Chapter 9

STEFANO I entered the school just fine last night after I fended for my own life. Only the Keeper or the guard of the gates, Bruno, saw me, and even with my burn marks and injuries I knew that he would not be saying a thing. So, what I did was rush into my dorm room, wash off the gunk and blood off my body, and heal my burns as fast as I could. I thought everything was alright then. No one saw me use my power, other than Valeria who doesn’t know any better. I got rid of the evidence before the official first day of school starts tomorrow, and my secret is still unknown. But first thing in the morning, I got a note from none other than Professor Blossom himself, the principal of the school, telling me, “We need to speak about the journey of the new student to the school, and how you managed to find her, as well as beat the obstacles.” My hands went numb, and even now, as I sit in front of the empty desk waiting for the professor, they’re still unmoving. But then, Valeria comes in. And an idea pops in my head. As soon as she gets close enough, I take her by the shoulders and say, “I need you to do something for me, right now.” Instead of answering, she mutters, “You’re alive.” I scratch my head impatiently. “Yeah, but I think I’m in trouble. I need you to cover up for me, okay? I want you to promise that if Professor Blossom mentions fire and crossing borders—” “Good morning, students.” Out of nowhere, Professor Blossom appears from the door in the corner. He looks at both of us, his white beard and mustache shifting as he gives both of us a small smile. I get to my feet and bow, but Valeria stays there watching. Only when she notices me does she do the same. "Good morning, sir.” Professor Blossom fixes his emerald green robe and sits on his desk, his dark eyes shifting from me to Valeria before settling on her. “I’m glad to find you here safe and unharmed,” he says, taking a sheet of paper from under his desk and sliding it to her. “This will be your schedule for the rest of the year. Since you are turning seventeen, I will assign you as a senior. Eden will be your roommate, and she will guide you through everything. I expect you to be great, Miss Marcus.” Valeria nods, but it takes her a moment to get the paper. “But I don’t know anything about how things work. I don’t know a lot of things.” Professor Blossom gives her a reassuring smile. “Do not worry, Miss Marcus. You will be taken care of. Now….” He trails off and looks at me. “I need to know why you came in injured from fire, Mr. Thayer.” My heart freezes for what seems like a very long time. I just sit there, watching him, ignoring Valeria who is also staring at me. “I also want to know why you’ve been crossing the borders to find Miss Marcus,” he continues, stopping right there to keep the air charged as he waits for an answer. My voice left me. I don’t know what to say. He already knows I’ve been leaving the area without permission. He already knows I used fire in some way. The only thing he wants to know is how and why. I clear my throat. “I apologize for crossing the borders. I have been feeling this—” “Connection to me,” Valeria finishes for me. Professor Blossom and I face her. “What?” “He knows my mother,” she continues, glancing at me as though for validation. “My mother has a pact with his people. We are connected, I can feel it. And as for the fire… I used it. I had a gas lighter in my pocket. I don’t know much about vampires but I knew they can be beat with fire. He helped me make the flames bigger with his magic.” Tension hangs in the air. I can’t believe she lied about everything so smoothly. For a long while, Professor Blossom just lets his gaze linger on me and Valeria. Then he clears his throat. “Very well, then. Valeria, enjoy your day. And Stefano, stop by the clinic and make sure you’re okay.” With that, he motions us to leave, so I make a beeline toward the door because I can’t stand the tension anymore. I’m about to book it and head to the clinic, but I feel a hand around my wrist. I turn around and see that it’s Valeria, and she’s smiling hopefully. “I’m happy you made it. I was worried about you.” She steps forward with her arms open for a hug, and I panic. Something spikes up inside me. Something warm and desperate. Yearning. I realize that I want her touch, and it scares me. I step back and avoid her, watching as she lets her arms fall to her side, her face red with embarrassment. “Glad you made it too,” I just mutter, unable to look her in the eye. The yearning is still burning in my chest. “Now excuse me, I have some things to take care of.” “Are you not going to explain to me anything I lied about for you?” she asks tentatively. “Because I thought you had the permission to go out and I thought that fire--” “No,” I say flatly, wary of Eden who is standing at the other side of the hallway. “Thank you for it, though. Now we’re even.” I make an attempt to leave again but she just holds on. “What do you mean even? You saved my life and I owe you. But the connection wasn’t a lie. You called me your mate, and I do feel that connection with you. What is this feeling? Is it because my mother and your people are connected?” My mouth goes dry. To be honest, I don’t even know why I called her my mate. I don’t even know what that means exactly, much less why I also feel personally attached to her somehow. All I know is that the moment I met her, I just never wanted to let her out of my sight. But this is not the time to figure that out. Professor Blossom is suspicious of me, and I don’t want to blow my cover over this strange bond I feel for Valeria. “I don’t know,” I just tell her coldly. “Now please, just do what Professor Blossom said and get familiar. Stop asking me questions and leave me alone, okay? I got other stuff to do.” A flash of hurt appears on her face. “What?” I demand, despite my chest constricting. “I just thought that we’re actually friends,” she says. “You told me to… leave my mother in that house. You told me to come with you. I trusted you. I don’t know why you’d just discard me like this after what happened.” “Valeria,” I begin, the strain in my voice hard to hide. “Listen to me. We are not friends. Me saving you was a mere courtesy. Now go.” With that, I walk away, ignoring the strong pull that I feel at the pit of my stomach, calling her name.