TWO: OUTBURST

The world around me suddenly dulled, as if the music and chatter of the party were being swallowed into silence.

The grip on me was firm, too strong to be human. Panic surged through my body as I fought against it, twisting free with all my strength. I turned, ready to run, but my breath caught in my throat.

Jesse.

His piercing blue eyes had turned an unnatural shade of black, just like the creature I had seen in the bedroom.

"Jesse?" My voice barely came out as a whisper, my feet instinctively shuffling backward.

Then, just as quickly as they had darkened, his eyes faded back to normal. His expression was tense, his gaze flickering over my shoulder as if making sure the other guy hadn't followed me out.

"What the hell are you doing up here?" he demanded, his voice low but urgent.

I could barely form words, still shaking from what I had just witnessed. My heart pounded in my chest as I stammered, "What the fuck are you? And who was that?"

Jesse exhaled sharply. "The guy you saw? His name is Nemus. He's a vampire."

The word felt foreign.

"A… vampire?" I repeated, my voice weak.

Jesse didn't answer. He was already looking past me again, and that's when I saw him.

Nemus had stepped out of the room, casually wiping blood from his mouth with a small black towel.

Jesse tensed. "You need to get out of here. Now."

I didn't need to be told twice.

I spun on my heel and bolted down the stairs, shoving my way through the crowd. People groaned and grumbled as I pushed past them, but I didn't care, I needed to get out.

I barely made it a few steps before Pink caught my arm.

"Had a change of heart?" she asked, grinning.

I tried to steady my breathing, my mind racing for an excuse.

"Come on, dance with me!" she insisted, dragging me toward the center of the dance floor.

"Pink, no! I'm not in the mood," I protested, prying myself from her grasp. "I'll see you at the hostel."

Clary and Eska appeared beside us, both swaying to the music.

"Leaving already?" Clary asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah."

"Why?" Eska's voice was sharper, her gaze suspicious.

I swallowed hard and risked a glance at the balcony. Nemus was there, watching. Searching.

My stomach clenched.

"Something came up. It's an emergency," I blurted out before pushing past them and out the door.

As I left, I caught Eska still staring at me, her expression unreadable.

The next day at school, I tried to act normal.

I wasn't sure how to behave now that I knew vampires actually existed. So, I rehearsed a few expressions in my dorm mirror before heading out, casual, neutral, maybe even a little bored. That seemed normal, right?

But before I even made it to class, I was suddenly yanked into the janitor's closet.

I nearly screamed.

My heart pounded in terror until I saw my captor.

Eska.

She slammed the door shut and pressed me against the wall.

"Okay, freak. Talk."

I blinked. "Talk? About what?"

She scoffed. "The so-called 'emergency' that made you run out of the party like you saw a ghost."

I swallowed. "It's personal."

"I smell bullshit," she said flatly. "Try again."

I hesitated. What was I supposed to say? That I saw a guy sucking the life out of a girl upstairs? That Jesse had the same terrifying black eyes? That vampires were real?

"You wouldn't believe me."

Eska leaned back, folding her arms. "Try me."

She wasn't letting this go.

With a deep breath, I told her everything. Every terrifying detail. Expecting her to call me crazy, laugh, or at least question my sanity.

Instead… she smiled.

"So Nemus is back, huh? Some dudes just don't know when to quit."

I blinked in shock.

"Wait, you know Nemus?"

"Of course," she said casually. "He's our arch-nemesis. He was supposed to be dead. Guess someone didn't finish the job."

My head spun. "If you know Nemus, then that means… you know what he is."

"A vampire? Yeah, obviously. Same as Jesse. And Zack."

My stomach dropped.

"Wait, they're..."

She nodded.

"Ever wondered why this town is called Caveroop? It's a haven for supernatural creatures. Vampires, werewolves, witches… you name it."

Cold dread spread through my veins. I took a step back. "And you are?"

She smirked. "A vampire."

Then, right before my eyes, she transformed.

Her irises bled red. Thin veins spidered out from under her skin. Her fangs extended; long, sharp, deadly.

I pressed myself against the wall, frozen.

Then, just as quickly, she returned to normal.

"Relax," she said, laughing at my reaction. "I'm not going to eat you."

I exhaled shakily. "You're… different."

"Obviously."

"Jesse and Nemus had black eyes," I pointed out.

Eska grinned. "That's because I'm Black Blood."

"Black Blood?"

She nodded. "There are three vampire clans: Red, Black, and Blue bloods. Red Bloods are full vampires, the only ones who can turn humans. Blue Bloods are the true vampires, completely nocturnal, sunlight burns them to a crisp. And then there's Black Bloods like me. We're hybrids. Half-vampire, half-human. We can't turn others, but we can kill."

I could barely comprehend what she was saying.

"You okay?" she asked when we finally left the closet.

I nodded, though my body felt like it was moving on autopilot.

"You'll get over it," she teased. "Just give it time."

I wasn't so sure about that.

Later that day, we watched the basketball team practice. The cheerleaders were at a corner, perfecting their routines. Pink led them, with Clary as her assistant.

I sat on the bleachers, still reeling from everything Eska had told me. My eyes drifted to Jesse as he moved across the court, effortlessly making a shot.

He was smooth. Strong. Absurdly good-looking.

And a vampire.

"Hey, DT."

I jumped slightly as Zack plopped down beside me.

I stiffened. Knowing what he was now, I subtly shifted away.

"You like my brother?" he asked with a smirk, catching me staring at Jesse.

"Not even close," I said quickly. "He's rude. And definitely not my type."

Zack chuckled. "Good. Then I guess I stand a chance."

I couldn't help but smile. For a vampire, he seemed… oddly normal.

After practice, Pink forced me to follow her and Clary to the locker room.

I stood as at a corner while they both hover around him.

When they were done, we set to leave before Jesse called my name.

Everyone froze.

"Can I have a minute?" he asked.

I could sense a wave of jealousy that flickered around Pink.

"Erm... I actually got works to do" I said without turning to face him and was about to leave the room before Pink held me back.

Trying to hide the fact that she was jealous, she said

"Come on girl, just hear what he has to say" she said with the intention of catching him under her charm then Clary nudged me. "I think he likes you."

I rolled my eyes. "I doubt that."

When we were alone, I instinctively backed away.

"Please don't suck my blood. I promise not to tell anyone about you."

Jesse smirked. "Why the fuck would I drink your blood? You already look bitter."

I scowled. "So why am I here?"

He sighed. "You should stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

"Wow, thanks for the pep talk, asshole."

He frowned looking away,

"Get lost. Your presence annoys me already."

I glared at him. "Jerk!"

...

The night was thick with shadows, the air heavy with the scent of oil and rust. In an abandoned garage on the outskirts of town, three hooded figures stood in a loose circle, their murmured chants filling the space like a low, eerie hum.

Nemus sat perched on the hood of a battered red car, his sharp features illuminated by the flickering light of a single overhead bulb. His fingers tapped against his knee impatiently as he listened to the rhythmic whispers of his followers.

Beside him stood a woman, tall, elegant, and draped in a shimmering red-silver dress that clung to her form. Her eyes gleamed with something sinister, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Enough," Nemus ordered, his voice cutting through the chants. The hooded men instantly fell silent, bowing their heads in submission.

The woman turned to him, studying his troubled expression.

"You seem tense," she observed.

Nemus exhaled, running a hand through his tousled black hair. "I don't know who it was… but I felt it."

"Felt what?"

His jaw tightened. "A presence. Something powerful. Something... familiar."

Her lips curled into an intrigued smirk. "So, you mean to tell me that the one we've been searching for is in Caveroop High?"

Nemus nodded, his expression unreadable.

The woman's smile widened, her eyes shimmering with cruel delight.

"Then I think our time has finally come." She stepped closer, her voice a whisper of promise. "Destiny has given us another chance, Nemus. Let's not waste it."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the garage, the click of her heels echoing into the night.