01 || Dead Body 

Daisy's POV

It's past 3 in the afternoon when I hear my friend's phone going off in the middle of her gaming. I looked away from the book I was reading and over at Lilith Lucien who sighed to herself in frustration before pausing the game. But the second she read whatever text message she got a smile replaced the frown on her face.

"What's up, Lily?" I asked as I sat up on my bed.

Lilith chuckled and answered right away while showing me the screen of her phone. "Tahel just texted and asked if we're free today. The boys want to hang out before they head back to their practice later tonight," she said.

I read the text from our younger friend and smiled. "Do you think we've got any important activities later tonight?" Lilith asked as she looks back at her phone.

I wasn't that sure of our schedule today as I was planning to skip tonight's classes. So I turned my head to face our other friend, Clover Viridis. The 18-year-old was too busy to hear the conversation as she was studying for her English Listening test with her AirPods on. I tapped on her shoulder to get her attention and Clover faced me in a few seconds with stress written all over her.

I gave her a worried look before Clover took one of her AirPods off. "Need something, Day?" she asked while pausing the recording she was listening for her test.

"Oh, Lilith just told me that the boys want to hang out with us and Tahel was asking if we're free today," I replied back with a smile as Lilith tied her dark purple hair up in a ponytail.

Clover zoned out for a few seconds before saying, "Well, the teachers will be having a meeting tonight so classes were canceled for the first half."

"Wait! Really?" Lilith asked excitedly.

Clover answered with a short 'yes' before Lilith sent a text to Tahel and suggested, "So how about we get out of here and hang out with the boys?" 

"Honestly... I got nothing else to do other than study for this test that I know I'll pass," Clover said as she placed her things away.

I was surprised at what she said and ended up laughing softly. "How about you, Day?" Lilith asked as she and Clover stood up.

I looked down at the book I was reading and thought to myself, "It's been weeks since I last had an outing... I might as well take this chance and hang out with my friends before my grandfather comes to visit again."

"Alright, let's go!" I exclaimed earning a squeal from both girls.

"Ughhh I want ice cream!" Lilith groaned as we walked out of the building and towards the Academy's gates.

"That's the 18th time you've been telling us that, Lily," Clover said while rubbing her ears.

Then Lilith glared at the green-eyed girl before annoying her further.

I snickered at the two as Clover tried to shut our friend up but Lilith ignored her and started singing out of nowhere. I shook my head at them and stared off into the distance. Once my friends and I were near the gates of Decelis Academy, I noticed four familiar people outside. I raised an eyebrow at them with a smile.

"Were you guys waiting for us?" I asked when they all noticed me and the girls approaching the gates.

Tahel was the first one to speak up like usual. "Girls! It's been forever!" He exclaimed earning shaking heads from his own friends.

The girls and I smiled at him and then the gates opened to us. We all reunited as it has been weeks since we last saw each other. Tahel passed by me and Clover as he ran up to his cousin, Lilith, who was picked up from the ground and twirled around as the boy held onto her. We all watched as Lilith yelled at the younger boy. Then Khan walked over to Clover, his childhood best friend, and the two started to joke around. Enzy then greeted me before heading over to Tahel to stop him from making Lilith feel even dizzier. And lastly, Najak came up to me with a smile on his face.

"Hey, Daisy," he said, tilting his head to the side before asking, "Did your hair grow longer?"

I was taken back and ended up laughing softly. "You can tell?" I asked and earned a short nod from him.

"You usually have your hair up in a bun with your chopstick but now you have it down," Najak pointed out, making me blush.

"That's... You're very observant..." I shyly said while biting the insides of my cheeks.

Then Khan and Clover looked over to us with the other three beside them. "Let's get going. It's pretty hot outside," Khan called out.

"I want ice cream," Lilith said once again, making Clover groan out in irritation.

"WE ARE GETTING ICE CREAM FIRST!" Our class president said before walking away with confused looks from the boys.

"Did we miss something?" Enzy asked as Lilith blinked innocently and started walking with Tahel by her side.

I shook my head with a smile. "Nah, nothing important."

"I don't want chocolate," Lilith exclaimed when Enzy pointed to a tub of chocolate ice cream.

"Then what do you want?" The grey hair boy asked while fixing his eyeglasses.

Lilith looked at all the ice cream in front of her before saying, "You know what, Enz... Just get the chocolate ice cream."

Enzy bit his bottom lip from sighing in frustration which made Tahel and I snicker by ourselves. Enzy then went to the counter and everyone but Clover and Khan left the ice cream parlor. We all decided to wait outside. Tahel and Najak were asking Lilith about her upcoming archery competition. I was just listening to their conversation while looking at some people who were passing by when suddenly Tahel spoke up with a serious but worried tone.

"Have you girls heard about those murders recently?" he asked out of nowhere as he shifted from his left foot to his right foot.

I looked over at the three and when our eyes locked on each other we all got carried away in silence for a few seconds before Lilith answered.

"We have. Why wouldn't we? Everyone at Decelis won't stop talking about those new vampire attacks."

I scrunched my nose up and joined in saying, "It's not something to avoid. The teachers are worried about everyone's safety. I think that's why they're having that meeting later tonight."

"Worried? That's hilarious especially when they have those bloodsuckers roaming around their school," Najak exclaimed angrily.

Before the conversation could get any more serious, Khan, Clover, and Enzy showed up with everyone's ice cream in their hands. I immediately took mine from Clover and thanked them, Tahel and Lilith followed right after and Enzy handed the last ice cream to his friend, Najak, who was still fuming in anger.

We all walked around as we ate our ice cream and enjoyed each other's company. Najak had already forgotten about the conversation from earlier on and had gone back to his flirty self as we reached the Townsquare. Clover was getting an earful from Khan as he talked about how her family has been asking him to get their daughter to send them at least an email or to call them when she isn't busy. Then there are the two cousins talking about Nightball and Archery nonstop with side comments here and there. Enzy and I who are the quiet ones in our group just listened to each of the conversations once in a while with Najak cutting in whenever a thought passed through him. People might find it boring but to me, this was a special day. Unlike back at the academy, no one pays any attention to me as I rarely put myself out there, and back at home, every person in my family is either watching me or keeping me up in my room, scared that something bad would occur if I ever get out of line. But with my friends... I feel like myself and there was no need to hide who I truly am. Because just like them we all have our own secrets to keep from others.

"Someone's deep in thought," Enzy whispered as our friends scattered around the Townsquare, "Mind sharing what's going on in that little head of yours?"

I looked over at him and smiled. "Just feeling at peace. I always had to stay in the shadows both at the academy and at home. But here with you guys, I don't have to."

Enzy sighed and asked, "How are you, Daisy? After the event with your grandfather last month... You've been... I don't how to put it but you looked lost."

"I... I was feeling lost a few weeks ago. When my grandfather showed up out of nowhere and wanted me to leave Decelis, I was torn between choosing him over everything I know."

"But now?"

"But now... I'm trying to figure out what it is that I want and show to my family that I am capable of taking care of myself without them."

Enzy then smiled at me and patted my shoulder before saying, "For a minute, I was worried that you would leave and never come back."

I raised an eyebrow at that and asked, "Usually that's what Najak would say."

"Ah, yes, loverboy," the 18-year-old whispered as we both looked over to where Najak is at, "Daisy, whatever you choose in the end. Just know that we're all here for you, okay?"

I looked away from Najak and back at Enzy before answering, "I know, Enz. Thank you."

It's been a month since I found out that Clover's friends from Sunshine City are werewolves and three weeks since my grandfather tried to take me away. Back then, I didn't know what to do. I've already had my own set of problems at Decelis Academy. I tried my best to keep my secrets from being known by other people. Also, there's that vampire problem. I had no idea that the academy allowed seven vampires to study in a school full of humans. I would never have figured it out If I hadn't passed by that storage room in that old building 9 months ago.

"Day, you've been skipping classes for four nights now," Clover's voice said through the other line of the call.

I mentally sighed and replied back, "Just for one more night, Clo. I need some time to myself."

It was quiet on Clover's line but then I hear her say, "Alright, fine. I'll tell Ms. Wren that your fever is gone but that you still got a headache."

Then the call ended.

I turned my phone off right after and left the library. I walked around in the new building of the academy but stopped when I passed by the hallway that would bring me to the old building. I stared at the long corridor and wondered why no one was allowed to go through here at night. 

"Curiosity kills the cat. But I'm not a cat," I thought to myself as I started walking over to the old place.

I've only been here two times. The first was back when I was in the 9th grade. I remember the Headmistress giving me and Lilith the tour around Decelis Academy before the sun had set. It was weird for us when we found out that classes would start at 7 at night and end at 4 in the morning. It kind of rubbed on me during my first year but I promised my family that I wouldn't act out of character and cause any trouble so I didn't bother with it.

But that was a year ago and now I doubt that anyone would even go against me, a 10th year who they barely know.

I wonder what was so special about this old building as I continued to walk around. I went up a couple of stairs and found my way to what looked like the old dormitory area. The silence here reminded me of my grandfather's manor. He only had a cook and a few maids and the head butler living with him so whenever my cousins and I would visit, our voices would echo around the manor as there weren't that many people there. I wanted to say something as I walked down the hallway of the old dormitory but I hear something I didn't expect to hear.

A group of people was laughing in one of the rooms at the far end of the hallway.

"I guess I wasn't the only one skipping tonight's classes," I muttered under my breath as I walked over to where the noise was coming from.

I hear a familiar voice the second I stood in front of the door that blocked me and whoever was in the old room. Then another voice spoke up.

"YAH! JINO, YOU BURNT MY HOMEWORK!" 

I furrowed my eyebrows in surprise. "So it was Jino that I heard..." I thought quietly as I raised my hand to knock on the door.

But I stopped.

I stopped when I heard another voice.

"Stop playing around with your powers," a cold voice said, sending shivers down my spine, "What if someone comes walking in here?"

"No one even knows about this old storage room, Solon," Jaan exclaimed.

Jaan is here, too? And who's Solon?

"I'm just looking out for you two," the cold voice spoke up again who I believe is Solon's.

"There's no need to worry about anything, Sol," a gentle voice said.

"Easy for you to say, Heli," Solon retorted, "You've been studying here for three years. So it's easy for you to lower your guard down."

"Alright, alright, enough," another voice I've never heard of said, "We're in the old building. Plus the other students were told to not enter here at night. That means we're safe. Our secret is safe."

Secret?

"Shion's right," Jino said as someone clapped their hands, "No one will find out that we're vampires."

My eyes widened at the sudden mention of vampires. My heart started to beat fast as I stood in front of the door unable to move. "V-vampires? Vampires are studying at Decelis?" I asked out loud, totally out of my mind.

Then it went quiet inside the storage room. I hear someone walking towards the door from the other side and I looked down when the gem from my necklace glowed a bright reddish-purple color. A couple of seconds later, the door opened and I saw Jino in front of me. I held my breath in as I closed my eyes in fear of what these vampires would do to me. 

But nothing happened.

I opened my eyes to see Jino looking out into the hallway in confusion.

"Is someone there, Jino?" Jaan asked in worry.

Then Jino spoke up, "No one's here."

"That's weird... I swear I heard someone," Jaan said before Jino closed the door.

I let out a shaky breath and looked down at the gem. "Amaranth... Thank you," I thought to myself as I quickly left the place.

I returned back without causing a scene and looked back at the hallway that connects the old and new buildings of the academy. Now, I know why they never let anyone go there at night. All because there are vampires in this school. I'm not against it but I was disappointed to learn that the boy who helped me in our first year here happens to be a vampire.

Who would have thought that I'd have a crush on a vampire?

"The sun's about to set," Khan called out as we all gathered back at the center of the Townsquare.

I had a lot of fun checking out the new stores in the area with Najak, Clover, and Khan. The boys told us that they'd treat us if Clover and I saw anything we'd like but knowing Clover, she ended up paying for her new tees and a green cap with a clover on it. I didn't really find anything that caught my eye but I did end up staring at this one book outside the window of the bookstore we passed by. I haven't read anything new in a while and not to exaggerate but I've already read at least half of the books back at the academy. As someone who doesn't want to be the center of attention, I've made sure to kill time by doing volunteer work at the school library. So to avoid skipping classes and bumping into any of the vampires, I made sure to spend time at the library and reading anything I could get my hands on.

That's how I've been living my life so far at the academy.

I don't hate it but I do wish that my life had been different...

"We should get going then," Enzy added in after hearing what Khan said, "It's too dangerous to have you girls out at night."

"Enz is right. We should be careful," Clover said as Khan took the bags of new clothes from her.

And that's how we all ended up walking back to the academy. Everyone talked about today's hangout and how we all missed each other. I smiled at my friends every once in a while as I recalled today's memories. But my smile went away when I felt a chill going down my spine. I stopped walking and turned my head to the side and then back at the group. Heading back to Decelis is kind of tricky and dangerous. Cars can't go through the road we're on as it's too small for them to fit through. Usually, the boys would bring their motorbikes with them whenever they come and visit but since Tahel isn't allowed to ride one yet, and only two people can ride the three motorbikes each, the boys had to ditch their bikes and we all had to walk.

I looked at both sides of the road and noticed how it looked dark inside the woods. If the boys weren't with us and if there weren't any vampire attacks, then I wouldn't be feeling worried and anxious right now. But I can't help it.

Someone has been following us since we entered the area.

"Day, something wrong?" Lilith called over as she looked at me worriedly.

I looked at my friends and then my gem glowed a bright red color before shaking my head. Immediately, the boys stood around us with a protective stance. Then out of nowhere, we heard a girl screaming. The scream came from inside the woods.

Khan then took a step forward and said, "Tahel and Najak, stay with the girls. Enzy, come with me," and Enzy followed his Alpha to where the scream came from.

I watched as my two friends left the trail as they shifted and then my gem glowed again. Another scream was heard from my right side and Najak and Tahel gave me and the girls a look that we all understood.

"Go," Clover said as she took a taser out of her bag, "We'll be okay."

The two werewolves hesitated but the scream happened again and we watched as they shifted and ran off the trail. "Do you think it's another attack?" Lilith whispered as she and Clover moved closer to me.

I looked at them and whispered back, "Let's hope not."

A few minutes passed and my gem glowed a purple light signaling that the area was safe. But instead of sighing in relief like how my friends did, I felt the need of vomiting. I see the boys returning back to where the girls and I are, and the look on their faces says it all.

"Khan? What happened?" Clover asked when she saw him and Enzy.

Khan shook his head before answering, "I... We saw a blood trail and a school tie stuck on a tree branch..."

"What?!" Lilith asked as her face turned pale.

Then I looked down at my gem and wondered if it knew that someone was being attacked while it protected me and my friends from whatever danger was lurking in the woods.

"Did you find out who it was? Was it someone from Decelis?" Clover asked as her class president's tone showed in her voice.

Enzy bit his bottom lip and gave us a nod. "No, they're not from Decelis. The school tie is from our school."

Then Lilith spoke up, "Do you guys think that whoever attacked the one who screamed... Do you think it's one of the vampires from our school?"

I wanted to speak up and say that it couldn't be Jino or any of his friends because if it was them then there should have been attacks in Decelis by now. But I didn't say anything. One look at Clover and Lilith and at the wolves... I knew then that they wouldn't listen to me.

"We should bring the girls back," Najak exclaimed as he placed his jacket on me.

I looked at him and then back at everyone else. "We have to report this," I pointed to which Khan sighed.

"We'll do it ourselves," the older boy said with a protective tone.

Then Lilith added in, "Yeah, it's better if the boys do it. If your grandfather finds out that you were out here during another attack, there might be a chance of you going back home."

I furrowed my eyebrows and clenched my fists at the mention of my grandfather. I get that he's protective of me and is worried about my safety but he should know by now that I can take care of myself without him and the rest of my family.

"Okay..." I said as I looked back at the woods, "Let's head back to the academy."

Clover and Lilith were already walking back to our dorm when I realized that I still had Najak's jacket with me. I mentally sighed and told the girls that I'll be back. Then I walked back to the gates, they opened by themselves for me, and when I checked if the boys were still nearby, I didn't see any of them. 

"They must have gone back in the woods..." I muttered under my breath as I thought of keeping Najak's jacket until I see him again.

But I heard the same scream from earlier and noticed that it was close to the academy grounds. I bit my bottom lip and hesitated.

"I shouldn't..." I whispered to myself as another scream happened.

I shut my eyes and clenched my fists before opening them. "Dammit!"

I started running to where I heard the screams and quickly saw a trail of blood when I entered the woods. Was this what Khan had mentioned earlier on? I followed the trail of blood and found myself behind the academy grounds. The walls of Decelis Academy are tall. They're at least 10 to 12 feet tall. I stared at the wall in front of me and saw a bloody handprint on it. I gulped my nonexistent saliva and hoped that whatever vampire it was... It wasn't Jino or any of his friends.

"H-help me..."

I quickly turned around when I heard a girl's voice. The second I did, I gasped in shock and ran over to her.

"Are you okay?!" I asked as I kneeled down and ran my eyes over her bloodied school uniform.

One look at it and I knew Enzy was right. She's from Sunshine City High School.

"P-please! Help m-me!" The girl pleaded with a terrified look in her eyes.

"It's okay, it's okay, I'll help you," I spoke up as I placed Najak's jacket on her.

I took my phone out and pressed speed dial which happened to be Lilith's number. But the line was busy. So I called Khan and thank God he picked up but something was wrong. I only hear static.

"No... No... No! Stay away from me!" The girl shouted as she stared at something behind me. I turned my head to see what it was and my eyes widened at the sight of someone wearing a black hooded cape. It snarled at us, showing its razor, bloody teeth, and just when it was about to jump at us, my gem glowed its light.

I was relieved at first because I thought it'd protect us but the second the light disappeared the vampire jumped forward and attacked the girl.

"NO!" I shouted as I watched the hooded vampire kill the girl in front of me.

It was all my fault.

word count: 4048

not yet edited.

08/24/2022

🌼 a/n:

😭😭😭😭

welp, that escalated rather quickly...

I hope y'all have a good day/night-

I have so much to say but the ending of chapter one left me shookt... even though I wrote it- 💀

-k.