GROUNDED

"You're awake, Draco," Serena's voice reached him, her uncertainty evident as she addressed him. Yet, whether it was him or the wolf, remained a mystery.

"What did that mutt do?" Draco's anger flared as he abruptly got up. Serena's presence seemed to soothe him, but he wasn't ready to dismiss the wolf's actions.

Before Serena could reply, Kelly entered the room, her demeanor reflecting her annoyance. "I'll tell you what he did. He broke my arm. That's what he did," Kelly's words carried the weight of her frustration.

Draco turned his attention to Serena, seeking confirmation or explanation. "I'm fine. I wasn't hurt, but that wolf of yours is no joke," Serena's assurance relieved him.

"Oh, good," Draco exhaled in relief, his tension dissipating. He realized he had neglected to apologize to Kelly for her injury. "Excuse me," Kelly huffed, clearly still unhappy.

"Right, sorry about the arm," Draco offered hastily as Kelly walked away, her scowl evident. The situation was becoming more complicated by the minute.

"I spoke to Titan, and he said he'll forgive you," Serena's voice held a touch of reassurance.

Draco's brow furrowed. "Wait, his name is Titan?" he questioned, baffled.

Serena's response was lighthearted. "Yeah, and he's a little sweetheart." Her affectionate description of the wolf seemed at odds with his actions.

"That sweetheart stole my body and broke your sister's arm," Draco grumbled, emphasizing his dissatisfaction with the situation.

"So you've been here for the three days while we were gone?" Serena's question caught Draco off guard, and he froze momentarily. "Did you just say three days?" he asked, a sense of disbelief in his voice.

Serena's raised eyebrow revealed her own surprise. "Were you unaware?" she inquired, her curiosity evident.

"I'm dead, my parents are going to kill me," Draco exclaimed, a mixture of panic and frustration evident in his voice. Without further ado, he jumped up from the bed and rushed out of the room, driven by the realization that he had overstayed his welcome.

Upon returning home, Draco was subjected to a lengthy scolding from his parents. He found himself grounded for an entire month, a punishment that would restrict his activities significantly. Chauffeured to and from school, forbidden to meet friends outside of school, the extent of his confinement was disheartening. What was most frustrating was that he wasn't even responsible for this predicament – it was his wolf, Titan.

As the weight of the situation settled in, Draco could feel Titan's amusement reverberating within him. The wolf seemed to be reveling in the chaos it had caused. "Being grounded means you also don't get to see Serena," Draco remarked, his tone laced with a mixture of resignation and annoyance.

Upon hearing these words, Titan's mirth abruptly ceased, replaced by a sudden seriousness.

"This happened because of your incompetence," Titan's voice echoed within Draco's mind, dripping with a mix of arrogance and blame.

"No, this is because you took over my body," Draco retorted, a sharp edge to his words. He was growing weary of Titan's presence and its constant critiques.

"Exactly my point. If you were strong enough, I would not be able to take over your body," Titan countered, a certain logical confidence in its words.

Draco couldn't help but roll his eyes at his wolf's argument. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, caught in a frustrating mental exchange.

As he reached for his phone to perhaps call someone for a distraction, he remembered that his parents had confiscated it along with his laptop. He groaned audibly and rubbed his face in exasperation, feeling the walls of his confinement close in around him.

Just then, Leroy entered the room. "Draco, I heard you ran away," he said with a raised eyebrow, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

Draco didn't immediately respond. Instead, his gaze seemed to be fixed on Leroy's hair. It was an unusual sight, dyed in shades of blue and pink. Leroy scratched his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, well, I lost a bet, so I had to dye it," he explained.

Draco's attention was briefly diverted from his own predicament as he took in the unexpected hair color. It was a small distraction from the swirling chaos inside him.

"This boy, let's use him," Titan's suggestion suddenly rang out in Draco's thoughts. And in that instant, Draco's eyes lit up with a hint of mischief and a spark of inspiration.

"Roy I need a favor", he began

~~~

Leroy's mind wandered back to how he had ended up in this rather unusual situation. It all began with Draco's seemingly innocent request for his phone. "I didn't bring it with me," Leroy replied casually, not realizing the cascade of events it would set off.

"Well then, go get it," Draco's voice carried a distinct note of command.

Leroy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It's at home," he stated, assuming that would be the end of the conversation.

"So?" Draco's response was curt and demanding.

Leroy couldn't believe his ears. "You want me to go all the way home, fetch my phone, and then come back?" The incredulity in Leroy's voice was unmistakable.

"Yes," Draco replied firmly, apparently seeing no issue with the request.

Leroy's shock turned to indignation. "I'm not going to do that! I'm not your slave," he retorted, the frustration clear in his tone.

Draco's expression grew more serious. "You can do anything else, right?" he suggested a hint of irritation in his voice.

Leroy found himself agreeing just to avoid further arguments, and that's how he ended up in this rather awkward and perplexing situation. Before him stood two girls, and the table before them was loaded with blood bags. It was a sight that left no doubt in his mind: these girls were vampires.

In any other circumstances, Leroy might have dismissed it as a misunderstanding and made a swift exit. However, in this moment, fear and shock kept him rooted to the spot. The idea of trying to explain his presence and potentially offending these supernatural beings seemed like an uphill battle he wasn't quite prepared to fight.