Night Class

September 13th, 2019

Friday 2:45pm

After a brief lecture from Nurse Edna, Ehren and I were allowed to sit in the medical room and discuss things. The amount of times Edna glanced between the both of us was quite irritating, but after pulling the royalty card, she finally left us alone. Ehren hadn’t seemed too impressed with me using it, but he also didn’t complain about it. I’m thankful for that too. I don’t think we could handle another argument right now, not before we’ve finally discussed everything else.

Ehren stands at one of the many windows lining the wall, staring out it with his arms crossed over his chest. Rhea had also done this, but she didn’t look this good doing it. Muscles are giving their own individual show for me as they twitch under the white t-shirt. He’s probably aggravated, making them dance with dangerous excitement.

Not wanting to push my luck with him today, I stand next to him, but not touching him. I give us as much space as I can stand without collapsing under the desire licking at my underbelly. He’s tempting, like an ancient text behind tempered glass.

“Did they give you a hard time?” He asks gruffly.

“What- Did who- What?”

The blood is pumping in my ears, making it hard to hear what’s being said or even comprehend his words. He turns to face me finally, a grim look on his face, eyebrows laced together with annoyance and his blue eyes nearly glowing.

“The council, Isabella. Did they give you a hard time today? I know about your meeting with them.”

Oh, right. “Uh, well it was more of an ambush, really.” He gives me a fierce look and I quickly explain the situation. “I went there to talk to Natalia, and I thought we were alone, but I was apparently on trial. It was fine though. I was fine. They agreed to let-” I take in a deep breath, knowing there’s no going back once I tell him. “To let Peyton stay here at the academy. Of course, it took a bit of negotiating and convincing, but I handled it.”

“Handled it how?” His face grows stone now as he finally asks, “What do you mean negotiating?”

My nerves begin to worsen now as he steps closer. “Well, they-” He’s too close that I feel as though I can’t breathe. “If I wanted the law- In order for him to not be convicted for breaking the law, there needed to be no law to break.”

Ehren’s eye search mine now and I feel willingly captured by them. “Are you still a royal, Isabella?”

“Y-Yes.”

“If you’re still a royal- I don’t understand...” He backs away from me, running his hand through his hair, disheveling it further. “He can stay. There’s no law to break but you’re still a royal.”

“Ehren.” Seeing him pace and seem so distraught suddenly has my stomach knotting up. It’s going to send him off the deep end, and I can’t help but feel so guilty now. “It means that I’m a royal, but stuff like this-” I hold my scarred over bite mark out to him. “-can happen anytime without repercussions. I’m fair game.”

Ehren becomes still, like a statue. His eyes, darkened, yet still glowing, are trained on my scar. My wrist feels heavy under his heated stare. I heard it before I seen it. Glass shatters next to me. Ehren stands with his muscles bulging and his eyes glowing as he stares at the freshly broken window. Nether spills out from his fingertips, coating the tile beneath his feet. He looks dangerous, rabid even, as he takes in deep and heavy breaths.

The door swings open and it’s then that I notice an entire gurney missing. Peeking out the shattered window, I see it lying on the ground, two stories below, broken and strewn across the dying rose bushes. The blanket lay across a nearby branch.

He threw a bed out of the window.

I turn to see Nurse Edna, Peyton, Rhea, and Kieran standing at the ready just inside the room. Throwing my hands out to stop them, I make sure I’m between them and Ehren. The nether stops just at my feet, refusing to move forward anymore.

Kieran, I think in my own head, Get them out of here.

The danag gives me an unsure expression, but I only shake my head.

They will only complicate things, I think directly to him. Please listen to me.

With much reluctance, Kieran finally convinces the others to leave the room. Ehren and I are once again alone in the quiet room. Turning now to face him, my hands shake with much hesitation. I’m not scared of him, but I am terrified of what he’d do to himself or others if he got angry enough. Using nether is something he hates doing, so to see him just let it spill out... He’s truly angry.

“Ehren.” I lift my hands out to him and walk through the nether without hesitation. The smoke dissolves into the flooring as I approach it. “Ehren, I didn’t have a choice. You know me, right? You know that I would always choose you and any of my friends over myself. I couldn’t handle knowing Peyton was out there being tortured by the bond I helped create with him. It was my fault and I-”

I’m suddenly crushed in a vise grip of muscles. Ehren’s arms around me are warm and safe. Nether surrounds us but stays in a misshaped circle at our feet. He shakes as I’m tucked closer to his tense body.

“I can’t lose you,” he barely whispers out. “I can’t even think of losing you, Isabella. Don’t put me through that, not again.”

His grip is nothing compared to how his words choke me. How could he think that he’d lose me when he’s spent nearly every day that we’ve been friends pushing me away? I’ve tried time and time again to get him to see me as something more, and all it took was nearly dying to finally open his eyes.

I slowly push him back from me and his grip loosens. I can finally look into his eyes and see the dull green attempting to shine through those blue orbs. He’s even beautiful when he cries. Two already drying streams stain his cheeks, and he doesn’t even attempt to wipe them away once I’ve seen them.

“Ehren, you could never lose me,” I admit to him. “I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

“I have always wanted you, Isabella.” His eyes finally show vibrant moss green. “From the day I first met you, I knew you would be something special. I didn’t care about who your aunt was. I wanted you because you were different.” His hand is cold as he touches my cheek now, his thumb softly caressing my bottom lip. “You even smelt different; like freshly cut roses. That day in the shed, Isabella, when you said that you noticed something had changed in me. It was you that changed me. I couldn’t stop thinking about you, worrying over every second of the day. I always had to make sure you were taken care of, and of course, your aunt realized how I felt about you and she used it to her benefit.”

“What do you mean she used it to her benefit?”

He glances at me now before staring at the broken window again, his arms dropping from around me. “When Natalia realized that I felt like this for you, she ordered me to protect you. Rhea was your watcher, but I was your protector. But you have to understand, I was still conflicted about my feelings for you. You were following Kieran around like he hung the stars, and then I found out you had kissed him-”

“He kissed me,” I correct him. “I never started anything with him, because I honestly didn’t understand my own feelings either at the time.”

“But you do now.” His eyes darken once more as he stares out the window, refusing to meet my gaze. “How could you tell me you want me, then hang all over him like you were? You knew what Rhea had done to us, to me, but you still went and-”

“Woah.” I place my hands on his chest, his tight chest. “I never chose Kieran, Ehren. I chose you. I told Kieran that- I don’t understand why you would think-” The moment replays in my mind. Kieran had jolted away from me like something was wrong. He must’ve known Ehren had seen us holding each other. “Oh, Ehren. I had hugged him because I had just rejected him. I felt guilty for hurting him. Not because I wanted him.”

His eyes soften now, no longer glaring daggers in my direction, and he rests his hands on the opened window. Two strong hands gripping the exposed pane, shaking slightly, whether from exhaustion or relief I’m not sure. I wish I had known before what his thoughts were. I could’ve saved him this fear and internal torment.

“I- I should’ve known-” He shakes his head, most likely clearing his thoughts. “After what you told me in that bunker, I should’ve known you wouldn’t just turn your back on me like that. Especially not with my brother.”

“Never,” I assure him.

Two small dimples are showing now as he stares at me from his spot in front of the window. My hands shake now at my side, finally seeing them in person causes flips in my stomach. His hands are still gripping the window, knuckles whitening, keeping him from leaving that spot.

“I’m-” Ehren’s eyes seem to glow brighter somehow before shaking his head. “I’m glad you chose me. I couldn’t handle seeing you with him, with anyone else.”

“And you never will.”

Finally, Ehren releases the windowpane and grows closer towards me. Time seems to slow almost the closer he gets. His breath fans out over my nose and I wish my glasses were gone so I could feel it against my eyelids again. He’s close, but not close enough.

His breathing becomes ragged as glowing eyes land on my lips. “You kissed me before.”

“On the forehead,” I correct him. “Nowhere special.”

“It was plenty special, Isabella.” A hand brushes just barely against side, thumbs caressing either side of my hips. He’s testing my reaction with each squeeze. “It was more than special to me.”

Ehren’s soft lips gently press against mine. Sparks erupt in my mind and fireworks are being set off in my lower stomach from how much heat has gathered there. It’s more than what I had expected it to be, it’s breathtakingly beautiful. I never would’ve dreamed that kissing could feel like this, warm and tingling.

His arms encase me, trapping me against the exposed window. Something about knowing the only thing keeping me from falling out of it are Ehren’s arms, sends a certain thrill through me. Something inside of me has changed and I think it’s Ehren who’s caused it.

His lips release mine and I feel my brain pounding against the inside of my skull, a leftover effect of the rush he’s induced in me. My feet sway under the residing pressure, and I feel his arms hold me tighter. That’s not helping stabilize me any.

“That should’ve been my first kiss,” I barely breathed out.

Ehren chuckle is barely audible. “It was mine,” he admits.

“What?” I asked him quietly. “That was your first... I just assumed-”

“That Rhea and I had kissed?” His eyes are nearly covered as he looks down at me through those thick lashes. “Yeah, I know. A lot of people assumed that about us, but we’ve not done anything with each other. I didn’t want to rush things, just in case.”

“And what about us?” I can’t help but study his face. From the spot where I had seen his dimples to the small dusting of freckles I’ve just noticed that he has on his slightly crooked nose. “Are you not worried about rushing us?”

He smirks as he brushes a strand of loose hair behind my ear. “You’re not going anywhere, Isabella.” His eyes glow brighter now. “Not as long as I have a say in the matter. So, if you don’t want this, there’s the door now.”

As if I’d ever actually take that offer. “I’m wherever you are, Booker.”

I don’t miss the way his eyes glow brighter and his hands tighten on my waist. Placing my own arms around his neck, I stand on my toes and place a gentle kiss to his lips, loving how soft and plump they feel against mine. It feels nice to kiss him rather than wait on him to make the move. I’m sure Ehren isn’t one of those guys who only likes taking the lead, despite how controlling he acts around others. He’s a gentleman throughout.

The door to the infirmary bursts open and standing in the doorway is Peyton, a sheen of sweat on his forehead and his eyes glowing a bright blue. He seems as though he’s been running a marathon for the last hour.

“What are you doing?” Ehren’s voice is gruff and he’s once again in controlling mode. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“I felt-” He gasps for air. “Izzy’s heart-” Another gasp. “Freaking out.”

Heat spreads across my face as a blush takes permanent residence now. Ehren grunts as he gently brings me behind him, slight irritation on his perfect face. “You can leave now, Peyton.”

“Oh,” Peyton mumbles. “Sorry about that. I just thought-”

“Out,” Ehren orders.

Finally, I hear Peyton grumble out, “Fine, alright. I’ll go. Just doing my job.”

The door clicks shut and I’m and I’m spun around to face Ehren once again. He doesn’t seem embarrassed at all about what just happened though. His arms wrap around me once more and I feel safe and secure. His warmth spreads through me and I feel lighter on my feet. My heart beats evenly now, so smooth that, if I were to close my eyes long enough, I would fall asleep. The way we mold together is like pieces that were built for separate puzzles, but somehow managed to squeeze together just right.

“Are you ready to deal with Romans’ induction ceremony?” He asks me. I can tell that he doesn’t even want to go to it.

“As long as I can be with you.”

I’m more than sure that us going public about our relationship will cause problems, but I don’t care about any of that right now. I just want to be as normal of a teenager as I can be until graduation.

Have a boyfriend, although he’s a vampire.

Go on dates, at night though, because the sun would irritate him.

Kiss him as many times as I want while in the hallways, even though my aunt is the queen and would most like grow uncomfortable seeing that.

“I want to be with you openly, Isabella, I do.” Ehren’s hands tighten on my waist to keep me from leaving. “But give this some time. Let me smooth things over with your aunt first, then we can be as open about it as you want to be. I really am thinking our future when I say that it would cause too many problems to handle should we come right out about it now.”

“Promise me?”

“I promise you.”

I begin searching his eyes, looking for some type of deception, but none can be found. He’s telling me the truth.

“Okay,” I whisper. “I believe you.”

“Good.” His hand brushes against my face one more time. “I still can’t believe we’re here right now. I never thought you’d have me, not after the shed.”

“You were angry. I was angry.” My breath feels lighter now, as if I can finally breathe again. “We both said things we didn’t mean. It happens.”

“I hope that it happens less in the future,” he admits lowly. “I didn’t like feeling that way with you.”

“Neither did I.”

He looks annoyed now as he takes my hand, pulling me along with him out of the infirmary while grumbling, “Peyton keeps chanting that we’re going to be late if we keep making out.”

My cheeks heat now, and I mumble out, “Knock it off, Peyton. We weren’t making out.”

“Yet,” Ehren says.

My palms become sweaty, and I drop his hand. A burning sensation spreads through me again at the thought of Ehren and I making out. Ehren stops in his tracks once he’s realized that I’ve stopped trailing behind him.

His eyes widen before rushing out, “That’s what Peyton had said. I was still translating since you can’t hear him like I can. I wasn’t-“ He walks closer towards me while tucking that disobedient hair behind my ear. “I didn’t mean that we would be making out soon, Isabella. I mean, I would love to, but only when you’re ready. You may not be going anywhere, but I still don’t want to rush you into anything you’re not ready for.”

“Okay,” I agree with him. “Thanks for, um, clearing that up.”

He shakes his head while grumbling about Peyton being a pain in his neck. The silence envelops us as we make our way to the dining hall. Peyton meets us in the hallway but says nothing. He’s clearly worried that Ehren will hit him or send him into a world of torture with his nether. He’s right to worry.

The awkwardness from before had long dissipated after entering the dining hall. Each table is filled with anxious vampires, danags and dhampirs alike. Across the hall, standing tall on the raised platform for the royals, are each of the elders I had met earlier. The sangre council. Natalia stands before them, her lips pursed and her eyes tight with each opening of Nicodemus’ mouth. Those two seem to not get along at all and it makes me wonder if they have something more going on between them. Even Giles looks uncomfortable as he’s seated between Mila and Esmond.

I should really learn more about the political scene if I plan on changing some things involving it. Marcus was right; I don’t know much about the latest movements within the government. But that’s where my friends come in handy. They know more than I do and they’re more than willing to share if I asked them.

A whistle breaks the silent barrier in the dining hall. Romans is standing on his feet, smiling widely as he waves us over towards the table occupied by our friends. Kieran is laughing to himself while Rhea looks more than embarrassed to be seen with the loud dhampir. Vera seems overly quiet, but I’m sure she’s still dealing with what happened at the Bromley manor. Some space and open listening will help, but we’ll still keep an eye on her.

I notice Kieran staring at me and he briefly gives me a nod, a look of confirmation on his face.

Are you listening in on my thoughts, Kieran? I asked him discreetly.

The danag smirks before turning to watch my aunt on the platform.

I’ll take that as a yes, then.

Ehren’s arm twitches next to mine and I notice him flexing his fingers. Mine have been doing the same since we entered the room. I want to hold his hand so badly, but I know it would lead to something being said and neither of us are ready to come clean just yet.

Silently, we make our way to our seats. I sit right in between Romans and Kieran while Ehren takes a seat across from me, directly in between Vera and Peyton. Rhea softly complains about being stuck beside Romans, but no one pays much attention to her. There’s an undertone of appreciation with her complaints. I think she’s beginning to settle back into the group as she was before I came along and that makes my chest feel warm.

“How was your make-out session?” Romans asks before correcting himself. “I mean make-up session.”

Peyton chuckles from in front of Kieran while Ehren sends him a warning glare. Romans tosses his hands up in defense. “Relax, Knox. Besides, you aren’t all that intimidante lately. Izzy has you by the short and curly’s mi hermano.”

Giggling erupts from the table behind Ehren, Peyton, and Vera, and I notice a couple of dhampir girls covering their mouths. They definitely overheard Romans’ comment. Ehren’s cheeks and the bridge of his nose become dusted with a pastel pink color. He’s blushing.

“It’s cute, isn’t it?” Kieran huffs under this breath.

My eyes turn up towards him. He’s tall even when sitting. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or jabbing at me.”

He shrugs. “A bit of both, I guess.” Kieran then side glances at Ehren before muttering, “At least we can sit together without it causing problems.”

Nether leaks across the table causing the giggling to stifle and whispers around the room to travel from table to table. I glare at a still-smirking Kieran before nudging Ehren’s leg with my foot. The dhampir finally looks at me and not his brother, his eyes relaxing as well as his posture. Nether slowly seeps into the mahogany table and disappears.

Something has changed between the brothers and I’m not sure what it is. It’s as if they’re competing now with one another.

Breath hits my ear as Kieran whispers into it, “Competing isn’t the word I’d use.”

“Kieran,” I hiss out. “Knock it off, or else.”

He simply smiles now before turning back to face the platform. Stealing a glance at the younger brother, I see something in him sort of deflate, as if he’s taken Kieran words to heart. My own tightens thinking of how upset he must get knowing Kieran is right. Kieran can openly talk to me, hold my hand, compliment me without anyone thinking or saying anything against it. But Ehren would be condemned. Our entire relationship would be under constant fire and scrutiny.

It isn’t fair to either of us, but I can’t place hard feelings on Kieran though. He had made up his own mind as well about what he wanted. I just didn’t reciprocate those feelings. That’s not his fault.

The room silences now as my aunt approaches the podium. Her elegant red gown and the shiny gold crown on her head put her in the perfect ideal image of a queen. I know what’s truly underneath though; an exhausted headmistress and worried mother.

“My precious students, I am pleased to announce that I am healed.” My classmates begin whispering while clapping and exclaiming their joys before quieting down once more. “There are many to thank for this amazing turn of events, but none more than my dear niece, Princess Isabella. Please, take a stand Isabella.”

Ignoring the shaking in my legs, I do as I’m told. Ehren’s eyes on mine are the only thing keeping me from falling over. A quick glance around the room to take in the collection of appreciative faces has me nodding and sitting back down once more. My head spins and I feel faint now from the overwhelming pressure of everyone staring at me.

A hand rubs mine from under the table and I jump in surprise. Romans gives me a reassuring smile before squeezing my shaking hand. The movement helps a lot, but there’s still some nausea.

“As you have all been made aware just a few days ago, Arlo Bromley has been held on attempt charges against the crown and royal guard.” More whispering from my peers doesn’t seem to deter Aunt Natalia. “The matter is being handled by the council and we will discuss further actions pertaining to his punishment. However, we will let this serve as a warning to all; no matter your blood status or standing in the council, no one shall harm a royal lest the be willing to accept the punishment at hand. As queen, it is my duty to prepare you for a place far harsher than here, the outside world. While hunters pose as our biggest threats, an even larger one looms overhead; humans.”

“She’s not wrong,” Peyton whispers. “Humans are discovering more about our existence with each passing day.”

“It’s concerning,” Ehren notes. “But something tells me vampirism won’t be a secret for much longer.”

I never considered that a possibility. The world knowing of vampirism and accepting it would make things so much easier on the vampires. But from my experience, humans are not as open about accepting things much different than themselves.

“With this in mind, I have tasked my own brother with combining together with local law enforcement as a way to converge ourselves into the community. The time for evolution is now, my students. I will no longer hide my agenda from you children, because soon, you will no longer be the children you were when you stepped through my doors. I intend to open the school to humans, a small and hand selected group to start with, next school year.”

An eruption of gasps and gossip begins in the dining hall.

“What is she thinking?”

“The queen knows what she’s doing.”

“I wonder if we’ll get to practice on them any.”

“Alright, blood we can actually drink from the tap.”

The collection of different responses sends shivers down my spine. Surely Natalia wouldn’t let the new humans be meals on legs for the vampire students.

“Doubtful,” Kieran says as he tosses an arm around the back of my chair. “You aunt has always been pro-human, remember? She’d make sure guidelines were set and followed like law around here.”

“I guess you’re right.” My hands meet the table as I turn and glare at him. “Are you even attempting to not look into my head?”

He says nothing. Those blue eyes merely glow for a second before focusing back on my aunt. I don’t even risk a look at Ehren right now.

“Silence, my children.” Aunt Natalia easily hides her exhaustion behind a brief smile. “With that bit of news out of the way, I am even more pleased to announce that there will be a new member of the royal guard. Nicolas, would you please stand on ceremony.”

Romans confidently stands on his feet now. His dark hair is smoothed back, but one strand curls just on his forehead. The sight briefly has him resembling a Hispanic and rebellious looking Clark Kent. Kieran stifles a laugh next to me now and I give him another glare.

Get out of my head, Kieran. You know it’s bothering Ehren.

The knowing smirk on his lips let me know that my accusation was accurate. Rolling my eyes, I watch as Romans waltzes up the staircasing and onto the platform. The idea of being on stage and surrounded by royals would make anyone nervous, but not Romans. He really is the bravest of us.

Natalia smiles proudly as she presents Romans with a bracelet, the same one that all the rest of my friend’s wear. Emmy, Tori, Marcus, and Giles have them as well, but I have no clue what powers Tori and Marcus have. I’m sure I’ll find out with time.

Romans walks back towards us now, slowly waiving and enjoying the claps of our peers as he does so. The dhampir will surely have a big head now. He’s already a bit too full of himself.

“Now, with everything settled, I will offer each of you a piece of advice and a word of caution. Life is short, no matter if we are vampires or humans. Something so simple, breathing, living, existing, can be ended so suddenly. I have known death, talked with him once in a dream. He is not someone to fear, but an old friend awaiting our arrival. Should we be made to meet him sooner than intended, a great shame that would be. Live your lives to their fullest potential, so that we when are made to greet death, we do so with no regrets. I have many myself, some I have redeemed myself, and others I hide away shamefully. No one in this world or the next is perfect by any means. However, we can strive to embrace the one thing I’ve been told we lack; humanity. In doing so, we will draw closer to that fictional ideal of perfection.”

Natalia thanks everyone for listening and they begin cheering her as she returns to her seat among the royals. The students begin eating, drinking, and talking among themselves excitedly. Romans shows off his bracelet for us while Vera tugs at hers with a grim face. She must still be struggling with controlling her fire as she mentioned before. Practice, that’s all it will take is some patience and practice.

Off in the corner of the room, Aldrich stands with a calculating look as he surveys the royals. Something in his gaze irks me, shouts at me that it’s not a good idea to linger on him much longer. His eyes meet mine and my skin crawls. A gold color shines in them before he slowly disappears into the shadows of the room. Something inside of me is screaming to run, but another part is telling me that there’s nothing to run from. Whatever Aldrich has planned, we’ll be ready for it.

Just a month ago my life was normal, it wasn’t filled with any laughter or rainbows and unicorns. It was just a boring sense of normalcy. Now, I haven’t gone one day here without feeling something greater than boredom. I’ve gained a new friend group, learned more about myself as a person, and gained someone to call my own. I had missed normal, and the way my life had been until I discovered night class at Crux Academy.