THE WAR OF BLOOD AND FANGS

Chapter 16- The battle for control. Janet

After much contemplation about my nightmares and dreams, I prepared for college. But my mind was preoccupied with Sebastian's expectation of a response from me today. I thought to myself, Should I agree or not? I need my diary back, and I need it badly. I need to find a solution to this mystery by writing down what I see in my nightmares.

I exclaimed out loud, "But boundaries are definitely going to be set! Why me!!!"

My mom heard my scream from downstairs and rushed to my room, concerned.

"Janet, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" she asked.

I wanted to cry and confide in her, but I didn't want to worry her about something she wouldn't understand.

So I forced a smile and said, "Everything's fine, mom. I'm just running late for school.''

I quickly hugged her and rushed downstairs to hail a taxi. As I sat in the cab, I wondered what other mysteries I would encounter. When I arrived at school, I was relieved to see my friend Alexa.

We entered the hall together, and she asked, "Why are you late, Janet? I thought you were an early bird?"

I looked at her, surprised by her question. Just as we heard someone call out Alexa's name, a mysterious hand grasped her arm, leaving us both stunned. She spun around, ready to defend herself, but her eyes met Theo's instead.

"Theo!" she exclaimed, her tone a mix of surprise and wariness.

He smiled and embraced her, but she remained frozen, unable to reciprocate.

"I've really missed you," Theo said, releasing her from the hug.

Alexa's response was hesitant. "I guess I've missed you too."

Theo's eyes locked onto hers. "Can I talk to you?" he asked, his tone serious.

"Sure, why not?" Alexa replied.

But Theo's gaze shifted to me, implying I was an obstacle.

I quickly understood and excused myself. "Oh, I see, I'll leave you two then."

But Alexa was skeptical. "Why private?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.

Theo's response was firm. "Because I need to speak to you without your friend here."

Alexa's defense was swift. "We're best friends, we don't hide anything from each other."

I knew that wasn't entirely true, as I had kept many secrets from her.

I intervened, "Alexa, don't drag it out. It's a private discussion, and I get the hint."

Alexa's warning was laced with humor. "Fine, but if this isn't worth it, I'll kill you."

Theo's assurance was cryptic. "It's worth it, Alexa. Come with me."

He led her away, leaving me wondering what secrets they shared.

I strode towards my class, but two girls blocked my way. I recognized Mirabel, so I greeted her with a smile. "Hey Mirabel."

She responded with a sneer. "Hey slut."

I was taken aback, my face a picture of confusion. What did you just call me?

Mirabel continued, her tone menacing. "Listen, whatever your name is. Stay away from Clinton. I'm not a nice person, and you have no right lurking around him. Don't be a parasite. I've known him way before you. Stay away, or I'll make your life a living hell."

I laughed internally, amused by her audacity. "You know, I thought you were sensible, but I was wrong. You're stupid. I pity you. Never threaten me again, or you'll end up like Brittany. Ask around what happened to her. And by the way, I have nothing to do with Clinton. If you're so confident, tell him to stay away from me. Get out of my way."

Mirabel's friend quickly distanced herself, but Mirabel shot me a hard glare. I directed my attention to her friend. "You're more sensible than her," and walked away, leaving the tension behind.

Mirabel stomped her foot, her face red with rage.

"How dare you walk away from me, Lucy?" she spat, her eyes blazing.

Lucy stood her ground, unfazed. "I'm not getting entangled in your drama, Mirabel. Haven't you heard what happened to Brittany? I'm a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. Let's go to class."

With that, Lucy left Mirabel fuming and stalked off towards the classroom. I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the drama that was sure to unfold.

As I reached the classroom door, Alexa called out my name."Janet, wait up!"

I turned to see her running towards me, a look of concern on her face.

"Why haven't you gone in yet? Trying to catch your breath?" she asked, slightly out of breath herself.

I filled her in on the confrontation with Mirabel. "That p***y-threatening b***h Mirabel told me to stay away from Clinton," I said, my voice low but fierce.

Alexa's eyes widened in surprise. "How dare she?" she shouted, but I quickly covered her mouth, mindful of the people inside the classroom.

Just then, the door swung open, and our eyes met with Sebastian's. Our eyes widened in shock as Sebastian appeared before us.

Alexa, without thinking, blurted out a string of compliments. "Hi, Mr. Sebastian! You look incredibly handsome today, and your scent is amazing! I'm guessing Genie Luxe Men? You smell so rich and attractive! Why are you even working here? You should be in the fashion industry, making every girl swoon! Can I be your girlfriend?"

I quickly intervened, embarrassed by Alexa's outburst. "Sorry about that, I think she got a bit carried away. We'll just go in now."

The class erupted in laughter, and Sebastian looked taken aback, his eyes locked on Alexa with a mix of surprise and amusement. I could sense a subtle warmth in his gaze, but maybe I was just hallucinating. Today was the day my life was about to change, after all.

I rushed to my seat, my heart racing with anticipation.

"So, I think we've seen enough drama for now," Seb said, his gaze locking onto mine.

For once, I didn't look away, transfixed by his piercing crystal blue eyes, his shiny blonde hair, and his captivating smile. I found myself drawn to his chiseled features, his fine face, and his physique, which seemed almost otherworldly. My mind raced with thoughts of how it would feel to be kissed by those succulent lips.

Jesus Christ! I exclaimed inwardly, my cheeks flushing with excitement. Sebastian's smile hinted that he had noticed my distraction. "What's wrong with you, Janet?" I scolded myself silently.

Through the mind link, Sin whispered, "The way she looks at us is so beautiful."

Sebastian's response, "You mean at me, not you. She doesn't even know you," seemed to irritate Sin, who growled angrily and fell silent.

"Let's get back to what I was saying before the interruption," Sebastian continued, his eyes scanning the room. "A science project will be announced soon, and I'll be dividing you into groups. I want you to think outside the box, create something extraordinary. Remember, science is all around us. Envision something remarkable, and we'll build on it in our next class."

The class responded with a unanimous "Yes!"

Sebastian's thoughts, however, betrayed his enthusiasm. Moon goddess, this is worse than I thought. This med lab teaching Is really disgusting.

He shook his head, his eyes locking onto mine, "Janet, I need to see you in my office."

My heart raced erratically, anticipating the reason for the summons. Oh no, what now, Janet? Should I pray for a miracle or a hole to swallow me up? I thought, my mind racing with absurd scenarios.

Just then, Clinton spoke up, his tone defiant. "I'd also like to join you in your office, Mr. Sebastian." He shot Sebastian a menacing glance, which was met with a stern glare in return.

Sebastian's anger simmered, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. "After I'm done with Janet, you can see me," he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Clinton's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with defiance. "Why can't we just go together? What are you hiding, Mr Sebastian?"

The air was electric with tension, the energy between them crackling like a live wire. It was as if they were two predators circling each other, ready to pounce at any moment.

Sebastian's response was measured, his words dripping with a quiet fury. "My choice, Clinton. I'll speak to Janet first, then you can have your turn."

I felt a chill run down my spine, my heart racing with fear. The animosity between them was palpable, and I sensed a sinister undercurrent lurking beneath the surface.

As Sebastian exited the classroom, his anger seemed to simmer just below the surface, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity.

Sin's voice whispered in his mind, "Calm down, Sebastian. We know Clinton's game plan, his mind games. Don't let him get to you."

Sebastian took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. He entered his office, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

Clinton approached me, his eyes gleaming with a intensity that made my skin crawl. "Hey Janet," he said, his voice low and smooth.

But I wasn't having it. I didn't respond, didn't even acknowledge him. I wasn't going to get entangled in Alexa's crush or Mirabel's obsession.

I stood up, my movements swift and deliberate. "I'll be back, Alexa," I said, my voice firm.

Alexa nodded, her eyes understanding. "I need to tell you something when you get back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clinton's eyes narrowed, his face darkening with surprise and anger. "Alexa, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of menace.

Alexa's response was icy, her words dripping with venom. "You know, Clinton. I used to crush on you hard, but you hurt me deeply. Go solve your issues alone, and don't ask me for help. And tell your stupid friend, Mirabel, to never threaten my friend again."

Clinton's eyes flashed with anger, his irises seeming to darken from blue to black in an instant. His face twisted with a killing intent, and I could sense the violence simmering beneath the surface. He stormed out of the classroom, his eyes fixed on Sebastian's office. He was determined to catch me before I went in.

And then, just as I was about to open the door, he dragged me into a tight hug, our eyes locking in a fierce stare. I was taken aback, my heart racing with surprise and a hint of fear.

I struggled to push Clinton away, but he refused to budge. "We need to talk, Janet. What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Just as Clinton's grip on me tightened, Sebastian burst into the scene. He had been watching from his office, and his eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of Clinton holding me captive. Sebastian's face darkened with anger, but he managed to compose himself before intervening.

With a swift motion, Sebastian dragged me away from Clinton, pulling me into his own embrace. I stumbled, but his arms held me firm.

"What you did was inappropriate," Sebastian growled, his eyes blazing with intensity.

Clinton's eyes flashed with defiance. "That shouldn't be coming from you," he shot back.

Sebastian's gaze never wavered. "Go inside, Janet," he ordered, his voice firm but gentle.

I hesitated, my eyes darting between the two of them. But Sebastian's gaze was unyielding, his expression unrelenting. "Go inside, Janet," he repeated, his voice softening slightly. "Don't make me repeat myself again."

I nodded, my heart racing with anticipation. Despite his anger, Sebastian's gaze held a gentle quality that put me at ease. I stepped into his office.

Clinton's eyes blazed with defiance as he sneered at Sebastian. "You have no right to be hard on her, Sebastian. She's not your property."

Sebastian's gaze never wavered, his voice firm and authoritative. "I know what you're doing, Clinton, and it won't work. You're trying to manipulate her, to use her for your own gain. But I won't let that happen. Wait for your turn before you step into my office."

Clinton's smirk grew wider, his eyes glinting with a sinister intent. "Sure, take your time. Today would definitely be a good day for the both of us."

Sebastian's eyes darkened, his gaze flashing with a warning.

Inside his office, his eyes locked onto mine, making my skin crawl. "I...I...I was caught off guard when he held me really tight. I wasn't expecting it. I tried..."

Sebastian's thumb pressed against my lips, silencing me. His gaze bore into mine, his eyes burning with an unspoken message. "You know why I called you here, right?"

I nodded, my mind racing with anticipation. "Of course, I do. Waiting for an answer to your ridiculous deal."

Sebastian's smile was arrogant, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Whether it's ridiculous or not, I need an answer from you. And I brought your diary."

My heart skipped a beat as he pulled out my diary from his desk drawer. His eyes about to scan the pages, his gaze lingering on it. I felt a chill run down my spine as he smiled, his eyes gleaming with a knowing glint.

"You have a choice to make, Janet," he said, his voice low and husky. "Either you accept my deal, or you face the consequences."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with the implications. Should I take the risk or not?