CRIMSON NOCTURNE

CHAPTER 10: RUSFAN

Three months of quiet happiness. Forced transformations had stopped. The vampires had backed off -- not counting the two living in his house. Yi Fei was even thinking about ditching his nightly runs.

But the universe had other plans.

Every time he tried to skip a run, Zeng Dan and Wu Lei would start sighing dramatically. "We might not have tomorrow," one would say. "No one left to protect us," the other would follow. "Even Yi Fei has abandoned us."

He'd groan and bolt out the window.

* * *

At school, the new history teacher had become part of the furniture. Boys and girls alike adored her. The girls in particular flocked to her during breaks, chattering away.

All except Chen Jing, who kept a careful distance.

Cheng Yao noticed. She tried to mediate, asking if there was some misunderstanding. *Does Chen Jing think Yi Fei has a crush on the teacher?*

"The teacher has something about her," Chen Jing said flatly. "Something I can't explain. And something dangerous. My gut says don't get close."

Cheng Yao dropped it. *People in love don't think straight anyway.*

* * *

Among all her students, Ms. Li seemed most interested in Cheng Yao. Yi Fei noticed. It was starting to eat into his time with her. He wanted to spend time with Cheng Yao. Chen Jing wanted to spend time with him. And Cheng Yao spent all her time with the new teacher.

Awkward.

Then came the New Year's party.

N City High School held an annual celebration on December 31st. Yi Fei was always the most loyal audience member -- meaning he never performed. The class had complained at first. But after watching him stand on stage like a wooden post and sing horrifically off-key without a hint of embarrassment, they'd unanimously agreed: Yi Fei was born to be a spectator.

This year's sophomore party was different. Not just because Cheng Yao was organizing it -- and she was damn good at it -- but because Ms. Li Kester had agreed to perform a solo dance.

The news spread like wildfire. Students and teachers from other grades wanted to skip their own parties and crash this one. The principal stepped in and turned it into a school-wide event.

That meant a lot more work for the organizers.

* * *

A few days before the party, a golden-haired, impossibly handsome foreign man showed up at the school, claiming to be Ms. Li's friend. His Mandarin was flawless -- better than most of the faculty's. When he and Ms. Li stood together, they looked like something out of a fairy tale. A room full of students suddenly acquired new enemies.

"Is this how you treat an old friend, Li?" The man's voice was smooth as silk. "As beautiful as ever. And stronger than I expected. You're approaching your peak."

"Rusfan." Ms. Li's eyes were cold. "There are plenty of things you don't know. Go check on your grand-sire. Without the Hong brothers, he'll never be more than a minor lord."

Rusfan shrugged, a gesture that made half the watching girls swoon. "Haven't you heard? He's not the leader anymore. Your boss crushed him two days ago. Full control of the global vampire council. You think he'd let that old man keep threatening him?" Rusfan smiled. "I'm a free man now."

"Then state your business, free man."

"No business. I sensed a familiar presence while traveling the world. Thought I'd drop by." His smile never wavered. "This school is nice. Maybe I'll teach here too."

"If Larsent is really in charge now, you'd better leave." Ms. Li's smile was razor-sharp. "Unless you want a holy-water shower while nailed to a cross."

Rusfan winced. "Harsh words for such a pretty face. Fine. I'll leave. But I'm curious about your mission."

He bowed slightly and turned, blowing kisses at the girls as he walked away. They nearly fainted.

*Same old Rusfan.* Ms. Li shook her head.

* * *

Back in class, the boys looked heartbroken. The girls looked dreamy. Ms. Li was almost impressed by the students' imagination.

Just as she was about to start, a timid voice asked, "Ms. Li... who was that guy?"

"Rusfan? My cousin. He's traveling the world and stopped to see me." She looked amused. "Now get your books out. Class is starting."

A collective sigh of relief swept the room. *The most beautiful woman in school was still single.*

Yi Fei noticed all this, but he wasn't caught up in it. He just admired Ms. Li's teaching. Everything else was noise.

* * *

Unlike the boys, the girls couldn't stop talking about Rusfan. Every conversation with Ms. Li somehow circled back to the mysterious blonde stranger.

But he was gone now. Life returned to normal.

The New Year's party was tomorrow night. Cheng Yao had vanished into preparation mode. And Yi Fei spent his days bickering with Chen Jing, barely thinking about Cheng Yao at all.

*Young hearts. Is love and forgetting really separated by only a thread?*

[END OF CHAPTER 10]