Page 35 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall

"You did these?" I couldn't keep the surprise out of my voice, but he looked so... well, young. Not that I was one to talk, I supposed.

"Yeah, I hope you still like them, what with the..." He gestured to his head and I smiled slightly.

"They’re beautiful. What was I supposed to come in for?"

"Knees," he said confidently. "You've been dying to get them done for months but wanted to wait until you had the cash."

My knees. I wanted to laugh at his small insight into who I was—am. If I wanted to get any other tattoos in the future I would need the help of a mage like Cal to alter my body.

"Well, we actually have to go," I said, gesturing vaguely behind me where the three living vampires waited, suddenly desperate to get away from the living reminder of the life I'd lost. "But it was nice seeing you."

"You too," he said and then shook his head. "Shit. I never even told you my name. Joel," He held out a hand and I took it before stepping back. "My shop is just up by Woking. Dragon's Heart. Come by any time. I'm only up this way visiting my parents."

“Was I local there too? In Woking?” The question flew out of me suddenly and Joel paused, clearly sensing it was important to me.

“You studied at one of the unis nearby,” he said carefully and I nodded. So I wasn’t local to the area around Ashvale then. Someone had either deliberately left me there or I had already been on my way somehow.

"Thanks," I said quietly, knowing I would probably never see him again. "Take care."

"You too."

My throat felt suspiciously tight as I walked back to the group of vampires and turned away from Haye's probing eyes. Suddenly, I wasn't so sure if I wanted to remember.

"You're too curious not to," Hayes said quietly and Novalie and Rowan moved ahead of us as we made our way into the centre of town and the shopping centre. "The only thing worse than knowing is not knowing," he finished and in a way, that made sense. Besides, I'd already drank the fucking purple goo.

"It will be okay,” Hayes said, so quietly I almost thought I imagined it. Was he trying tocomfortme?

Maybe hell was freezing over.

ChapterEighteen

I'd thoughtthat Vampires for Dummies was a boring class, but that was before I'd had to be lectured on etiquette by Lark. I’d waited for my memories to trickle back to me thanks to our visit to the mage at the weekend, but had only received a confusing jumble of dreams that left me crankier than usual.

"Your debut into vampiric society is perhaps one of the most important moments of your lives—undead or otherwise."

I managed to refrain from rolling my eyes—just. Yes, I was curious about my sire line and any abilities that might run in the family, but beyond that I thought the emphasis vampires placed on tradition just made them seem... Well,old.

"This is a special and fun occasion, but should also be taken seriously if you hope to encourage your sire line to claim you. Debuts happen once a year, so there will be a few second years and older students joining you as they missed the debut prior."

I almost dozed off, which was an impressive feat on Lark's part considering I didn't really need to sleep, but the sudden silence and pink flush to Lark's cheeks intrigued me enough to make me pay attention to his next words.

"I would be remiss not to warn you about some of the... other activities that often happen at these events." He cleared his throat and I watched in fascination as he flushed a deeper red. "As these events often involve bloodletting, the group of undead can sometimes influence the room subconsciously."

What on earth was he trying to say? At our blank faces, Lark sighed, rubbing the space between his brows for a moment. "Bloodlust is heightened in these situations where vampires congregate, as such things can tend to run a little... wild."

I wasn't sure what amused me more—the thought of stuffy, uptight vampires having a bloody orgy or Lark's embarrassment trying to warn us.

"Of course, you do not have to participate, but if you find yourself compelled by the rising bloodlust do not be alarmed, it’s perfectly natural."

I couldn't hold my laugh in anymore and Lark jumped when it spilled out of me, his blush fading as he went pale at the sight of my fangs. It was ridiculous, really, how on edge some of the living vampires were around the undead, as if we weren't part of the same species. Sure, transitioning affected different vampires in unique ways. Some became less emotional, colder, others came into their own. I couldn't say which was true of me because I had no idea what I'd been like as a human.

"If you're quite done, Leonora," Lark said, frowning like he'd remembered he was supposed to be in charge. The way he said my name made my smile vanish.Leahanura. It was grating, but only because it echoed in my head long after he'd finished speaking, like a reverberation of the past rattling my head. Was this what Cal had meant when he'd said the purple drink would open my mind up to awakening the memories? That I'd get a fat bloody headache?

I stood slowly and Lark took a step back before catching himself. "I need to be excused."

He nodded, relief breaking across his face as I made for the door. Clearly he was just happy I wasn't tearing out his throat. I didn't have the energy to find it funny right then. I could barely think past the pain in my head, like I had a knife piercing me through my temple and poking at my brain.

Hayes. I needed Hayes.

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