Blood Wars

Chapter 5

Six AM Monday morning. There is no blaring alarm to wake me. I know exactly what time it is. But what surprises me is that neither of my parents enters my room for an enthusiastic wake up or send off for "Kara's big day." Not that I'm complaining. Since seeing my vampires last night was out of the question, I spent the last few hours lying on my back on top of my silk duvet staring at the ceiling. Playing out scenarios in my head. One where I get by without talking to a single living soul and judge quietly from a distance planning my glorious revolution in my head. But apparently someone will be there watching my every move and reporting back to my parents, and they're expecting some effort and interaction with their precious day walkers. I could swallow my pride and talk to everyone, become the Queen bee and make everyone love me- right before my army turns on the human race. That daydream amuses me for a while but it's so obviously over the top and suspicious. Not to mention I'd actually have to talk to all those humans and who has the patience for that? Besides my parents obviously. But my favorite daydream involves me showing up, fangs exposed and having my fun terrorizing the halls, hearing the screams, absorbing the fear, tasting the tangy blood. What a beautiful dream it is.

My closet holds little more than tight revealing outfits suited for my favorite vampire activities. Let's face it, no fearsome vampire army out for sweet bloody justice is going to respect someone in a crisp button-up. But after some digging, I manage to find a plain black sweater and jeans. Even though I can't remember ever wearing jeans. I quickly put them on and venture downstairs. Both my parents are by the bottom of the steps. My mother is holding a red and black backpack and my father holds a glass vile. I nod to acknowledge them and take the backpack from my mother, slipping my arms through the straps. The backpack is light, mostly for show, I guess. You can dress up a vampire in modest clothing and a backpack, but they'll still just be a vampire. I turn to leave but my father clears his throat. The vile is now outstretched in his hand, full of red liquid. I can smell the contents from the inside. Not human, but animal. "Breakfast," he says. I take it from his hands, but they still stare at me expectantly and they don't stop until I down the entire contents. I try not to wince as I swallow. My body is still getting used to the drastic change in diet.

"Thanks," I mumble.

"You know how to get there, right?" My mother inquires.

I nod.

"Make sure you come straight home after school." My father says predictably.

I nod again and make my exit out the large oak door of our estate. I walk through the gate and the guard gives me a wave, which of course I ignore. I can't wrap my head around how weird it feels to walk at a human pace. My natural abilities would have me at the school in less than a minute. But today it takes me fifteen. The school is easy enough to find, I just follow the growing scent of cheap deodorant and the sounds of incessant chatter that makes up the teenage population. Brown bricks make up the walls of the school as well as a brass sign that reads "Anders High." I'm standing right outside the school yard, allowing myself a few moments before joining the rest of my new school mates. I am a vampire, a creature of the dammed. Yet I am certain I've never been this close to hell in my entire immortal life.

The second I step foot in the halls, my head swells with the overwhelming amount of conversations going on at once. I have never been near this many humans at one time. I fight the urge to bring my hands to my ears or whip my head around to find the owner of every voice. For the first- and what I'm sure will be the only time- I'm glad I'm not at full power. Because hearing every voice in this building as well as every thought is more than I can handle right now. Cautiously, I look around. The school shouldn't be too hard to navigate, if I only-

"Karalyn!" A cheerful voice calls my name. Suspiciously, I turn my head to meet the owner of the voice. What I see is an olive-skinned girl with dark wavy hair in stylish but eccentric clothes. I look at her, waiting for an explanation.

"I'm Cleo, I was told to show you around today." I'm still giving her a look that says, "Explain yourself now, human." I guess she picks up on it because she lets out a small chuckle. "It's a small school," she says. "I know everyone here. Except you. So that must make you Karalyn."

"It's Kara actually." I accept her explanation even though I don't like it. I want to blend in, but it looks like I'm going to stand out by default.

"Oh, a nickname girl, got it!"

I grit my teeth.

"And I suppose Cleo is short for Cleocin?" I say sarcastically.

She laughs much louder than necessary like the thought of being named after an antibiotic is the funniest thing in the world, drawing several unwanted glances in our direction in the process. "You're hilarious!"

Knowing I'm not going to be able to take much more of her enthusiasm without wanting to bite her throat, I turn and look at her until her eyes are locked on mine. Once I have her gaze I speak slowly and clearly. "Cleo, the principal doesn't want you to speak to me. He also told me to tell you to shave your head."

Cleo looks at me, mesmerized for a moment and I think my plan was successful until she suddenly laughs. "The principal is a woman, silly. I like you. Come on, Kara." She starts to lead me down the hall.

Dammit. I can't compel her. There's not enough human blood in my system. I'm stuck with my personal guide for the time being. I try to mask my frustration and anger as I follow her.

"Good morning Cleo." A male teacher with auburn hair greets her before glancing at me. He scans me over. "Ms. Dennen, I presume. I trust Cleo is well acclimating you to our school."

My eyebrow raises slightly. He is a vampire, I'm sure of it. And by the look he's casting my way, he knows who I am as well. "Of course." I smile so sweetly that it's sickening. This must be the guide my parents arranged to keep an eye on me. Great, not only do I have miss school spirit, I also have a vamp teacher to steer clear of.

"That's good to hear." He says warily before continuing down the hall.

"That's Mr. Laswell, the algebra teacher. He's pretty nice as long as you stay out of trouble." Cleo explains. She continues to point out teachers and classrooms to me as I half pay attention. I still can't believe I'm here. How did this even happen?

Thankfully, Cleo's class schedule is different than mine, so we are forced to part ways for a bit. My first class is a blur of useless information, as is the second, and the third. I am well over one hundred human years old, there's nothing they can teach me, and nothing here to hold my attention. The school day breaks for lunch and I am back under Cleo's helping hand.

"Hey Kara!" She says, happy to see me for some reason. I notice that she is not alone this time. She'd surrounded by two more female day walkers whom I can only assume are her friends. I'm supposed to sit with them for lunch, instead of having them for lunch, which is how it should be.