Chapter 3

“I’m not gonna lie to you, I don’t like dogs. Once, they were like the sun to me. Now they’re like Nurthe which is significantly worse.”

—Alavanz

"This is where you will be residing for the rest of the year," Davin stated, next to him while releasing a whistle. Scanning the spacious living room of Marx's shared unit, he added. "Oh, your bags are already here."

There were two hallways on each side of the kitchen, Marx headed into the one next to Davin's left. Leaving him standing behind the large three-seat couch. Staring intently at the flat screen TV hanging on the wall. Davin's murmur faded as he opened the door that led to the bathroom and closed it behind him.

"Wow, you first placed runner-ups, sure got it..."

He scanned the bathroom nodding in satisfaction at the large bathtub embedded to the ground. Adding a mental note, to set some ground rules on the terms of use with Mayo. Knowing how he could get with warm water, and tubs that he could fit in.

Everything in the unit was big, big enough to fit Northern Wolves from Thatnmoor. He didn't have to duck below the shower head. Opposite the ground tub and the shower sat a door. It led to a bedroom, with a bed large enough to fit him and company. Yes, he would have to fight Mayo for this, but it wasn't a battle he couldn't win.

He left the room returning to the hallway again, to his right stood an empty doorway leading into the kitchen, he entered. There was a table in the middle with two seats, it was fully furnished. The counter reached past his waist, it didn't matter since he was still growing. Atop the counter, the wall featured a horizontal cutout, giving the person inside the view of the living room and door.

Davin turned to him, his face a mixture of shock and envy. From what Davin had told him he never frequented the top floors of the Wylerr residence, which consisted of units. Although he was one of the House Committee members, he lives on the eighth floor, which had communal, toilets, showers and kitchens.

He'd told him that this was done because the alphas tended to take over any space they were in. Marx understood that clearly, in high school they had their own residence. So, he was surprised to find out that he would share a residence with beta, gamma, delta and omega too.

Maybe that was the reason Davin had been tense the moment they'd stepped on this floor. It reeked of pheromones, the smell thick and heavy. Plants lined the hallway, sitting next to their doors to neutralize the smell.

Davin flinched. "You're back."

Marx nodded leaning on the table, as he breathed. "Yeah."

"See, I told you the place would be big enough." Davin stated, doing a slow turnaround one arm stretched out to the room. "We've got students that are bigger than you here, and they've never complained."

On the way Davin had assured him as a house committee member. Stating that he had been informed by management about remodeling being done in room 1312. Adding that, he'd seen construction guys carrying furniture and material up and down the lifts.

Marx had nodded in agreement, but he always preferred doing things himself. That's when things were done the right way, where he could be most certain that all was well. Or he could send Mayo to do it, that one, he knew for his efficiency.

Marx nodded at Davin to continue. "So let me give you a run down, you've seen the TV room, study, and gym area, right?" Davin spoke, listing on his hand. "Those are the communal areas you can go to when you want to mingle with the other residents, or let off some steam, you know."

"Remember, the whole building is sound proof and you have a unit." Davin added with a wriggle of his brows. "If you catch my drift."

Marx released a small chuckle.

Davin continued. "This floor is an all alpha floor, mixed boys and girls, just like the one below it. We also have omega only floors." Scratching his chin in thought, he continued. "The only other residence known to have all alpha and omega only floors is Falkrik, including a few off campus ones."

Marx wondered why he should care about Falkrik when he didn't live there.

Davin, seeming to notice his confusion, clarified. "Falkrik is the Daegon's primary residence."

Marx's brows shot up in response. He felt a slight stir in his wolf at the mention of their future king. Why hadn't they placed him at Falkrik?

The sound of Davin's footsteps entering the kitchen pulled him back to the real world.

"He lives on school grounds?"

"Yeah, what'd you think?" Davin asked, opening his fridge door.

"Don't know, thought maybe..." Marx shrugged.

"Well, you thought wrong." Davin answered his head stuck inside Marx's freezer. Closing the fridge door a frozen tray of raw meat and a bottle of soda in hand. "Don't get your panties in a twist, not like you're gonna meet him anyway."

"Unless it's a formal gathering." Davin rummaged through his cabinets until he found two bags of chips, offering one to Marx who refused. Davin shrugged tucking the bag under his arm.

"Hand me your phone."

Marx searched his pockets and handed it to him.

"It's got your name on it, its also got hers, your student code and your teams register?" A chuckle fell from Davin's lips, mouthful of chips.

Scrolling through his phone, he said. "Had to see for myself. I mean, they said she was nuts but, I didn't think..."

Handing Marx his phone back, Davin gave him a pitiful look. "Well, your training area seems to be Coombe hall near the restless corpse territory." Noting Marx's confused gaze, he clarified. "Vampires."

"Coombe is in vampire territory?"

"No. Coombe is neutral ground but closer to the open grave lands, so informally it's theirs."An alarm rang from Davins phone. "Shoot, I have class, let me take your contact. I'll text you when my class ends."

Marx nodded, taking Davin's phone and typing in his contact saving it.

"Cool, I'll leave you to it," Davin shamelessly took his phone, the tray of meat, soda and the bags of chips and headed to the door.

Alone, he went to his room and unpacked his clothes. Taking Mayo's bags to a different hallway with three doors. One led to the bathroom with a shower only and no bathtub. The other one led to a bedroom, notably smaller than his, but big enough for Mayo.

The third door led to a small study room with an empty book shelf and two study desks, including a sliding door that led to a small balcony with a wooden bench. Giving a view of a basketball court.

He went to open the door next to the kitchen doorway, only to find a laundry room with a washer and a dryer. Including a fully furnished cabinet that had cleaning supplies and laundry washing supplies. One wall was lined with shelves of empty clothing baskets.

Done with unpacking, he went to have a shower and made himself a small meal. One he resented eating because he never cooked. He made a mental note to ask about the food from the lunch hall. At four pm he left his room, locking his door with a key card.

To navigate the unfamiliar surroundings he followed his scent as he headed back to the bus stop. Using his memory to follow the exact shifting corridors he'd taken with Vanessa. It took him over an hour to reach the infirmary, because each one would head to a different area. Unwilling to request for help, he'd wait until he spotted a familiar corridor. Upon arrival, he found that Mayo's condition had worsened and he needed to stay the night.

The nurse told him that he didn't have a seizure, but his condition kept deteriorating. They needed to monitor him throughout the night. He could come and visit tomorrow morning during lunch or after his classes.

Marx spent the better part of the next hour and a half both lost in his mind and among the shifting stone corridors.

"Lost?"

A cheerful voice drifted into his ear. Marx stepped back, surprised to see a figure as tall as him. A ruby eyed vampire girl noticed his frustration and greeted him.

Carefully weighing his options, either find Qi Lin and arrive early to training or be late to training and get lost in enemy territory. The former seemed more preferable. Marx nodded. "I'm looking for Qi Lin at the school's academic office."

"I don't know Qi Lin," The girl smiled, feigning ignorance at his guarded expression, "but I can show you the academic office."

She was a vampire, yet she smelt like ice lilies. The one's Mayo always brought back from the mountains when he was done training. They were known to bloom only in the depths of winter, he'd never forget their rich, yet subtle scent.

Reaching the academic office, they were told that Qi Lin had just left. The receptionist called her informing her about her duties in relation to Marx, and she said she'd be available during tomorrow's lunch break. The vampire girl thanked the receptionist and they left.

Marx's tight jaw and clenched fist relaxed as the smell of frozen lilies drifted into his nose. Davin hadn't texted. The girl gave him a concerned look.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Yeah, you know where I can find Coombe hall?" He asked in a low voice.

"Yeah, my class will start soon." She looked down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, then back up at a frustrated Marx. "But I can skip this one, it's not all that important anyway."

Marx's tense shoulders dropped, the vampire smiled up at him.

"What are you doing at Coombe? I thought it was occupied by then."

"I have training with Alavanz at seven pm." He informed her.

"What!? Alavanz? I knew that lady was strange but, wow." The vampire girl exclaimed. "I have a friend who trains under her, too." The girl bit her lip. "I'll text her, so you guys can head over to Coombe together."

Marx nodded.

"Okay, let's be quick."

Marx flinched when she turned, taking his hand in hers. A hold he didn't return. Unaware of the uncomfortable wolf behind her, the girl speed walked out of the castle. "Hurry, the bus leaves at six fifteen."

Upon their arrival at the bus stop. They found out that, the busses headed to vampire territory. The one headed to Blencogo usually boarded by Abingdonians, had left. The only other one left was headed to Thiram. Marx pulled the girl towards him, her back collided with his chest. Just as a pale purple eyed vampire was about to aggressively bump shoulders with her or worse. Marx's wolf stirred, gums tingling. The purple eyed vampire hadn't hid its aggression, its eyes boring holes through the girl.

"Nurthe." The girl spat out, meeting the vampires gaze.

She shielded Marx behind her. They stepped back, as a large group of similar pale purple eyed vampire students passed by. Their aggressor turned, leaving with them. The group wore black with mauve colored, embroided bandanas carrying their kingdoms insignia.

"Let's get on a full circuit bus." Her brows furrowed. "It'll start at human territory, but it's better than sharing with Nurthe."

Nurthe vampires, better known as the vampires who hate vampires. They were known for their open dislike and disregard for other supernatural species. He recalled his teacher stating that they had caused the vampire empire to split in two: the Nurthe recognized by their pale purple eyes and Abingdonians with bright red eyes.

The Abingdon royals were known as the carriers of pure blood, the blood of the first vampires. It went deeper than that, but he never focused on history. Mayo always wrote his research assignments for him. What he did know was that the future king of the Abingdon vampires also went to this school. Seeing the girl's red eyes and clear disdain for the Nurthe, he guessed she was from Abingdon.

The full circuit bus arrived and they got on it. He felt a slight headiness, he'd never been so close to this many humans. His fangs elongated, the hairs on his flesh standing on end. A memory flashed in his mind, his mother's warning about feeding on humans.

She'd told him that, though Lycans had stopped the act, their wolves had never forgotten and still lusted for their blood. After the peace treaty had been established at the end of the second supernatural war. The lycan king banned feeding on man, under any circumstance.

Considering it an act of the rogue, looked down upon and condemned by all the other wolves. For it was known that, once one had eaten humans. They become Epsilon. Such a show of blatant disobedience to the Alpha king. It could only mean the animal and its instinct ruled. Which went against the ideals of many Lycans.

"We'll get off, at the Polperro residence and sprint to Coombe." The girl bit the side of her lower lip, scanning the bus while others boarded. "Vanessa said that she's at Larton, so she can't make it, but she'll meet us mid run."

A look of recognition flashed into his eyes, so Vanessa was the friend she had spoken of. The bus made three stops before stopping at Polperro residence. Being hit by the powerful scent of man he grew light headed.

"Get ready to run," the girl's soft voice sounded in his ears, the scent of ice lilies steadying him.

Immediately after disembarking the bus, the girl sprinted down the road, he followed. Noting that he could keep up, she ran faster. Fifteen minutes later they were joined by another figure. It was so fast that it seemed like there was a faint blur of color trailing behind them as they moved. It was Vanessa.

Marx's pace quickened, joining Vanessa, leaving the girl next to him behind. The girl exchanged glances with Vanessa and she turned back. Together they sprinted without rest to Coombe hall, arriving just before the doors were closed.

"Good, you're early." Alavanz appeared before them, after they'd breathlessly acquainted themselves with the cold floor.

Surrounded by mostly still hearts and the unforgiving smell of the dead. Marx's breathing paused, shoulders tensed, hairs raised.

"Everyone this is your new teammate, Marx." Alavanz addressed the group of twenty members excluding herself. "No need for any pleasantries were family. Right?"

Everyone looked at her. Just as a low unsettling laugh began to fall from her lips, everyone gave cautionary nods of approval. There were two humans, two witches and a wizard and he was the only werewolf. The rest of the team consisted of the undead.

"We're all even now." Alavanz pointed at a male, purple eyed vampire. "No chance of slacking, Boise."

"Now, gather up!" She clapped her hands. "The first challenge to start off our evening and welcome the newcomer is called, fetch the dog."

She approached Marx giving him a reflector, pulling him up to his feet. "I'd assume that since you came in, bursting through the door you know how to run."

Blatantly ignoring his narrowed eyes, she tapped his shoulder. "No shifting."

She gave each team member a tag. "If that tag rips or he takes it, it's his. He wins against you and you forfeit the game. Is that clear!?"

The group nodded.

"Everyone make your way to Coombe woods."

"But that's vampire territory." A witch girl responded in an anxious voice.

"I know, that's why I'm overseeing the game. Also full offense Boise. Everyone stays away from Thiram." Alavanz chuckled, jokingly adding. "Don't want to be reporting about dead bodies to my boss."