I was in math class.
I had to get out of math class.
I was here to do secret spy stuff, not to learn stupid made-up tricks with numbers. Plus, Dam and J had to leave for some very official reason, and Sin and Liz haven't shown up for school to begin with, so I couldn't get any more info out of them. I was wasting my time here.
Luckily, I was well versed in the sacred art of bullshitting.
Our math teacher was a fragile looking vampire, with the attitude of a mouse. She spoke in a quiet, monotone voice, making the class that much worse for everyone involved.
I was about to spice up her day. I heated my face up to look feverish, and put up my hand.
"Yes?" She asked so quietly, I barely noticed.
"I have to get out of here." I said with my best panicked face. I loved doing this shtick.
"Why? Are you feeling ill?" She came closer to me, to take a better look. Some of my classmates also looked at me, but most just started chatting as the teacher turned her back.
"No, I'm overheating, so I either get out right now and eat a tub if ice cream in a cold bath, or I'll fry everyone's butts way past medium-rare."
This finally got the people's attention.
I concentrated on a pesky equation scribbled in my notebook, until it started to lightly smoke. The mouse froze, so I asked again.
"Can I get out?"
I think this small smolder was enough to break our teacher. She didn't handle stress well.
This situation wasn't going anywhere, but looking at her deer in the headlight blank face was satisfying in a sadistic way. Useless, stupid vampire.
The class was also getting anxious, but nobody moved. I was hoping they'd freak out, and run around screaming, but nothing. Guess that was too much to ask for after yesterday's show.
"Come, we'll get some cookies 'n' cream. Or are you a mint chocolate chip type of gal?" I heard a familiar voice.
Sin was standing in the doorway, looking rather amused by the situation. I wanted to see my shenanigan through, but I guess this worked as well.
"Cookies, please." I said.
I gathered my stuff, patting the notebook a bit to stop the smoking, and left the slightly confused class behind. If they're lucky I just saved them from this day's homework.
"You're all sorts of trouble, aren't you?" Sin said, as he led me down the hallway. I shrugged.
"I'm pretty sure three hours of math counts as torture in some parts of the world."
Sin shook his head, and I couldn't tell if he was happy or disappointed, but I didn't care much for it either way. I was a free woman.
"Where are we going?" I asked, after stepping into the elevator.
"To the kitchen. They have ice cream. You can take a shower in my extra room here afterwards."
I took a mental note about his room. Was it normal to have a room in the school? What did he use it for? Quick naps between classes? I'd definitely use it for that.
"Nah, it's fine."
Sin looked at me and stepped closer. Before, he was standing as far away from me as possible.
"What about your overheating?"
"I'm not overheating. Not right now, anyway."
I thought Sin would be angry, but after a moment of confusion, he laughed, with that nice rich tone again. Was this his genuine laugh?
"Good to know I'm not the only one you're messing with."
I shrugged again. Time for a segue.
"Speaking of messes, did you talk to Elessa?"
"No. I haven't even seen her in days. Ask Damian, maybe he knows. He talks to her more than I do, that's for sure."
Well, even if he does, he doesn't know the full story. Just my luck.
We arrived at the kitchen, and Sin rushed in to talk to the staff. He soon returned with a tub of my favorite ice cream, then we left in a hurry.
"I thought I was clear on not actually needing this." The cold creamy goodness was still tempting.
"I'll have to write a report about this incident. So you either get some ice cream and a shower, or a heavy punishment. You choose."
Pouting, I snatched my frozen delight from his hands.
"What's your goal with this?"
"I thought I made my goal perfectly clear yesterday."
I knew he was sly and calculating, but I couldn't figure out how this could lead him to nibble on my neck.
"Still, I can't believe 'pure' blood is so hard to come by. Why not just go and seduce some dainty virgins?
"How do you know I haven't done that before?" He smiled jokingly. At least I hoped he was joking. "It's not about the blood, more like the bloodline. Were your parents blood donors?"
I shook my head. Dad was the one to make stuff bleed, not in reverse.
"Your grandparents?" I shook again. "Your great-grandparents?"
"Nope. Okay, I get it, but stop before I get a headache."
We finally got to his room, on the tippity top of the building no less. Fancy vampire. He waved a card in front of the door, and it clicked open.
Turns out Sin's room was less of a 'quick nap', and more of a 'seductively silky' type of situation.
I teetered in the doorway, examining the black and red décor of the room, trying to look at anything but the bigger than king size bed sitting pompously in the middle. There was a mini fridge and a desk with a laptop on the left, and a door that probably led to the bathroom on the right.
I've never been frightened by a room before, but this was hitting all the evil lair checkmarks in my brain.
"What are you thinking about so hard? Your forehead's all wrinkled." Sin said mockingly. He made his way to his bed and lied down, with some pillows propped up behind him so he could still see me.
I pulled up a defensive barrier and stepped inside. I felt the softness of the carpet through my shoes. I wanted to take them off, to get the full experience, but my Hunter instincts had me keep them on, in case I had to fight or run.
"It's a six out of ten. Good aesthetics, but looks like the base of movie villain. Plus, too heavy on the darker side of the color palette. Nice carpet, though." I said, walking along the right wall. Sin followed me with his eyes.
"I wanted to install a lava fountain, but dad vetoed the idea."
"Yeah, fire and vampires don't mix well." I said. Sin sat up at patted the bed beside him.
"Come, sit here, and eat your ice cream." He spun a fancy spoon between his fingers. Where did he get that?
"I'd rather sit at the desk. I'm a messy eater." I made my way towards that side of the room, while keeping an eye on the vampire.
Sin was smiling, but not out of happiness.
"How about we make a deal?" he asked.
"Have you forgot how our deal turned out yesterday?" I replied, but he wasn't fazed by the reminder.
"If you do what I said, you won't have to shower."
I had to admit, that was a tempting offer. I wasn't keen on getting naked and vulnerable in the presence of a vampire. But if I took his offer, I'd encourage what he was doing.
"How can I even be sure that you won't snitch on me, even if I do all these?"
It was a stupid idea to confess my trickery to him. But I guess I'd be in the same situation anyway.
"I'm not trying to get you in trouble, Ava, I'm trying to get you out of it."
He seemed sincere, but my gut was telling me to be cautious.
"What do you get out of me being there?"
"Who knows. Maybe I'd like to see you relaxed for once. To make up for yesterday."
I paced back to the other side, looking for hidden things around the bed. But unless he put something in the bedside tables, nothing was out of line.
"For once? You've only known me for roughly twenty-four hours."
"And I won't get a chance of getting to know you better if you stay so hostile towards me." He said in a soothing voice. Damned tempting vampire.
I felt around with my powers, but he wasn't influencing me. His cold aura hung around the room, but it wasn't attacking, or defending, or moving, really. It just existed. He truly tried to play nice this time.
"What happened with the swooning and begging?" I asked, stepping to the side of the bed.
Sin rolled on his side, and his head up on one elbow, still playing with the spoon in his other hand.
"We both know that was just an act for the class and Damian."
Hold up, how did his brother get into the equation?
I sat down on the edge of the bed, doing my best not to slide off the black silk.
"What does he have to do with this?"
Sin held the spoon out to me, but it was still far enough that I had to fully get on the bed before reaching it.
"Just a bit of brotherly contest, nothing more."
"A contest, huh? Am I the prize, or the event?" I asked.
I carefully made my way onto the bed, and victoriously grabbed the spoon out of Sin's hand.
"Why not both?" he smiled mischievously.