She sighed. Medra, you silly girl, I’m your mother. I have absolutely no interest in... Well, you know. Being a Peeping Tom. I’ll simply be happy that you are happy. When that delightful time comes.

I don’t think we should speak about it anymore, I said. Or ever again. Ever. Now tell me how to get you out.

Well, I’m not really sure about that part. Perhaps there is no way.

I stopped in my tracks and a girl walking behind me ran into me.

There has to be a way, I hissed internally, after apologizing to the girl. There is always a way. Haven’t you proven that by bringing me back from the brink of death? And bringing part of your own soul with me? None of that is supposed to be possible. And yet here we are.

Why not try it this way for a while? We could make a formidable team, she countered. You would benefit from my wisdom.

I’d rather benefit from it in another way. Preferably without you right here in my head, I said, clenching my jaw.

Oh, very well. She sighed forlornly. Well, I suppose you could start by consulting some ancient books. Or some wise person.

A book? A wise person? You sound as if you’ve been reading too many fairy tales. I could feel my panic mounting. Are those really your only suggestions?

Well, did you really expect me to have an answer for you? I’ve already said I don’t even know if it’s possible, she reminded me.

Beginning with books isn’t a terrible idea, I said grudgingly.

Bloodwing was sure to have an impressive library. Maybe the answer was waiting for me there. Could it really be that easy?

I turned another corner, this one lined with arched windows overlooking the sea. It was a calm day. A warm autumn breeze blew in, smelling of brine.

This wasn’t how I imagined meeting you, I said.

I suppose that makes two of us, Orcades replied. But I’m glad I had the chance. Even if it's in this very strange way. Daughter.

I was quiet for a moment. Not because I had nothing to say. But because suddenly tears were pricking the corners of my eyes.

She had died giving birth to me.

I could still remember the first time my mentor, Odessa, had told me what my mother’s final words had been.

Orcades had called me the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. And considering that, as a high fae, her life had been incredibly long, I supposed that was saying something.

So am I, I said finally.

I stopped. There. I’d reached the headmaster’s office. No one was outside.

I knocked on the door.

“Enter.” I was surprised to hear a woman’s voice.

I pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside. I’d entered an antechamber. The room was sparsely furnished and meticulously neat.

A pretty blightborn woman sat behind a mahogany desk. Her skin was dark brown and flawless, her lips painted a deep crimson. She was young, maybe only a few years older than me. Her eyes were calm, almost vacant, as if detached from her surroundings.

A pinprick of red on the side of her neck caught my eye. Then two tiny holes. Barely noticeable unless you were looking for it. Fang marks.

The realization hit me: the headmaster had fed from her. She wasn’t just a school secretary. She was his thrall.

The young woman gestured to the door behind her. “He’s expecting you. Go right in.”

I nodded.

As I stepped forward, my gaze snagged on the far wall. It was lined with six painted portraits. Written above in gold letters was a sign that read “Bloodwing Board of Directors.”

I scanned the names on the placards beneath the paintings quickly. Only one was familiar.

Natsumi Avari. Could this be Kage Tanaka’s mother? Natsumi’s long, white-blonde hair framed her face. She had dark, angular eyes–beautiful but stern. Her expression radiated a cold elegance, as though she saw every detail but was unimpressed by it all.

I turned away and opened the door to the headmaster’s inner office.

Headmaster Kim sat behind a carved wooden desk. The four pedestals holding the desk up depicted, rather grotesquely in my opinion, four naked women, their faces frozen in ecstasy as they licked blood from their lips. The wood was dark and polished to a gleam.

“Miss Pendragon. Please, sit,” Headmaster Kim commanded, his voice frosty. I felt the weight of his eyes on me as I complied, taking a seat in one of the two plain wooden chairs that had been arranged before the desk.

The headmaster, draped in dark robes trimmed with crimson, looked me over. I tried to appear nonchalant. But in truth, I was unsettled. The secretary. The carvings. These were some of the first blatant signs of vampirism I had seen within the school, and in the headmaster’s office no less. I would have been lying if I didn’t admit they frightened me. After all, yesterday this man had been in my head. Sure, he’d been trying to stop Regan and prevent me from making an utter fool of myself. That didn’t change the fact he had invaded me as easily as she had.

The headmaster steepled his hands over the desk. “I understand you had quite an interesting first day at Bloodwing.”

“You might say that,” I replied. “I certainly made a fool of myself in more ways than one.”

He surprised me by smiling slightly. “Would you like to tell me who was responsible for the mishaps?”

I remained silent.

“Surely you have some idea of who sabotaged your schedule,” he encouraged. “Or at least who used thrallweave on you during the commencement address.”

I met his eyes. “No. None at all.” I shrugged and leaned back in my chair. “Besides, does it matter?”

He raised his eyebrows. “I’m surprised you don’t want retribution.”

“Oh, I didn’t say that.” I smiled coolly. “But isn’t that the point of Bloodwing? To be ruthless? I paid attention to your speech. The way I see it is, whoever sabotaged me yesterday was doing exactly what you taught them to do.”

“That’s certainly one way of looking at it. What an interesting specimen you are, Miss Pendragon. Few blightborn see vampires so clearly upon their arrival here. Most have rather idealistic notions of what highblood life is like.”

“I’m sure they do. But I didn’t grow up idolizing vampires. So hopefully I can see you all for exactly what you really are,” I said.

Headmaster Kim leaned forward. “And just what is that?”

We looked at one another.

“Powerful,” I said at last.

Headmaster Kim opened his mouth but I never did find out just what he would have said, for at that same moment, the door behind me opened and Professor Sankara strode in, a vibrant purple silk robe swirling around him.

“Sorry I’m late, Headmaster.” The tall dark man scratched his chin ruefully. “Not a naturally early riser, as you know.” He looked over at me and smiled. “Miss Pendragon. Good to see you again.”

I couldn’t help smiling back. Sebastian Sankara was a vampire just like Headmaster Kim, yes. And yet, there was something that set them apart from each other.

Even though the combat teacher had watched Visha pummel me into the dirt just to see how far things would go, I found myself already on the verge of forgiving him. After all, Odessa had been a tough teacher, too. Not quite that brutal, but I had a feeling she’d have mostly approved of Sankara’s methods.

Or was that just the twisted way of Bloodwing? The fact that such brutality between students was already becoming acceptable to me?

“Thank you for joining us, Sebastian. I understand you have some thoughts about Miss Pendragon’s curriculum going forward,” said Headmaster Kim.

“I do. Advanced Weaponry may have been put on Medra’s timetable as a joke but there was nothing funny about how she beat Visha Vaidya in my class yesterday,” Professor Sankara said bluntly. “She should be permitted to remain in the class.”