𝘚𝘪𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.

Twenty nine.

Akira moved through the forest with her heart pounding, exhilarated yet horrified by what she'd done. The taste of human blood was intoxicating, like nothing she'd ever experienced from the blood bags. She felt stronger, sharper, as if every sense had come alive in ways she couldn't have imagined. But as the euphoria began to fade, a dark realization settled in.

The bodies she'd left behind... they weren't coming back. She couldn't undo this, couldn't erase the evidence of her hunger or the lives she'd taken.

She stopped running, leaning against a tree as her breathing grew shaky. Her hands were still stained, and she wiped them on her clothes, the metallic scent of blood filling her senses. A strange feeling, a mixture of satisfaction and guilt, twisted inside her. She'd fed, but at what cost?

Suddenly, a rustling sound echoed through the trees. She whipped around, her heightened senses alert, prepared to run or fight. But it was Rowan, standing there with an expression that was equal parts shock and sadness. Renetta was just behind her, her gaze piercing, as if she already knew what had happened.

"Akira..." Rowan's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes lingering on the blood that stained Akira's face and clothes. "What did you do?"

Akira's hands shook, and she tried to wipe away the blood on her lips, but the evidence was too clear, too stark in the moonlight. She tried to look defiant, but the guilt was evident in her eyes. "I... I couldn't help it," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I was so... hungry. It was overwhelming."

Rowan's gaze softened, though pain filled her eyes. "We told you... there's no coming back from this, Akira. Feeding on humans... it changes you."

Renetta stepped forward, her expression unreadable, her voice quiet but intense. "You don't realize what you've done, do you? This isn't just about feeding. You've taken lives, Akira. Human lives. That's a line we never cross."

Akira looked away, the weight of their words pressing down on her. She didn't know how to respond, how to justify what she'd done. The hunger had consumed her, and in that moment, it felt like there had been no choice. But standing there, under Rowan and Renetta's gaze, the gravity of her actions settled heavily upon her.

"What happens now?" she finally asked, her voice barely audible.

Rowan took a deep breath, exchanging a glance with Renetta. "Now... we have to make sure this doesn't happen again. But more than that, Akira, you have to decide who you want to be. Feeding like this will only make the hunger stronger. You have to fight it—or you'll lose yourself completely."

Akira's chest tightened as she absorbed their words. She'd felt so powerful, so free in the moment she fed. But now, that power felt hollow, a reminder of the darkness that threatened to consume her. She didn't know if she could control it, didn't know if she could turn back.

But one thing was clear—she couldn't keep running from what she'd become.

The girls quietly led Akira back to the dorm, helping her wash away the blood and rid herself of any trace of the horrific scene. They swiftly contacted a supernatural coroner, arranging for the bodies to be discreetly handled before anyone else stumbled upon them. It was a close call—had the Silvermoon Academy council discovered the bodies first, Akira would be in serious trouble.

For now, Akira's secret was still safe. No one at the academy, not even the council, knew she was a vampire. Only Rowan, Renetta, Amara, Nara, and a few close friends were aware of her true nature. There was more at stake than just her vampirism; if anyone uncovered the truth about her lineage, they'd realize she was the headmaster's granddaughter, next in line to lead the academy. The weight of these secrets pressed heavily on her, knowing that exposure would change her life—and possibly the entire academy—forever.

"Now remember no one can find out about your vampire side..or the fact that the last headmaster was you're grandfather otherwise you'd have to take over the academy and that would mean so many things for you..and not many good things." Renetta told Akira.

Rowan nodded in agreement. She knew that she had to keep it private about her identity..or all hell will break loose.