001. Welcome to Crestbane

~Bethany~

"This place is not for someone like you." The Dean's assistant draws me aside to tell me.

I had just successfully submitted my Crestbane University scholarship acceptance letter and completed the due registration process before he offered to direct me to my dorm.

He waits for a few seconds, and when his statement stirred no reaction from me, he let out a mirthless laugh and threads a hand through his hair.

"Forgive me, Miss Metrov. But what I'm trying to say is, you're what we call a Proselyte, a novice. All you can do is make tiny plants grow. You don't have magic in your blood, and you weren't born as one of us."

What an intolerable man who feels he is superior to me because he was born a Mage.

He looks at my face. I'm not sure what he's searching for, but I'm certain he didn't find it. But he continues speaking.

"Here in Crestbane, we have Nobles who can cast disastrous spells, powerful vampires who can withstand daylight, ice elementals who can-"

"You talk too much." I groan, cutting him off.

He looks askance at me and shakes his head, a mix of shock and anger flashing through his eyes.

"Miss Metrov, how about you try to practice the word, gratitude?"

"How about you let me be?" I snap at him. “Since this place isn’t for someone like me, are you going to help me get out of here, then? No? So, leave me the hell alone.”

He grinds his jaw and balls his hand in a fist while I scoff internally.

‘Who does he think he is?’

"I won't blame you if you find my sincere advice infuriating," he continues. "I just need you to know that, left to me, the priestess at the Foundrum shouldn't have sent you here."

"Because I wasn't born with magic?"

"Because your magic barely registers. You're a prey here!" He snaps.

Is this Mage being serious right now?

He doesn't even know me. None of them does. Not the people at the Foundrum where I spent two weeks of my life, not the Dean. No one in this godforsaken place knows what I'm capable of.

"I'm certain the high-ranked Nobles here will probably overlook you, since your type can't be considered a threat." He continues. "But the less powerful ones will not. They will see you as a means to rank up a few points. So, you need to always watch your back because Crestbane's staff and faculty members won't be able to protect you."

"I don't need anyone's protection." I hadn't realized I said the words out loud until he stills and stares at me, wide-eyed.

But I didn't lie. I can keep myself safe without breaking a sweat.

He scratches his head, darting his eyes around as if in search of something or someone. Then he adjusts the lapel of his jacket with shaky hands before stepping closer to me.

"This place is like the 'Hunger Games',” he whispers. “The weak gets eliminated without batting an eye. However, I wish you luck. You're going to need lots of it when you meet powerful casters that can bring the sands of the earth to their feet."

"Thank you," I reply, turning to head toward the direction that leads to my dorm.

"Also," he stops me. "The official welcome party for all freshmen starts in half an hour at the Alpha Hall. You should settle quickly and make your way down there."

"Right," I murmur, leaving the annoying man behind to continue down the south wing of Crestbane University, heading to what would be my new home for the next couple of weeks.

I walk past a few Nobles hanging around the halls, all dressed to their nines, probably for the party.

Ahead, I pass a couple of vampires sitting on a stone bench, latched onto a female vampire as they moan and feed from her.

Sirens, with their silky voices, are giggling and gossiping in a group as they pass me.

No one pays any attention to me because I keep my head down and slip through at just the right speed to blend in perfectly.

Finally, I turn down an empty corridor, seeing the stairs ahead. But I only make it a few steps before I spot a vampire harassing a female Noble at the foot of the staircase.

The look of helplessness on the girl's face made my breathing unsteady, and that all-too-familiar prickle coursed over my skin, urging me to rip the vampire apart.

"Let the girl go," I tell the vamp, halting when I get to the foot of the stairs.

The corners of the Vampire's mouth turn up as he slips me a curious gaze.

"You are new." He says, stepping away from the girl and facing me squarely.

"Yes."

A look of despair appears on the girl's face as if she's silently pleading for me to ignore them and continue to my destination.

The Vampire steps even closer to me. From the way he’s eyeing me, it is not hard to tell he’s sizing me up to get a feel for how strong or weak of a Noble I am.

I suppose the Dean's assistant was right after all.

He leans down, close to my neck, inhaling my scent, and I ready myself to strangle him in case he decides to move mad by trying to sink his dirty fangs into my skin.

"What are you… A shifter, a caster, an elemental, a siren?" He suddenly asks.

"None of your business."

He looks at me again, taking me in slowly before a frown appears on his face. "Are you... a Prose?"

When I say nothing, he grins. "That’s what we call Proselytes. They are like new converts whose powers aren't just trifles but total ass."

"Just let the girl go," I reply.

"Want to take her place, Sweetie? I would love that." He says, palming his crotch like a lunatic.

I look pointedly down at the hard ridge on his pants and shake my head at the disgusting fool. "Not interested." I turn to the girl, "Go."

She raises her brow at me. "I'm sorry, but if you're a Prose, there's no way I'll leave you at his mercy. He'll kill you."

"I can take care of myself, go."

She walks up to me and takes a stand beside me instead.

The Vamp throws his head back in laughter. His eyes rake me in from head down, and he licks his lips. "Only a clueless Prose would think she stands a chance against me."

He pulls the button of his jeans open and points to the floor. "If you get on your little cute knees and suck me off nicely, I promise, I'll let you and your little friend live."

Nah, I’m not going to waste more time with this prick.

"What way are you headed?" I ask the girl, and she points upstairs. "Me too."

I turn and begin ascending the staircase, with the girl following beside me.

In a blur, the Vamp teleports to a few stairs above us. He pulls his pants to his ankle and curves his index at me.

"Come on, give it a taste. And I promise to protect you throughout your first week here."

I look the fool in the eye and speak clearly so all the malfunctioning parts of his brain cells pick me up.

"You don’t want to test me."

He throws his head back in another laughter. "Poor thing," he says, his appetite shifting from my body to the side of my neck. "What will you do? You're basically human, the least powerful Noble in the chain. But I'm a Vamp-"

Those are his last words before I slip my favorite switchblade from my jeans pocket, and by the time the Vamp realizes what's happening, the blade is already jammed in his chest.

He gasps and staggers into the wall, veins bulging through his skin.

I quickly wrench my blade out, and he screams. I nudge my shoulder at the girl, who seems frozen as she stares at the struggling Vamp in shock.

"Let's go."

She gasps like I just sprouted wings or horns. I tug her gently by the arm up the stairs.

As we pass, I spot the horror in the Vamp's eyes. He's dying, but he's also in shock. I can't possibly kill a Vampire with an ordinary switchblade. Except there is nothing ordinary about my little weapon.

Once we get to the girl’s floor, she slips her arm from my hold and hurries away from me like I'm some kind of infectious disease.

Crestbane University doesn't know the evil they just let through their gates.

A familiar buzz of excitement shoots through my veins.

I'm going to turn this place into ashes by the time I'm done.