4: Haydon, the new boy

KATERINA

Just as I reached the next set of lockers, I froze, almost as though on instinct. My spine tingled the way it always did around unfamiliar vampires, and the scent of vampire invaded my nose, but this time ... there was something strange about it. Mixed with the sharp, pungent vampire scent was something unmistakably pleasant, almost resembling honey as well as spicy perfume. Slowly, I turned toward the lockers, totally unprepared for what stood in front me- or should I say who stood in front of me. The strangely pleasant-smelling vampire seemed to be observing me carefully as he peeked through his long, dark lashes and leaned against one of the lockers. He had a perfectly placed smug smile upon his face, and for a moment, I found myself carefully analysing him. He had a head of voluptuous and silky blond hair which was long enough to peak from the bottom of his left ear as he had tucked a few strands behind it. The rest of his hair hung in his face, long enough to end along the sharp edge of his well-defined jaw. His hairstyle framed his face perfectly giving him a classic hot bad boy look. His eyes were a light hazel colour framed by a pair of perfectly shaped, thick, black eyebrows. He seemed to be surprised to see me though, as his brows were slightly raised, and his eyes were expressively wide. Soon, he began to shift and pushed his perfectly sculpted body from the locker. A sort of panic began to rise in me, allowing a burning feeling to pulse through my chest. I had been openly staring at this stranger for more than was socially acceptable.

So, I looked down, fighting off an embarrassed look itching to make its way onto my face and then looked up, forcing my face into an expressionless expression.

"You must be a new vampire in town," I said, thanking my body for not betraying me by making me sound flustered.

He smiled and folded his arms. By now he was so close to me I could make out the tiny, almost indiscernible freckles which speckled his nose making his appearance even more appealing.

" Yes, tiny little Hunter," He said with a smooth, husky voice and a raised eyebrow, "what might your name be?"

I hesitated before answering, totally stunned for a second.

" Katerina Drackon," I said impulsively. This was the second time this week... Second time!

His eyes were wide open and for a second, he shook his head, huffed, and then gave me a questioning look.

"You mean to say that you are the daughter of Christine and Leroy Drackon, one of the ten leaders of the Huntership?" He asked.

I nodded slowly. I thought that everyone knew that. My parents were not that big on hiding the fact that they had children- especially when it came to making our family seem better than others, and that included vampire families. This vampire must have been living under a rock or something.

" That's weird, I didn't think they had a child. They don’t look like people who could conceive anything other insults and stern looks.”

Insulting much. At least he knew who my parents were, and if I were not living proof, I would also have found it hard to believe they could conceive anything other than what he had said.

“Excuse me, they did conceive children. In fact, you’re looking at the next leader of the Huntership.” I said, trying to act all high and mighty. Inside, however I regretted saying what I said right after it had left my mouth.

" An Elder, wow. Don't the elders rule the huntership, and aren't they really old," he asked. Clearly, he did know a thing or two about the Huntership.

“Well, I am going to become the youngest one in history, okay!” I had no reason to be offended, but I couldn’t help it. The way he looked so smug just had me irritated.

He then smiled and said, “Then maybe I should strive to become the leader of the vampire council. That way I’d be able to see you in the future too.”

Did he just flirt with me? I was about to say something, when he beat me to it.

" Well are you going to ask what my name is?"

I couldn't help but smirk. For some other reason I felt comfortable around him. Maybe it was that smirk, or the fact that this conversation hadn’t been as painfully bland as the ones I had had with others of his kind.

" What is your name?"

His smile grew even larger. My creep radar was going off.

" My name is Haydon Veneziano," he spoke confidently, and his smirk twisted into an evil smile and his eyes grew dark.

 It was as though the person standing in front of me had totally devoured the cool, calm teenage vampire I had been talking to just a moment ago. I froze as I remembered his name- Haydon Veneziano. It was a name no hunter could ever possibly forget as it belonged to one of the most feared vampires to have existed. He was the son of a very rich, very powerful vampire- commonly known to vampires as the Vampire King- and even though they were not actual royalty, Haydon often acted with an attitude only someone with the opinion that the world belonged to them, would. He was ruthless, taking everything he wanted- including countless lives. In the hunter world, we called him Haydon the slaughter since that seemed to be the only thing he knew how to do. One would think he would’ve been killed by my council already, but he and his father were sneaky, shrude people. Everytime we thought we had them right where we wanted them. They would prove us wrong.

 It was for these specific reasons that I could not possibly believe that such a beautiful face could belong to someone as awful as that.

I looked at him again, his curious eyes were studying me, trying to decipher my reaction. And so, I took in a deep breathe and put on my best fake smirk, now adamant that I had to pull myself together. Now adamant that I was Katerina Drackon and he was Haydon Veneziano and that our names would make no difference. The only thing that truly mattered was that he and I were vampire and hunter, totally different. Besides, I hated vampires- especially cocky, self-centred narcissists. This meeting was just one big mistake. It must have been.