LOGINProfessor Evans is one of the youngest lecturers in the academy. And that makes it easier to be able to confide in him. He understands young adults and sees things from our own point of view.
And that’s one of the reasons he is my best history lecturer to ever exist. He turns sharply from the pulpit. He had just finished scrubbing some things down on the board. “That will be the end of the class for today.” He announces with his usual friendly smile that always has a cute dimple. “Kieran, wait behind after class.” He adds immediately. I nod. The last of the students, with exhaustion oozing out of them, trickle out with tired expressions on their faces. Same as me still sitted here. Professor Evans turns towards me and frowns with concern. “Have you got any news recently? Tell me if anything is going on?” I looked back at him sharply. “There is absolutely nothing going on.” He leans back against the desk and nods at my wrist. A handsome stubble runs along his jaw. His brown hair is brushed to the side and his blue eyes study me with gentle kindness. I approach the main desk and sit beside him. Then I sigh dejectedly. “It didn't go well.” I shrug. “We met at some place in the woods. He walked in and out. And that was it.” “He?” He asks, shock written all over his features. “Yeah. His name is Caius.” “And he didn't feed?” Evans asks gently. “I said earlier that he just walked in and why.” I say but I decided against mentioning the emails exchanged between me and Caius. “He seemed pretty much disinterested because in the few minutes we saw each other, I was rejected.” He nods briefly. “That’s nothing to worry about. It’s normal for him to be like that since he’s just got a new consort and his previous consort must have just died.” “His kind does not have sympathy.” I yawn. “Come on, Kieran.” He pats my shoulder. “He’ll adjust over time.” “If you say so.” “The only thing that baffles me is why you’re assigned to a male vampire instead of a female vampire.” “Exactly!” I bang my fist on the table. “You’re the only one who understands me. This still feels like a dream. In fact, it’s impossible. Why would I get assigned to a male vampire?” “I have never heard or read about that. This is the first time it’s happening.” He breathes. Then he laughs softly. “It’s just quite sad it’s happening to you instead of Beau.” My jaw drops. “Now, you’re mocking me?” I ask. “Nope. I’m just happy your name will be in the history books.” He laughs again. “My dearest student. You made us famous.” “Can we please change the subject of discussion? This one sucks.” “Agreed.” Professor Evans says. “I should let you go anyways. I'm sure your friends are waiting for you.” I nod. “Yes, they are. I can't keep them waiting much longer.” And true to his words, I met Beau and Rebecca by the door. They both looked at me like they weren't eavesdropping. I look at them and let out a deep breath. I hesitate a little before I can request this: “Guys, can I treat you to lunch?” “As long as we'll get burgers,” Beau says. I smirk and walk towards the cafeteria. I placed an order for some coffee and sandwiches for all of us. After a few minutes, I cleared my throat awkwardly. “So, guys, I wanted to apologize for how I reacted yesterday. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that.” I say, looking at them apologetically. Rebecca speaks up first because Beau is busy munching the burger fillings he wouldn't be able to speak even if he tried. “Are you sure that was all that really happened? Are you sure he didn't hurt you?” She asks again. “Yes… yes, I'm sure. I know my reaction made it look like I was hurt in some way but I'm fine.” Beau decides to speak and, “you know it's not the end of the world if he's a male right. Is it that you hate him or that he's not attractive enough? Or is it the usual “I can’t be with a man”?” I sputter. “What the fuck, Beau? Why would you say that? I'm not like that. It’s just- just weird to me. And it’s not like it’s something I’ve ever wanted.” “Well… let's hope he'll get hungry soon and get back to his senses and then call you back.” Beau spits. “And if he doesn't,” Rebecca pauses dramatically, “fuck him! No one is gonna mess with my homeboy.” “It doesn't matter anyways. He rejected me and I've also rejected him. There's no point in hoping.” I respond, a smile tugging at my lips. Their jaws drop. “You what?” “I rejected him too.” “Wow!” Rebecca chimes. “I love your aura. This feels like watching a TV show from the 1900’s. What say, Beau?” “Honestly, I’m not sure about that. Rejecting a vampire?” He nods. “Feels a little bit anxious. Not something to get excited about.” I lean forward, my eyes glazing. “He says he is getting a new consort. It might take too long but I'll also be reassigned anyways. Hopefully this time it'll be a woman.” “Don't worry about it, bro.” Beau says. I nod. My phone buzzes on the table and I pick it up. I had received an email notification. Only one person texts me through my mail like a psycho. I didn't bother opening the text. I swiped away the email pop up and I shoved my phone in my pocket. I'm not going to let this shit mess with my mental health. “Is that him?” Rebecca suddenly asks and I flinch. “What?” “I mean you look like you just saw a ghost and it can only mean one thing.” she retorts. “It's no one. It's just a stupid notification” I said quickly while I shoved my chair back and I stood up. “Alright guys, we'll meet in the hostel.” “I think we're also done. Right, Beau?” Rebecca whispers, standing up also. “Yeah… let's go.” Beau adds and we all match out of the cafeteria. But my mind goes back to the earlier notification. I should have opened it. Maybe, the idiot finally gets assigned to a new consort?Caius’ POVThe forest trees beckon me with open arms. Their limbs bend and stretch to the wind, joints creaking with age. The scent of pine intertwines with stale blood. It is an unpleasant combination, one surely to catch the nose of any non-human who crosses this path. I send a furtive glance over my shoulder, eyeing the hidden cottage a final time before slipping into the safety of the shadows.Beau was confident in his ability to keep Kieran safe. I consider this assurance and frown. Where my human was once the weakest, he is now a force of strength in his new form. Perhaps I should have reversed the request. I weave through the forest, the evening’s presence nipping at my heels. Thoughts of Kieran hum through my mind like a buzz of electricity. It is a dangerous stream of thought, the type which leads to mistakes and distractions.I breathe in the stale blood, allowing my vampiric senses to dominate my mind and motion. The thoughts quiet to a mere whisper and my instincts sh
Kieran’s POV The human woman bustles about her home and gently urges us to sit. She attempts to straighten the lace table runner laying in disarray atop the oak dinette. When she spots the collection of debris and mud smeared into its surface, a sigh of frustration escapes her lips. “I’m Bella,” she says in an attempt of introduction, and her eyes land on the soiled lace. Embarrassment stains her cheeks. “Please excuse the mess. I was hoping to have things looking a bit nicer for your arrival.” She collects the dirtied cloth and glances down the deserted hallway, no doubt searching for the two men who hastily disappeared the moment we entered the cottage, one of them being the cloaked man. I can hear the timbre of their voices from rooms away, but the words are muffled, as if they’re both speaking behind a wall of glass. “C-can I offer either of you anything to eat or drink?” she tries again, gesturing to the well-worn couches. Neither of us responds. The silence unnerves her,
Caius’ POV Raymond kicks his muddied boots onto Bella’s coffee table. The movement snags the table runner, and one of her intricate, homemade baubles tumbles to the floor. I catch it just before it shatters, gently securing it against my palm. Bella loosens a breath when I hand the ornament back to her. “Thank you,” she sighs softly. “This is a family heirloom, you know. Passed down generation after generation. It’s one of the only things I packed for sentimental value when the vampires attacked our town.” She opens her palm to show me. It’s a purple trinket, delicately painted with flecks of silver and gold. She tilts it from side to side, and the colors transform. Names shimmer beneath the surface of purple glass, only visible when the light hits it just right. “My mom had it made for us,” she explains. “It has the names of each member of my family. Me, my two brothers, my mom, and my dad. At the time we teased her for it. Why get such a thing made? We all knew our names.” H
In the speck of time that follows the vampire’s command, the world blurs. Within me, the withering ribbons of humanity shudder, curling in on themselves to make way for an unfamiliar, heavy darkness. It seeps through my being, blotting out my consciousness like overzealous ink to parchment. Whether it’s the threat in and of itself, or the threat to the safety of Klaus and myself, it triggers the half me which Mr. Consulate refers to as ‘the demon.’ I become a monster. There’s no anger. No fury. There’s no emotion. It’s merely a primal instinct to fight the threat. To win and conquer. I lower to my haunches, hissing and mentally capturing the movements of our enemies. The Secondary guards raise their weapons, poised for attack. Klaus lets out a labored breath beside me. Despite years of training, he is the weaker species. No amount of training could equip him for this type of battlefield. A battlefield where the enemy is a species I was told was extinct. Klaus attempts to mo
Caius’ POV Beau nibbles at the keratin of his fingernail. He bites off a sliver and spits it to the side. The nail particulate embeds itself into the muddy floor beneath our feet. It is a grotesque process as his nervous gaze twitches to cover all possible angles. The trees, the brush, the road. A cloud of angst follows his movements, a shadow of emotion to mirror his every step.“It shouldn’t be taking this long,” he mutters. “We should have heard something by now.”Bella’s features pinch with worry. Rather than pace with her human counterpart, she remains at my side.“Lady Mary walked us through the plan,” she soothes, using Bonnie’s code name. “This was the only portion she couldn’t pin-point with a specific time. She didn’t know how long it would take for Mr. Secondary…”“Kieran,” I correct icily.Beau flashes me a warning glare. Perhaps the only thing worse than hearing Kieran’s title alongside Caspian’s is seeing him alongside Mr. Consulate.“Kieran,” Bella corrects with a gu
Kieran’s POV My mind continues to drift. It’s as if each of my thoughts are splinters of wood floating across the ocean’s surface, each of them being pulled to the heavy current that begins and ends with the hooded man. I pick apart the vivid memory, memorizing each of his features as best I can. Even with my immortal abilities, I know I’m not immune to the fragility of a moment captured in the mind’s eye. As time evolves, memories twist and contort, shaping themselves to suit the needs of the minds they serve.I want to preserve this one as best I can to preserve him as best I can.Mr. Consulate leads us through the small market, delivering on the promise he made at the conclusion of his speech. Hope bled from the eyes of Secondaries and Humans alike as he spoke of peace and a new world. A better world. They believe this is an honor to have his presence in a place where they create and maintain their livelihoods. I see this stroll for what it really is, an opportunity to indu
Caius’ POV The presence of his breathing rattles me, it's a constant reminder of the presence of his essence. I watched as he filled his lungs with air for survival. I watch as he breathes in my essence, filling himself like an appetizer after a long meal. The drop of blood slipping down his bot
Kieran’s POV.I stare deep into Caius' red blooded eyes as fear curls around my chest, curling around it so tightly I barely have the strength to breathe. The variations of colour in his eyes makes my entire being tremble from deep within me. And I know the reason behind this colour. He's hungry
Kieran’s POV.Three days later, sliding my finger lazily across the carpet in search of my drink, I frown as I bring it to my lips. There's not so much left, so I'm forced to lap the froth caked around the rim. Beau plays his piano in the background and once in a while, he scribbles down notes acr
Kieran’s POV.A male. My vampire is a male. My limbs tremble as I stare at him. He takes a step forward, gracefully. He has long fingers that are perfectly slender. His colour matches the flakes of snow. I lick my dry lips and hope he doesn't smell the fear through my veins. He lifts his hands







