Velvet Bloodline

This is what I have for the first chapter of my story so far! Hope you enjoy!

-Chapter one.
Welcome to Briarcliff (Don’t Get Comfortable)-


“Father, why must I attend this school? Could I not have gone to a regular school?” Nikolai sighed, looking out the window as the car moved. Ivan looked at his son with cold eyes. “Yes. This is the only school I will allow you to attend. Briarcliff Academy is a very prestigious school. It is also less likely for you to have any distractions here. You wanted to attend high school. I expect you to focus solely on your academics.” Nikolai hummed, propping his elbow up on the windowpane of the car, resting his chin in the palm of his hand. Ivan watched his son for a moment longer. “Why couldn't we have moved somewhere where no one knew us?” Nikolai muttered, more to himself, but his father heard him anyway. “Because. I did not spend 42 years building a reputation here just to move because you're inconvenienced by people knowing who you are.” Nikolai stayed quiet for a moment. “That's not what I meant.” He murmured. Ivan rolled his eyes. Choosing to ignore his son's comment.

The car pulled into the entrance gate of Briarcliff Academy. Nikolai looked out the window at the building with an annoyed expression. “It looks fancier than I thought I would-” he muttered to himself. The driver parked the car in the already reserved parking space. “Even though you transferred mid-semester, I spoke to your principal, and she is not having you backtrack work. You start in the middle with the rest of your peers.” Nikolai paused. “Wait- what? I have to start in the middle of the curriculum? Really?” Nikolai stopped complaining when he saw the look on his father's face. He just sighed and got out of the car. Immediately, there was a cluster of students crowding the Sokolov car. Nikolai didn't pay them much mind and simply walked past them. Ivan followed his son to the front office. The other students weren't even trying to hide their excitement. Nikolai and his father heard their whispers as they walked to the front office. “Is that really him??” Yeah, that's him!” “I can't believe I go to school with a model!” “Wow- he's sooo much hotter in person-” Nikolai could tell this place was where subtlety went to die. They reached the front office. Ivan didn't even knock. He simply opened the door with the posture of someone who was definitely used to being the most authoritative figure in the room.

A tall woman who was standing by her desk turned around. She smiled at Ivan and Nikolai before speaking. “Ah, hello. You must be the young Sokolov who just transferred. I'm your Principal, Helena. Pleasure to meet you.” She bowed her head slightly before straightening her posture again and looking at Ivan. “Now, there are a few things from the paperwork I need you to complete, since he is starting mid-semester,” she gave Ivan a friendly smile as she pulled out Nikolai’s folder. “Go on, sit, sit.” She gestures to the two chairs in front of her desk. Ivan stared at the chair for a moment before walking up to it and sitting down. Nikolai followed after him. Helena set Nikolai’s file down in front of Ivan. “Now, we were unsure where to place him for dorms. Usually, we place each student with like veilborn. Sirens with Sirens, Fae with Fae, Werewolves with Werewolves, Vampires with Vampires, etc. However, considering Nikolai’s…unique veilborn, we were stuck on where to place him.” She lets out a small chuckle. “It has been many centuries since we have housed a Duelborn such as your son,” She glances over to Nikolai before seeing his cold expression and quickly looks back to his father. She clears her throat. “We did, however, reach a conclusion, so there is no need to worry,” she gives a reassuring smile. Ivan’s eyes narrowed slightly at her. “And what conclusion was that?” Helena paused for a moment at his tone. “Oh, we uh- we roomed him with a Werewolf,” Ivan nodded with a look of approval. “Good.” He said. Helena looked at Nikolai. “Why don't you go to the administration's office while your father and I deal with the rest of the pesky paperwork? Your roommate should be waiting for you to pick up your uniform and class schedule,” she smiled at him. Nikolai glanced at his father. Ivan gave him a subtle nod. Nikolai stood up and walked out of the office. Once he closed the door behind him, Helena turned back to Ivan. “So, I was wondering what Nikolai’s past academics were like. I couldn't find any record of his old school,” she flipped through Nikolai’s folder. “You won't find it. He did not attend any previous academic institution.” Ivan deadpanned. Helena paused for a moment. “Oh. Was he…homeschooled previously?” She asked. Ivan shook his head. “No.” Helena gave a confused look. “Did…did Nikolai not attend school at all before?” She asked. “No, he did not. Nikolai was rather annoyingly persistent about attending high school.” He said with slight annoyance. Helena looked at Ivan for a moment. Trying to process the fact that Nikolai, a young, yet very successful model, had no prior education. She let out a sigh. “Are you sure it is smart to drop him into high school like this then?” She asks with mild concern. Ivan rolled his eyes. “He was the one who wanted to go to high school. I let him be here, beyond that? It's not my problem so long as he can still do his job,” Helena stared at him for a moment before deciding she didn't get paid enough to pick a fight about the education of the son of a very wealthy man. She simply sighed and resumed the paperwork. Smart.




“This is stupid. When I said I wanted to go to high school, this is not what I meant. I wanted to go to a regular school.” Nikolai thought to himself. He sighed as he walked down the hall of the academy. “How the hell do they expect me to know where I'm going-” He looked between the split down the hallway. Down one end, he heard people laughing and teachers trying to teach. Down the other way was quieter. Nikolai shrugged to himself and walked down the quiet hall. He quietly hummed to himself as he tried to read the words on the doors. He squinted slightly before he could make out the text. “Damn- why is the text so freaking small-” He muttered to himself as he opened the door that said “Administration’s office” above it. Inside, there was a boy, around Nikolai’s age, maybe a bit older, with messy dark hair, who was sitting. He was looking down at his phone. Nikolai stopped in the doorway. The boy heard the creak of the door, and he looked up at Nikolai. And that was where Nikolai’s thoughts completely derailed.

Hazel eyes. Calm, almost bored at first glance, but sharp underneath it, like they were already mapping out more than just the room. His face wasn’t exactly soft, but it wasn’t harsh either-somewhere in between, like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be harmless or a problem. A faint expression of curiosity flickered across it as he studied Nikolai, slow and unbothered.
“Oh- wow- he’s-” Nikolai thought to himself before he heard the boy speak. “Oh. Your Nikolai.” He stood up. “I uh- I'm Felix. Your roommate,” Felix extended his hand out to Nikolai. Nikolai looked down at his hand. He stared at it for a moment. Nikolai realized he was making it awkward. He took Felix’s hand in a firm handshake. Felix smiled at him. “So uh-” Felix let his hand fall from the handshake. “Right- you need your schedule and uniform-” He muttered as he looked through some of the scattered paper on the desk. “Mr.Rodnen has been out for the last week, so no one has been organizing the paperwork.” Felix chuckled as he pulled out a paper schedule that had Nikolai’s name on it. “Ah. Here it is,” He reads it over before handing it to Nikolai with a smile. Nikolai stared at him for a moment before taking the paper. “Thanks-” Nikolai’s hand brushed against Felix’s. Nikolai quickly pulled away before he could react outwardly. “Oh- his skin is kinda nice- oh- shut up, Niko-” Nikolai thought to himself before giving an awkward smile. “So um…my uniform?” Nikolai asked. Felix stared at him for a moment when he heard Nikolai’s accent. “Damn- I knew he was hot, but his accent is even- cut it out, Felix! Now is not the time-” Felix thought to himself, “Oh- right, yes, your uniform-” Felix went around the desk and opened a drawer, pulling out a neatly folded black and deep navy blue uniform. He hands it to Nikolai. “Here.” Nikolai takes the Uniform with a slight nod. “Thanks,” he mutters. Felix nods slightly. “Oh- I uh- I'm supposed to take you to our dorm so-” Nikolai quickly nods. “Yeah, yeah, of course,” Nikolai moved away from the door so Felix could lead him to the dorm. Felix walked past him, out of the administration office, and down the halls. He took him up the stairs that led to the dormitory. He went down a few halls until they arrived. “This is Apex Hall,” Felix said. “The dorms for Werewolfs, Dragonkin, Krakens, ya know. The bigger, scarier Veilborn,” Felix chuckles lightly, leading Nikolai down a few doors. “But, be careful cause Infernum Hall is next to us. That's the dormitory for Vampires, Demons, Ghouls, etcetera,” Nikolai hums in response. “Vampires are next to us?” Nikolai asked. Felix nods. “Yeah, they are,” Felix glances at Nikolai as he opens the door to a dorm room that has a heading with their names on it. “Room 33B. Nikolai Sokolov. Felix Sinclair.” They walk in. “Ya know…I'm not supposed to ask you this, but…I heard you were a Duelborn,” He glances at Nikolai. Gauging his reaction. Nikolai nods with a quiet hum. “Да. That is correct,” Felix nods slowly. “Cool, cool…” He sits on his bed, looking at Nikolai. “So like…what kind are you…? I mean- they roomed you with me- and I'm a werewolf, so…” Nikolai glanced at him before looking back around the room. “I'm a werewolf,” He pauses. “And a vampire,” Felix’s eyes widened slightly before he regained his composure. “Oh. nice- kinda got that vibe,”