The heavy door to Professor Vesper Kanes chambers closed with a loud click. This stopped the noise from the Lower Vein Arena from coming. The room was filled with a soft light from special orbs. This made the room feel cozy. It was very different from the brutal things Nathan had just seen.
The room was set up to be nice and to help Professor Vesper Kane control things. There were red and black curtains. There was a fancy bed with nice sheets. There were tools on a table like silver knives, glowing ropes and small bottles for collecting special energy called Essence. The air smelled a bit like old blood and strong perfume.
Professor Vesper Kane was standing in the middle of the room. She was wearing dark robes that were a little bit open at the top. This showed a bit of her skin and the nice line of her neck. She was playing with the wine in her glass. Her green eyes looked at Nathan with a look like she was studying him.
"Take your clothes off " she said again. Her voice was low and bossy. "Do it slowly. I want to see what you are hiding under those clothes."
Nathan looked back at her. He still had a smile on his face.. He could feel the special energy called Vein Burn getting hotter under his skin. This was like a burning web that was spreading from his ribs to his neck. The thing around his neck got a bit tighter. It was watching him.
Nathan started to take his clothes off. He did it slowly. There were bruises on his body from a fight with someone named Elara. These bruises were purple and yellow. They were starting to heal because Nathan had taken some energy from someone else. There were also some threads of his own power under his skin.
Professor Vesper Kane smiled. She put her wine down. Walked around Nathan. She touched one of his scars with her fingernail. "You are funny " she said. "Most people would be scared or crying by now." Her touch was cool and professional but a bit sexy.
Nathan felt a bit of pain when she touched him. His special power, called Veinweaver reacted to this. He could sense Professor Vesper Kanes energy. It was strong and old. He wanted to take some of it.
"Does it feel good when you take energy from someone " she asked.
Nathan took a breath. "It feels like I am surviving " he said. He tried to sound light and funny. "You people with a lot of power take energy from others for fun. I do it to stay alive. It seems fair to me."
Professor Vesper Kane laughed. It was a nice sound. "Nothing is fair here " she said. She stepped closer to Nathan. "Take the rest of your clothes off. Then lie on the table. We are going to test your limits."
Nathan did what she said. He took his pants and boots off. He stood there naked. There were scars over his body. These were from fights and from taking energy from others. He felt a bit cold, but also a bit excited.
Professor Vesper Kane looked at him. She did not look away. Nathan got onto the table. It was cool against his back. There were glowing ropes that tied his hands and feet. They were not too tight. He could feel them watching him.
Professor Vesper Kane rolled up her sleeves. She showed her arms, which had glowing veins. She picked up a knife and a small bottle. "First we need to get a sample of your energy " she said. "I am going to take a bit of your blood. Then you will try to take some energy from me. If you cannot control it the ropes will get tighter. If you take much it will trigger the special protections of the school. That will hurt."
Nathan felt a bit of pain when she cut him with the knife.. He also felt her energy. It was rich and strong. He wanted to take some of it. He reached out with his power. Took a bit of her energy. It felt nice. It soothed the burning feeling under his skin.
Professor Vesper Kane breathed a bit heavily. "Good " she said. "Take a bit more." Nathan did what she said. He took a bit more of her energy. They both reacted to this. Her nipples got hard. She got a bit flushed. Nathan felt his body react too. He got hard. It felt nice.
Professor Vesper Kanes hand slid down his stomach. She touched him. It felt nice. "Many students feel excited when they take energy from others " she said. "It makes the energy flow better. Pain can do that too."
Nathan felt a bit of pain when she squeezed him.. It also felt nice. He reacted to this. His body moved a bit. Professor Vesper Kane laughed. "You are losing control " she said. "That is pathetic but nice."
The ropes got tighter. Nathan felt a bit of pain.. He also felt the energy flowing into him. It was nice. Professor Vesper Kane leaned down. Her lips touched his ear. "You are delicious " she said.
Nathans mind was spinning. He felt pain, pleasure and energy. He could take all of Professor Vesper Kanes energy. That would be bad. So he controlled himself. He took the energy. Made it a part of him.
When it was all done Professor Vesper Kane stood up. She was a bit flushed. Her robes were messy. "That is it for today " she said. "You did well.. Your power is not stable. It can consume you if you are not careful." She held up the bottle with his energy in it. "I will study this.. I will teach you how to control your power.. You have to obey me."
Nathan lay there panting. His body was marked with cuts and bruises.. He felt alive. "What do I have to do?" he asked.
Professor Vesper Kane smiled. "You have to come to my classes twice a week " she said. ". You have to obey me. If you do not I will make sure you suffer."
Nathan sat up slowly. He put his clothes on. The burning feeling under his skin was worse now.. He felt alive. "I will come to your classes " he said. "But what is the catch?"
Professor Vesper Kane smiled again. "The catch is that you belong to me during these classes " she said. "Your body, your energy, your loyalty.. If you take energy from Elara again without my permission I will punish you."
Nathan stood up. He felt a bit sore, but also a bit excited. "I will not take energy from Elara again " he said. "At least not without your permission."
As he left the room Professor Vesper Kane called after him. "Be careful " she said. "There are people who do not like you.. They will try to hurt you."
Nathan walked out into the corridor. He felt a bit sore but a bit alive. He laughed to himself. "Great " he said. "My day and I already have a crazy teacher, an enemy and a target, on my back.". He felt okay. He felt like he could handle it.. He felt like he had a nice view.
The dorms where the new people stayed were really different from Vespers rooms. They were halls with not much light and small rooms with beds. The people who were not from families like Nathan had to share a small room with five other people on the lower floors. The people who were special called Blessed got to stay in rooms by themselves on the higher floors. Nathan found the bed that was assigned to him in a room that smelled bad like people had been sweating and were scared. There were already three people like him in the room and they were hurt from their own tests. They looked at him. Did not say anything.
Nathan lay down on the bed looking up at the ceiling with special marks, on it. He knew it would be hard to sleep because he was still feeling the effects of the Burn. He needed to rest. The next day would be the training and he would have to try to use his powers and stay alive.
As he closed his eyes he did not see the person sneaking into the room. Lira Kane, Vespers daughter was watching him with curious eyes then she left as quietly as she came.