Professor Darking

"Good God…”

Next day, I was speechless when opening the class door. Behind it, there was a man that God made in his spare time. He had a striking appearance, with chiseled features, sharp cheekbones, and piercing eyes that seem to glow even in dim light. He was tall, with a lean frame and carried himself with an air of sophistication. In fact, he was the most sophisticated professor I met in my life!

I was late, gasping for air as I spent the last ten minutes running as a mad man. But when I saw him, I had a strange feeling of serenity. “This is not a deja vu. He is indeed the man I dreamt about in Eden…” I told myself.

“Ahm,” on the other hand, he didn’t look that happy to see me. “I don’t believe you break on that late miss, AND on your first day.”

The professor took off his glasses and smirked, “In fact, I need a good reason to accept you in my class.” The class got silent. How mean! It was nine and a minute! One minute! You won’t humiliate me for being one minute late! 

“I apologize for being late, professor. I had some troubles on my way.” I tried to be as cool as possible but he insisted on playing with my nerves!

“What happened in your way doesn’t interest me. All I know is that you came late to my lesson and showed huge disrespect, giving me the worst first impression ever, miss.”

“I apologize again, professor.”

“It’s Mr. Darking, miss.”

“It’s Alice Abbott..”

“Nice to meet you Miss Abbott. I will allow you in and forgive what you just did, if you offer this class a service. Do you accept it?”

I was speechless, totally speechless. I looked at my colleagues' faces and they were smiling, almost hiding a laugh. God only knows what I got myself into.

“Well, sir. I think I don’t have a choice.”

“Excellent! Then you’ll be the class representative. Done! Take a seat please, miss.”

What in the bloody hell was that? WHAT WAS THAT?!!!!!

Normally no one wants to be the class representative! It was too much work for nothing! And especially not with Mr. Darking being our principal professor! That man is mean! He is awful!

I set, still shocked. And I tried to process what just happened when I heard the girls gossiping, “What a waste, if he was not such a j*rk I would like to be his assistant.”

“Mr. Darking is indeed a monster. Look at the poor girl!”

In the dorms, I heard a lot about Mr. Darking being a psycho. And now I ended up being his assistant representing the class! What can happen to make the day even worse?

“Miss Abbott, can you repeat what I was just saying?”

Of course this!

“Sorry, I… I…”

“You were not paying attention, were you?”

“Well professor, in fact I’m just trying to process the ideas you are sharing with us.” I ddin't find better excuse. And I only got myself deeper in mad.

“Ideas such?”

“Well…”

“When you were daydreaming, Miss Abbott, I was explaining to your friends the Shadow’s theory of…”

“Of Carl Jung?”

“Yes.” Mr. Darking closed his book and smiled, encouraging me to carry on.

“According to Jung, the shadow is the part of the psyche that is made up of all the elements of the personality that the individual has deemed undesirable or unacceptable, such as anger, fear, envy, and other negative emotions.”

Mr. Darking looked satisfied with my answer. He lent his back on his desk and asked, “How does the shadow manifest?”

“In various ways, such as in dreams, through projection onto others, or in patterns of behavior that an individual may not fully understand.”

“And how to accept it?”

“Why accepting it?” It made no sense for me. The shadow is a dark circle of doom and pain. One shold get as far as possible from it, isn't?

“Well Miss Abbott, by acknowledging and integrating the shadow, individuals can achieve a greater sense of wholeness and become more balanced and self-aware.” The only think I thought about hearing his answer is my poor brother who lost his head embracing his darkest side.

“Or they can just become the worst part of themselves?” I murmured.

I had no idea how the time ran. But we just spent the rest of the lesson quarreling over the shadow being a monster to eliminate or a part to embrace!

When the class ended, every single one of my classmates thanked me for keeping the the professor busy with me. 

"You're a sweet girl Alice!"

"You have a cute Teddy Bear as well!"

The professor looked at them sighing and shaking his head then when I stood up from my seat he asked me to stay behind. I couldn't help but feel uneasy as he approached me with a stern look. "We have a lot of work to do, Miss Abbott," he said in a deep voice. I could feel my anxiety rising, but I tried to remain calm.

"Do you know what your first mission as a class representative is going to be?" he asked me.

"No, sir. But I'm willing to learn," I replied, trying to sound confident.

He looked at me for a moment, assessing me, before nodding approvingly. "Good. I need someone I can trust for this task. You see, there are some students here who need special attention, and I believe you have the right skills to handle them."

I was intrigued by what he meant by "special attention." He must have noticed my curiosity, as he continued, "These students have unique abilities, but they need help controlling them. As a class representative, it's your job to assist them and make sure they stay on track."

I nodded, feeling relieved that it wasn't anything too dangerous. "I can do that, sir."

"Excellent," he said, smiling at me in a way that made me feel oddly safe. "I promise to show you around the academy later. But for now, let's get to work."

As he began to explain my duties, I couldn't help but notice how passionate he was about helping these students, "Emily needs some time to get used to her new powers, Eric needs to do more sport to strenghen his body before using X spell again, Judy...." It was as if he genuinely cared about them and wanted to make a difference. Despite his stern demeanor, there was something about him that made me trust him.

“You were the one who sent me the train ticket, isn’t?” I asked him as he smiled to me.

“We send a train ticket to every student with a full scholarship,” he answered.

“But—”

“No but”

"I just want to know---"

"Who cares?"

I just wanted to cry. That man was awful! He was the worst!

“Do you know what your most important mission as a class representative is?”

“No sir! And I don’t want to!”

“You do not look that encouraged!”

“At least I want to have a tour in the academy at least! It’s my first day!”

“Don’t act like a naughty kitty. Be a good girl and listen to your professor.”

At that moment, I felt something was going so wrong. Before I even talk, He came to pull me over and whispered in my ear “You’re gonna be a good girl, and you can’t tell a soul what happens between the moment I snap and the moment I clap.”

“What?”

Snap.

I felt a strange electric shock going through my body. I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t move an inch. I looked up to him, recalling my brother's mad behavior. He was smiling in the most devilish way ever.

“Do not move,” he ordered and my legs got paralyzed even more. Outside, it was raining dogs and cats. The sky got gray and the antique classroom got darker. With slow steps, he walked to the door and locked it, then he took my hand “Follow me” and laid me on his desk gently.

My body was hypnotized and I was terrified as never. Softly he whipped my tears and murmured, “Close your eyes Amira. And don’t you let out a sound.”

Next, two long fangs were tearing my neck, the sounds of galps, and the touch of a rough tongue.

“Your first mission is feeding your protector, little princess.”

“You're... A VAMPIRE!…” I tried to push him away hoplessly. But he caught my hand and kissed my neck before tearing it again and drinking blood till I fainted.

"Smart girl," he patted my head "I am your vampire guardian."