Enchanted by Sins

Chapter 6

SIERRA

We all walk back to the dorms, as two couples. Now being six o'clock in the morning, we spent nearly four hours down by the beach. Funny, thinking back to when Val and I were sneaking out of 20th Century History, last period, my thoughts for Kaden Lowe were totally the opposite to how they are now. Now – I don't know what to think of him. Apart from the fact that he intrigues me and mesmerising me in so, so many ways...

It's almost like we're soul mates. And God has brought us together. And we have entwined in each other like sticky toffee.

He tightens the grip on my hand, sending me a sideways glance. "My mind is on a roller coaster," he says.

I chuckle. "Yeah, I think mine is too."

Chris and Val turn around at the same time. She pretends to put a finger down her throat and gag. "You guys are gross of the grossest."

I stick out my tongue. "Says the girl who is still with the guy who talks about his penis," I snap.

"Ha, ha, ha, very funny," Chris shoots me the finger. I do it back.

Before I, or the others, blink, Corinth is standing in front of us, scary and towering over us. She wears a crimson velvet dress that trails behind her, with a scooped backline. Her golden hair is pinned up with gold encrusted pins, looking as young as she'd been when frozen. Jeanine Corinth is one of the rare specimens in the world. About less than a third of the population are immortal vampires. They're not bad, not exactly, but they are very hard to kill and can only be killed with a silver stake. They burn badly in the sun, whereas we don't – it only irritates us.

"Miss Auburn, Mr Lowe, Miss Preaker," she slurs. "I did not expect to see you out of bed. The sun's at its highest."

"I..." I begin, not sure to lie or not. She'd see past it anyhow.

"They were with me. It's my fault. I called them out of their rooms," Christian hastily interrupts. He gives Val a worried expression.

"I see," she crosses her arms over her chest. "Well, Mr Farrier you should be very lucky to know that I do not need to speak to either you or Miss Preaker." She sends her a blank stare. "Please carefully take Valerie back to her dorm; may you want to stay there?"

He nods. "Yes, Headmistress, I will."

"You are not allowed. Go now. I'll take care of your friends. Don't worry."

"Um, OK..." he leads Val down the hall, but she struggles and fights. "Come on, Val. They'll be fine."

Then they are gone, and Kaden and I are left with the Headmistress. Awkward silence spreads between us. Without saying another word, she leads us down a narrow corridor, down a flight of stairs, and finally through an ornate wooden door.

"Have a seat, young ones," she tempts. Her voice is soothing, and yet it's her tactic to lure us into one of her traps. Noah has told me all about her.

Kaden sits first and then mutely gestures me to. I eventually give in, but sit leaning forward. "Why are we here?"

She tut-tuts, sits back in her leather chair, and licks her lips. "I'd like to speak to both of you. I find you very intriguing, especially you Auburn. Your brother does enjoy degrading girls." She smirks evilly. "But I am sure you already know that."

I scowl. How dare she talk about Noah like that – despite the fact that he does drink blood from vampire girls? "Miss Corinth, I'd rather prefer you say what you have to. I'd like to get some sleep."

She chuckles. "Ironic. I would think that if you are so tired you wouldn't be roaming the halls at this time of the morning."

I crane my neck to see a ray of light peeking out of the thick, opaque curtains. Closing my eyes, I reply, "Sometimes I wouldn't like to be a vampire."

There is an awkward silence, and Kaden breaks it by clearing his throat. "Uh, Miss Corinth..."

Suddenly her gaze diverts to him. "Yes. Mr Lowe. Late son of George Lowe, father of John, of course – I'm not surprised you are awake."

He laughs. "And why is that?"

She holds a gaze with him a moment longer before tearing away. "You are a remarkable young boy, Kaden. What I fail to understand, however, is the fact that you – skipped period 4 a couple of days ago to call someone. You then called that number again the next day period 4 again. Your family has a dangerous background with this school."

"Your point is..."

"I just don't want my students to have to feel that they are under a threat."

"A threat?" he laughs. "Me – a freaking threat, that's hilarious."

"It's just mere assumption, Lowe. Do not speak to me like that. Your father liked hardcore partying, degrading girls, and he was involved in a murder – just as a suspect. As for your brother, he was the total opposite as I recall clearly. He was a vulnerable little thing, and oblivious to that hybrid."

What on earth was Corinth on about? Kaden's brother – no – his father as well. It makes sense that she was Headmistress then but what doesn't fit together is how she suspects Kaden as a bad boy. He's anything but. And I speak from experience.

"Miss Corinth," I begin. "Kaden isn't – is nothing how you're describing him."

"Thank you for your opinion, Miss Auburn," she snaps, eyes bloody red. "But this is my business with your pretty boy."

That's it. Locking eyes with her, so I've got her in my grasp, I mentally pull her closer to me. Skimming through her mind, I see many things that I don't exactly want to see. She thinks that Kaden is a hybrid. She wants to turn me into an immortal. Why? God, even I don't know. I push away from her mind, yet still have her in my clasp.

Craning my neck to one side, I say, "You will let go of Kaden. You do not think he is dangerous. You will allow Kaden to stay at VWI. And you don't want to change me into an immortal."

Then I've broken the connection between us, and left her slowly blinking to regain her strength. She repeats what I've told her, tells us to leave. Smiling to myself, I grab hold of Kaden's hand, who is utterly bewildered of what just happened, and leave Corinth's office.