Egbert

Boy loses Boy

Hans avoids looking at either me or Vikram the rest of the day. Vikram's right, he doesn't seem well. In maths he's very sweaty and feverish, even the teacher notices but Hans narrows his blue eyes at him when he asks if he's okay and it's enough to send his concern out the window. Patches of blonde hair are plastered against his face and sweat seeps through the armpits of his shirt. You don't need vampiric hearing to listen to his puffing. But by lunch time he's fine. The peachy pale hue has returned to his supernaturally contoured cheeks and he's laughing with his coven of Dhampirs. They're all watching his change just as eagerly, noting down everything that happens, and knowing that they'll be next in line for power in the hope he becomes human. He'll be less of a burden for me to deal with. Once I gain all my powers I'll be the highest source of authority for vampires, like father is, and I don't want to have to deal with Hans, he's so annoying. I like him the way he is now, with no eye contact and timid. The only time he does look at me is during food tech. I catch him staring intensely at Vikram, probably planning when he'll beat him up next. He doesn't look away for ages, he's just watching Vikram stir the cookie mix. More like fuck it up, he put in too much egg. When he over stirs the batter and its splatters on his apron and partner (poor Vicky Donagon) he smiles beneath his heavy lashes. What an asshole, that was a pretty malicious smile.

"Stop staring Hans."

I whisper. He whips his head to look at me, not realising that I can see him from two stations behind, and then looks down at his own perfect cookie mix. Wow, just last week if I had said that he would have sent one of his goons to replace my sugar with salt and take my butter.

That's another thing that doesn't add up. Hans is only being respectful because my father talked to him. I was so sure my father wouldn't do that but the events disagree with me. But this new realisation that Van Swieten- or whoever it really is- is here, and he's likely the one who stole the amulets and compelled Vikram has got me thinking. It leads me to believe it's the stranger with the amulet who spoke to the Principal. But why would Van Swieten help me out of a jam like that? What could he possibly get from getting Hans off my back? Maybe it really was my father. Some theories are too farfetched to be true.

I know Hans and he does not take threats lying down. He's planning something. He's already hurt Vikram and that may have just been the start. And again Vikram is only hurt because he knows about vampires. That's it. This afternoon I'm breaking all ties with him. I can no longer avoid it. It's part of the deal with my parents and if they knew I was still friends with him they wouldn't take too kindly to it. But how the hell do I phrase something as hurtful as this. Luckily when I muster up the courage during our walk to the lockers once the bell has rung, the words stream out of me fluently.

"WECANTBEFRI ENDSORMYPARENTSWI LLKI LLYOU."

Perfect. It's concise and direct. Perhaps I could have done without the shouting.

But Vikram can understand my shouting perfectly. "Eh" He shrugs, stuffing his folders into the locker "when do they not want to kill me? Remember the Christmas party?"

"But this time it's different. We agreed on a deal. This is my last year at school. Then I'm going to boarding school in Bulgaria. And I have to start drinking blood once a fortnight." I lean in and whisper quieter, "that's why mother killed the maid, so I could drink her blood."

Whatever reaction I was expecting, it wasn't to have Vikram slam the locker shut. It's so surprising that a few heads in the rushed corridor turn to stare at him. But it's not that interesting so they turn back straight after.

"You're leaving."

"Yes."

Brushing past me, he heads towards the double doors at the end of the corridor,