For the very first time, the door in my room opened with a loud crash against the wall. And for the second time, I saw Cody’s ominous look; the first time was when he killed a stray vampire who tried to kill me. Voltaire and I were even too stunned to say a word.

“Is there an emergency?” Volt abled to ask after a few seconds.

I saw Cody blinked and he was back to his usual stern look. “Primus is coming, wake her up.” He said while glancing at the sleeping girl beside me.

I frowned, he looked like someone ready to kill a moment ago and that was all he was going to say? Just that?

Volt then suddenly panicked. He immediately rolled off Cassandra’s body out of bed until she fell to the floor with a loud thud. I blinked unable to say a word about what he did. I just hoped that she didn’t break a single bone.

“Who’s Primus?” I asked, instead. Judging from their reactions, I could tell that he was someone important and their actions made me feel nervous too.

“Edmondo, mi’lady.” Volt answered me, while Cassandra stood up like a toddler who was just starting to learn how to stand, trying to get her balance.

Knowing that put me at ease. I thought I will be meeting a new face again. I still couldn’t get over the presence of the elders and meeting another important person could put me back on my bed again. I had no idea how, but merely being on their presence puts a toll on me. Or maybe that was just me and my social anxiety.

“Is it time for patrol already?” she said while yawning.

At first, I thought vampires never sleep, but I learned that just like humans, they also need sleep. But unlike humans, they can stay awake for weeks. A convinient thing, I could say. That fact actually made me realize that it was the reason why I was able to stay awake for three days while doing my midterm projects without feeling much stress. I even kidded that I was no human, funny that it turned out to be true.

“Primus is on his way here, stupid,” Volt replied, walking back to the sofa where he sat earlier. Cody, on the other hand, closed the door then stood on his favorite spot.

Cassandra’s eyes widened upon hearing the name. “Oh, Edmondo. What’s he gonna do here?”

“Watch your mouth, will you?” he hissed. “He might hear you!”

“Oh. Is that his other name?” I asked. I guess this was the feeling that every person with amnesia feels, very frustrating that you don’t have any single idea about the people who used to be around you all the time, especially if they were family.

“No, Sab. That was his title.” Cassandra answered while tugging the sleeves of her shirt. “Primus is the title given to the head of the coven.”

I nodded knowingly. But then my eyes suddenly caught Cody’s eyes looking at me with a how-stupid-are-you look. I badly wanted to say something to him, like, ‘How the hell should I know? Primus Edmondo sounds like a cool name to me, duh’ but just when I was about to open my mouth, the door opened. The three of them stood up and bowed with respect to the person who was about to enter my room.

Edmondo was wearing a fine, woolen, black suit. Despite his gray hair, his posture was still so snappy. Everything about him screams royal that it suddenly made me feel conscious about how I look and how I wear clothes. Am I really his granddaughter? I was starting to doubt that fact.

Behind him were two men—wearing black shirt topped with a black leather jacket and was paired with black jeans and black combat military shoes—who stayed outside.

What’s up with black? Was that a trend here?

“How was the patrol?” Edmondo particularly asked Cody as he entered the room and walked towards me. Just hearing his commanding voice will make you straighten up your back, as I did.

“Nothing to be considered as a threat.” He answered while following behind Edmondo.

“I believe you have already reported the matter to Baldassare.” Edmondo halted for a moment to face him.

“Yes, Primus.” He replied. His expression still the same. Poker-faced. “For precautions, he dispatched one squad to guard the area.”

“Good,” Edmondo said before facing me.

An involuntary gulp made its way to my throat when our eyes met. His crimson eyes really play a big part in making him intimidating as he is. Why does he always make his eyes red? Cody and company don’t do it all the time. I wondered. And I thought that seeing him for the third time and the fact that he is my grandfather would lessen the nervousness that I would feel when facing him. I should’ve known better.

“Sabrina,” he called.

“Yes!” I yelped.

I wanted to groan at my epic reaction that made Cass silently laugh, but I just couldn’t with Edmondo’s eyes on me. They couldn’t blame me for being tense around him, they were even in panic when they learned that he was on his way to my room.

I was also searching for the 'Sabrina' who was just brought here for the first time, but I just couldn’t find her anywhere. Where did all my guts that night go?

“You are informed about the coming ball, am I right?”

“Y-yes…” I looked at Cassandra, who suddenly stopped laughing and I know why. “Yes. I was told by Cassandra, g-grandfather.” I answered. I never knew that the word grandfather was that hard to say—well, at least to someone like Edmondo. Besides, I didn’t even know if I was allowed to call him Edmondo in his face.

“Then, you know that you need to pick your dress later for the occasion.”

I blinked, taken aback by his what he said. She definitely forgot to tell me about it. I had no confidence in my talent in lying. So, I was torn between telling him a lie to save Cassandra’s butt, and make everything worse if he found out or just tell the truth. But when I wasn’t able to answer right away, Edmondo turned his head, looking at Cassandra. I saw Cassandra’s body went rigid and tension crossed her feature. She’s a dead meat, I could tell just by looking at her face.

“So, it’s a no.” He answered his own question, while his gaze was still fixed at Cassandra.

I wasn’t the one at fault but I broke into a sweat.

“My apologies, Primus.” Cassandra bowed her head even lower.

“Your reason?” He sounded calm, but I can sense the severity of the question. Even Voltaire flinched at his seat.

“S-she was too pre-occupied answering my questions about this place, g-grandfather.” I answered before she even opened her mouth. “A-and about my former self.”

Edmondo slowly looked my way, and the moment his gaze locked onto mine, I gulped hard. His eyes were so sharp that it could pierce into my soul. But I remained still, looking into his eyes, with the thought that what I said was not a lie. It was not exactly a lie; I really did ask her bunch of things before he arrived.

He let out a sigh after a few seconds. “Well then, I see that it can’t be helped.”

I breathed out, just then I realized that I held my breath. Are we safe? Or was he just letting this one slide? I wondered.

“I will send the clothes that you used to love wearing in this kind of occasion.” He said. “Cassandra,” He called which made me even flinch.

“Yes, Primus?”

“Help her choose and make sure to inform her everything that she needs to know. Understood?” He commanded her.

“Yes, Primus.” She knelt down with one knee bent. “My apologies again for my negligence.”

“Very well.” He motioned her to stand up, then faced me. “I only went here to check on you.”

“I’m doing just fine. Thank you.” I said as if on cue.

“Then, I am expecting you to be ready for the ball.”

“Yes, g-grandfather.”

I relaxed the moment that I realized no one will receive a punishment. But just when I thought that we’re over the most crucial part, he called the three of them—Cass, Volt and Cody. And that made my heart pound against my chest again.

“As for the three of you,” he turned around to face my three royal guards who were in a flash were already in front of him. “The Academy will be opened later for every vampire that is part of this coven, and I need not tell you the reason and what to do. You will no longer patrol starting today until the ball ends. And I will not tolerate any more blunder.” He said stressing the word ‘blunder’.

“Yes, Primus.” They said in unison, bowing.

They were like a different person in front of Edmondo. If only the situation was not making me nervous, I would probably laugh at them.

“Very well, I will be on my way now.” He glanced at me before taking his leave as if waiting for me to say something.

“Yeah. Sure.” I smiled tremulously and awkwardly wave my hand. “See ya’.”

He just nodded in response.

Cody shoot me a glance with brows furrowed, giving me an are-you-stupid look before following behind Edmondo. What’s wrong with him? Or… do I really look stupid doing that?

“Phew!” Both Cassandra and Volt slumped into the sofa the moment that Edmondo and Cody went out.

They both looked so exhausted, especially Cassandra. “I thought I was a goner.”

“Learned your lesson yet?” Volt said to her with head resting on the backrest and eyes tightly shut.

“You bet.” She replied. “And oh, thanks Sab for saving my ass back there. Nothing can be more terrifying than Edmondo’s wrath you know.”

“More terrifying than a giant Chupacabra going berserk.” Volt agreed.

“They even look cute compared to Edmondo’s serious face, I’m telling you.”

“We’re still talking about my grandfather here,” I said as seriously as I could, trying hard not to laugh at them.

“Oh, right. Were sorry, please don’t tell him.” Cassandra jokingly said. And the three of us just laughed as if we weren’t on a between-life-and-death situation a while ago.

“By the way guys,” Volt said all of a sudden while getting something from his jacket’s inside pocket. “Look what I found.” He raised an old deep brown almost torn out leather-bound book.

“What’s that creepy looking book?” Cassandra asked leaning forward to take a closer look. “It looks older than Edmondo.”

Curious, I got up from my bed and joined them. The book was really old as what Cassandra said, the edges were like eaten by termites. It looks like an ordinary old book—well, it looked more like a journal to me—and there wasn’t anything written on the cover.

“Yes, it might be older than Edmondo.” Volt gave a meaningful look.

Cassandra frowned at him. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

He flipped the book and opened it on the very last page. “Look,” he said pointing at the bottom right corner of the page.

I leaned in to get a closer look like what Cassandra was doing. The letters were almost fading but it was still somehow readable.

“Vladimir… Dracul.” I read.

Cassandra who was by my side gasped. “No way!” She was about to grab the book from Volt’s hand but he immediately got up and raised his arm that made me almost tumble, but Volt caught me by his free strong arm and held me closer to him. Everything was too fast that I wasn’t given a chance to react.

“I’m sorry mi’lady. I must not let her have this or this will be destroyed in an instant.” He said grinning a playful smirk as my heart pounded inside my ribcage. I thought my butt would be kissing the floor again.

“Gimme that!” She continued to struggle to get the book but Volt was too tall for her to reach it.

“What’s this?”

My world seemed to literally turn as I swirled around when someone grabbed me from Volt. Still woozy, I looked up to the person who was currently holding me. He was examining the book that was just at Volt’s hand a moment ago as if it was some sort of evidence in a crime scene. It was Cody and we were already a meter away from Volt and Cassandra. He silently and easily snatched the book from Volt, including me.

“Sneaky bastard.” Volt commented giving him a sneer.

Instinctively, I pushed him away and he was kind enough to let me go. I was even surprised that he budged a little, but he doesn’t seem to care—it’s not like I could tell what he was really thinking anyway. But… he smelled good, and I need to obliterate that thought in my head instantly just in case he was reading my mind.

“Don’t do that again!” I said to both of them—Cody and Volt. “Ever!” My head was still woozy and my heart was racing. Doing that to me as if I was a doll, both of them could really give me a heart attack. And when my eyes caught Cassandra, I saw her grinning. I rolled my eyes at her; I knew what she was thinking even if I don’t have the same ability as Cody.

“Book of rituals,” Cody mumbled mostly to himself while flipping the pages of the book.

“Yep,” said Volt with a crooked smile.

“Where did you get this?” Cody asked him with eyes still glued on the book.

“I saw it in the woods while we’re on patrol. It was lying in the ground near the old watchtower.” He answered walking towards us. “What do you think?” he asked when he stopped in front of us, crossed arms.

With brows knitted, Cody continued to flip the pages of the book. “If this was what we think it is, then how did this end up there?”

I took a peek on the said book but understand nothing. It was written in alphabets but the language was something I couldn’t understand and there were even symbols written with it. I wondered how Cody was able to read and understand that it was a book of rituals. How old was he to be able to read that or was he just too smart for his own good?

“So, is it really a legit legendary book written by Vladimir Dracul?” Cassandra’s eyes sparkled as she walked skipping towards us.

“It could be,” Cody speculated. “The whole book was handwritten and the materials used to make this was handmade, around the medieval period, the middle ages?”

Volt groaned giving that exasperated look. “English, please! History’s not my thing. Can’t even remember when was the last time I ate sushi.”

“It just means that it’s really old, duh?” said Cassandra and clung into my arm looking excited.

“Who’s Vladimir Dracul?” I asked her, just because I know that I couldn’t expect a decent answer for the guy holding the book.

They all seemed too curious about the book, even Cody who most of the time asleep, if not standing still on one corner not saying a thing unless he needs to was eagerly examining the book.

“He’s believed to be the father of all Vampires. And there was said to be few legendary books written by him that could turn someone powerful as him.” And that was when I understood their excitement.

“Oh,” And here I thought that Dracula was the father of Vampires. Well, maybe humans got the name Dracula from Dracul.

“Others considered it as a mere myth though.” She added. “And we're not sure if this book was really a genuine one or just something that a fanatic made.”

“There’s one way to find out,” a sly smile formed on Voltaire’s lips. “let’s try it. If this thing’s a hoax, then nothing bad will happen, right?”

“Blood Oath.”

Our head turned to Cody when he mumbled the word. His brows were almost touching each other this time. I never thought that his level of seriousness could still go up. Volt was looking at him intently while Cassandra’s eyes sparkled even more that I could be dazzled by it.

“Blood oath?” I said perplexed and feeling left out.

For whatever unknown reason, I became comfortable with this bunch of weirdos for a very short time that I don’t like the feeling of being left out. I was never the nosy type. When I was in my normal life as a human, I was never like this even with Dianna. She was my best friend and yet I had never felt this eagerness to be always into every business that she has. And for that reason, I suddenly missed her and my family. Did she finally break up with her latest boyfriend and find a new one? Well, it was never a difficult thing for her since many guys were drooling over her. And my family… Did Mom scold Benj again for not cleaning his room? Dad might still be busy with his jobs and still not buying a new coat. I was planning to buy him a new one using the money that I saved up from my part-time jobs but the situation demanded me to leave early.

“It is the most potent bond which can exist between vampires next to mate bonds, mi’lady. It is the act of receiving blood in an acknowledgment of mastery.” Volt explained to me. “Although most vampires believe that it was just a myth, this ritual was said to grant a mystical power over the one who is bound.”

“When you say, receiving blood…. Y-you mean drinking blood from another vampire?” I asked puzzled. “Then, does it apply to rouges? I mean, perhaps that was one reason why vampires are not allowed to drink the blood of their kind, ‘coz they can get stronger by drinking it?”

“That was a… very creative… deduction, Sab. But there wasn’t any case like that happened like that so far. Merely drinking the blood of any vampire won’t give you power and rouges always end up killing their prey. So basically, a master-familiar relationship like the blood oath does is impossible to be created.” said Cassandra.

I nodded, feeling embarrassed and regretted that I even opened my mouth. “O-oh, I see.”

“But it’s possible if they drink blood from a Vampire Royalty,” Cody stated looking at me. I had no idea if he was saving me from my embarrassment or just casually giving info. It was always hard to tell with his poker face.

Then, I suddenly remember when Edmondo bit my wrist the night when the three of them first brought me here. I was not fond of that memory since I still remember how it felt. Was that an example of what he said?

‘Don’t talk about it.’ I flinched surprised by the sudden voice in my head. It was Cody. ‘It was not the same as this ritual nor about gaining power.’ His expression was still the same but I could tell by his voice that this was some serious thing.

Now that I thought about it, it was only Cody and Volt who was present in my room at that time. Cassandra was the only one who wasn’t there. But why am I not allowed to say a thing about it?

“Really?” Cassandra was surprised by the information. Not a trace of suspicion about us having a secret conversation in our mind.

‘I’ll explain it to you later. So just shut your mouth.’ He added. It was not a threat, but it sounded to me like one.

I answered him with a simple ‘Okay.’ in my mind.

“It was written in here,” Cody then said referring to the book. “Only the royal family knows about it, I believe.”

The three of them were now looking at me. I had chills when they stared at me, I felt like they were planning something not good. Or were they expecting me to remember things like that? Cody even forbade me to talk about Edmondo biting my wrist.

“Uh… guys. Just in case you had forgotten, I don’t have my memories as a vampire. A-and I’m a half-blood, right?”

“But of course, mi’lady.” Volt agreed. “But…” The playful smirk made its way to his lips again. “you’re still a royalty.”

Cassandra was staring at me with a creepy smile while Cody was just watching me as if assessing my thoughts. My heart began to beat so fast, my palm starting to sweat.

“G-Guys…” I nervously gulped. “Y-you’re not planning to… b-bite me, right?”

Their eyes started to turn into crimson, not removing their gaze on me. I tried to casually unlock Cassandra’s arms from mine, but she wouldn’t let me. I was starting to get afraid and her creepy smile made it even worse. But after a few nerve-wracking seconds, they burst out laughing—with Cody as an exemption. When it dawned on me that they were only playing a prank, I fell limply on Cassandra who caught me while laughing. For a moment I thought it was the end of me.

“That was not funny!” I irritably said removing Cassandra’s hands, trying to get my balance. My knees still felt weak and my heart still racing. I really hate their playfulness.

“Sorry, mi’lady,” said Volt. “You just look so cute.”

“Your compliment won’t make me forgive you!” I sneered at him. “And you!” I turned to Cody. “You are the last person that I ever thought about playing a prank on me. How could you!”

And his signature heavy sigh was all I got for an answer. Well, what should I expect from him?

I sat down at my bed since my knees were still feeling weak from what they did.

“C’mon Sab, we’re sorry.” Cassandra made her voice intentionally sweet. “We just miss times like this with you. You’ve been away for too long, you know.”

And I was such a softie. Just like that, my anger faded. Sucks to be me, really. “Ugh, whatever.”

Cassandra skipped towards me, looking so excited. “But can we try this Blood Oath thing?”

“No!” I immediately replied and moved away from her a little. “I don’t want to get bitten!”

“We won’t bite you mi’lady.” Volt chuckled biting his lips. “We still value our lives. Though… if you want, I would love to do it. It’s an intimate thing between Vampires, you know.”

Cassandra held both of my shoulders for me to face her. “Don’t mind him Sab. You don’t need to know things like that yet.”

I frowned confused by what they said, not minding the flirtatious tone of Volt and the protective gesture of Cassandra. I thought drinking blood from a fellow Vampire was forbidden that’s why rouges are being hunted? Then what does he meant by that?

I was only about to open my mouth to ask when Cody suddenly spoke. “Are we going to try this book or not?” His eyes were looking deadly that it could cut someone in half. In short, he looked so pissed.

“Apologies, Captain.” Said Volt raising both hands. “Now, shall we?”

“I’m not doing that blood oath thing I’m telling you!” I panicked.

“We’re not going to bite you while doing the ritual,” Cody explained, looking at me as if I was the dumbest person that ever existed. “You only need to cut your finger and drop a small amount of blood into a chalice of wine, while casting a spell.”

“Spell? Like what wizards do?” I asked incredulously.

“Yes, like wizards do.”

How did vampires become wizards?

I groaned. I never thought that they were this serious in trying the rituals written in the book. I wouldn’t mind if it was a kind of ritual that won’t involve me. But out of all the things written in the book, why do they freaking want that Blood Oath, the name doesn’t even sound good to me.

“It will be a good thing for you mi’lady,” Volt said as if answering the question in my mind. “We don’t want our bond to become as brittle as what happened to Master Alessandro and Lady Layla and their betrayers.”

All of a sudden, the atmosphere became so serious. Even Cassandra who was all smile a while ago was looking sad while staring vacantly at the floor. They told me how wonderful my parents were when they were still alive. That even made me want to remember my life when I was still living here. I could clearly tell how they loved my parents and how their death affected them.

“This blood oath will make us bounded to you, and no matter what happened, until our last breath, we will remain loyal to you. It’s not about the power that we will get, it’s about how we can use that power to protect you.” He continued. “That is if this book is really genuine.”

“So, will you allow us to try it?” Cassandra held both of my hands, looking at me with a mirthless smile. “Nothing bad will happen if ever this one was a fake anyway.”

I felt their sincerity and just because I was a softie deep inside, I decided to give it a try. “I guess a cut in the finger won’t hurt that much.”

Acting brave, yes that’s me.

Cassandra’s face brightened up again. “Yay!”

“So, shall we start, Captain?” asked Volt.

Cody instructed us what to do according to what he read in the book. Cassandra told me that they could understand only a little from the book and Cody was just really that intelligent to understand the whole book. Voltaire went out for a couple of minutes and went back with a bottle of wine, a golden chalice and a utility knife—And yes, I gulped in the sight of it.

“That’s really a wine?” I asked trying to distract myself. Well, it never crossed my mind that they had something like that here. I thought the only reason that they had human foods and drinks was because of me.

“Yes, mi’lady. We also enjoy drinking this kind of thing that humans enjoy.” He answered and winked at me.

I chuckled. “Right, you even eat sushi.”

“You betcha.”

Cody then poured the wine in the chalice looking so serious like a chemist pouring some chemicals in his test tube. Afterward, he handed it over to me together with the knife. Cassandra offered a hand to hold the chalice, and with a trembling hand, I gathered all my courage to make a small cut at the tip of my forefinger with the knife letting the blood drop into it while chanting the words that Cody wrote from the book on a piece of paper.

‘Say them with the feeling of willingness to offer your blood. With all your heart.’ Cody reminded me in my mind.

“A coelo usque ad centrum, A mari usque ad mari, A capite ad calcem, A pedibus usque ad caput, Ab antiquo, Ab extra, A bene placito, Ab imo pectore, Sanguis meum tibi offero prompte et sincere.” The moment that I said the last word, the chalice astonishingly glowed and the wound in my finger instantly healed. Even Cassandra who was holding the chalice wowed at what happened.

“This might really work.” Volt excitedly said as we watched the chalice slowly lost its glow.

I was too stunned to say a word. Did that really happen? I only watched things like that happen in a movie, but here I witnessed a magical thing happen before my very eyes that I couldn’t fully believe it. Well, vampires exist alright, I must not be surprised by this kind of thing anymore, but that was just so magical.

“Now, we only need to drink this, right?” Cassandra said.

“Give it to her first,” Cody ordered Cassandra and she handed it to me. Then Cody handed a flat saucer-like cup to Volt and Cassandra.

“Pour it here.” He said to me and I did as what I was instructed. The fruity aroma filled my lungs as I poured it on every saucer-like cup they were holding, evenly. I wondered what could it taste like with my blood in it. And before I could spill the liquid, I shook the thoughts away.

Before drinking the cup of wine with my blood, they also chanted a spell that I myself couldn’t understand.

“Ex vivo, Ad mortem, ab imo pectore, fide meum tibi offero, Ab hinc, seculo seculurum.” They said in unison and simultaneously drank the content of the cup.

After drinking, my eyes widened in shock when Cassandra suddenly fell on the floor writhing in great pain. I intuitively went to her aid not even knowing what to do. “Cass, what’s wrong?” I tried to touch her but she was burning hot.

“What the—"

“Ugh!” then I turned my head when I heard a whimper and found Volt holding onto the post of my bed for support, veins were showing up in his temple, eyes turning into crimson. Cody, on the other hand, was bent, holding his stomach and pain was evident in his face.

Panic engulfed me and was frozen to where I was. What’s happening to them? Could something have gone wrong on the ritual? Then my eyes caught the book that was lying on the floor. I was about to run to get it but Cody stopped me.

“D-don’t… move…” Just like Voltaire, veins were showing up from his neck to his temples and his eyes were already crimson.

“But—” Cody’s threatening gaze made me stop from making a single step.

“Stay…. t-there,” he uttered and fell into his knees, making me shriek.

“T-then tell me what to do!” I yelled. Can someone hear us outside? Should I just run outside and ask for help?

“Stay…” Cody muttered just when I was considering that thought then followed by his loud gasp. I was about to run to him but suddenly my body won’t listen to me. I tried to move but not even a single finger moved.

‘Stay there.’ His voice echoed in my head. Then I realized that it was his doing. I couldn’t move because of him. How could he still use his power while suffering in so much pain? I was supposed to be panicking a lot but ever since I wasn’t able to move a muscle, I somehow calmed. I knew it was Cody, he once did this to me the first time we met.

Several seconds passed as I watch them suffer in pain feels like hours. Cassandra started to calm down, as well as the two guys. She was still lying on the floor but wasn’t screaming anymore. Voltaire was now limply sitting on the floor, leaning on my bed with steady shallow breaths while Cody was already on his feet, breathing raggedly.

The moment that Cody straightened his back, I was able to move again. I even stumbled. Being under his power was really strength depleting. I stood up, feeling a bit dizzy. All I could hear was their heavy breathing. Nevertheless, there was no sign of them being anymore in pain.

“Are you guys… okay?”

“Nothing to worry about… mi’lady,” Volt answered still breathing like he ran a marathon. “It felt just like… an insect bite, really.”

“Insect bite,” I repeated. “Sure, very… convincing.”

When I turned my head to check on Cassandra, she was no longer lying on the floor. She used her speed to sit on the sofa. “That was one heck of an experience!” She exclaimed.

Cody remained silent as he stood motionless. Not sure if it’s a good thing to disturb him.

“S-so… did it work?” I asked them instead. I had no idea how the ritual works but what they had gone through worried me.

Instead of answering me, the three of them stood in front of me in a flash. Putting their right hand on their left chest, they bowed down to me on bended knee.

“We give to you our loyalty, from here on until our last breath.” They said in chorus, crimson eyes were glowing. A comforting warmth filled me as they intensely gaze up to me. I felt like there was a strange energy inside me that was starting to build up, it was familiar, but I couldn’t tell how. Then my eyes seemed to heat up, making me wince.

And from my reflection on the full-length mirror at the corner of my room, I saw a pair of crimson eyes looking back at me.