Lethal Beauty

VII - Hierarchy

The first day of school was always a mess.

At least, for Abel it was.

First of all, he wanted to start the afternoon class with a blast and a mindset that this was definitely the place and the year where he could finally glow up or something. So, he woke up bright and early. Well, too early for the noon class. Read the student handbook again and reviewed all of his curriculum. Started a journal (that he wasn't sure if he could keep up with---but, whatever). Then put cologne all over his body despite pouring almost all of the contents of the liquid bath soup on him while taking a shower earlier. Hoping that Iris's scent had long vanished and he could now move without being told that he smelled so much like that CAT.

Fucking cat!

Suddenly, the phone rang.

It was that classic phone again that was on top of the bedside table. The last time it rang was the first time he met the snow leopard. Drawing a deep sigh, he answered lazily, "Hello?"

Just like the first time, there was no answer. Only silence. Followed by a click, then it disconnects.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Abel exclaimed to no one in particular. He swore that if he ever found out who was prank-calling him, he would make them wish they were never born!

Unlike in the morning when the corridors were eerily silent, the afternoon seemed lively. As soon as he emerged from the residence area, he was greeted by students walking out and about, chattering loudly and filling the hallways with laughter. He blinked at the sudden change in the atmosphere. However, this was short-lived. Because as soon as he walked between them, all eyes were on him...

Every footstep that he made or every turn of his head, he would see two or three groups of vampires staring at him a little too much for comfort.

Wait, does this mean that Iris's scent was no longer on him?

According to his class schedule, his destination was Room D-405 Introduction to World Civilization. Breathing heavily, praying that his classmates' stares would not kill him, his hand reached for his access card but before he could place it on the scanner, the door suddenly opened in front of him. To his surprise, Gavril's face was the first familiar face he saw.

"Good afternoon, my precious lamb! Or should I call you rabbit?" When Abel was still standing dumbfounded, Gavril misconstrued and added, tapping on the teeth, "You have two nice big front teeth. Rabbit."

The answer furnished a cool set of reality and woke Abel from his reverie. Irritated beyond his wits. "Thanks! That sure sounds like a compliment."

But Gavril only giggled in response and pulled him by the wrist and inside the room. "Come, come! Meet your classmates."

Silence instantly fell as Gavril pushed and dragged him into the middle of the room. Everyone looked at him with probing, confused eyes, trying to figure out who and what he was.

Abel swallowed with difficulty and his face instantly turned scarlet.

"Listen up everyone!" Gavril claimed everyone's attention, "We have a special student to join you, sent by our human friends. This is Abel Hershel Rosenthal. Pretty name, eh? I want you to treat him nice and fair. Strictly, NO BULLYING. I mean it!" Turning to Abel, he asked, "Uhm, do you want to add anything?"

"Please, don't eat me?" Abel mumbled and felt his palms sweating.

But Gavril heard him and was amused. "Why don't you share something about yourself?" he encouraged, exhibiting one of his most charming smiles. "Go on..."

"I'm..."

When Abel tried to look in front, he discovered quickly that nothing changed. They all look like a bunch of mannequins. How come they're all tall and beautiful? Be it Gavril or that straight-faced Raviel, they were all so damn gorgeous it hurts his eyes.