Chapter 5: The Whispers of Redpaveley (Continued)
The bell for the first period rang, a deep, resonant chime that echoed through the stone hallways of the Academy. Wolfie and I walked toward the "Arcane History and Social Dynamics" classroom—a mandatory class for the high-ranking families of Redpaveley.
As we stepped through the door, the room fell silent. It wasn't the curious silence of the hallway; it was the heavy, expectant silence of a theater before a play. I looked toward my usual seat—a dusty desk in the far back corner where the shadows were thickest. But a large, glowing parchment was pinned to the blackboard.
"NEW SEATING MANDATE: BY ORDER OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL"
Wolfie gasped softly beside me. I scanned the list. My name wasn't in the back anymore. It was right at the front, in the center of the room.
Drayan of House Drac & Wolfie of the Silvermoon Pack.
"They're making it official," I whispered, the weight of the arrangement hitting me all over again. In Redpaveley, seating charts weren't just about where you sat; they were about political standing. By placing us together in the front, the Academy was announcing to every student that our "union" was the new priority of the village.
I walked toward the desk, feeling the heat of Marcus's glare from the side of the room. But as I pulled out my chair for Wolfie—a small habit of city-politeness I couldn't quite shake—the air in the room suddenly grew sweet. It smelled like lilies and ozone, a scent so pure it almost made my vampire nose sting.
"Well, well. If it isn't the talk of the town."
A girl was leaning against the desk next to ours. She was breathtaking in a way that felt almost artificial. Her hair was a shimmering, metallic gold, and her skin looked as though it were made of polished marble. Behind her, tucked tightly against her back, were wings of pure white feathers that seemed to glow with their own internal light.
This was Seraphina. The lead of the Angel faction at the Academy.
"Hello, Seraphina," Wolfie said, her voice tight. The friendly warmth she usually carried was replaced by a sharp, defensive edge.
Seraphina didn't look at Wolfie. Her icy blue eyes were fixed on me, scanning me like I was a specimen under a microscope. She tilted her head, a small, perfect smile playing on her lips.
"So, this is the city-vampire," Seraphina mused. Her voice sounded like wind chimes—beautiful, but cold. "I must say, Drac's son is much more... haunting... than the rumors suggested. Such a pity to see such rare potential tied down to a pack-house so early."
"He's not 'tied down,' Seraphina," Wolfie snapped, stepping between me and the Angel. "He's part of an alliance. A concept I know you Angels have a hard time understanding since you think you're above everyone else."
Seraphina finally glanced at Wolfie, her expression one of mild pity. "My dear Wolfie, an alliance is just a polite word for a cage. I simply find it fascinating that the Council chose a Vampire from the city to anchor your wild blood. I would have thought someone... holier... would be required to keep you in check."
She turned back to me, leaning in close enough that I could feel the hum of her celestial energy. It felt like standing too close to a sun lamp—it made my skin itch. "If you ever find the 'furs' a bit too loud for your city tastes, Drayan, the Angels' wing of the library is always open to those of... refined... bloodlines."
She winked—a gesture that felt like a calculated move in a chess game—and sat down in her seat, her wings fluttering once before settling.
I sat down next to Wolfie, my mind spinning. I looked at the desk. I looked at Wolfie, who was fuming, her claws unconsciously scratching the wood of the table. And then I looked at Seraphina, who was already gracefully opening her textbook as if she hadn't just declared a silent war.
The teacher, a withered warlock with a long gray beard, tapped his staff on the floor. "Open your books to page 394. Today, we discuss the Great Unification of the Three Tides. And since we have our newly 'unified' couple in the front row, perhaps Drayan would like to start us off?"
The entire class turned to look at me. Marcus was smirking, Seraphina was watching with predatory interest, and Wolfie was looking at me with worry.
I stood up, my shadow stretching long across the floor. I didn't know the history of this village yet, and I didn't know the rules of their games. But I knew one thing: I wasn't going to let an Angel or a jealous Wolf make me look weak.
"The Unification," I began, my voice clear and cold, "wasn't about peace. It was about survival. Because when the world is burning, even the monsters have to learn how to shake hands."
The room stayed silent for a long beat before the teacher nodded slowly. "A cynical view, Mr. Drac. Very... vampire of you. Continue."