Arianna’s POV

The grass beneath me felt cold and wet as I slowly opened my eyes to the surroundings. The smell of soil, blood, and silver was thick in my nose.

I didn’t move at first; in fact, I couldn’t. My body screamed with pain, and I could vividly remember what had happened earlier that night.

I blinked up at the stars, disoriented for a second. A soft breeze swept over the lawn, chilling the open lashes on my back. I pushed myself off the floor, the pain almost crippling me for some seconds.

I slowly dragged myself to my room while biting down hard on my cheek to keep myself from screaming.

’No more,’ I muttered to myself. It was midnight, and they had dumped me in the middle of the lawn after savaging my body with the silver whip.

My room, my sanctuary, a dark place I went to escape my misery. I stood in the dark for a moment, leaning against the wall, listening to the silence.

My breaths were shallow and slow, the burns reminding me that I was a vampire raised by werewolves.

I crossed to the old dresser in the corner of the room, each step pulling on torn muscles. My fingers trembled as I reached the drawer button, the second one on the left.

I pulled on it, only to find out that it was stuck just like always. I yanked it open with force, and there it was, the folder I had in mind.

It had yellow edges, and it was worn around the corners. This was my last secret.

I had stared at this folder countless nights. Wishing, hoping. Never brave enough to act on it, but tonight, I didn’t feel like a coward anymore.

My hand tightened around the papers as I took in a deep breath.

I gathered my belongings from around the room. Taking my last glance around the room and in the mirror, taking a last glimpse of who I once was before erasing it all, walked towards the door and shut it quietly behind me.

***********************************

Dense black forests and wetlands surrounded the Ashwood Academy . The walls of the academy were built high and painted white, with pillars surrounding it, blending Gothic, Norse, and modern architectural elements.

Inside the academy are arched corridors and ancestral crests. Surrounding the hall are modular eco-buildings with smart-glass walls.

Much to my dismay, the school’s architectural setup was modern and grander than I had imagined.

I thought the school hallways would be dimly lit with silver lanterns, with Ivy creeping over its walls like veins.

I expected something more Gothic and Ancient, but the air here seemed more welcoming than I thought until my eyes met a silver object, more like a towering sculpture of The Argent Sentinel.

It was a 12-foot-tall, monolithic statue crafted from pure lunar-forged silver. The aura from the sculpture repels vampires instinctively.

I stared at the statue for a while, a sudden sense of fear crawling up my spine. Something about this sculpture felt off to me, but whatever it was, I couldn’t place a finger on it.

It was almost time for classes, so I had to hurry to the locker room at the west wing, locate my locker and head to the classroom on time.

The lockers were neatly arranged in rows and columns, with each student’s name attached to each locker.

I got to the locker with my name, ’Arya Wolfsburn’, on it. I had replaced my name, ’Arianna Falcon’, with ’Arya’ to hide my true identity.

However, that is not the only thing I changed; my hair and eye color weren’t left out either. My hair was no longer burgundy but now silver-blue, and my eyes were sea green instead of amber.

Peering inside my locker, I found that the inner walls were painted my favorite color, red. I chuckled, actually flattered by the attention they paid to the details I filled in the form.

I gathered my books and, as I turned towards the classroom, I bumped into something hard, sending my books flying in different directions.

Wait, that was a human?. I thoughtfully asked myself as I slowly looked up at the towering figure that I had bumped into.

"Watch your step, blind freak." He said with a look of disdain written all over his face.

’Wow! What a scumbag, was that how they behaved here?’ I muttered to myself with my eyes flipped to the side as I watched his retreating figure.

I got down to gather my book. "My name is kyle." I heard a voice as a hand reached out to help me gather my books that were littered all over the floor, must be the scumbag’s friend, I hadn’t noticed earlier. I looked up to his emerald gaze.

"What’s yours?" He asked with a low smirk on his lips. "Arya", I answered with my signature icy tone.

"You still read Harry Potter, what generation are you?" He gestured to one of my books in an amused tone. I could see an amused, quirky smile curling up at the corner of his lips.

"What is the meaning of that?" I fired back at him. "Keep your irrelevant opinions and questions to yourself", releasing the anger I felt towards his friend. I felt so much better.

I walked into the class, luckily, before it was time for the first lesson. I was met with stares, both friendly and uncomfortable, as I walked in the direction of my seat. Of course, I should have expected it as a new intake.

Just like the lockers, each seat had a tablet with their name scribbled on it, making it easily accessible for me.

I found my seat and took it, glancing around and trying to get my books arranged on the desk.

"New here, huh?" I heard a voice on my left side say. I turned to my left just to catch him looking forward.

He had such a mean and composed demeanour. "Are you asking me?" I asked the guy with the name Jace Belmont sitting beside me.

"Who else is new here? And I wasn’t asking a question; I was just remarking. He replied to me in such a cold tone. ’Was this really how the guys here actually behaved, or was it just the people with the problem?’ I mentally screamed.

The rude guy from earlier that day sat across Jace on the left, and I managed to see the name on his desk: ’Daven Spade.’

And I saw Kyle switch chairs with the sturdy nerd right behind me, and I just found it so weird that I was in a class of scumbags.

"Alright, everyone listen up,, the prof said as he strode into the class. "We have a new student in our midst, so I would like her to introduce herself."

I stood up and walked to the middle of the classroom, "My name is Arya Wolfsburn, I..." I started to introduce myself before a redheaded girl interrupted me.

"What a ridiculous name,, she said, and her friends started laughing. ’Oh well, I guess everyone is stupid here, I might as well start calling them out.

"You mean like your ridiculous name ’juliet’," I said, taking a glance at her table.

Silence washed over the classroom, and I could see those dudes smirk and something more sinister appear in their eyes.

"Enough, I’m Professor Garrin Ulfrich, and I won’t be expecting chaos in my class this section." He said, directing his glare at the class before looking at me. "See me after class, Miss Wolfsburn".

Arianna’s POV;

On my first day of school, I had to meet my teacher after class. What a great way to start.

I slunk back to my seat, my gaze burning holes into the back of red-haired juliet and her squad of wannabe drama queens.

They giggled like they ran the place, maybe they did, but not for long if I had anything to say about it. I’d barely walked into this school and already, I was ready to walk right back out.

Professor Garrin’s voice hummed on in the background, words floating around the classroom.

My mind refused to absorb anything. Instead, I stared through the window beside me, out at the cloudy horizon and the oak trees that surrounded the school grounds.

I could feel the tension growing in my chest, a familiar tightness that told me I wasn’t just annoyed, I was close to boiling over.

The lunch bell finally rang, sharp and loud, yanking me out of my spiral. It sounded like freedom, and I immediately reached for my bag, more than ready to bolt. But just as I took my first step, Professor Garrin’s voice caught me mid-stride.

"Miss Wolfsburn, please stay behind for a moment."

I bit back a groan and forced myself to turn around with as much politeness as I could muster, which, admittedly, wasn’t a lot.

I grudgingly followed him as the classroom emptied.

"Arya Wolfsburn," he began, looking over his round spectacles. "You are new here, and I wouldn’t want you getting into frequent trouble. Starting a fight on your first day at school isn’t a nice first impression."

His tone wasn’t exactly reprimanding; it was more like he was sizing me up. Like he’d seen dozens of students like me and was deciding which category to file me under.

"I heard you right, Professor Ulfrich," I said. "I’ll try to avoid any more trouble."

He gave me a slight nod, but I could tell he didn’t believe me. Maybe he was right not to.

The hallways were buzzing with chatter as I made my way to the cafeteria. Everyone was already clumped into their social cliques, laughing, gossiping, pretending not to look at the new girl. I could feel their eyes on me, measuring, speculating.

I scanned the room and found an empty table near the window, bathed in golden light. That would be my spot from now on, my quiet corner.

As I weaved through the maze of students, food trays, and swinging backpacks, I caught the unmistakable sound of juliet’s voice.

"Look, Tessa, the clueless newbie has finally arrived," she said, flipping her crimson ponytail over her shoulder like she was starring in her personal reality show.

I didn’t even need to look at her to know they were all watching me. I could feel their collective gaze sticking to my back like leeches.

"I’m going to teach her a lesson she won’t forget," she whispered to Victoria, who sat to her left. Their laughter followed, sharp and poisonous.

If only they knew. My vampire senses caught every word, every heartbeat, every flicker of emotion. I could’ve recited the gossip in perfect mimicry if I cared enough to entertain them.

As I walked past their table, juliet made her move, a very predictable and pathetic one. She stuck out her leg, expecting me to stumble and fall, tray and dignity crashing to the ground.

But instead, I moved with swift precision, pivoted, and caught her off balance.

With a yelp, she toppled backwards onto the floor. Gasps erupted across the cafeteria.

"Oops," I said softly, stepping around her. "Good riddance to bad rubbish."

She looked up at me, stunned and furious, her face turning the exact shade of her hair.

I bent low until my eyes met hers. "Next time," I said calmly, "watch who you come for."

I walked away before she could recover, the chaos behind me like music to my ears.

Just as I reached my table and sank into my seat, thinking I’d earned a moment of peace, I felt a familiar presence. A scent, my stomach twisted before I even looked up.

"Dane Ray." The name in my mind was like a curse.

He stood there, tray in hand, looking like a memory I had locked away and thrown into the sea. The last time I saw him, it was through tears and betrayal.

Why here? Why now?

I packed up my things, I had lost my appetite, so I decided to abandon the food.

I think I heard him mention his name, but I was far gone.

I ran past the tables, past the confused stares and raised brows, straight out of the cafeteria. I didn’t care where I was going; I just needed air, space, and silence from all the chaos of today.

His face haunted me like a shadow. The memories clawed their way back in. He had believed my sister’s lies. Called me a slut, never once asked for my side of the story. Never once did they look into my eyes to see the truth.

I hated him. I hated that I still remembered how he made me feel. I hated that I once dared to love him or trust him, but what did I get in return .

I needed to find the dorms really fast, I felt exhausted from today’s events. Using the student guide, I navigated the twisting hallways and buildings.

The dormitory was impressive, ultra-modern, glass walls reflecting the sunset, towering over the other buildings like a silent guardian. It looked like something out of a futuristic boarding school.

The girls’ wing was to the east. I scanned my ID and entered the building. My flat was on the third floor, and when I opened the door, I stopped cold.

It was beautiful. A small lounge with cozy sofas and a coffee table greeted me. The dining area looked like something out of a magazine, and a tall bookshelf in the corner already sparked ideas about what novels to stuff it with.

I checked the names on the doors on the left side of the corridor. I’m guessing they are doors to the rooms. magdalena Xander, ayeesha Dawn, my flatmates. Hopefully, they weren’t nightmares in disguise.

My room was the last on the right.

I stepped inside and exhaled. It was perfect. Warm wooden floors, a large bed with soft grey sheets, a writing desk by the window, and soft white curtains that danced in the breeze.

I dropped my bag and collapsed onto the bed. But I couldn’t stop thinking. Couldn’t shake off the feeling. The look in his eyes when he saw me was it hate, or was it something else?.

I needed to sleep, just a moment of peace from all the chaos.

I closed my eyes to sleep and was soon awakened by distant echoes of laughter in the hallway.

Arianna’s POV

Voices drifted through the thin wall of my dorm room. Both laughter and footsteps, I think they were laughing at a joke.

I enjoyed their laughter and voices, and deep inside me, I wanted to join them.

I pulled my knees tighter to my chest, sitting on the edge of my bed, debating whether I should go out or just pretend I was asleep.

My room smelled like cardboard and dust from unpacked boxes, my duffel bag half-zipped beside the closet.

Everything felt temporary, like I hadn’t truly arrived yet. Another burst of laughter echoed through the living room. I bit the inside of my cheek. I couldn’t hide forever.

Taking a deep breath, I slid off the bed, my bare feet brushing against the cool tile floor. I hesitated at the door, hand hovering over the knob.

For a second, I imagined opening it and stepping into a room full of judging stares, just like in the cafeteria. I just didn’t have energy for another drama.

But I wasn’t going to cower, not after what happened earlier. I turned the knob and stepped out.

The hallway was quiet except for the murmur of voices from the living room. I walked slowly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as I reached

the corner.

Two girls sat scattered across the space. One on the couch, legs tucked under her and the other sprawled across a beanbag with a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

Then they looked up, their eyes darting in unison towards me as I stepped into the living room.

All of them.

Two pairs of eyes, different colours, different shapes. They looked at me as if they could recognise me, their lips contorting into a smile.

’Ok, no drama, they are smiling. But what for?’

"Hey!" the girl with the wild curls and oversized hoodie called out, waving like we were old friends. "You’re Arya, right?"

"Yeah." My voice came out quieter than I meant it to.

"Finally! We were starting to think you were a ghost," the girl on the beanbag said with a grin. "I’m Mel, by the way, and that’s ayeesha over there, scrolling like her life depends on it.

"Shut up, I’m texting my cousin," ayeesha said without looking up, then glanced my way. "You’ve got good timing. We were just talking about you."

That made my stomach twist. "Me?"

magdalena leaned forward, smiling. "You’re kind of famous now, we didn’t think the famous girl was our flatmate until now. "

"Oh god," I muttered.

ayeesha set her phone down and crossed her arms, her smirk widening. "juliet, Victoria, and Alexia? That cafeteria takedown? Legendary."

magdalena nodded so fast I thought her curls might bounce off her head. "You completely destroyed them. Like, I was waiting for a mic drop or something."

I felt my face heat up. "I didn’t mean to make a scene. I just... couldn’t take their crap anymore."

"Well, you did more than stand up for yourself," magdalena said. "You humiliated them. Deservedly."

"They’ve been ruling this place with side-eyes and insults for too long," ayeesha added. "It was refreshing seeing someone put them in their place the way you did."

A small laugh escaped me, half relief, half disbelief. "I thought I’d get in trouble."

"Nope," ayeesha said. "You got fans instead."

They all laughed, and I found myself smiling too, even though I felt awkward just standing there in my socks and oversized sweater.

For a second, I felt like maybe I wasn’t completely alone.

"Well..." I shifted on my feet. "Thanks. I didn’t really know anyone noticed." I took steps forward to the sofa to join them fully in their conversation.

"We noticed," Jules said. "And you’ve got guts. Respect."

It got quiet for a beat after that. Not an uncomfortable silence, but one of those moments where everyone had said what they needed to and didn’t know what came next.

"Anyway, I think I’ll just, um, finish unpacking. But it was nice meeting you guys."

"Anytime," magdalena said cheerfully. "We’re usually out here annoying each other if you ever wanna join."

I nodded and slipped back into my room.

I shut the door behind me, and I leaned against it for a second, exhaling slowly.

They were nice .

That shouldn’t have surprised me as much as it did, but it did. After weeks of snide remarks, cold shoulders, and people pretending I didn’t exist or worse, pretending I was just something to whisper about. This was... new. Normal. Kind.

I sat on the bed again, fingers tugging at the frayed seam of my blanket. My thoughts were a whirlwind. Maybe not everyone here was a vulture waiting to pounce. Maybe this place wasn’t entirely terrible. Maybe...

Then suddenly I started to feel so uneasy. ’What is wrong with me?’

That creeping, twisting unease. Like something inside me was out of place.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, nauseous, faint, but persistent, like an itch I couldn’t reach. I stood up abruptly and walked to the small bathroom attached to the suite.

The mirror above the sink was slightly cracked on the corner. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping to chase the feeling away.

It clung to me.

My reflection stared back with tired eyes and flushed cheeks. Something inside me was humming, low and constant, like a sound only I could hear. My fingers trembled slightly as I dried my face with a towel. .

I knew what it was. I didn’t want to admit it, but deep down, I knew.

The thirst. The pull. The hollow ache I’d been ignoring since lunch. It had only gotten worse since then.

I couldn’t stay here, not like this, not in this manner.

I grabbed my scarf from the desk chair and wrapped it tight around my neck, pulling my hood over my head.

Quietly, I eased the window open. The cool night air kissed my skin, and I stepped outside making sure I wasn’t followed.

Good, I wouldn’t want them to find out what I was.

Because if they knew what I truly was, no amount of cafeteria bravery would matter.

And I couldn’t lose this, not now or when I’d just started to feel like this is my place.

So, I had to go somewhere in the woods surrounding the school, to sort out my unease.