Page 7

casting deep shadows along the gothic dormitory buildings. The air was thick with anticipation, the quiet hum of secrecy weaving through the school as students—both human and vampire—prepared for the night ahead.

Y/N adjusted her top for what felt like the hundredth time, exhaling sharply as she glanced at herself in the mirror. Julia had done her makeup, something light but enough to make her look more awake. Aisha, sitting cross-legged on her bed, watched with judgmental amusement.

"You look like you're about to regret every decision that led you here" Aisha said dryly.

Y/N shot her a glare. "I already do."

Julia clapped her hands together. "Okay, party rules—stay together, avoid any shady corners, and if I disappear with a hot vampire, don't freak out."

"Excuse me?" Y/N turned toward her.

"Relax, I'm just saying if!" Julia grinned. "I'd like to think I have enough self-preservation not to get eaten."

Aisha muttered something under her breath in Arabic before standing up. "At least one of you has sense. Good luck not dying."

"Thanks?" Y/N deadpanned, grabbing her phone and shoving it into her pocket.

The two girls slipped out of their dorm, the hallways eerily quiet. Most students were either asleep or sneaking out to the party just like them.

As they stepped outside, the night air sent a chill down Y/N's spine. Dormitory Building B loomed in the distance, its windows glowing faintly from the lights inside.

★

The campus grounds were eerily quiet, the usual daytime bustle replaced by a hushed stillness. A few students—both human and vampire—lingered in the shadows, whispering, laughing, disappearing into the building ahead.

So this is what happens after dark

Y/N thought.

She huffed, pulling her jacket tighter around her frame. "This is a bad idea."

"You've said that ten times already..!" Julia whispered. "Try to sound a little more excited."

"I will when we're not walking into a literal nest of bloodsuckers."

Y/N sighed, adjusting her leather jacket. It wasn't like she was thrilled about this either, but curiosity—and Julia's relentless begging—had won out.

The dormitory loomed ahead. Unlike the human dorms, which had strict regulations and monitored security, the vampire dorm was noticeably lax. The front doors were wide open, music pulsing from inside. A faint, metallic scent clung to the air.

Y/N swallowed hard.

"Too late to turn back now," Julia said cheerfully, grabbing her arm and pulling her in.

The third floor of the boys' dormitory had been completely transformed—dark lighting, music thrumming through the walls, bodies moving in slow, lazy motions under the dim glow of chandelier light, as they walked in.

The whole floor was packed. Music thumped through the walls, low and pulsing.

The warm scent of alcohol, sweat, and something metallic clung to the air.

Students—both human and vampire—moved around in a hazy mix, some dancing, some drinking, and others engaged in hushed conversations in darkened corners.

Vampires sat lazily on the couches, sipping from blood bags or red-tinted drinks. Some looked at the humans with amusement, others with hunger.

The scent of alcohol lingered, though Y/N wasn't sure if it was actual alcohol or something else entirely. Julia grabbed her wrist. "Okay, just one drink, and then we can—"

"Julia" Y/N muttered. "I'm not drinking."

Her friend groaned but didn't push further. Instead, she led Y/N deeper into the crowd.

The room was a blur of unfamiliar faces—human and vampire, blending in ways that felt unnatural. Some humans were pressed against vampires, whispering in their ears, while others watched from a distance, cautious but intrigued.

Y/N tensed.

This was a bad idea.

She turned to tell Julia they should leave—and then she saw them.

Calixto. Silas. Azul. Adrian.

Sitting comfortably in the corner of the room like kings at a throne, watching everything unfold with lazy amusement. Y/N felt a shiver creep up her spine.

"Relax" Julia whispered. "Just act normal."

Right. Normal.

But then—a hand brushed her arm.

Y/N turned sharply, heart skipping a beat.

It was a vampire—some upperclassman she didn't recognise, taller than her with sharp features and an even sharper smirk. His eyes gleamed in the low light, assessing her with an eerie kind of interest, fangs on display.

"Didn't think humans had the guts to show up, let alone juniors." he murmured, voice smooth like silk.

Y/N stiffened. "Guess you thought wrong."

He chuckled, stepping closer. "What's your name?"

She hesitated.

Then—

"Back off."

A familiar voice.

Y/N whipped around to see him—Marcus Ford. The senior who had stood up to the vampires before. His expression was blank, but his stance firm.

The vampire tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Relax, Ford. I was just being friendly."

"You and I both know that's not true."

A tense silence.

Then, with a smirk, the vampire stepped away. "Suit yourself."

Marcus turned to Y/N. "You okay?"

She exhaled. "Yeah. Thanks."

His jaw tightened. "Freshman?"

"Uh no, junior."

He smiled gently, rubbing the nape of his neck "Oh my bad. Still, you shouldn't be here."

Before she could respond, someone called his name from across the room.

Marcus hesitated. Then, he nodded at her once. "Be careful." And just like that, he was gone.

Woah he's really fine..

★

Julia finally found her again, "Omg you have to try the punch it's so good!!"

Y/N hesitated, but before she could respond—someone rushed into the room

Chaos erupted.

A ripple of panic surged through the party. Students scrambled—humans dashing toward the exits, vampires slipping into the shadows. The music was cut off in an instant. Y/N's heart lurched, the students had shuffled around so much that Julia disappeared into the crowd.

Y/N squeezed between, weaving in and out of the crowd as she tried to find her friend, "Jules!" a surge of panic rushed within her as the crowd crushed her between them.

"Jules—!"

But before she could finish, someone grabbed her.

A cold grip, fingers curling around her wrist, pulling her into the darkness.

She barely had time to react before she was moving, being dragged through the back halls of the dormitory, deeper and deeper until the noise faded. Her pulse racing as they escaped.

Along the dimly lit hallways, past panicked students. The grip was strong, firm, and entirely unfamiliar. Through the blur of the hectic scene and the flickering lights, she made out the silver hair that bounced as it dragged her out the dorm.

★

He pulled her into an empty corridor, grabbing her shoulders and slamming her against the wall as a gasp escaped her lips; pressing her back against the cold wall as the sound of footsteps echoed nearby.

"What the hell—!"

"Shut up." he whispered, voice low.

Y/N scowled. "You—"

His hand clamped over her mouth.

"Do you want to get caught?" glaring at her with those sharp blue eyes, furrowing his brows and raising one as he murmured, his breath fanning against her cheek and pearly white fangs on display.

She glared at him.

The footsteps passed. A few seconds later, the hallway fell silent again.

Azul exhaled, finally lowering his hand.

Y/N shoved him. "Stop grabbing me."

He took a step back, looking her up and down. "Stop sneaking into vampire parties then."

She huffed. "I didn't sneak. I was invited."

"By who?"

She paused. For some reason, she felt that saying Julia's name wouldn't help her win this stupid argument. Azul leaned in slightly, his blue eyes glinting. "Who invited you Y/N?"

Her pulse quickened. "...None of your business."

His frown deepened. "You really do have a death wish." he muttered, stepping back. "Stay the fuck away if you don't want to be eaten alive, and I'm sure you know I mean that. Quite literally."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked off, disappearing down the hall leaving her heart pounding in her chest.

What the hell..