possible? You never had that ability before,” Vivienne says.
“I don’t know. I can’t tell you if they started before the memory spell or only after.” He turns to her, his eyes glistening with anguish. “They’re brutal, Vivi. You think I turned into a junkie because I couldn’t cope with being cut from Ellnesari. But the truth is, the drugs were the only thing that kept them at bay.”
“Oh, Rikkon. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want you to think I was crazy. Come on. Visions? What kind of human has them?”
“But you’re not human,” Vaughn pipes up.
“No shit, Sherlock. I wasn’t aware of that until Vivi recovered her memories,” he retorts angrily.
“Can you stand? We need to get you back to your apartment, and then you can tell me more about your visions,” I say.
“I think I can, but I need help.”
Vaughn and Vivienne assist Rikkon, and then he throws his arm around his sister’s shoulder for support. I have a bunch of questions, but we shouldn’t be talking about any of it in public. Vampires have super hearing, and anyone could be eavesdropping from a distance.
Unfortunately, in order to get back to the dorm section we have to go through the main building. I step closer to Rikkon and whisper, “Try to look alive.”
Because the evening couldn’t turn any worse, Therese, Lucca’s former lover and now Vivienne’s nemesis, approaches with her posse.
“What’s wrong with your brother?” Therese asks, twisting her nose. “He reeks.”
“None of your business,” Vivienne hisses, earning Therese’s death glare in return.
The atmosphere becomes saturated with animosity, and unfortunately, the only person able to keep Therese at bay is me, which doesn’t bode well, not with the way my nerves are already fried.
“Nothing to see here. Run along.” I motion them away with my hand.
“You’re not the boss of me. This isn’t your territory, witch.”
Don’t let them get to you, Aurora.
I take a deep breath before replying. “Seriously. I’m doing you a favor. You do not want to test my patience tonight.”
Therese’s friend, whose name I can’t remember for the life of me, tugs the vamp queen bee’s sleeve. “Maybe we should go.”
Therese pulls her arm free with a jerky movement. “I’m not afraid of her. Besides, she can’t harm us. She’s a guest here.”
Vaughn steps forward. “Ladies. There’s no need for all this hostility. Why can’t we all be civil?”
“Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“Uh, I’m Vaughn. I’m in a band.” He stuffs his chest out like what he just said is a big deal.
Poor idiot. He has no idea that being in a band is not something those bitches care about. They’re Bluebloods, and for appearances’ sake, he’s a regular without pedigree. If they knew he had just been made, I’m not sure how they’d react. As a matter of fact, why is Vaughn telling them he’s in a band? Fuck, doesn’t anyone have common sense anymore?
Now the stupid bitch is staring at him with renewed interest. Way to go, Vaughn.
“What band?” she asks.
“An underground band from the hellhole town he comes from,” I say before he can dig his grave deeper. I’m not sure how anyone has not recognized him yet. Salem is not a big city.
“And where is that?” Therese insists.
“I need to lie down. I think I’m going to be sick again,” Rikkon interrupts.
“You do look positively dreadful. You don’t even feel like a vampire.” Therese steps closer, flaring her nostrils as she takes a whiff.
Hell. Is Rikkon’s concealment spell weakening already?
“He was pranked like I was. Forced to eat human food,” Vivienne grits out. “Now get out of my way before I kick your ass.”
I know her threats are not empty. She’s acting like the Nightingale princess she is. But Vivienne has only recovered her memories, not her Nightingale powers. In a fight, Therese would win.
“You little piece of shit. Just—”
“Aurora, darling. I didn’t expect to see you again tonight.” Calvin approaches, smiling from ear to ear.
I never thought I’d be glad to see the guy, but I can’t complain about his timely intrusion. Therese and her friends visibly tense at the addition of another magic user.
“You’re a mage. What are you doing at Bloodstone?” Therese narrows her eyes.
Calvin glances at me, smiling in an intimate way that I don’t like. “I’ve just joined the institute. I couldn’t stay away from my fiancée.”
I keep my mouth shut even if every fiber of my being is fighting against Calvin claiming me as his anything.