"ENOUGH!" he growled, pushing her away. "I'm not giving in, Vivaldi. I'm done with human blood, and that's final!"
He turned to the girl, his voice strong and steady. "You gotta get outta here, sweetheart. Run as fast as you can and don't look back until you're somewhere safe."
The girl glanced back and forth between us, her eyes wide with fear. After a moment, she nodded and made a break for the door.
But I was too quick for her. In a flash, I was by her side, my hand gripping her arm tightly. "Not so fast," I hissed, trying to use my mind control. "You ain't going nowhere 'til you get my bro to take a bite. That's why you're here."
The girl's eyes darted between us, fear dancing in her gaze. But when she looked at him, her expression softened. She pulled her arm free from my grasp and made a break for the door, disappearing into the night.
I was totally confused. I'd mind-controlled her to stick around and tempt my bro until he caved, but somehow, his mental juju was stronger than mine. How the heck did that happen? I mean, one vamp couldn't undo another's mind control, especially not when you're dealing with a pure blood noble like myself. But there was only one explanation – the dude had to be a first blood.
"You're a first blood," I whispered, still trying to wrap my head around it. "How'd you do that? How'd you break my mind compulsion?"
"Get out," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
"You're a first blood," I repeated, not backing down. "How is that possible?"
"I said get out!" he yelled, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Get out!" he roared again, his eyes burning a fiery mix of red and black. His face was ghostly pale, blending in with his silvery-white hair and dark shadows forming under his eyes. His fangs peeked out, glinting like tiny daggers in the light as he bellowed, "Out!"
I held his gaze, unfazed by his fury, and burst into mocking laughter. "You think that rage act's gonna scare m–"
Before I could finish my sentence, he lunged at me with lightning speed, his hand wrapping around my throat like a vice. My back hit the wall with a crack, and I let out a groan. I tried to pry his grip loose, but it felt like his hand was made of some crazy space-age steel, fused to my skin.
Holy smokes, this guy had to be a first blood! I'd never encountered another vamp with that kinda strength – not even the nobles could compare. But no way was I gonna stand there like some wimp and let him kick my butt. I mean, I was a noble, for Pete's sake!
I took a deep breath, focusing all my power into my fist, then BAM! I sucker-punched him right in the gut. His grip loosened, and I dropped to my knees, gasping for air. I looked up at him, smirking as I saw the pain written all over his face.
"You lied to me, bro," I said, standing up straight. "You're a first blood, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he snarled, his chest heaving like a stormy sea. "Just get the heck outta here. I don't wanna be anywhere near a vamp who treats human life like it's nothing but a speck of dust. I could've killed that girl!"
"But you didn't, did you?" I shrugged with a casual pout.
"Just leave and stay the heck outta my life," he growled.
"Alrighty then, I'll skedaddle for now," I said with a smirk. "But there's no way I'm staying outta your life. I'll be your walking, talking daydream from here on out, clinging to you like the vampiric curse you're so keen on ditching. I won't quit 'til you fang up and sign that blood contract I need to find peace."
With a dramatic flourish, I leaped onto the windowsill, ready to make my grand exit.
"Don't worry your pretty little head, though. I'm on my way out," I assured him with a wave of my hand. "But hey, one more thing – I'll be back, and when I am, you'll have yourself a new roommate. Consider me your new brother – little or big, who knows? — living with you in this sweet mansion. Cool?"
I turned to make my big escape, but paused, glancing back at him. "Oh, and if you're still keen on keeping your vampiric secret, you might wanna go track down that runaway girl. Just sayin'."
I flashed him a smirk, not giving a hoot about the rage on his face, and leaped out the window into the darkness of the night.
~ Casper~
I was standing outside the principal's office, my fist raised and ready to knock. My knuckles rapped against the wooden door, and the sound echoed through the quiet hallway. A moment later, I heard a voice on the other side, inviting me in.
As I stepped inside, my senses were bombarded by the principal's neatly arranged office. The scent of leather-bound books filled my nostrils, and the soft carpet beneath my feet muffled my footsteps. The sunlight streaming in through the window cast a warm glow on the room, illuminating the framed diplomas and awards adorning the walls.
The principal sat behind his large oak desk, gesturing to a plush leather chair in front of him. I took a seat, nodding politely as I introduced myself.
"Ah, you must be new here," he said, his eyes studying me from behind his wire-rimmed glasses. "I'm Mr. Hawthorne, the principal of Shadowvale Junior and Senior High. What can I do for you today?"
Clearing my throat, I put on my best British accent. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Hawthorne. My name is Casper Van Hellsing, and I am here to inquire about enrollment at your esteemed institution."
He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he considered my request. "Well, Casper, I must inform you that our enrollment period has already passed. Unless you're transferring from another school, I'm afraid we cannot accommodate you at this time."
My heart sank at the news, but I was determined to find a way into Shadowvale High. So, I sat there, trying to charm the pants off Mr. Hawthorne – figuratively speaking, of course. I gave him my most dazzling smile, casually brushing a stray lock of hair away from my face.
"Sir, I understand your concerns," I said, my voice smooth as silk. "However, I assure you that I have all the necessary credentials."
As I peered into his eyes, I could feel the power surging within me, like a tidal wave about to crash. I knew it was time to use my secret weapon – mind control.
"You've seen my credentials, and you think they're excellent," I said, my voice taking on a subtle yet persuasive tone. "You're going to inform the school administrator to enroll me in Shadowvale High, and that will be the end of it. You need not concern yourself with any further details. Do you understand?"
I watched as Mr. Hawthorne's expression softened, his eyes glazing over slightly as he nodded in agreement. "Of course, Casper. Your credentials are outstanding. I'll make sure to inform the administrator right away. Welcome to Shadowvale High."
I couldn't help but grin, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. My powers had worked like a charm – no pun intended.
Rising from my seat, I extended my hand to Mr. Hawthorne, giving him a firm handshake. "Thank you, sir. I look forward to being a part of this esteemed institution."
As I left the office, I could feel the thrill of the hunt coursing through my veins.
~~~
Standing at the front of the classroom, I was the center of attention, and you could almost taste the excitement in the air. The class leader, Sarah, cleared her throat and announced, "Everyone, this is Casper, but you can call him Snow White. He's a new student, and I'm sure you'll all make him feel right at home."
I gave a small smile and nodded hello, my sharp senses catching the flood of curious whispers, a storm of interest and excitement. A girl in the front row leaned toward her friend and whispered, "He's really good-looking. I wonder where he's from."
"I heard he's from some small town up north," her friend whispered back.
With a confident walk, I made my way to the desk they'd given me, feeling the energy in the room. Sarah's introduction hadn't been enough for my new classmates. I smiled politely at the people around me, but the whispers kept coming, spreading through the room like wildfire.
Just then, someone from the back of the class called out, "Hey Snow White, did you bring any dwarves with you?" The whole class burst into laughter, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the witty comment.
As I took my seat, someone else added, "Don't worry, Casper. We won't make you eat any poisoned apples here!" More laughter followed, and I smiled, glad that my new classmates had a good sense of humour.
A teacher came in, and the chattering died down as the lesson began. Still, my sharp ears could hear the low whispers that kept going, showing how curious everyone was about me. My new classmates were caught up in my mystery, and I knew the coming days would be full of questions and attempts to find out more about me.
As class went on, I felt both amused and worried. The attention was nice, but also a bit scary, and I knew I'd have to be careful. They didn't know that my looks were just the start of my story, a hint of the secrets waiting to be discovered.
When the bell rang to end class, the room filled with a mix of relief and excitement. Students started packing up, ready to move on to their next class or take a break. In the middle of the chaos, the classroom door opened, and in walked Scarlett and Winter. Their arrival was like a gust of wind, and everyone in the room stopped to look at them.
"Snow!" Scarlett exclaimed, her eyes finding me and filling with surprise and happiness.
"Casper!" Winter added, smiling brightly as she came closer.
I couldn't help but smile back at their excitement. Everyone else was clearly curious, whispering to each other about how these two captivating girls knew me.
As Scarlett and Winter reached my desk, I saw the excitement on their faces. Bella leaned in, her voice filled with surprise and joy. "What are you doing here, Snow? We thought you went to Eldoria Academy!"
I shrugged, looking at Bella. "I transferred. After what you girls did for me, I didn't want us to be just friends. I want us to be closer… maybe more." I looked into Scarlett's eyes, hoping she understood what I really meant.
Both girls blushed at my words, Scarlett playing with a strand of her hair in a way that was both cute and attractive. Winter, never afraid to speak her mind, jumped in. "We're glad you're here, Snow. But you could've just called us about transferring, you know. When I heard students talking about a good-looking new boy named Casper with silvery white hair, I knew it had to be you."
"I wanted to surprise you," I said, looking at Scarlett, who was still looking down, a small smile on her lips. "And I think this way will be more fun."
Winter laughed, her eyes full of mischief. "I think you're right!" She looked at Scarlett, who finally looked up, meeting my gaze. "So, what's the plan, Casper? How about we start this friendship by visiting a friend who's sick this evening around 5 pm?"
I nodded, my smile growing. "Sounds good to me."
"So where are we meeting?" I asked.
"Your place," they both said at the same time, and we all laughed.