Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 4

Damian's POV

The bell rang loudly, signaling the end of another boring class. I let out a sigh of relief; finally, it was lunchtime. School was never really my thing—just a series of dull classes and tedious assignments. But lunch, at least, offered a break from the monotony.

I remember being a kid, clinging to my mom, scared of losing her. Those feelings faded as I grew up, but a part of that worry still lingered, buried deep down. Mom calls it "growing up." I call it "accepting reality." After all, she's human.

There's this potion Rayna's working on—a vitality potion for my mom. It's hard to make and requires rare ingredients, but we have the money to get them. I'm thinking about slipping it into Mom's drink to give her more time. She'd freak out if she found out, but I don't care. Rayna says she'd need to drink it daily, so I'll need a plan for when it's ready. I can't wait for that.

And Dad? No way I'm telling him. Just a bit of a veiling potion and he won't notice a thing. Having a witch friend has its perks.

Lunch is my time to unwind. I usually eat with a few friends, though I use the term "friends" loosely. Except for Rayna, I'm not big on hanging out.

There's Tasha—a brilliant human girl with darker skin who seems to ace every test. Then there's Holly, another witch, with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and a towering height.

Rounding out our little group are two vampires, Avery and Ira—cool guys who treat me like a normal person, not like some lord everyone else bows to. Avery's got jet-black hair and dark eyes, while Ira has brown hair and light blue eyes. They're popular with the girls, always joking and lively.

As for me? I lack the charm and don't really care. I'm only at this school because my mom wanted me to be. As Lord Devonshire's son, everyone thinks their kids should be here too. It's a duty, a performance, even if school feels like a never-ending loop of dullness.

But lunch does add some color to my day—Tasha's laughter, Holly and Rayna's chatter about spells, and the laid-back banter between Avery and Ira. These moments are a welcome break from everything.

Today, something stirred at the back of the cafeteria. A group of students started to gather, and we could hear raised voices—a fight, maybe. Of course, we had to see what was happening. A bit of excitement in a sea of dullness was hard to resist.

As we got closer, we saw two human girls arguing with a female vampire, though it quickly became clear that the vampire was trying to calm them down. The humans were the ones causing the scene. The argument's origin wasn't obvious, but I could sense a wave of jealousy rolling off one of the human girls.

Three girls in a friend group? Bound to go wrong eventually. Humans, I've learned, are quick to let jealousy take over, especially when it comes to friends.

The tension was thick, the air charged with frustration and anger. The cafeteria, once filled with casual conversation, was now buzzing with a different kind of energy.

It started with shouting, but within seconds, the more jealous girl shoved the other. Suddenly, we had front-row seats to the fight. I couldn't help but smirk. Should I step in and be responsible? Maybe, but this was too entertaining.

They clashed, and I noticed teachers hurrying over to break it up. It would be over in a minute.

But then, amidst the chaos, I smelled it—blood. My senses sharpened, and an involuntary reaction rippled through me. My fangs tingled, and I felt a primal hunger stir deep within.

The scent was intoxicating, captivating, and my instincts flared to life. The desire to taste it overwhelmed me. If it smelled this good, it must taste divine.