"Hi, sis," Duke's voice echoed from behind Gloria as she was locking her bedroom door. She jumped, her heart racing.
It happened every time. Duke always managed to spook her, though she knew he didn't mean to. Being a hybrid vamplock—a rare and powerful mix of vampire and warlock—meant that he could appear and disappear at will, his presence slipping in and out of reality like smoke. It didn't help that he was ridiculously powerful, even by their family's supernatural standards.She turned to face him, clutching her chest.
"Duke! You always do that!"He smirked, his sharp eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sorry, not sorry. You know I can't help it."His supernatural prowess, combined with his effortless charisma, always unnerved her a bit. Gloria had dealt with her share of magical family members—being a Nighthaven meant she was surrounded by creatures of power—but Duke was on another level. His abilities as a vamplock were the stuff of legends, and yet, he was still her annoying older brother who showed up in her bathroom by accident more times than she cared to count.
After the last incident, Gloria had gotten their parents to put a spell on her room, preventing Duke from appearing anywhere near her private space."Morning, Duke," she finally muttered, rolling her eyes. "Ready for school?""Yeah, the car's waiting. Just hoping the Solaris constellation keeps Ailson home today," Duke said, leaning against the doorway. His casual tone couldn't hide the annoyance in his voice. "You know how witches and warlocks lose control of their powers during this season. She's bound to be worse than usual."Ailson. Gloria could practically feel her stomach twist just at the mention of the name. Ailson was her personal nightmare—a powerful warlock and notorious bully. Worse, Ailson was a girl who had it out for Gloria for reasons she couldn't quite figure out. In their mixed high school, where humans and supernaturals were supposed to blend in unnoticed, Ailson thrived on tormenting anyone she considered weak. And during the Solaris constellation, when witches and warlocks couldn't fully control their powers, her bullying escalated to dangerous levels."Yeah, I don't think I can handle her today," Gloria sighed as she grabbed her backpack.
The nightmares she'd been having lately—about her reincarnation as the Blood Moon Wolf—had drained her energy, making it even harder to keep her cool. "How are you holding up?"Duke's response was a confident shrug as they headed downstairs. "I'm good. Vamp mode and all.""Must be nice," Gloria muttered, envious of Duke's easy confidence. While she wrestled with her growing powers and the burden of her nightmares, Duke seemed to be at peace with his abilities, wielding his vamplock powers with ease and precision.The cool morning air greeted them as they stepped outside.
Their family's driver, Taren, was already waiting by the sleek black car. He was an elf, one of the few trusted members of their household who knew about their supernatural lineage. Taren was sharp, calm, and could easily blend into the human world, making him perfect for the job of chauffeur."Good morning, Miss Gloria, Master Duke," Taren greeted them with a small nod as he opened the door.Gloria slid into the back seat, followed by Duke, who lounged as if the world owed him comfort. "Vamp mode, huh?" she teased, noticing how relaxed he seemed despite the looming threat of school and Ailson's unpredictable powers.Duke grinned, showing the faint gleam of his fangs. "Always."The car ride was smooth, the cityscape flashing by as they made their way to school. Their high school was one of the few in the area that accepted both humans and supernaturals, though the humans had no idea.
The supernatural students—like Gloria, Duke, and Ailson—were all required to blend in, to live as though they were normal teenagers. It wasn't always easy, especially when powerful individuals like Ailson made it difficult for others to keep their true nature hidden.As they pulled up to the school, Gloria felt a familiar knot of anxiety twist in her stomach. She had managed to avoid Ailson for the past few weeks, but with the Solaris constellation's influence, she doubted her luck would hold. The stars were aligned in such a way that witches and warlocks, like Ailson, struggled to control their powers.
It wasn't unusual for magic to spiral out of control during this season, which made school a potential war zone."Think Ailson's going to blow something up today?" Gloria asked as they stepped out of the car."If we're lucky, maybe she'll blow herself up," Duke replied with a smirk, though his voice held a trace of seriousness. "But don't worry. If she tries anything, I've got you."Gloria couldn't help but feel reassured by Duke's presence.
For all his teasing and cockiness, he was fiercely protective of her. And with his vamplock abilities, Duke was one of the most powerful beings in the school—maybe even in the entire city. Still, Gloria knew she couldn't rely on Duke to solve all her problems. Ailson was her bully, her problem to face.The school's stone façade loomed ahead of them as they entered the gates. The hallways were buzzing with activity, students hurrying to classes and chatting in groups. Duke walked beside her, his tall frame drawing attention, but most students quickly averted their gaze. His reputation preceded him, and even the human students could sense that there was something different about him.They made it to their lockers without incident, but just as Gloria was reaching for her books, a voice called out.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Little Miss Nighthaven and her overpowered big brother."Gloria froze, her grip tightening on her locker door. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Ailson.Gloria took a deep breath and turned slowly. Ailson stood there, arms crossed, her eyes flickering with the telltale glow of magic gone awry.
The Solaris constellation was already having an effect on her. Even from a distance, Gloria could feel the unstable energy radiating off her."What do you want, Ailson?" Gloria asked, trying to keep her voice steady.Ailson smirked, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer. "I just wanted to say hi. Maybe give you a little taste of what's coming this season."Before Gloria could respond, Duke stepped forward, his presence instantly commanding. His usually laid-back demeanor shifted, and his eyes glowed faintly with a dangerous light. "You're not touching her, Ailson. Not today."For a moment, Ailson hesitated, her bravado faltering in the face of Duke's power. She might have been dangerous during the Solaris constellation, but even she knew better than to challenge a vamplock in full vamp mode."Whatever," Ailson muttered, stepping back. "This isn't over."As Ailson stalked away, Gloria let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Duke turned to her with a reassuring smile. "Told you, I've got you.""Thanks, Duke," she whispered, though her heart still pounded with the knowledge that this was just the beginning. Ailson wasn't one to back down, and the Solaris constellation had only just begun.