"Aren't you heading out for lunch?"
Leo blinked in surprise and turned his attention to the pigtail girl. As far as supernatural races went, members of the cult of Yaka were the least dangerous to humanity.
They were people involved with occult activities, which many consider dark. It is well known these people are into rituals and animal sacrifices— many suggest human sacrifice is a thing, but there has never been sufficient evidence to back up such claims.
Whatever dark thing they prayed to gave them the unique abilities that make them stand out. However, this group has never been harmful to humans.
Leo just felt entitled to hate them because they were more than human.
"Sorry, I should have introduced myself. I'm Damiola, but my friends call me Dami."
She extended her hand and Leo shook it. The moment his palms made contact with Dami's, he felt murderous intent from a distance. Even without glancing over, Leo knew It was Susan and paid little attention to it.
"Leo… Leo Morningstar." Leo responded dryly. "I'll leave when I'm ready."
Dami was a smart girl and could tell Leo wasn't interested in talking any further. She smiled at him after the handshakes and left, leaving Leo alone with his thoughts.
As soon as Dami left his side, Susan hurtled over like a raging typhoon, while Felix followed behind. They met Leo looking at the window with a frown.
"Are you okay?" Felix asked, and Leo's frown was quickly replaced with a smile.
"It's nothing… Let's get lunch together." Leo shrugged and rose to his feet.
—
The Hollow Night Academy Cafeteria is a large, well-lit hall with long tables and benches. The academy ran in a cafeteria system, which meant humans had to share the same room with vampires sucking off blood packs or some overzealous werewolves who chose to eat raw meat.
Thankfully, vampires and most supernatural students avoided the well-lit parts of the cafeteria.
Upon arrival, Leo was fit with the mixed scents of food, both normal and... unusual. A serving counter lined one wall, where trays of hot meals are handed out.
The cafeteria was nearly filled up as all the classes were present. The entire academy was barely made up of a hundred and fifty individuals, students and staff included. But this was expected since it was a small school in a small town.
Leo noticed Alicia Bernot in one of the cafeteria's dark corners on a bench filled with senior-year vampires, male, and female alike. Their eyes met, but only for a moment before Leo got dragged away by Susan, who was eager to check out the menu.
He noticed her signaling at some senior-year human students not too far from their desks but didn't pay much mind to it.
"Burgers, sandwiches, pasta, grilled chicken, rice, soup… not bad! It's much better than the middle school menu," Susan revealed a disgusted expression as memories of those horrifying lunch breaks flashed across her eyes.
"Bugerrrrrrr…" Felix looked like a man witnessing the beauty of a maiden.
Leo once told Felix if he would be poisoned in the future, it would be done with a burger, and this was why.
"I'll have some pasta and grilled chicken." Leo ignored his friends' bickering and placed an order.
The Buffalo-sized server, wearing a woman's hairnet, nodded dully and got to work. In a few seconds, a tray of steaming hot pasta and grilled chicken pasta was passed to him.
"I'll find a table for us… Also, just pick something; you don't need to spend five minutes staring at the menu every time you come to the cafeteria." Leo said, and the duo nodded absentmindedly.
While Felix and Susan didn't get along most of the time, mostly because of Susan's classism, the duo shared similar bad habits and interests. Leo knew these two would do pretty well as a couple, but her love for his red flags kept her blinded.
He left the group and instinctively headed for one of the tables near the windows. However, before Leo could reach the desk, a group of three senior-year students quickly blocked his path.
Their figures towered over Leo, forming natural shades from the sun's rays. He casually looked up with a look of disappointment, glaring at the three human students.
'Typical… Using humans to suppress humans.' Leo rolled his eyes.
This tactic was the bread and butter of supernatural school bullies. Stories of human students getting compelled to beat each other to a bloody pulp were common but never made the news.
"In their defense, as long as you have that ring, they can't touch you. They are using the only people that can reach you, humans." Azakar chipped in.
"I heard we will be getting a human night perfect soon. I decided to take a look… Now I know it's you, I can rest easy. Humanity is in the right hands."
A fat white youth with scanty red hair laughed. He had a recording hairline worsened by the dying of his hair, but he didn't seem to care. His flabby arms reminded Leo of the overweight mothers of five he usually came across during morning jogs.
As for the boy's legs; Leo could only shake his head in pity. Many would argue he was born with bowed legs, but Leo would confidently argue the condition of his legs was a result of his legs trying to carry his protruding belly, which hung loosely under his belt.
"Ain't no way that bowel-legged buffalo is insulting you!" Azakar gasped.
'I know right?' Leo rolled his eyes. 'I would feel more embarrassed standing in the middle of the cafeteria and exchanging words with him.'
Leo ignored the fat boy and tried to move past the group, but they stepped in and blocked his path again.
Buzz!
Leo's patience was running thin as his fingers squeezed the edges of his steel tray.
"Don't let the devil use you," Leo said, while his eyes revealed a threatening amber glow.