Information on the Screen

The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silvery glow across the room. Behind the desk sat a computer that reminded Dawn of Mr. Lucas's office. The space felt stark and unwelcoming, devoid of any family photos or personal touches. It was enveloped in darkness, but then Dawn turned to where she sensed a warm, radiant light.

There stood Kitty, her hand raised with small, flickering flames dancing across her palm, glowing in shades of orange and red without causing her any harm. With a smile, Kitty said to Dawn, "This is part of my magic."

Dawn gazed at the mesmerizing flames and asked, her curiosity piqued, "Can all witches do that?"

Kitty shot her a playful, condescending look. "Of course! I keep forgetting you're new here."

With a soft sigh, Dawn surveyed the room again. "It's odd. I know Mr. Lewis is just a temporary principal, but this place feels so lifeless."

As she wandered around, she noticed a shelf filled with books on the origins of witches, werewolves, and vampires. One title caught her eye: Folklore about Dhampirs. A frown crossed her face. Why would Mr. Lewis have this? She shook her head and quietly returned the book to its place.

Her gaze shifted to the computer, where she noticed the desk had two drawers on either side. She settled into the rolling chair, enjoying the soft cushion beneath her. Turning on the bright screen, she was met with a password prompt. Kitty, noticing her frown, asked, "What's wrong?"

She stepped closer to Dawn, her brow furrowing at the screen. "Yikes, we need to figure out the passwords."

Dawn nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. An idea struck her, though part of her thought it was silly. If her guess was right, it was a rather common password. She typed it in and, to her surprise, successfully logged in.

Kitty was taken aback, studying Dawn with a new perspective. "You're not as useless as I thought. What's going on?"

Dawn answered, "It was Ashley's birthday."

Kitty's brow furrowed. "Wait, how do you know that? You've never even met her before coming to this school!"

With a hint of suspicion, Kitty scrutinized Dawn, who simply shrugged. After a moment of hesitation, Dawn confessed, "Well, I knew he cared a lot about Ashley. I just guessed it might be around the time she was born. Pure luck, really."

Kitty was left speechless. "Just like that?"

Dawn nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, just like that. I honestly didn't think it would work. It seemed too obvious."

Kitty frowned, her tone dripping with arrogance. "Wow. I should've seen that coming. Werewolves are so predictable."

Dawn's attention shifted to the computer screen, where various emails were popping up. She noticed her name at the bottom and narrowed her eyes.

How did Mr. Lewis uncover her true identity? Only a select few knew about her—Iravan, Mr. Jonathan, Mr. Lucas, and a handful of others in her tight-knit circle.

Mr. Lewis shouldn't have had access to her personal details. Her name, birth date, parents, and other sensitive information were all laid out before her.

Suddenly, she remembered Kitty beside her, realizing it was too late to hide. Turning her head, she saw Kitty's eyes widen in disbelief.

With uncertainty, Kitty asked, "You're… a… dhampir? How is that even possible?!"

Kitty gazed at Dawn, her mind racing with this newfound revelation.

Dawn was at a loss for words, her throat felt tight.

Kitty stepped back, confusion etched on her face. "Are you really a dhampir?"

Dawn had known her secret would eventually come to light, but not this early. After locking eyes with Kitty, she decided to be honest. "Yes. I'm a dhampir."

Kitty shook her head in disbelief, struggling to process the information. Tales of dhampirs flooded her mind, playing out like scenes from a movie.

As a child, she often heard her family recount tales of dhampirs. These beings were hunted relentlessly, unable to master their insatiable thirst for blood once they had experienced it. They struggled to distinguish between allies and enemies, their primal instincts driving them to see only potential prey. Their hunger is their only driving force. Among their most perilous traits was the power to manipulate the minds of others.

That's why most of them are exterminated.

Kitty gazed at Dawn, a mix of curiosity and newfound fear in her eyes. "Have you ever tasted human blood?"

Dawn shook her head firmly. "No, I don't drink human blood."

"Did you ever think about telling me?"

Dawn met her gaze, but her expression remained inscrutable—cold and detached.

With a sigh, Kitty conceded, "Fine. You don't have to answer that. I think I already know."

Annoyed, Kitty added, "We're definitely going to discuss this later."

Their attention shifted to the computer as it began to beep, displaying an unusual number followed by a full message.

"What is that?" Kitty asked, her brow furrowing.

Dawn's eyes narrowed as she stared at the screen, a sense of dread creeping into her gut. Why was her true identity appearing there? Why did they want to know about her movements? A chill ran through her, as if she were being observed. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching the door.

Panic surged between Dawn and Kitty. Dawn sprang to her feet, gripping Kitty's arms tightly. She hurriedly pulled her toward a closet, flinging the door open and attempting to shove Kitty inside.

"Hey! No way am I hiding in there!" Kitty protested.

"Do you want to be caught?" Dawn whispered urgently. "Just stay here until they leave." With determination and new strength, she managed to push Kitty into the closet, leaving the door slightly ajar to ensure she could breathe.

She took out her phone urgently, took pictures of the screen, and logged out of the computer, and turned off the computer screen. Everything was back to the original spot, no one would notice anything's amiss. 

Dawn felt her heart race, the rhythmic thumping echoing in her ears. Driven by a mix of urgency and fear, she quickly crouched beneath the desk, unsure of what her choice might bring.