Chapter One
Amina groaned as the relentless beeping of her alarm clock shattered the morning silence. “Ah, shut up!” she muttered, her voice thick with sleep. Without a second thought, she flung the noisy machine into a nearby pile of discarded clothes, silencing its deafening screech. “I’m going to smash that dreaded machine one day,” she grumbled, her bed wobbling underneath her as she turned to face the prickled ceiling. “School…” With a low grumble of profanities and the creaking of her bones, she reluctantly tossed her precious covers aside and slowly made her way to the en-suite bathroom.
Her reflection in the bathroom mirror caught her attention, and she instinctively frowned at her disheveled appearance. “Summer break will be here soon,” she murmured to herself, her words laced with the resolve of a true survivor. Yay…
The hot water from the shower cascaded down her skin, temporarily washing away her anxiety in a clear, soothing whirlpool. After about 20 minutes, Amina emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a skirt and a wool jumper, feeling slightly more prepared to face the day.
She moved through the empty house like a shadow on the walls, finding some comfort in not being entirely alone. “Dexter!” she called out, her voice echoing up the stairs just as a loud, obnoxious thumping announced the arrival of her chocolate-coloured Labrador. Dexter bounded up the stairs with unbridled enthusiasm, practically throwing himself at her knees, eager to lick her face. Amina sighed gently as she ran her fingers through his long fur, appreciating his unwavering loyalty.
Dexter had been a gift from her absentee parents on her 14th birthday, a rare gesture of affection from the wealthy but negligent couple. They had left her in the care of a rotating cast of nannies until she turned 16, at which point they sent a letter informing her that she was old enough to take care of herself —with their financial support, of course. How generous of them…
Amina let out a quiet groan as she descended the stairs in her two-bedroom house, placing a piece of bread into the toaster. She grabbed her phone from the charging pad on the kitchen counter and, as usual, found only a few spam emails from some bingo site. Apparently, she had won 10,000 dollars, and she needed to urgently give them her details. “Yeah right.” Amina scoffed.
Socializing wasn’t something Amina cared for unless absolutely necessary. To her, there was no point in making friends; high school would soon end, and they would all move on to college, forgetting each other. Especially her. She wanted out of this dead town.
She jumped slightly as Dexter’s automatic food dispenser beeped loudly. “Fucking hell!” she exclaimed, clutching her wool jumper as her thundered. Dexter didn’t miss a beat as he quickly hobbled in and devoured his food faster than it could dispense. Amina sighed shakily and checked the time on her phone. “Shit!”
She threw her school bag over her shoulder and hastily ate her half-burnt toast. “Bye, Dexter!” she called out as the Labrador kept his head buried in his kibble.
The front door slammed shut behind her, locking automatically as she rushed to school. The neighbourhood was eerily quiet, save for the occasional chirping of birds. Normally, Amina would leave much earlier to avoid certain creatures of supernatural origin, who made their way to school. She felt a sense of relief when the empty campus came into view, apart from a few late stragglers who hurried past her into the building.
The bell rang just as she reached the school doors, and the late students scattered like confused children. An irritating feeling washed over Amina as she realized her tardiness would likely lead to a late night. She hurried to her locker, grabbed her books for the day, and stuffed them into her bag. The locker door slammed shut, echoing a loud bang as she booked it towards history class.
Teachers glared at her rushing figure, annoyed by the squeak of her trainers as she disturbed their classes. Relief washed over her as she finally reached the history classroom, surprised not to hear Mrs. Kansworth’s usual screams echoing through the halls.
Amina reached for the door handle but hesitated. A strange, unpleasant feeling gripped her, urging her to go somewhere else, telling her that this place wasn’t safe. She shrugged off the feeling and pushed it to the back of her mind.
As expected, the entire class turned their attention to her as she entered. “Sorry, I’m late,” Amina whispered, keeping her eyes low as she moved towards the back of the classroom. Today was not the day to deal with one of Mrs. Kansworth’s tardiness lectures.
“Whoa… hold on there, miss. We have a seating plan going on here; you can’t just sit wherever you like.” Amina jumped as a sudden, tight grip on her forearm stopped her in her tracks. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she realized the person wasn’t Mrs. Kansworth. Of course, it isn’t her, she thought. Just my luck.
Amina slowly turned her head and met an unfamiliar set of male Charcoal eyes. A strange tingling sensation spread through her body, and her heart began to race. You shameful whore, she scolded herself, feeling her cheeks grow even hotter as she realized the inappropriateness of her reaction to this, most likely, substitute teacher.
She shrugged off his hand and held steady eye contact. “Please do not grab me like that.”
The room filled with whispers as the man cocked his head to the side, narrowing his predatory eyes as if daring her to step out of line again. Amina glanced at her classmates, noting their unchanged seating positions. She cowered slightly. “I mean no offence, sir, but no one has moved from their original seating positions, which means that—” she pointed to the back row where one of the last empty seats was, “—that is my seat.” She turned back to the substitute, watching as understanding dawned on his face.
“You must be Amina Moorgate,” the substitute sighed, dropping the textbook he was holding onto the desk beside him. “Alright, class, please continue on page 13 while I speak to Miss Moorgate for a second.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and pointer finger. An unintentional small smile crept onto Amina’s face as he said her name, the sound of it on his tongue sending a fluttering sensation through her abdomen. Stop it, she scolded herself.
His hand grabbed her once again, and the intense tingling sensation scuttled around her body. “Hey, I said, don’t grab me like that!” Amina struggled against the man, but he pulled her out of the classroom. Human and supernatural students alike whispered about whether she would return dead or alive, but the door closed before they could conclude.
They stood together in the empty, camera-less hallway as he let out a frustrated groan. “It’s not ‘Sir,’ it’s Mr. Orpheus. And you were in my classroom no less than three minutes before you decided to cause a scene.” Amina pulled her bag back over her shoulder and looked down at the floor in silence, losing all her previous confidence. “Look at me, Miss Moorgate.” Her body cringed at his stern tone, yet she felt oddly excited by it.
She begrudgingly lifted her head but avoided his eyes. “I said, look at me.” She wrinkled her nose and glanced in his direction. “See? Now that wasn’t hard,” he said softly, a small, toothy grin appearing, exposing a slightly gentler side to this man-handler. Her heart thumped in her chest.
Are those fangs…?
Everything came to a halt.
He’s a vampire… I’m alone with a vampire…
“Now, tomorrow, you will have an after-school detention for being la—”
Amina took an unsteady step back as her heart pounded in her chest. “You’re a vampire?” Her hands trembled slightly as her ridiculous question hung in the air, her classmates’ dramatic comments beginning to make sense in her head.
Mr. Orpheus’ brows knitted together as he stared at her like she was unwell. “Well, yes. Is that going to cause a problem between us?” Amina stayed silent.
Mr. Orpheus raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk playing on his lips. “Are you scared of me?” he asked, sounding both intrigued and amused. A swelling lump formed in her throat as she kept a safe distance away from him. “I have every good reason to be,” she quietly snapped.
A loud yelp escaped her throat as he suddenly appeared in front of her. A malicious glint flashed in his eyes as his rhetorical question filled the small space between them. Most supernatural creatures were sensitive to human fear and hatred—vampires most of all. It all stemmed from the Great Race War a few hundred years back, when the supernatural races chose to rise from the shadows. In the end, a treaty was written after both sides kidnapped important and innocent royal officials. It stated that peace would only ensue if they all shared the lands and allowed the mixing of the supernatural race into human society.
Humans, of course, agreed, but it didn’t stop the generational hatred that coursed through the family trees of most humans. A few humans embraced the new world, but they never lasted long in human-only towns. “You will swap seats with one of the students in the front and sit there for the rest of the time I teach you.” Amina didn’t even notice Mr. Orpheus moving toward the door, his short, wavy hair swaying slightly. “Argue with me, and I’ll give you another detention.” Amina’s spine tingled with disgust. The nerve of that vampire! She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. He flashed her a cocky grin before disappearing into the classroom.
Amina waited for a few moments before composing herself and following him in. She could hear the not so quiet giggle of her classmates, most of whom were probably human, but she ignored them and sat at her new designated desk.
She watched her classmates huddle together, chattering amongst themselves as Mr. Orpheus resumed the lesson. His fangs glistened as he spoke, reminding her of the inhuman nature beneath his seemingly ordinary appearance. Her disdain grew as she thought about how easy it would have been to find a human substitute teacher, but no. Instead, the school board decided to hire a vampire who probably lived through more centuries than she had family members.
The sound of pages turning pulled her attention back to the lesson. Mr. Orpheus was pacing at the front of the room, his voice carrying a hint of arrogance that made Amina’s skin crawl. “Vampires are complex creatures, often misunderstood by those who don’t take the time to learn about them,” he lectured, his gaze briefly flicking to Amina. She rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to make a snarky comment. The last thing she needed was to be called out in front of the whole class.
Instead, she focused on her history book, trying to absorb the information despite her growing irritation.
How do they even expect us to learn anything from him? She thought bitterly. He’s probably too busy thinking about his next meal.
The rest of the lesson dragged on, with Mr. Orpheus continuing to discuss the intricate history of vampire-human relations, a topic that now seemed all too relevant to Amina. Her classmates, both human and supernatural, appeared to hang on to his every word, but Amina could only think about how she could get through the rest of the day without any further incidents.
When the bell finally rang, signalling the end of class, Amina wasted no time gathering her things and bolting for the door. She couldn’t bear to spend another minute in that classroom, surrounded by the whispers of her peers and the presence of Mr. Orpheus.
As she made her way to her next class, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered after her encounter with the vampire teacher. The world she had once thought she understood was becoming increasingly foreign, and she wasn’t sure how to navigate it.
But one thing was clear: Amina was determined to survive, no matter what challenges lay ahead. She would make it through this school year, and she would find a way to leave this cursed town behind.
And she would do it all without ever trusting any supernatural being.
***
Before Amina knew it, she was home. The school carried on as if nothing had happened. A few human students from her history class approached her, asking what Mr. Orpheus was like. She simply rolled her eyes and wandered off. She could hear them scoffing and making mean comments as her trainers squeaked along the halls.
She wanted nothing more to do with Mr. Orpheus. To her, he was nothing but a no-good, blood-sucking leech, just waiting for them to turn 19 and no longer be protected by the government. But even when she tried to push him out of her mind, he seemed to infect her thoughts with his threatening eyes and his deep, gruff voice that vibrated unsettlingly against her skin.
“Fuck’s sake!” Amina jumped back from the blackened mess in the frying pan, cradling her palm. She let out a frustrated huff and quickly ran her hand under the tap. Her brows furrowed as she glared at the red line forming on her palm. “Pizza for dinner, then,” she grumbled, pulling out her phone and dialling her local takeaway. The squeaky voice of a 16-year-old girl chirped in her ear as she placed her order. “Four seventy? Perfect. Have a good evening.” Amina set her phone down on the counter, glaring at the mess in front of her. Her stomach growled in protest, while her mind begged her to clean up.
The gentle pitter-patter of her dog’s paws echoed in the kitchen. “Oh, Dexter,” she murmured, switching off the cold tap and savouring the temporary numbness in her hand. Slowly, she slid down the side of the counter and embraced her shaggy dog. “Why am I so hopeless?” Her eyes fell on his canines, and Mr. Orpheus’s toothy grin flashed across her mind, almost like it was some sort of seductive dream. “EW! No, no, no.” She rubbed her face into Dexter’s long fur, hoping to rid herself of her dirty thoughts. Instead, a sudden stench clogged up her nose, causing Dexter to quickly scamper away. “You are so due a bath!” she gasped. Dexter wagged his tail anxiously as he sat down in the doorway of the kitchen, ready to run. “Come on.” Without hesitation, Amina snagged his collar and led him unwillingly towards the upstairs bathroom. The lukewarm water trickled into the bathtub and mixed with the soap below as Dexter stood unhappily in the corner, his tail tucked between his legs.
***
Amina’s smelly dog’s bath was as messy as expected, but at least Dexter now smelled like strawberries and cream. “See, it wasn’t that bad,” she told him as he grumpily walked beside her, glaring at her with what felt like burning holes in her pyjamas. She giggled and waved away his grumpy expression as they reached the living room. Suddenly, a loud knocking sound echoed through the hallway, startling both of them. “That must be the pizza,” she mumbled, making her way towards the front door. A louder knock followed. “Yeah, I’m coming!” She pulled out five dollars from her pocket and swung the door open.
“Mr. Orpheus?” she blurted out in shock. What is he doing here? Amina glared suspiciously at him. He was no longer wearing the ill-fitting dress suit but was instead dressed in joggers and a hoodie. She couldn’t help but gush a little at the sight of a few small wavy strands poking out from the top of his hood. Mr. Orpheus seemed oddly surprised to see her. “Oh, Miss Moorgate.” His dark eyes darted around behind her, as if looking for someone. “Are your parents home?” Amina shifted her footing as that too-familiar dull ache pulled at her heartstrings.
“No,” she replied, opening the door further, letting the gentle night wind nip at her bare legs. Mr. Orpheus suddenly seemed unable to meet her eyes. “How did you find out where I live?” she asked, but he stood straighter, completely ignoring her question. “I couldn’t get a hold of your parents. And protocol states I can visit the home of a student if I feel concerned.” Amina dropped her gaze, staring at the ground as if it were a more interesting conversation. “There’s no need to be concerned, sir. My parents are away working.” At least that’s what they call it. Mr. Orpheus let out a soft sigh, almost as if he was relieved. This caused Amina to lift her head and meet his gaze.
Her hands flew to her lips, suppressing her surprise. “What is wrong with your eyes?!” she exclaimed without really thinking. His eyes grew wide as she stared into the light lavender shade overtaking his charcoal irises. Without a moment to question further, Mr. Orpheus shifted his body away from her, hunching over as he desperately rubbed his eyes. An unforeseen curiosity settled inside Amina. It was as if her body had a mind of its own as she gradually circled him, like a predator stalking its prey.
She placed her hand on his shoulder, turning him slightly. “Sir...?” Their eyes locked. This time, they were a gentle crimson red. “What are you?” The feeling of unease was clear on both of their faces as Amina finally stood still. “I should leave,” he muttered, though it sounded more like a question. His eyes continued to shift between lavender and red. They stood there, staring at each other for what felt like an eternity, while her questions remained unanswered.
Deep down, Amina knew he couldn’t be a vampire. Their eyes only turned dark when they were hungry. To her knowledge, no other creature displayed eye colours like his. “Hi, are you Amina Moorgate?” A timid, ginger-haired teenage boy interrupted them, holding the pizza box in his hands. Amina disconnected her gaze from Mr. Orpheus’s and took a breath, as if it were her first. “Yes,” she said, rapidly blinking as she paid the boy. “Have a good evening!” she called as she turned back to the door.
She faced her teacher, finally able to think straight. “Please don’t turn up here again, Mr. Orpheus.” The door was barely closed before he placed his size-eight foot in the doorway. “Lucian, Lucian Orpheus,” he said, smiling as if what he was saying wasn’t highly inappropriate. Amina didn’t return the gesture. “Goodnight, Mr. Orpheus.” She kicked his foot out of the way and slammed the door shut. A soft sigh of relief escaped her as his heavy footsteps hesitantly retreated.
Reaching her bed, curiosity got the best of her. She flipped open her laptop, the bright image of Dexter momentarily blinding her as she tried to open the browser. “Let’s find out who Mr. Orpheus really is,” she whispered, nibbling on her first slice of pizza. It was 2:30 a.m. by the time she had scoured all the supernatural archives, searching for any definition of him, but nothing came up. It was as if he was a completely unregistered breed of vampire. It wasn’t until she stumbled upon an article from 1893 that she got a vague idea of what he could be.
The article, written just after the Great Race War, described a group of humans who had been attacked by a rogue vampire. It detailed this ‘evil’ and ‘devil,’ with some accounts suggesting it was a demon with a strange genetic mutation. Apparently, it had sent three men into a state of hysteria as they spoke about the ‘Devil’s ever-changing eyes.’ But even as she read this, Amina was still unsatisfied and, honestly, terrified. She knew the only way to get her answers would be to force the truth out of him.
Sometimes her curious nature was just undeniable.
The morning sun burst through her open window as her fingernails moved anxiously across her lips. She swayed nervously in front of the long mirror, wearing a short lacy summer dress. “This can’t be my only option, can it?” she questioned herself as the fabric swished with every small movement. A soft sigh passed her lips. It had been so long since she had worn any type of dress, she had almost forgotten how great they looked against the curves of her body.
Her hands dropped to her sides as she turned around and grabbed her bag from the bed. “This better work.” She hated her brain for not stepping away from this. It was as if a little voice was pulling her toward the answers she sought. She had to know what he was. But for all she knew, Mr. Orpheus could be another threat to the human race or a rogue vampire—both possibilities seemed equally unsettling.
