Dhampir Academy

Potions and Butterflies

The morning sun found Alex surprisingly upbeat. Maybe it was Lucas’s help last night—or Luna’s support. She’d survived her first day at Dhampir Academy, after all.

A knock at the door startled her. She opened it to find Luna grinning.

“Happy second day of school!” Luna chirped.

Alex laughed and hugged her. “Hopefully no dead bodies today.”

“Let’s not jinx it,” Luna teased, leading the way to class.

The halls buzzed with students. Alex took her seat in the front row, determined to learn as much as she could. Miss Nicole Butters entered, exuding calm confidence.

“Good morning, class,” she greeted.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” the students chorused.

“My name is Miss Butters, and I’ll be your Potions teacher.” She smiled warmly at Alex. “Welcome to our new clans—Vladimir and Caligula.”

Alex glanced back to see Lucas wink at her. She felt her cheeks heat up and quickly looked away. Luna giggled beside her.

“Omg, you like him!” Luna whispered.

“Shh!” Alex hissed. “Don’t forget—advanced hearing.”

Luna smirked but said nothing.

“Today,” Miss Butters continued, “we’re making a shrinking potion. Follow your textbooks. Thirty minutes. The best potion earns one request from any classmate.”

Excitement buzzed as everyone scrambled to begin. Alex opened her textbook, panic washing over her—she had no idea what most of the ingredients looked like.

They’re labeled on the counter, love, Lucas’s voice slipped into her mind.

She jumped, glancing back. Lucas winked again, then returned to his own work. Butterflies danced in Alex’s stomach as she gathered ingredients.

She carefully measured minced daisy roots, sliced caterpillars, rat spleen, and—accidentally—poured an entire vial of leech juice.

Boom!

A small explosion puffed into the air. Alex yelped and ducked, but nothing caught fire. The class laughed.

Miss Butters approached, eyes twinkling. “Too much leech juice, Alex.”

Alex blushed. “I swear I read it right.”

“Check again, love,” Miss Butters said gently.

Alex glanced at the instructions: five drops. She’d poured the whole bottle.

Miss Butters leaned closer. “For someone new to our world, you did better than expected.”

“Why are we learning potions? Shouldn’t we be training to hunt vampires?” Alex asked.

Miss Butters’s eyes darkened. “Every tool matters in the Shadow World.” Then her smile returned. “You’ll be the best, Alex. Remember that.”

Alex shivered at her intensity. As Miss Butters tested each potion, Annie’s giggle echoed through the room as her desk shrank—then sprang back.

“Nice try, Annie,” Miss Butters said.

Lucas’s potion worked perfectly. “Well done, Lucas,” she praised.

Jesse grinned. “Don’t forget mine,” he said, his eyes on Alex.

Miss Butters tested his potion—and it worked flawlessly. “A tie,” she announced.

Lucas and Jesse stood at the front. Lucas smiled at Alex. “My request: a date tonight.”

The class erupted with cheers. Alex’s cheeks turned crimson. She nodded shyly.

Miss Butters turned to Jesse. “And you, Jesse?”

“A kiss,” he said smoothly. “With Alex.”

Gasps filled the room. Alex’s stomach dropped as Annie’s glare burned into her.

“Oh, Alex,” Luna whispered. “You’re in trouble now.”