Bethrothed to a vampire

ZOE POV

"You're such a sellout."

My younger brother, Micah, leaned against the car with his arms crossed like he was the one leaving for college, not me.

"Thanks for the support," I muttered, yanking my duffel bag from the trunk.

"No, really," he said, pushing off the car to follow me. "Crestwood? The creepiest campus in the state? You couldn't just go to community college like a normal person?"

"I'm not trying to be normal, Micah."

"Well, you're succeeding at being weird."

I shot him a glare. "You're one to talk. The last time Mom found your browser history, she cried."

He flushed. "That was research."

"Sure it was."

"Whatever," he huffed, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets. "You're still ditching us."

"I'm not ditching anyone. I got a scholarship. This is a good thing."

"For who? You or Mom, who's been stress-baking since April?"

That one hit. I looked past him to where our mom stood on the sidewalk, pretending to organize paperwork while sneaking glances at us. Her shoulders were tight, her face too calm.

"Micah... I need this," I said, softer now. "It's not about leaving. It's about finding space."

"Just don't forget where you came from, Zoe."

I sighed. "I couldn't even if I tried."

He nodded, then shoved something into my hand. A tiny black crystal on a frayed cord.

"Found it at that weird shop downtown. Thought you'd like it. Might ward off whatever weird stuff happens at that school."

I blinked. "You bought me a talisman?"

"Don't make it weird. Just... wear it, okay?"

I slipped it into my pocket and pulled him into a hug, tighter than he expected.

"Tell Mom I'll call tonight. And tell her not to cry."

"Too late."

Just then, Mom walked over, eyes glossy but determined.

"You don't have to go if you're not ready," she said, her voice cracking slightly despite the smile she tried to maintain.

"Mom," I sighed. "I need this."

She reached out and took my hand. "I know. I just... don't want to lose you."

"You're not losing me. I'm just a call away."

She nodded, blinking fast. "Promise you'll be careful?"

"Always."

She kissed my forehead, then pulled both Micah and me into a hug. "You've got more strength in you than you know, Zoe. And more secrets around you than you realize. Trust your gut."

"That's cryptic."

She chuckled softly. "It's Crestwood. Cryptic comes with the tuition."

With one last look, she turned back to the car, pulling Micah with her. I watched them drive off, the silence settling around me like a second skin.

I turned to face the wrought iron gates of Crestwood.

Here goes everything.

---

"You're not going to like her."

Tessa's voice cut through the hallway before I even reached the dorm room. I paused outside the door, balancing a suitcase, a tote bag, and emotional baggage no one could see. She was definitely talking about me.

"No, seriously, Logan, she's like... aggressively normal," she continued. "One of those people who color-codes her notebooks and thinks oat milk is a personality."

Wow. Okay. Great start.

I knocked.

The door opened a crack, and a face appeared. Freckles, sharp cheekbones, and eyes that said she already knew too much about me.

"You heard that, huh?"

"Every word," I said. "Hi. I'm Zoe."

She blinked, then smiled like she hadn't just roasted me alive.

"Welcome to Crestwood. I'm Tessa, resident terrible first impressionist. Come in."

The room was a mix of chaos and charm. One side looked like a spellbook exploded-crystals, half-burned candles, dried herbs hanging from a makeshift rod. The other side, mine, was a sad blank canvas of beige bedding and untouched shelves.

Tessa plopped onto her bed, legs crisscrossed like a gremlin with eyeliner.

"So, Zoe from the Suburbs," she said, eyeing me. "What brings you to the land of ivy, secret societies, and way too much plaid?"

I hesitated. The real answer? Running. From home. From secrets. From myself.

"Scholarship," I said instead.

"Boring. But respectable. I'm here on a legacy clause. My great-aunt tried to hex the Dean in the 80s. Family drama is basically tuition."

I cracked a smile despite myself.

"You're weird."

"Thank you. Took years to perfect."

We fell into a strange silence. Not awkward-just... different. Like we were measuring each other with invisible scales. And for a moment, I felt okay. Almost normal.

Until the window slammed shut on its own.

I jumped. Tessa didn't.

"Wind," she said quickly. Too quickly.

"There's no wind."

She shrugged. "Crestwood has... quirks. You'll get used to it."

I wasn't sure I wanted to.

---

That night, after a lukewarm orientation and a dinner that tasted like cardboard dressed as lasagna, I wandered the quad. The sky was deep navy, stars barely peeking through the clouds. Gothic towers loomed above, casting long shadows that moved when you didn't look directly at them.

I should've gone back to the dorm. Instead, I kept walking. Toward the old library. Toward the dark corners where the campus lights didn't quite reach.

There was a heaviness in the air-something pressing behind my eyes, buzzing just below the surface of hearing. Like something was waiting.

But no one was there.

I told myself I was just tired. That I was being dramatic. That not every creepy vibe meant something sinister.

Still, I hurried back.

When I finally got to the room, Tessa was sitting cross-legged on her bed, surrounded by open books and odd little trinkets. She looked up when I walked in but didn't say anything.

I climbed into bed without asking questions.

Tessa turned off the lamp.

"Hey, Zoe?"

"Yeah?"

"You ever get the feeling this place is... watching you?"

I hesitated.

"Yeah," I whispered. "I do."

Outside, something creaked.

Low. Distant. Not wind.

Something else.