CHAPTER ONE
This Book is the third book in the Eterna Tempation Series. It can be read as a standalone, but I’ll also advise my lovely readers to read book 1 if they want to.
Books in the series;
Book 1. Adonis and Bella: Vampire’s Siren
Book 2. Andro and Annika: Vampire’s Wallflower
Book 3. Marco and Isolde: Vampire’s Spitfire
Book 4. Dorian and Eva: Vampire’s Light
Book 5. Eli and Serena: Vampire’s Fight
ISOLDE
The classroom smelled faintly of old books and chalk dust, a scent I’d grown to love over the years.
I drummed my fingers against the edge of my notebook, the spiral bindings digging into my thumb as I scribbled a quick note about Dracula. The professor was busy weaving through Stoker’s tale like it was more than just fiction.
I leaned forward and scribbled some more notes. There was something about the seductive pull of the unknown. Literature was my escape, my battlefield, my chance to carve out a name for myself one day.
I could already see it: Isolde Karalis, renowned Author. The thought made my chest flutter with a mix of hope and hunger. I knew how hard I’d have to work for it, and I was ready.
“Consider this,” Professor Lykos said, pacing in front of the chalkboard. His grey hair caught the afternoon light streaming through the window. “What if the supernatural isn’t just a literary device? What if there’s truth buried in these stories?” His eyes gleamed with that spark he got when he was trying to provoke us.
A scoff broke the silence. Williams sprawled in the back row like he owned the place, his arms crossed over his letterman jacket. “That’s ridiculous. Vampires? Come on prof, It’s just a story. Made-up garbage to scare kids.”
I rolled my eyes but kept my head down. Williams was the kind of guy who thought being loud made him right. The class’s golden boy. He was the star athlete, had top grades and an annoying smirk. He didn’t like being challenged, and I didn’t like giving him the satisfaction of a reaction. Not yet anyway.
“It’s not about literal fangs,” Maria piped up from the front, twisting in her seat to glare at him. “It’s symbolism. Power, desire, and fear of the other—”
“Still sounds like nonsense,” Williams cut in. “Are you telling me some guy in a cape biting necks could be real? Pfft, get a grip.”
What a loser.
The room erupted into a mess of voices. Half of the class jumped in to argue, while the other half snickered and made snide remarks.
Professor Lykos raised a hand, but it did little to quiet the storm. I pressed my lips together and tried to focus on my notes. I didn’t want to get dragged into this. Not today.
I had a story idea brewing. It weaved around a girl who outwitted a monster, not because she was stronger, but because she was smarter, and all I wanted was to get home and write it.
“Miss Karalis,” Professor Lykos called, his tone cutting through the noise like a blade. “You’ve been quiet. What do you think?”
Oh, shit…
My stomach dropped. Heads swivelled toward me immediately. Williams’s included. His blue eyes narrowed like he was daring me to say something stupid.
I straightened in my chair, clutching my pencil a little tighter.
“I think…” I started, but stopped, feeling a little self-conscious. “It’s not about whether vampires are real. It’s about what they represent. Control. Temptation.”
“The line between human and monster… it’s thinner than we want to admit. Stoker didn’t invent that; he just gave it a name.” I paused to catch my breath. “And if there were something out there, something we couldn’t explain, we’d probably argue it away until it was too late to run.”
A thick silence I didn’t see coming clouded the class. Shit.
Maria nodded. A small, proud smile tugged at her lips. Professor Lykos’s eyes crinkled at the corners like he’d just found a rare coin.
As I basked in the admiration, Williams suddenly snorted.
“Poetic, Isolde,” he drawled, leaning back in his chair. “Still sounds like you’re buying into fairy tales. What’s next, werewolves in the cafeteria?”
A few laughs rippled through the room, and heat crept up my neck. I shot him a hard look but kept my mouth shut. He wasn’t worth the energy. I had bigger things to chase, like a future beyond this sleepy Greek town.
The bell rang, snapping everyone out of the debate. Chairs scraped the floor as everyone dashed up at the same time.
Professor Lykos’s voice trailed off mid-sentence about an assignment due next week. I didn’t move immediately. I stayed back a moment, slowly shoving my notebooks into my backpack.
As expected, the room emptied fast. Williams led the other students out the door with his usual swagger. Good riddance.
“Miss Karalis,” Professor Lykos said as I slung my bag over my shoulder. He was still at the front, wiping the chalkboard with a rag. “A moment?”
I held back a smile as I walked up to him. This was the main reason I’d stayed behind. “Yes, sir?”
He turned to me, his expression softer now. “Your thoughts today were insightful. You’ve got a way of seeing beyond the surface. Don’t let the noise drown that out.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest. I smiled. “Thanks, Prof. I just… I like figuring things out. Stories especially.”
He nodded like he understood more than he was saying. “Keep asking questions. It will take you far.” He glanced at the clock. “Better get going. You don’t want to miss your ride.”
“I’ve got my bike,” I said, managing a small smile. “I’ll be fine.”
I left the classroom with his words buzzing in my head, a little glow of pride warming me despite the chill creeping in from the open windows. The halls were mostly empty now, with just a few stragglers by the lockers.
I pushed through the double doors. My bike was where I’d left it, chained to the rack by the school’s stone wall. I unlocked it and swung my leg over.
The ride home wasn’t far—maybe an estimated twenty minutes—and the road wound through olive groves, and past crumbling stone houses. The kind that made you wonder who’d lived there a hundred years ago. Some people had even made ghost stories about them.
I pedalled hard at first, enjoying the wind tugging at my hair, as my mind still spun from class. But as I got closer to the road, I slowed down.
The line between human and monster.
That line stuck with me, melting into that story idea I had. Maybe the girl shouldn’t just outwit the monster… maybe she starts to understand it. Maybe—
A horn blared, shattering my thoughts. Tires screeched and I jerked my head up just in time to see a car barreling toward me. Too close, too fast.
A scream tore out of me.
My heart slammed into my ribs, and in panic, I yanked the handlebars to the right, swerving sharply off the road.
The ground rushed up, gravel biting into my knees as I hit the ground hard. My bike clattered beside me.
For a second, I couldn’t breathe. I gasped, sucking air through my mouth while clawing at the ground. The sky appeared grey for a second, then white, then a little grey again.
Was I going to pass out?
