Schooldays in Carmine were normal. Reiju hated to admit it but the students were all about sizing each other up, picking out the strong amongst the weak, planning their next move, and so on.

The three months she had planned to wait for the supply ship was getting much harder now that she was deep into the school system. Sometimes, she wondered if heeding Professor Shah's advice was the right choice. If she had kept her head down and exited the school quietly... if she had accepted the clans' offer...

But at that moment, Dion Di Lauro strutted inside the cafeteria. Unlike most students here, his uniform was hidden under a black trench coat that was tailored to his elegant form. He took a seat, clasping his gloved hands in front of him.

Reiju's regrets evaporated as her cheek ached in response to his presence. She would give everything to hit his pretty face at least once.

Dion's dark eyes flitted towards her. He shot her a mocking smile before one of his lackeys gave him a plate of food, causing their eye connection to break.

Reiju shook her head. She had many things to do like protecting herself from a supposedly deranged murderer. Her revenge would have to wait. Right now, she was more interested in her professor's notes. The murders after the second world war might be related to the man in the labyrinth. But she had no leads since the garden's secret hatch turned out to contain rusty garden tools.

Should she ask him to work together?

No. He would surely refuse in the guise of protecting her and other shit like that.

She ate the last of her ramen when she noticed that her table was fuller than usual. Reiju recognized Maggie and Billy who talked softly in front of her. But the other faces were new.

"What the hell? Why are you all sitting here?" she demanded.

Maggie kicked her leg from under the table. "They want to join your clan."

Reiju blinked a few times before the words hit her. Right. This was her other problem.

She scanned the expectant faces. Reiju pitied them a tiny bit but she wasn't keen on embracing this school yet. She still wanted a way out. No matter how long she needed to wait for the damn ship.

"Well..." She cleared her out. "If anyone could give me their pinky finger, I'll accept them."

Gasps echoed in the table. Arguments and discussions combined together but Reiju was no longer interested. She had delayed her decision. That was enough for now.

She got up, throwing her tray in the trolley before making her way to the library. It was a separate building from the rest of the school castle located on the west. Reiju was supposed to be in History class but with Professor Huxley's untimely demise, it was a free period. She decided to spend it on research.

Like the rest, the library was in an English gothic style of architecture. The black and copper-colored edifice rose high with mansard roofs and assorted dark towers.

Reiju passed between two ornate pillars and into a long hallway with a thick crimson carpet. Above was a rib vault with intricately carved bosses. Towering bookshelves were arranged horizontally on both sides. She glanced at the library's sorting method before marching forward to the winding stairs at the end.

The second level was similar though it was more packed. The light was also minimal, coming from a handful of windows on the sides. She entered the archives where it grew even gloomier aside from a few hanging lamps here and there. Reiju began searching for Carmine's school records.

"Shit," she muttered a curse as her eyes took in a tall shelf. "I better get started..."

The clock ticked with Reiju inspecting all of the documents after world war two. But so far, she hadn't found any connection to murders. She switched her attention to the student lists, hoping she could point out the author of the diary she had found.

"The author probably didn't graduate if he indeed got murdered."

She narrowed down the list to eleven by comparing it with a list of graduates. And yet, how could she know which of their fathers were soldiers? Much more soldiers who fought alongside General Stalin?

Reiju shoved the papers to the side, clutching her head in frustration. This was a futile task from the start. She needed more information.

This wouldn't be her problem if she could get out of here.

Reiju stood up as annoyance continued crackling on her skin. She was used to facing problems forward. Her father had taught her the importance of loyalty and pride but she had no love for this school and its students. She couldn't care less.

"What the...?" She halted, seeing Dion's sleeping form on the corner. The lamp's light barely touched him that he could be missed if one didn't look too long.

Reiju yanked the knife from her boots. She licked her lips at the prospect of drawing his blood. She leaned down, inspecting Dion's handsome face. He looked so peaceful, so beautiful... like he's dead.

She put the blade on the side of his neck.

His eyes opened.

Dion grabbed her wrist, yanking her down before he pushed her against the shelf. Reiju winced. She twisted the knife and sliced at his forearm. He pressed a knee to her stomach.

Reiju coughed in pain, the knife falling from her hands.

"How naive," he growled and tugged her upwards. Dion drove her into the sturdy bookshelves, fingers gripping her neck. His jaw clenched, onyx eyes swirled with malice, causing an overwhelming wave of terror. "You mean to strike a defenseless person?"

For a second, disgrace filled her. She would have never done that. But the thought vanished as she struggled to breathe. Her chest burned, tears forming at the edge of her eyes as Dion's hold tightened.

"You hit me—first!" she spat out.

His gloved hand loosened on her neck. "It was because of that?"

She dug her nails into his merciless arm. "Shinjimae."

"Curse me all you want." Dion's lips curled in amusement. He bent forward, licking the lone tear that rolled down her right cheek. "But I'm stronger than you, cara."

Reiju gritted her teeth, eyes burning in defiance. He was indeed stronger. But she had one weapon left.

The hardest part of the human body.

"The only way you can hurt me is if I let you." Dion gazed at her, his free hand caressing the cheek he had injured.

Reiju glared at him. "I can hurt you."

"Is that so?"

She yanked his collar forward, her lips meeting his. He gasped but it was too late.

Her teeth tore at his bottom lip.

Blood gushed between them. The taste of iron flooded the girl's mouth.

Dion staggered backward. He roared in a mix of anger and agony, a hand clutching his wound. Reiju recoiled from his fury. She ran away, heart pounding against her ribs.

"Ugh. That was the grossest thing I ever did," Reiju muttered, spitting the blood from her mouth. She took the stairs two at a time, hoping that Dion wouldn't chase her.

Reiju reached the pillars.

"Do you think the new professor will be as nice as Professor Huxley?"

"I guess we will know tomorrow."

What?

Reiju grabbed one of the talking students. The girl flinched at the drops of blood on her uniform, backing away in fear but she didn't let her. "When is the new professor coming?"

"Uhm..."

"Answer me!" she demanded.

"Tonight."

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