Half Blood Rising: (Moonlight Academy Book 1)

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  There was a supernatural section in the basement, and I’d managed to get access to it straight away. I’d spent a lot of time there in the past, trying to research vampires and other breeds. It had taken me a while to get used to the fact I could feed on humans. On top of that, I didn’t know what had really happened to me. I had no idea who I’d become. Someone had finally given me an opportunity to learn more about my skills—about my past.

  I kept staring at the note from Oldman, wondering if I had the guts to head over there tonight. Later on, once I reached the library and the supernatural section, I felt much calmer than before. My anxiety faded as I opened the large book that listed all the supernatural schools in the world. In the catalogue, I found the name I was searching for, and for a moment, I stared at the insignia of Moonlight Academy. Two animals: a lion and an eagle. I didn’t know if it was significant, but it confirmed that this wasn’t any sort of scam. Oldman was real, her offer, too.

  Time in the library worked differently, and I enjoyed becoming lost in books. They gave me a sense of normality, and when I was there, I didn’t worry about the rain, heat, or hunger.

  A noise from around the corner startled me, and then I realised I’d been sitting in the same spot for four hours straight. It was after ten p.m., and if I was heading to the central cathedral to meet my destiny, then I needed to leave now. There was only one option—I had to take the bait.

  Chapter Five

  Decisions

  Lychakiv Cemetery had never been a frightening place for me, but tonight, I was filled with anxiety as I headed in that direction. Apparently, all sorts of demons wandered around the place. Most supernaturals didn’t believe they existed, that they were just tales. Melody was convinced that she’d seen one during the Sabbath in midsummer.

  My stomach was in knots as I walked through the city. The tiny voice inside my head kept whispering that I’d made the right decision. The index in the library hadn’t given me any specific information, and I suspected that Moonlight Academy was set up in confidence so no one could track its location.

  This set off several alarm bells inside my head, but at the same time, I didn’t care if I had to relocate; I was done in Lviv, but I was worried about Melody. She was my friend. Maybe we hadn’t had a chance to bond as well as we’d both wanted to, but I knew I was going to miss her.

  Some part of me questioned my previous life choices. I wasn’t the most reasonable person, but every day I faced new challenges.

  The sad truth was, my options were limited. Maybe Oldman was right: this was my chance to finally change everything—to grow as a person. I reached the Lychakiv Cemetery half an hour later. It was already dark, and there was no lighting at all as I walked through the forest. I knew I had to get to the cathedral near the burial grounds—it was where most supernaturals met. I had my knives with me, and everything else I’d ever owned, which fit inside one plastic bag—yeah, pretty pathetic.

  At times when I had some extra cash, I’d treated myself with a new pair of jeans. The winter had always been the worst for me, especially when I had to sleep outside. It must have been a learned behaviour, because half of my genes were still human, and somehow, I just knew. I didn’t need my memories to know it was freaking cold and I had to bundle up. It was the one human gene I could have done without.

  The silence was ringing in my ears as I continued walking. Magic drifted around, and I smelled sage. I was aware of my surroundings, aware of the dead humans that were still haunting these parts of the city. Melody was a strong believer of life on the other side, and she always told me that it had nothing to do with the fact that she was a witch. My heart was beating a bit faster than it normally did. I just had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t signed anything yet, but I knew that I was more than ready to begin this new chapter of my life.

  I walked up to the large chapel—there were several of these around the cemetery, normally built near the memorials. This site was historically significant, and a lot of people travelled from around the world just to visit it. I needed to avoid the humans—the guards were undoubtedly walking around, and I couldn’t afford to be spotted. Trespassing on private land could get me arrested. I was good at detecting humans nearby: their energies were different, calmer, and less absorbing. The door to the chapel was slightly ajar, which meant that someone was already inside, possibly Oldman.

  I bit my bottom lip and entered the dimly lit space, while my heart was jackhammering inside my chest. It was nice and cool inside, and there were several candles burning near the altar. Someone stood inside, another supernatural, and most likely a vampire. He was dressed in a white shirt and dark pants.

  I instantly recognised that he was a pure-blooded creature, possibly an ancient, and that made me a bit nervous. Supernatural presence typically didn’t affect me, but right now something odd was happening to my body. Part of me, the blood in my veins, began vibrating as I grew closer to him.

  “I was wondering if you were going to show.” His voice echoed throughout the chapel. “Madame Oldman truly believes you will be a good fit for our school.” I recognised that voice—the thick Scottish accent. When he turned around, my heart kicked against my ribcage.

  This was unbelievable. He was the same vampire I’d bumped into at the club, the same one who had been there to meet up with the mages who were now after me. This was just so typical. He must have recognised me, too, because he frowned as I approached him.

  Hell, the second time seeing him, he was even better looking. Heat rushed to my core, and my pulse skyrocketed. My heart kept pounding way too fast, and he was no doubt aware of it. His eyes moved from my toes, and upwards to my face—he was studying my dirty, torn clothes, and my tangled hair. Whatever, I wasn’t supposed to care. After all, I’d lived on the streets for years, and this was only a formality. I just wasn’t expecting to see him here.

  “Let’s just get on with this, mate. My legs are aching, and I’m here,” I snapped at him a bit too aggressively. “Which means, I’m ready to join the academy.”

  What the hell was wrong with me? I didn’t have to bark like a dog. The corner of his lips turned into a mocking smile. He ran his eyes over me once again, sending a shiver racing down my spine. I hated the fact that he was so good looking, and that he was so pure. Creatures like him had a certain reputation, and I hoped this wasn’t the case here.

  As he drew nearer, I caught a wave of his incredible vampire scent. Every creature had a unique one, and his was earthy, bloody, and it made me a bit light-headed. I needed to remember that he was called out to the club by the mages. Why did lady Oldman send him here? Was she part of the conspiracy against me? He had no idea I’d heard everything that had gone down in the basement, so this was going to be interesting.

  “Well, tonight I truly hoped Madame Oldman had outdone herself, too bad she chose another commoner—another street creature,” he said, and my jaw dropped. He had just insulted me in the worst possible way.

  I was ready to punch him in the throat. My fist was itching to do so. He was just an arrogant arsehole who thought he was better than me.

  “And this street creature has killed more supernaturals than you’ve most likely ever seen, so cut the crap and take me wherever it is you’re supposed to,” I ordered him, getting aggravated and definitely barking once again. First impressions always counted, and I’d already burnt my bridge with him. Oh, fucking, well …

  He looked bored and a bit curious, if I was willing to bet on it.

  “I’m not in a hurry, hen,” he said, moving even closer to me. “I’m supposed to evaluate your skills. Madame Oldman wasn’t certain if you were going to show up. Then again, I’m slightly surprised you made the decision at all.” His eyes were mastering, and he was staring at me intensely. A wave of heat shattered me again. I had absolutely no idea what was happening inside me, but the pull was there. I couldn’t bloody deny it, even if I wanted to—I was attracted to that vampire. “Tell me—what are you?”

 
That question shook me back to reality. I didn’t want to think that the vibrating pulsations inside my body were significant in any way. He was most likely using his glamour to affect me; it was the only logical explanation.

  “It’s none of your fucking business, Pretty Boy. Just get me to the academy,” I told him, aggravated by the lack of progress on his part. “If you have nothing nice to say, then keep your damn mouth shut. Apparently, I was chosen. Oldman wants me in the school.” Now our faces were only inches away from each other. It was either way too hot in here, or the temperature of my body was rising fast.

  His pupils dilated and he glanced at my cracked lips. I wondered how it would feel if I kissed him.

  “What are you, hen? A half-vampire mixed with the genes of another creature?” he said, tilting his head to the side. “But that’s impossible. You wouldn’t be able to live through that kind of transformation—no one can.” He was right and wrong. Obviously, I had survived, but I didn’t know what I was.

  “I’m a half-vamp and nothing else,” I whispered back, somehow controlling my emotions. I was shocked I hadn’t exploded already. He was getting on my nerves, under my skin. I very rarely, and not on purpose, interacted with other vampires, especially pure or ancient ones.

  “Bullshit,” he spat, and before I knew it, he had his arm wrapped around my neck. It happened so quickly, I didn’t have a chance to react. The pretty boy was fast. A split second later, I sensed that his fangs had descended, and they were only inches from my skin. Panic struck me for a moment, but then I felt a thrill of anticipation of wanting to be bitten. I was pissed, but at the same time, aroused. This had never happened to me before. He was more skilled and stronger than anyone I’d ever met. “You’re just another street rogue who will get expelled sooner than you think. Creatures like you don’t make it to the Elite.”

  His words pierced through me, but I quickly recovered from the initial shock. I managed to wrap my leg around his and then pulled my body forward. He didn’t go down with the impact I’d expected, but then I held one of my knives at the edge of his throat. He seemed surprised by my strength.

  My breathing was uneven and sweat ran down my face as he stared at me.

  “I’ve been living on the streets for over four years, so don’t underestimate me, arsehole. One wrong move, and you’re done with this world,” I snapped, saying more than I’d intended to. All right, it was true: I’d always had a big mouth (that had been established, and it tended to get me into trouble at times), but he made me so damn angry, acting as if he was so much better than me.

  “Master Cormack, the car is ready.” Another voice echoed throughout the chapel, distracting me for a bit. A moment later, he managed to grab my free arm, and my back slammed to the floor. The pretty boy was stronger than me, and now he was showing off. He had me pinned down with his knee, squashing my chest so hard that I lost my damn breath.

  “You aren’t as tough as you make out, hen,” he whispered and then stood, releasing me. I dropped my knife, taking a deep breath. Yet again, this had never happened to me before. He was smirking at me, and I was fuming. When I glanced towards the entrance, there was another creature standing there. I sensed he was a warlock—a very powerful one. They had different sets of skills than mages, but they were apparently more loyal.

  “Whatever,” I said, angry with myself for allowing him to take me by surprise.

  “Come on, hen, we have a long drive ahead. Is that all you have with you?” he asked, still wearing that arrogant smirk on his stupid face. I was more pissed off about the fact he was winding me up, than the fact he’d surprised me. I stared at the warlock who stood on the other side of the chapel. He appeared calm and collected, wearing a brown old-fashioned suit. Was I ready to just drive away with them? Was I ready to leave my shitty life behind and start over, keeping and living by certain rules?

  The answer inside my head was pretty much “hell no,” but my heart shifted. I had no choice but to leave Lviv behind.

  “I don’t need much, Pretty Boy,” I snapped, and he laughed. There was a sparkle in his eyes, that I somehow read as hunger. Was he getting turned on by me? It didn’t matter—he was an arrogant prick. I would never lay eyes on him—not in that way, again.

  I moved past him. The truth was, I didn’t really own anything. It was time to leave behind my old clothes—all of it. The warlock stared at me as I approached him, his magic embraced me like the flakes of cold snow in the winter, settling upon my skin. He was a broad-shouldered man with white-grey hair, and I suspected he was much older than he appeared to be.

  “It’s going to be a long drive, Miss,” he informed me. “But we will try to make this journey as comfortable as we can.”

  I wished I could have had a chance to say goodbye to Melody. She was going to worry about me, but I guessed I would have to write to her. We were heading to Kijav, so I would have to spend six hours in the car with the arsehole vampire and the warlock. Well, this was going to be delightful.

  Outside the sky was clear again. There was a nice-looking car parked by the graveyard. I had no idea how the warlock was even allowed to drive through here, but no matter. It was none of my business. I just needed to stop thinking negatively and embrace the change.

  “Get in, hen, we haven’t got a minute to waste,” the pure blood said, startling me a little. I jumped. Damn him. I didn’t hear him behind me, he had the skill to move around undetected.

  The car had soft leather interior, and I didn’t think I’d ever slept in a better place.

  It even smelled nice, of wildflowers or some shit. The issue was, the pure-blooded vampire climbed in and sat next to me. His thigh rubbed against mine, and I was sure he’d done it on purpose. A wave of heat rolled between my breasts. I couldn’t imagine being stuck with him in this cramped space for over six hours. Then goose bumps rose along the top of my arms.

  Did I already say I can’t stand him, and I’ve only known him for like, five minutes? If not, well, I can’t stand his arrogant arse. Not even a little bit.

  “Are you ready to embrace your new future?” he asked as the car started moving.

  “I’ve never been more ready in my life,” I said, sitting back, trying to enjoy the rest of the night.

  Chapter Six

  The others

  I was a little surprised that I managed to drift off while we were driving. It was probably the warlock’s magic. He kept staring at me from the rear-view mirror, and my lids began closing. The vampire who’d waited for me inside the chapel had never told me his name, but I remembered it from that unfortunate meeting in the basement. He must have been born and raised in Scotland. I was curious about him, more than I should have been.

  I quickly became bored when Lachlan began talking to the warlock about some sort of paperwork, completely dismissing my presence. However, my inner voice kept telling me that I needed to be careful around him. He was obviously connected to some extremely dark individuals, and he most likely had more of a chance than anyone to get into the Elite.

  Besides, I really didn’t know why Oldman had trusted him in the first place. I didn’t want to think about it too much.

  Later when I woke up, my stomach growled with hunger. We were driving through the motorway, passing mostly fields and small villages.

  I must have slept for a good few hours because my neck was stiff as hell. It was already brighter outside, and I hoped we wouldn’t have to be stuck in the car for much longer. I rubbed my eyes and yawned loudly, thinking about Melody once again. Lachlan was fast asleep, and, luckily, he was leaning on the other side.

  Surely the warlock was undoubtedly exhausted by now, driving six hours straight without a break. He was still silent and focused as we entered the capital of Ukraine. I’d never been to Kiev, only read about the city in a few guidebooks, but I knew it was definitely much larger and more developed than Lviv. Who knew, maybe it was one of the places I’d lived before I became a vampire?

  “Did you stop, or hav
e you been driving continuously?” I asked the warlock, finally breaking the silence.

  His wide dark eyes found mine in the mirror, and he smiled. “Mistress, I don’t need rest, trust me. Would you like something to eat? There is a small compartment by your feet, and I stocked it up with some snacks for our journey.”

  “Sweet,” I said, glad someone had thought about my half-human needs. After a click, the compartment opened up, and I picked out a tuna sandwich with some crisps. I was starving again.

  The warlock appeared content with my appetite, and once I reached out for a packet of jelly babies, Lachlan woke up. Vampires really didn’t need to sleep, but he probably didn’t want to interact with me, so he closed his eyes again, most likely thinking I hadn’t noticed, and pretended to be asleep.

  “Taking advantage of our good nature already, huh? Good thing I don’t need any food in order to survive,” he said, looking at me as I took a huge bite of another sandwich. Food had always been a luxury for me, but I really needed to try and act like a normal person, not someone who had to survive on the street day by day. I was trying to eat it slowly.

  “Just ignore Master Lachlan, Mistress. He fed well before the journey.” The voice of the warlock reached me, and I started choking on my food. Blood, he must have had a donor, or even better—a lover. I’d only ever tasted the tainted blood of a convict, so I had nothing to compare it to.

  I’d heard vampire’s mated with blood, and they drank from humans because it gave them pleasure. Seconds later, I instantly shuddered with repulsion. This wasn’t something I wanted to hear while I was eating, and that idiot started to laugh at me.