A little taste...

Juli woke up the next day, feeling invigorated and ready to embrace her newfound vampiric powers. With supernatural agility and endurance, she sprinted to school, not even slightly winded. It was an exhilarating experience for her, as she had never felt such vitality and strength as a human. With her vampire abilities, she felt like she could conquer anything.

Upon arriving at school, Juli effortlessly navigated the hallways using her heightened senses. It was as if a detailed map had been imprinted in her mind, created by her enhanced sense of smell, hearing, and other supernatural abilities. She marveled at the clarity of her perception, being able to anticipate what lay around each corner and accurately estimate the number of people nearby. It was an entirely new world of sensory perception for her.

After reaching her classroom, Juli settled into her seat, barely paying attention to the first lecture in English. However, she found herself answering questions effortlessly due to her advanced knowledge from her previous life as a human. As she sat in class, her mind wandered, contemplating her condition as a vampire and the implications for her future. She desired to experiment with her newfound powers.

Lost in thought, Juli began to doodle in her notebook, sketching a mask she could wear. She realized that she would need to conceal her identity to protect her family, whom she didn't particularly care about but relied on for support and resources. Her rough sketch depicted a white half-face mask adorned with red markings. It would suffice for now. As for her attire, she considered wearing sportswear and a cloak to complete her vampire persona.

As the class came to an end with the ringing of the bell, Juli eagerly anticipated her lunch break. She longed for this moment to conduct her first experiment. She discreetly made her way to the vicinity of the school bathrooms, searching for a suitable subject.

After wandering through the school halls, near the bathrooms, Juli finally found her opportunity. She spotted a solitary girl and approached her. As the girl turned to face her, she was captivated by Juli's deep red, glowing eyes. The mesmerizing gaze held her attention, and Juli effortlessly took control of the situation.

With absolute command, Juli directed the girl to follow her, leading her to an empty bathroom stall. There, she instructed the girl to show her hand, and with a small bite, Juli drew a small amount of blood from an inconspicuous spot. She couldn't help but savor the taste as she licked the blood.

A euphoric sensation washed over her, tempting her to consume the girl's blood fully, but she exercised control. It was just an experiment, after all. However, even from that small taste, Juli confirmed that drinking blood granted her additional power. She realized that she wouldn't die if she abstained from blood, but it would weaken her. Moreover, the girl's blood contained a trace of life force. Juli then glanced at the girl, appearing unassuming, and ordered her to return to class, forgetting everything that had transpired in the past ten minutes.

Now more aware of her powers, Juli found herself craving human blood. It tasted divine and provided a euphoric rush, momentarily making her forget that it came from a living being. However, she was cautious and still had reservations. She didn't want to feed on just anyone. For now, she decided to target criminals and wrongdoers, believing that the world of DC held unpredictable dangers and that no amount of power was ever enough.

With her plan in mind, Juli continued her day at school, engaging in conversations with her friends about superheroes and other topics that piqued her curiosity. She took pleasure in the simple joys of sketching her mask and conversing with her peers, feeling a newfound comfort and familiarity in her surroundings. For the time being, there was no imminent threat looming over her. Juli resolved to relish the peace while it lasted, aware that the future held countless uncertainties.

[A/N: there are mask images in chapter comment]