Laced in Black (chp.6)

Ever since the opening of the Academy, centuries ago, the vampires who were born as pure blooded would have the special privilege within the castle. A sort of a host club was created in order for them to be respected by others and just to show how noble they were among the rest. The existence of the club is something very unusual for the other vampires whereby if they do not come from the respective bloodlines or descendants, they could kiss their dream goodbye of being in that club. It’s exclusively for those coming from the unique generations. Little that everyone knew, the club itself may hide some unpleasant secrets while the others were blinded to see as the truth was covered well enough. To bring a single soul of the pure ones down would definitely not be in question even though they tend to go against the rules of immortality.

“One is missing, the eldest.”

“Keep track of the twins, I’ll try and find her then.” The phone line was cut and without a moment to waste, Bill started his Black Camaro engine and drove away on the empty streets for a little hunt.

A twirling iron rod that is alike to vines, intertwined together to shape a little box containing a beautiful crimson rose with a little note of invitation was on her hand while her eyes just gaze at it momentarily without blinking. Ever since Strify gave Annika the box, she couldn’t seem to stop admiring the beauty of its look. Such a weird thought, Annika felt as if the invitation box was actually meant for her. Standing in front of the doors carved with an art of ancient crescent moon ornamentation intertwined with swirling vines, Annika still couldn’t figured out why she had the guts to make herself appear again not as a girl who desire for an encounter but as a victim of pleasure in the eyes of the pure blooded vampire prince. She could just walk away but to see the man who handed her the invitation, opened the entry doors, she knew it was just too late to back down.

“And so you came.” Strify flashed an irresistible smile that made his beauty of a face, glowing in cheerfulness. “I was expecting you to make the right decision. Please, welcome in.”

For the second time she entered the place, she felt rather uplifting than before, bearing with a sense of guilty on entering without permission seemed alike to a criminal that broke into a house. Although, her presence was greeted with a warm welcome, the scene she viewed immediately after her feet stepped inside has triggered her fangs. Of course, it wasn’t only the scene that aroused her hunger, she could even breathe the scent of the delicious human blood filling her nostrils.

The night was dark as always but for the vampires, it is the right time for them to be lurking around without feeling an itch of fear running under their cold skin. For a little secret to share, Amorette found herself following Aurora footsteps into the tall bushes surrounded the academy.

“Where are you taking me? Oh God, you know how I hate walking especially on this booties!”

“Quit whining. Who asked you to wear them, anyway?”

“Fyi, I have a date tonight and thanks to you, I had to postpone it a little bit late.”

“It’ll take only a few minutes. Don’t worry, when we’re done, you can carry on with your succubus act, freely!”

“Look who’s talking? Aren’t you a succubus too, my dear twin?”

“Oh no, I’ve retired. Too much intercourse with the male species has made me lose my interest on them!”

“Like I’m gonna believe that!”

“So, here we are. This is the place that I was telling you about.” Aurora revealed the graveyard she found the night before to Amorette by pulling her out from the thick bushes.

“Wow. This is wicked. An abandoned graveyard, who would have a thought?”

“Creepy, isn’t it?”

“Like hell yeah!”

“Now, that’s where I saw someone doing magic or some sort? Idk, I have yet to found out. ” Aurora was pointing to the same gazebo she saw before, with that one shadow casting sparks of light in the thin air.

“You know what, Aurora...I think you should just leave it that way, don’t get involved in this. You might pull yourself into a serious danger!”

“Oh please, how could it possibly put me in danger? I’m just gonna investigate a lost harry potter in a vampire world.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, twin!”

“I wonder if I can get through this gate.” The gate was tight with chains just like before but Aurora couldn’t help to shake it off as to let out her dissatisfaction feeling of not getting it unlocked.

“What are you doing?”

“I wanna get inside! But this thing won’t open! Well, obviously because it’s locked right?” She forced a little more shake on the gate and somehow, it has made a disturbing sound in that quiet place.

“I order you to stop what you’re doing or I’ll let out this gunshot straight to your heart!” To their surprise, someone has caught them from behind while pointing a revolver right to both direction of where Aurora and Amorette stood.

A sound of a predator sucking the blood out from its prey was echoing in Annika’s ears and better yet, it gave her the chills as the irony of it hit her really hard. For all, it got her to think of how long had she been fed properly ever since her last traumatic incident.

“Nathaniel, could you please enjoy your meal, somewhere else more private?” Strify demanded his mate who was bearing his fangs on a flesh of an innocent mortal lady. Nathaniel hesitated to stop which annoyed Strify to the core. “Do you mind? We have a new visitor here!”

With one swallow of the warm blood down to his throat, Nathaniel took his fangs away and shot a glance to both, Strify and Annika with those crimson hungry eyes of his. He then, grabbed his victim and led her into the dark corridor through an archway entrance. Beyond the corridor, rows of silver plated doors seemed to be shining brightly within the darkness. One of the doors was opened and slammed, giving the sign that Nathaniel has found his room to continue his unfinished dinner.

“Sorry about that, Nathaniel is most likely to be the lustful beast among us, often grab his victim straight when she enters our lair. Have a sit.” Strify explained and somehow, he seemed rather friendly which made Annika feel comfortable to receive such polite treatment from the used-to-be-arrogant pure blooded vampire.

Surrounded by greystone walls, the waiting lounge glows dimly as if they weren’t expecting any guest to come when they actually does. Only candles were lighted on the lampshade to act as the source of light to that room while there was a small window opening shines the moonlight inside but then again, the room still cast an ambience of mysterious as the essence of darkness filled in its air.
Annika took a seat on one of the velvet settees while Strify made his way to the antique bar counter at the corner of the room.

“I’m sure you’re quite thirsty by now after witnessing Nathaniel and his dinner.” Two empty wineglasses were taken off from the rack and a bottle of rich red wine was cap-opened to pour down for a drink.

“I was wondering about that. I thought you guys only fed on the same kind of blood?” Annika finally broke off her silence after the shocking encounter she had with Nathaniel and his feeding act upon an unlucky mortal.

“We do. But don’t you think human’s blood is a lot tastier?” He handed Annika a glass of the red wine and settled himself on a single couch opposite her.

“Well yeah but we aren’t exactly allowed to drink straight from them. It amazed me how you guys have the permission to do so.”

Strify let out a short laugh and with full boast, he continued, “Never underestimate the power of the pure ones, Annika.”

“Wait, he’s not gonna drain her, isn’t he?”

“Of course, not. We know our limits and to commit a murder is not an act that we consider to portray. Well, I’ll let you know a little secret, Annika. Actually, we don’t mind drinking some cold blood from the plastic tubes supplied by the blood bank but then we need to look presentable as to carry our title of hailing from the original descendants, hence feeding straight from the human is essential to us or should I say fresh blood is essential to us. Before we could present our pleasure away to any one of you, half blooded, obviously we would want to have that glow and also, strength if I might add.”

“That’s one hell of a secret you just spilled. Are you sure you wouldn’t mind sharing with me?”

“Don’t worry, after all you’ll be compelled to forget about it by the end of the pleasure session, just like we always did to the rest.” Strify threw one of his sinister grins and took a sip of his wine.

“So, that’s how this host club works?"

“Yeah..we give you the pleasure, you give us blood, we give you our blood, you’ll give us the pleasure, as easy as that.”

“Look, I came here only to...”

“Apologize. I know. You did the right thing showing up here, Annika.”

“I just think I owe him an apology.”

“You will have that chance to have a decent conversation with Bill, here, I can guarantee you on that. Might if I mention, he always turned down his guest of pleasure, anyway. So, no intimate session is involved for you this evening.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, of all the sudden, he decided not to invite anyone as his special guest anymore. For hell, we don’t know what the reasons are. We couldn’t do anything but to agree. Then again, I think it’s rather foolish of him. As his loyal comrade, I had to bear and see him in such agony to fight with his lustful desire.”

“And you think by bringing me here, he’ll actually get it on with me? May I remind you, I’m not looking forward to get laid with him, sorry.”

“You may say that in front of me but I know deep down inside you would want to have a little taste of the prince. I mean, who wouldn’t? Besides, there’s a reason why I chose you to be his guest for tonight.”

“And why is that?”

“Haven’t you noticed, Annika? You’re not like any other girl he sees. There’s something in you that makes him secretly longing for you. I can tell by the way he looks at you or even stare at you from quite a distance.”
Those words said by Strify made Annika to wonder, “Why on earth would I be the one who attract the attention of the one and only vampire prince living in this academy?” She felt strange and confusion started to rain in her mind. There was only one way to find out the answers to it for she yearns to know, certainly not to hear more words from Strify but to hear the truth from Bill himself.

~*~

Laced in Black (chp.5)

For vampires who are living in Lunar Academy, their lives would just be alike to the real world’s school life where literally gossips, mostly about the most popular ones would be passed around quickly and fast to the whole crowd of students in just nick of a time. Rumours spread, be it a good or a bad, it would never seemed to stop until one person actually confess the truth.

“Why why, who on earth would say such thing?” Bill let out a short laugh of boast upon hearing what has been said to his ears. In the middle of afternoon, there he sat dashingly with his mates at their dining table reserved only for them while the eyes of every vampire there couldn’t help but to look. “Such sinful mouth should be stitched with a thread of pain.” Suddenly, an anger expression was shown on his face when he slowly changed his laughter to an enrage tone of voice.

“And you shall be damned by every single of them if you do that.” Sitting next to him was Strify who was trying to warn him.

“Eliminate the nonsense, then!” Bill raised his voice to his loyal crowd.

“No one can shut off a rumour that easily, welcome to the new era! May I remind you, you’re not living in the old century anymore!” Strify snapped back as he would be the only one who was dare to enough to speak whenever the prince is on a fierce mood. “Besides, it involves the girl you were long laid your eyes on, why would you be furious?”

“I may have my eyes laid on her but never in my mind would I have a thought of breaking my state of solitary. Enough with this crap, already. It fills my head with thousand strings, I need an air.” Bill got up from his seat to head himself a way out from the crowd in the dining hall.

“Need an escort, mate?” Strify asked a simple question which was a clear order to the others on getting their foot ready to tail Bill from behind.

“Don’t bother me, I need to be alone.” Bill left and set them free from his chains assuming being escorted the whole time would bring more mess in his untangled mind but before he actually leaves, his eyes caught someone in particular who was sitting far at the corner, looking beautiful but somehow tortured too was written on her face. He let out a sigh and get back on his feet to where he was heading, the doors to the outside.

“Stop thinking about it, Annika.” Amorette reminded her sister to snap back to reality.

“How can I stop, Amorette? My past is back, it will haunt me once again. This is how it all started back then.” Annika explained.

“Well, we’re here and we’re gonna look after you, okay. Right, Aurora?” Amorette gave a nudge on Aurora’s shoulder but there was no respond from her. “Aurora!”

“What? What? Yeah, right. Whatever she said.” As soon as Aurora replied, she went back to her busy mode with the google engine.

“Someone is rather quiet today.” Annika was sensing that Aurora acted differently on that day, less the talk for a person who is a chatterbox.

“Quiet and weird too. Imagine this, Aurora in the library.”

“No kidding?”

“I swear I saw her hanging around there between classes this morning. It’s like a nerdy has possessed her.”

“Wonder what Aurora would be searching for?”

Amorette shot a glance at Aurora and surprisingly, her eyes were still glued to the little tech-gadget on her hand without even listening to the surroundings. “She didn’t even hear a single thing we said right now. “Yo, what were you up to, twinnie? Let me see that.” Immediately, Amorette grabbed Aurora’s blackberry from her.

“Heyyyyy...”

“Magic in the world of vampires?” Amorette said out loud with whatever the written words on the screen shows.

“Magic? What’s the meaning of this, Aurora?” Annika began to change her voice to an angry tone.

“Do you think magic is allowed to be performed somewhere near to a vampire’s ground?”

“No. Not if you’re a vampire.” Annika answered to her sister’s out of nowhere question.

“You mean, a vampire like us could actually do magic here?”

“Yeah, but you know, it’s forbidden.”

“How about spirits of our kind? I mean can the dead do magic?”

“Not that I know of but if the powers are still within them, then yeah probably they’ll get to perform a few spells. Not in here, though. This place is sealed from magic.”

“But not at the outside gate?”

“Yeah, anything can happen if we’re out there! Wait, why are you asking me with all of these questions?”

“Err..just for a note, I’m doing..err....err...a research. Yeah, a research.” Aurora smiled just to cover her lie.

“Better be. Come on, recess is about to be over.” Annika stood up from her seat and ready to leave.

“What are you actually up to? You may fool Annika with your convincing smile but you can never fool me.” Amorette was eager to know what her twin was hiding as she whispered to Aurora.

“I’ll tell you, later.”

The study hall on the ground floor of the castle located far from where the dining hall is, right at the opposite of its building as it is separated by a large courtyard. On the way to their destination, they walked passed by the prince who was enjoying his alone time near the fountain right at the middle of the courtyard. Bill noticed Annika’s presence with the air that swept his skin and it also filled his nostrils as it carries her scent of blood. He just secretly stared at her as she was walking with her sisters. It wasn’t only Bill who was eyeing on Annika, it seemed that rest did the same thing too.

“Again, with the deadly stares.” Annika felt as if she was the target that got everyone to hit a bulls’ eye shot on.

“Get used to it, already. Who knows you might be Bill’s princess in the future?” Little sexy Amorette threw her a joke.

“Aww I’d really like to see that happens one day!” Annika replied with sarcasm.

“You could, he’s there all alone. Why don’t you say hi?” Aurora moved Annika’s body to Bill’s direction and gave her a little push.

“Are you crazy? No, I won’t. Clearly he hates me being in his lair, last night and now you want me to say hi to him? No way!” Annika thought Aurora’s idea was just mental.

“Hey, he doesn’t hate you! I mean what’s with the stare this morning?”

“He just happens to stare! Everyone stares, not a big deal.”

“Well, that’s why you need to give him a little taste of the Valentines. Everyone is already spicing up the scene to see the both of you, here. Why not you just add more spice to please them?”

“She got a point, you know.” Amorette was on Aurora’s side, this time around.

“Do I have to?” Annika was putting a 50/50 on it.

“Oh come on, Annika. When was the last time you actually talk to a guy?” Amorette questioned.

“Get out from the isolation shell already! It’s time for you to connect with a guy.” The playful Aurora winked.

“Well, alright. Besides, I owe him an apology.” As Annika had agreed, she pulled her courage and gracefully walked to approach the prince. Her heart beats faster and faster as she got closer to Bill, practically not because of a scared feeling but it is more to a nervous one. Bill could sense that she was coming but he pretended like there wasn’t any presence coming near him even though people around them has already started to whisper to one another on Annika’s surprising little act to approach the lonely prince.

“Hey.” A one short and simple word was the only thing that seemed to coming out from Annika’s mouth and Bill just set his eyes to the person who dares to approach him without any intention at all. “Before you shooed me, I’d like you to know that, again I’m very sorry for entering your territory without your permission, last night. I have my own personal reason and if you want me to clear things up with this whole rumour, I would kindly do it.”

“Fine, do it then.” Bill couldn’t seem to throw that side of arrogant in his personality. He just smirked and waited for Annika’s next move.

“What? I came here nicely to you and you treat me like this?”

“Who are you to approach me like this, anyway?”

“You know, you’re such an arrogant prince who has no heart at all. I pity you. It must be dreadful to have an ugly soul that is pure selfish and knows nothing about respect.” With a sense of bravery, Annika threw her harsh words to Bill and turned away as she couldn’t stand to face him anymore.

“Wait.” Before she even took one step away, Bill managed to grab her arm, making her frozen at her spot while her eyes met with Bill’s. His gaze was mesmerizing enough to let her go deeper into his dazzling chestnut brown eyes. Little did Annika knew, Bill felt the same thing and he just couldn’t seem to pull his eyes away from Annika’s until someone came to break their eyes connection.

“Look what we have here.” A familiar guy who wears the most glowing white blonde hair in the academy joined the both of them together with the nancy boy, Nathaniel. “It’s you again.” Strify seemed to recognize Annika so well. “Why, that tripping act you pull wasn’t enough to get Bill’s attention?”

“Leave her, Strify. Let’s go.” The prince made his move to leave with an escort by Nathaniel.

As Annika was about to walked away, this time Strify has stopped her. “I’m not done with you.”

“What else do you want? Didn’t you hear what your leader just said? Leave me.”

“You do know what you did wrong here?”

“I was just saying sorry to your royal highness.”

“Well, would you at least follow the tradition?”

“Tradition?”

Strify rolled his eyes and didn’t say a thing until he pulled out something from his pocket and handed Annika the most beautiful little box that she has ever seen. “Here’s an invitation. If you think you really deserve to be forgiven, then you shall be his guest of honour for tonight.”

~*~

Laced in Black (chp.4)

As always a creepy old castle like Lunar Academy would be located at the hills where no mortals would brave enough to take a hike, surrounded with heavy thick bushes and little did everyone knew there was a spot for the dead hidden just beside the castle’s compound, outside the tall brick walls. An abandoned graveyard where no one has paid a visit after for so long and if you think it was creepy enough for the eyes of the human, think again as it give shivers to the immortals too.

“I didn’t know there is a graveyard here.” Aurora said to herself. Dressed in a crop top and navy blue skinny jeans, Aurora sneaked inside the 7 feet tall bushes to find a spot to hide from her date, Cam as they were playfully chasing each other.

The graveyard looked as if it was being abandoned for centuries, the soils were dry and dusty while the grass covered seemed to have badly wilted. It was dark as no source of lights were being emitted anywhere near but in her vision, the graveyard was rather small and there were iron wrought gates guarded that land of the dead. Although, the graveyard was unlikely to the typical ones, it may be small and creepy but to Aurora, it was quite unique and beautiful as she saw a small round gazebo completed with 4 supporting thick posts and glass dome for the roof built right at the centre. “Wow!”

Leaving Cam in his hide and seek game, Aurora took a few steps ahead to approach the main gate of the graveyard, she was thrilled over her new discovery and with zero sense of fear, she felt an exploration was the right action to do. The gate was closed, tied with chains and it was locked for anyone to enter. The sound of owls hooting under the dark sky was dancing in melody into her ears as she was facing the place that terrified most of the living creature but Aurora wouldn’t give a damn on how scary the scene was because daring would be her middle name.

“Darn it, it’s locked!” Aurora tried to open it even though it was impossible for her bare hand to release the chains, shaking the gate so hard like a thief trying to escape from a robbery. All of the sudden, a few sparks of light appeared in the thin air, close to the gazebo. Little did she knew, she was interrupting someone who sat behind one of the structured pillars. Her eyesight moved as her body change its position for a better view and a shadowy figured human was all she could see with her naked eye. The little fireworks were that particular shadow’s creation and slowly spark after spark, the show was over as it was being put off. It got Aurora to wonder who might be casting magic in this kind of place, moreover near to a vampire’s ground. She was lost in her thoughts for a while until she heard someone was calling out her name.
“Aurora, Aurora! Quit playing, where the hell are you? I’m going back now, it’s almost dawn! You better show yourself up or I’ll just leave you here! Do you hear me?” A familiar guy voice to her ears has given a sign for them to leave.

“Cam! I almost forgot about him! But wait!” As Aurora turned to set her eyes back to the gazebo, the shadowy figured she saw seconds ago was no longer there and an empty yet quiet graveyard was all to be seen.

“Aurora!” A last shout by Cam was a clear message to Aurora that he was being serious on leaving the place to get them both in time to the academy.

“Wait, I’m right here!” Aurora made an exit through the same tall bushes she got in, trying to catch Cam before he actually leaves, she too wanted to leave but the image of that shadow and flickering sparks of light would never seem to leave her mind.

The door entry of the west wing part of the castle was opened wide as Yu stood in front, looks as if someone was sensing his presence there. Yu walked inside to fill the empty waiting longue but it wasn’t that empty when he saw Bill was sitting on the single armchair while sipping red liquor through his glass wine flute.

“So, what now?” Yu raised one of his eyebrows to question the prince.
“A simple request for you to follow, I want you to stay here from now onwards.” The arrogant Bill sounded humble upon his desperate wish.

“What is it in for me?”

“You may want to keep your eyes open in this academy, he’s near.” Bill warned the vampire hunter for there will be no more playing and it’s about time for them to work together.“There is an underground cabin at the backyard garden, you can pack your stuff and throw it there. No one will know your staying.”

“Well, now I know.” Hiding under a black cloak, he walked straight to approach them and the guy revealed his glowing beauty of a face by taking off his hood. “Why would you even want this traitor to be here?” Strify snapped and let out a short giggle as he thought Bill was making a joke.

“ Start packing.” Bill ignored Strify and ordered Yu before he left the waiting lounge, making his way to the master bedroom.

“What?” Strify was in disbelief of what he heard was actually a serious case. He gave a piercing stare at Yu
showing how he hated Yu to be near him or to be in his so called territory. “Get lost!” Strify shooed Yu away from the west wing.

“Fine with me.” Yu shrugged and turned away to leave.

The morning sun breaks in and the sky turned from dark to bright, for the young vampires in the academy, it would be the precise time where they should get ready for their learning lessons alike to the typical normal students in other school. That morning, the fountain in the courtyard was the place of where the most wanted vampires in the academy lounging around on account of waiting for their leader to lead them in the day.

“My head hurts.” One of the famous 6 was moaning in pain under his dandy hat.

“What’s up with you, William?” A little guy dressed a plain black shirt attired with a white tie started to question.

“Don’t tell me the hero of yesterday has lost his strength.” The big guy Lane added.

“What? Hero? What on Earth are you lads saying?” William laughed and kept his head still to ease the headache he was having.

“Did you knock your head or something?” Lane was being curious.

“Maybe that’s why your head hurts.” This time Nathaniel tried to solve the puzzle.

“No, I did not. Well as far as I know.”

“Say, you don’t remember a single thing that happened last night?” A handsome voice of the white blonde Strify was heard as he butted in.

“Somehow, no.” William replied.

“Now, that’s strange.” Kiro couldn’t help but to wonder, on the other hand,something was playing in Strify’s mind as he might have the answer to the unexplained event.

Before he could figure everything out, his process of thinking has been shut off as Bill came to pat his back with his ring fingered hand. “Stop spacing out, Strify! We have a long day ahead.” In his usual serious tone, Bill walked his way from his spot and so the rest followed him.

Down the corridor, the Valentine sisters were taking their own sweet time, walking on their booties while strutting in style. As always the others would surely be eyeing on each one of them but somehow, in that breezy morning, the stare given are more deadly and it was shot to Annika, making it look as though the eldest Valentine sister has committed a crime.

“Okay, why is everyone staring at me like that?” Annika spoke as she started to notice.

“Hello sis? Didn’t you hear? You’re like the most talk about girl in this academy, now!” Amorette spilled the story.

“Wait, I don’t get it.”

“Say, an invitation to the west wing is usually limited and those who are chosen would be an instant star!” Aurora added while she was googling some facts on her blackberry since earlier that morning.

“Okay, so I’m not the only one, right? Besides, I’m not even one of those chosen ones.”

“Well yeah but no one knows the real story, like duh.” Amorette continued.

“So?”

“So, obviously people around would have in mind that you invited yourself in instead of getting an actual invitation from the boys.”

“You mean people thought that I broke in to the west wing?”

“Exactly!”

“Oh that can’t be good.”

“That’s not all, some people may think of that way but a few others, well this will give you the perfect reason of their deadly stares. You’re an addition to the numbers of the boys’ invitation.”

“Oh no!”

“Oh yes, as about now, you’re the prince’s one and only pleasure victim.”

“Well they should know the real story!”

“But aren’t you proud to be rumoured with that gorgeous prince?”

“Such an arrogant person like that, what’s there to be proud of?”

While, Annika was too concentrating on her talk with Amorette and Aurora, she didn’t realize that she wasn’t really looking of where she was walking until her heels got stuck in a little hole on the rocky pavements and it made her slipped, falling onto someone that managed to catch her before she meets the ground. Looking to that particular person, it immediately struck Annika that she wished she could take back of what she just said. He was taller than Annika but as dashing as he could be, he would still have that arrogant face that tells all he’s powerful enough to rule their bloodsucking world which is actually true considering the fact that his bloodline is the highest in the level of hierarchy.

“Watch it, lady.” Strify threw his sayings right after Bill released Annika from his grabbed.

“I’m sorry.” An apology was given by Annika.

“Annika! Hey!” The bubbly little Kiro greeted Annika with his sweetest smile.

“Care to greet your damsel in distress, William? I thought you’re the gentleman one.” Lane reminded the gentleman William.

With a confused and innocent looking face, surely William was denying that he actually knows Annika when his mind couldn’t even recall his encounter with her. “I don’t..”

“Time stops for no one, move.” Bill cuts in, stopping everyone to speak as he ordered all of them to just walk rather than staying and at the same time, wasting their time with a meaningless conversation. Although, before Bill made his move, he stole a moment to give Annika an unusual inviting stare.

~*~

Laced in Black (chp.3)

She woke up in a room where she have never seen before, the ceiling is high and supported by rows of pillars made by grey stone and it seemed that no windows are attached to the room as thick walls covered the view from outside. Although, there was an opening some like a balcony far at the end of the room, blowing the wind of the night air inside. The dangling chandelier produced a tone of melody when the crystals collided by the strong wind which broke the silence in the room. Annika stepped on the cold white marble floor, barefooted, wondering where she was. “Where am I?” She said to herself as her fingers ran on the piano keys as she was exploring the place where she was occupied in.

“You’re in our longue, don’t worry.” Suddenly, a voice from a tall guy who looks like a gentleman from the old days was heard as he came in through the doors.

“Our longue?” She turned over to see the person who was coming towards her and her mouth was later tongue tied as she knew who the charming guy was.

He bowed to her respectively, making her as an honour of guest, “May I welcome you, my lady to the Crescent lounge of the west wing.”

“What? I’m in the west wing of the castle?” She looked shock to hear one of Bill’s followers revealed the unknown place where only invitation will permit her visit.

“Well, a lovely lady like you would certainly be invited more often to this part of castle.” With his pretty smile, the gentleman one from the group seemingly charmed the ladies with his soft spoken words.

“Cut the crap already, William! You’re scaring her!” This time the big guy namely, Lane entered the room alongside with a little blonde guy.

“Yeah!” Kiro did his usual on agreeing with whatever has been said before he could say it.

“Look lady, we found you at the library and brought you here for your own safety.” Lane explained after taking a glimpse on the ever so puzzled looking Annika.

“Oh.” Annika felt rather strange to be rescued by the most wanted group of vampires in the academy. There were a lot of questions running wild in her mind concerning all about the reasons why would they be the ones who save her but she made an assumption that maybe one of them probably happens to be at the library and heard her scream.

“Are you doing okay, now?” The talkative little guy finally spoke of his own words. “Or do you need blood, I can give you mine if want to!” He showed his cutest grin ever on his 6 year old looking face.

She smiled back at him and replied, “That’s okay, I’m all fine now. Thank you.”

“Glad you’re alright.” The beautiful doll-like face Strify said in full sarcasm as he entered the room. He was looking twice gorgeous during the night as his perfect toned skin was glowing and his eyes were like the clear sky shaded in baby blue.
Behind him was the other gorgeous vampire, Nathaniel who donned an innocent face but the blood stained on his torso underneath his transparent white shirt has made him look more like he was guilty in charge of murdering someone.

“What is your name?” Strify asked as if Annika was lost rather than been brought there.

“Annika Valentine.”

“Well Annika, you look pale! Are you sure you don’t want to have a sip on my blood?” Kiro poked a hole on his wrist and shove it to her with his big puppy eyes to make an offer.

“No, thank you. I’m fine.” She gently declined.

“Then, you should leave!” In his deep voice, Bill seemed harsh as he threw an order to Annika at the exact moment he walked to the longue room just to show his presence. It was clearly said that Bill dislike to have her in his forbidden lair without an invitation.

“I was about to, sorry to trouble all of you.” Annika politely accepted his request.

“William, show her the way out, if you may.” Another order was given but this time it was meant for his loyal follower.

“As you wish.” William tilted his hat as to follow the demand of the pure ones. “My lady, follow me please.”

“Bye bye, Annika. See you again, soon.” Kiro waved goodbye with a big smile on his cute face.

Annika left the room filled with the most gorgeous vampires that were known in the academy she was staying in. Half of them seemed friendly but the other half has expressed the word hate on their beautiful faces. At first she thought the arrogant Bill would at least introduce himself instead of shooing her away but for a high class pure blooded vampire like him, it was impossible to even have him talking nice to a mere stranger.

“I forbid for you to have your pleasure here, in this Crescent longue. This sacred place is not for the eyes of the outsiders. Next time, bring your lady visitor at some other part of the west wing.” In a long trench coat looking mysteriously handsome, Bill left all of them in that room and a sense of disappointment was etched upon his face.

While the leader was getting upset because of the act of his disobeyed mates, the one whom shared a close bond with him was starting to get into a furious mode. “Could you guys just tell me again why did you bring her here?” Strify was eager to hear the real story once more in full details.

Lane started to speak up as he wouldn’t want to argue with Bill’s best friend, Strify as he would do anything just to make sure anyone who betrays Bill will deserve something awful in return. “William, Kiro and I was passing the library just now and we had this weird intuition..”

“Yeah, telling us to get inside.” Kiro added.

“It’s like we’ve been pulled by gravity, we wanted to ignore but the library seems to be calling out our names. So, we went in and somehow, we were led to the far end and that’s where we found her. She was lying there, unconscious.” Lane continued.

“We took her to our place but William insisted that it’s better for us to take her to the Crescent Lounge for a while until she wakes up.” Kiro finished up the story.

“I see.” Strify was trying to feed those details into his mind with full curiosity as he might know the real truth behind the incident and it involves someone whom he least expected out of everyone.

The night was still glimmering under the moonlight as young Amorette stood on the sidewalk precisely in front of Club ‘Soul’, waving her date goodbye as he had to leave her. He thought that taking his girly best friend whom he met during happy hour at the bar would be a good excuse to let Amorette skip a ride home with him on his motorbike.

“Now, how am I supposed to go back?” Amorette sighed while pacing back and forth.

“Help, help!” Amorette heard a voice of woman who seemed to be in trouble calling for help. She crawled into the dark alley following the voice floating in the air.
“You don’t have the rights to speak, lady!” Yu warned while pointing his gun to the young vampire’s head.

Amorette panicked as she saw Yu is about to kill a student from Lunar Academy. “What the hell are you doing? Let her go!”

“Stay out of...” The hunter turned around and saw Amorette is the one who wanted him to stop. “Listen I don’t you want to get involved in this, please leave.”

“What? I’m not gonna let you kill her! I’m not going anywhere until you release her!”
A gunshot was released and the vampire lady on his trap crushed into dust. “Sorry, it’s my duty to kill one of you. As a hunter, I have no mercy for vampires.”

“Well, not all vampires are your enemies you know, some of us have turned good.”

“See, you don’t understand.”

“That hatred look on your face tells me you’ll do whatever it takes to kill every single one of us! Now, you’re telling me I don’t understand?”

“She deserved to be killed! You think she’s good when she’s running around the town, kidnapping and keep the human as her prisoners?”

“I didn’t know that, sorry” Amorette finally apologized as she has accused a vampire hunter on doing a wrong thing in his job.

“A lesson to learn, do not interfere hunters when we we’re on a hunt or you’ll be the next target.” Yu winked.

“I’ll put that in my mind, thank you.” She smiled back at him and introduced herself. “I’m Amorette, by the way.”

“You can call me, Yu.” He greeted her with a charming smile. Although, his charming smile cracked after hearing his I-phone is ringing. He just stood dashingly under the beautiful moonlight, nodding to every message delivered through the phone line.

“Right, I’ll be there in a few.” He finally managed to end the conversation he had with someone on the other side of the line.

“I gotta roll now. Dawn is near, aren’t you supposed to return to the academy?”

“Yeah, well I’m thinking of taking a cab.”

“Actually I’m going back to the academy, you could just have a ride with me, if you want?”

“Would it be okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” The gorgeous hunter flashed an irresistible inviting smile which would be dumb enough for Amorette to say no to his offer.

~*~

Laced in Black (chp.2)

Scented candles were lighted, filling the library lounge with a sweet and delicate aroma of vanilla, cinnamon and rose altogether, creating a calm mood for those who take study seriously in the academy. Most of them who reside in Lunar Academy are more active during the night compared to the day, so the academy never sleeps. The active ones are most likely the wild flowers among the roses. Only a few would consider to have an old fashioned life where partying seems to be meaningless to them.

“You know, the guy who came in the dining hall today seems familiar.” In her leather jacket with a plain red corset top underneath, the sexy Amorette took a seat next to her sister, Annika who was quietly sitting with a book on her hand.

Behind the book she was reading, Annika replied, “Must be one of the guys you’ve been sleeping with?”

“No, I don’t think so. I can’t really picture him lying on my bed with nothing on.” It wasn’t a surprise for Amorette to be saying that as being naughty is her true nature.

“Or was it one of Aurora’s precious victims, then?” All eyes on her book, Annika tried to concentrate more on the book she was reading rather than her little sister’s crappy talk. “By the way, where is Aurora? She’s been missing since dust.”

“Man hunting. What else? Since Gabriel refused to stay in for another night.”

“Thought so, and how about you? No man to catch for tonight?”

“Oh I caught one alright, we’re gonna go to the town for a while, riding on his hot bike!”

“That explains the look.”

All of sudden, a few images from the past were flashing in Amorette’s mind. It finally ticks her that the guy whose name is Yu had been a part of her reeling life scene. “Wait a minute, that guy! I know him. He’s a vampire hunter. Remember the time when you got lost..”

“You mean, I was kidnapped?” Annika corrected the term ‘lost’.

“Yeah, Aurora and I came to rescue you, also he arrived at the same time but we were too late since someone already finished up everything. I wonder what is he doing, here? And meeting with the prince living in this academy? I sense something fishy.”

In the academy, there are no place restricted for the students to hang around except for the west wing of the castle which requires an invitation from Bill and his loyal mates. While the others were busy pleasuring themselves in a bloody feast for that night, Bill remained silent in his bedroom. The wall was plastered with black and gold vintage wallpaper and the lamp shade, lighted with candles brought a very dark and intense ambience in his room. He was lying on the king-sized bed dressed in satin sheet, while on his head kept repeating every word spilled from the infamous vampire hunter who visited him at the academy.

The window frames are carved in marble to suit with the marble flooring tiled as the ground completed with a fireplace to warm the room. A set of velvet cushioned settee in maroon was the only furniture to be fitted in that small room of where Bill and Yu spent for the evening.

“I came to warn you, he’s back.” In a serious tone, Yu delivered the hidden message right when they were having an alone time in Bill’s drawing room.

Bill was shocked to hear what Yu have just said. “That’s impossible.” Those are the only lines he could figure out.

“It was reported to the vampire hunter council, this morning. There’s been a death among us and the signs are showing it was his doing.”

“But I thought you said he’s already dead.”

“He was dead but I didn’t kill him, so means he’s still here.”

“And you think you’re the only one who can kill him with your bloody gun?”

“Don’t mock me, if it wasn’t one of clans who interrupted my mission, he wouldn’t have to come back from the dead already!”

“Yu, Yu, Yu...not all of the vampires are my clan. We have a special hierarchy class. So, be aware that the ones who sink their fangs on my blood are the ones below me, and a respect is what they shall give me in return.” Bill looked straight into Yu’s greyish eyes to show him that he is not that easily to be messed around with especially when his blood is running inside of Yu’s vein.

“I wanted to share my gratitude a long time ago but since your kind got involved in my case, I take back my wish. So the next time if you want me to earn your respect, get all those bloodsucking creatures outta my way!”

“Don’t be selfish, you can’t hide your fangs forever!”

“Look, don’t let me start a riot here.”

“As about now, I have something way more important to worry about other than you. So spare me your sweet revenge later.”

“I don’t know why was I even co-operating with you in this case? I shouldn’t have let you get involved in the first place.” Yu took a few steps back, heading to the door for an exit.

“You should know, this time around he’s gonna get not only one but all of them.” Bill notified Yu before he left the drawing room.

“Then, I shall start planning my fighting strategy from now on.” Right after he finished his lines, Yu closed the door leaving Bill in the drawing room, stood silently, still in disbelief.

The world of his mind put him at the state wonder on what’s coming ahead of him as the evil is lurking around. His eyes were shooting to the crystal chandelier tied with steel frame hanging on his bedroom ceiling, in his deep thinking he just wished to end the war when it wasn’t even started.

Although the town is packed about 70% of mortals, there was still a hidden spot for the youthful immortals with raging hormone to have fun with booze and booty shaking music. Say, the relations between human and vampire are quite acceptable only if it was kept as a secret. Every late at night, Club ‘Soul’ seemed to be that one spot blasting loud music through their bombastic speakers while all of the gorgeous nightwalkers inside, creating a sultry art of dance with their hot bodies. Spotted in the crowd was Aurora, sliding her sexy figured body onto her new blondie victim, Cam. Her seducing moves are highly intoxicating for any vampire to resist. Leaving the dance floor at the same club was her twin sister, Amorette who has her arms locked with her hot vampire date, Kellan. They headed to the bar for a night round of booze.

“Babe, you stay here and I’ll get the drinks.” Kellan seated her at a nearby bar stool. Before Amorette’s mouth would open to make an order, Kellan cut in “Bloody Mary for you?”

“My favourite.” Amorette just grinned while Kellan flashed his gorgeous side smile and walked off.

In her waiting act, Amorette decided to take a look around her as she was enjoying the melody of music singing in her ears. Her sight froze a moment when she saw a pale gorgeous guy in a black leather jacket who was the same vampire hunter she saw that evening, sitting opposite her, sipping his beer at the same time his other hand was holding a sharp cross-shaped dagger plated in silver with bits of ruby gem decorated on it. The dagger was spinning 360 degree by that one hand of his, judging by that Amorette could tell he was not just the typical vampire hunter with zero battle skills, he is in fact one of the best hunters around. She studied his face from far and agony seemed to written all over it. “He looks as though as he’s in pain.”

“What‘s that, babe?” Her big blonde tough guy returned.

“Oh hey, nothing.” She switched her attention back to his date that just arrived with her drink.

“Here you go, one Bloody Mary especially for my gorgeous girl.” He handed a short crystal glass filled with the red liquor.

“Why, thank you.” Amorette smiled but her eyes were itching to steal another gaze at the hunter. When her eyesight made a target to her opposite way, there was no one at the seat assuming the guy has left.

“Babe?” Her date was feeling odd to see her gazing to elsewhere other than his eyes.

“Oh sorry, I thought I.....” Her sentences were stuck halfway as it was replaced with a hot flaming smooch given by Kellan. She fiery kissed him back and more kisses were passed down, from him to her, from her to him making all of her thoughts concerning about the hunter was abruptly erased.

The lights of the library are dimmed as more and more students left, only the candles would be the source of light used by the remaining. Separated from the crowd, far into the library, between the old bookcases, there she was gazing through the arranged books to find what she was seeking for. Being alone used to be a fear to Annika but she never thought that her old time nightmare might come to haunt her once again. While she was on her book search, she felt as if someone was whispering from the other side of the bookcase path.

“Is someone there?” Annika asked if there was any single soul near her. She took a peek of the other side and found no one was there. “Hello?” Her attention moved to the next rack as she heard a sound of falling book. She went to check it out and still there was not even a single shadow in her sight. “Is this some kind of a joke? Amorette? Aurora?” Annika felt extremely weird as no one has ever joke around with her except for her two little sisters but it was surely not them as they typically will be chasing guys during night time. All of the sudden, a short familiar evil laugh was dancing in and out of her ears, causing her to switch back on her fear. As she was feeling terrified, she turned around to and mysteriously all of the books in the shelves around her fell to the ground in a fast motion as if something was messing around with her so as being mad. The books were flipped open, page by page until fire ignited and later burnt the papers into dust. It wasn’t really over as the dust turned into blood, flowing towards Annika.

“Ahhhhhhh!!!” Annika screamed her lungs out and the next thing she knew, she was lying on the ground unconscious and motionless, draining herself in a so-called blood bath.

~*~

Laced in Black (chp.1)

The dawn is rising and I caught the light shining in my eyes, the ray of light has made me feel as if my iris is about to burst. The light and heat were enemies to me while blood seems to be a true savior of my immortal life. In a majestic room surrounded with high glass windows which is where the sunlight came in, candles were ignited and placed all over the room. Lying in the centre of a room close to an image of a ballroom, there I was in pain. My skin was slowly burning as a little spec of sun rays come in contact and at the same time, the blood from my cut wrist, dripping, drop after drop into an icy crystal goblet. My vision has blurred, I couldn’t see anything clearly while facing the pain that slowly kills me inside. All I could hear was a voice from someone and his tone sounded as cruel as ever, “This is the end for you, Annika! There’s nothing else you can do.” Before my heart was about to be staked with a sharp dagger, in the corner of my eyes I saw someone came to stop the bloody ritual. That someone is a he, he who banished the evil away. He rescued me from the sacrifice but I never knew who he was because the next thing I knew he disappeared in the thin air at the exact moment my sisters came to save me. I didn’t really know why he was there to keep my heart beating but all I know he was my hero. He even left me with a sealed kiss and so as a key to unlock his heart.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!”

Annika was awake from her deep sleep by a shout from a girl who obviously none other than her bratty little sister. “Oh the same dream again.” She whispered to herself and felt a little bit dizzy on the head.

“Annika!!!!” A girl who was still dressed in her night lingerie, revealing her sexy model figured body came and barged into her room without even knocking on the door.

Annika brushed her messy fringe to the side and forced herself to entertain the young lady who just entered her room, “What is it now, Aurora?”

“He’s gone! Where did he go? Have you seen him?” Aurora searched all over Annika’s room.

“And you think I hid him in here?” Annika questioned her with curiosity.

“Maybe.” The bathroom and closet of that one dark vintage looking room, decorated with an art of twirling vines and roses as the feature wall was opened for a little spot-check.

“He’s not in my room! Aurora, please I’m like the last person who’s gonna steal your booty call boyfriend, you should try and look in Amorette’s, bet she kept him in there.” Annika ignored her sister’s silly act and stood by the bed.

“Amorette!!!!!!!!” Aurora shouted the out loud.

A girl with a short and sexy bob haircut appeared herself in Annika’s room at the same time putting on a pair of black Marc Jacob’s stiletto heels. “What?” She asked her fraternal twin in an annoying tone.

“Where is he? I know you took him!” Aurora accused Amorette without any proof.

“Excuse me?”

“Well, you heard me. Where’s that blonde model of mine?”

“Oh that blondie hottie, Gabriel?” On her face, it looked as if Amorette was picturing how hot Gabriel was but after a few seconds, her face expression changed to normal while she blurted out, “He left this morning.”

“What? He left?” The word ‘shock’ was written all over Aurora’s face.

“Another night, another guy running away.” That statement was spilled out from her twin’s mouth and she made a pity face towards Aurora.

“Grr~!” Aurora pulled out a fierce face, as if she’s a wild cat ready for a catfight.

“Okay guys, catfight later. I need to get ready for class.” Annika requested for the both of them to leave or she might be late to get to class.

It is in the Lunar Academy where the sisters of Valentine spent their time learning, it is an old castle for an academy designed especially for the bloodsucking creatures of the night and mostly who enrolled in Lunar Academy are the high class vampires, raised from a very wealthy vampire bloodlines. Note that, vampires nowadays has put an end to their ancient daily routine, sitting in their coffins during the day and haunt mortals by night seemed to be their least favourite thing to do in the modern days.

The chilly morning air swept Annika’s long straight hair down her shoulder as she was walking down the academy’s courtyard, as always escorted along with her twin little sisters while all eyes on them as the sisters own a unique beauty that certainly pull an absolute attraction towards all the vampires around them.

“Ever since we came here, you know that gorgeous prince is always eyeing on you, Annika.” Far from the second level, Aurora caught one of the beautiful dazzling eyes was shooting a target to her elder sister.

The guilty immortal who are caught eyeing on Annika was none other than the heir of the Lunar Academy, one of the pure-blooded vampire that has been highly respected by every vampire attended the academy, he who was named, Bill Kaulitz. A tall dashing young guy with a heavenly gorgeous structured face and his porcelain-like skin glows under the blue sky, he was rather to be called as beautiful for a young man. With a pair of sparkling chestnut eyes, Bill always shot a glance to them or most precisely on Annika whenever they pass the courtyard to get to class. On his usual days, his jet black hair was set in a sexy Mohawk and the art liner on his eyes is always heavy and thick which made you mistaken him as a rock star. Moreover, his attire brought a sense of glam and rock in the world of fashion. Overall, Bill was just alluring but not one of the vampires in the academy is dare enough to approach him as his arrogant side was clearly dominant and it was forbidden for them to do so. Because only those who followed him around and treated him like a God is allowed to make contact with this one pure blood prince.

“What? That’s impossible.” It was hard for Annika to feed it into her mind considering the arrogant guy was actually trying to catch an attention of a vampire like her who is only half blooded. She looked at him back but her eye contact was no use as he turned away immediately when his so called minions came to join him.

“When are you gonna stop staring at her?” A beautiful white blonde guy in a plain white shirt, looking as pure as one soul, free from sin patted his back.

“When are you gonna stop stalking me?” Bill raised his eyebrow and shot an irritating look towards his most loyal companion.

“You, my mate should take a move on her before it’s too late.” The same guy flashed a wink with his ever so mesmerizing ocean-like blue eyes.

“Strify, what makes you think I’m into her kind, huh?” Bill replied, proving to Strify with a pride. Say, a high class pure-blooded vampire like him would never date any vampire whose bloodline is lower than his.

“Yeah, man.” A little pretty guy who is about 5 feet tall joined the conversation without an invitation. It seemed like the little one in the gang is always agreeing with Bill at any chance he could get.

“Hey shorty, stay out of this!” Strify pushed him away to the other two guys.

“Watch it, Kiro!” The big guy whose name is Lane warned the little guy who just hit them.

“Yeah, little one!” William, the tallest among them dusting off his beige suit as if Kiro is some kind of dirt that got his attire to be all dirty.

“Hey, I may be little but girls actually adore me!” Kiro shot a boasting look to all of them while crossing his arm.

All of them just laughed to see how silly the childish Kiro acted except for one, Bill, who looked away to greet one of his minions that is on his way coming to their spot. “Are you done taking care of I’ve requested, Nathaniel?” Bill asked him while his eyes are set to the other way around, facing away from Nathaniel’s sight.

“It’s all been taken care of. But they were gifts for you. I still don’t understand why did you refused to accept.” Nathaniel, looking puzzled as confusion was written on his Nancy boy face.

“There’s only one rule for all of you to follow if you want to earn my respect, do as what I told but never question on my reaction.” Flipping his long black leather trench coat, Bill walked away as soon as he finished with his sentence.

There was no objection of whatever comes from the leader and in a hush tone, Nathaniel obeyed Bill with a simple answer, “Yes, I shall remain quiet as you desire.” He bowed his head and joined the others who are already on a move behind Bill.

For every move they make and for every words they say, the other students of Lunar Academy would just stare at the clique, either drooling over them or fired up with jealousy. And for one thing, every girl in the school would just die if they have the chance to go out with one of them or be one of their one night stand lover. Seducing them would be the hardest part of all as only invitation will be the main key to approach them.

“Would you just throw that blackberry of yours, already?” Annika arrived at the table where the sisters always seated during their break time and clearly she was being annoyed by Amorette who couldn’t seem to stop clicking her blackberry qwerty keypads.

“Hey, without this baby of mine, all of the gorgeous males lining up for me will be gone.” Amorette explained while her fingers were still on her precious bedazzled blackberry.

“Now, wouldn’t it be nice for them to just leave?” Unlike Amorette, Annika hated to play around with different guys at a time. Wearing a black lace mini dress, she took her sit carefully as to avoid from showing off any inner wear exposure.

“Leave? Hell no, sister!” Amorette just shook her head in disagreement.

Next to Amorette is Aurora who considered her Dior lip gloss for a lunch more than the food placed right in front of her. “You gotta let loose a little, Annika. Be more like us, wild and playful, now that’s what I called a vampire’s life.” Aurora letting out some of her thoughts while applying her cherry taste gloss on her luscious lips.

“Do remember I used to be just like the two of you once upon a time ago and what happened after that? All the guys I dated wanted to kill me.” Annika snapped while facing the twins.

“True.” A simple word came out from Amorette’s mouth who by now, still glued to her cell phone.

“Well, you just happen to picked out some wrong half blooded prudes. But I’d say why not you try dating the pure blooded ones this time around, like him?” Aurora suggested as she saw someone at door entry.

Annika turned over to see Bill walking pride with his colony as they entered the dining hall. That one handsomely dark prince passed their table without even looking around. He went straight, heading to his usual clique table with the other 5 tailing him from behind.

“Hah, a guy like him would never even look at us and that includes me.”

“Why? Because he’s royalty? May I remind you sister, between his bloodlines and ours, we are much higher in terms of nobility, I’m so proud to say that we are....”

“Hush, I don’t want to hear you say anything about our roots, here.”

“But why would we hide it, anyway?”

“Aurora, no more!” Annika warned Aurora as some secrets shall never be revealed in the academy.

“Fine, fine, fine.” Aurora gave up and her attention moved to a blonde guy walking down the hallway as she could see him through the opened doors. “How dare he leave me, yesterday. It’s payback time." Aurora left the table to chase after the hottie blondie, Gabriel to get even.

As Aurora was walking out from the dining hall, she bumped onto a gorgeous guy donning a black tank top, flashing his pale as snow skin with wicked tattoos drawn on all over his fit body, here and there. While, his Japanese anime looking face is covered with piercings, his jet black hair is highlighted with red streaks and smoky shadows painted for the eyes making him look like one notorious bad boy that you wish you wouldn’t wanna get involved with one. “Sorry.” Aurora apologized and stepped away quickly to keep on chasing her guy.

“Wait, why is he here?” In an angry tone, Lane stood up. The biggest guy in their group was all ready to get into a fight.

“Sit down, Lane.” Bill ordered and Lane settled himself right on his seat.

“Well, he shouldn’t be here.” This time, Strify said to bring more hatred vibe within the clique. “How did he even pass the gate to get in here?”

“I invited him in.” Even without looking, Bill could smell the guy’s presence and he was heading towards the table. Bill’s invitation towards that one guy has thrown a thousand question marks to each and every one of his fellow mates. The guy came forward to the table. Without even a pinch of fear, he stopped right in front of Bill to face him eye to eye.

“Welcome again, Yu Phoenix, it’s been a while.” Bill welcomed the guy without even looking at him.

“I came back for my own reason not because you.” Another arrogant soul was filling the air in that academy.

“Better watch your mouth, you filthy mortal!” The little one squeaked his voice in anger, seeing that Yu has lost his respect towards the pure-blooded vampire Bill.
“Yeah, if it wasn’t because of Bill, here, you’ll be rotten to death.” Nathaniel added.

Bill raised his hand to give a sign that none of the others shall speak as the conversation are meant only for him and Yu.

“Mind them. Now, what brings you here?” Bill questioned Yu’s sudden appearance in the academy.

Yu looked around and felt uneasy as everyone was looking at them. The message that he brought seemed serious which made him realize that the huge dining hall packed with all kinds of vampire with different bloodlines, was not the right place to spill the serious talk.

“We need to talk, privately.”

~*~