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Chapter Three : Slevin, Wizard Not-So- Extraordinaire

The fog was still thick and academic classes didn't start for another two hours, so it made the campus rather tranquil and enjoyable.

The Vancouver Academy was one of three Academies that had a non-nocturnal schedule; Vampires can handle the sun, they just don't handle long-term exposure very well, and we had the least number of Vampires at our campus so it made sense not to be stuck with a nocturnal schedule.

There was a dedicated Night Class that a handful of students were enrolled in, but it was a Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth-year program for only certain races or focused studies, and I've never been interested in it so I'm not entirely sure what they teach. Since vampires can go out in the sun, there was no reason for the entire campus to be stuck on a nocturnal schedule regardless of their complaints about it.

Upír, however, are highly allergic to the sun and burn away when exposed to it, and that was the only negative about a daylight schedule; it made us targets at night.

It was another of the many constitutional differences between the races of Thaumaturgy and Devilry.

The sensation that I was being followed flooded me, so I concentrated on the soft footfalls in the distance.

"Hey Shorty, you're up rather early," I said.

"Good morning, Beautiful," Slevin sang, skipping to my side.

Quickly we kissed each other on the lips before wrapping our arms around the other's waist.

"Why aren't you and Harper beating the crap out of each other?" he asked, knowingly.

"Visiting Headmaster Bakshi, of course."

Slevin groaned. "That's what I thought. Detention again?"

I shook my head. "When does he ever actually give me detention?"

"True. This Headmaster surprisingly likes you," he teased.

"I have to agree that I am pretty amazing," I haughtily said, causing him to laugh. "What do you know or have you heard in regards to a Prince de Babineaux of the Fifth House of Vampires coming to Vancouver?" I asked. "Just transferred from the Academy in the Clouds."

Normally I'm not a nosey person, not in the least, but this feeling I can't ignore.

No Sentinel would ignore it.

It could be the difference between life and death.

Slevin's delicate, overly sculpted, pink brows pulled together and his pouty lips twisted. "Nothing that I'm aware of, but I'll see what I can find out."

"Thanks."

"What's the interest?" he asked, curious.

I shrugged; I wasn't sure other than a weird feeling.

"Shut up!" he gasped. "You like him?"

"No! Shut up," I groaned, shoving him away from me. "This is why I don't tell you anything when it pertains to things with a penis."

Slevin gave me a look. "Spill the tea, Beautiful. What's up?"

This is a bad idea, but I need to know.

"Shorty, I just met him, but I didn't meet him at all. I just flipped him off after he beat me and Harper's evasion time in class... And I hurled a stake at him," I quickly mumbled the latter under my breath.

"And they say romance is dead," he teased.

I smirked, but it quickly fell. "Something's familiar about him, but I don't know what or why," I admitted. "Don't be an ass about it, don't get overly nosey or creative, just find out what you can without making a scene because I'm getting a vibe from him that I need to know if I can afford to ignore or not."

That was putting it mildly.

Slevin nodded his understanding and continued walking with me to the combat training center where I'd spend the next two hours doing combat training before my first academic-based class of the day started.

That wasn't normal.

Usually, Slevin slept in and was late for his first class.

Seeing him up and wandering in the fog with his unruly pink hair standing on end, should have made me question it, but I was too preoccupied with the hulking vampire with the unforgettable green eyes.

When we entered the training room, I looked around for Harper, my usual combat partner.

This particular sparring room wasn't overly large, but it was big enough that those taking this class had more than enough room to spar. Six-meter-across circles were marked off on the floor, and twenty evenly spaced circles filled the room. Nineteen pairs were going at it, delivering punches, knees, kicks, and whatever other moves they could execute to get the upper hand while staying in bounds.

The rings on the floor were magical and would negate any critical or fatal damage received to those within.

Combat training was mandatory for Sentinels since their job was to kick ass and kill Devilry. Some magic users take beginners' courses, but they typically can't keep up with the strenuous regiment of the advanced courses.

"Who's Mr. Tall, Pale, Dark Haired, and Handsome?" Slevin gushed.

I groaned; of course, the only person without a partner would be Prince Jerk-face.

Prince de Babineaux's head tilted slightly when he saw me, cocking an eyebrow before he beckoned me forward with his finger.

"Oh, holy hell, Beautiful! That's the Prince? He's yummy," Slevin gushed. "I can totally see why you want the tea on him. Damn."

"Shut it," I groaned.

I kissed Slevin before giving him a quick smack on the ass.

"I'll see you at breakfast, Shorty," I said.

"Love you, Beautiful!" Slevin sang, dancing towards the door, looking over his shoulder more than once as he went.

When Slevin was gone, my smile fell and I glared at the annoying Vampire that was watching me, which seemingly amused him.

"Sorry, Love," Harper apologized. "Since he had top marks today, he volunteered to sit out despite my protest."

I nodded my understanding. "You're dropping your shoulder on the right," I informed him in passing.

"Not fair!" Nano complained when Harper adjusted to correct the opening.

"Neither is war, my little friend," I said, spinning around before blowing him a kiss.

He gave me a rude gesture in response, which was quickly answered by a one-two combination from Harper.

When I reached the Vampire sitting in the middle of the sparring circle, I stopped and folded my arms across my chest then impatiently tapped my foot.

His head tilted to the side to regard me before he pushed his falling hair from his face. "Bonjour Mademoiselle Li, are you ready to spar?" he asked.

There wasn't arrogance in his deep voice, but there was something that made my heart race for some reason, and as if he noticed, his brows pulled together and his small smile fell.

The smug bastard was starting to annoy me.

"The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C.," I blurted out.

It was a bad habit I had when nervous; I blurt out random factoids, but I wasn't entirely sure why I was nervous all of a sudden.

Prince de Babineaux gave me a look, but it wasn't one of surprise like you'd expect to get from someone who was just force-fed an education in ancient dung condom history.

"Curiosity makes me wonder how effective of a contraceptive it was," he admitted.

Okay, that was kind of sexy and funny.

"It was strongly advised by the Headmaster that I should refrain from assaulting anyone today or antagonizing anyone else," I said. "And since there's no crocodile dung around to satisfy your curiosity with, violence it is."

He continued to look up at me from the floor, but a strange look washed across his face; one of amusement. "I would like to point out that you just offered to sleep with me in order to sate my curiosity about the effectiveness of ancient Egyptian contraceptives."

My eyes widened.

I did just do that!

"And violence is usually the answer with you, I have noticed," he continued. "I would like to point out that you have yet to antagonize me in any way, and I will admit your confidence that you will boast success, beating me when we spar, is... What is the word I am looking for?" he mused, appearing contemplative.

I glared at him.

"Ah, adorable!" he confidently said.

I was going to kill him!

"Why are you here?" I asked point blank. "Other than to annoy me to no end."

Prince de Babineaux gathered his thick, curly hair together then secured it back in a traditional top-knot on the back of his head for combat. "My parents had sex, and seven and a half months later I drew breath and graced the world with my presence," he said, as if it were obvious. "Though, I do not believe crocodile dung as a failed contraceptive was to blame for that."

There was a reason why I hated royalty, but his dry sense of humor wasn't one of them.

At least it'll be fun to bruise that pretty face of his and make it worth getting detention for.

"Fine," I conceded. "I refuse to allow my training schedule to be deviated from because of a Royal of all creatures."

He nodded then tossed me a pair of black wraps for my hands.

After I slipped out of my wet shoes, socks, shirt, and for shits and giggles, shorts, I wrapped my hands in the wraps. I've practiced in a sports bra and boy-cut briefs before, so this was nothing new.

Once my hands were wrapped, I cracked my neck, rolled my shoulders, and got in the sparring ring.

Prince de Babineaux was oblivious to me as I got ready. He pulled his wet shirt, socks, and shoes off as well, and I couldn't help but eye his muscular body.

Intricate tattoos of twisting and intersecting lines and dots, intermixed with symbols as black as his hair, encircled his upper body, and symbols and sigils in an unfamiliar magical art form went down his spine and disappeared under the waistband of his shorts.

I had never seen tattoos on a Royal before.

Then again, I had never seen a Royal as muscular or thick before either, especially of the Vampire variety, or with black hair; normally Vampires were lean and lanky because of their liquid diet, and they had blue eyes and their hair was some shade of blond.

"Ready, La fillette?" he asked with a smile.

Did he just call me Little Girl?

"Bring it, you giant French bitch," I said, and attacked.