Chapter 2 - Albert

“Are you ready for the fresh blood, Weeber?” Professor Meyer teased as he slumped into a chair in the English department’s lounge. “I certainly don’t envy you teaching first-year courses.”

I arched my brow, lowering my tablet to look at him. I knew he meant the saying in the aspect of the crop of freshmen that started classes today. He has no clue what I am, so he doesn’t realize how literal his words are to me. As far as Meyer is concerned, I’m the young professor. It’s almost amusing that the man thinks he’s my senior. 

Based on looks, I still look the same twenty-five I was when I was turned, while Meyer looks about what you’d expect of a sixty-five-year-old human male. In the six years I’ve worked here, this time around, Meyer decided he should take me under his wing. Aidan loves to tease me about it, while Isak finds it adorable. I’m indifferent to his attempts to act as my senior.

“That is where we differ, Meyer.” I shrugged, starting to gather my things. “You prefer the junior and senior students, while I prefer the freshmen. I find it refreshing and an honor to be among the first to take these young minds and expand and mold them.”  

I always look forward to the new semester and the incoming freshmen because it means new victims. Don’t fret. I’m a catch-and-release sort. My meals never even remember that I fed on them. Least of all, died from it. I haven’t killed for a meal in centuries, not since I was a fledgling still learning to control my thirst. My sire wasn’t very present, so it’s rather unorthodox that I learned to control my thirst from a demon and an angel. 

“Perhaps if I were as young as you, I’d have the patience for hand-holding freshmen need.” Meyer clicked his tongue.

“Age is but a number, my friend. We are only as old as we let ourselves feel.” I chuckled.

If only the man knew the truth. He’d likely have a heart attack to learn I’m three hundred twenty-five years old. Only a select few here at Yale know my true age and what I am. And all those that know are part of the order. I only keep the company of my closest friends, Aidan and Iska. I don’t generally associate with the five other professors from the order. 

In my defense, the three demons feel that associating with a vampire is beneath them. And because Aidan is my best friend, they don’t associate with him unless necessary. The other two professors from the order are vampires like me, but because I keep a demon and angel as company they turn their noses up at me. It’s fine by me. I’m accustomed to their treatment. I would take Aidan and Isak as my comrades before associating with them.  

                                                                                                                          

“That’s just a fancy way of saying Weeber prefers young coeds for bed warmers.” Richards scoffed, not bothering to look away from his laptop.

Paxton Richards is one of those demon cunts I don’t like. Not because he’s a demon. I’m far from a speciesist—human, angel, demon, vampire, witch, werewolf, I don’t care. I judge people on their character. In the hundred years he’s been a member of the order, half his life span if you believe him when Paxton says he’s two hundred, he has proven to be a consistent twat. 

“What was that, Richards?” I narrowed my eyes. “I suggest you recall the saying about people in glass houses. I’m not the one that was on unpaid leave last semester due to several accusations of sexual assault and at least three paternity suits from female students.”

That got Paxton’s attention. He snarled, standing up suddenly, his fist clenched at his sides. I stood my ground, not afraid of the likes of this boy. I know demons can be powerful creatures, but I won’t be intimidated by a sloppy bitch like him. He’s lucky the order handled the legal situation to ensure the secrecy of the supernatural word. He better have learned his lesson. If he intends to feed on the sexual energy of students, he needs to be more discreet, like Aidan.  

“Settle down, boys.” Meyer waved his hands, attempting to settle the growing tension of anger between Paxton and me. “There’s no need for all this hostility. You each have classes to teach or prepare for.”

“How true, Meyer.” I smiled, not taking my eyes off Paxton. “I wouldn’t want to be late for my first lecture of the semester.”

Paxton snorted, breaking eye contact first as he sat down. I rolled my eyes and headed for the door, pausing as I pulled it open.

“Richards, do be sure to stay out of trouble this semester. We’d hate to lose you because you’re too foolish to consider your well-being.” I threw over my shoulder before I let the door close behind me.

It felt good to put him in his place. I’m sure it won’t be the end of it. Paxton will try to start something another time or way. Perhaps he’ll whine to the other demons on campus. Strength in numbers and all that. Which is fine. Let Paxton and his friends come at me. Aidan and Isak will have my back, and three demons aren’t much against the three of us. 

The only issue would be if Paxton spun the story the right way to higher-ranked members of the order. While the three of us have been members for centuries, there are older beings that don’t like us, mostly because of our friendship but most recently because we have been working with hunters and werewolves. Even if the order didn’t officially condone Hizkiah’s plan to work with the werewolf elders of the monastery to steal the power of alpha heirs, they also didn’t condemn it. Instead, we were scolded for working with the hunters and werewolves to send Hizkiah and his followers to the beyond. 

I stand by our choice to help the Aido hunters and work with the Bloodmoon Betas. Hizkiah was out of his mind and needed to be stopped. Honestly, the fact that his son saw the need to kill him should have been enough for anyone. Aidan is a level-headed demon and, unlike his father, has some honor. Honor, a strange thing to think any being such as we would have, is something our trio has in common.

As I entered the lecture hall for my class, I took my phone out, ignoring the students already filling the room. I needed to give Aidan and Isak a heads-up about Paxton. I wouldn’t want them to be questioned, unaware of the interaction.

Albert: Heads up, Paxton started shit.

Aidan: Ugh, what happened?

Isak: Someone, remind me which one that is.

Albert: The dumbass in my department that if the order didn’t step in, would be unemployed and on the run from the human authorities

Isak: Ooo, yes, that one. Why did the order save his skin?

Aidan: Because his daddy is one of the higher-ranked members of our kind. 

Isak: *eye roll emoji* nothing like nepotism to allow falling upward. 

Albert: We all agree Paxton is a stain. The point is he tried to start shit, and I threw it back at him, reminding him to stay out of trouble.

Aidan: So we should be prepared for additional side eye and possible retaliation from the others.

Isak: Why is your mouth getting the rest of us in trouble?

Albert: Because all for one, one for all, old friend. 

Isak: Ah yes… Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno. I blame Dumas that you know that phrase.

Albert: Oh, please. It was also used by Shakespeare centuries prior

Aidan: If Paxton or the others start anything, we’ll have your back. 

Isak: Yes, of course, we’ll back you. Now, don’t you have a class to teach?

Albert: Appreciated. And yes. I’ll report tonight on if there are any people of interest in this batch of freshmen.

I set my phone aside and took a moment to look around the room. Twenty fresh-faced eighteen-year-olds were chatting amongst themselves, waiting for class to begin. Allow me to rephrase that. Nineteen were talking amongst themselves. Seated front and center was one particular beauty who focused more on having her supplies out than getting to know her classmates. 

I watched the wallflower as she retrieved a tablet from her bag and set it on the table with a notebook and pen. Paper and pen? How unusual. In this age of technology, I could probably count on one hand how many times I’d seen students using paper and pens for note-taking or any work for that matter. All I see are laptops, tablets, and phones. Students either type their notes or just record the lecture to take notes on later. 

What an interesting specimen of wallflower. 

I was going to call the class to order, but instead, I reclined in my chair and observed the wallflower. While I called her a wallflower, she stood out in the crowd. It wasn’t just her Asian, I’m going with Japanese features that stood out from the sea of mostly caucasian students. It was how she dressed and carried herself. Her long black hair was neatly pleated in a French braid, her eyes were lovely, and her skin was nearly flawless, save a beauty mark near her left eye and another just up to the right from her lips, and very little makeup hid her natural beauty. 

I wouldn’t be much of a vampire if I didn’t mention how alluring her neck looked in that off-the-shoulder, deep, blood-red blouse or how her toned legs looked in black skinny jeans and cowboy boots. Those aren’t footwear seen often in New Haven, that’s for sure. Then, add in how straight she sat. Her perfect posture stood out the most as she sat ready to learn with an air about her like someone of nobility. Interesting indeed. 

“Excuse me, sir? If you are Professor Weeber, shouldn’t we begin the lesson?” The wallflower spoke up, eyes focused on me.

I smiled, carefully keeping my fangs hidden as she called me out. I’d been focused on the even thumping of her blood in her neck. She smelled delicious from here. I’d let my mind wander, pondering her blood type and deciding she would be my first target of the semester.

“I am, and we should.” I nodded as I stood and clapped my hands to get everyone else’s attention. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to English 129 Tragedy in the European Literary Tradition. I am Professor Albert Weeber. I know some faculty will permit the use of their first name. I am not one of them. You will refer to me as Professor Weeber, or I will not respond.” I began by using the whiteboard to write out my name.

It was time to focus on my job. I could and would discover more about the little wallflower soon enough. I had a whole semester to get close enough to have a taste. However, I wondered if it would take that long. Few women have resisted my charms in the centuries. I’m sure she’ll succumb quickly enough.