Chapter 4

Dario compelled Ann not to tell anyone and send her on her way. Dario put his fingers in his mouth to taste Ann’s blood. He got a hint of vampire blood and spit it out.

A scared Ann quickly got dressed and could not believe her substitute teacher had just seen her naked, let alone that he and some students appear to be vampires. She also thought about what had just happened and the past couple of days. She wondered why the Vampires did not take Jessica as well. Why only her? And werewolves? She remembered Miss Wangberg.

Even though she was scared, Ann could feel the excitement rising in her. She just remembered that she drank from Paris. ‘I wonder if I will become a vampire now?’ She thought to herself. She got excited by the idea and rushed home to do some research. When she got home, Paris was already waiting for her inside. For a moment she wondered about the fiction novels where vampires needed an invitation.

“Ann, your friend Paris says you made arrangements to tutor him. He has been waiting for 30 minutes already,” Ann’s mom said, smiling and helping Ann take off her jacket.

“Thanks, mom, I'll take it from here,” Ann said, wondering if he fed on her, feeling slight anger rising in her.

“Ok, I have a video call with your dad. I will tell him you cannot make it, but you better make it up to him,” her mother said, about to leave to her study. 

“Actually, mom, I will join you in a bit. Paris miss understood me. The study session was supposed to be after school and I waited for you. Goodbye Paris. See you tomorrow at school and I will tutor you after school, tomorrow,” Ann dragged out her words, dragging him to the door.

“Nonsense,…” her mother was about to protest but Ann cut her off.

“You know I never miss a chat with dad,” she said, managing to get Paris out the door and quickly shut it.

“Ann! You are so rude!” her mother exclaimed, shocked.

Ann locked her arm in with her mother's and dragged her to the study.

Ann was mentally not present during the video call with her dad. She wondered if Paris already knew that Dario did not compel her to forget and perhaps came to finish the job. She then wondered if there was anything she could do to prevent them from compelling her again.

After the video call, she helped her mother with dinner. Her mother was curious about the new teacher and new students.

“Miss Wangberg is recovering well, but she is still in a coma,” her mother tried to make small talk while stirring the sauce.

“That is good to know,” Ann responded, setting the table.

“So, who is the substitute? Anyone I know?” Ann’s mother tried again.

“Don’t think so. Mr. Carden. First name Dario,” Ann said.

“Paris started today with two other students, think they are twins or something,” Ann said and took her place at the table.

Her mom dished for both of them and brought the plates over before pouring herself a glass of wine. Ann’s mom enjoyed a beautiful set table at every dinner. No matter if she was dining alone or with guests, she always set the table with table arrangements and candles.

“Tell me about Paris. He is handsome,” Ann’s mom, also named Ann, tried to fish out if her daughter had a romantic connection with him.

“Don’t really know him, mom, they only started today,” Ann responded, taking a bite of steak to make sure she had reason enough to chew long and avoid any more questions. 

Ann’s mom noticed that she won't get out any info right now and instructed Alexa the AI from A****n that her husband had installed for her last birthday to turn on classical music and they enjoyed the rest of the meal in silence.

After dinner, Ann was about to clean up, but her mother stopped her.

“Don’t worry about it. I will clean up tonight,” her mom said, stacking the plates.

Ann made her way to her room. “Good night mom.”

“Goodnight, my darling, don’t forget to set your alarm. I don’t want to be late tomorrow morning.”

Ann went into her room and noticed her window was still open. She walked over to her window to close it, not noticing Paris sitting on her chair in the corner of her room. After she closed the window and curtains, she went to her bathroom and took a shower, still not noticing Paris.

After taking a long hot shower, she dried herself and left her towel in the bathroom and went to sit at her dresser to dry her hair. She switched on her main bedroom light. “Alexa, please switch on the main light.”

Alexa, “Sure, switching on the main bedroom light,” the AI voice responded as the lights switched on.

“What the hell!” Ann jumped up from her white Luxe Joybird armchair to grab her bathrobe.

“How did you get in here?” she asked angrily.

“The window. I have been sitting here, waiting for you to finish dinner. So, your mom thinks I am handsome?” Paris teased mockingly.

“Get out!” Ann ordered him, pointing at her door.

“Think it best I leave the way I came,” he said, standing up, deciding not to tell her that a vampire must leave a house the same way they came in.

“What about a goodnight kiss before I leave?” he asked, reaching out to lift her chin.

Ann smacked his hands away and made sure she kept her eyes away from his so that he cannot compel her. Paris noticed it and grinned.

“It does not work like that. We compel with our voice. Don’t worry, I won’t compel you,” Paris said, now standing in front of the window.

Ann noticed his reflection in her dressing-table mirror. “I thought vampires don’t have a reflection?”