I'm not totally happy with it, but I hope you like it. Please comment and vote.

* * *

VICTORIA'S INSTINCTS KICKED IN.

She jolted up from her bed. She could tell something was wrong; something bad was going to happen. She could smell gas and oil.

Victoria gasped and sped down the stairs. The kitchen was a total mess. It looked like the time Victoria blew up a kitchen, except, this time, it as Jason. She arrived just in time to see Jason trying to pour water into a skillet filled with hot oil. The drops of water were already seconds from touching the oil and the gas cooker going up in flames when Victoria yelled...

“Anastel Fera!”

Jason was so startled by Victoria's sudden shouting, that he drops the jug on the floor. The drops of water suspended in the air just meters over the skillet.

Victoria raised them up over Jason's head and released the showers of blessing, staining his food-covered black shirt and sweatpants.

“What the—!” Exclaimed Jason.

“Are you trying to burn the house down?” Victoria yelled.

“I was preparing breakfast for you and Rita,” said Jason. “You know, to do—”

“You don't pour water on hot oil.” Victoria continued, not bothering to process what Jason had said. “It could start a fire. What do you mean you were preparing breakfast—”

Victoria cut herself short. Jason had gotten up early to prepare breakfast for Rita and her. She had yelled at him when he was trying to do something nice.

“You were making breakfast?” Victoria inquired in a low voice.

Jason nodded.

“I shouted at you for no reason,” uttered Victoria. “I'm sorry.”

“It's fine. But you didn't have to give me a bath.”

“But you needed one.” Victoria laughed. “You reek.”

Jason chuckled.

Victoria walked closer to him. She peered into the skillet to see what he was cooking. She saw a black, burnt substance and turned to Jason, raising a brow.

“And what would these be?” Victoria joked.

“They are scrambled eggs,” Jason stated.

Victoria stared at him blankly until she suddenly exploded into a fit of laughter. Jason stared at her annoyingly.

“I get it!” He said. “I'm a horrible cook.”

Victoria managed to stop laughing.

“Okay, I'm sorry.” Victoria apologized. “Let's do this. We'll clean up this mess and I'll show you how to fry eggs without having to burn the house down.”

Jason smirked as he and Victoria began to clean the kitchen together, engaging in light conversations.

* * *

Victoria sighed as she walked through the Underworld — sorry — the hallway. She felt like a walking library, with fifteen or so books slung over her back. It had only been there weeks and Victoria already felt like she was eighty.

Before, the school was just annoying, but now, it was a freaking nightmare! Victoria was sure she had walked 'round the whole school. Some days back, she got confused with her schedule looking for the Enchantments Class.

She finally found the class and it only took seven staircases, four prefects, and a very angry teacher.

Victoria arrived at her locker and like everything in her life, it wasn't working. She punched it several times, earning the attention of students around her. She could have easily used magic to open the locker, but Victoria had decided to reduce her use of magic. The school almost had a migraine when they found out she was a vampire, seeing her use magic all the time, would probably give them a heart attack.

“Open for Pete's sake!” She shouted and banged her head on the locker.

“What did the locker do to you?” A voice asked behind Victoria, chuckling a little.

Victoria moved away from her locker to see Diego chuckling, with a pleased look on his face.

Victoria laughed nervously. “This locker of Gehenna won't open.”

Diego chuckled once more. “Did you try moving the latch?”

“What do you mean did I move the latch?” questioned Victoria.

Diego simply ignored Victoria and stepped in front of her locker, trying to open it.

Victoria was impatient. “I'm telling you it's not go—”

THWACK!

Victoria didn't expect it. The locker smacked Diego right in the face and knocked him to the floor.

“Oh crap!” Victoria cried out. “Are you okay!”

“I'm perfectly fine. My nose usually oozes blood.” Diego uttered snarkily.

Victoria helped him up.

Diego's nose was bleeding. Victoria tried to help him clean with her shirt, but he refused.

“It's okay,” He said. “I'll fix it up right now.”

Victoria was confused at his statement, but almost passed out when she saw Diego hold his nose and move it, with a loud cracking sound. He had fixed his nose.

Victoria grimaced. “I think I vomited in my mouth.”

“It's okay, my nose is fixed.” He verbalized. “There's no way this could look terrible,” Diego smirked, gesturing at himself.

The bell rang and Victoria put her stuff in her locker, before turning back to Diego with a grin on her face.

“Thanks for your help.” She said.

“I'll see you later,” Diego said and gave Victoria a kiss on the cheek, before walking away as if it was normal.

Victoria stood there speechless until the sound of lockers closing brought her back to reality.

The only words that came across her befuddled mind were blurted out of her mouth. “Oh My God.”

* * *

It was already lunch time and Victoria still hadn't seen Diego anywhere. She hadn't told anyone about what happened, including Liz. She didn't know what to say. She had thought: Hey Liz! A cute boy that I have been friends with for about a month suddenly kissed me on the cheek. So, how was class?

Plus, Liz had enough to handle with Anika still in shock and her parents not responding to any of her calls. Victoria didn't want to bother with any of her personal issues.

Victoria sat on her usual table alone with Liz, so was going on about how Chad had been helping her a lot with her problems. Victoria was shocked when four boys suddenly appeared at her table.

She looked up and gave a long-suffered sigh. She stared at the angular face of Jason who grinned contentedly, Bruce who had the usual frown on his face, Parker with his tray and an open book on it, Mark who had a clueless grin plastered over his face.

Jason sat beside Victoria, which surprised her; Bruce sat beside Jason; Mark tried to sit beside Bruce, who immediately yanked Parker to sit beside him, with Mark eventually sitting beside Liz, who didn't seem to mind or care. Victoria saw a hurt expression on Mark's fave but she quickly hid, like how he always hid his emotions. Supposedly, it was a werefox thing.

“Why are you here?” Victoria asked.

“We are protecting you on Cortuş's order,” Jason answered, his hair looked more golden from the light that came through the windows.

“I don't want to be here,” Bruce uttered blankly.

“Would it be wrong if I used magic to make your hair fall off?” Victoria asked Bruce, with a maniac look on her face.

Jason blinked, caught shortly off guard. “Not unless you want me to lock you up in the abandoned classrooms which are only used like once a century,” Jason replied.

Mark cracked up. “Like that time —” he started, and led off into a story that Victoria didn't bother paying attention to. She instead stared at Bruce, who eventually joined in the conversation. He seemed different than he usually used to be. It struck Victoria; he wasn't scowling or yelling profanities as he would usually do in her presence. He actually seemed to enjoy himself.

The lunchroom door opened loudly and caused the conversation to stop abruptly. Victoria turned and groaned. Bianca sashayed into the room dramatically, stopping at their table. She runs her hand through her red hair, before placing both on her waist.

“Hello pigeons,” She spoke. “Since the Kýpellix games are almost here, I'm throwing a party tonight and you're all invited.”

Victoria stared at the others, waiting for the insulting part of Bianca's speech.

“Given the datum, that the whole school knows that Victoria is a walking crossbreed, —” There it is! “— I'd appreciate it if you pretend to be normal.”

Everyone suddenly felt the need to adjust, with Victoria sucking on her lips.

Jason rolls his eyes. “Isn't there a curfew?” He said. “Where are you going to have the party? Certainly not in your house, I hope?”

Bianca rubs her hands together as if trying to clean it. “I know of the curfew and that's why the party is in my bunker.”

“You have a bunker? Who are you?” Parker said, suddenly drawn out of his reading.

“It's technically my family bunker.” Answered Bianca. “I'll understand if you're not up for it, but if you are I'll text you the deets.”

“Thanks.” Victoria finally spoke.

“Just be there early. I'm in the cheer for troublemaking.” She voiced. “Au revoir!” She sang out as she made her way out of the hall, with her heels clicking loudly.

Liz smiled at Victoria, and she could tell what she was saying: We are totally going to that party!

* * *

After school had ended, Victoria went home to shower and then left to Liz's house to help choose a dress for Bianca's party.

Victoria walked into Liz's room. It looked like there had been a fashion-ado in it. Clothes were scattered everywhere: on the floor, in the once perfectly laid pink bed, on the curtain poles, and spilling out of the walk-in closet.

“What happened here?” She finally said.

Liz emerged from the closet looking disheveled. Her hair was scattered in an I–Just–got–out–of–bed way, but it didn't in any way make her look sexy. Victoria thought she looked like she had been attacked by a blow-dryer.

Liz smiled. “You are finally here!” She screamed and then indicated the baggy T-shirt and jeans Victoria had on. “It's almost dark and where are your clothes?”

“I was thinking of wearing this,” Victoria said, pointing to what she had on. “It's okay, right?”

“I'm going to pretend you didn't say that, so we can remain, friends,” Liz uttered, taking deep breaths. “It's a party for crying out loud! No-one would be caught dead wearing...that.”

“Well, I don't have any party clothes with me,” Victoria said annoyingly.

“Then you'll just have to wear one of mine.”

“Uh, Thanks, but, no thanks,” Victoria said immediately. “I'm perfectly happy with my fashion choice.”

Liz's grin widened. “Oh no, I insist.”

Liz then dragged Victoria to her wardrobe. “Pick those you like and I'll decide if their good or not.” She said, before sitting on her rumpled bed.

Victoria sighed, and then began to go through the clothes in the wardrobe. She smiled and held up a red blouse.

“Pass!” Liz said, looking disappointed.

Victoria then held up a blue and white checkered dress.

Liz looked like she was about to faint. “Pass. Let me see.” Liz said, standing up from the bed, and approaching the wardrobe.

“Do we really have to go?” Victoria asked as Liz examined the clothes in the wardrobe.

“Yes, we do,” Liz replied as she turned, holding something black and red in her hands. She threw it at Victoria. “Wear that.” She said.

Briskly, Victoria entered Liz's big bathroom, which was not surprisingly painted pink. She put the black cloth, which turned out to be an off-shoulder crop top over her head. She also wore the red plaid mini skirt, which was not only too short but also, very tight. She made her way into the bedroom, to see Liz holding a pair of black heels in her hands.

Victoria frowned. “It's awfully tight and short.”

“It's perfect. You should love your shape.” Liz handed Victoria the pair of heels and black tights. “Wear these. They'll make you look sexier.”

“Oh no,” Victoria stated at the heels. “Those heels are like a foot tall. I could break my neck in those.”

Liz rolled her eyes. “Just try it on.”

Victoria plopped herself on the bed and slipped on the tights and heels. She stood up, staring at herself in the mirror.  She admired how the clothes made her —though she hated to admit— sexy.

“Your hair!” Liz screamed, making Victoria jump.

“What wrong with it?” Victoria said running her hands through her hair.

Liz dragged her and sat her at the dressing table. “It looks like you cut it yourself!”

“But I do cut it myself,” Victoria said, sourly.

Liz scowled. “With a chainsaw?”

Victoria remained silent, as Liz went to work on her, using a brush to untangle it, almost ripping it of Victoria's hair. Victoria almost choked when several powders were sprinkled on her face. She loured at the other girl several times, screaming to be pitied from the fashion torture.

Finally, Liz put her in front of the mirror. Victoria gasped at the sight of herself. She moved closer to the mirror, twirling strands of her hair around her hand. What had Liz some to her? Her face looked sparkling like she had been shot with a glitter gun. Her hair had been attacked with a curling iron, now looking shiny, falling in fiery ringlets.

Liz was practically jumping behind her, antsy to see if Victoria was going to accept her work or burst into tears, but Victoria stood there speechless.

“So,” She egged on. “Do you like it?”

“Like it?” uttered Victoria. “I freaking love it!”

“Really?” Liz squealed. “I think you need more makeup.”

“No more makeup,” Victoria said hurriedly. “It's perfect.”

“Fantastic!” Liz squeaked, and went into the closet, emerging with a pile of clothes in her hands. “Now you can help me pick out what to wear.”

Victoria was tired, but she forced a smile. “Awesome!”

* * *

The girls had to sneak out the window of Liz's room, so Molly and Cedric won't hear them leave. It was already a quarter of ten, and the curfew started at half past eight.

The boys were waiting for them at the edge of the forest. Parker. and Mark were both staring into their phones, Jason leaned against a tree looking bored, while Bruce was sharpening a dagger with a stone.

Parker was the first to notice their presence before the others did. His gaze immediately fell on Victoria, stupefied.

“What are you wearing?” Mark asked, dumbfounded.

Unsure of what to say, Victoria answered. “They are called clothes.”

“Isn't it a little too... exposing?” Parker asked, looking like he was to say something other than “exposing.”

“You look like your phone number should be on a bathroom wall,” Bruce said, inexpressively.

Jason finally straightened himself, his mouth quirking as he shamelessly scrutinized Victoria's exposed body.

“I think she looks vampy.” He said.

* * *

They had walked under the cover of the shadows, trying to avoid getting seen by the numerous warriors patrolling the forest. Victoria stated behind the gang. She could hear the creaking trunks, snapping twigs, and the distant sounds of footsteps.

They moved on through the dark woods, with Parker navigating them with a twig. Victoria hated the way the humid air made her skin feel weird.

“I think this is it!” Parker called from ahead.

Victoria raised an eyebrow. They were in the middle of several trees. She could hear the sound of moving water.

“Are you kidding me?” Liz demanded. “We are in the middle of nowhere.”

“The invitation says this is one of the closest entrances to the bunker...” Parker huffed.

Victoria was tired and walked over to a nearby tree to lean on.

“…There is supposed to be manhole somewhere. Everyone look—”

Victoria made a grunt of pain as she tripped on something, falling flat on her face. Luckily, her clothes didn't get stained. She looked at what tripped her: it was a handle of a lid to a hole— a manhole.

“I found the hole!” She called.

The rest of the gang came to where Victoria laid. Jason helped her up, while Bruce examined the manhole lid. He tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge.

“I think it's locked.” He announced.

“Oh, let me see it,” Parker uttered, pushing Bruce out of o the way so he could also examine the lid. “Aposyndesi!” He verbalized, with a sound coming from beneath the lid.

Bruce once again tried to open the lid, and luckily it opened easily. Victoria peered into the hole and saw nothing but darkness.

“It's very dark.” Mark whimpered.

“Don't be a baby.” Bruce retorted harshly.

Parker jumped into the hole first, followed by Liz, then Bruce, Mark, Victoria, and finally, Jason.

Victoria could see, but not perfectly. They were in a circular passageway— a tunnel that stretched forward, far and pitchy. Just then, she could see a faint thumping sound coming from the far end of the tunnel. They all went on forward into the tunnel which was strewn with dirty water and smelled like a sewage plant.

As the six of them walked through the dark tunnel, something large and dark appeared ahead of them. Victoria studied it and saw that it looked like a door.

They walked to the door and Parker tried an unlocking spell on it, which didn't work.

“Now, how do we get in?” Liz inquired.

They all kept silent, not having an answer.

“What if we just knock,” Mark suggested.

The remaining five grumbled over his idea a bit, but Mark shrugged and went forward to knock the large iron doors.

Bruce snickered. “Yeah, like that's going to work.”

Just then, a horizontal hole opened up through the doors revealing a pair of eyes.

“Is this Bianca's party?”

“Password.” The voice simply stated.

“I'm sorry, what?” Liz asked, in a confused tone.

“I'm just messing with you!” The voice said and the doors flew open.

A blond, slender boy stood blocking the doorway. He gestured them to go in. “Try not to kill anyone.” He said.

The bunker was large with reinforced concrete walls. It was almost completely dark, being only illuminated by a few bulbs. The tables and chairs had been moved to one corner of the room, leaving a big space in the middle, where some people danced. The room was chaotic with gratis limitless drinks everywhere. Victoria almost tripped on one of them. Nearly everyone in the party was tipsy, with clusters of people around. Victoria caught the image of two people making out in the corner.
 
The room was hot and sticky, like how Victoria felt when she ran with Laura McCain. Victoria melted into the crowd and turned around to make sure the others were following, but to her dismay, they were all gone, enjoying the party.

Victoria walked over to the makeshift bar made with planks of wood and long metal poles. She sat there just staring at everyone else. She had no idea what to do.

“Well, see who's looking va va voom!”

Victoria turned around to see Bianca leaning on the bar counter. Bianca wore a black and white checkered dress that had a very low neckline. Like herself, Bianca's pale skin was dotted with light perspiration.

Victoria forced a smile. “Hello, Bianca.”

“Have you had anything to drink,” She verbalized. “You don't look drunk.”

“I'm a vampire,” Victoria said. “Normal alcohol can't get me drunk.”

Bianca's smile turned into a devilish grin. “Who said anything about normal?”

Bianca told the bartender something, and after a few minutes, a lilac-colored liquid in a clear glass was put on the counter.

“We call this The Furor,” Bianca said, and the bartender added a thick red liquid to the glass. Victoria immediately recognized it as blood. “This will get you drunk.”

Victoria took hold of the drink and stared at it suspiciously. “Why are you being nice to me?”

“Oh darling, I still want to kill you,” Bianca said dryly. “but I'm in a good mood. That doesn't mean I won't still rip you apart if I see anywhere near Diego.”

Victoria was saved from replying Bianca by the turning up of Jason. Bianca took that as her cue to leave.

“Are you okay?” Jason asked as he sat down on the air opposite her.

“Yeah, I'm great,” Victoria said, as she took a sip of her drink, shocked by the ambrosial taste that hit her. She belted down the whole content of the glass and requested for more.

Victoria looked at Jason, who gave her a warm smile. She felt her body begin to unwind a little. Not entirely because of the drink, but because that Jason sat beside her.

Victoria frowned as she saw Liz dancing with the blond guy that stood at the door. Jason noticed this and took her hand, taking her attention We a from them.

“Do you wanna dance or something?” He asked.

Victoria almost fell off her chair. “Are you serious. I thought you didn't like me.”

Jason simply shrugged his shoulders. “It's just a dance. What's the harm?”

“Sure,” Victoria answered as she gulped down her second and third glass of The Furor.

Once they got to the dance floor, they stared at each other, their gazes locked. Concerted, they danced to the music, their feet in perfect sync to the beating of Victoria's  breathing. As the song progressed Victoria felt relaxed and allowed a small smile to form on my lips. Though she didn't know what she was doing, She enjoyed herself.

Jason moved sleekly, his body in tune with the fast music. Yet, there was a sort of austereness to him. Jason's hands suddenly gripped Victoria's hips, drawing her closer to himself. Victoria gulped, not knowing what to do. She didn't object to Jason's movements, as they danced. The warmth between us grew stronger by the minute. Victoria eventually got a hang of it. She moved her hips and hands seductively around Jason. Her heartbeat was growing steadily along with her movement.

Jason smiled at her as he moved to Victoria's back. Victoria adapted quickly to the change. She knew Jason knew what he was doing; she trusted him with her safety and well-being on the dance floor. She reveled in the motions. She waved her arms and tossed her head as she screamed and laughed.

She never knew that Jason could be so fun. It was nice that few people had opened to her. Victoria decided to let go. Let her perturbation, her miseries, and fears go. Right there, Right then, she was living. She let Jason take her anywhere on the dance floor. He moved left, she moved left. He turned, she turned.

They continued like that until they had to break up, though Victoria was displeased about it. Victoria couldn't help but smile at Jason as they made their way to where the others were seated.

Several hours passed, and a few more drinks had gone down. Victoria could officially say that she was so drunk, She could barely walk. She lumbered gracelessly, occasionally giggling as Jason led her back home through the forest.

Thirty minutes later, the two of them were both climbing into Jason's window. Ostensively, they had made a heck of a ruckus when Victoria jumped on and knocked over Jason's headlamp because Rita barged into the room wielding a circular weapon that Victoria recognized as a chakram.

“Holy crap, Rita!” Jason yelled as he came into the room.

“What do you think you're doing?” She bellowed.

“What are we doing? You could have taken out heads off.” Victoria spoke, almost falling over.

“Is she drunk?” Rita asked Jason. “Oh! You're both grounded till your seventy-four.”

“Rita?!” The two teenagers complained.

“That's final,” Rita said. “There's a curfew for heaven's sake. What if you were caught?”

“We weren't,” Jason replied.

“Hey, no more arguing,” Rita said firmly. “Go to bed. Both of you.” She exited the room.

* * *

Author's Note

How did you like the new chapter? I agree that I'm not totally happy with it, but I wanted to update. I have also noticed that my book doesn't have enough emotion. I wanted to know how to fix this. Talk to me people! ❤😊

—#Joaquin.