Chapter 21

Cadella's POV

I’m heading out to the recruitment event today. I’ll be back soon.” I smiled as I leaned into the doorway of Vasile’s home office.

“Okay. I don’t have any plans today, so I should be here when you get back.” He said, as he stood and walked toward me.

“I’ll stop and get dinner?” I asked.

“I’ll cook tonight.” He grinned.

“Sounds perfect.” I smiled as he leaned and pressed a kiss to my lips.

“Be careful, soricel. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He murmured against my lips between sweet kisses.

I pulled back and smiled.

“I will be. See you later, love you!” I waved over my shoulder as I grabbed my keys and purse.

“Love you too.” He called as I walked away.

Stepping out into the cool air, I took a deep breath as I looked around the small front yard. Bouncing down the steps, I approached the front gate. Making a mental note to lock our gate back up, I smiled. I loved being able to say that. Our gate to our rental.

It’d been almost a few weeks since I’d moved in with Vasile. I had been a little hesitant when he asked, but I didn’t regret moving. Being with him was easy.

His teaching schedule was fairly open as he only had a few courses this semester, so he was home more than I was, but we were able to walk home together after our class on Mondays. Most days were were able to enjoy a slow morning and breakfast and end our days with supper together.

I loved that he was so supportive of what I wanted to do, but my favorite thing about living together was our shared passion for history. We spent many evenings curled up together on the couch or huddled around the small table with a tea while he told me stories, or we discussed history projects. A part of me knew that I probably looked insane with the huge smile I was wearing right now, but I couldn’t help it. I was too happy.

The sounds of people talking over each other and yelling pulled me from my thoughts. I paused at the gate and took a moment to look around the campus court yard. The usually well groomed but open space was crowded with booths and tables. People were gathered around tables and trying to move in the congested pathways to see the different opportunities Celtradian held.

“Excuse me, are you going to enter?” A voice asked from behind me.

“Oh, crap. I’m sorry.” My face warmed as I realized I had been holding up students who wanted to enter.

I quickly stepped through and moved closer to the edge of the walk way so people could get around me. Walking slowly down the pathway, I tried to put as much space as I could between the crowds and myself to avoid being trampled. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to join a club, but I quickly dismissed the music and arts booths.

My gaze bounced from one table to another, it seemed like an endless sea of options. Too many options, it was honestly a little overwhelming. As I passed a chess club table, the hair on the back of my neck started to stand on end. It felt like someone was watching me. Slowing, I looked around, but everyone was either watching where they were going or looking at a booth. A shudder ran through me, which I ignored.

“Want to join our singing group?” A woman asked as she literally bounced toward me.

“Um, no thanks. I don’t sing.” I held up my hand and walked away before she could respond.

The crowd made it hard to see too far ahead, but I tried to look for anything that was history related. If I was going to join a club or do an activity, history would be the most appealing. I passed a few more tables when a booth with medieval style writing on the banner caught my eye. With my attention focused on the history booth, I continue to slowly make my way through the crowd towards it.

“You, girl! Ah, yes. You. There’s a connection. A power inside of you that needs attention.” A female spoke loudly and grabbed my arm.

Reflexively I tried to pull my arm back, but she didn’t let go.

Looking past the woman I read the name on the banner above her table. Mysterious Spirit Research Association. My eyes fell back to the woman. She was staring at me, but her gaze was unfocused, like she was looking through me.

Her brown hair was curly and escaping from under a black colored cloth with large roses on it, that was wrapped around her head. She wore a white ankle length dress with frilly lace that hung from the neck line. The sleeves were baggy but tightened around her wrists. A black and red apron was tied around her waist and highlighted the curves her baggy dress was trying to hide.

Before I could try to pull back from her, she shoved a crystal ball in my face.

“You belong here. There’s something in you that calls to darkness.” She stepped closer.

I knew that I should think she sounded crazy, that I should be walking away. But I found myself letting her lead me to closer to the table. Pamphlets about spirits and supernatural occurrences in the area lined the black table cloth.

“I’m so sorry. Adina can get a little…excited. I hope she didn’t scare you off.” A smiling blonde woman, who was dressed similarly to Adina, said as she offered her hand. “I’m Emilia.”

“I’m Cadella. So what is it exactly that this group does?” I asked as I shook her hand and quickly went back to studying the crowded table.

“We’re the Mysterious Spirit Research Association. We specialize in the study of mysterious and supernatural events-especially those that take place around the university.” Emilia explained.

“Are there many, um, events near here?” I asked, trying to sound surprised.

“Oh yes. Celtradian is a very busy place for spirits and supernaturals.” Emilia nodded, turning serious.

I stayed quiet, but my thoughts were racing. I’d tried to do some basic research about the blood race, or even just vampires. But it was all contradicting and confusing to try and find anything reliable. Maybe this club could clear some of it up.

The hair on the back of my neck was standing up again. Reaching back, I rubbed my hand over the goose bumps that had formed. Trying to look like I was taking in the booth, I looked around. Everyone was caught up in the booths around them. Adina’s words must have pushed me into the land of paranoia.

“What kind of things?” I couldn’t stop my curiosity from blossoming.

“Oh, well there’s a haunted forest, Witches’ Pond, a bunch of buildings that are haunted.” She shrugged.

“What about supernatural species?” I asked trying to direct the conversation to the topic I was really interested in.

“There’s the normal — shifters, vampires, demons.” Emilia responded.

An athletic team nearby started to chant loudly, making it hard to hear the end of her answer.

“If you want to learn more, you can join! It’s a little hard to talk about specifics at the recruitment events.” Emilia smiled softly and pushed a clipboard toward me with a form to fill out.

Biting on my lower lip I looked over the form. Joining would take up more of my time that I could be spending with Vasile. However, my curiosity was starting to dig its claws into the stories this group had to share. Research was always be conducted with multiple sources — not that Vasile would lie to me.

“Okay, I’ll sign up!” I smiled and picked up the clipboard.

I stepped off to the side to avoid being hit or run over by people on the sidewalk. A few moments later I was handing it back to Emilia. Her eyes lit up as she saw the completed form.

“We’re so excited to have you join us, Cadella. We haven’t set the date for the first meeting this year yet, but we’ll text you in the next day or two with the details.” She said.

“That’s fine. My number is on the form.” I smiled at her.

The feeling of being watched flared again, but I just ignored it. My paranoia was at an all time high, probably because of what happened in the alley way.

Feeling good about my decision to join the club I decided one group was enough and turned to head back to the apartment. I was so focused on joining a club and getting back that I didn’t notice that the feeling of being watched was valid. I missed the tall man who was leaning on the far side of a tree watching as I left the courtyard.