Page 64 of House of Crimson Kisses
I pay the carriage driver what he’s owed and a few extra coins to keep his mouth shut.
My assumption is that if I’m within the city bounds, and my intention isn’t to run, then whatever this bond is between Octavia and me shouldn’t give me too much hassle. It only caused an issue when I left the city. I’m sure intention is everything. The bond taught me that much, at least. And so far, so good. No chest pain. No twinges. It makes me wonder whether I could venture further if my intention is to return to her when I’m done. It also makes me wonder if I had enough intention of wanting to break the bond, would it actually snap—something tells me I’m not that lucky. But if she doesn’t give my memories back, it might be something I test.
I walk through the courtyard and external training grounds in the front of the Academy to find the first- and second-years going at a hardcore self-defence training session in the sun.
“Morning, Red,” they shout.
I wave as I traipse past them, but I don’t have time to stop and chat. I’m on a mission to get in, see the Chief, and get back to Octavia before sundown.
The Academy looms tall above me today, the pale, sandy turrets reaching into the cloudy sky. I’m about to step inside the giant oak door when it swings open, and the Chief appears right in front of me.
Goosebumps fleck over my arms.
“Oh,” I say. “You’re exactly who I was coming to see.”
She beams at me, her bright blue eyes sparkling in the lunchtime sun. “How fortunate. And good morning to you too, Red. Office? Or will a walk suffice?”
“Walls have ears. A walk makes sense.”
She guides the way, leading me through the foyer, and out through the inner courtyard and to the back of the grounds where there are several sports fields, permanent obstacle courses and outdoor gym equipment installations.
We take to the sports fields and walk a wide perimeter. When we’re far enough away from the building and any students, she nudges me.
“Tell me, how are you finding the trials? I apologise you got partnered with Octavia. I recall you asked me to prevent it, but in the end, we decided in the name of fairness to pick randomly.”
I pat her on the arm. “It’s fine. I’m a big girl. I can deal with it. How are you coping? We haven’t had a chance to talk about the fact Cordelia essentially cornered you into stepping down as Chief.”
The Chief stiffens under my touch, so I release her. She glances at me, tentative, her shoulders sagging.
“Honestly? I don’t want to retire. This job, this life even. It’s all I’ve ever known. But if stepping down enables us to win… to truly rid this world of vampires, then I’ll do whatever it takes.”
I tilt my head at her. “You can’t really believe that.”
I want the cure for my sister, but hearing the way she phrased that, so clear cut—she wants to rid the world of a species? That’s… genocide. I hate vampires. But as soon as I consider it, I catch myself in the lie. I don’t hate them all. I hate the actions of a few… But even then, I wouldn’t wish a genocide on an entire species. The Chief can’t mean that.
“Believe what?”
“That we’re going to rid the world of vampires. What if they don’t want to be cured?” I ask.
She huffs at me as we round the corner and walk down the long edge of the field. A bird swoops down and plucks a worm, or perhaps it’s a twig, from the field and flies off into the trees.
“Red, they are the scourge of the Earth. They’re unnatural and they must be stopped. Perhaps I was a little excessive in my wording. I’ll admit that was wrong of me. But they do need to be stopped.”
“Even those that aren’t hurting anyone?”
She glances at me; her face wrinkled with confusion. “Red, that’s literally why we exist. To stop them and protect humans. Think about it. What vampire hasn’t hurt someone? They don’t come into existence without draining a human.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I’ll accept that, but equally though, what hunter hasn’t killed?”
She shrugs. “Only vampires though.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she’s not listening. She’s stuck in her ways, in the hatred for the other species. If I recall myself of even a couple of weeks ago, that’s exactly who I was, what I thought.
But spending time with Octavia, really getting to understand her as a person and not the mask she lets the world see, has made me realise they’re not all bad. Xavier too. Can’t say the same for Dahlia and Gabriel. But something tells me not all vampires are bad.
And then there’s Amelia. Has she changed? A little, I guess. She’s grown up, she’s more independent. Hell, she’s even a little more responsible. In a way, this has done her good. That’s not something I ever thought I’d say.
But if we had more willing donors? More safety measures? What if Octavia is right and that a city of cohabitation and cooperation is the way for all of us to live safe and happy?
