It was a beautiful night. The moon was in full glory, the sky was glittered with stars, and the atmosphere had that serene feeling to it.

If I was back at Rosario, I would probably be lying on the roof of our small house, listening to different night owls as I stare at the vast sky. It was kind of a habit that I got from who-knows-where, and I'd been doing it for as long as I could remember on nights like this one. But instead, here I was, sitting perfectly still inside a car that wasn't mine, hands clasped tightly together while I waited anxiously for the vehicle to make a turn towards the tall silver gates of Crimson Academy.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to imagine the creatures that lived within these gates. Their skin as pale as snow, eyes as red as blood, and fangs that could pierce through skin; living proofs that nightmares weren't just found in dreams; immortals granted with immeasurable power... vampires.

For decades, humans believed that supernatural beings were nothing more than fictional characters, myths, or figures of one's imagination. But that was before the vampires left the shadows and decided to reveal their species to the world.

Now, they were as real as they could get. And it had been that way for two years since the Great Awakening.

"Have you met one, Miss?" said a deep gentle voice that pulled me out of my trance.

From the tinted window, I turned my head towards the driver's seat. Mr. Santiago's dark eyes met mine through the rear-view mirror.

"Vampires?" I said. "I don't think I have. There aren't many back at Rosario."

"Then this will be the first?"

"Yeah. Think so." I smiled, and brought my eyes back to the window. "What are they like, Mr. Santiago? Are they scary? Are they as beautiful as people claimed?"

"They are certainly peculiar, that I could guarantee. They think in ways I could never comprehend. Maybe a result of their long existence. But in some ways, they're just like us."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see when you met one." Even though I couldn't see his face, I could feel his smile when he said that.

I rested my head against the window and closed my heavy lids as we drove past the rows of trees that somehow surrounded the academy. Just the thought of meeting the creatures of the night already felt like a heavy blanket had just been placed over me. But because of Mr. Santiago's words, I somehow felt a little bit more at ease.

Only when the car pulled up did I opened my eyes. My heart pounded heavily against my ribcage, pumping adrenaline through my veins that almost drowned away my anxiety.

Taking a deep shaky breath, I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder before opening the car door. The smell of pine trees and the cold night air welcomed me the moment my feet landed on the concrete. I hugged myself, my gaze fixed on the brick building in front of me.

Can I still go back? I thought.

But where to? I already lost my home when my mother died three months ago, and I had spent every last money she'd left for me. I couldn't possibly stay with my best friend, Lianne, and her family. They've sheltered me long enough, and asking them to keep me longer than they should would just be plain embarrassing. I wasn't their responsibility. I wasn't anyone's responsibility. No one was obligated to help me survive but myself. Which was why I accepted Crimson Academy's proposal — to be one of their students. Not only would I have a place to live in, I'd also be able to go to college, something that I thought was impossible at my current state.

It was the perfect opportunity to grab, while I go and search for a job that could help me stand on my own — basically hitting three birds with one stone.

So why was I hesitating again? Oh, right. Crimson Academy was a former all-vampire boarding school.

Just months ago, vampires were the only ones accepted in the academy. What they needed to learn after their long existence was something I couldn't fathom. But apparently, they still needed to be educated, and the academy was built for that sole purpose. Then soon after that, more and more establishments meant for their kind have appeared: hotels, bars, clubs.

But not everyone was able to accept the sudden changes in the society.

It wasn't because people were totally freaked out by vampires in school uniforms, or shocked that these ancient creatures could have some fun. They were terrified to accept the fact that we had always lived with monsters among us, and even more terrified that we now share the world with stronger, more intelligent species than ourselves. And who could blame them? Everyone got used to the idea of vampires as killing-machines and soulless demons.

Even after Japan introduced their newly developed synthetic blood and blood pills that actually maintain a vampire's life without the necessity of drinking from humans, the majority of people were still anxious around the vampire community. That pushed the government to take action regarding this matter.

Thus, schools like Crimson Academy started mixing humans with vampires, in hopes of bring our separate worlds together.

I was one of those humans.

Was it something to be proud of? That I wasn't sure just yet.

"Would you be needing some help, Miss?" Mr. Santiago said.

I turned to him. The forty-year-old man was now out of the car, holding my luggage with a smile that showed the few lines his face accumulated as he aged.

Despite the long drive from Rosario to the city of Ostport, and the hours of exchanging conversations with me, Mr. Santiago still looked lively in his black suit, straight pants and leather shoes. His dark hair with a few streaks of white still looked neat, and his expression never showed exhaustion.

"I think I can manage." I smiled and took my suitcase from him. "Thank you, Mr. Santiago."

"Please, call me Noel."

"Sir Noel," I quickly supplied, "thank you."

The old man smiled and slightly inclined his head. "You're welcome, Miss Luna. I hope to see you again."

Waving my hand, I watched as Sir Noel walked back into the black vehicle. He started the engine and drove away. Only then, when I was on my own, did I felt reality slapping me in the face.

I'm finally here.

Crimson Academy was larger than I thought, if large could even suffice to describe its monstrosity.

The school alone, which consisted of several Victorian-themed buildings, was enough to get you lost. But then add two more dormitories — for the vampires and now newly added human students — and you just might need a map for a month.

Suncrest dormitory was a fifteen-minute walk from the main school building, residing on the west part of the academy's premises. Usually, things related to the academy and the dormitory, like rules and other regulations, were explained to the students as they walk from the main school building towards the Suncrest dormitory. But because I came in late, the Vice-president of the Human Division, Tricia Beauford, let me ride the night service, making that fifteen-minute walk into a three-minute drive.

Unfortunately, that car couldn't save me from the three staircases at the dormitory that awaited my arrival.

"Room four-zero-six," I said as I stood in front of my dorm room.

Gripping the handle of my suitcase on the left, I pushed the door open with my free hand after slipping my key — which I got from Tricia Beauford — into my pocket. The door creaked softly, revealing the large fully-furnished space that was now my home, of sorts.

"Wow," was all I could say as I took in the room in front of me.

Unlike the rest of the dormitory that had a modern design with a touch of Victorian theme, the room was a bit more homey.

It had two pairs of bed and wardrobe — one pair near the door, and the other was next to the large windows with brown curtains. There was even a small couch, a coffee table, and a small dining table with two chairs. On the left side of the room was another door, probably the bathroom.

It had everything that I could ever need. The wallpapers in my favorite color of beige was just a bonus.

"Are you just gonna keep standing there?" said a voice that abruptly made me turn around.

A girl with short raven black hair that contrasted her white porcelain skin stood behind me, a small bag slung over her shoulder. She was in a simple white t-shirt that was twice larger than her thin frame, a black jean that hugged her long legs like a second skin, and dark combat boots.

If I was being tactless, I would have smiled and offered my hand for a handshake. But every indications needed to understand that this girl was not in the mood for making friends were plainly laid out across her face. So as quick as I could, I stepped aside and gave her way.

"Sorry, I was lost in thoughts."

"Yeah, I figured."

My brow instantly curved upwards as I watched her enter the room. Well, that was bitchy.

"Forgive me if I'm being such a bitch," she said, as if she had heard my thoughts. "I'm having a pretty bad night."

"Yeah, I figured," I answered, throwing her words back at her.

She turned to me, her dark green eyes instantly scanning my full length. I stared back, slightly tilting my head to the right, as if telling her that I won't put up with her and her haughty attitude. Not long after, she gave me a half-smile.

"I like you," she then said, to my surprise. "You have a name?"

"Shockingly, yes," I sarcastically said then followed inside, closing the door behind me. "It's Luna."

"Mine's Narelle... Hey, you wouldn't mind my taking the first bed, would you?"

"I'm fine with whichever bed I get."

"Then I guess we'll get along just fine."

Narelle tossed her bag in the first bed as I dropped mine at the side of my bed. For the second time, my eyes wandered around the room, before letting my weight fall onto the soft bed.

"Where you from, Luna?" Narelle said just as she collapsed in her own bed.

"Rosario. You?"

"Decipula."

"Where's that?"

"Someplace that resembles hell," she deadpanned, making my brows meet half way.

I wasn't sure if she was kidding or not, so instead of paying too much attention to her words, I shrugged it off and just busied myself instead. I unpacked all of my clothes, and started stacking them inside my wardrobe. It was around nine when I finally finished unpacking all my stuff, and by the time I got out of the showers and into my pajamas, Narelle was already sound asleep.

Grabbing the thick sheets, I slowly slid myself into the warmth of my bed, preparing myself into sleep when something outside the window caught my attention.

Under the silver rays of the moon and against the lights of the rows of lampposts, four figures stood outside of Suncrest dormitory's golden gates. Their black uniforms swayed with the winds direction, while their skin somehow gave off a glow like crystals.

Vampires, the word instantly crossed my mind.

Without even thinking, I was already climbing out of the comfort of my bed and towards the glass window, careful not to make any sound. I pushed the curtains farther aside, then slightly opened the window, letting the cool breeze in. Even though my room was on the third floor of the dormitory, I could still hear the conversation from below due to their loud voices.

"Raze, you are not totally useless," said sweetly by the girl with a buzz cut dyed in platinum, towards the long-haired girl. "You can still be used as a bad example, you know?"

The tallest guy with dark hair tied in a topknot snickered, earning himself a punch in the arm by Raze, as what the other girl had called her.

"Laugh, and the next one will be on your face."

"Like you're threats scare me. They're not even half as scary as Clancy's glare."

"**** off, Andre!"

"Make me, sis."

For a moment, I got lost in reverie. I was so anxious of meeting vampires for the longest time, but now that they were only a few feet in front of me, I felt like a child watching the most entertaining thing ever.

As if my gaze was sensed, one of the vampires turned his head around and searched for my direction. With every passing second, my heart drummed faster than I thought it could, thrashing around my chest like it had gone crazy. Until it stopped. And his eyes met mine.

Shit, I almost blurted out as we stared at each other.

Then he grinned, and turned his head away, shaking it ever so slightly. And just like that, he disappeared into the darkness just like the rest of his friends.

I got up very late the next morning, which was not too surprising. I was never a morning person, and being on the road for six hours yesterday, then staying up late last night was enough reason for me to sleep in a little. Or maybe a lot.

Noon had already passed when I walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my head, gray shirt, and dark ripped denim shorts. Narelle was on the couch, eyes fixed on her cellphone screen as if her life depended on it.

If only she wasn't sitting under the warm golden rays beaming through the windows, I would have been sure she was a vampire. She had the palest skin I'd ever seen; paler than my own. It made me wonder whether she goes out in the sun, or just locks herself up in her room all day.

Judging by the way she had slouched herself on the couch, it was probably the latter.

"You just missed breakfast and lunch," she said, reminding me of my empty stomach.

I didn't answer her until after I took the towel off of my head, and hanged it on the little laundry hanger by the window.

"I'd prefer sleep over breakfast and lunch every time," I told her, and I meant it with every fiber of my being.

She snorted and said, "That explains your stick-like figure."

"Says the girl with an even thinner frame than mine."

"Touché." Smirking, she lifted her head and gave me a once-over. "You're going out?"

I nodded as I tamed the stubborn knots of my blonde mess of a hair. And for a split second, I felt a little jealous of Narelle's straight black one that cascaded just past her jaws, with bangs hanging only a few centimeters above her perfectly dark brows.

How I wished mine would look just as perfect.

"You know, you should go out, too. Put some color on that skin of yours."

"And sweat myself to death? Yeah, no thanks." She shook her head. "Where are you going, anyway?"

"Just around Ostport. See if I could find a job."

"A job," she repeated, monotonously. "You do know our tuition is paid by blood, right?"

"Yeah. I just paid for it after I got enrolled."

"Then why?"

I shrugged. "Because I need money for other things?"

"The academy provides us with a monthly allowance, Luna."

"Yeah, but that's not enough. Besides, I'm saving up for something," I answered, half lying and half telling the truth.

Of course, the allowance from the academy was enough for me. It was huge, actually. Compared to the money I had to stretch for three months after my mother died, the money from the academy was much easier to budget. But just like what I had said to Narelle, I needed to save up; not because I wanted to buy something, but because there would be a day when I would leave this academy and live on my own. The day when I basically had to fend for myself, full-time.

Narelle raised her brow and eyed me suspiciously. But eventually, she shrugged her slim shoulders, finally dropping the conversation to my relief.

"Suit yourself," was all that she said, before letting her eyes fall back at her cellphone screen.

Only then was I able to breathe comfortably. If Narelle had persisted, I would've ran away.

After grabbing my quite small bag pack out of the cabinet, along with my resume, I quickly slipped my favorite sneakers on. With a simple: "Hey, I'm off." I walked out of our room with my bag slung over my shoulder.

The sun was already high up when I exited the Suncrest dormitory with a few other students. The air was a little cold, since August was just around the corner, but that didn't stop the heat from crawling into my skin like tiny flames. It felt sixty shades of hell. Especially when I was in the middle of the road, without an umbrella, and with still a fourteen-minute worth of walking to endure.

I swore I was going to melt before I could even reach the main school building. What more when I got out of the academy to go job hunting?

"You look hot," said a voice that abruptly, and rudely pulled me out of my thoughts.

Because of the heat, I wasn't able to notice the guy that came up to my side.

"You know, I can't tell whether you're teasing me, or you're looking for a fight," I said, irritated by his sudden presence.

"What?" he asked, confused. But then a few seconds later, I guess realization hit him. "No, that's not what I meant!" he said, half chuckling.

I looked up at him, and was planning on glaring but ended up getting surprised, instead, because... well, he doesn't look bad.

He had this dark messy semi-curls swept to the side, brushing just above his ears. Thick lashes and well-shaped brows compliment his caramel-brown eyes that glistened against the sunlight. His teeth were frustratingly straight and white; nose swooped down right out of that arch, like a prince's in a Byzantine mosaic; and lips sharply sculpted. His skin was a perfect shade of olive, emphasized by his plain white t-shirt and black jeans, which by the way, slightly hugged his chiseled physique.

If looking good was a crime, this guy would be in jail for the rest of his life.

"I was just saying you look like you needed an umbrella," he continued, smiling. "But I guess your interpretation works, too."

I made a face, concealing the fact that I had just checked him out. "Funny. I'm guessing that's how you get girls to fall for you?"

"I honestly haven't tried it on girls. But I wasn't expecting the first girl I told that to, would want to kick me in the gut." He chuckled, then took something out of his bag. An umbrella. He opened it, and held it over my head. "Better?" he asked.

I only raised a brow.

His smile widened. "Okay, you don't talk to strangers." He then cleared his throat. "I'm Cedric, by the way. Cedric Breckan, nineteen, and single."

"I don't remember asking."

"You know, this should be the part where you tell me your name."

"Or maybe the part where I grab your umbrella and hurl it at you."

He threw his head back, laughing hard that the umbrella he was holding shook from side to side.

"You're funny. I like that," he said when his laughter finally died. "You know what, here, take this."

"Take wha—" Without letting me finish my sentence, he quickly handed me his umbrella,  shoving it in my hands as if he was handing me trash.

"I have a feeling that we'll meet again, so just give that back when that happenes," he quickly added then ran off, before I could even refuse.

For a good long minute, I just stood there, watching his back as it went further and further away from me. And then, he was gone from my line of sight.

Well... that was weird. But I guess I won't be melting anytime soon.