Descend into Darkness (BOOK 1)

| 09 | The Transfer Student

My lord. The term resonated in my mind, raising questions about the enigma that was Carden. There must have been countless secrets lurking in his past, like long-forgotten relics in the depths of the ocean. What other revelations would resurface, hurling themselves into my already chaotic life?

   I feverishly scribbled in my notebook for hours on end. My eyes darted between the biology textbook and my hastily written notes, attempting to make up for the lost time.

   You might be curious as to why I needed to catch up on work. Well, let me tell you about a certain vampire who had been occupying my time for the past few days. Her name was Agnes—relentlessly persistent and undoubtedly unhinged.

   Our confrontations seemed never-ending. She would corner me in the hallways and the schoolyard, incessantly interrogating me about Carden. Any response, or lack thereof, would be met with a barrage of scathing insults. Although she hadn't resorted to physical aggression since our initial encounter, I found it increasingly difficult to let my guard down.

   Suddenly, I sensed a presence behind me and dropped my pen.

   "Marquis," I murmured.

   "Oh, have you developed a sixth sense now?" he teased.

   I swivelled around to find the demon perched on the edge of my bed, grinning mischievously as if he'd been observing me for quite some time.

   Marquis' stealth skills were certainly impressive, but over time I had grown accustomed to sensing when someone was watching me. With Carden, I experienced cold chills. With Marquis, it was an overwhelming sense of annoyance.

   I turned back to my notebook and resumed writing.

   "That's not how you spell that," he commented.

   I flinched as he leaned over my shoulder, scrutinizing the page. "Do you mind?!" I exclaimed, shielding my work with my arms.

   "Not really," he replied nonchalantly.

   "If you're that bored, go bother Carden," I suggested.

   "And get killed? That's no fun."

   "Then make yourself useful. Go downstairs and get me a glass of water."

   "What? Did you forget who you're talking to?"

   I froze at the sudden shift in his tone. I raised my head only to be face with a dark glint in his eye. He had been so kind to me, and he looked so angelic, so normal, that I had forgotten who he truly was a demon.

   He wasn't aggressive like Carden, but he still posed a threat. What scared me the most was that I didn't know the full extent of his capabilities. It was as if he was hiding his cards and playing it safe so I would lower my guard as I had been. And it worked.

   Marquis grasped my shoulders with both hands and leaned in close. "I admire your courage, but let me make one thing clear: forgetting the danger around you could get you killed one day."

   We were ensnared in a tense silence for a moment before the pressure eased, and he retreated to lounge on my bed. I couldn't bring myself to write after that. Instead, I stared down at the notebook, lost in thought.

   Carden had returned the soul to Lance, who had awakened but now identified as Marquis. As it turned out, Marquis was also the older brother of a boy named Sage who attended my high school. This revelation made me feel like I had been entangled in this complex situation from the very beginning.

   I swivelled around in my chair, attempting to dissipate the lingering unease. I stared at Marquis, lost in thought. He turned and raised his eyebrows.