Page 46 of Plug and Drain

The vampiress moved so fast that she was almost a blur as she appeared at the back of the classroom.

Oscar’s smile faded as he looked up at the professor, and a moment later, he was yelping in pain as Marmala wrenched his head back by the wispy, blond ponytail on top of his head. It was the only part of his head that wasn’t shaved, Susie felt a grim note of satisfaction at the sight of the claw marks marring Oscar’s cheek.

Marmala released Oscar without a word and strode up the aisle to the front of the class, indicating for Susie to stand.

If Susie’s insides hadn’t been in turmoil from the dread of going to Zott’s class, she might have thrown Oscar a dirty look. But her fingers were already shaky, and she gave her unfinished essay a quick wave to dry it before reluctantly handing it to Professor Marmala.

Susie wasn’t particularly worried about her grade. Professor Marmala was fair and would probably take into consideration the fact that she’d left early. But she hated that she couldn’t finish it; each unfinished sentence had built up inside her was like an itch she couldn’t scratch.

Marmala followed her to the door and spoke in a low voice. “Be careful, Susie.”

Susie nodded, but the professor was still searching her eyes imploringly.

“Professor?” she asked, ignoring Jeff, who was shuffling his weight from one foot to another, clearly anxious to get going.

Marmala touched her arm lightly. “You have a good heart, Susie. Guard it well.”

Susie stared back, unsure how to respond, and she finally let Jeff drag her away down the corridor.

Chapter 14

Pet Obedience Class

Susie

Professor Zott was the only fat vampire Susie had ever seen. His size was only outweighed by his vanity, which was probably why he insisted on teaching at the top of the North Tower. The circular classroom had the highest elevation in the entire academy and the greatest number of steps leading up to it. It couldn’t have been easy for him to climb them all every day, but his inflated ego no doubt buoyed him to the top where he could soar above everyone else.

Zott was a large, towering man whose very presence instilled fear. He was well-groomed and insisted on forcing himself into pastel-coloured three-piece suits that struggled to contain him. His thinning black hair was parted exactly in the middle, which lay in careful strands on top of his head, and a brilliant gold pocket watch ticked in time to the tense twitch of his left eye. A thin black moustache leant a warmth to his smiles—which were rare—and made any other expression ominous.

The professor was sitting in a large chair behind his desk to Susie’s right, and he gave her one such rare smile when she entered the classroom.

“Susanna, how good of you to join us.” His deep voice was a soft purr that commanded the deathly-silent room and raised every hair on her body.

“Professor Zott,” she greeted, slightly out of breath after climbing the endless spiral staircase.

She couldn’t help but glance at the curved wall behind his desk. It was painted black and bore a terrifying collection of equipment, including chains, whips, ropes, paddles and riding crops. The smell of leather was nauseating, mixing with the scent of Zott’s flowery cologne and sweat.

The other side of the room was full of first year students. There were not enough desks for the eighteen-year-olds, and the ten or so desks were occupied by vampires. As was the norm, the dozens of wolf shifters were forced to sit on the floor.

The vampires looked uneasy, whilst the wolves were downright fearful, and it was easy to see why: one male wolf sat cross-legged beside a desk and was trying to stem the flow of blood streaming from his nose with his sleeve, the drips speckling the floorboards red. Meanwhile, a female wolf was crying silently against the chest of another who was consoling her, and an uncomfortable tension permeated the air, emanating from Zott himself.

Susie didn’t dare ask what had happened. She was simultaneously glad and regretful that she’d come. “You sent for me, sir?”

Zott nodded. “Indeed. Would you be so kind as to give us a demonstration?”

“Yes, sir,” Susie said apprehensively, eyeing the centre of the room. It was empty, a contrast to the crowded peripheries to her left where the students watched the exchange.

And now, one of Zott’s favourite questions. “What is your pleasure, sir?”

He liked it when she phrased it like that. He was not as rough in those cases.

“Yes. I’m afraid we are not off to a good start this term. I have already had to discipline several of the first-years. It seems we have a few opinionated ones.” The first-years visibly cowered as he cast his gaze over them, his gaze lingering pointedly on the injured ones.

Zott waited for her to answer, and she gave him a strained smile. “That must be difficult, sir.”

“Indeed. I have my work cut out for me, it would seem. Therefore, I am in need of a good example of an ideal pet. Of course, I thought of you, Susanna. You are one of my best students—you’ve always possessed the natural talent for being submissive.”

His praise was sickly sweet, sliding over her like treacle and settling there. The depths of her soul wanted to protest, to tell the first-years that she wasn’t truly submissive, that she was just playing a part. But with Zott’s presence looming over her, she didn’t dare to so much as glance at them, and she had no choice but to say, “Thank you, sir.”