“The Silver Shadows that go to Superno?” asked Ulric, trying to make the connection himself.
“Yeah, my third cousin told me there was a coven of Crystal Witches in Louisiana where one of them turned out to be a fox amongst the chickens,” said Sibel, casting me a taunting glance.
“Hey!” said Ulric.
“Not my opinion, just what I heard,” said Sibel, trying to come off as sweet and innocent, “apparently, the coven had to be dismantled in the end because – ”
“Because of what?” I asked as my face grew red and my eyes probably did too.
“Well – and again, it’s only what I heard – my cousin told me the S.L.A. said that because the witch-pire was disowned from her coven, one night she got her revenge my getting one of the High Priestesses kidnapped.”
“Wait a minute!” Valenthia retorted.
“No, let her continue,” I said through gritted teeth, “I want to know the lies Pearl has obviously been spreading about me.” I really didn’t want to know. And yet, I needed to.
“Okay, but only if you don’t mind,” said Sibel, before happily continuing, “And then she – I mean you, jeez this is so awkward – pretended to save her so that they’d accept her again. Of course, I never really knew the story or whether it was true. But that’s how I know your name.” Again, she smiled in a way that made me want to punch her in the face.
“I think that’s enough,” said Rhonen. “I know who you are because of a much happier association – probably the one all the other students know about you through.”
“Do enlighten us,” said Valenthia, continuing to stare at Sibel. I cringed. What exactly did he mean by all the other students?
“Sure, so a small scandal that happened a few years ago here at the academy,” began Rhonen.
“Talk about diving right in,” protested Sibel.
“I have to tell them, it’s kind of part of our history,” said Rhonen bemused as he led us down the hall and towards food where I could smell delicious aromas. Hunger pangs immediately rose within me as I realized I hadn’t eaten for ages. “It’s lunchtime, lets talk while we get some grub,” he said as though he’d read my mind.
We went into the canteen which was starting to fill up and found a table that was empty and Rhonen grabbed another chair to make room for all of us. He patted one hand down loudly on the wooden table and called, “Taken!” If there had been a couple of students that hadn’t been watching us like we were a spectacle when we’d walked through, they were now.
“Let’s line up,” said Sibel curtly, though more subdued than before. I noticed that her eyes kept wandering over to Ulric. I felt the urge to lean over and hold his hand but fought it. We didn’t need any extra attention. Not until we’d figured out how our arrival had been received. If Sibel was anything to go by, vampires were not welcome. Not that I could blame her but it was tough when it hit home so personally. To my surprise Sibel disappeared into the kitchen as we queued and reappeared on the other side, to serve the food. She looked ahead and pretended she couldn’t see us as she began to serve the students before us.
“What’s the deal?” asked Valenthia.
“We all share the responsibilities to keep things running here. Obviously, there is proper staff but students support them,” explained Rhonen.
“That’s great!” said Natalie who had always been as uncomfortable as I was about the way things were run at Bloodline Academy.
“We’re complete underdogs in too many parts of supernatural society,” replied Rhonen as Ulric nodded along, “it would make no sense if we subjugated others the second we’re in charge.”
Lunch was a meat stew served with a bowl of steaming rice. Everything was plated up by the servers on the other side of the counter and as Sibel handed me my food, she scrutinized me openly, showing no prior recognition. I looked to Natalie and Valenthia and saw the large gap in the line-up after them as students were actively avoiding standing too close.
We grabbed our trays and headed over to the table that Rhonen had reserved earlier. Ulric took a bite, pointing his spoon appreciatively towards the dish and quickly taking another spoonful. “This is great!” he remarked.
“Some of the world’s top chefs are werewolves,” nodded Rhonen, taking a hearty bite as well, “our heightened senses paired with a love of food means that we make the best chefs.”
“Hmm,” remarked Natalie, “all of our chefs at our academy were the top human chefs.”
“Yes, because vamps don’t see werewolves as anything but collateral damage. They don’t see our talents or our worth. They only see slaves,” replied Rhonen. I sensed Ulric’s whole-hearted agreement and wondered how he had ever wanted to get involved with me.
“I’m sorry,” said Natalie, thoughtfully.
“Thanks to the Sanguine Guild of Europe, even though this academy and others like it produce a variety of students suited to all kinds of careers, most of the top chefs in previous years, have gone to Asia where they have a decent chance,” said Rhonen taking a sip of something from a box, which on closer inspection was milk. Watching him drink made me crave blood. The food was actually phenomenal. But it alone wasn’t what my body longed for anymore. “There is one success story where you come from and it relates to the story I started telling you earlier,” said Rhonen putting down his carton of milk, “about how I know your name, Katrina Quartz.”
“Please call me Kat,” I said looking up sharply and trying to ride rather than drown in the wave of anxiety that was coming at me.
“Sorry, Kat. So yeah, I heard of you through Samantha Silverstone. You know her, right?”
“Yeah – I, only a little bit…” I mumbled.
“She knows her through me,” Ulric stepped in, telling Rhonen the story about how he’d taken me there to be able to talk to my mother, Sophie-Anne, when I’d neither known, nor trusted her. Natalie and Valenthia too listened as I’d never told them of the werewolf bar we’d gone to on the day I had tried to run away from Bloodline Academy for the first time.
“Samantha’s kind of a big deal at this academy,” said Rhonen, “she’s the granddaughter of Lucien Silverstone.”
“That makes her Principal Silverstone’s daughter,” I said.
“Yep,” Rhonen leant in secretively, “she was meant to carry on here after she graduated. To carry on in her family’s footsteps. But instead, she defied them and settled across the world and opened a bar. It’s a wildly successful place – one of the best in werewolf hospitality over there. But her mom’s been peeved ever since she moved.”
“She told me,” said Ulric, surprising me. I suddenly sensed a thick feeling of guilt from him.
“What?” I blurted, “What are you hiding?”
“I knew about this academy, thanks to Samantha,” said Ulric, avoiding my gaze. “She’s obviously quite connected with the Silver Shadows of New Orleans.”
“Yeah, which our principal hates because those guys are totally on call to the S.L.A., no pride whatsoever,” scoffed Rhonen.
“Samantha told me her mom was the principal of a werewolf academy in Europe. It wasn’t until yesterday that Professor Frewin mentioned this place and its’ proximity to Cachtice that I put two and two together,” said Ulric.
“What did she say about me?” I asked, looking to Rhonen.
“Eat up, there’s something I want to show you,” he replied.
“Don’t take this the wrong way but about what you were saying earlier,” said Valenthia as we hastily finished up our lunch, “about vampires using werewolves and treating them like nothing.”
“What of it?” asked Rhonen.
“Well, I’m not saying it right but in case you hadn’t noticed, everyone does it.”
“What do you mean?” frowned Rhonen, causing his eyes to sparkle even more.
“Look at how we’re being treated here for being vamps. You’d think we have some supernatural plague at the rate everyone’s holding their distance. And the way your buddy Sibel treated Kat…”
“Don’t mind Sibel. She was completely floored as was I – you’ll understand what I mean when I show you,” Rhonen said turning his gaze on me. “As for everyone else here,” he said to Valenthia, “they’re afraid of you. They’ve spent their entire lives learning that vampires are the enemy because they have been. And again, you’ll get it when I take you to where we’re going next.”
“Oh,” answered Valenthia, eyeing Rhonen’s milk carton the way I had. I could tell that the meal, as delicious as it had been, had failed to satisfy her hunger as well.
***
We walked all the way back past Principal Silverstone’s office. She’d offered us a refuge and to Ulric, what sounded like full admission. But she hadn’t yet spoken of our academic obligations. When I’d first taken professor Frewin’s offer of help, it had been out of desperation with absolutely no foresight as to what life would look like. All I’d cared about was vengeance. Apart from running from place to place chasing after Kellum Bathory, I hadn’t pictured much of a future. But this wasn’t just about me and what I needed to do. It was about three others as well. Whatever might happen to me, I hadn’t thought it through. But it seemed Ulric and even his professor had.
“Here we are,” said Rhonen, as we stopped outside another set of wooden doors, with figures intricately carved into the pale surface.
“When we first tumbled in through that tunnel, I couldn’t have imagined the actual school would look like this,” said Natalie, impressed.
“That tunnel was actually quite a timely operation,” smiled Rhonen, as Natalie tugged at her sandy ponytail, “we’ve been informed that a war is upon us. The vampires in this region are attached to the Sanguine Guild of Europe so we need to know how to dig these temporary entrances and exits. After we’re done, they cave in on themselves. It’s a great way to throw enemies off the scent if the need arises. Which I’ve heard since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, that it will.”
“What kind of war exactly?” asked Valenthia, shifting uncomfortably as Rhonen gestured to Ulric who opened the doors and stood aside for us to pass.
“Wow, doesn’t vampire school in North America teach you anything?” smirked Rhonen. Natalie smiled along. Valenthia did not. “It’s going to be the Dark Legion heading things up. Of course, they’re backed by the Sanguine Guild but that’s unofficial.”
“Against who?” asked Natalie.
“Light magic,” answered Rhonen looking at me.
“The S.L.A. has always made it look like it was against them,” I said.
“This is where all will be revealed in a moment,” said Rhonen. I had to wonder if he was enjoying the suspense of it all. “Come this way, you’re about to find out why our academy is buried deep in the ground and why you’re such a huge deal, Katrina.”
“Just tell me,” I said, no longer able to take the tension that was welling up inside. It was making me feel light-headed because my vampire side was hungry and the witch within was beginning to get very anxious.
“Err Kat?” said Valenthia, staring ahead into the large room, which was like a gigantic version of the reading room in my coven. I followed her gaze and noticed that Ulric and Natalie too were fixated with what lay at the other end of the room. I took in a sharp, deep breath and spied what had stopped them in their tracks. It was a life-sized portrait of me.
Chapter 6
“I don’t understand?” I stuttered. Rhonen was the only one who continued walking towards the painting as the four of us stood glued to the spot.
“My visions…” uttered Valenthia.
“I told you it would make sense when I showed you,” answered Rhonen calling us over.
“But…it doesn’t,” I retorted feeling shaken. Ulric took my arm but it only made it worse as I picked up on his fear and confusion too.
“She looks exactly like you, doesn’t she? If you come over, I can explain,” said Rhonen.
“Please,” said Ulric.
“Her name was Esmeralda Quartz. She was a Crystal Witch that lived many hundreds of years ago.”
“We know about her!” said Ulric, looking at me hopefully, “Right Kat?”
“But did you know about her connection to Kat and to the Silver Shadows?” quizzed Rhonen.
“Obviously not,” I replied.
“You must know of the Grey Guild?” he asked Ulric. I wished he’d stick to the point at hand – which was that Esmeralda Quartz looked exactly like me and for some reason, she was significant for the Silver Shadows.
“Yeah, they were around in the time of Elizabeth Bathory. Professor Frewin said they were werewolves who had a particular animosity with the Sanguines of that time. But they were almost decimated by vamps and mortals,” recalled Ulric.
“Almost but not quite. One remained. His name was Luis Grey and he lived thanks to Esmeralda Quartz. He was a young werewolf left for dead by humans who had unknowingly teamed up with Sanguines and hunted the pack into oblivion. That was what Bathory ordered to secure her own survival. But Esmeralda Quartz was an amazing healer. She took Luis in and nursed him back to health. And in time, Luis found a mate in one of Esmeralda’s two daughters. She blessed the union.”
“Wait, she had children?” I whispered.
“Of course. The daughter that mated with Luis, is the mother of the original Silver Shadows lineage.”
“Woah,” breathed Ulric, “so you guys have witch-blood.”
“It goes back many, many generations but yes. Our lineage is tied to that of the line of Quartz Witches that began with Esmeralda Quartz’s daughter, Alani Quartz. But really, if Esmeralda Quartz had been like the other witches of the time, none of us would have been here. If it wasn’t for her, the Grey Guild would have been wiped out.”
“Can you…” I began,
“No, we can’t summon magic,” said Rhonen before I’d completed my sentence, “but we have a slight clairvoyance that other werewolves don’t.”
“How does this tie in with Kat?” asked Natalie, mesmerized by either the werewolf or the story. I couldn’t be sure which.
“Esmeralda Quartz had two daughters. Alani was the one who secured a new future for our kind. The other one was Annika Quartz. Your parent would have been her direct descendent. So now you know,” said Rhonen, “we are distantly related through the bloodline of Esmeralda Quartz.”
“Do you think the witches and warlocks of the S.L.A. know this – about that part of my lineage?” I asked, unprepared for the answer as I stood rooted where I was.
“I think some of them do. although I don’t think that professor who came with you would or he would have mentioned something. Samantha kind of tipped the school off when you first turned up at her bar. She was very confused as to how you’d landed in the predicament you had. Then when Professor Frewin mentioned you too, Principal Silverstone briefed us about it.”
“You mean the entire school knows all of this?” I asked with my heart beating fast in my chest.
“Most of it,” said Rhonen with a note of apology.
“Great,” I snapped, “did you know?” I asked Ulric.
“No!” Ulric replied.
“Let’s finish the tour of the school and I can show you to your dorm rooms,” said Rhonen realizing it had been a lot to take in.
We followed him as he pointed out the myriad of gyms and common areas. He showed us where the classrooms were and pointed out that in the past few years, there had been an emphasis on physical training. I thought I heard him mention something about how classes won’t be mandatory for any of us, though he encouraged Ulric to attend as many as possible as they were tailored for werewolves and would be similar to some of his back at Superno.
I listened and yet felt so far away that I was sure I missed most of what was said. My blood felt like it was rushing constantly right in my eardrums and as Valenthia, Natalie and Ulric asked questions, it was all I could do to keep pace with them. I felt like I was floating along. There, but consumed fully by the latest revelation of my
identity.
But thoughts of Kellum Bathory swirled in my head, competing for attention against Esmeralda Quartz. How ever shocking it was that I was now suddenly also tied in some way to the Silver Shadows, I could not afford to lose sight of why I was actually there. And it wasn’t to discover a kinship with those at Silverstone Academy. It was to avenge my mother. And in so many ways, myself.
“Just in time,” said Rhonen as Sibel made her way over. “She’ll take you guys, or rather girls, to your dorm room.
“Girls are at that end. I’ll show you,” said Sibel, whose demeanour towards us had tamed compared with before.
“I’ll show you where you’ll be,” said Rhonen to Ulric.
“See you soon,” Ulric let go of my hand and walked away with Rhonen.
“I’m not sure what you’re used to where you’re from,” began Sibel.
“Two to a room – not that big a mystery,” replied Valenthia.
“Well here it’s normally at least four. And always even numbers as werewolves don’t like to be separated. However, the principal thought it best to put the three of you together.”
“Oh good,” said Natalie.
“Yep, I bet you’re happy you don’t have to share with a werewolf,” provoked Sibel.
“We’re not like that,” replied Valenthia, “in case you hadn’t yet noticed, Kat is dating Ulric.”
“And how did that go down at your stuffy vampire academy?” Sibel asked Valenthia. I was about to answer but she had more to say, “on second thoughts, it doesn’t count. She’s half-witch anyway.”
“At least she’s not half of something else like you are,” said Valenthia.
“Leave it, Val,” I said, “It’s fine, you don’t trust us. I get it. I felt the same when I first went to St. Erzsebet’s but I learned that intolerance goes both ways.”
“You also look exactly like Esmeralda Quartz,” remarked Sibel, “which you have to understand makes it really weird for us.”
“You’re not the only ones,” I assured her.
Sibel nodded in slight acknowledgment and took us to our room. Compared to the large suites at Bloodline Academy, this was tiny but comfortable. Although the soft cream and brown colour combination of the beds, walls and furniture were nothing like it, the general setup reminded me of my room at our coven, where each room had had four roommates. Another similarity was the shared bathroom, which like the rest of the room was immaculately clean.
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