Blood Bound

“I can feel the heaviness in the air, Silver. There is something here but I cannot tell if she is here or if it is her causing it. I can sense a mirage--a masking glamour, powerful enough to cloak the entire campus... and when I met this girl earlier there was that shimmer right over her. The same that the seers warned us about.

She had this friend with her, dark almond eyes, medium brown skin tone, cropped blonde hair and a commanding air around her that mademe pause. When she looked at me, it was as if she saw right through me and I felt my hairs stand up, my skin tingle like I have never felt before. Then I thought—this has to be the one. Her friend.

Until I looked at her.

And suddenly my heart raced like it did after a good hunt, like I’d just sunk my favourite dagger into the cold skin of a bloodsucker”.

I paused for a second to give Silver some time to respond. It was a good ten seconds before he finally asked, “The girl that felt like a good hunt, what did she look like? What else did she feel or smell like to your senses”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in, reminiscing over my first encounter with her yesterday. I could still feel the warmth of her fingertips on my palms after we shook hands, and her scent was still on me. “She smelled of earth, like deep muskiness of the Surrey Hills, but there was also a sweetness to it, like honey and a faint hint of something clinical almost like she lived in a hospital. She was gorgeous, long wavy black hair, big doe brown eyes and the kindest smile, she was all the softness her friend was lacking. Yet when I looked at her, she didn’t just make my hairs stand or my skin tingle like her friend, she made the air around me electric just like before the hunt, before the kill. I am telling you, my heart was pounding”.

“Hmm, they both seem to have incredible magic around them. However, based on the masking shimmer you described, one of them must be hiding something more, so you are right to be suspicious. Either of them could be the one or none of them could. For all you know they are witches who love enhancement magic to trap young fools like you. However, you should keep an eye on them and report back anything worthwhile, like say if one of them should try sucking you dry rather than losing your head over some pretty faces” he finished off with a chuckle.

“Yeah, yeah, you old fucker. You do remember, I am your star pupil. You recall me saving your slow self from that hundred-year-old bloodsucker in Romania? I am pretty sure I can handle a couple of would-be witches with a potential of being a burgeoning vamp with zero experience”

I heard Silver slam his hands down, through the satellite phone receiver and grimaced, “Do not underestimate her Julian. She may not have any experience but based on our history she comes from a long line of witches and a particularly gruesome serial killer vamp who was insane. I would tread carefully. Remember, the words of the seer. This is your destiny. So, kindly shut the fuck up and take it seriously. Report back something worthwhile” he said sternly down the phone before cutting off the call.

Lord, he is definitely getting old, my man can’t even take a joke anymore.

I sighed to myself, cracking my head sideways, before standing up from my seated spot on the roof of the university’s student hall building, just in line with my actual room.

Well, I better get back to bed before the actual students wake up.

Then I jumped off.Quicker than climbing down.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where am I?

My head feels heavy, foggy. I can’t think straight.

I look down at my hands and they are covered in deep red blood.

My jaw is painful and heavy. I bite down, and it is like needles tearing through soft flesh.

I bring my fingers up to my lip and then I feel them, elongated, sharpened canines. Fangs.

I look down and I see him. The gorgeous man from earlier.

Only now, he looked unnaturally still, with two distinct holes on the side of his neck.

I knew it was his blood all over me—I could smell it. Taste him.

Rich and Sweet. I wanted more.

I saw myself move closer to him and then I heard a loud voice.”

“MONET!”

I jumped awake to find Maeve standing over me looking her usual interesting mix of annoyance and concern. I sighed, “I’m up, Maeve. Please stop shaking me before my bones fall out of my skin”.

She cracked a smile at that, moving to sit just next to me on the bed, “How rude, no “thanks for the wake up call Maeve”, with twenty minutes to my first chemistry lecture. That should be enough time for you to shower and get ready shouldn’t it? Although with the way your hair is looking right now, I’m not so sure...” , she finished off with a “pensive” smile.

I stared at her for a second in disbelief. “No way, Maeve, you are pulling my leg again, it is nowhere near 10am” I laughed, reaching for my phone, which lay on my bedside table. “See it’s just 9:40...SHIT, WHY DID YOU JUST WAKE ME UP” I shouted, jumping out of bed, pulling my nightgown over my head whilst running over to the bathroom.

I yelled “OUCH” at the same time as Maeve’s loud laughter, “You bumped your head on the bathroom door didn’t you? You know for someone born to a witch dynasty, your senses are rubbish.“.

I turned back to see Maeve flopped back on my bed, taking a puff from her vape, “Senses are boring, I prefer a good, head-pounding, blood curdling, toe curling, protection spell. Comes in handy, as you can clearly see. Now shut up and let me shower”.

Maeve’s “Yeah, clearly” followed me through the closed bathroom door.

******************************************************************

“Enzymes lower activation energy. They don’t change the final outcome—only the pathway required to get there. As such-”

SLAM

I watched Professor John take a pause as the boy from earlier walked in. He looked straight at me, head tilted slightly, a small smile tugging at his mouth as though he were curious—and strangely pleased—to see me.

Then he walked towards me as Professor John kept muttering on about the impacts of enzymes and activation energy.

Beside me, I could feel Maeve sitting up straighter. When I glanced her way, her eyes were laser focused on him, like a cat about to pounce.Not in a friendly way.

It was funny that Maeve talked about my crappy senses earlier, because right now I felt extremely tuned in to him, so maybe it just mattered what channel I was on.

I could hear the thumping of his combat boots, softened by the carpeted floors of the lecture hall. Then I caught his scent.

He smelled sweet. Like Caramel and Brown butter. Yet there was a muskiness beneath it. As if he spent his time living in the woods.

Maybe he goes on a lot of runs. Then oddly I thought, God, I just want to taste him.

All of a sudden all I could remember was the dream earlier -- I knew it was his blood all over me—I could smell it. Taste him.

Rich and Sweet. I wanted more.

Until, I felt a kick to my shins from the left, where Maeve just happened to be sitting. I gave an incredulous look in response and she gestured towards the left of me with her eyes.

I slowly looked in that direction and found the boy from earlier,from my dream,staring right at me with a bright smile. It seemed like he was talking to me, asking me questions.

And all I could say was“W-What?”

I could hear Maeve’s eyes rolling but he just laughed, like he thought I was cute.

“Well, love, I was just asking if this empty seat next to you was free?”

“Um yeah, it should be, because you know, it is a university and so seats are unregistered?”

Fuck. I was top of my class and this is the best response, I could come up with.

Thankfully he did not laugh at me again and just took the seat next to me.

“It’s nice to see you in an actual class, I was wondering if I just happened to bump into another student’s sister the other day”

Yes, good old British banter.Ah this I could do.

“Oh you’ve discovered my secret. Don’t tell anyone. I get paid a lot to come here and sit through long lectures on behalf of this so called sister”

He laughed. A velvety, honey sweet laugh, and when he finally stopped he looked at me through his long eyelashes and I felt my breath catch at the back of my throat as he said “Funny and Beautiful, this will be hard”

I widened my eyes at that statement,was that supposed to be an innuendo? ”I’m sorry, was that a come-”

My come on question was promptly interrupted by Professor John’s voice, which I will say did not hold the same velvety nature ashis“The two interrupting students at the back, you can either kindly stay quiet or you are free to leave the lecture and continue what I am sure is a fascinating conversation”.

Whilst I could not actually turn red, as I was not of the paleness variety, I did very much shrink into my seat. I could feel the eyes of every student in here focused on us.

He, on the other hand, seemed entirely unburdened by shame, which was unfortunate because I carried enough for both of us, as he directly rebutted “Well, Professor, I don’t believe discussing the lecture is technically against university regulations. But since you asked so kindly, I’ll grant your request and remain silent.”

The Professor huffed and continued with his lecture on enzymes, whilst I proceeded to stare at Maeve, trying to avoid what I was now sure would be a very long lecture for me. Which was only further confirmed by the wink and cheeky grinhegave me before I turned away.

Mother, help me.

***********************************************************************

After spending the entire lecture trying to avoid his teasing glances and cocky smiles, I decided to try another strategy to keep a semblance of my sanity and actually have a chance of passing this class.

I waited for him outside the lecture hall. Maeve and I were the first ones out as she never liked to wait, hence why she was currently staring daggers at the side of my head. I noticed the professor had pulled him over to the side after the lecture, probably to give him a lashing after his downright audacious behaviour during the class. Well great because I was next in line.

I saw those black combat boots peek out the doors of the lecture hall and I was immediately on him. Moving quickly to stand in front of him and pull him to the side so everyone else filling out did not have their way obstructed.

“What is your name?” I said staring directly at him. He seemed to be in shock at first and for a second his expression changed. His nostrils flared almost imperceptibly, as though he’d caught a scent on the breeze.

He reached out to grab my hand which was currently clutching his arm, and I watched Maeve shift from where she was behind me as if she was going for him.

I lifted my free hand towards Maeve, silently signalling that I had it handled., as I let him gently remove my hand from his arm but did not give an inch in my square off position.

“Julian, and I would have told you that the first time we met if your uh...very protective friend here hadn’t whisked you off the minute I shook your hand”.

“Right Julian, what do you want from me?”

His...Julian’s eyes widened “Uh..What?”

It was my turn to laugh, before responding “Julian every time I’ve met you, you’ve not only flirted with me but also simultaneously looked at me like I am confusing to you. So here I am being very clear and direct”. When he remained quiet it just spurred me on, I wasn’t entirely sure where the confidence had come from, but once I started talking I couldn’t seem to stop. “I think you’re hot and charming and I want to know more about you. The flirting is already messing with my head and I’d rather remain clear on what’s for me and what’s not for me this semester. So again, Julian, what do you want?”

Julian remained silent as if unsure about what to say next, which I do not think was very usual for him. So, I decided to give him some control back. I reached into the back of my pocket and took out my mum’s business card “Here, this is my mum’s business card. She owns a charity vet clinic for wildlife and that’s where I’ll be between 5 and 6pm this evening. The clinic’s number is on there, so when you have decided how to answer my question, you can call and speak to me and maybe get my actual number”.

He still did not say anything but after a few seconds he did take the card and nod his head, in some form of agreement. I nodded back with a slight smile.

Then I turned towards Maeve “Come on Maeve, I think we should give our friend here sometime to mull his decision over”.

With that I left him standing there and could still see his face scrunched up as if he did not know what to do next.

When we were far enough away Maeve bumped her shoulder into me “Babe, where did that come from”.

I shrugged my shoulders, shaking my head “I honestly do not know Maeve, there’s just something about him. I just feel that I need to know more”.

JULIAN’s POV

I lay in my dorm bed replaying the conversation withherthis morning, whilst fiddling with the business card she had left with me. Still wondering where that confidence came from.

I did not expect it and for the first time in a while, I was on the back foot. I was also still unsure about what response to give her and it was currently 4pm.

I kept thinking what would Silver do in this situation? I mean if I did not respond the likelihood was that she would see me as a waste of her time and I would lose a connection to her and her friend.

Presently I still had no actual answers apart from what my instincts were telling me.

My instincts that I almost lost control of when I smelled her during that conversation. Her scent changed, not completely different from her original of caramel and earth but a lot darker like burnt sugar and an old forest, musty, decadent and resinuous, to the point where I felt completely lost in it and also quite sure that if I got any closer, I may end up completely lost and immersed.

Maybe it was the canine instinct in me she was invoking, or maybe it was something more as I have originally suspected.

Then there is the friend. She never stops watching me. Her eyes hold me captive and it is as if she can read me.

I do not think she is a tele witch, otherwise she would have already exposed me by now.

She could be a seerling, so not so much a seer but magic based on incredibly enhanced senses and instincts. Due to this they see the world in a much more connected way and can read people in an almost predictive way, which can make them incredibly protective if they sense someone they care about may be at risk.

That may be why she looks at me like a threat she hasn’t decided whether to confront or simply keep contained.

But then what would she be?

Old woods, quiet confidence, seemingly introspective, and she radiates this all encompassing feeling.

I suspect she could be a nature witch from a powerful and old bloodline.

I paused my fiddling of the business card, recalling that this vet clinic was run by her mum.

The elders’ briefing before I left for this mission revealed that there could be a potentially powerful ally for the vampire society. A powerful elemental witch who was somehow using connections to the human world to provide blood to the council.

Her mother could be this elemental witch. I mean the information about the vet clinic definitely explains the clinical scent I had gotten off her initially. She may have just been there when we met that first evening.

If her mother really is the elemental witch from the briefing, then she may have connections to the council. Connections that could lead me closer to the Ripper descendant.

Perhaps she does not know anything about it, and is as innocent as she seems. Or Perhaps she’s the snake in the dark forest.

Only one way to find out;I thought jumping off my bed.

And maybe I can finally get her name...for the report.

***********************************************************************************************

“Hey mum”, I greeted as I walked through the doors of the vet clinic, with the tell tale bell sounding my entrance.

My mum looked up from the examination table she was bent over, focused on placing a tawny owl into a darkened carrier. “Hey Angel, sorry I am just currently in the middle of something”.

She was wearing her usual protective sleeves and gloves and I immediately felt at home seeing that. That was quickly overtaken by my concern for the hurt owl.

“Here, let me help you”. I responded quickly taking off my jacket and wearing the additional protective sleeves and gloves next to her. Once I approached her, she began to call out instructions “Thank you Monet, hold his feet please”. I was already there, carefully holding down the owl’s feet, mindful of its sharp talons, but also ensuring that I prevented agitated movement, so she could gently place the owl in the carrier.

Then I picked up the clean towel left next to it and used it to cover just enough of the carrier that it minimised the amount of light that would cause increased shock to the owl. “Yes Monet, good. Always good to remember that the less he sees, the calmer he’ll be”.

I nodded, she was right about this, as the owl had reduced its thrashing once he was placed in the carrier. I could see the owl through the uncovered parts of the carrier, and the wing did not look right, ” Mum, if that’s a humeral fracture and he thrashes again, he’ll make it worse.”

My mum gave me a little smile “Yes, Monet, I agree. The problem is we have run out of the sedatives. I have ordered some but they will not be here until tomorrow. Thankfully, I have just sent all our other dear volunteers home for the day”. With that she placed both of her hands onto the carrier and muttered “Alright little one, it is time for you to take a nap”.

I saw her palms glow orange and her eyes burned bright silver. A gentle breeze blew in through the window, I could sense when it weaved its way into the carrier just before the owl gently shut its dark eyes.

I smiled, somehow I knew she’d do that.

“Alright Monet, please take him to the X-ray room in the basement, I want some imaging done on that broken wing so I can decide what exact treatment he needs”.

I was just about to respond, when I heard the ding of the bell. I whipped around to spot Julian walking through the door.

He glanced towards us and directed a small smile towards me, which then turned considerate when he saw the owl in the carrier “Sorry, is this a bad time?”

I figured that question was meant for me but my mum jumped in to answer “Well, I’m not sure, who are you? I don’t usually have anyone else walking through their door unless they work here or have been a victim of an unfortunate accident. Which one are you?” She asked with a cold stare.

I butt in before the inquiry got any further “Mum, this is Julian. He’s from my university. I believe he’s here to talk to me though I do recall asking him to call not show up unexpectedly. Julian, this is my mum, Elena”

Julian’s smile widened “Yes, my apologies Elena. Your daughter asked me a question this morning that deserved an answer in person.”

My mum looked towards me with a raised eyebrow. “Alright,I will take the owl to the X-ray room and leave you two to talk”.

I waited for her to walk through the basement door before moving towards Julian who remained rooted at the door, as if recognising that his presence was not fully welcome at the clinic.

“Hello stranger..Julian.You couldn’t have at least called to announce that you intended to come over?”

"Yes, it seems I have two things to apologise over. I was hoping for direct and romantic. I apologise if I crossed any boundaries”

I nodded my head, accepting the apology “What’s the other thing you have to apologise for?”

“Well, I did actually stop to watch you work from outside the door before walking in. You just really seemed in your element and I did not want to interrupt a procedure that seemed quite sensitive”

My heart froze for a second, but then I calmed down, as there was no way he could have seen the subtle magic glow from all the way outside the door.

“Okay, both apologies are accepted. Now what was the romantic gesture you were planning to make?”

He gave me a coy, teasing smile “First of all, What isyourname?”

I couldn’t help but beam at him “Monet”

He took a step closer to me and gently reached out to hold my hand, “Monet, would you like to go on a date with me to tomorrow’s freshers’ party?”

I took a step closer to him and responded simply “Yes”.

The smile that spread across his face was so immediate and unguarded that it made my own widen in response.