Fullblood Academy: A Vampire Academy Mild Bully Romance (Vampires of the Sanctum Book 1)

by Phoenix Chaos

  Mrs. Snow didn’t seem keen to accept my handshake, so I let my hand fall to my side. “Have a seat,” I said, gesturing to the couch across from their TV.

  “A seat?” She raised an eyebrow.

  I nodded before sitting down on a wooden chair, making myself comfortable. “And you can put that down. It’s not going to do anything to me.”

  Tension thrummed between us. I watched a plethora of emotions flicker across Mrs. Snow’s face. Eventually, she gave in. She set the lamp aside and dragged a chair toward her so it faced me. She sat across me, regarding me with a deep cut between her brow. “Tell me where my daughter is.” Mrs. Snow attempted to show strength, but she was shaking everywhere. I saw through her facade easily. “Or I’m calling the cops on you.”

  “Unfortunately,” I said, “I’m not in a position to reveal that kind of information.” Mrs. Snow might be Verity’s mother, but she was still a human who belonged in the outside world. To protect my own kind, I couldn’t let her know about the existence of vampires. Humans outnumbered vampires by far, and if knowledge of us got out, it’d give us unnecessary trouble. We already had enough problems with the hunters and werewolves.

  “I can’t trust you,” Mrs. Snow said.

  “You shouldn’t. You’ve only just met me.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “You’ll have to take my word for it. You need me.”

  “How?”

  “I can save both your daughters.”

  She stiffened. “Hannah, too?”

  I nodded. “And I can give Verity back to you.”

  “Verity…” Mrs. Snow’s jaw slackened. “What do you want from me?”

  “I’d like to see Hannah.”

  “And you won’t hurt her?”

  “I have nothing to gain from that.”

  “You’re a stranger.”

  “Do you want to save your daughters?”

  Mrs. Snow sucked in a deep breath. From the way she constantly looked at the entrance, she obviously didn’t like me in her home. She considered my proposal, and after a long, drawn-out moment, she answered, “Okay… okay… I’ll take you to her.”

  “Good,” I replied, standing. I straightened the collar of my coat. “Let’s see how she is, then.”

  Miles had informed me of Hannah’s location before I arrived in Brooklyn. I could have gone there by myself, but sitting in Mrs. Snow’s car gave me a better picture of what Verity’s life used to be like. Mrs. Snow drove a white SUV. The perfect family car. I wondered how many times Verity had sat on these leather seats.

  I looked out the car window and at the row of street lamps. The buildings here were covered in graffiti. These surroundings seemed so raw in comparison to the Sanctum, where everything was artificial and organized.

  “So,” Mrs. Snow said, “how’d you meet Verity?” She nervously tapped her finger on her steering wheel, mimicking the beat of the music from the radio. I turned toward her, and she looked away. “She didn’t have many friends in school. Likes to keep to herself. Wouldn’t think that she’d meet someone like… you know… you.”

  “Me?”

  “You’re not exactly what I’d call normal. Your hair is something.”

  “Neither is your daughter. She’s special.”

  Mrs. Snow cleared her throat.

  “I mean that in a good way. Verity’s difficult to miss,” I replied. “I saw her and had to approach her.”

  “Oh, um.” She straightened, gripping the steering wheel more tightly and flattening her back against her car seat. “You took an interest in her, perhaps? Is it that kind of relationship?”

  “No.”

  Not anymore.

  Verity’s mother didn’t need to be privy to what had happened between her daughter and me.

  I looked ahead as Mrs. Snow made a turn and into the driveway of the hospital. In front of the building was a large sign that read Faith Medical. I almost smiled at the irony of the hospital’s name. Mrs. Snow had brought a devil into what was supposedly a holy place. The hunters usually liked to voice out words of prayer while killing us vampires. They called us demons. Of course, real demons existed, but they weren’t as numerous as us and were impossibly difficult to find. The hunters preferred to go for vampires, whom they considered easier prey. They were indiscriminate in their killing. I’d known kind vampires, and they’d been taken out just the same. Shame.

  Mrs. Snow stopped her car, putting it in park.

  “I’m not sure about this,” she muttered, dropping her hands from the steering wheel. “This is all a big mistake. I don’t even know who you are.”

  “Your daughter will die without me,” I said. “There’s nothing to lose.”

  “Are you trying to pull a scam on me, perhaps?”

  “Scam?”

  “Yeah. Are you one of those con artists? There’s a lot of that going on around here. I know we’re desperate. My husband and I haven’t been getting much sleep while thinking about our two girls. We’re vulnerable. The bills are piling up, and it’s taking a toll on our mental state. I’m not sure if you’re here to offer some kind of far-fetched solution that even the doctors don’t have in hopes of getting our mon—”

  “I’m not here for your money,” I said. “I’m almost offended that you might think so.”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude or—” She caught herself mid-sentence and scratched the back of her head. “I don’t even know why I’m apologizing. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

  “Your daughter, Hannah. She’s in ward 32, yes?” I asked.

  “How did you know?”

  “I have my sources.” Mainly Miles. He was the perfect servant, always getting me what I needed. “I’ll visit her first. It’ll be quick. You’ll forget that I was ever here soon enough.”

  “Wait,” Mrs. Snow said. “Before you leave. How are you going to save her?”

  I felt my heart thumping in my chest. “It’ll be a difficult process. It’ll require sacrifice.”

  “Please. If you could do so, I’d be eternally grateful. I wouldn’t know how to repay you. I love her so, so much.”

  “I’ll do my best.” I didn’t care to look at Mrs. Snow’s sorrowful face anymore. I stepped out of the car and shut the door behind me before walking into the hospital.

  The hospital was pungent. There were too many dying people here, all of their lives being artificially extended. I’d been born a fullblood, so I never understood the concept of mortality. What was it like to fear death? To have a limited time left? Maybe that was why these people treasured their time on earth so much more than I, because to them, time was a scarce and limited commodity. I couldn’t cherish what I had an endless supply of.

  A nurse strode by me, holding a blood bag. Surprisingly, my thirst wasn’t stirred. The only blood I wished to drink ran in Verity’s veins. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever have her again. I had to stay away. I wanted her, but she’d told me that she’d never be able to love me, crushing my hope for a brighter future.

  Giving my heart to Hannah, I’d be able to make Verity happy while also fulfilling my desire to die. It was a mutually beneficial situation.

  I stepped into the elevator and waited for it to reach the eighteenth story, where ward 32 was. I was accompanied by two doctors and a few visitors. They all glanced in my direction and looked at me like I didn’t belong. I wore colored contacts and casual clothes. It’d been a long while since I’d donned a pair of jeans, but despite my efforts, I garnered unwanted attention anyway. It might’ve been my white hair that had them questioning my appearance.

  The elevator dinged at the eighteenth story. My stop. As I walked through the hospital’s corridors, I had to make a mental note to slow down. If I went at my normal pace, which was three times as fast as an ordinary human’s, I might alarm some people.

  Ward 32 was at the far end of the corridor. When I entered, the lights were turned off and the drab curtains were drawn. A beeping sounded throughout the room
. It came from the monitor that was in the center of the room, attached to the frail girl lying on the bed. My guess was that she was Hannah. She looked too much like Annelise, with the same blond hair and small face.

  A man sat next to the window. I’d noticed him as soon as I entered the room. He was dressed in a plaid shirt and a pair of black pants. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in years. He sat slackened on the chair, reminding me of a weeping willow, as if the pain of life was too much for him to take and he wanted to give up. His hair, a dusty blond, hadn’t been combed. Realizing that a stranger had entered, the man stirred.

  I thought him weak and pathetic.

  He shouldn’t let his pain show. That was how he made himself vulnerable.

  “You probably got the wrong room,” the man said. His throat sounded hoarse. I thought I smelled alcohol wafting from him. Sluggishly, he raised his hand and waved me off with two fingers.

  “This room belongs to Hannah Snow, yes?” I asked.

  The man pushed himself from his seat and leaned toward me. With a confused expression, he pinched the pair of glasses he wore and squinted. “I don’t think my daughter knows you.”

  “Verity does. She sent me,” I lied. “Are you her father?”

  “I am.” He frowned. “And Verity? I haven’t heard from that girl from weeks. Her mother told me she got a phone call, but other than that, I have no idea where she is. What does she want with Hannah?”

  “She wants to know that her sister’s all right. Is she?”

  Mr. Snow shook his head, his whole body sagging again. His voice almost cracked when he said, “The doctors have tried everything. It’s no use. One more week and…” He took off his glasses, dragged his hand down his wrinkled face, then let out a heavy breath. “Please tell me that Verity’s okay. I can’t lose two daughters at the same time.”

  “She’s under my care,” I replied. “You don’t have to worry about her at all.”

  “It’ll be good to know where she is. I’ve been worried sick. I’m pretty sure her sister wants her around, too. The two of them were always so close, and if Hannah goes without Verity being able to say goodbye…”

  As Mr. Snow spoke, I strode up to Hannah to inspect the young girl. She lay completely still on the hospital bed. Hannah looked no older than fifteen.

  I took the sight of her in.

  This was the girl who was going to eat my heart.

  She was smaller than Verity. Her cheeks were sallow. Blond, wavy locks covered them.

  Blond.

  Just like Mr. and Mrs. Snow.

  I turned to Verity’s father. “There’s something that’s been bothering me,” I said. “Where did you find Verity?”

  “Find?” Mr. Snow looked taken aback. “Did she tell you that she was adopted? It’s not something she likes to talk about.”

  “No.” The monitor continued to beep. “She never mentioned that.”

  Verity’s father sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We took her in when she was three. Her mom and I couldn’t have a kid, so we thought we’d adopt one. She was the most precious thing. We didn’t give up trying, however, and Hannah came two years later as a miracle. We never thought we’d have a daughter of our own. I think we spoiled Hannah too much, and that affected Verity.”

  Was that why she thought she was never enough?

  “Verity pushed us away when she found out. She thought we’d always love her sister more, but that wasn’t it. She’s a strong girl. Always been pretty independent. Hannah’s brilliant too, but we thought she needed more attention. I’m glad the two of them managed to get along just fine despite their differences. I loved seeing them play together. It was the best thing about being their dad.” Mr. Snow’s face contorted with pain. “I wish I could’ve told Verity how much I loved her before she went missing. And Hannah… Both of them. They’re my world. I’m just not good with showing my emotions, you know? I always thought I had to be the stern father, like my dad was to me. And being the principal… It’s long hours taking care of the kids at school, and I always have to be strict about their grades. Can’t have my own daughters slipping and all that.”

  “Both daughters will be fine,” I said.

  He looked at me with confusion. “How can you know that?”

  “Because I have the power to fix things. You’ve raised an amazing woman. I hope you know that. One who managed to convince me to give her my heart.”

  “Your heart?” Mr. Snow’s jaw fell. “Are you in love with my daughter?”

  “Love. Exhaustion. My reasons for doing this are many and yet confusing.”

  “For doing what?”

  I didn’t wish to continue the conversation with Mr. Snow. I’d heard enough. I’d only come to the ward to see Hannah, although I hadn’t expected to learn of Verity’s adoption.

  Before Mr. Snow’s eyes, I vanished, leaping out of the window next to me. I’d probably disappeared in a blink.

  When I returned to the Sanctum, I was going to see Miles, and then I needed to give Verity what she wanted.

  Twenty-Six

  Verity

  The frogs outside were croaking. The sound drifted into my dorm from the balcony. Together with my thoughts, they kept me awake. It’d been three days since I’d seen Cassius. I wanted to see him again, but maybe after I pushed him away, he didn’t want anything to do with me.

  I had to talk to him. Not just because of whatever was between us, but also due to Hannah’s condition. We needed to come up with a way to save her. Maybe he could extend her life like how he did Annelise’s. Hannah would still be sleeping, but it’d buy me more time until the vampires found a queen.

  We.

  Since when did I start to view us as a team?

  I slid my blanket off my body. I was starting to feel too warm. I shifted, then lifted myself to a seating position.

  Grey stirred. He’d been snoring earlier, the sound echoing the frogs outside. “Mmm. Verity?”

  I bunched up my hair, tying it into a ponytail, then got to my feet.

  “Where are you going?” Grey asked.

  I looked over my shoulder at him. He was tucked comfortably underneath his blanket, but when our eyes met, he pushed himself up too.

  “Out,” I replied. “I think I need a walk.” I was dressed in a tank top and shorts. It was the sleepwear the Sanctum had provided us.

  Grey rubbed an eye, wearing a scowl. “The sun’s out. It’s bright as hell outside.”

  “We’re humans,” I replied. “We’re supposed to walk in the sun.”

  “Most of us are nocturnal now. Come on. Let’s get some sleep.”

  “I can’t.”

  “You’ve haven’t been getting enough sleep the past few days. Training’s been tough. I fall asleep right after getting back.”

  “I do too.”

  “But then you wake up in the middle of the day, tossing and turning.”

  “And you know that because?”

  “’Cause you wake me up, too?” Grey waved his hand in front of his face. “I fall back asleep right after, though.”

  I shrugged. “It might be the shift in day and night cycles that’s got me waking up. Messes up my body clock.”

  Grey shook his head. “It’s because you’re overthinking. And it’s about Cassius.”

  “No,” I said.

  Grey lifted a brow. “We’re doing this again? Really? You’re crazy about the guy, even though I don’t understand why. He’s not the kind of person you should be falling in love with. Have you been listening to those rumors?”

  “They’re called rumors for a reason.”

  “He eats babies for breakfast.”

  “You really believe that?”

  Grey darted his gaze to the ceiling, then back to me. “Have you seen this place? I’ll believe anything they tell me. Seems like anything’s possible here. Especially the dark and crazy things.” He gave a weary sigh. “Go to sleep, Verity. Give up on that guy. It’s bett
er if you don’t associate with him, anyway.”

  Grey simply didn’t understand. He hadn’t seen the way Cassius looked at me. He hadn’t felt what I did when Cassius and I made love. That feeling of safety was something I’d been searching for my entire life, and despite having that connection, I’d failed to treasure it. I’d asked Cassius to leave when I should have held him tightly and never let go.

  Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

  Why had I been so foolish?

  What if he never came back for me?

  “I’m taking a walk,” I said.

  “Why?” Grey asked. Sunlight filtered in from outside and highlighted his cheekbones. “You’re hoping to stumble onto him? You hope some magic might happen, and then you’re back in Cassius’s arms?”

  “Grey,” I said, “I’m not going to be with you.”

  Grey snorted. “This isn’t about that.”

  “Is it not?” I appreciated how Grey cared for me, but he didn’t need to tell me where I should or should not go. “Cassius is a good guy. You just don’t want me hanging with him ’cause you’re jealous.”

  “Jealous?” Grey scowled. “You think you’re all that now, jerky face?”

  “Jerky face.”

  “You stuff yourself with it all the time.”

  “And I should call you smoke breath.”

  “I brush my teeth regularly. I don’t have smoke breath.”

  “I wouldn’t know.”

  “You could kiss me and find out.”

  I pinned Grey with a hard look.

  Grey ran a hand through his hair. “Look. I admit to being slightly jealous, but that’s not why. I told you. Cassius looks at you like you’re some piece of meat he’s going to devour.”

  Was it wrong to like the way Cassius looked at me? To enjoy being wanted in that carnal, raw way? It stirred the wilder parts of me.

  “I don’t think you’re safe with him. And the rumors. The ones of him killing hundreds, murdering his friends—”