CHAPTER Two: Prey in plain sight
900 Words
I should have left.
That thought echoed in my mind as I walked down the hallway, clutching my schedule like it was the only thing keeping me grounded.
Room 3A.
My first class.
Simple, right?
Wrong.
The moment I stepped inside, the noise died instantly.
Again.
It was like this school had a habit of reminding me I didn’t belong.
I swallowed and forced myself to move forward. Empty seats lined the room, but somehow… none of them felt safe.
Then I saw it.
An empty desk at the back.
Perfect.
Quiet. Hidden.
I quickly made my way toward it and sat down, avoiding eye contact with everyone. My heart was still racing from earlier.
Kael. Adrian. Rowan.
Their names replayed in my head like a warning.
“Bold of you to sit there.”
My head snapped up.
A girl stood beside my desk — the same silver-haired one from before.
Her lips curled in disgust.
“That seat doesn’t belong to you.”
“I—I didn’t know,” I said quickly, already gathering my things.
She smirked.
“Of course you didn’t. Humans never know their place.”
A few students laughed.
My chest tightened, but I stood up anyway, ready to move—
“Let her sit.”
The voice was smooth. Calm.
Dangerous.
I froze.
Slowly, I turned.
Adrian.
He was leaning back in his chair like he owned the room, red eyes fixed on me. There was something unreadable in his gaze… something that made my skin prickle.
The girl stiffened. “But—”
“ Aria, I said,” he repeated softly, “let her sit.”
Silence.
So she was Aria.
Then, with a glare in my direction, she walked away.
I hesitated.
Why was he helping me?
“Sit,” Adrian added, his tone almost bored now.
I slowly sat back down.
Big mistake.
Because the moment I did—
The door slammed open.
Kael walked in.
The air shifted instantly.
I didn’t even have to look to know everyone felt it.
His golden eyes scanned the room… and landed on me.
Then on Adrian.
Then on me again.
His jaw tightened.
“Move.”
The word was directed at me.
My stomach dropped.
“I—this is my seat,” I said quietly.
A dangerous silence followed.
Then Kael started walking toward me.
Each step felt like a countdown.
“Did I stutter?” he asked coldly.
Fear crawled up my spine, but something inside me… refused to back down.
“I was told I could sit here.”
His eyes darkened.
“By him?”
He shot Adrian a glare.
Adrian only smirked.
“This is entertaining.”
Before I could react—
Kael grabbed my desk and shoved it aside.
The loud screech echoed through the room.
Gasps filled the air.
My books fell again.
Humiliation burned through me.
“Next time,” Kael said, leaning down close to me, his voice low enough that only I could hear, “don’t rely on vampires to protect you.”
My hands clenched.
“I didn’t ask for anyone’s help,” I muttered.
Big mistake.
His eyes flashed.
For a second… they almost looked like they were glowing.
“Careful,” he warned. “You’re already walking on thin ice.”
Then he straightened and walked past me like I didn’t exist.
Like I was nothing.
The class slowly returned to normal, whispers spreading like wildfire.
I stayed frozen for a moment.
Wait did he just say vampire, I shake my head. Probably just my imagination playing tricks on me.
Then quietly, I knelt down and picked up my books again.
No one helped this time.
Not even Rowan.
But I could feel it.
Their eyes on me.
Judging. Watching.
Waiting.
As I sat back down, my chest felt tight.
Something wasn’t right.
Not just about them…
About me.
Because for a split second—
When Kael got close—
I felt it.
A strange pull.
Like something inside me… recognized him.
And I hated it.
The bell rang.
Relief should have followed.
It didn’t.
If anything, the tension only grew thicker as students began filing out of the classroom. Conversations were low, eyes still flickering toward me like I was something strange… something unwanted.
I waited.
Let them leave first.
Let me breathe.
Bad decision.
The moment the room emptied, I stood up, clutching my books, ready to slip out quietly—
“Going somewhere?”
My steps halted.
Slowly, I turned.
She stood by the door.
Tall. Elegant. Dangerous.
Her silver-blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her sharp amber eyes locked onto mine with pure disdain.
But it wasn’t just her presence.
It was the way the air seemed to shift around her.
Like everyone feared her.
“I don’t think we’ve properly welcomed you,” she said sweetly.
The tone didn’t match her eyes.
At all.
“I… I have another class,” I said carefully.
She smiled.
It wasn’t kind.
“You’ll get there.”
Before I could react, two girls moved behind me, blocking my path.
My heart started pounding.
“I’m Aria Wolvane,” she continued, stepping closer. “And you…”
Her gaze swept over me like I was dirt.
“…are a problem.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I said, my voice quieter than I wanted
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