Chapter 3

Streaks of purple lightning lit up the dark and gloomy night sky as rain poured down relentlessly. There was not a star or moon in sight, just darkness above and thick fog below.

I attempted my walk back to my dorm room. The flashes of lightning were my only guidance through the darkness.

The day my family was slaughtered in cold blood was the day I met a peculiar woman who I had grown to love during my brief stay with her.

Though she was as wicked as some of the creatures she killed in her lifetime, she believed she did the right thing by not trusting monsters and putting human lives above theirs.

She saved me and my siblings from monsters. But her hatred for something that wasn't human had no bounds. I feared I'd become like her with the hatred I had for vampires.

The thought was disconcerting and one I never shared with my family. I cast it to the deepest pits of my mind and the next ten years of my life were vampire-free, almost as if the nasty creatures went extinct.

But no.

It was true when they said some demons just don't die and come back to haunt you. I could have gone my entire life never encountering the species again.

I wondered if this was a test from the moon goddess. I just wish I knew what the question or the requirements were. Was I sent here to kill them? Was this why she didn't want me to be a wolf, that I couldn't be reborn until I killed the demons of the past.

My mind was an endless generator of plaguing thoughts all demanding to be assessed and I felt like if I didn't stop I would implode.

I picked up my pace as I walked to my dorm. My skin crawled and I felt like danger was just waiting around the next corner for me. The thought caused me to shiver against my wet clothes and the storm only turned my nerves up to a hundred.

The surrounding forestry and the way the trees moved had the hair on my body standing on edge or maybe it was my new theory that had my bones wanting to jump out my skin.

Seth's death.

I couldn't shake the feeling that they were somehow involved. Wherever vampires went —and this was a fact— it resulted in the death of innocent people.

I had no proof that they had killed Seth but not trusting them was not a good enough reason to drive a wooden stake into their cold hearts, that was what Eleanora taught me.

On the other hand, Dallas would have considered them a level ten threat to humans and that would have been all the reason to commit the deed. They were stronger than us and we were their food. She wouldn't have hesitated to kill them the first chance she got. It was kill or be prey and Dallas never liked being on the bottom of the food chain.

I was conflicted by the teachings of two women I considered a mother as a little girl. Eleanora was the angel on one shoulder and Dallas the devil on the other.

My ghost of the past had manifested once more from the sight of vampires. It made me think about Dallas more than I did in the last decade and had my morals of right and wrong spiraling out of control.

If I managed to kill them without justifiable reason would that make me as bad as my second mother? Would Eleanora ever look at me the same? Would I be able to live knowing she saw me as cruel and vicious as Dallas? I was angry at my family now but I still cared way too much for them and what they thought of me.

They would never forgive me if I acted in hatred.

I made it into the building and walked across the common room going unnoticed by the groups of students laughing and doing what I was supposed to be doing which was enjoying my college years.

I pushed open my dorm room door to see Gina relaxing in her yellow onesie, with a messy bun on her head while she watched something off her laptop. I shut the door and sighed resting my back against it getting Gina's attention.

"Ahh me god May," her eyes went wide as they raked over my grim form. She pulled her earphones out of her ears and stood, "where 'ave you been? are you ahkay?" I knew I was meant to lie but how I wished I could share my gruesome encounters with a friend since I was too stubborn to contact my family. Besides humans were not supposed to know that the supernatural existed. The exception to this rule was the hunters.

"I was ur-" she looked at me expectantly. I never had to lie on the spot before. "I was in the library doing research for my first semester paper on evolution."

She laughed shaking her head as her face split into a grin. "It's freshman year and you already look like de walkin dead." I tried to smile but I can't say I appreciated the analogy. "You should o' at least answered your phone. You 'ad me worried."

I shut my eyes tightly when I realized I had left my bag in a hurried attempt to escape the vampires. "It was on silent." I quickly went over to my closet and grabbed my PJs. Unfortunately for me, it was a thin nightgown and I would shiver my ass off till Gina and I made that trip into town for basic supplies and more warm clothes for me.

I left my dorm before she asked me any more questions and went into the shower room. I needed to brush my teeth. The memory of that vile hell demon forcing his blood down my throat made me want to hurl. My stomach was empty so it would hurt.  If I could scrub my insides it still wouldn't be enough.

I set the temperature of the water in the shower and then moved to brush my teeth. No matter how hard I brushed I could still taste subtle hints of this blood through my mint toothpaste.

The taste would forever be embedded in my memory. It would be something to encourage my lucid nightmares on the nightly.

After I was done trying to scrub the enamel off my teeth. I stripped from my rain-soaked clothes and stepped into the shower. Steam wafted around me and I rest my head back as I closed my eyes savoring the warmth as my heart rate slowly came down to a steady rhythm.

The water was magically washing away my anxiety allowing me to think clearly.

I sighed. What was I to do? Pretend they weren't monsters and continue the facade of them being the spoilt preppy kids of Brookburgh. It's not like I could tell everyone they were vampires.

Maybe I should just leave.

The sound of a bottle falling got my eyes to snap open. I peeped my head out the green shower curtain. My anxiety quickly returned. There was a window open and the wind was whistling through the vacant bathroom.

I closed the shower curtain. I was no coward to retreat with my tail between my legs. I knew how to kill them. Wooden stake to the heart, holy water, and fire. They were not invincible. I just needed to be smart about this.

I was surrounded by forestry I could make wooden stakes. There was a church across the road, I had an endless supply of holy water. I could kill them all if I just controlled my emotions.

And that was an easy thought if only my mind would comply.

I finished washing the touch of the vampires off my body and stepped out of the shower. I slipped from the water, losing my footing and grabbing the sink just in time before my head hit it. I regained my balance and stood up straight, breathing heavily. My heartbeat was back to being in my throat.

That could have ended badly for me. I began dressing quickly suddenly feeling on edge as that feeling of being watched fell upon me.

My nerves were the reason I would end up paranoid and constantly looking over my shoulder, hearing sounds only I could, and feeling eyes on me when no one was around.

I entered my dorm to find Gina arranging her clothes for tomorrow. My stomach grumbled and I checked the time to see it was nine pm. The kitchen was closed and thanks to the Dracula triplets I was going to have hunger pains till breakfast.

I sighed and fell back in my bed as my stomach complained and voiced its opinions on how I've been taking my frustration out on it the last couple of days by not eating properly.

"Light off?" Gina asked.

"Yes, please. It's been a very long day and I just want to sleep."

She gave me a small nod. "Good night May."

"Night Gina." I turned and faced the wall as the room flooded with darkness. I knew sleep wasn't going to come easy and if it did I would take it as mercy from the moon goddess after the day I've had.

I tossed and turned for the majority of the night. I was plagued by nightmares. Every time I closed my eyes I saw his face. His beautiful face shifted and turned, revealing his deadly fangs that were laced with poison.

I squirmed knowing that, that same poison was still in my system.

My mind was starting to drive me insane and the best part of the entire ordeal was that I wasn't sure if it was hunger or my nightmares getting to me. My stomach growled fiercely and having enough I knew I had to do something to appease my hunger.

Pushing the covers off me and slipping my feet into my slippers I grabbed a jacket. I checked to see Gina snoring away as she mumbled incoherently in her sleep. I went over to my closet and pulled out the dagger I hid in one of my coat pockets.

The dagger was a force of habit to have a weapon. Something I was taught at a young age and couldn't shake even when I lived with wolves. I took this dagger everywhere I went even to school without my brother's knowing.

This time there was no paranoia just reason. I wasn't sure if having Levi's blood in my system was more reason to kill me or keep me alive. Either way, I wasn't going to risk it and assume vampires suddenly had good nature. The dagger wouldn't kill them, unfortunately, but I had to hope it would be enough to distract them so I could get away. I slipped on my jacket and slid the iron dagger into the inner pocket as I moved to leave the dorm. 

Other than worrying about running into the Valentine's I knew it was past curfew. So if I got caught I was in big trouble. I opened the door relinquishing the warmth for the icy wind and horrible weather conditions that hit me from all directions.

I hugged my jacket closer to my body, my knees knocking and teeth chattering as I scurried across the field. I avoided looking around knowing my imagination was my worst enemy.

Making it across the field I turned the handle to the main building door slowly and the door creaked open. I slipped through the door to see the security guard fast asleep on his chair. 

I took my shoes off knowing they would make a noise on the tiles. I snuck my way through the dimly lit hallways that looked eerie and suspenseful at night without a soul in sight.

The door to the dining hall creaked loudly and I shut my eyes tightly, listening if it alerted the guard. I barely slipped through the small gap and closed the door after myself. The kitchen was at the end of the dining hall through another set of doors.

I picked up my pace. The fear of getting caught getting to me with each step I took. I went through the final door and made it into the kitchen. I let out a breath and as cold as it was I could feel the sweat on my brow and the back of my neck.

The kitchen was basic silver tables and wooden countertops and shelves. A silver fridge—that was big enough to fit two grown people— sat in front of me waiting patiently to be raided.

I opened the fridge to find it mostly empty. There was milk, cheese, lettuce, and peas. I sighed and shut the fridge. I shuddered to think what was for breakfast in the morning.

I went over to the large bread tin on the counter and opened it to find scones. They were probably leftovers from this morning's breakfast. I stole a scone and bit into it.

It was still fresh and had raisins and all other kinds of dried fruit in it. I had never eaten scones up until this morning. They were delicious.

"Boo." I felt a cold breath on my ear. I was about to scream when a cold hand went over my mouth. "Shhh, love, or we'll both be in trouble."

He dropped his hand and I turned to face him and there he was beautiful and boyish his evil interior just waiting to surface. "What are you doing in here?" I slipped my hand into my inner jacket pocket, clutching my dagger.

He smiled. "Oh, I could ask you the same, love. But it looks to me you stealing."

I narrowed my eyes. He dared to talk to me like we were familiars. "I don't need to explain myself to you."

He took a step towards me and I took one back. He continued walking towards me until my back hit the fridge.

I clutched my scone for dear life.  

Levi trailed the back of his hand down my cheek to the base of my neck. I flinched from his touch, swallowing hard as his eyes stayed fixed on me "You shouldn't be traipsing around in such things late at night. You never know what kind of creatures lurk in these hallways."

"Well, I'd rather take my chances with them than you." I tried to move out of his grasp and for a moment I thought I succeeded until he appeared in front of me.

"Better the devil you know, love." He grinned wickedly, taking a step back, and my clutch on the dagger loosened.

"Better I stay away from devil's altogether." I moved to sidestep him and again he stood in front of me blocking my path. "Get out of my way Levi." I was getting frustrated.

"I'm just here to apologize. You could have the common decency to hear me out."

I paused. "I'm sorry did I force feed you my blood to turn you into a vampire?" His brows furrowed. "So excuse me if I have no decency."

He laughed."Are you still on about that? Get over it already."

"Stay away from me Levi. I know how to kill a vampire."

With a blink of an eye, he had caught me and trapped me against the wall holding my hands above my head. "Listen, when someone says sorry the expected response is..." he trailed playfully probably having fun knowing he could so easily overpower me, "hmm I don't know," he tapped his chin, "oh wait yes. You are forgiven." My heart was beating in my ears. "A pity. I am a bit peckish after all. Maybe a little midnight snack wouldn't be so bad."

His other hand fell to my waist as he looked into my eyes. His eyes were a cool blue and I could see just how much he enjoyed watching me squirm under his touch.

His fingertips dug into my hip as he ducked his head into the crook of my neck. "You are mouth-watering in every aspect of the word." I felt his ice-cold lips touch the base of my neck and my eyes closed, waiting for the pain. 

"If you want to kill me just do it." I felt like a toy. I was only living if he granted it and I hated it.

"Why would I do that now?" He whispered in my ear causing me to shiver. "I'm not going to kill you, love."

His nose trailed up my neck and to my jawline as he inhaled sharply. "Levi..." I opened my eyes to see his pale blue eyes focused on mine. 

"Yes, love?" He whispered just inches away from my lips as an ear-splitting grin covered his face and his nose touched mine.

"You can go to hell," I whispered back and pushed him off me. He took a few steps back as he stared at me in disbelief.

I ducked out of the kitchen door and managed to sneak out of the building with my scone. A whooshing sound got my attention as I stepped onto the field. "My siblings and I weren't aware you had missed dinner." He appeared in front of me.

"God!' I said holding onto my chest. "Stop following me."

"You think I want to follow you?" He laughed. "I have better things to do."

"Like what? Sleep in a coffin and kill innocent people?"

"I don't sleep in a coffin," he growled and I looked at him, unconvinced.

I stopped walking and so did he. "Why are you here?"

"Twenty-four hours remember. I'm here to make sure you don't get yourself killed while my blood is in your system."

"Believe me. I will be extra cautious in the next few hours. I will not be tortured with a fate like yours."

He laughed mockingly. "Like how you were cautious in the bathroom. That was a close one. You could have broken your neck or hit your head and we'll be having an entirely different conversation right now."

I  stopped in my tracks again. "You pervert. You were watching me in the shower."

"Oh don't flatter yourself. If I wanted to see a girl's arse I wouldn't have to peep through a window for it. My sister was watching you."

"You disgust me." I glowered at him. "You disgust me in more ways than one." 

I turned to walk away and he grabbed me by my arm. "I don't care if I disgust you or you don't like me." His face was serious. "All I care is about you staying alive for the next few hours. If  you want to die afterward fine but just don't do it while my blood is in your system or I promise I will hang you out by your toes at the crack of dawn if you become a vampire."

He turned to walk away from me and I threw my scone at his stupid head. "Seriously," he turned around and glared at me. "Get your arse in that building now."

"Oh I'm going," I growled at him. "Not because you said so but because I want to." I turned on my heel and stormed off. Not bothering to look back and see if the creep was still watching me.

As I walked back to my dorm room I saw my bag laying against the door. I looked around the hallway to see it empty. I picked my bag up and headed into my dorm giving the hallway one last look as I closed the door. The vampires were watching me and they didn't want me dead as yet.