~Daphne~
The hallway leading to my room was buzzing with activity. Girls were everywhere, laughing, chatting, moving between rooms. I kept my head down and walked quickly, clutching my bag.
Some of them looked normal. Like the standard normal human. Others.…..didn't.
A girl with golden scales running down her arms brushed past me. I tried not to stare.
Then I felt it. A few girls near the door to what I assumed was my hall stopped talking and sniffed in my direction.
One of them wrinkled her nose and actually retched.
I flinched, my stomach twisting. What was wrong with me? Could they smell that I wasn't fully werewolf?
I walked faster, scanning the room numbers until I found mine. 237. I fumbled with the key I had been given, shoved the door open, and practically fell inside.
And froze.
The room was massive. Way bigger than I expected. Two beds on opposite sides, each with its own desk and wardrobe. A large window overlooking the grounds. Soft lighting. It was.…..fancy. Really fancy.
And there was someone already here.
A girl stood near the far wall, drawing flowers with what looked like vines literally growing from her fingertips and wrapping around the painted surface. She had pale green skin that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light, long pointed ears, and golden hair pulled back in a high ponytail. She wore just a bra top and shorts, showing off a waist so tiny that I immediately touched my own stomach, suddenly self-conscious of the slight pouch there.
She turned around, and her bright green eyes lit up.
"Hello!" She beamed, dropping her hand and letting the vines retreat. "You're my new roommate!"
"Um. Yeah. Hi." My voice came out shaky.
"What's your name? I'm Elowen Thistlebrook." She walked over, all energy and brightness.
"Daphne June," I responded, swallowing hard.
Elowen looked me up and down, tilting her head. "Hmm. That's weird. Usually I can easily tell…what are you? A werewolf?"
I nodded quickly. "Yeah. That's right."
"Okayyy." She smiled wider. "Do you want help with your stuff? You look a little.….overwhelmed."
"I can manage," I said, gripping the strap of my bag. "But thank you. I really appreciate the help."
"Sure thing!" She bounced back to her wall, resuming her vine art like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I set my bag down and started unpacking in silence, hyper-aware of every movement, every sound. My hands were still shaking.
"So," Elowen said after a minute, glancing over her shoulder. "I'm also a first-year. We're probably in the same classes! We can go together tomorrow if you want."
"Oh. That's... actually really nice. I would like that."
She grinned. "Great! I'll wake you up. Don't worry, I'm an early riser."
I nodded, pulling out my phone to text Aunt Monika that I had arrived safely.
"No."
I looked up. Elowen was shaking her head, pointing at my phone.
"Phones are strictly forbidden here," she said. "You should have been told this already."
"Oh." I stared down at the screen, my stomach sinking. "Okay."
No phone. No contact with the outside world. Great.
I put it away and finished unpacking in silence, my mind spinning. Everything felt so strange. The people, the rules, the world. Two days ago I was normal. Two days ago I had a life.
Now I was here. Pretending. Hiding.
By the time I climbed into bed, exhaustion had settled deep into my bones. Elowen had turned off the lights and was already asleep, her breathing soft and even.
I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts drifting back to Zephros. His cold purple eyes. The way he had looked at me like I was nothing. The fangs.
Vampire.
Eventually, I fell asleep.
~
I woke up to the pressure in my bladder pulling me out of a restless dream.
The room was dark, silent except for Elowen's soft breathing. I squinted at the clock on the wall.
2:17 AM.
I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could and padded to the bathroom, relieving myself quickly. When I washed my hands, I caught my reflection in the mirror and froze.
My teeth.
My teeth.
I leaned closer, my heart starting to pound. My canines were longer. Sharper. Poking against my lower lip.
"No, no, no," I whispered, running my tongue over them.
Was this my vampire side? Was it awakening too? No no. This was such bad timing.
And then I felt it.
Hunger.
Not the normal kind. Not the kind that made you want food.
This was different. Deeper. Much worse.
I needed.…..I needed...
Liquid.
I stumbled out of the bathroom, my throat burning. I grabbed the water bottle on my desk and drank it in gulps, but it wasn't enough. It didn't touch the craving clawing at my insides.
I looked at Elowen.
She was asleep, curled on her side, her green skin glowing faintly in the moonlight streaming through the window.
I could hear it. Her heartbeat. Steady. Rhythmic. The blood pumping through her veins.
The smell hit me next, sweet, intoxicating, impossible to ignore.
My feet moved on their own, carrying me closer to her bed.
No. Stop. What are you doing?
But I couldn't stop. The hunger was too strong. Too loud.
I stood over her, my hands trembling, my fangs aching.
Just a little. Just enough to make it stop.
I leaned closer.
Closer.
And then—