chapter 10

We walked into the auditorium, Alaric still had a strong grip on my hand. It wasn't painful, just a firm grip to remind me that I'm not alone. He led me into the very front aisle and sat down. It was odd standing in front of him, how now I towered over him instead of him towering over me. Alaric was very tall, to the point of almost being intimidating. He rolled his thumb over my hand and as I came out of my various thoughts I saw him looking at my hand, admiring it. "Come on, how about you sit down and tell me those pretty little thoughts inside your head."

I sat down to the right of Alaric looking up to see a white projection screen, no movie on it quite yet. "Just that you're super tall and that I'm pretty short." He chuckled in a way that made my heart skip a beat. As more students filed into their seats the projector whirred to life to show the movie finding Nemo. I heard cheers from behind me making me giggle, clearly some students were very happy with the movie choice. An announcement came over the loud speaker,

"good morning students of Silver Divinity, I hope everyone had a fantastic day today. Our second and third years, please welcome your new first years as they find their matches today. You will hear names being called as the first year subs meet their doms, remember to report to the back of the auditorium and go through the double doors. A professor will greet you and call your Dom, you will have a week to learn about each other before deciding if you want to move into a cottage together. If you have met someone that you have really connected to please tell a counselor before they call the doms name out. That will be all, have a wonderful morning student and see you next evening."

With that there was an audible click from the speakers before the roar of chatting students began again. Alaric was waving someone down leaning out of the aisle. "Come on, before all the seats are taken up guys!" As the people he was talking to rounded the corner I saw them, it was Mathew, Valentine, Zander and the mysterious man who captured Zander's attention. They all filed next to us. Mathew and Valentine to Alarics left and Zander and the other guy to my right. Zander leaned over whispering to me, "I'm doomed lils...I fucked up and did the same thing as you." His face twisted into one of nervous terror. I just giggled at him, knowing his antics.

The guy Zander seemed to have fallen for was only a little bit shorter than Alaric, his hair was tied back in dreads. He was wearing a loose fitting hoodie and soft looking PJ pants, his slippers made me let out a soft giggle. Bunny slippers with X's over the eyes, the guys got taste. "What's his name? You never even introduced me to him." My voice came out barely abouve a whisper. Zanders eyes peeked at him to make sure he couldn't hear him. "Rodney, he's kinda the one I want to be my Dom. I'm really nervous though. What if I'm making the wrong choice...what if the one the school chose for me is the right one?" I rubbed his back pulling him into a hug as he told me about his uncertainty. I hadn't thought about it...whatever dom that I was supposed to have...is going to be so let down when they're left without a sub.

I ignored my racing thoughts and focused on comforting my best friend. "It's okay Zander, I promise. You should follow your heart, whatever you think is right. Just as I will, I've made up my mind and...I think I'm making the right choice. The one thatll make me happy, you should do the same." Zander gave me one last tight hug before looking up at the screen, I know hes making his choice. I probably won't find out about his choice until I get back....with Alaric. I blushed thinking of the choice I have made up in my mind. I looked up at the screen as the movie began to play.

Right after the beginning credits end names begin to be called over the loud speaker, it doesn't seem to borther anyone. The interruption of the movie would normally frustrate me but knowing my name could be called anytime had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Alaric had a hold of my hand, drumming on it lightly keeping me grounded as I stared up at the screen...not really paying attention to it. I was too busy thinking about what I would say to Alaric when his name was called after mine. I barely noticed zanders name being called and him getting up, he was shivering...I knew it wasnt because he was cold. Vampires didnt tend to get cold since...we were already dead. Even our nerves weren't as sensitive, a broken leg would feel like a small cut. Being dead had its advantages. The shaking ane shivering Zander was currently doing was another kind of nerves. Mental nerves, he was so filled with anxiety that his small frame couldn't handle it.

He pressed on through it, I could tell that Rodney was worried for him. His brows knitted together, with an almost sad look on his face. I wonder if Zander had chosen the opposite of me. To go with the schools choice instead of who he ended up falling for. I felt bad for the two but kept my thoughts to myself and waited for them to announce who ended up with Zander. "Rodney Tepes." I quickly looked over to Rodney who now had an elated, energetic look on his face compared to the solom one he has just seconds ago. "Congrats, take care of my friend, okay?" I said smiling over to Rodney who gave me a strong nod before rushing out of his seat.

I had now looked over at Alaric who was still chatting away with his friends. Mathew was gone, probably meeting his sub and Valentine now sat next to a very nervous looking Delilah. Alaric was talking to Delilah about being a "newborn." I'm assuming its what we're supposed to call humans that just awakened. I leaned my head on Alarics shoulder, resting my mind. Alaric seemed to lean into me a bit as well while still keeping his focus on the new coupling. "Lilith Moonstone." My heart jumped a bit as I quickly sat up. Alaric let go of my hand, but not before giving it a gentle squeeze. He's trying to say it's okay, I trust your decision. He has the same face Rodney wore...and I'm sure I was wearing the same one Zander was. I nodded before standing up and slowly walking to the back of the auditorium. I pushed open the double doors with only a bit of a struggle, letting it slam behind me. 5 Professors stood in a line holding clip boards. One of the professors waved me over and I took a deep breath before walking over and standing in front of her. "H-hi, Lilith Moonstone. I-I was just c-cal-called." I couldnt help the nervous stammering. I felt like a fish out of water.

"Ah, it's nice to meet you little one. Have you chosen a caregiver? Or are you going with the one the school has chosen for you?" I shook my head biting at my bottom hip. "I-ive chosen my Dom ma'am. Alaric VanDoren is the Dom I h-have chosen." The woman seemed to give me a large smile before quickly wiping it away. "Of course, let me call him in...you know whether you chose him or not...you would have gotten him." She had called Alarics name before handing me her clipboard to show me. Right next to my name...was Alarics...the school had chosen Alaric for me.

It felt crazy that both me and the school were on the same page. "Soul mates come once in a lifetime dear, hold this one close." I looked up at her confused. Soulmate...I had never even thought to call Alaric that...but remembering back to first seeing him...and how we automatically clicked. It just felt...right. before I could react Alaric came bursting out of the auditorium doors before rushing to me and picking me up spinning me around. I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips as I closed my arms around him.