The vampyr nods. “I remember reading that in my text books when we were learning about poisons and venoms last year. Though it would still be best to put it down and leave it here. Just because blue belladon can calm snakes doesn’t mean they won’t bite. And Jullia’s right, this isn’t Earth. Snake’s here have stronger venoms.”
She takes her other hand and strokes a finger over my head. Her friend who spoke first speaks again.
“There are also snake shifters, Mavyn. For all we know that could be a. . . yuh know. . .” She makes bug eyes at Mavyn and does a gesture with her hands. “. . . Thorne’s lacky.”
She chuckles again as she raises her arm so my face is level with hers. Her pinky eyes look a little bit more vivid now.
“The smallest any shifter can shift to is a regular house cat,” she states. “Unless it’s a child, any adult who tries to will either break their body or mutilate it so badly that they can’t shift back. Ana told me that once, and Nana backed it up. It’s not possible for shifters to shift this small.”
She pulls her arm back down and starts walking.
“And what if it’s not a shifter?” her friend asks. “There is someone I’ve heard of who can shift into animals as small as bugs.”
The other water mage scoffs. “Please, Jullia. Castiel D’etre hasn’t been seen in like. . . ten years. Why would he come back just to spy on Mavyn? I highly doubt Thorne or even the Mage Board cares enough about Mavyn’s poisoned blood and all her anomalies to get him to come spy on her.”
The girl, Jullia, grunts. “I’m just saying it’s a possibility. Thorne is already acting like a psychopath about all of this.”
“Actually,” the vampyr interjects, “Darian would be more like the psychopath. Thorne is cold and calculated, but he’s not as apathic as Darian.”
“That’s the angel?” Mavyn asks. She’s still stroking my head and her warmth has me curling tighter around her.
“Yes,” the vampyr answer. “He’s also the Breath House president, but he’ll be at Stone House tonight. I haven’t seen or spoken to any of them since this morning but both Darian and Callahan were at Stone House last night so I assume they’ll be there again. Hopefully nothing actually happens.”
“You think your bone witch’s blood will be enough?” the water mage asks. And shock vibrates through me at that. There’s only five witches I know of who still exist on Miy, and I know there’s a couple on Earth, but for a vampire who’s only recently been turned to know one. . . ?
“It should be. Nana said blood demons would run from bone witches, even if they were on the same side. It’s an instinctual fear passed down for thousands of years.” She shrugs. “If he doesn’t care then I’ll threaten his morality. Instinct can be overruled, but you can’t go against your spirit and soul.”
The vampyr hums. “I forgot about that. Blood demons can’t drink the blood of anyone who says no and can’t coerce them after either.”
“Yup. Though that doesn’t stop the other celestials from trying or simply taking my blood and offering it to Thorne before I can say no, so hopefully Nana’s blood will do the trick.”
How very curious. She doesn’t sound like a spy, but she definitely does have secrets.
“Well,” Jullia says a bit more cheerily, “then I guess let’s hope for the best. And Mavyn, you are not bringing that snake back into the dorm room. It may not bite you, but I’m not going to risk it not biting me.”
Mavyn sighs and peers down at me with a sad expression. “Just for tonight then. I don’t have any means of getting you food either. Maybe if you feel up to it you can bite Thorne for me.”
Someone snickers but she only curls those red lips at me and what I would give to not be in this form but still wrapped around her.
“We’re here,” the vampyr calls. And then her scent shifts. It gets a shade stronger.
A shade more deadly.
Nine
Darian – August 12
My father had warned me a vampire would be attending Syngenia this year, though I wouldn’t know why he cared to. Neither of us care about vampires and he isn’t a councilmen. The only reason he does know is because his best friend and old schoolmate is.
It’s the only reason we all know Callahan despite him being younger than me and Thorne. And it’s perfect that this is his first year at Syngenia with the vampire. Though I thought vampires were meant to smell like death. She smells too sweet for death, though I can’t pick up exact scents.
I do, however, pick up exactly when she walks into Stone House.
Weaving between people, I sip my drink and exit the kitchen being used as a bar to enter the hall that leads to the grand foyer where the main party is and the front door. Keeping to the shadows of the hall, I walk down and peer around the corner where the front is.
Here comes trouble. All five foot five of herself. Too bad I don’t have fangs, or they’d be sunk deep in her neck right now.
Despite her not showing a bit of skin, her shirt is pulled tight showing every little dip and curve. Perky little tits, a waist I’d be able to wrap my hands fully around, an ass that would perfectly cup my –