Blood Hunter (The Grandor Descendant Series) (10 page)

When they were outside and alone in the hallway, Ragon rounded on her. Ari braced herself, preparing for Ragon’s reaction.  

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked.

“Ragon, please just listen to me. I know that you think that I’m some sort of fragile doll but I really want to finish my studies. I spent three years at university doing vet, and another four trying to get into it, and-”

“-you think I don’t know that? From your very first day at the University of Brisbane I was there.”

“Well, then, why can’t you understand why I want to finish my cou-” Ari started to say, but her argument was interrupted midsentence when Clyde swaggered out of the office.  

“What?” Ragon said coolly, breaking eye contact with Ari, only to look irritably at Clyde.

“I think that if Ari wants to study then we should let her,” he said simply.

“Of course you do,” Ragon snarled. “It’s all about fun and games with you; you don’t care if she gets hurt.”

“Ragon,” said Ari, inching towards him and placing a calming hand on his shoulder, “you know that’s not true.”

Caught off guard by Ari’s comment, Ragon did not reply at first. He seemed to be thinking very hard, weighing up the options in his head.

After a moment Ragon reached for her hand, shooting Clyde a withering look, as if wishing he weren’t there, then turning back o Ari and saying, “Is this really what you want? We don’t have to stay here; we could just get what we came for and go back to Australia. It would be so much safer for you back home.”  

“It’s what I want more than anything else. And it’s not just about me. You can walk around during the day here; you can’t do that in Australia.”

Ragon paused to think about this, staring around the empty corridor as he considered Ari’s words. Ari knew she had made a fair argument. It was true; the UK was overcast enough to make being a vampire almost enjoyable, but this also meant that there would be many more vampires here, hence his concerns.  

Predicting this argument, Ari quickly added, “Besides, Thomas said that Victoria would be able to keep the fact that we’re here a secret from the Ancients; we’re just as safe here as we are anywhere else. And… and I don’t want to live always on the run.”

“She has a point,” said Clyde.

Ragon sighed loudly and said, “So be it.”

After their brief discussion the three walked back into Victoria’s office.

Whatever conversation had occurred prior to their arrival, was instantly put on hold when Ragon said, “Ariana and I would like to study here.”

“And me,” chimed in Clyde. “Don’t think you are getting rid of me that easy! I’m not afraid of some good old fashion learning.”

“Oh hell, we all might as well,” said Patrick, taking Ryder by the hand and waiting for his nod of approval, which came almost immediately.

“But I don’t have any of my transcripts,” said Ryder, looking in concern at Patrick.

“Me either,” added Ari.

Ignoring Ari, the Vice Chancellor smiled at Ryder and said, “Unlike usual academic systems, I ensure that vampires are able to enrol without the hassle of having to provide things like high school grades or previous academic reports.” Victoria then turned to face Ari and added, “Your source will however need to meet all of the usual requirements as per UCAS.”

Ryder breathed a sigh of relief, while Ari winced at being called a source.

“So you don’t need any information from my previous degree? GPA scores… nothing?” asked Ryder.

The Vice Chancellor seemed not to notice the dawning comprehension on Ari’s face, rather she nodded and said, “Many of our vampiric students have completed their education a very, very long time ago, or not at all, as is the case with some of our, err, older graduates. Along with enforcing acceptable vampire conduct, I am also responsible for overseeing the publication of the V.A.M.P.I.R.E scientific journal. The majority of immortal students at the Pasteur Institute enrol in order to contribute to the relatively limited knowledge concerning our condition. Do you have any idea what you would be interested in studying? There are several honours programs that would suitable.”

“Put me down for an honours year then,” Sandra said indifferently.  

Thomas watched his mate with concern, but after only a moment, nodded also.

“Excellent,” said Victoria, her eyes locked appreciatively on Thomas’s. “I will need you each to fill in a student admittance form before I can sign off on your late acceptance.”

Ari watched as Victoria reached into the draw of her desk and handed out several sets of forms to each of the coven members, purposefully avoiding Ari. Ari felt her chest tighten.   

“But,” said Ari, looking at Ragon for support, “it will take weeks for a transfer to a different university; especially seeing as I am not technically enrolled anymore.”

“Not enrolled?” said Victoria, “That will be a problem. Perhaps your source could stay off campus until her admission is finalised?”

“Off campus?” asked Ari, her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Yes,” said Victoria, “only students are allowed to stay in our campus accommodations.”

Ari stared at Ragon, hoping for support. But it was not Ragon who came to her rescue, rather Thomas moved across the room, taking Victoria’s hand in his as he looked at her sternly.

“Victoria,” he said, “Ari is Ragon’s, err, source, and it would not do to part him of her. You see, Ragon has developed a preference for her. I can,” he added, smiling as he touched his hand to his heart, “vouch for the girl’s previous academic involvement; she has completed the first three years of veterinary science in an Australian institution. Let’s just leave it at that shall we? No need to worry with many tedious forms. It would be much simpler if her academic transcripts stayed safely in Australia. You know how easy it is for papers to get lost; why bother with all that?”

Ari tried to keep her mouth from falling open as Victoria nodded in agreement and passed an admission form to Ari. Ariana took the form quickly and began filling in her details. Her writing was hurried and messy; she was afraid that at any moment Ragon might retract his offer to allow her to study, or else the Vice Chancellor would come to her senses and refuse Ari’s admission.

When she was done, Ari went to hand her form back but Ragon snatched it from her, rubbing out some of her transfer details, and changing it to say that she’d done her first three years of veterinary science at Monash University, instead of the University of Brisbane.

“Well, welcome to the Pasteur Institute,” Victoria said cheerfully, after placing the stamped forms into a filing cabinet. “You will be issued with your student ID’s in the next few days.” She then turned to Thomas and smiled at him warmly, almost adoringly and added, “It is so good to see you again Tom.”

Tom? Ari didn’t think she had ever heard anyone call Thomas this. She pondered if Sandra felt any animosity to the woman who was acting so obviously intimate with her mate, but Sandra seemed indifferent to the proceedings, already preparing to exit the room. Following suit, Ragon and the rest of the coven moved to leave Victoria’s office also, but Thomas suddenly spun around.

“One more thing Victoria; can you please keep our attendance on the down low,” he said, reaching for her arm again. “I wouldn’t want anyone, err, high-up to know that we were here. You know how I like to keep a low profile.”

Victoria nodded but did not speak; she had looked around momentarily, her eyes resting finally on Ari in bemusement.       

Chapter 5- Cruor Halls

“And you’re quite sure that Victoria won’t mention to anyone that we are here?” asked Ragon, when the group had left the administration office and were walking leisurely around the campus. “It’s just, we can’t be sure if Kiara told Shok who Ari really is. I mean, he tortured her; I know Kiara said that she didn’t tell them that Ari was the baby that she had been ordered to kill but-”

“-You mean she was too in love with you to risk you getting in trouble for saving a marked child,” Clyde corrected.

“The point is, who knows what she might have said under that kind of torture. And, if Shok knows then the Ancients will know. That means that all they need to do is find anyone in the coven and they will have a clear path to Ari.”

“Ragon relax. You know of mine and Victoria’s connection?” Thomas said hotly. “Victoria would never betray me. It would be like saying that Ari would betray you, or Clyde would betray… never mind.”

“Ouch,” said Clyde, fanning astonishment.

Hearing this comparison, Ari wondered again exactly what the Vice Chancellor of the Pasteur Institute really meant to Thomas. It was clear that Sandra was not jealous of the woman, but why would Victoria risk hiding the coven’s attendance from the Ancients, unless she had a strong connection with Thomas, such as an ex-lover. Victoria was an Elder after all; it was her responsibility to inform the Ancients of anything unusual going on in her territory. She was just about to ask this when Ryder spoke.

“But even if the Vice Chancellor doesn’t tell the Ancients, how can we be sure that no one else will?” he asked.

Ari’s mouth fell open and she moved over to Ryder, purposefully kicking him hard in the shins. What was he trying to do? Get Ragon to change his mind, stop her from studying again? Shaking her head angrily, Ari felt her eyes water from the pain and bent down to hold pressure on her toe where it had smashed into Ryder’s marble-like flesh.

“The Ancients don’t concern themselves with the mundane, not even here,” Patrick explained, smiling at the look of indifference on Ryder’s face. “Besides, only Elders communicate with them directly, and even then it’s only very rarely and for extremely important matters, like reporting a waere sighting or a blood hunter. In a way,” he added, taking a meaningful look at Ragon, “our being here is almost clever… like we’re hiding in plain sight. There are probably more than a hundred vampires studying here right now. 6 new vamps won’t look strange at all; vamps come and go from here as they please. Victoria would hardly be expected to tell the Ancients that 6 new students were attending the school. Whereas, if we rocked up in a group together someplace else, that definitely would look suspicious.”

“You mean like how Astel reacted when we all arrived in England?” Ari asked.

“Yea,” chortled Clyde, “and it doesn’t hurt that Astel probably thinks that we’re at an Octoberfest, drinking Heiniken and eating well, maybe not bratwursts, but at the very least, some big busted German barmaid. That should keep her and the Ancients off our trail.”

Ignoring Clyde’s comment, Ari followed as the coven continued exploring the campus, a little more enthusiastically now that it was established they were safer at the Pasteur Institute, than anywhere else.

Ari couldn’t help but grin as they walked past the Arts and History buildings, breaking into a toothy smile as they passed the Science faculty. She hadn’t realised it until now, what with falling in love with Ragon and being hunted by vampires, but she desperately missed university. The student lifestyle, cramming for exams, not to mention the all-nighters in the library hurriedly trying to finish assignments, these were all fond memories that she had from her bachelor of veterinary science and indeed her previous life. She had worked so hard to get into this course; it felt wonderful that she would be once again working towards her dream of becoming a vet, this time with Ragon by her side.

Ever since she had been an orphan, Ari had wanted to look after animals. She wasn’t sure why but she guessed her deep mistrust of humans, spurn from several years of being returned by foster families, explained this desire. Animals were innocent, they were loyal and they loved unconditionally. It made her sick to think about animal abuse, or abandoned animals, and this longing to make a difference was where her dream to become a vet had been born from. The fact therefore that Ari was now walking through her new campus, about to re-commence her studies with the man she loved, was downright thrilling.

The buildings, while clearly being very old, were magnificently rendered, with giant sculptures of famous academics etched into the stone-face of the roofs. There were three main libraries, though they were only able to inspect two of them. The Art and History Library and the Science Library; both were piled high with books and journal articles, along with lines of computers where eager students sat studying in silence. When the group reached the front of the third library, they discovered that they needed an ID swipe card to access it.

“That’s where the vampire chronicles are kept,” Thomas whispered to Ari. “Only vampires have access.”

“But we’ll be able to get inside once we get our ID card?” she asked, looking eagerly up at the large frosty glass doors, which completely blocked the inside of the library from sight.  

“All of us,” said Sandra, indicating the coven, “will be able to get in, but seeing as you’re mortal, you won’t.”

At these words Ari’s head had fallen, not just from the realisation that she would not be able to inspect the books which might hold the key to the mystery of her life, but also because of the way that Sandra had spoken to her. The way she had said ‘mortal’ left a foul taste in Ari’s mouth, as if Sandra had just insulted her.

“Look at this,” said Clyde, dragging Ari from her doldrums.

He was pointing to a notice pinned on a cork board outside one of the lecture theatres.

“
Traffic lights dance, tonight, 7pm at the campus club. Red- you’re taken; orange- you’re not sure; green- good to go
,” Ari read. 

“Sounds like fun,” said Sandra, her eyes gleaming as she read the notice.

Thomas cocked an eyebrow but nodded, and Ragon looked over to Ari who was smiling; it was comforting to see Sandra so pleased with a social event. Ari pictured the two of them getting ready for the dance, Sandra doing her makeup as she always did and picking out an appropriate outfit for Ari to wear, probably from Sandra’s own wardrobe. Maybe tonight would be the perfect chance for Ari to talk to Sandra, really talk to her, perhaps even to dissolve the wedge that had formed between them since Larissa’s death. The thought of spending one ordinary night with Sandra was wonderful. She couldn’t remember the last time that she had acted like a normal girl and just had fun.  

“Can we go?” asked Ari, batting her eyelashes as fast as she could at Ragon.

Ragon hesitated for a moment but then nodded.                                                                  

“I guess we will need to buy you something red to wear,” he said, her infectious smile forcing him to grin back at her. “It will be good to get out; I definitely need to hunt.”

“And look at this,” said Sandra, moving over to another notice pinned to the board. “
Students wishing to sign up to campus accommodation should see the senior resident within their preferred hall. Rooms are still available in Delta, Omega and Cruor
. Excellent; we can see what other vamps are here.”

At these words Ragon froze.

“Cruors for the vamps isn’t it?” Clyde asked indifferently.

Ragon nodded sourly.

“What’s wrong?” asked Ari, looking up at Ragon in confusion.

“I forgot that vamps are required to live in a segregated dorm,” he said. “It helps conceal the fact that we don’t need to eat or drink, at least not the usual stuff anyway. There are kitchen facilities in Cruor halls, but the rest of the humans at the other dorms eat at the mess hall.”

“But-” Ari began, wondering if she would be permitted to stay with him.  

“-it’s alright; I am sure that the rules have changed,” he added quickly, avoiding looking her in the eyes.

After that the coven and Ari walked to the opposite side of the campus so as to inspect Cruor halls, the sorority for vampires. The hall was a good two hundred meters away from the other two campus accommodations, Omega and Delta. The building itself was three levels high and looked as if it held at least a hundred rooms, if not more. Upon entering the magnificent halls, the group had met with the head of Cruor halls and senior student representative, a particularly beautiful vampire called Gwen, who Sandra spent the majority of the time death staring, while Clyde focused on keeping his tongue in his mouth.

“No pets allowed,” Gwen had said, when Ragon had indicated that they would need 7 rooms.

For a moment Ari looked around smiling, immediately thinking of Crystal and that Gwen couldn’t count, but seeing the unamused look on Ragon’s face, turned back to stare at Gwen in confusion. She was obviously missing something; why would Ragon or any other vampire want a pet?

“No exceptions?” asked Ragon, trying to keep his voice calm as his fists bawled at his sides.

Gwen shook her head, her blonde hair swishing mesmerizingly to either side as she said, “Omega and Delta still have openings; she can stay there. A lot of us have sources over there. The Vice Chancellor is pretty strict on that rule.”

Just like that, Ari understood; she was the pet. Instantly she felt foolish, not to mention used.

“What time does it get dark around here?” Ragon asked quickly.

Ari wasn’t sure if he was trying to change the topic of conversation, or genuinely wanted to know. His eyes were raking the UV covered windows anxiously, and there was an untamed expression on his face, as if his fangs might slip out at any moment without his permission.

Gwen smiled knowingly, glancing at Ari before turning back to Ragon and reaching a hand to touch his shoulder suggestively.

“The boat over here can be draining; you can have your source in your room, we all bring them back. Just don’t let the Vice Chancellor catch you. If you get bored with this one,” Gwen added, glancing at Ari indifferently, “it’s dark around 5.30; we try to keep our hunting activities restricted to the students. And…” she added, looking around surreptitiously at the group, her eyes finally resting on Sandra, “there are other options if you are… adventurous. Also there’s a hospital about fifteen minutes down the road if you get carried away. The Vice Chancellor organised for the university to fund it, so it’s safe to drop off injured sources there. Just make sure you dissociate them first. There are a couple of volunteer vamps studying medicine who locum there after hours, so they take care of any sources who get brought in. They also fix the coroner’s report if you get carried away. Most brutal attacks get blamed on bears and stuff like that, so don’t freak out if you lose control. We’re all about having fun at Cruor!”

Ari’s mouth was open and it was only when Clyde nudged her hard that she closed it. Sandra however was leaning in closer to Gwen, no longer looking at her as an adversary, but hanging off her every word.  

“Well, I have to go,” said Gwen, moving towards a small room, atop of which was the sign
Admin Office
. “Last night we had a few vamps run a-muck at the campus club; the Vice Chancellor is coming for the arraignment. They took too much blood candy and made a mess of two students. Victoria wouldn’t have cared about the blood candy but the idiots left their sources hanging from the flag pole at the assembly meeting point. I’ve been out all morning lulling anyone who saw them; it’s been a disaster. Hopefully the fools will be expelled; if they get off with community service after I had to waste my entire morning cleaning up after them, I will be pissed.” 

Instantly Ari felt sick. The way Gwen had said
arraignment
, left an odd foreboding feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was also something about the casual way in which Gwen spoke about blood candy… not as if it were taboo, more like she was angry at the fact that she’d had to clean up after someone else’s mess. Ari was reminded of a conversation she’d walked in on at the Elder’s Halloween party, when two vampires had been using the drug:
Everyone does it, it’s just that no one talks about it.
That was what the girls had said. Ari couldn’t help but draw parallels with the way those girls had spoken about blood candy, and the way which Gwen was talking about it now. It was confusing that such a substance hadn’t been banned in the vampire community, especially seeing as it made fully grown vampires act like fledglings. But Ari had no chance to talk about it; at that point Gwen had grabbed some forms for the coven to fill in.