By the following morning, Adeline had learned three important things about Vampire de Witch.
First, the school had more corridors than any building had a right to possess.
Second, some of the paintings watched students when they walked past.
And third, her sister Tricky was terrible at keeping secrets.
"You're staring again," Tricky said.
Adeline looked at her.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm thinking."
"Your thinking face looks exactly like your annoyed face."
"That's because I'm usually annoyed when I'm thinking."
Tricky giggled.
They walked side by side through the eastern hallway, heading toward their morning classes.
Tricky had changed into the school's uniform, though she had somehow managed to make it look less formal. Her turquoise hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and a tiny silver seashell hung around her neck.
Adeline glanced at it.
"New?"
Tricky touched the necklace.
"Mom gave it to me."
Adeline's expression softened.
"Nice."
Tricky smiled.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Tricky lowered her voice.
"Did you sleep?"
"Not really."
"Because of the hunger?"
Adeline's eyes immediately moved around the hallway.
"Keep your voice down."
"I know, I know."
Tricky sighed.
"You don't have to pretend with me."
"I know."
Tricky bumped her shoulder.
"You've got me."
Adeline smiled faintly.
That was the one thing she never had to question.
Tricky knew everything.
She knew Adeline was a mutant.
She knew about the vampire blood running through her veins.
She knew about the witch magic.
And she knew exactly how dangerous it would be if anyone else found out.
"You should be careful," Adeline whispered.
"So should you."
"I am."
Tricky gave her a doubtful look.
"Yesterday you almost attacked someone because you smelled blood."
"Almost."
"That's not reassuring."
"I'm getting better."
"Adeline."
"Fine. I'm trying."
Tricky smiled.
"That's better."
They turned the corner.
And walked straight into someone.
A book fell to the floor.
Adeline looked down.
Then up.
The girl standing in front of them was stunning.
Long golden-brown hair.
Sharp green eyes.
Perfectly painted lips.
And an expression that could freeze water.
She looked at Adeline's uniform, then at Tricky.
Finally, she looked down at her fallen book.
"You should watch where you're going."
Adeline raised an eyebrow.
"You walked into us."
The girl's eyes narrowed.
"I was walking."
"So were we."
"Then perhaps you should learn how to do it properly."
Tricky stepped forward.
"Excuse me?"
The girl looked at her.
"Did I speak to you?"
Adeline stepped between them.
"Yes, actually. You spoke to both of us when you decided to blame us for something you did."
The girl smiled.
It wasn't friendly.
"My name is Cleopatra."
Adeline glanced at Tricky.
"Should I be impressed?"
Cleopatra's smile disappeared.
"Most people are."
"I'm not most people."
Cleopatra stepped closer.
"You must be the new girl."
"That's what I've been told."
"I've heard about you."
Adeline folded her arms.
"Already?"
"Vampire de Witch isn't a big place."
"Funny. It felt enormous when I was trying to find my classroom."
Cleopatra ignored the comment.
"You've been sitting with Ezekiel's group."
Adeline's expression changed slightly.
"Is that a problem?"
"It could be."
Tricky looked between them.
"Why?"
Cleopatra laughed softly.
"Because Ezekiel has terrible taste in company."
Adeline smiled.
"Then I suppose I'm in good company."
A few students passing by slowed down.
They clearly recognized Cleopatra.
One whispered something to another.
Adeline caught only two words.
Ezekiel's ex.
She looked at Cleopatra.
"Oh."
Cleopatra's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You know something."
"I know you're his ex-girlfriend."
Cleopatra's face hardened.
"Who told you?"
"No one."
Adeline shrugged.
"You made it obvious."
Cleopatra's fingers curled.
For just a moment, something strange happened.
A faint shimmer moved beneath her skin.
Adeline noticed.
So did Tricky.
Adeline's eyes narrowed.
Snake.
Not metaphorically.
She could sense it.
Something reptilian lived beneath Cleopatra's human appearance.
Cleopatra smiled again.
"I suggest you stay away from Ezekiel."
Adeline tilted her head.
"Why?"
"Because he's not someone you want to get involved with."
"Good thing you don't get to decide who I talk to."
Cleopatra leaned closer.
"You have no idea what kind of people you're dealing with here."
Adeline's smile faded.
"Neither do you."
Cleopatra stared at her.
Then she picked up her book.
"This school has a way of exposing people."
She walked away.
Tricky watched her disappear around the corner.
"I don't like her."
"Neither do I."
"She's a snake."
Adeline looked at her.
"You felt it too?"
Tricky nodded.
"Definitely."
Adeline glanced down the hallway.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"Nothing."
But Adeline knew one thing already.
Cleopatra wasn't simply a jealous ex-girlfriend.
There was something else underneath that perfect face.
Something dangerous.
Later that afternoon, Adeline sat alone in the library.
She had been trying to research magical bloodlines, but every book she opened seemed to raise more questions than answers.
One particular book caught her attention.
Ancient Mutant Records.
Her fingers paused over the cover.
She looked around.
Nobody was watching.
She pulled it from the shelf.
The moment she opened it, a strange coldness moved through her fingers.
The pages turned by themselves.
One page stopped.
There was an old drawing.
A woman with dark hair.
One eye surrounded by a strange magical symbol.
The other marked with a tiny crescent moon.
Beneath the drawing was a single sentence.
When blood and magic become one, the forgotten heir shall awaken.
Adeline's heart began pounding.
She quickly shut the book.
"Adeline?"
She jumped.
Liana stood behind her.
"What are you doing?"
"Reading."
"That book?"
"Yes."
Liana frowned.
"That's a restricted section."
Adeline glanced at the shelf.
"It didn't say restricted."
"It doesn't have to."
"That's inconvenient."
Liana laughed.
"Come on. Dinner."
Adeline returned the book.
But she couldn't forget what she'd read.
The forgotten heir.
What did it mean?
And why had the book reacted to her?
That night, Adeline returned to her room.
Tricky was already asleep.
Adeline changed into her night clothes and sat beside the window.
She thought about Cleopatra.
Ezekiel.
The book.
The strange candle from her first day.
And the way Azreal's demons had bowed to her.
Nothing about Vampire de Witch made sense.
She was beginning to suspect that was intentional.
A soft sound came from behind her.
Adeline froze.
She slowly turned.
Tricky was still asleep.
The door was closed.
Adeline stood.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Then—
The room grew cold.
A shadow appeared beside the bookshelf.
Adeline's heart slammed against her ribs.
A figure slowly stepped out of the darkness.
Someone she had never seen before.
Tall.
Cloaked.
Their face hidden beneath a hood.
Adeline instinctively moved into a defensive stance.
"Who are you?"
The stranger lifted one hand.
"Relax, Adeline."
Her eyes narrowed.
"How do you know my name?"
The stranger took another step forward.
"Because I know why you're here."
Adeline's breath caught.
"What?"
The stranger lowered their hood.
Their expression was deadly serious.
"You weren't sent to Vampire de Witch to study."
Adeline stared at them.
"Then why was I sent here?"
The stranger opened their mouth.
"You were sent here because—"
A loud crash suddenly came from somewhere outside.
The stranger looked toward the window.
Their expression changed.
"We don't have much time."
Adeline stepped forward.
"Tell me."
The stranger looked directly into her eyes.
"Your quest has already begun."
And before they could say another word, the lights in Adeline's room went out.