Blood Pact

Avery Winters climbed out of her well-worn sedan and onto the lively grounds of Ravenswood College, the crunch of gravel under her boots a comforting sound. Taking a deep breath, she inhaled the rich scent of damp earth mixed with autumn leaves, and surveyed the bustling parking lot.

Students moved around, laughing and chatting, blissfully unaware of anything outside the campus. This college was unique within the sprawling city, where humans unknowingly shared space with supernatural beings because of its proximity to the forest, yet it was also one of the most closely monitored institutions around.

Avery was different. She had been trained to notice the shadows that hid just out of sight in everyday life. Coming from the Winters family—a long line of hunters—she had grown up with the mission of shielding the innocent from the creatures that lurked in the dark.

She slung her backpack over her shoulder, feeling the comforting weight of her dagger tucked inside, and waded through the bustling crowd of students. Her long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her sharp emerald eyes scanned the throng with a blend of curiosity and wariness. Her parents had warned her that nearly half of the college's students were supernatural beings.

As she moved along, a chill crept down her spine. Was someone watching her? She glanced over her shoulder, searching the crowd for any lurking shadows, but everything appeared normal. The presence following her seemed skilled at concealing itself, and it was possible they knew she came from a family of hunters.

Avery turned back around and quickened her pace, her heart racing just a bit faster. She had no idea what this mysterious observer wanted, but she was determined not to make things easy for them.

Her phone suddenly buzzed, causing her to let out a little squeal in surprise. She chuckled and shook her head, feeling a mix of disbelief and anticipation. Pulling out her phone, she saw a message from her best friend Lena: "Meet me at the cafeteria in ten minutes—we need to catch up!"

Avery couldn't help but smile, a wave of excitement washing over her. She hadn't seen Lena all summer, and she couldn't wait to hear about her friend's adventures.

Deciding to head straight to the cafeteria, Avery walked in and was immediately greeted by the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee that made her mouth water. Her eyes quickly found Lena, who was waving at her from a corner table. Grinning, Avery dropped onto the chair opposite her friend.

"Hey girl!" Lena exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "How was your summer?"

Avery leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "It was... quite eventful. Dad dragged me along on some hunts, and let’s just say there was the usual family hunting drama to deal with."

Lena gave a knowing nod. "I can totally understand. My summer was pretty chaotic too. I ended up in the middle of a messed-up ritual and had to call your brother, Alex, to come help me out."

Avery's eyes grew wide with curiosity. "What happened? And I thought the rituals were a taboo within the hunters families?"

"That's what I thought, until grandmother from my maternal side said she was from a line of witches and her great grandmother was an occultist," Lena explained, "My father was livid when he found out and I was about to face punishment when..."

Just as Lena was about to finish her answer, a stir erupted outside the cafeteria, cutting her short and prompting everyone inside to stand and see what was happening. But before Avery and Lena could join them, the cafeteria door swung open.

In walked Kaleb Nightshade, followed closely by his entourage, including Avril, the beloved college's cheerleader and Kaleb's girlfriend. There were even whispers that their families were hoping for a marriage between the two. It seemed like an ideal life, but to Avery, it felt more like being trapped, like animals about to be leashed.

As Kaleb and his friends strolled through the bustling crowd of students, everyone made way for them, parting like the sea for royalty. Avery couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief. If only everyone knew what they were really idolizing; by now, there would be daggers and weapons of different kinds flying through the cafeteria.

"I hate to say it, but they do make quite the pair," Lena remarked, pulling Avery out of her dark musings.

"True, a devil and his followers do make a good match," Avery agreed, focusing on sipping her coffee before it ran too cold.

Wanting to change the topic, Lena asked, "Are you going on the hunt this weekend?"

"No, I really wanted to," Avery sighed. "But Dad said there’s a family meeting. Apparently, we're expecting some high-ranking visitors." She groaned at the thought; family meetings were always so dull. She had managed to dodge them in the past because she was underage, but now that she was eighteen, skipping out was no longer an option.

“The Guardians?” Lena exclaimed, her voice laced with disdain. “I can’t stand those people. They act like they’re gods just because their organization is more advanced than ours.” She wrinkled her nose to emphasize her feelings.

“True, but you have to admit their hunters are incredibly strong,” Avery replied. “I still can’t figure out how they manage to persuade supernatural beings to hunt their own kind.”

“Exactly!” Lena shot back. “They’re just plain evil.”

“True." She took a break by sipping on her coffee before continuing, "So, about hunting. Firstly I'll need to come up with a good excuse to skip the upcoming meeting,” Avery said, as she continued her train of thought. “If I can pull that off, we’ll be free to go hunting together.”

Lena squealed with excitement and hugged her friend tightly, catching the attention of everyone around them, including Kaleb and his crew. Since Avery wasn’t a fan of being in the spotlight, she hushed her friend and the unsettling sensation that had troubled her earlier returned. When Avery turned around, she caught Kaleb staring at her with an intensity that made her uneasy.

“Is everything alright?” Lena inquired, glancing around. “You seem like you could bolt out of here any minute.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Avery replied. “It’s just this creeping feeling of being watched. I first noticed it earlier in the parking lot, but since I didn't see anyone there, I brushed it off as just nerves from being in such a crowded space. But then I felt it again, and when I looked back, Kaleb was staring at me with this intense gaze. It’s pretty unnerving, I wonder if he's a demon.”

“Do you think he might suspect that we come from hunter families?” Lena asked, searching for an explanation.

“I’m not sure. It’s possible that his family mentioned that this college has hunters attending,” Avery speculated.

"Yeah, I guess so." Shifting gears, Lena inquired, "So, Avery, have you figured out what you want to major in yet?"

Avery paused, her thoughts still tangled in Kaleb's intense stare. "I'm leaning towards anthropology," she replied hesitantly. "But I doubt my parents would be on board with that. They'd prefer me to go into something like business management or administration, especially in the security field," she added, attempting to regain her focus.

Lena's attention sharpened, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Anthropology? That's intriguing! Are you interested in exploring the cultural importance of rituals and myths?

Avery nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine as she felt that person's gaze was still directed at her. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

Avery could sense Kaleb’s gaze still lingering on her, and the mood in the cafeteria shifted, becoming oppressively heavy. She felt overwhelmed and knew she couldn’t endure it any longer. “I need to step out for a minute,” she announced. “I’ll meet you in math class.”

“But we’re still talking! I really miss you,” Lena replied, seemingly unaware of the tension in the air as she tried to keep Avery from leaving.

“I know, but we can catch up during lunch,” Avery replied, throwing her backpack over her shoulders. Reluctantly, Lena fell in step behind her, and the two friends left the cafeteria together.