chapter 3: Allies in the shadows

Alina had spent the last few days trying to adjust to the strange atmosphere of Crimson Academy. Classes were... unusual, to say the least. She found herself caught in a web of vampire history, occult rituals, and lessons on blood magic she could barely wrap her mind around. It was all so overwhelming, and yet, strangely captivating.

Still, she hadn’t exactly made any friends. Most students kept to themselves, and she felt like an outsider among the sea of pale faces and whispering groups. But today, something felt different. She wasn’t sure what had changed, but the air around her seemed to hum with a newfound enemy.

It was during lunch when it happened. Alina had just sat down at one of the long tables in the cafeteria, feeling the weight of another day spent in silence. The usual cliques surrounded her—vampires chatting with one another, their eyes glinting in the dim light. She almost felt invisible.

Then, a voice broke through her thoughts.

“You look like you could use some company.”

Alina looked up to find a girl standing beside her, her brown hair pulled back into a messy ponytail, and a bright smile lighting up her face. She was dressed in the academy’s standard uniform—dark slacks and a blazer—but she wore it with an easy, laid-back confidence.

“I’m Maya,” the girl said, sitting down across from Alina. “You look new. Are you... lost?”

Alina blinked. “I’m Alina. I guess I’m still getting used to all this.” She gestured around the cafeteria. “It’s... strange.”

Maya chuckled. “I get it. Most of us here are a little strange, though.” She lowered her voice. “I’m guessing you’re human, huh?”

Alina nodded, surprised that Maya wasn’t judgmental. “Yeah. I don’t really... belong here, I guess.”

Maya’s smile softened. “Don’t worry. It’s not about belonging. It’s about surviving. And trust me, I’ve got your back. You’re going to need it.”

Alina felt a weight lift from her shoulders. For the first time since she’d arrived, she didn’t feel so alone.

As they chatted, another figure approached—the guy from her first day of classes. The one with the silver hair and the piercing blue eyes.

Maya didn’t even flinch. “This is Theo,” she said nonchalantly. “He’s... a little weird, but you’ll get used to it.”

Theo smiled, a lazy grin that showed off his sharp canines. “Weird? I prefer ‘unique,’” he said, sliding into the seat beside Maya. “I’m Theo. Nice to meet you, Alina.”

Alina couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by him. There was something about the way he looked at her, like he was trying to figure her out, but she wasn’t sure if it was curiosity or something darker.

“You don’t look like a vampire,” Theo said, tilting his head with interest. “But then again, looks can be deceiving.”

“I’m human,” Alina replied, a little defensively. “Is that... a problem?”

Maya shot Theo a warning glance. “He’s not trying to be rude, Alina. He’s just... well, Theo.”

Alina let out a nervous laugh, trying to ease the tension. “It’s fine. I’m just not used to... all of this.”

“Trust me, neither am I,” Maya said, leaning in. “This place is like a labyrinth—full of secrets, weird rules, and creepy stuff. You’ll learn to navigate it.”

Theo grinned again, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “And when you do, you’ll be ready for the real fun.”

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics—classes, the best places to grab food in the academy, and which professors were the creepiest—Alina felt a little more at ease. She had two new friends, and though she didn’t fully trust them yet, they made her feel less like an outsider.

But as the conversation wrapped up and the bell signaling the end of lunch rang, Theo leaned closer to Alina, his smile fading into something more serious.

“There’s something you should know,” he said quietly, his voice low. “Lucian isn’t just dangerous because he’s a vampire. He’s... something else. And you shouldn’t get too close to him.”

Alina frowned. “What do you mean?”

Maya’s gaze darkened. “It’s not just the vampires here. Lucian’s different. He’s... something far more dangerous. And I don’t think he’s just interested in you because you’re human. It’s something more.”

Alina felt her stomach twist. “What are you talking about?”

Theo looked around, ensuring no one was listening. “Just be careful. People here—especially him—don’t do things for nothing. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up tangled in something you don’t understand.”

Alina’s mind raced as she looked between Maya and Theo. Was Lucian’s obsession with her just about being human? Or was there something darker, something she hadn’t yet seen?

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Alina couldn’t shake the feeling that her life at Crimson Academy was about to get a lot more complicated.

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