“I guess I thought it was only my classes…” I muse.
I just let Lydia pick my courses, and I didn’t even think about what other types of classes there were. Now I wish I had been more thoughtful about it.
I ask her, “Do you have any other classes with vampire teachers? Or shifters?”
“I have two other classes with vampire teachers,” she says. “I really wanted to get into a class with Professor Vyas, but she only teaches upper-level courses. She teaches one that combines vampire and witch lore. It goes over how to exponentially increase both types of magic!” She gets a day-dreamy look in her eye. “Do you want to take it when we get to fourth year?”
“Oh,” I spill broth down my chin. “Um, I don’t think I’ll be doing more than one year.”
Her face falls, and I feel a pang in my stomach.
“Really? Why not?”
“I mean…my moms really wanted me to go here, but I already got accepted to John Johnson College, and…my boyfriend’s going too…” Suddenly those seem like very feeble reasons.
She cocks her head to one side. “You want to go to John Johnson? But you’re…a witch?”
“Yeah, well…it’s different for us…”
“Yeah,” her expression shifts. “You can blend in, be like any other normal person.”
“I didn’t mean…” my stomach twists and I wish I hadn’t said anything. “Hallie…I’m sorry, I just…”
“Well, it’s your choice,” she shrugs, looking down at my ramen.
She pulls out her history notes to review and I eat my soup in silent shame. We head to class together. It’s the first time I’ve been in the basement of the academy. I realize that this is where the vampire dorm rooms are and…
“What’s back there?” I ask. Beyond the dorms is a dark corridor. Weird shapes caress the stone hallway and I realize with a horrified shutter that they’re skeletons, chained to the walls.
“Those are the dungeons,” Hallie replies, always happy to explain something even though she’s still upset with me. “This used to be some old bear shifter’s house, and then it was used as some sort of magical society for a while. There’s a rumor that a witch coven that worshiped aDemonhid out here for a while, during one of the big witch wars. I don’t think they have any use now.”
“Let’s hope neither of us get thrown in detention.”
She can’t help smiling at me, and I feel lighter. I didn’t realize how much I appreciated having a friend here, and I feel bad that I let her down.
“I’m sorry about before,” I say, genuinely.
“It’s ok.”
We find our classroom, a dark room lined with velvet carpet and tapestries. We take a seat in the third row. Thankfully, there’s no June in this class, but all of the vampires in our year are here, including some I haven’t met yet. Two of them sit beside Hallie and she introduces me. There are two panther shifters, and a few other witches. For once, the witches aren’t chattering away and shooting condescending looks at everyone else. They actually look a little nervous as they eye the dusty tapestries that depict elaborate scenes of ancient magical battles.
“Where’s the professor?” whispers one of Hallie’s vampire friends.
As if on cue, an unseen vampire bat that was hanging from the rafters transforms dramatically into Tudor Thornblade, startling the entire class. He’s fully clothed, thankfully, wearing a long, embroidered purple robe.
“Good evening, class,” he grins, flashing his two sharp fangs. “My name is Professor Thornblade. This is your Introduction to Vampiric Arts class.”
“He’s a bit of a showoff,” Hallie whispers to me, her eyes full of pride and admiration.
“No shit.”
Professor Thornblade continues. “For millennia, the vampiric arts have been considered a preciously held secret. Wars have been waged and many slain in order to preserve this knowledge among only a select few.”
He savours his words, pacing between the benches and addressing each student in turn. It’s hard not to get caughtup in the drama, especially in the flickering torchlight of the underground classroom.
“Many generations ago, the War of the Final Fire was one such conflict. Vampire, witch, and shifter clans sought to maintain their distinct practices, and wipe out other traditions. This resulted in the death of hundreds of magical folk and several entire clans. Because of this, much wisdom and knowledge was lost forever.”
Hallie’s hand flies in the air.
