”
“He’s happy,” Bermon said as he came into my room. “Can’t you be happy that he’s happy?”
"It's not that I want Julian to be miserable," she protested, and I believed her then, and I still believe that now. "I don't want that. I just…"
“You wish I found love with a werewolf. I understand that, and I do realize that would have made my life—all of our lives—simpler.”
“Fine. You have to do what you have to do, but you don’t have to see her. Wait until break,” Mercy pleaded, her tone far more anxious than ever before. “If the werewolves smell her on you… They might go after her specifically.”
“I always take precautions,” I protested. I either shower or roll around in flowers so that her scent is washed away.
“What if they decide to attack you instead,” Mercy whispered. “What if they’re so blind by their hatred—”
“They already are,” I said firmly, and then Bermon changed the subject.
Mercy didn’t have anything to fear. How Romelia managed to slip away from the campus yesterday was a trick she won’t be able to use again. She claimed her parents wished to see her, and those in charge at the academy could not deny her parents anything. Not that Romelia saw her parents. I do wish that she had a better relationship with them. I saw my family the weekend after my birthday, and I was so very happy to see them.
My mom and dad seemed to know that something’s different about me, but they didn’t press, which made me happy because as much as I wanted to tell them about Romelia and who she is, I don’t know how they would react. As much as I want to believe they’ll accept her, I’m also worried that the more werewolves involved in keeping my secret, the more werewolves will be in danger from the ones who don’t understand.
For now, my parents only know that I found someone. For now, that’s enough, but one day, they’ll learn. They’ll meet her. Romelia will always be a part of my life, and I want my family to be as well… if that’s possible. If I have to pick between Romelia and my parents and siblings… I don’t want it to ever come to that.
I head toward the west, wishing I could call Romelia, and then recall the phone in my hand. My thoughts have been so scattered that I forgot about my plan to thank Bermon.
My phone rings and rings, but Bermon doesn’t answer, so I send him a quick text asking where he is. He doesn’t immediately answer.
The day is a strange one, with most of the werewolves keeping to themselves. I don’t find Bermon and Mercy until dinnertime, and for once, we eat mostly in silence. I think we can all feel that something is going to happen, and I hope the werewolves haven’t planned anything. Mercy has been secretive, telling me about the statue only when prompted, and honestly, there are times when I wish she would just stop. Stop trying to force me to part from Romelia. Stop antagonizing the vampires, and stop organizing the werewolves under prejudice.
She’s always been a fighter. She was born a runt and hadn’t been expected to survive more than a few hours. She not only survived, but she thrived. Out of all of us, she was the first to hunt and bring down a lion. Yes, she killed a lion, and she did it when she was five, when the rest of us were trying to go after rabbits and squirrels. She’s always been daring, eager, ready to fight. Before, though, she would fight when necessary. It’s only recently that she’s been the one to instigate the fights.
We finish eating, and Bermon just kind of wanders off without saying anything. A bit odd, but that’s all right.
I fix my gaze on Mercy, whose gaze is on her plate.
“We need to talk,” I say firmly.
“I’m sorry,” she says, meeting my gaze.
“What did you do?” I ask suspiciously.
“The borrowing your phone to try to get her to break up with you. Even the going to their campus and the statue.” She rubs her hand by her neck, and I realize the chain isn’t there.
“You’re sorry about the statue?” I ask, trying not to be skeptical.
“I… I don’t know. I’ve been feeling strange lately. I can’t sleep. I’ve been having such terrible nightmares, and…”
“You’re worried about your mortality.”
“And my morality.” She shrugs. “My parents have so many plans for me. They only did ever have me, and they want me to become alpha of our pack. It’s impossible to live by their standards, and if I am to be alpha, I can’t also have a personal vendetta against the vampires, not if I want peace for my pack. I have to stop. I need to be brave, yes, but being brave doesn’t mean picking fights.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
I grin and stand. Mercy does too, and we hug.
“I will want to meet her eventually,” Mercy says. “She has to be something if she has your heart.”
“She is. She’s something else.” My smile fades. “What’s with everyone today, though?”
“I don’t know. The air feels heavy, doesn’t it? Like something is going to happen.”
“Maybe everyone does. It’s not as if there’s a full moon tonight, but… Just stay on campus tonight, okay?”
“I have no plans to leave.”
“You were gone all day yesterday.”
“Yes. Her birthday.”
“You spent yours with her.”
“And you,” I point out.
“Balance,” she murmurs.
“It’s possible for there to be peace.”
“Through segregation would be easiest,” she claims.
“I never thought you would be one to back away from a challenge,” I argue.
“Never.” Her smile is a bit wan, and she squeezes my shoulder as she leaves.
That night, I can’t sleep. I’ve texted Romelia throughout the day, and we already said goodnight to one another, but that doesn’t stop me from sending yet another one.
Hopefully, you’ll read this in the morning, that the text won’t wake you, but I’ve been thinking about you and how much you mean to me. We’ll make it work. Everything. The break won’t be terrible. Next year will be even better. Soon, we’ll graduate, and we can do what we want. The future will be ours.
Moonstone Academy isn’t under lockdown, but it’s advisable to remain on the grounds at all times. My wolf is too impatient for that, and I can’t just lie down in bed anymore.
I quickly change into dark pants and the first t-shirt I grab out of my trunk. No one stirs as I make my way to the front of the castle, and I head to the field in the northern part of the campus, where it’s rare to not see wolves roaming about. We don’t care for flatlands, though, greatly preferring to climb over hills and mountains, but I’ll take what I can get, even if there aren’t any other werewolves about.
My wolf runs for an hour, but the anxious feeling in my chest only grows. I'm no closer to being tired, and I change back to myself and check my phone. No message from Romelia. I hope that means she's sleeping peacefully.
The moon isn’t full, and she’s obscured by clouds. Even when in our human forms, we can still howl, and I do just that, a long, low cry of agony and longing. There’s no answering howl.
Soon, though, I realize I’m not alone. A few other werewolves are here, some just walking about, the others trotting around as their wolves. Despite their presence, I still feel very much alone, and I howl again.
None of the werewolves react, but something still responds.
Five figures emerge from the fog. Five vampires. They descend on me, ignoring all other werewolves. They claw me, bite me, tear into me. My first instinct is to fight back, and I defend myself until I realize something.
The werewolves came over to help at first, but the vampires are ignoring them. The vampires are targeting me specifically, and with each bite, each slice of their claws, they’re wounding me to the point that my attempts to defend myself grow weaker and weaker.
What’s worst is that the werewolves, the ones who claim to hate the vampires so much, they’re leaving. One by one, they’re leaving me to the vampires. As an offering? As a form of a peace treaty I know nothing about?
Do the vampires know about Romelia and me? Do the werewolves?
My vision begins to fade, but I can’t stop fighting. I have to. I must. If not, I’ll die.
Chapter 30
Romelia
A fierce pain hits my chest, and I’m jarred from a deep sleep. Somehow, someway, I can sense Julian in a way I never could before. The pain I’m feeling isn’t mine.
It’s his.
How can this be? The only thing I can think of is that he drank my blood from the vial I gave him on his birthday.
But why would he drink it? This pain… it feels like he’s being clawed… like he’s being bitten.
He’s being attacked by vampires.
No. I sit up in bed as the connection grows even as it’s waning. Julian isn’t just being attacked by vampires. They’re killing him.
He’s dying.
In a flash, I leave the castle behind. I’m not even sure where I’m going, where he is, but I can sense him, sense where I need to go. I use my vampiric speed, and I’m faster than I’ve ever been before. The guards yell at me, try to chase me, to stop me, but they don’t matter. Nothing else matters.
Only Julian.
I don’t stop running, not until I’m by Julian’s side. He’s crumpled up in a ball, not moving. The grass beneath him is stained with his blood. The vampires who attacked him have already fled. Good. I’ve never been one for vampire-on-vampire violence before, but I might have to make an exception in this instance.
I cradle Julian onto my lap, cradling him. His lips are blue, and the amount of blood… My fangs ache, and my mouth waters, but it's easier than I would've thought to damper down my thirst. Instead of sinking my fangs into my wrist.
Julian’s head lulls to the side. His eyes aren’t open, and his heartbeat… I can hardly hear it. For once, it’s not in sync with mine. My heart feels like it is about to burst out of my chest it’s beating that fast. It’s almost as if my heart wants to flee my chest and slam into his.
If I can give my life for his, I will.
I shove my wrist to his mouth, but he doesn’t react, doesn’t drink.
My wounds have healed, so I reopen them and smear my blood on his lips, but he won’t open his mouth.
This time, I pry his lips open before reopening the wounds and trying—and failing—again.
Refusing to give up, I not only bite my wrist, but I also draw some of the blood into my mouth, kiss Julian, and force the blood into him. I touch his Adam's apple, forcing him to swallow.
He coughs, sputters, and I breathe a bit better, just a bit. When I lean back, my hand slips from him to land on the grass slick with his blood.
The vampires might come back. Maybe they’re watching us.
Although he's fragile yet, I take the risk, pick him up, and race away to our cave. Once I'm there, I lay Julian on the moss and urge him to drink more. My heart aches as the bruises slowly go away, his skin healing, wounds closing. His breathing remains ragged far too long, long enough to make me wonder if he had a punctured rib, and he winces and groans, the first sound he's made. The moment the blue fades from his lips, returning to their normal hue, I press my lips to his, desperate to give him all of me, not just my blood, but my heart and soul too.
“Julian.” Tears stream down my face as I rub his cheek. “Do you need more?”
“I… You… You came for me.”
“Of course I did,” I say soothingly, brushing his hair back. It’s grown again, in his eyes, the same alluring eyes that I love to gaze into now. I search those eyes, looking for any hint of suffering yet.
“How did you know?”
“How did I know vampires were attacking you?” I blow out a breath. “I could feel your pain.”
“I fought them. I didn’t want to kill them, just hurt them enough to get them to stop. I… Maybe I should’ve tried harder, but there were five of them.”
“Did you recognize any of them?”
“The only vampire I really know is you.” He cups my face, and I lean down to kiss him again.
“Why didn’t you call out? Howl? Get the werewolves to help you? How did this happen on campus and no one else—”
“Other werewolves were there. The vampires, they came for me, Romelia. They came for me.”
"They came to kill you." It feels as if the blood in my veins has turned to ice. "They targeted you. Why? Because of me?"
“I don’t know. They didn’t say anything.”
“Julian, don’t. Don’t sugarcoat this. They targeted you for a reason, and what other reason can it be? You almost died because of me.”
“No. You saved me.” He sits up and grabs my hand, as if he knows that I’m a second away from darting out of here, leaving him behind and… and…
I don’t know what to do.
“If it weren’t for that vial of blood you gave me, I would’ve died,” he
says urgently. “You saved my life.”
“When did they leave? Why did they?”
Julian stares at me. “I think… I think I died.”
My heart skips a beat. He didn’t die for a time. No. I would’ve felt it. That’s not possible!
I shake my head over and over again, unable to talk, unable to say anything. My tongue feels like it takes up the entire space of my mouth, too heavy to move for me to utter even a sound.
“Everything started to turn dark when I remembered the vial. I tried to uncork it when a vampire slammed my head down to the ground. The vial shattered in my face, and… some of the blood must’ve touched my lips. I’m not sure, but then I… I came to. I licked the ground, not really because I wanted to… I just… No. That’s right. My face was against the wet ground, my lips smashed against it, and I licked my lips. Then, it started to get dark again, and then, you were there.”
“You might’ve… you might’ve died?”
“I don’t know.”
“Julian, I love you.”
The words burst out of me. Without thought. With all of my heart. I live for him and him for me, and if this doesn’t prove my words to be true, then nothing will.
“I love you even if it means war,” I murmur.
“I know,” Julian murmurs. “I’ve known you loved me, and I love you too. I’ve always loved you. As for the war…”
“We just have to survive.”
We sit next to each other, our heads tilted, touching, and we watch the waterfall cascade down. Through the spraying mist, I can just see the darkening clouds.
“There’s a storm brewing,” he murmurs.
“Yes.”
“It’s going to be a terrible one.”
“We can handle a storm, don’t you think?”
“We can handle anything.” He squeezes my shoulder. “I owe you my life.”
“No, you don’t. You don’t owe me anything. You would’ve done the same for me.”
Blood Haven: Year One: A Mayhem of Magic World Story Page 19
