002. Chaotic Roomie

~Bethany~

Have I messed things up by saving that female Noble and letting her see me murder the wretched Vamp?

Will she go tale-telling to other Nobles about what happened on the stairs? For her own good, I hope she doesn't.

Before I get to my floor, I take a pause. Digging into my pocket, I pull out a mist and spray it all over my body to mask any scent of blood from my little episode with the Vamp.

A few more stairs bring me to the entrance of the dorm room I was assigned to.

I turn the doorknob and push the door open. It creaks slightly, revealing a space that’s surprisingly cozy for a place so full of arrogant creatures.

A bed is placed on either side of the room. One part of the room is colorfully painted and filled with basic living items, while my side of the room is simply blank, waiting for its occupant.

“Ohmygods! You’re here!” A girl squeals.

She hops off her bed and rushes excitedly at me like a tiny, gorgeous missile. “Hi! You're Bethany Metrov? gods, you’re so cool-looking.”

She throws her arms around me before I can even blink.

“…hi.” I manage, docking away from her overbearing frame.

She pulls back slightly. Damn, her face is a masterpiece of beauty.

Glowing skin, soft pink curls that look like she got into a brawl with cotton candy and won.

And her clothes look like she rolled through a high-end fashion catalog.

“Uhm, I'm sorry. I guess you're not the hug type.” She apologizes, her face bright with a smile. “I’m Zuri,” she says, as if that explains everything. “Zuri Ravenstone. But you can call me Zuu or Zee or Babycakes or whatever feels right in your soul.”

My gods, does she even take a moment to breathe? “Zuri is fine.”

“Zuri, it is! And oh, can I call you Beth? I'll definitely call you, Beth.” She finally let go of me. “I know it might seem like I talk too much. But I promise it's not that bad.” She blushes. “But… I am so happy you’re not a Vampire. Not that I hate Vampires, I kinda dated one once. He didn’t bite me, we’re still friends. But honestly, it’s refreshing to know I'll be living with someone with a pulse.”

I agree with her on the last part. I don't like the fact that Vampires sink their teeth into every skin. It irks me. But I disagree with her on the first part. She talks too much, and it's that bad.

"So, what are you? I'm a Bear shifter by the way." She adds.

"The Foundrum sent me," I say simply, not really interested in explaining myself.

She turns to look at me. "Hold up... You're... a Prose?”

“Yeah.”

Zuri makes a little dance. “That's super cool. We don’t have many Prose in Crestbane. It’s a top-tier privilege for me.”

I can’t help it, so I laugh. I never imagined I'd be paired in a room with such an entertaining Noble.

Zuri claps like she won a prize. “Oh gods! I made you laugh! That’s so hot. Henceforth, one of my new life goals will be to make you laugh at least once a day. Twice if I’m being greedy.”

Before I can reply, she frowns and sighs, looking at her wristwatch. "You're coming to the freshman party?”

“I don't care about the damn party,” I reply, pushing my bag inside my wardrobe.

“It’s an opportunity to meet the new Nobles and create good friendships, Beth. You’re coming with me." She flashes a smile. "I'll give you a tour of Crestbane as we go.”

“You will?”

“Let me tell you, I know things about this place that even the Dean can’t imagine. Now come on, let me show you all of Crestbane.”

A tour would be useful, I decide. "Great."

Zuri yanks the door open and links her arm in mine, smiling broadly like we’re besties headed to brunch.

For the first time since stepping into this chaotic excuse of a school, I feel warmth creeping under my skin as I sneak side peeks at Zuri.

I’m not here for pleasantries or to make friends, still, my heart warms at my darling Babycakes of a roommate.

***

"Nobles come to Crestbane to study, train, learn to manage their powers so as not to hurt humans, find their mates; for those that are lucky enough to have one. Also, we come here to learn more about our history and how to protect the Tether from several creatures in the Tophet."

I hum at her words before asking, "So you’re a Bear shifter?"

If I'm going to be crammed up in a room with a Noble, I'll need to gauge how powerful or weak she is.  

Zuri nods, but her smile is less bright. "Yeah, well, I’m supposed to be." She says in barely a whisper. "I mean, I am, because I could shift easily before I came to Crestbane. But now..." She makes a face and then leans closer to me. "I know it is taboo for Nobles to reveal their weaknesses, but mine is really obvious. So, I’ll just tell you. I haven’t shifted since after the first Crestbane Sweep. Everybody thinks my Bear is a coward, that’s why she refused to ever surface again."

Ah, yes, the Crestbane sweep. I’ve heard plenty about it, including the fact that the Crestbane council permits it as a yearly exercise to eliminate all the weak Nobles among them.

That way, the strong ones will be fixed at several areas to defend the Tether; the portal or border between this world and Tophet.

"My family believes finding my mate will bring my Bear back to the surface. Well, this is my third year in Crestbane." Zuri smiles in a bid to hide her disappointment.

It was too late before I realized we were heading down the same staircase I had taken earlier.

We both stopped on the steps, staring down at the scene below us. 

Two faculty workers are scrubbing blood off the stone steps, and the Vampire’s corpse has magically shrunk, revealing dried-up skin and bones that are almost visible underneath his skin.

It looks like something sucked into his Vamp's soul.

Zuri gives me an 'oh yikes' look before clearing her throat.

"Uh, what happened here?"

One of the faculty workers shakes his head. "We're as clueless as you are. Looks like one of you Nobles decided to show off. Not surprised since you all are spoiled brats."

Gods, I am also curious to know who did this because it had nothing to do with me.

"Come on, let's go," Zuri says and drags me down the stairs, avoiding the cleaners.

We make our way down another passage, and she whispers, "So sad. I mean, it is not the first time I’ve seen shit like that happen here, but still. I wonder who would have done that. This is the Vampire's final year, and he has already found his mate. What a bad time to go." She sighs.

I roll my eyes in my head, saying no word. If he could cheat on his supposed mate, then he's not worth living.

Zuri points out a few key places at Crestbane before we finally head to the Alpha Hall.

Crestbane might have modern tech, but walking its halls feels like time-traveling backward, with modern plumbing.

Just as we’re approaching the Alpha Hall, a deafening scream from female Nobles fills my ear.

They are clamoring around a boy who looks so full of himself.

"That's Zadrick," Zuri scoffs. "Pompous lion shifter. The only one from his lineage. He's a high-ranked popular boy. But not as popular as the four princes from the founding families."

I watch as the boy enjoys the attention he's getting from the female folks.

"What a drama king," Zuri scoffs, shaking her head. "He's not even that cute."

"He doesn't look bad." I offer my honest review.

Zuri shakes her head. "He's just there. If you see the four founding princes, you'll know the difference between cute and handsome."

I throw my head back in laughter. gods, how does she so effortlessly lighten up my mood all the time?

"The princes are pompous in Caps." She continues, "But they are very beautiful men who are known rizz masters."

I turn to her. "What?"

"You know... rizz... Smooth talkers." She explains.

"Oh, now I understand."

From the open door, the interior of Alpha Hall looks like a building from the 70's. Zuri calls it “Noble Hogwarts with less chill,” and I totally agree.

We're about to step through the door when we get blocked off by four good-looking boys who look like they are genetically engineered to seduce, ruin, and then casually forget you existed.

Power rolls off them in waves, enough to make every girl within a ten-meter radius sit straighter, or fall apart while trying to impress.

But I remain very... unimpressed, the gaze resting on the one closest to me.

"We need to talk." One of them says to me.