Gabbi is used to being gawked by now, or as what she believed to be comfortable. Walking in the hallway between two men attractive beyond normal—any normal girl would want that.

Thanks to Tyler, who announced with the thought that the three of them are living in the same house, rumors had intensified to their assumed scandalous relationship.

"Then she is...?"

Damien has wrapped his arms around her, to everyone's surprise, even Gabbi herself. Actions speak louder than words they say.

"Oh," said a black-haired girl, with the longest natural eyelashes she has ever seen from a human. She was the addition to the blond Tami and brunette Esalyn that Gabbi and Tyler had first met when they sneaked into school. Lei Ann, was what she called by her two friends.

"He's taken, damn," Tami whispered as the trio walked away.

"So that's how it is, huh." Tyler frowned and peeked at Damien's arm on Gabbi once the hound left them.

"And so?" Damien let her go.

For a moment, she was relieved with the distance and calmed the sudden beating on her chest a little.

"Hey, that's cheating. I was with her at school first. I should be the one playing couple."

But one side glance from Damien, and he already gave up. He clicked his tongue. "Possessive jerk." Tyler walked fast with a pout, then halted meters away, and helplessly asked, "So, where was the lab again?"

"Idiot," Damien mumbled.

"I heard that!" the younger retorted.

They entered the lab minutes early, and Damien intimidated a guy at the back left table to usurp the spot. Gabbi made an apologetic smile at the helpless guy, who had already opened his notes and was more than ready for the lecture. "Can we sit here? These two are... shy. Yeah, they're shy to sit at the front."

He juggled his stare between the brothers, who in his eyes were probably ready to break his bones at any moment, based on how he cowered and whimpered. He stuttered a 'Sure" and scrammed on an empty seat at the front table. Despite the glare from the two girls who claimed the spot, he was immovable.

"What?" Damien raised his brow when Gabbi sneaked a disappointed glance at him.

"Nothing." She looked away.

______________

A week passed, and the hounding on the brothers simmered down somehow. Mainly because Damien never answered, and Tyler was all about Gabbi and 'I'll ask Damien about it.' The expecting cliques had then realized that a wall stood between them and the trio, especially Damien, who held no qualms of eyeing one with coldness and let the other surrender with a broken pride.

Even Kelly, the vampire, tiptoed around him. And to think, she and the teacher Mr. Felix were the only ones who can converse normally with them.

'Three days.'

Gabbi read the note Tyler slid to her one afternoon in Chemistry.

'That guy. He's been sneaking glances at you for three days now.' He added when she cocked her head in confusion.

Gabbi followed the tip of his pen and caught the same guy they once took a seat from, stole a glance at them. He looked away, guiltily, and doodled on his notebook with intensity. When Gabbi kept her gaze, he made a discreet glance again. She smiled, but he lowered his head more. He tugged his hood to fully cover his face, even the untamed curls of his hair, long enough to cover half of his face.

Tyler chuckled beside her. 'Cute.'

She agreed. The small smile on her lips remained and was wiped off just as quickly when the teacher called. "Is there something funny, Mr. Roșu?" then clarified, "Tyler?"

"No, sir."

Tyler was called in front to answer a chemical equation. He obeyed, scratching his head, and lazily rose.

"You look happy," Damien whispered beside her, eyes on the notes.

"Sorry." She wasn't even sure why she apologized. Probably the small hint of irritation on his blank face forced her to. She followed his gaze towards the same guy, his head buried on his notes with urgent movements of his pen. He glanced at them and averted with speed, his head lower than before.

"Damien, do you know him?"

"No."

Tyer returned with a victorious grin; behind him was a board half-filled with a precise solution in perfect handwriting and the speechless Mr. Mason.

"I know why he's pouting." He slid to his seat, his grin bigger by the second. "Someone got a crush on you, Gabbi."

______________

Now that a week passed, the scholastic burden has finally sunk in Gabbi's head. She was slowly buried with tests, homework, and activities, not to mention high school drama.

But unlike the Roșu brothers, who were beyond lectures, Gabbi does not have a full brain for symbols and numbers. One of the hurdles was Mr. Mason's. He was infamous as hard to please and gave the most academic obligation.

And now, she had spent most of her time in the manor library the whole weekend. The idea of asking Tyer for help did occur to her. But the younger Roșu had looked at her like he was entitled and raised at a higher place as he spoke, "Oho, so there's something you're not good at?" And he left for his bedroom with a villain's laughter.

"Done?"

She had to thank him for her current predicament as well. "Not yet."

Damien is helping her instead. And now, she was too embarrassed to tell him she does not understand half of it.

"The first question, is it too hard?" he asked.

"Yes." She squeezed the words.

He beckoned, and Gabbi handed the notebook. She felt her seat shift as Damien moved closer beside her and explained the method again.

She felt he was in a better mood now, compared to in the morning. Strange, but these days, she seemed to be aware of Damien's mood.

At first, she understood the explanation, but she got lost after a minute or two. His hand pointing and circling numbers with the pen was smooth and calculated. They were pale, like the rest of him, with long fingers and clean-cut nails. If she's asked what a noble's hand would be like, she'd thought of Damien.

Then his voice was deep but soothing. He spoke the words clearly, at the right pace and tone that compelled anyone to listen. He's an excellent teacher, and she was a terrible student. Gabbi found herself staring at the movement of his mouth.

"Gabbi, are you listening?"

She blinked a few times, then averted her eyes towards the notebook. For a brief moment, the numbers looked like unknown symbols. It was a sign that she was terribly distracted.

"Something's bothering you." Damien halted the lecture.

"Yes," she said. She knew it. Asking him wouldn't do her good.

She didn't like the progress of things. She is terrified. The longer she spends time with the Roșus, with Damien, she could feel herself being human again.

Strange. Living with the undead made her feel alive.

"Gabbi," he called her out of reverie.

Then she remembered what Tyler said. "Damien... were you jealous?"

Even she was surprised by her question.

"So, this is about that boy in class."

It wasn't actually the case, but she nodded.

"No, I'm not jealous."

She rebelled when a part of her was disappointed. It shouldn't matter what he felt. She was there to help him in any way, then die after. It was the only way she could repay him.

"And it is not just him..." he continued. "It is not just that boy in class. Almost every male in school was looking at you. You're too beautiful," he declared like it's a bad thing.

"But... you met me because of my face. You were deceived too."

"Probably." Damien shrugged and picked up a notebook. "Let's get this over with. Going to school is unnecessary."

"Then... why did you go to school too?"

"You were lonely."

She tilted her head. Was she? "How did you know?" And if she is, why would Damien bother?

The predator eyed his prey. "I just know." He leaned forward and touched her necklace. "And if you're wondering why I followed, I have nothing else to do."

Gabbi could not push him away. "Answer me, Gabbi." The warmth of his breath lingered on her neck. "Why am I following you?"

She was sure he'd sink his teeth into her neck, but then she decided to stop him. "Don't. The poison might still be in me."

He chuckled. "Ah, how kind of you." And kissed the side of her neck—just a short peck.

A smile escaped her lips. If he drank her blood, she wouldn't be bothered by his simple kiss now. The heat climbed up to her face. Her raging heartbeat was a familiar yet strange, good pain.

Gabbi felt scared of her own feelings.

"Michael," he referred to the physician that Gabbi has never met, "said it's okay now. The poison wore off."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "...Then go ahead."

But it didn't come. Damien pulled away and glared at the door. Alert. A knock was followed by the creaking of the entrance. "I'm coming in," said the calm voice.

A teenage girl entered the room. Despite her lengthy, black hair, straight down to the middle of her back, Gabbi couldn't find any strand loose, as if all strands of her hair are sticking together. She held the long skirt of her black dress for a curtsy. "Hello." And next, she was already sitting across them, previously occupied by Damien.

Another figure stood behind them now, her hazy sight caught jumping him down from the ceiling. It was Gabbi's library companion. Only then was she able to look closely at the elusive inhabitant of the library, a teenage boy growled as he appeared faster than his abandoned book that fell to the floor from the ceiling. Alivia barged into the room and froze at the scene. "My apologies, Sir. I couldn't stop her."

Damien eyed Alivia's torn skirt and her hair in disarray. Blood was smeared on the torn sleeve on her arms, in the middle of slow healing. "It's okay, Alivia," Damien assured. "How many were hurt?"

"Three, sir."

Anger flickered on Damien and died just as quick, replaced with indifference towards the uninvited guests. "Tend to your wounds. Call Michael if needed. And send others to watch over Tyler. Never let him leave his room."

Just like that, she was gone, and left the door of the library closed. "Jak." It was a simple call, but the hesitant boy bowed to Damien and followed Alivia's leave.

"Ah, Tyler," said the quiet voice, sitting primly in front of them, no proof that she had fought against numbers. "How I missed him. I was the one who accompanied him in his dungeon. He was such a wonderful screamer. Lovely, lovely voice."

"Why are you here, Antoinette?"

"Grouchy as ever, Damien Roșu. I tried to hide my presence and surprise you, but it seems I was not skilled enough. Call me Ann. My friends do the same."

She glanced at the mess of notes and study piles on the table, then zeroed on Gabbi. "I'm here on an official visit, just to meet your Sursă de Viață."

Gabbi couldn't blink, intimidated. The quiet voice, modulated to courteous authority, was more than an average teen could. The way she presented herself carried years of wisdom.

"It's not decided yet."

"No?" She raised a brow. "I heard a lot of things from Sonnia. Lady Corinne was poisoned by this lovely miss' blood. It only meant one thing. Why did you give your blood to save her? Why is she staying under the Roșus?"

"It is none of your business."

"If she won't be your Giver, don't tell me you'll make her a Newblood? You know the law."

"She won't be a Newblood. I won't make her a vampire."

"That's good to know." She dipped her head in approval. "You'll receive a formal request a week from now. The Primele Ființe, roots on tradition, using a letter in this day and age, I hope you will too... follow our traditions, as a noble, Mr. Roșu."

As she continued, Gabbi could not tear her eyes away from Antoinette as she was to Gabbi. Despite the calm tone, a glint in her eyes instilled fear in Gabbi. "Prepare her for the Covenant. You will be summoned to the nest for the ceremony."

Gabbi grasped an idea of their topic, and yet, it was as if she couldn't utter a word in Antoinette's presence. She was just an unwanted variable in their world. Despite that, her presence stirred trouble for the Roșu.

"Is that the only reason for the visit?"

"Oh no," she replied calmly. "I was hoping to see your brother, Tyler. I missed him. But it seems he does not wish to meet me. And of course, I am curious about the lovely woman who has caused unrest even for our beloved Elders." She smiled at Gabbi. "If you weren't a human, I would have clawed your heart right here and now. But I guess there is no need for worry."

Gabbi trembled. It was mere words, spoken so softly as Antoinette's lashes fluttered like moving art, and yet, it held the truth of murder. Human? Gabbi thought. She is and nothing else. But why would the terrifying beauty in front of her state she could be otherwise?

Antoinette rose from her seat. "The Elders send you their sincerest greetings. They terribly missed Mr. Marcus too. They have requested your family's presence during your ceremony. That is all."

She curtsied as daintily as a blooming flower and walked back to the door. "See you soon, Gabrielle Red."