Chapter 1
CHAPTER ONE
Man’s foremost desire is to feed. That’s why, as soon as a baby is born, the mother is urged to give it milk. In this universe of ours, everything devours.
They say blood is thicker than water. For centuries, blood has fascinated and frightened mankind. Some societies treat it as sacred, attaching countless symbolic meanings to it. But none of those meanings can capture the thirst I feel—not for water, but for blood.
I was in the restroom, trying to clear my head of the obscenities swirling around me. It felt… wrong. Weird. Then footsteps echoed from another cubicle. More than one person.
“Hey, punk, you think you’re smart, huh?” a voice sneered.
“No, please… I don’t want any trouble. Just leave me alone,” another voice pleaded.
“No, boy. You’re gonna pay for making me look bad in front of Angela. You think you’re handsome? Let’s see how you look after I’m done with your pretty face,” came the harsh reply.
My heart dropped into my belly. What if they come for me? What will I do? I bit my fingernails in anxiety.
There was more pleading, then the dull, sickening thuds of violence—flesh meeting porcelain. The sound was bad enough, but the worst thing was the scent. Sweet. Metallic. Irresistible. My mouth watered, my tongue tingled.
I couldn’t take it anymore.
Before I knew it, I had stepped out of my cubicle. Two of the school’s most feared bullies—Thomas and Mark—were standing over Tayo, the school nerd. Blood streamed from several cuts on his face.
“Leave, boy. Walk away while you still can,” Thomas threatened.
“Trying to be a hero? This is reality, buddy. No superheroes here,” Mark added.
My fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms. I tried—tried—not to sink my fangs into… Wait. Fangs?
The bullies’ expressions shifted from arrogance to horror. They stumbled backward. I turned toward the mirror—and froze.
Scarlet pupils stared back at me. My teeth were sharp, my skin pale. The reflection was… not me.
The boys screamed and ran. I stood there, bewildered, heart pounding. What the hell am I turning into? Am I a freak?
I dropped to my knees, drawn toward the drops of blood on the floor. But footsteps snapped me back to reality. I straightened quickly and began reciting the Diamond Sutra:
> “What the World-honored One has explained as the view of self, view of person, view of sentient being, and view of life span, are actually not a view of self, view of person, view of sentient being, or view of life span…”
Halfway into my third recitation, the changes faded. My pulse slowed. My skin warmed. Relief washed over me.
The door opened, revealing Emeka—my round-bodied, ever-smiling best friend. He stopped a few steps away, staring at me.
“What is it, Emeka? Something on my face?” I asked, checking the mirror.
“No,” he said slowly. “I’m just curious what made Thomas and Mark run like they’d seen a ghost.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I lied. “I just told them to stop.”
“You should have seen them, man—Mark nearly pissed himself. You’re a hero now. Got yourself a new nickname too.”
“I don’t want a nickname.”
“Red Devil,” he said proudly.
I groaned. “That’s ridiculous. Don’t call me that.”
“Oh, come on! Girls love bad boys. You’re popular now!”
I shook my head, steering him toward Geography class before his chatter drove me insane.
---
By the time we reached class, the news had spread. Eyes followed me. Some girls even winked. On my desk was a note written in elegant handwriting, unsigned, instructing me to meet at the school orchard during break—and to tear it up after reading.
I did as instructed, letting the wind scatter the tiny pieces.
When lunch came, I tried to leave last, hoping to dodge Emeka. No luck. He was waiting.
“Not going for lunch today,” I lied. “I’m going to the library.”
“Great. I’ll come too.”
“No… I need to go alone.”
Emeka narrowed his eyes. “We’ve been friends since crèche, and you’ve never been good at lying. Where are you really going?”
Realizing he’d follow me no matter what, I told him about the note. He insisted on coming for my safety. We compromised—he’d hide in a tree and watch from above.
---
The school orchard was a sanctuary for nature lovers—and for troublemakers. I had my own history there: sneaking in with Emeka during mango season, getting caught by the principal, the dean, and Mr. George Mark, the school’s feared disciplinarian. I’d fallen from a tree that day, dislocating my ankle. Emeka never ratted me out, though he “rewarded” me by making me clean toilets for a week.
Lost in that memory, I didn’t notice her until she spoke.
“Are you this slow, or just trying to appear cool?”
I turned—and froze. Sandra Adeleke. The school belle. Intelligent. Graceful. And, I now realized, Tayo’s sister.
“Hey… did you send me the note?” I asked.
“Yes. I wanted to thank you for standing up for Tayo.”
“Oh, that was nothing—”
“Don’t be so humble. It takes courage to face those bullies. I’m glad to know someone like you.”
She leaned in, and I braced for a hug. Instead, her lips brushed my cheek, soft and warm. Lavender lingered in the air.
Before I could speak, she was gone.
“Did I just see Sandra Adeleke kiss you?!” Emeka exploded, dropping from his hiding place.
“It was a peck,” I said.
“A kiss is a kiss,” he argued.
“Just… don’t tell anyone.”
He grinned. “You’re asking me to keep juicy gossip to myself?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Fine. I’ll take it to my grave.”
We left the orchard together.
“You fell from a tree here once,” Emeka said slyly. “Now you’ve fallen in love.”
I chased him, laughter echoing between the mango trees.
