The walk to Guardian Brooks' Vampire 101 lesson was relatively eventful with Els gushing with excitement. When we actually got to the lesson, silence dawned on the class and everyone turned to stare at me."Ah, so little miss runaway has finally decided to grace our lesson." Guardian Brooks commented. Although his words weren't very nice and seemed very sarcastic, there was something in his tone that seemed different. His tone certainly didn't seem to match with his choice of words. It was like he was putting on some kind of a sarcastic front without meaning to or something. This certainly wasn't the same stiff and demonic Guardian Brooks that I remembered."Pleasure to see you too, sir." I replied with a similar tone of voice to match his."You seem to be the hero of the class, Valentine. You must've been prepared for the outside world.""Sir, I've lived in the outside world for the past six years, it's nothing alien to me." I retorted as politely as I could but it was hard."Well th
From then until the end of training, I made sure that I wasn't alone with Eric again. After what happened during our little spar, I was still somewhat confused about what had really happened back there. There was no reason why I should've lost that fight. Perhaps it was the constant fights that I'd had recently with the Strigoi and I hadn't fully recovered my body's strength yet. That must've been it. That would explain why my body seemed to be moving a little slower than usual.When the lesson ended, it was no surprise when Eric strolled towards me. What I was not expecting was such an intense stare from him. It was a gaze that seemed to hold a promise of a continuum of what had nearly happened between us had Tom not interrupted us. I pushed down the surprise that I felt and simply gave him a cheeky smile."Well it sure looks like someone got a little over excited during our lesson." I winked playfully at him."What can I say? Attractive girls have that effect on me," he shrugged."Y
Eric took my advice and headed for the feeders. The game had ended with a draw and everyone headed for lunch. I easily found my usual table and sat down beside Ingrid. Els wasted no time in asking questions."What happened? I thought you were hooking up with Eric?""I was and I already have. He's gone to the feeders." I told her."So? What happened?" Roxy asked curiously. "Are you guys together yet?""Apparently so." I nodded."Apparently?""Well we came to an understanding that we'll try it for a while and see how it goes. It is only my second week after all so I'm not really all that sure about committing just yet.""But you are going out." Ingrid asked."Yes.""Congratulations!" the three girls squealed and threw their hands up in the air in delight."What's the cheer about?" Dan asked curiously as he sat at the table. Soon the other three royals joined him."Don't you guys have to feed?" I arched my brows at them."Already done." Jacks shrugged."So what was with the commotion?" Q
The loud chatter quietened as Aunty Jules led me through the crowd of people which had split down the middle like Moses and the Red Sea. People fell silent or resorted to using low whispers instead as I walked past them. Somewhere in the crowd I noticed the girls and I noticed the encouraging smiles that they were giving me. Their smiles and encouragement made me feel more confident and more reassured that this was going to be fine.Yes, there was a large crowd, but technically, all I had to do was just lie there while the tattoo artist etched some symbols onto the base of my neck, right? That was all that I had to do, right? The more I tried to remember what the ceremony was actually like from the memory of having attended one once when I was much, much younger, the more the images of the event that day escaped me. No matter how hard I tried to remember that day, I just couldn't.I had to guess that it was because it was incredibly boring that I couldn't actually remember much about
I flinched at the fury that was in Maria's voice. The woman was usually very calm and very rarely raised her voice but she sure was terrifying when she was genuinely angry about something. This occasion was certainly one of them and I knew exactly why she was so angry. Someone had spilled the beans and told her the truth.'Skylar' had been a very secretive name that only Maria had ever used. Kalani meant 'sky' and I wasn't entirely sure how it had happened but instead of calling me 'Kalani', 'Little Sky' or 'Kai', Maria had become adapted in calling me 'Skylar'. It was a very individual name between Maria and I so I wasn't all that concerned about anyone else being able to work out who she was talking about from that shout. What I was concerned about was getting out of this room alive if Maria found out that I was in here.I could hear Aunty Jules bolting out of her chair and warned Maria to keep her voice down. The main door shut firmly and I could hear shuffling in the other room so
He barely managed to block my punch and surprise flashed through his eyes as he stumbled sideways a few paces from the impact of my next attack which was a roundhouse kick. I stared at him for few moments in fury when I realised that he wasn't going to defend himself anymore from my attacks and somehow that just made me even angrier.The next attack sent him flying out of the door just as Rosette and Ali walked in and Ali barely had enough time to tug Rosette out of harm's way. Crispin crumbled against the wall and he slowly picked himself back up. There was a gaze in his eyes. A gaze that I couldn't stand to see.It was a gleam that spoke of volumes of duty. The duty of letting me do what I wanted because of who I was, because I was the Ivashkov Princess. In terms of titles, Crispin was nothing but a mere guard and it seemed that in his eyes, I could beat him to a complete pulp and he wouldn't even contemplate on defending himself because I was of higher status than he was."This! Th
"You really are back…" he whispered and buried his face into the crook of my neck.His arms wrapped around me tightly and I was pulled into an almost suffocating hug. I squealed in response as I was squashed against him and for several moments, I simply sat there awkwardly, waiting for him to pull away.Eventually, he did and he held me at arm's length so that he could inspect me again."Ali, it's been a whole week already…""I know, little sky. I know. But that doesn't make this any easier to accept," he sighed. "You're the same person, but at the same time, I feel like I don't know who you are. I've missed out on so much. I've missed out on you growing up, Kalster and that makes things difficult. Sometimes, I don't know how I should act or behave. I still feel like you're the same kid from back then and I just react based on what I remember of you, but you're much stronger than that now, aren't you? Much, much stronger.""I'm sorry for changing, Ali.""Don't be. It's not your fault.
"My… my house?" I choked out."Yes, little sky, your house." Ali nodded hesitantly and I could tell that he was watching me as my expression faltered and crumbled to complete distress.Memories of six years ago flooded my mind instantly and I knew exactly what he had meant. He had meant that we could use the house that I used to live in. The house that I used to live in with my now deceased parents. If I went back there, I knew that memories of how life used to be back then would consume me and I would probably break down into a total mess the same way that I had done on the first day that I was back at the Academy after having had the talk with Martin in his office.I wasn't sure if I could handle another break down again so soon. I hadn't even considered the idea, the possibility, that they had kept my parents' house empty. I would have thought that after such a long time they would have remodelled it to cater for other visitors or royals in this school. I hadn't once thought about
To say I was shocked when I walked through the kitchen doors would be one heck of an understatement. The chefs were all gone and on the centre counter there was a mouth-watering spread. A burgundy candlestick was centre stage along with a bright red rose."Welcome to our first date, little knight." Axel declared flamboyantly, his arms spreading wide, gesturing at the food.I was so moved I couldn't find the words to refute that this was not a date. Since he made such an effort, it stole the breath from my lungs and the words out of my mouth."Oh Axel, honestly you really don't know how to meet someone halfway, do you? I joked somewhat breathlessly."It all depends on the person in question and whether or not they really want me to meeting them halfway or whether I could take my chances," he chuckled.He stepped around the counted and tugged me towards the food."I don't really know what you like so I thought why not give you multiple options and I can find out this way?""So, it's bas
Five in the space of just over half a month.That was a disastrous statistic. If I didn't pull myself together I probably wouldn't even make it past the middle of the next academic year without the truth being exposed to the entire community. That would mean a year and a half of being known as the Ivashkov princess at the Academy.I shuddered at the thought. That was not a scenario I wanted to become a reality."I got it.""Do you?""I really do, Joey." I sighed and finished off the last bite. "I'll try my best to keep a lower profile. I can't promise anything if threatening stuff gets thrown my way though.""At least be more aware, Kai, that's all we're asking.""I got it." I nodded. "So, what's the plan for us students now?""You have free time to relax in the designated areas until after lunch. For now, most students are either in the dining hall finishing off their breakfast or in their rooms, I suspect.""Alright, I'll just finished the food and go get another coffee before headi
"Excuse me?" I spluttered.I'd expected a dozen other questions to come out of his mouth but definitely not that. I tried to lean back as his hand reached out towards my waist but soon realised my mistake. He'd set himself up perfectly so that I couldn't run away. He basically had me against the wall."Please?"I was startled by the sincerity in his voice. He really wanted my permission for some reason and soon enough I realised the true meaning behind his words. He wasn't really asking if he could touch me. Not in a sensual way. No. He wanted a confirmation of his suspicions the same way that Drew had that time he burst into Martin's office.Our eyes connected when I stared at his face. There was no judgement and no sense of menace. He simply wanted to know. But more than that, he wanted my permission to know. In our current position, he didn't have to ask for my permission. He could've easily pulled my shirt up and seen the Ivashkov mark. His earnest respect for my privacy in turn s
The phone hardly got through the second ring when the line went through."Before you go into some kind of a rant, I need you to take a deep breath, Ali."There was a pause. Then I heard him take the breath. Then he released it. I could almost see the tension leaving his body just a little bit."Better?""A little," he told me. "How are you, little sky? You have no idea how much I wanted to come straight to where you are when I heard about what happened.""Oh? What kept you away?" I asked teasingly, purposefully adding a lilt to my voice. Not that I would have ever expected to wake up to see Ali, but the thought of him being the first face I saw after the situation I'd just faced calmed my anxiousness a lot."Jules threatened to cut an entire year's wage if I took off.""A whole year? That sounds a bit much, even for Aunty Jules.""Well... she started with a week and continued to keep adding until I stopped walking towards the vans."I whistled. "Gosh, it took them a lot to keep you aw
My parents formed a perfect team. Almost anyone who knew them was aware of that.The fact that they were a shadow-kissed pair probably helped with that. But it wasn't just that. I could remember Aunty Jules telling me stories of back when they were in school together and how even back then there seemed to be something that bound the two of them together. Call it fate. Call it chemistry. Whatever it was, it made my parents a fluid fighting duo, never getting in each other's way.I could remember Maria sharing her stories of how the two of them were always just so in synch with one another.They were also amazing parents.They never spoiled me too much. But they weren't unfairly strict with me either. They always seemed to maintain the perfect balance in life.They did what they had to do to protect family.No matter the cost."Raymond, the others need to know. We have to tell them.""Amelie, what are we supposed to say? That the Strigoi who killed you all those years ago wasn't just fr
Once we reached deeper and deeper into the woods, Sarah seemed to be more aware of her surroundings and stopped stumbling around everywhere. Travis and Sarah appeared to work quite well as a pair. Perhaps the fact that they've probably known each other for a few years already helped with their cooperation. Either way, I was glad that she wasn't being difficult. From the way that she had spoken earlier about how it would be a given that I protect her, I was scared that she might be someone really tough to handle, but so far things seemed to be going rather well and we had already managed to obtain three stamps within half an hour. Judging by how difficult everyone made this exercise sound, I would say that getting three stamps within that time slot was normal.We had until dinner time to try and collect all ten.That meant we had another three hours to try and collect the other seven. But it would only get harder as the afternoon wore on. We would grow wearier from each fight against t
The guardians on duty informed us to start calming down about two hours after the dancing began. That gave us enough time to wind down before heading back to our rooms and get an early night in preparation for the task the guardians had prepared for us. If I remembered rightly, the task was a shorter version of the Senior year 'protect-your-charge' task where we would have to protect the charge assigned to us for a certain amount of time. It was a practical test to allow the students to know what the job entailed and what the task of protecting a charge would mean.Before the night was over and as some students went back to their rooms first, Quinn took over the piano completely and Axel took the lead for a dance. I could tell after having danced with various other students tonight, that the way Axel held me occasionally had a much more mature feel to it. It was in the way he touched, the subtle teasing strokes of his fingers, the way his eyes could do crazy things to the body, and th
I was a little late in getting to the music room. Trying to find my way around was harder than anticipated. I'd tried to memorise my way around last night during our tour using the pictures and various details on the walls to help my navigation of the place but it wasn't so easy after all. By the time I reached the music room my head was hurting from trying to find my way around."I was beginning to think that you'd reconsidered spending a full hour with me, chick.""It is an absolute nightmare navigating this place." I complained as I closed the door behind me. "I do have a name you know. Chick isn't going to cut it.""I rather like that term until I find a more suitable nickname for you.""Why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to like whatever name you come up with." I sighed in exasperation, throwing my hands up. "We're going to set some rules for the next hour. No unnecessary invasion of my personal space, you get five strikes before I walk out on your ridiculously flirtatio
I woke up feeling tired and hungry. I had hardly slept, waking every two hours almost. It was exhausting. I didn't know what was wrong. I shouldn't have been that on edge. After all, this place was a resort where royals frequented which meant that there was plenty of security here. And yet for some reason I was still feeling high strung. I couldn't shake the feeling that something really bad was going to happen at some point on this trip.There was something or someone dangerous here.I was sure of it.But was it a danger to everyone here. Or was it a danger to a select few people here. That I didn't know."Oh wow… you look worse than when Els first wakes up." Roxy commented in surprise. "Are you alright, Kai?""I'll be fine after some food and coffee." I told her reassuringly. "I just didn't get much sleep last night.""You have about ten minutes before we're supposed to be at breakfast." Ingrid informed me as she gently tugged me out of bed and shoved me into the bathroom.I got rea