The Vampire Confederation.

Vasilis.

I stood by the turret windows in one of the towers in the East wing dormitories, watching Jade exit her car and begin walking across the parking lot, towards the school entrance.

She had finally gotten her uniforms.

It fit her perfectly, and she almost looked like she'd been a student of Bloodstone Academy for ages. I wondered what she'd think of the uniforms and the school at large, if she learned about the truth behind it all.

I watched, mesmerized by the atrociously beautiful length of her legs in the pleated crimson skirt, when the Brittany girl suddenly appeared, rushing to pull her into a hug, before they both stopped by a nearby car and launched into a conversation.

It was mostly the Brittany girl doing the talking, and I could thank her for it, because it gave me time to just stand there, hidden away in a tower where no one could see me watch and pine for Jade like the pathetic loser that I was.

"What are you doing?" A drawling voice suddenly called behind me, startling me out of my shameful stalker activities, and I whirled around to meet Roman's suspicious gaze.

"Nothing."

"Hmn," his eyes narrowed and he continued to eye me suspiciously, then he waved a hand as if to clear away whatever it was he was suspicious about. "Whatever. I have news,"

He turned around, hands in his pockets as he began striding away as though he expected me to automatically follow him.

I pushed myself off the wall I'd been leaning against and decided to risk one last glance outside the windows, to see if Jade was still in the parking lot, and I almost went into shock as I met with enthralling hazel eyes staring right back at me.

I whirled back around immediately, heart in my throat as I followed behind Roman.

•

•

•

"The Vampire Confederation has put out an official statement declaring us wanted criminals,"

Roman began, sat on a sofa in the expansive East Wing common room, with the rest of the gang converged around him on surrounding sofas, like crooning bees.

The East wing dormitories had been evacuated for us when we moved in, and eight rooms were scattered across the tower, seven of which were in use by us. Aiko and Suiko shared a room, leaving one room vacant.

I remained standing by the door, away from the others and the meeting they were holding.

After the tragic events of the past weekend, the roots of the spider curse in my neck had been itching really badly, and I rubbed my fingers over it in irritation.

Usually, it appeared like an ordinary tattoo and only bothered me during full moons. The witch who cursed me with it had been from the 'Amalthea coven' which meant that her powers were directly linked to, and sourced solely from the full moon.

The upside to that was that I was pretty fine through the month, and only had to suffer once a night every full moon. The downside however, was that, that one night was always when the moon was at its apex, which meant unspeakable pain for me.

I'd never had this itching happen before though. Even though a full moon was almost upon us, it was still very unusual. I wondered if it had anything to with my almost-kiss with Jade, and how it had made me go all thirsty, blood-rage, feral demon, but then I immediately discarded the thought because she had nothing to do with any of this.

Someone snorted after Roman's announcement. "As if all vampires are not criminals,"

It was Charlotte, and she continued. "The Confederation has always been hard little dicks in our bums over the centuries, but I didn't think they'd stoop this low." Her grey eyes flared with anger, and everyone else seemed to share her sentiments.

"So, what happens now? Will Albertha throw us to the fangs, then?" Aiko leaned forward and asked. Suiko was by her side, silent as always with a permanent expression of fear in her eyes.

"No, babe. I doubt the undying hag would do that to us," Sophia crooned softly from Aiko's left. Her voice was always different when she addressed Aiko, compared to the bored, indifferent drawl she addressed everyone else with.

Rishi snorted and adjusted his wire-rimmed round-framed glasses that had slipped down the bridge of his nose before speaking. "I wouldn't put anything past anyone. If the last century has taught me anything, it's that no one can be trusted. No one at all. Certainly not witches."

Jesse nodded and said something in agreement, but I'd tuned them out already.

I was sick and tired of this. I had no business attending these meetings. These people weren't even my friends, they only tolerated me because of Roman. I just didn't understand why he was always trying so hard to make it seem like we were some sort of twisted little family unit.

They were his friends. This was his little gang of vampires. They'd all known one another for at least a century, and had stuck together through all that time.

I did not belong here, just like I've never belonged anywhere.

"I would appreciate it if you stopped calling my mother a hag, you sniveling whore, or I would appreciate it even more when I rip your tongue from your throat," Charlotte threatened casually as I tuned back in, addressing Sophia who simply rolled her eyes and continued chewing on her gum.

"As if. Stop being delirious, Lottie hun. She's not even really your mother!" Aiko glared back at Charlotte instead, when it was clear Sophia was uninterested in an argument.

"Say that again," Charlotte threatened coldly, her marble grey eyes turning red with fury as her fangs began to protrude out of her bared teeth.

Roman placed a hand on her shoulder before she could shoot out of her chair and lunge for Aiko.

"Relax," he commanded, rather than soothed.

Charlotte's fangs retracted at once, and she leaned back into her chair with a sulky frown.

"Albertha Fernsby is an ally. I know many of you do not fancy her, just like she does not fancy us, but she has allowed us stay in the school, and that is a lot more than our own kin has ever done for us." Roman stood to his feet, his hefty self looming above the others as he continued.

"Albertha is a witch, and therefore not bound by the laws of the Vampire Confederation. Whatever she does will be her own unabated decision. Although, they will come for her. I only wonder if she's powerful enough to stand against them. If she chooses to let us remain here, that is."

Usually, I was never interested in the topics of these meetings.

Since the last two years when we'd moved from a small town in Edinburgh, where Roman...found me, I'd travelled with the gang down here to Kensington, and we'd been living together in the school ever since.

Pretending to be students, while they converged and convened every other day to deliberate over plans and plots they'd been working on for decades before I came along.

I knew they had come here to be undercover, and I knew they were looking for something, or rather someone. I also knew a bit about the prophecy and the general principle of it, but I'd never really cared.

Until now. Until Jade.