‘You must be the guard then.’ I say glancing her up and down. Brown hair with the usual vampire brown eyes with specks of red. She is of average height and wears modern clothes. She nods happily. ‘Yes my name is Jane.’ She says calmly her voice flowing. ‘How will you keep tabs on me then?’ I ask, curious about her work. She shakes her head. ‘Ok’ I give in. she brings out a small white polystyrene cup. I know it’s filled with blood. She goes to take off the lid. I cover my nose and turn away. ‘Wow’ she says placing the cup down. I hiss at her and go to the door but she flits to it first. The bell goes. ‘I need to get to class.’ I say through clenched teeth. I grab my books and push out.
The halls are empty as I leave. I push open the door to my class room and quickly take my seat. ‘Hello class.’ The teacher starts standing up. ‘I trust you had a good Christmas.’ There is a wave of murmuring and shuffling. Miss Parry skims her eyes over us and lets them fall on me. ‘Cameron why not tells the class about yourself.’ I sigh and stand up the table scrapes purposely. I stand at the very front and face everyone. ‘Well my name is Cameron White, I’m 16. I live in Wintercombe in a small house with my guardian James Montro. I like to go hunting at the weekends and enjoy late nights.’ The hunting remark makes me smile. The minute I finish hands shoot up. I point to the Goth at the back. ‘How long have you lived here?’ she says in a scratchy voice. ‘I’ve lived here all my life.’ I say glancing over the other hands.
After half an hour of questions the bell rings again and everyone files out. I follow and make my way to English. When I get there my guard is stood at the front. I curse quietly and wait to be directed to a seat. Luckily there is a new seating plan so I haven’t to worry about where to sit.
Once I take my seat my guard come over. ‘So what am I to call you then?’ I say after a moment of silence. She looks at me for a moment. ‘My name is Jane Taylors.’ She says softly. I nod. ‘Ok Jane’ she tuts and shakes her head. ‘In the classroom you might have to call me Mrs Taylors.’ I nod as the teacher walks in. a middle-aged man with short ginger hair that looks like it belongs on a clown. His clothes look like a cross between hippie and park tramp. ‘I am Mr Wiggins.’ He says going into a flourishing bow. The class breaks into a chorus of hoots and claps. I cover my ears as the noise gets louder. Even Jane shows signs of discomfort. Soon the noise dies down. ‘You handled that well.’ She compliments me. I nod and turn back to the teacher. As the teacher starts on expectations I find my thoughts wondering.
The bell goes and I take my time packing up my stuff. Mr Wiggins strolls over. ‘You must be Cameron the new girl.’ I nod and lift my messenger bag into my shoulder. ‘What school did you move from then?’ I turn to him. ‘I was home tutored.’ I say turning to leave. ‘Interesting. How long have you been thirteen?’ his question shocks me and Jane goes stiff by my side. ‘I’m Sixteen’ I say he moves his clothes and I see a stake flutter with the cloth. I feel Jane flit beside me and I steal a glance to see the stake in her hands behind her back. Smiling I turn and walk out the door. ‘Was he?’ I ask Jane. She nods ‘he has his superstitions.’ She answers in a whisper.
My next lesson is science. I walk quickly to the door and push it open. The smells of chemicals and other things hit me. Letting it pass I walk to take my set seat. A boy sits beside me and opens up his text book. Once he scans the page he turns to me. ‘Hi I’m Josh.’ He say a tad nervous. ‘Cameron but calls me Cammie.’ I say turning back to the front. The teacher comes in and her eyes skim the room. ‘Today class we will be finding out our blood type.’ I swallow the panic and look to my side to see Jane’s eyes have gone wide. ‘Would you like to leave Cammie?’ she whispers to me. I shake my head and concentrate on the teacher. ‘We will all partner up’ she manages to say before chairs scrape and everyone stands up. Josh comes to me first. ‘Can I be your partner?’ he asks. I look at Jane and she steps forward. ‘Um no I need to be I’m just watching her for the first few weeks to see how she settles in.’ she says in a formal way. Josh turns back to me his face looking hopeful. I shake my head. ‘Sorry’ I say feeling a pang of regret. He backs off and goes to one of his mates. I listen in. ‘Sorry Josh.’ Josh sighs and try’s to busy himself. ‘I know Theo I just thought maybe she would appreciate it.’ Another shot of hurt hits me and it takes all I have not to go over there and say yes.
The teacher comes around with the finger pricks. Handing out one plastic packet each. Some of the girls look scared at the idea of drawing blood. I feel a hunger swell up inside me and try to ignore it. As the teacher gets to the front the class quietens. ‘Amy can you hand these out.’ She hands a tall ginger girl a pile of worksheets. She takes then quickly and gives everyone one. I glance over it not paying any attention. ‘Miss Taylors can you come help with the demonstration.’ My guard glances at me and I nod. She slowly walks it to the front. ‘Now we will show you how to do this. Miss Taylors can you hold this please’ she hands her a white packet. She opens it and slides out the finger prick. ‘Now you place your finger on the metal here.’ She explains demonstrating. ‘Then with a little effort you push down’ I hear the pin break the skin and notice Jane watching me. Mrs Brooke holds her finger up and blood wells to the surface. I brace myself against the table as the scent hits me. ‘Once that’s done you put a drop on a slide and label it with your name. Then give it to me and I will test it and tell you the results tomorrow.’ To demonstrate he picks up a slide and wipes his blood on it. Then he places a protective layer on it and puts it to the side. ‘Now your go’ he waves us on and goes to wash his hands.
Jane walks back to me and places a hand on my arm. I relax and turn back to face her. ‘Do you need something?’ she says rooting through her bag and bringing out an opaque bottle. I shake my head and stifle the feeling. I didn’t need the blood I had already overfed last night. More scents of blood fill the room and I brace myself. Jane has the same Idea and stands to my side. ‘I think I need that bottle.’ I admit. Jane has a small smile on her face as she brings out the bottle. I twist off the top and drink down quickly. It’s gone so fast my fangs haven’t time to extend. I hand the bottle back and glance back at Jane. ‘Thank you’ I whisper.
In the end I have to leave the room. The smell and thought is too strong. I leave the room quietly and walk into the corridor. Jane follows silently. ‘You were better than I expected.’ She says. I stop and turn towards her. ‘And what exactly did you expect.’ I snap making her stop. ‘Never mind.’ She says shocked. ‘No tell me.’ I bait. ‘Cammie calm down.’ She shouts. I tense ready to either run or fight. ‘No I will not calm down.’ I growl. When something makes me stop. A boy walks into the hall except this is no human. I smell wolf. The boys stops meters from me. ‘What are you doing here?’ he questions. ‘Um school.’ I say as he takes a step forward. Jane is silent at my side. ‘This is wolf territory’ he snarls. I smile fangs shown. ‘I think you will find this land is owned by vampires.’ Jane shoots back. ‘And who might you be?’ he asks Jane. ‘This is my guard.’ Before he realises I have him pinned to the wall. ‘Have a problem?’ I add. The wolf shakes his head and struggles under my grip. ‘Why do you have a guard?’ he asks a little more civilised. ‘Not here my office.’ Jane says. He boy nods eager to get out of this situation.
