“The new student?” Valdine blinks in surprise. “Well that’s…unfortunate. Her blood would only call you if she’s—” Her lips clamp shut.
“If she’s what?” I’m on my feet immediately. “If she’swhatValdine?”
“Nothing.” Valdine blurts then turns to shut her spell book. The green blob of light flickers briefly before it grows dim. “You should avoid the girl at all costs. Just to be on the safe side. Don’t need you being run out of town with stakes now, do we?” She’s smiling but it doesn’t seem to reach her eyes.
Frowning, I sigh heavily. “Avoiding her won’t be easy. She’s in my first period.”
“Just make sure to not be alone with her. We’re not sure what the siren’s blood will do to you. Or to her.”
Stay away from the girl? Almost an impossible task.
Dakota
Several weeks pass in a blur. The constant dream wakes me on a nightly basis. Each time, I’m able to recognize more of Mr. Daniels silhouette and with the dream it has me wanting to reach out to him more. To try harder to get his attention. Yet he ignores me every day; and I can’t seem to ever catch him alone. It’s unnerving, frustrating, and above all— I feel like he’s avoiding me, but I can’t seem to figure out why.
Gasping, I sit straight up in bed. Hair is plastered to my face, and I have to shove it out of my eyes. Immediately I’m scanning the room, trying to get my pulse back under control.
The dream has shaken me awake, yet again, and I need to be sure that I’m alone. My dorm room is small, better than some other private schools I’ve lived in, but it’d be a pain keeping a roommate from strangling me in my sleep.
Luckily, I don’t have to deal with a roommate. There’s just the single bed, a small dresser and a table and chair that serves as a place for homework. There’s a community bathroom just down the hall that all the girls share. I’m just grateful that everyone seems to leave me alone if they ever hear me crying out in my sleep.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I shove off the covers and scramble out of bed. I’m on my feet in a flash. It’s too overwhelmingly stuffy in the small room and I need some fresh air. Snatching my coat from the back of the chair and throw it on. I shove my feet into my boots and open the door as quietly as I’m able, and quickly close it behind me.
Hurrying down the hallway, I stop short when I spy a familiar man coming out from the teacher’s dorm hall and he’s pushing open the door to the girls’ dorm. The cold sends goosebumps across my skin as I trail after him. I’ve been wanting a chance to speak with him, and now that I have him in my sights I don’t plan to let him go so soon.
Mr. Daniels is already in his car, going in reverse from the parking lot. Gravel and dust kick up on the dirt driveway as he speeds off into the night heading toward the woods surrounding the church.
Figuring which way he must be going, I hurry to the bike rack where mine is locked up and get on it. Pedaling as hard as I can in this autumn night, I’m already out of breath when I have to stop once I can’t see anything in the woods.
I’ve pedaled far off into the trees and there’s not even any glow from the moonlight to guide my way through. Swinging a leg off my bike, I have to look around me, wondering where to go.
I’m not the greatest person with directions, but it can’t be that hard to find a car on this beaten path, can it? Besides, who would want to drive a car out here at night in the middle of nowhere?
Propping my bike against a nearby tree, I debate about whether to turn back or not. I’m not sure how far I’ve gone away from the private school and with it getting colder at night, I could get hypothermia if I’m not careful. In my stupid haste to go outside, I’d forgotten a hat and a pair of gloves. Already myhands are freezing, and my teeth are chattering. I try to silence my mouth from making anymore sounds when I hear a crack from behind me.
My shoulders tense and my pulse skyrockets.
Whatever I just heard— It wasn’t my teeth making that noise.
Swallowing hard, heart thundering, I go to turn and draw in a sharp breath. Moonlight filters in through the trees and I see three silhouettes that are cast in shadows.
Their skin gleams white from what I can see, but it’s theeyes, their eyes that knock the breath from my lungs. They’re a bright bloody red and they glow as if a flashlight is shining at their faces.
My mouth parts in shock, but I feel frozen where I stand.
“I told you I wasn’t going crazy.” The short man in the middle says, he takes a step toward me, and I feel powerless to move.
The man to the right chuckles, but it’s the closest one to me that speaks up in a gruff voice. “Whatever man. Let’s eat, I’m starved.” When he opens his mouth and sharp teeth are all I can see besides the red eyes, that’s when I open my mouth and scream.
Max
“Why do you enjoy pestering me when I’m trying to get some much needed beauty sleep?” Valdine groans into the receiver and a small chuckle escapes me.
“Sorry Val. But you don’t need sleep when you can make a potion to keep yourself youthful forever.”
She sighs and I can hear the blankets rustling. I know I’ve disturbed her and any other time I would feel guilty, but not right now. “Fair point. Now, what is it this time?”
“She’s been trying to speak with me, alone for the past couple of weeks,” I say and lean back against my chair to the private study.