Barely An Angel (Completed)

1~ New School Year, Same Me

It was my first day of junior year at Black Claw High School, a school specifically for supernatural teens. I stood motionless on the steps with excited students passing all around me, occasionally shoving into my sides. My churning stomach told me that maybe I just wasn't ready to step foot inside yet. It wasn't because I was a new student or anything, because I wasn't. I'd been attending lessons at the old brick building since I began high school; but at the same time, it wasn't like I had any friends waiting to reunite with me. I was virtually an outcast, being the type of...thing...that I was.

At Black Claw High, there were countless types of supernaturals: vampires, werewolves, demigods, mermaids; you name it. My school was a crazy place. But, even with all these kinds of people, I couldn't quite find my crowd. I'm a vampire and angel hybrid, and the only hybrid of that kind at my school. Or, anywhere, as far as I knew. I would hang out with the vampires, but the only ones here at Black Claw High were blind followers of a notorious vampire, Demeille Roth. He would be what's classified as a blackeye, which is a vampire that survives solely off of human blood. His two sidekicks, Dario Radley and Adrien Vance, are also blackeyes. Even though they mostly keep to themselves, the other vampires practically idolize them.

They're called blackeyes because drinking human blood causes a vampire's eyes to become an inky midnight black. There aren't too many around today because our ancestors worked hard to steer vampires away from their destructive ways. But then, of course, you have those like Demeille, who enjoy rebelling in every way possible. He's pretty much a supernatural version of the stereotypical "bad boy" type because he's not even out of school yet and he drinks real blood. Usually, if a vampire wants to become a blackeye, they at least wait until they're graduated. But most vampires - those who are sane - don't even consider switching to a diet of human blood because it's considered a one-way ticket to that particular place where bad people go.

Since most vampires don't drink real blood, they substitute it for a drink that mimics it. It even comes in different flavors; woodland animal and human seem to be the more prominent categories. It's called nyris, and it comes from the fruits of a plant called sangyris. Since I am half angel, I technically don't have to rely on it for every meal like full vampires do, but I do drink it from time to time. It's not too bad, but I'm definitely glad I don't have to drink it all the time.

I've heard that blackeyes drink human blood because it supposedly tastes better than nyris, and those who drink it don't get thirsty as often. They would also have sharper fangs and ultra-heightened senses, plus an attitude that wraps that all up to create the perfect killing machine. Well, almost perfect. Blackeyes can't go out in the sun without being burned alive, unless they have a certain necklace belonging to the Chancellor of Vampires, which has been enchanted to grant the wearer the ability to, well, not burn in the sun. The Chancellor of Vampires is one of many rulers of the supernatural world; as there is a Chancellor for each species.

In other words, blackeyes can't go out in the sun at all because that particular necklace - so-called the Sun Necklace - is always hanging around the neck of the Chancellor of Vampires. And any Chancellor, vampire or not, prefers not to mingle with whom they govern unless completely necessary. Regular vampires, those who drink nyris, are able to go out in the sun, but only for about an hour at a time. This is because the sangyris plant has certain qualities that are passed on to nyris, which curb the damaging effects of the sun.

***

As I gazed up at the engraving above the school's massive entrance, I felt the slight morning breeze blowing my long blue-black hair around my face. The engraving depicted a black-claw gryphon, which was not only a rare breed but also the namesake and mascot of my school. It was wielding one of its menacing claws, seemingly pointing to our school motto carved below it: