I glanced at my schedule again. History of Vampirism started in thirty minutes. While I didn’t want to be seen as someone who follows the rules, it wouldn’t endear me to anyone that could lead me to the rebels. I also didn’t want to be late to my first class.
Grabbing my bag filled with my books for the day, I hefted it over my shoulder and headed out the door. I’d barely made it three feet before a loud, high-pitched scream pierced my ears.
I spun around just in time to catch the small dark-haired girl around my waist.
“Jack!” Xinyi squeezed me and bounced, making my body shake. “We’re in the same hall. How did I not know this? Did you meet your roommate? Are they absolutely awful? My roommate is pretty chill, but they spend most of their time with their master, so I’m not too worried about it. Iris and I bounce back and forth between whose room we spend time in. But that’s us, what about you?”
I placed my hands on her shoulders and held her back. “Slow down, Xinyi.”
“Sorry, just so excited for the first day!” Her breath came out in short pants.
Today’s outfit was a bit more formal than yesterday’s with a pleated baby pink skirt and a lace collared white shirt with puffy sleeves. It was a massive contrast to my black jeans and plain, dark blue t-shirt. Where she looked dainty and cute, I looked like I was ready for hard labor.
I briefly wondered what Tate thought of my clothes, then pushed the thought aside. I wasn’t there to care about guys. Unless they could lead me to the rebels, dating was not on the game card.
“Oh, shit, we better go or we’ll be late!” Xinyi cried out, grabbing my hand and pulling me along the hallway.
I let Xinyi lead me out of the dorm and down a covered walkway that led to the main building. Seeing me glance up at the ceiling, Xinyi slowed down slightly.
“It’s for the vampires.” She pointed at the walkway covering. “Every dorm walkway has it, but it’s only so the baby vamps don’t get crispy on their way to class.”
“But aren’t all the classes at night?”
“Yeah, but the sun doesn’t set at the same time every day. Even just a few rays of light are enough to send one of the newly changed vamps up in flames. Just safer for everyone to have it covered. Plus,” she tossed her hair over her shoulder, “rain is not conducive for this look. I spent too much time and money on this hair to ruin it running through the rain.”
I hummed, nothing else to add to that. I couldn’t very well tell her that I had fought vampires and chased down werewolves in pouring rain before. Or that I’d slugged through a swamp to hunt down some witches. I think if I told her the amount of times I came home covered in blood, dirt, and other body fluid — sometimes even parts — it might traumatize her.
We reached History of Vampirism in a matter of minutes. As we filed into the room, my phone dinged. I glanced down at it as I took my seat with Xinyi near the middle.
Mom: Happy first day!
Then in my dads’ group chat, I had an array of messages from each of them wishing me a good day, telling me to watch my back, or to take notes — from Darren — then, more embarrassingly, one from Wynn telling me to not break any hearts on my first day.
“Who’s that?” Xinyi asked while we waited for the professor to start.
I turned my screen off and tucked it in my pocket. “Just my parents wishing me a good first day.”
“You still talk to your parents?”
“Yeah, I mean, they don’t know that I’m at a supernatural school or anything. Just that I went to stay with my aunt Alora and enrolled in the local college.” I recited the story we’d come up with in my mission debrief.
“Oooh.” Xinyi bobbed her head. “That makes sense. I wish my parents cared enough about me to message me on my first day.”
“You don’t talk to your parents? Do they know you’re…?” I gestured to her vaguely.
“A human servant? Ha. No.” She fiddled with her pen, looking off to the side. “They weren’t really around much. Always working. Iris found me when I was in a really low period and helped me and well…” She smiled, love and adoration beaming through her expression. “The rest is history.”
I started to ask her what she thought of the current council, but the professor started talking.
“Welcome to History of Vampirism, I am Professor Qualm,” a suave-looking middle-aged man with curly brown hair and pale skin began. “Some of you may think you know how we all came into being, but I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong.”
Then began the most boring hour of my life.
“Woah, that was…” Xinyi trailed off as we stepped out of the class.
“Torture.”
“Exactly.” She blinked rapidly and shook her head to get the dazed look off her face. “I thought learning about where vampires came from would be exciting or even something awesome and romantic. But for it to have started all because someone had been starving enough to drink their friend’s blood…?”
