Dominance

The campus café was filled with the chatter of students in the evening sun, Camilla sat in the corner booth with her two close friends Maya and Hina.

'Soooo, have you seen them yet?' Hina asked eagerly looking to both the girls.

'Oh my God Yes! I saw them at the event yesterday, what a feast on the eyes.' Maya played with her long ponytail as she itched in excitement.

Camilla looked at them confused.

'Oh, come on, you know … the topic of everyone's conversation the past few days?' Hina nudged.

'Of course, our innocent Camilla wouldn't be interested in the university's most eligible bachelors.' Maya snickered in jest.

'The pair looked sooo good together! Cassius' quiet confidence just makes you melt.' Hina commented and she almost visibly melted in her seat.

'Agreed but I'm more interested in Ashin, he looks like he knows how to have a good time!' Maya smiled mischievously.

Usually Camilla's friends were right, she wasn't interested in dating, not out of choice though. Not having a single relationship made her eager to want to experience a whirlwind romance and intense passion, but one hadn't presented itself to her.

'Okay wait, I have something to announce…' Camilla began with a smile building suspense.

'NO, you didn't! you finally gave Kai a chance.' Maya interjected, and Hina perked up awaiting a response.

'What chance? No! Well, I don't know what it was, but I think, maybe, I felt that thing that you feel when you get butterflies.' Camilla's cheeks grew cherry red recalling her interaction with Cassius.

'Awwww, Camilla!' Hina hugged her tight, you are too cute!

'Honestly!' Maya laughed as she leant in close. 'You mean when you feel a tingle between your thighs telling you this man could make you scream.' She whispered as the girls all laughed together.

'So, who's the mystery man, we got to make sure he's worth our precious Camilla.' Maya was very protective over Camilla, she felt she was too innocent for her age and didn't want her taken advantage of.

'Well, you know of him, he said his name was Cassius.' Camilla replied.

Hina gasped before concluding. 'You know that actually makes so much sense, given Camilla's standards, it only makes sense someone as good looking as Cassius would stir up her feelings.'

'Woah woah, easy there, there are no feelings, well not yet at least. I don't even know him.' Camilla pleaded while playing with the strands of her hair.

'So, it's all purely sexual right now ey?' Maya giggled in Camilla's direction, to which she replied by avoiding eye contact and sipped her coffee. 'haha! That's how they all start' She continued to tease her.

'Now Now, we have some work to do! We have to give them the opportunity to meet.' Hina started conspiring with Maya on the most natural method, bringing up all sort of tactics.

'Seriously why are you over complicating it? Let me just go talk to this friend Ashin, gives me a good excuse too.' Maya had a devilish look on her face.

The following day at the Crimson manor, the lobby seemed more busy than usual. Estefan and Cassius were waiting to leave while the young lord got ready.

'He seems to be taking longer than usual, no?' Cassius looked in Estefan's direction as Vesper continued to pace up and down the stairs constantly forgetting something here or there.

'I believe he may be nervous after taking so many days off.' Estefan replied eloquently.

'Urgh, This generation!' Cassius brushed his hair back in his usual fashion, never had he experienced a vampire generation that felt so … human.

'Okay I'm ready!' Vesper declared as he finally stood in one place.

'I will be looking forward to seeing the reason of your so-called nerves.' Cassius warned as nudged Vesper out the door.

They entered the family car and made their way to Vesper's private academy. Its gates stood tall, looming over the cars like a watchtower.

'Did you know this used to be a fort in one of my previous lives?' Cassius spoke hoping to relax the boy.

Since Vesper had spent so long without his parents, the figures of authority became those at the school. This gave him a sense of fear and respect towards the teachers at the academy not normal of usual vampires. In addition to taking an unauthorised leave of absence, made Vesper worry not knowing what the reaction would be, from his professors and his peers. His last encounter with them was a sparring match to which he was defeated and left embarrassed in front of his entire class. Vesper told himself things were different now. This time he had learnt how to use his aura, and he had a strong ally- his family. These reasons consoled him greatly, but his heart still wavered.

They reached the academy's drop off area and Cassius got off with Vesper to take a look, he saw multiple vampire students running off inside the building being greeted by an elder tutor. The professor sported grey hair and a well maintained beard, the most prominent feature was his scarred eye giving him an ominous look.

'That's him. Professor Dorian.' Vesper tugged at Cassius' clothes from below.

Cassius knelt down and whispered to his ear. 'Who is stronger, Dorian, or me?'

'You!' Vesper smiled in his response.

'Good! Now let me show you a lesson in how to use your aura to assert dominance. Go ahead I will be right behind you.' Cassius pushed vesper along once again.

Vesper approached Professor Dorian slowly, he stood firm but inside still felt weak to his pressure.

'Young lord Vesper, it has been a while, you will have to explain yourself thoroughly for your absence.' Dorian spoke in a harsh manner, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn into a wry smile, enjoying instilling fear into the boy.

Before Vesper could reply, he felt the hairs on his back stand in obedience. The air behind him ice cold, his breath visible, he didn't dare to turn around. Looking straight ahead Vesper saw his professor sweating profusely- his eyes frozen, waiting to be given an order to move.

'Since when did anyone of Crimson blood have to explain themselves!' Cassius' voice roared from behind Vesper, without looking, he could feel the strength in his words. Not sure why, Vesper grew more confident with every breath he took, was this the strength of family blood? He thought to himself.

Dorian fell to the floor, kneeling in respect at Cassius' words.

'I apologise Sir, what can I do to calm your anger.' Dorian was quick to beg for forgiveness knowing too well what Cassius could do, his scarred eye itched remembering the pain.

'It is not me that you should direct your apology to.' Cassius placed his hand on Vesper's shoulder, Vesper finally looked up towards him. The aura that felt so cold to others, touched him and could only be described as … home.

'Young lord, please forgive my rudeness I will make sure it doesn't occur again.' Dorian spoke carefully. Usually this is the tone anyone would use with someone from The Great Three families, however with the state of the Crimson family many used this as a chance to exact their senseless petty revenge.

'You are forgiven this time, don't let it happen again. I will be only attending the academy for sparring so be sure to remember that.' Vesper was filled with confidence and tried to mimic the strength he felt in Cassius' voice.

The young lord continued walking in the school courtyard, at this point everyone outside had just witnessed one of the school's most feared professors bend the knee to a child. All eyes were on Vesper in anticipation.

Before Vesper could enter the school, another young vampire stood Infront of him blocking his path. The vampire boy was backed by a small entourage, this was the very same vampire that Vesper suffered a defeat by.

'So you couldn't win yourself, and had to bring someone else to fight your battles!?' The vampire boy taunted Vesper.

The past week had been so eventful for Vesper, he now had his family's honour, revenge, training all on his shoulders that suddenly, the spar that pushed him to wake Cassius was no longer of importance. Already filled with so much power from witnessing Cassius' display, Vesper felt unstoppable.

'Move!' Vesper simply uttered one word, and with it was the release of simmering aura that attacked the boy's senses. The boy stayed standing, but his body trembled silently, he couldn't let out a breath, involuntarily he had lost control of his bladder. A trail of his fear trickled down the courtyard as Vesper walked past him, giving no reaction whatsoever.

Cassius like a proud father was smiling eerily form behind. 'This one is quick learner.'