Page 29 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall

Except, it was fucking fast. I could hear its heavy paws thudding after me and the swift, panting breaths that came from its mouth as it growled. The sound chased me, bouncing from tree to tree in a rumble that made it feel like the forest was on the wolf's side, controlled by its whims.

Teeth nipped at my heels and I was actually a little tired by the time the half-fallen back wall that surrounded the castle came into view.

The wolf lingered amongst the treeline as I leapt over the small wall and landed in a crouch a brief sprint from the castle archway. I looked back at it and caught only the glimpse of long teeth glinting in the remainder of the moonlight.

I looked up in surprise. How long had I been in the forest for? The sky had begun to lighten and, while it wouldn't kill me, it would be annoying to have a sunburn if I stayed out here for too long.

I ran into the castle and threw a glance behind me at the last moment, wanting to make sure the wolf hadn't followed me in. Nothing. The woods were still. If it wasn't for the small snag in the fabric of my short nightgown, I might have thought I'd imagined the whole thing.

I stopped inside the archway and watched the forest from the window but didn't catch another glimpse of the wolf. I felt the dress at my back with my fingertips and traced the ragged outline of the claws that had ripped the material. It was close enough to shred my dress. It could have cut me, yet I remained unharmed. I shoved the encounter to the back of my mind as I moved away from the window and ran up the stairs towards my room. The strange wolf was a problem for another day—I had enough to worry about. Although, it had successfully distracted me from my own problems for a few hours.

I'd been so focused on getting back to my room and climbing into bed, that I hadn't realised somebody else was coming towards me until it was too late.

Strong arms caught me and familiar eyes widened in shock as they took in the nightgown I'd thrown on before I'd gone out walking. I obviously hadn't expected to see anybody, let alone Rowan, and that was obvious from the length of the hem and the way it hugged my chest. I wasn't really sure I cared how indecent it was though, if they hadn't wanted me to wear it, then why leave it in my room?

"Leonora," he breathed and I steadied myself on his shoulders before pulling away.

"Sorry, I was lost in my head and wasn't paying attention." Elowen had been right, it was easy to lose track of your senses when you weren't concentrating. "Have you been out somewhere?"

He hesitated and then shook his head. "No, just in the library. Fell asleep reading," he said with a short laugh and I frowned. I could smell the outside on his clothes and the coming rain in his hair. Why lie? I supposed it wasn't really any of my business, it was just strange. But that was Ashvale all over:strange.

"Well, I'm heading to bed," I said and he nodded. "Sorry again for crashing into you."

"Don't worry about it. Hey, you'll be in West's class tomorrow right?"

I raised an eyebrow and he smiled, a slight blush rising to his cheeks. "Elowen mentioned it to me in passing when I had a meeting with her earlier today—I guess she's seen us hanging out together. I'll be in that class too.”

"Second year magick, huh?" He nodded and I turned to face the end of the corridor where my room was waiting. "I guess I'll see you there."

"Sweet dreams," he murmured as I walked away and I couldn't stop the smile that curved my mouth as I unlocked my door and slipped inside.

ChapterSixteen

West,the instructor for second year magick, was an undead vampire. The knowledge hit me instantly when I caught my first glimpse of him, a new wariness settling into me as I watched him, unsure how territorial he might be. So far, all I’d gleaned was that he was an insufferable arse.

Hayes choked at my side and I smirked.

"Some of us are fortunate enough to control an element, and occasionally these gifts run within the bloodline." West droned as he proweld up and down in front of the waiting class, all eyes fixed on him and the cane he gestured with. I could only assume it was a prop or a leave-over from his previous life, as a vampire wouldn't need it. Maybe it was just a statement piece, I thought as the bejewelled silver skull glistened in the light when he twirled it. I wasn't sure how long West had been an undead for, but he dressed like a nineteenth century gentleman, complete with a waistcoat, moustache, and pocket watch on a chain. Maybe he thought he was rocking the style—unfortunately, I couldn't agree.

"Others, like myself," he said smugly, the smirk on his face managing to look greasy despite his dry skin, "are powerful enough to be blessed with additional gifts too. Some of these you will be able to wield as a living vampire but others will be latent until you are undead."

He clearly wanted someone to ask, so I indulged him by raising my hand like a good little student. "What exactly are your powers, sir?"

West beamed and I stifled my irritation. I'd thought this class would be fun, instead it seemed to be a lot of sitting around and listening to West talk. "My element is fire," he said and when a ball of flames appeared in one of his hands he simultaneously bit into his wrist and let a small amount of blood flow.

"Magick, as all things in life, has a cost that must be paid. To conjure something from nothing, as one does with elemental magic, requires sacrifice. Blood, or something similar to pay the price, lest it bleed out of you in an uncontrolled manner."

That tickled something in the back of my brain, greying grass and ash in the air flashing into my mind's eye before vanishing and I frowned when I was unable to conjure the line of thought again.

"My other gift, one that uses my own well of energy and demands no other price but myself, is as a Searcher. It is what makes me so well-suited for life at the academy." He waited, but this time I didn't raise my hand and neither did anyone else. With a slight huff, he continued. "A Searcher can specialise in many things, for me it is power. I can look within you and sense what may slumber within."

Okay, that did sound kind of cool—but mostly because I wanted to know what kind of magick I had,ifI had some, and not because I wanted to be a Searcher myself.

“As the majority of the class are still among the living, it is likely you will only be able to access or wield your elemental power for now. And be warned, not everyone will even have this much. Though, you may one day live long enough to accumulate the power to wield such energy."

It was fascinating to me how West could take a subject matter as interesting as literal fucking magick and make it boring. Hayes snickered quietly and West narrowed his eyes on us.

"Pair up!" he said abruptly and the room snapped to attention. "I want to see you summon your elements. As this is our first class together as part of your second year, I want to see where you're all at. Being able to summon your element quickly and controlled is of the utmost importance."

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