Grimalkin Academy

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

The classroom stills as the two of us walk in.

"Do they know who I am?" I whisper.

Bryce chuckles. "No. They can just hear your pulse."

"Oh." I don't think it had ever crossed my mind that I could be seen as nothing more than a snack at the academy. Now it's all I'm going to be able to focus on.

I take the only empty seat in the classroom and wait for him to sit down next to me. Or to complain about the fact he has to. But sure to the agreement we made, he's acting civil. I'm not sure anyone would mistake us for friends, but I can live with that so long as he doesn't start acting like a guard, it's fine.

The professor raps on the board, calling the attention of the class to the front. He's older than I expect a vampire teacher to be, but perhaps that's my own prejudice talking. Not all vampires are turned, some are born, and they can choose to grow old, I think. I'm not sure I understand it. One of the many reasons I found myself questioning the guild for the first time.

"I'm Professor Jefferies, and I'll be taking you for history of vampire hunting..."

My eyes widen, while Bryce snorts next to me. I resist the urge to pull out my timetable and double-check we're in the right place. I don't remember any of the listed classes being about vampire hunting, and I would have remembered that.

"You're in the right place," Bryce assures me.

Great. I roll my eyes. Just what I need, surprise lessons on vampire hunting. As if I need to know more about it. Then again, they say history is written by the victors, and it's clear to me that the vampire hunters guild are not the winners in this situation.

"We'll be starting the term with ancient history, and then moving forward to more recent events. Normally, we teach the modern semantics first so you're able to protect yourself, however in light of certain changes, that's not necessary," Professor Jefferies says.

Huh, they must not know who I am. Not if they're talking about things like this. Now I'm intrigued as to what they think I'm doing here.

"Does anyone know when vampire hunting started?" he asks.

A hand shoots up in the air.

"Yes, Mr Davids?"

"No one knows when it started. But most people assume it did when humans first learned about vampires," the student says.

"Very good. The first recorded instance was in the third century and involved the deaths of over fifty vampires. No one knows who was responsible, though many religious sects claim responsibility."

Another hand shot up in the air.

"Miss Hayes?" The professor raises an eyebrow.

"Why do the religious institutes accept us now?"

"That's an excellent question," he admits. "There are some that don't believe any of the supernatural races should be allowed to live, much less be a part of society. But they're governed by the laws which were created when we all came out of hiding."

"But sir," Miss Hayes says. "Aren't there some supernaturals still in hiding?"

He sighs deeply, as if he has to deal with this line of questioning every year. "We believe so, yes. But until we came out into the world, most of the supernatural types were unaware of one another. The witches and wizards always knew the most about the others, but even their knowledge was limited. I suspect some kinds still stay in the shadows..."

"Like the Shadow Association?" she blurts.

"They're nothing but a myth," he assures her. "I've been on this earth a long time, Miss Hayes, and I can assure you, I've never come across anything that suggests the Shadow Association is real."

I glance behind me to find the girl who has been asking the question pursing her lips as if trying to stop herself from saying more.

"But back to the vampire hunts. We'll be studying several different types. Some hunters were nothing more than dangerous rogue men, like the infamous Van Helsing. Others were more organised, not unlike the recently defunct hunter guild."

I swallow the lump that's formed in my throat while he's been talking. I know of several hunters who'd go the lone wolf direction if they could, including my ex-hunting partner, Ravi. I shiver at the mere thought of him. I know he isn't free to do as he wants, he's locked up far more tightly than I ever was, and unable to get to any of us out here. But somehow, that doesn't matter.

The professor starts to explain some more things about the first vampire hunts, but I zone out, not wanting to face the horrors my people have inflicted on theirs. I've known it's wrong for a long time, but I never thought I'd have to deal with it.

Ringing fills my ears, and the air surrounding my vision blurs.

Oh no. Not now. I'm in the middle of a room full of vampires, now isn't the time for a vision, even if it will take my mind of the all-consuming guilt.

"Go away," I mutter, even though I know it won't do anything. I've never been able to stop my visions before. I don't understand anything about them, not even where they came from.

"Are you all right?" Bryce whispers.

I shake my head but don't say anything. I can't. The vision is coming.

Everything around me is hazy, almost as if that part of the scene hasn't been determined yet. I don't worry about it, I've had visions like this before, and they just come back when there's more information. Not that I want that, but I've long since accepted this is what happens.

I lift my hands and stumble back. Why are my hands b****y? What's happening to me?

The vision fades as quickly as it arrived, leaving me shivering.

Bryce shrugs off his jacket and drapes it around my shoulders without saying a word. I frown. That's a quick turn around from him, though I suppose I shouldn't be complaining about that when it helps me.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"No problem," he mutters. "What happened?"

I glance at the professor at the front of the room, checking he's still talking and not paying us any attention. I don't want to be kicked out of the academy, all it'll mean for me is a quick trip back to my lonely room with nothing more to do with my time.

"Vision."

"Ah. That explains the eyes."

"What happened to them?" I ask.

His brow furrows as he looks at me.

I sigh. "I've always made sure I was alone as soon as I felt a vision coming," I admit.

"Then why didn't you know?"

I wave around the room. "I'd draw more attention if I got to my feet rather than less," I point out. "Besides, being able to see the future isn't likely to get me killed here. At the guild, it would have."

"Hmm."

When it becomes clear he isn't going to say anything else, I turn my attention back to the class at hand and start to take down notes, despite the uncomfortable topic.

For his part, he seems to have gone back to his usual surly self. I'm sure it will only get worse when we're back in our room together, though I've come to accept it's something I have to get used to.