Moonfire Academy (NaNoWriMo 2023)

Chapter Two

Everyone spent the first day settling in their dorms and going through their schedules. Most werewolves were instructed to join the combat class, but Cressida chose to join the herbs class, along with her friend Seraphina. 

The teacher showed them the petals of the flowers and had them all attempt to identify them.  As expected, Seraphina got them all correct. On the other hand, no matter how much Cressida stared at the petals, she couldn't remember the names of the flowers they belonged to. 

She drew one closer to her nose, and instantly regretted it. It burned her nostrils, which meant it was either of the flowers at the bottom of her list. As she brushed her fingers over it, the petal's surface felt velvety so she chose the last one. A flower used in a blend of herbs to help with simple sickness, but if inhaled as she just did, it burned the nostrils since the scent was way too strong for the nose of a wolf. They continued to work on identifying herbs, and learning which were great blended, and which became useless if boiled in water. 

Once the class finished, Cressida stood from her desk and froze at the sight of the headmistress at the door. For a moment, she glanced at the window and thought of leaping through it to avoid whatever she wanted to discuss with her. She could handle the three-level jump with ease. 

"Cressida, don't even think about it."

She sighed and grabbed her books and all of her notes. "It would be worth it, even if I break some bones."

"Follow me."

A command that if she had been a simple Omega would have forced her to obey, but the headmistress was not her alpha, and technically, Cressida outranked her. But she had chosen years ago that she would live as an Omega, so she obeyed the command. In silence, she followed the headmistress down the enormous hall into the office. 

Inside, she was taken aback by the sight of the twins sitting on the chair in front of the desk where the headmaster sat. Yesterday when they had arrived at the Academy's location, heavy clouds blocked out the sun, so it made sense to see the vampires outside. 

Today, though, the sun blazed down, something the fairies loved. On the other hand, to a werewolf, it was torture. Their body temperature was high enough without the burning sun rays of the sun attacking their skins. The reason she wore shorts and a crop top that was made of light material.

"How can they be out of their dorms?" Cressida asked before she could help herself.

The headmaster glanced at her in a way she didn't like. As if the question was ludicrous. But she had believed vampires would be set ablaze if they stepped foot outside on a sunny day. 

He gestured to the large windows, a smile on his lips. "All of the windows of the Academy have been changed so no sun rays can come through."

"Oh, wow. The faeries must hate it."

"Our dorms have enough sunlight for all of us. Everyone is doing fine."

She folded her arms over her chest. "So, why have I been summoned?" At the door creaking open, she glanced toward it to find Seraphina entering the room, hands clasped in front of her, gazing at the floor. "What the hell is going on?"

"Seraphina here has volunteered to be Renin's blood donor."

Wide-eyed, Cressida stared at her friend. "But, Fae blood can be addictive to a vampire. One bite and she won't stop." She glared at the headmaster. "Why don't you be the bloodsucker's donor? Why Seraphina?"

"Enough." Cressida bit her tongue at her headmistress's command. "Do not question our decisions again, Cressida. Besides, Seraphina volunteered for it. No one is forcing her."