Chapter 2

(Izobel’s POV)

The drive to school was quiet, so I made sure to keep them away from my thoughts. Connor was actually correct, Amber and I could just run to school, and it was way faster than driving. One thing, though, I could enjoy the scenery as I sat at the back. I never joined their argument as to who will drive or sit in front. I would plop myself in at the back and wait for who won to be on the driver’s side.

Springville Town is a not-so-quiet rural area. Before migrating to another place or another country, Dad would ensure he thoroughly researched the site, making sure no pack nor coven lived in the area to smell or know us. He said this place was somehow special because of the stories that the incredible lake I am seeing now, that sparkles with pearl when the sunlight hits the water, was a hell portal.

We would usually hate it whenever he started his story with ‘Long time ago...’ because Dad is already one hundred and seventy years old. No one really knew how long this hell portal was closed. Maybe the story was created to attract tourists to this lonely but beautiful rural place because the town was usually packed with tourists on Halloween. They would even picnic near the lake from October thirtieth to thirty-first, hoping to witness the appearance of demons and the undead.

As promised, Connor dropped us in school. Amber and I would be in our last year in high school while he enrolled in a community college nearby in his second year. The plan would always be to work in a convenience store in the afternoon until late evening, a good excuse not to join in any varsity. Just like Amber, Connor is an extremely attractive person. He was about 6’4 feet tall, with shoulder-length black hair like Amber’s, and had a godly physique that girls her age admired much. I sometimes think our parents created two perfect individuals.

If things went smoothly, Amber and I would graduate this year, plan our way to college, stay visible for another five years, and then use our never-ending excuse of going abroad.

Because of my siblings’ small show this morning, Amber and I were late for our first class, Literature. We almost had the same class except for the Elective and Science. The teacher had to stop talking when we rushed to his room. Amber smiled at him, did her little trick of meeting Mr. Morris’ dark brown round eyes, then gave our slips to him.

“I’m sorry, we’re late,” She said, smiling at him.

“Twins, eh?” He reacted, looking at us, no... studying only me from foot to head like he wants to ask what happened to me, and scoffed. He looked at his class. “Meet Amber and Izobel. They’re twins,” He announced, making me feel embarrassed at his introduction.

I breathed slowly as I pushed the brim of my eyeglasses. Amber and I looked like a hot and cold chick, with Amber being the hot one, femme fatale, and me... well, I am a folding bamboo screen for doorway kind of chick. Nobody sees me until someone bumps or collides with me.

I could see right away that there were two vacant seats. A cute boy from the back, from the first row, raised his arm and called her. “Here, Amber,”

My sister flipped her hair, smiled at him, and glanced at me, pointing to the other vacant seat at the back. I nodded, and we walked in a separate direction. I pushed the brim of my eyeglasses again, my kind of habit, and held my books closer to my chest.

‘You should have flaunted your true beauty, sis,’ Amber said to me as she sat down. “These idiots will surely fall on their knees when they see you’re a 10. Drop-dead-”

She could not finish her sentence because I tripped and almost dropped to the floor.

“Oops,” The girl giggled as she glided her foot back and crossed her legs. She rolled her eyes on me and turned her gaze to the teacher.

I was too distracted today that I did not notice her foot. I saw my books scattered on the floor as I tried to hold on to something to prevent myself from falling on the floor.

“Good reflex,” A male voice said, looking at my hand that landed on his upper thigh, while my other hand was on the edge of the table opposite his.

‘Hmm... interesting,’ Amber said, making me raise my head to look at him. “Good reflex, indeed. Roar!’

My heart skipped a beat when I saw his face. Heat flushed my cheeks, not because of embarrassment, but he was the guy I was watching this morning, making out with his girlfriend. He was the ‘Ethan’ I could not keep my eyes away from.  

‘Breathe, Izobel! Breathe...’ Amber tried to calm me, feeling the tension I had when I stared at Ethan’s brown, hooded-shaped eyes. ‘Look at me, Izobel!’ she hissed before I hurt him in front of everyone. We both ignored the peals of laughter in the classroom.

I froze when he held my hand, which sent tons of voltage in my body, to help me stand up. I breathed slowly, closed my eyes, and concentrated on Amber’s voice.

“I’m sorry,” I gritted my teeth, gathered my books, and continued to walk at the back. Now, I could understand why Anastacia was so into him.

Seeing him this close, I could assert he was so gorgeous, and I couldn’t look away from his seductive eyes. Who is this human that takes my breath away?

As Mr. Morris called the class’s attention, I slumped down my seat and balled my fist under the table. There went my fingers growing, and I hated it that I could turn into a vampire in this early morning, massacring the whole class.  

‘Are you okay?’ Amber asked while smiling as she acknowledged the guy sitting behind her introducing himself. ‘Don’t be funny, coz you’re a vampire. Half-vampire, at least.’

I forgot that Amber and I were still linked. I wanted to block her for now, but I was afraid I might hurt someone in the class if I didn’t hear her voice. This had never happened to me in eight decades, but now I felt like a teenager doing stupid things. 

‘How can I be okay? I didn’t expect Ethan to be in this class,’ I turned my gaze outside the window. I could still feel the heat in my cheeks.

‘Something wrong?’ She asked, and I could feel mocking comments coming. “Your heartbeat, Izobel, it’s so loud,’ she teased me. ‘You found a mate?’ She was now pretending to listen to our teacher.

I snarled at her. ‘A food Amber, a food!’ I growled in a low voice that only she could hear. ‘I found someone who will complete my transformation!’

Dad’s greatest fear was that I didn’t shapeshift yet like my siblings because I was different. I had to taste human blood to complete my transformation like him. What hurts me is his thoughts that he didn’t want me to become a monster like him. Connor and Amber could live among humans, maybe join a pack in the future, but there will always be a threat in my case. The blood lust will always be inevitable, and things could get out of hand if I didn’t learn to control myself like him.

I took my notebook in my bag and wrote everything Mr. Morris wrote on the board. My eyes were brimming with tears as I glanced at Ethan. I was only kidding about the ‘food joke’ about him, but I never felt so horrified at how I reacted when our eyes met. I breathed out slowly as I denied to myself that I was attracted to him.

‘A food. Hmm...’ She repeated. ‘Let’s invite him over tonight, Izobel. We could feast on-’ She joked but stopped when she felt my emotional strain. She glanced at me, raising her brows when I blocked her. It will only be for a while until I calm down.

Mr. Morris showed in his presentation slide the topics we could choose from for our research paper. I scoffed as I wrote the subject I was very much familiar with in my notebook. I could work on it tonight without the necessity of the Internet or books in the library. When the bell rang, students stood up, but some went to hover around Amber, others went out hurriedly not to be late for their next class, but I stayed on my seat. I kept my eyes outside the window, thinking of tons of excuses to go home.

My head turned, creasing my forehead, as the familiar scent became stronger. Ethan was coming towards me. My heartbeat went wild again, and I had to look somewhere else to appease my heart. 

“Hi. I’m sorry about what happened earlier,” He said, sitting on the edge of the table in front of me. “Surely, Anastacia didn’t mean to embarrass you,” he continued.

My brows drew together as I glanced at the girl he referred to. She was chatting animatedly now with Amber that I quickly unblocked her and screamed in my mind. My twin sister jerked and glared at me.

‘What’s that about?’ She asked, faking a smile at her new friends.

‘That bitch who tripped me is Anastacia. Bring her to me. I’ll rip her body into pieces,’ I said, looking at Ethan. Is he waiting for me to say something about her girlfriend? Why is he apologizing for her sake?

‘Oh, so she’s the one who’s moaning Ethan’s name this morning. Ahh...Ethan, I’m coming! Jealous?’ She couldn’t help smiling as she glanced in my direction.

I hissed.

‘Let’s go, Izobel. We don’t want to be late for class. I’m coming with these girls. Will you be alright?’

I heaved a sigh and answered her. ‘Yeah. See you later,’ I stood up and started to walk, ignoring him, but I guess he was not used to being ignored. My body jolted when he held my wrist to stop me and pulled me to him. I almost bumped into his body. 

‘Enjoy your meal, Izobel,’ teased Amber as she went out with the other girls.

“What?” I frowned, and when he didn’t answer, I kept going, ignoring him again. He followed me and walked beside me.

“I saw you this morning,” Ethan said, making me halt from moving forward.