Chapter 4: The Portal Travel

Davorin was waiting outside, pacing like a restless animal. The second he saw me, his eyes searched my face.

“Well?” he asked.

“I’m… half vampire,” I said, still trying to wrap my own tongue around the words. “A dhampir. Apparently that’s illegal. And—” I took a shaky breath, “—they’re sending me to Ravenhill Academy.”

His brows shot up, his eyes has so many questions. “A dhampir? How? And Ravenhill? That’s……That’s my academy.”

I let out a short laugh. “I know it’s a lot. I will tell you all about it. Guess that means we’re schoolmates now.”

For a moment, his expression softened, like he wanted to say something comforting.

“I’m here for you.’ He says.

“I want to see my mother, the councillor says I’d be leaving anytime soon”

We walked together to the healer’s wing. 

The air smelled faintly of herbs and antiseptic, and my chest tightened as I stepped into my mother’s room.

She was sitting by the window, eyes fixed at a spot. Her hair was loose around her face, and she was humming, soft, tuneless, like she didn’t even realize she was doing it.

“Hey, Mom,” I said, trying to keep my voice light.

She turned toward me, her eyes lighting up with recognition, at least, I thought so, but it faded quickly, replaced by that vague, distant look.

I sat beside her and took her hand. It was warm but limp in mine. “I have to go away for a while,” I began. “Somewhere… safe.”

She blinked at me, tilting her head slightly, like she was trying to match my words to a memory she didn’t have.

“I’ll come back,” I promised. “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of by Doctor Astor and the pack, they’ll look after you.”

Her gaze drifted back to the window. “The sky’s going to rain,” she murmured.

“Yeah,” I said quietly, my throat tight. “I think it might.”

I pressed a kiss to her hair, breathing her in one last time.

When I stood, Davorin was in the doorway, silent.

“You ready?” he asked.

No. I’d never be ready. But I nodded anyway.

                         *

Passing through the portal again, I threw up despite Davorin there with me. 

I’d seen magic before. Wolves shifting, healers mending broken bones, the occasional witch’s charms……

But this…

This was different.

It was like it had a heart of its own. 

And I had the horrible feeling it was watching me closely.

“You don’t have to look like yo’re walking to your own execution,” Davorin muttered beside me.

I glanced at him. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one being shipped off to a world of supernaturals without a clue how to… exist there.”

His mouth twitched, but he didn’t smile. “I told you, Ravenhill will be good to you.” 

“Right,” I said dryly. “Witches, fae, full-blood vampires, wolves… you know, everyone who has an actual place. No halfs, except me.”

He didn’t argue. Which told me he was thinking the same thing.

Alpha Cole and a couple of enforcers stood off to the side, watching like they were making sure I didn’t bolt. As if running would help.

The portal closed within seconds leaving me alone with Davorin. 

“Here.” Davorin pressed something small and metallic into my palm. I looked down—it was a chain bracelet, blackened silver, simple but warm from his skin.

“What is this?”

“A protection ward.” He says. “It will keep you safe.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers closing around it. “Thanks.”

He gave a small nod, then stepped toward the portal. “We go together. Ready?”

No. But I stepped forward anyway.

The first thing I noticed was the cold.

Not the normal, your-skin-goosebumps kind of cold, this was stronger. 

 It was like an ancient chill that made me feel like I’d stepped into the shadow of something older than time.

The second thing I noticed was the smell.

Iron. Smoke. And… sweetness, that I couldn’t just place, more like rotting fruit.

And the third thing?

We weren’t alone.

Figures moved in the distance, silhouettes against the skyline. 

The very tall towers pierced the fog, and black stone bridges stretched between them and intertwined. 

A dark river cut through the valley far below, and was glowing faintly red under the moonlight.

“This is…” I trailed off, not sure what word to use.

“Ravenhill,” Davorin said simply.

I wasn’t sure if that was comforting or terrifying.

We stepped onto a narrow path, the portal’s glow had completely faded behind us. 

My chest tightened at the thought, no way back. Not unless someone here let me.

A shadow appeared ahead.

Something, no, someone stepped into view. She was tall and willowy, with hair the color of fresh blood spilling down her back. Her eyes glowed faintly silver, and her smile… well, it showed just too many teeth.

“Davorin,” she said, her voice like smoke curling in the air. “Back for your final year. And… who’s this?”

“New transfer,” he said shortly. “Council orders.”

Her gaze slid to me. She inhaled, and her pupils blew wide. “Half-blood?” she murmured. “How?”

I tensed, instinct screaming at me to step back, but she was already circling like a shark.

“Careful, Reyna,” Davorin said, his voice low. “She’s under my protection.”

Reyna’s grin widened, sharp and slow. “Oh, I know. That’s what makes her interesting.”

I didn’t breathe until she finally drifted away, her perfume lingering like a threat.

“Friend of yours?” I muttered.

“Not exactly,” he said. “She’s… student council.”

Great. My first five minutes here, and I’d already been sniffed like a snack.

The academy gates loomed ahead, massive black iron twisted into the shape of thorned vines. 

It glowed faintly along the metal, humming with magic that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

Two guards stood at the entrance, both armed with blades that looked older than the city itself. One was a vampire, pale as moonlight with eyes like melted gold. The other… I didn’t even know. His skin shimmered faintly, like his shape was never fully fixed in one form.

They scanned us, eyes lingering on me, but Davorin murmured something under his breath and they stepped aside.

Inside, the air changed again, thicker, heavier, like the shadows themselves were alive. 

The academy wasn’t one building but a cluster of them, linked by bridges and staircases that twisted in ways that shouldn’t be possible. 

The walls were black stone veined with silver, and faint blue fire burned in sconces along the walls.

Students moved through the courtyards, some in uniforms, some in clothes that looked centuries out of date. There was obviously no technology here. 

A pair of witches in long green coats passed by, their eyes glowing faintly as they whispered to each other. 

A group of wolves in human form lounged by a fountain, their gazes following me with open suspicion.

And then there were the vampires.

They didn’t walk so much, more of gliding, moving with that unnatural grace I’d only ever seen in movies. Every single one of them seemed aware of me, like they could smell what I was under the ward.

“This is…” I began.

“A lot?” Davorin finished.

“Yeah. Definitely a lot.”

We stopped at a tall, arched doorway carved with more ancient designs. 

Inside was a narrow office smelling faintly of parchment and candle wax. Behind the desk sat a man who looked… normal. Brown hair, plain grey coat, reading glasses perched on his nose.

Until he looked up.

His eyes were pure black, no whites at all, I stifled a sharp breath of air. 

“Mr. Bardos,” he said to Davorin, his voice low but carrying. “And… your guest.”

“Neemah,” I said, forcing my chin up.

He studied me for a long, uncomfortable moment. “We’ve never had halfbreeds, it’s never heard of.”

“It’s from my father’s Council orders,” Davorin said again.

“We got his message,.” The man leaned back, folding his hands. “And she’s to be your mate?”

“Yes she is.” Davorin says. 

“Then you’ll need to be tested. Placement, skill level, control… all of it.”

“Control?” I echoed.

His gaze sharpened. “Your hunger, Miss Neemah. We wouldn’t want… accidents, I will send for you when it needs to be done.”

By the time we left the office, my stomach was knotted so tight it hurt.

“This place is going to eat me alive,” I muttered.

Davorin smirked faintly. “Not if you bite first.”