Arianna sat through the first hour’s lecture, and found herself daydreaming. She was completely lost on the material, and didn’t care too much about it. Tuning out the lecture on the merits and quality of blood types, Arianna gazed out the large windows beside her rather than listen. The teacher didn’t seem to notice, or mind, Arianna’s lack of interest.
“Miss Grace,” the teacher repeated to catch her attention. “Is any of this familiar?” she asked.
“Not really,” Arianna replied, snapping out of her daydream.
“Have you gone over any of this with your guardians?” the teacher asked in front of the class.
“Nope,” Arianna replied to the shock of all the students in the room. “They didn’t think to tell me about anything, least of all that this was what I was.” The students began to murmur. How could a purebred not be told about anything? The teacher looked to Devin sitting behind Arianna, and he nodded in agreement.
“Oh my,” the teacher replied. “I guess we have a lot more catching up than I thought. We might need to have additional classes. Maybe some of the students can help you catch up as well,” she suggested, but Arianna knew that wasn’t going to happen. Without ever talking to the students, she could tell that they already disliked her.
“I can help her,” a student said, entering the room late for class. Arianna stared at the boy. His shaggy, reddish brown hair hung past his collar, and he peeked from between his overgrown bangs. The boy quickly pulled his hair back as the teacher began to scold him.
“Late again, Mr. Winter?” she asked. “What was it this time? Your shoes still missing?”
“No excuse,” the boy replied. “I just couldn’t wake up.” The class laughed. The boy made his way through the rows of seated students and sat down beside Arianna. “I’m Turner Winter,” he said, stretching out a hand and introducing himself.
“Arianna,” she replied, shaking his hand while still staring at his eyes. Something about him seemed familiar, but she had never seen his face before.
“You may help her, on one condition,” the teacher added. “You start showing up to class on time.”
Turner glumly nodded. “I guess if that’s what I need to do to work with such a beautiful young lady.”
Arianna blushed to hear a stranger say something like that. The boys in the class all snickered in agreement as the girls continued to hide their hate and envy behind smiles beamed at Turner. Arianna began to watch out the window again as the teacher began her lecture. By the time she finished her second hour’s lecture, Arianna was almost asleep. The students standing brought her attention back to the room.
“What’s going on now?” Arianna asked Turner.
“Break time,” he replied. “We have twenty minutes before the second half begins.”
“There’s more?” Arianna complained, staring out into the night sky.
Turner laughed. “Now you understand why I come late all the time,” he replied. “Do you want to go for a walk outside? It seems more interesting to you than our class.”
Arianna smiled. “Nothing she’s said so far makes any sense to me, and even if I read more and tried to study it, it probably still wouldn’t make sense.” Arianna stood and followed Turner. “I’ve never been good at school, and all this is too new and confusing.”
“Are they your PPU?” Turner asked about their followers, Devin and Molina.
“Yep, the two I live with, at least,” Arianna replied happy to be outside in the cool night air. With a deep breath she took in all the new scents around her. “You’re neither human nor dearg-dul,” she commented.
“Nope,” he replied, directing her to the nearby empty table. Arianna turned and stared at a group of girls at a table across the yard as they began to snicker.
“She hasn’t even been here one day, and she’s already getting friendly with Turner,” one complained.
“It’s because she is a purebred,” the next on added.
“Purebreds are always like that. Thinking they’re so much better than the rest of us,” the first one complained more.
“Why would one even come to our school?” another replied.
“Show off,” the first responded.
“To steal our prized Turner. Everyone knows purebreds can’t stand to let us lower life have any good guys,” someone added before Arianna turned away.
Arianna tried not to listen to them, but it was hard not to as all the girls sitting around had the same complaints. Arianna searched around the open courtyard and easily found Devin.
“Don’t worry about it. Just ignore them,” he spoke softly so that only she would hear him. Arianna nodded and turned her attention back to Turner.
“So, if you aren’t a dearg-dul, then you must be a lycan,” Arianna guessed.
“Correct,” he replied as he glanced over at Devin. “Does he follow you everywhere?”
“Yep,” Arianna smiled and waved to Devin.
“Don’t you get sick of someone always watching over you?” Turner asked, smiling at Devin also. “He’s so serious looking. Can’t be much fun.”
“Well, he is always serious, but I can’t complain about him watching over me. If it weren’t for him, I could be dead several times over,” Arianna added.
“So, it’s true you were kidnapped then?” Turner asked, and Arianna nodded. Turner stared at Arianna as she began to listen to other conversations again. He knew immediately that her sense of hearing was better than his. Amazed, he continued to watch.
Before Arianna realized it, the twenty minutes had passed, and they were headed back to the classroom. Disappointedly, Arianna returned to the drab room to listen, or rather, not listen, to the teacher drone on. As they neared the door to the classroom, Turner stopped.
“Do you really want to go back in there?” he asked. “I sure don’t.”
“But,” Arianna started to complain, but he placed his hand over her mouth.
“Just go along with me,” he instructed as he led the way back in but instead of going to their seat, he went to the teacher’s desk.
“Miss Johnson,” Turner began, and the older lady stared at him from beneath her glasses. “This is all a little too advanced for Arianna. I think it would be best if we could study in the library.”
The teacher looked from Arianna to Turner. Apparently convinced, she nodded. “See if you can get her caught up by the end of the week. There’s a practice test for our class on the library computers. If she can pass it, she should be fine.” Turner turned Arianna around, and they both headed back outside the classroom.
“Where’s the library?” Arianna asked.
“What?” Turner replied.
“The library?” Arianna repeated.
“Oh yeah, the library, back that way,” he replied, pointing behind them.
“But I thought you just told the teacher we were going to the library.” Arianna was confused.
“That was just to get her to let us leave. Now we have the rest of the night. We can do whatever we want,” Turner replied.
“But if I head back to grandfather’s they’ll know I am skipping school,” Arianna replied. “And I guess I do need to learn about this stuff by the end of the week. At least enough to show I’m putting in an effort.”
“Come on, can you really learn about being a dearg-dul from a book?” Turner asked. “It’s best to learn first-hand. I can teach you that. I have a much easier method for learning all this stuff.”
Arianna followed Turned as he left the school by the back door. He led her along the dimly-lit pathways to the nearest building. Arianna stared at the four-story, brick building in front of them.
“What is this?” she asked.
“The dorms,” he replied, walking to the door and opening it for her. Arianna stared at the poster on the door. ‘No girls allowed.’
“Male dorms?” Arianna questioned.
“Yep,” Turner agreed.
“But it says no girls allowed,” she replied, hesitant to follow hi
m.
“Do you do everything you’re told?” Turner asked, and Arianna nodded. “No one is here. Everyone is at class, so it doesn’t matter. Besides, I need to change, and my room is up there. You can wait here if you want, but someone might come along and see you skipping class.”
Arianna followed behind Turner closely. She didn’t want to be caught alone skipping class. Turner led her to the stairwell and up three flights of stairs. Cautiously, Arianna followed him as he opened his room door. The room wasn’t as she had expected, with everything neatly placed on the shelves. The desk on the wall was completely cleaned, with papers organized into stacks. The only thing out of place was the messy bed, which she knew he probably rushed out of to make it to class late after sleeping in.
“No roommate?” she asked, as she noticed only one bed in the room.
“Are you offering?” She blushed. Turner smiled at her reaction. “No. If I had a roommate I’d get in a lot more trouble, so my father insisted I have a room alone.” Turner gave her a sly smile as he moved to his dresser and began to dig through his clothes. Finding a shirt, he swiftly removed his school uniform top. Arianna blushed again, trying not to stare at him. Turner smiled as he noticed her peaking at him shirtless.
“Here,” he said, throwing a sweatshirt at her. “If you walk around in your uniform, someone will know we’re skipping class.” Arianna nodded as she pulled the large sweatshirt over her top.
“It’s a little big,” she commented, giggling as she stood and the sweatshirt covered more than half her skirt. Turner laughed as well.
“That’s because you’re so tiny,” he replied, comparing his height to hers.
“Am not,” Arianna pouted, as she hated to be called small.
“Okay, fine,” he replied patting her head. “It’s because I’m so large.” Arianna smiled and nodded in agreement, though she knew the latter was not the case.
“So, how will skipping school teach me enough to pass the test?” she asked.
Turner opened his desk drawer and pulled out a set of keys. Arianna followed Turner as he led her back out the door they came in. Stopping in the nearby parking lot, Turner handed Arianna a helmet. Hopping on the only motorcycle in the lot, Turner put his keys in the ignition and started it.
“But,” Arianna complained.
“We aren’t breaking any laws. Just skipping a class. I do this all the time. Hop on,” he directed. Arianna stared at Turner. “I’m seventeen. This is my bike, really.” Turner extended his hand to Arianna, and she hesitantly climbed on the back of his seat. “Hold on tight,” he instructed. Arianna placed her arms around his waist. “You might want to hold a little tighter. I want to see if your PPU can keep up with us.”
Arianna adjusted her grip as he peeled out of the parking lot. Arianna left the school, and the Randolph estate, behind. She hadn’t been allowed to leave her grandfather’s home since she arrived. She didn’t even know where she was living except that it was beside some mountains. Arianna closed her eyes as she clung to her new friend. The wind whipped by as he sped up. Free, Arianna thought. Turner checked behind him as he maneuvered between two cars. Arianna turned and noticed Jackson and Nixon in a car not too far behind, also making the same turns as they had. Arianna could feel Turner’s happiness increase as he sped up. Her security guards kept pace with them. Surprised, they entered back into the city. Driving down the streets, it looked just like a normal city. Her sense of smell confirmed it was mainly made up of day humans. Reaching their destination, Turner hopped off his bike first, and then helped Arianna.
“Your grandfather sure knows how to pick good ones,” Turner said, as Nixon exited the car next to them.
“Where are we?” she asked, as Turner began walking down the sidewalk.
“In town,” he replied. “I come into town to get away from all that school and Randolph estate crap.”
“How will this help me learn?” she wondered, watching the humans around her walk by without even noticing them. It felt different to be around normal people again. No one was afraid of her, and no one stared. This was the life she was beginning to miss.
Turner opened the bright blue door of one of the shops. Arianna followed him with Nixon and Jackson close behind. Neither man said a word to her as they followed. Arianna peeked around the corner of the room they just entered. Actual videos lined the shelves. It was an old-fashioned video store like she had seen in movies. She didn’t recognize any titles by looking at the pictures on each nor even knew how or what you played them in. Turner waved to the lady behind the counter as he walked around. Stopping periodically, he checked movies that they passed. When he finally was satisfied, he walked to the counter with Arianna behind.
“Skipping again?” the lady asked. Turner nodded. “You spend more time out of school than in,” she complained. Arianna stared at her bright red lips as she spoke. “Oh my, you’re not alone. Hi dear. Don’t let this delinquent rub off on you.” Too late, Arianna thought, as she nodded in agreement.
“Movies?” she asked as they left the store.
“In six hours I can teach you everything you need to know to pass that test,” Turner replied, tapping the four videos in his hand.
“This can teach me?” she asked, dubiously staring at the old, tattered videos. “Molina said the movies are not true.”
“Oh yes, the Hollywood movies are pretty bad,” Turner agreed. “That’s why we came here. Trust me; this is all you need to know to pass any of the tests.” Turner led her back to his bike to drive her home.
Arianna was disappointed that her only trip away from her grandfather’s house ended so quickly. Sadly, she climbed off Turner’s bike in the school parking lot to find that students were returning from their classes. Students didn’t seem to notice them as they walked by. Listening to the female students chatter about her being alone with Turner easily ended her day on a bad note.
“I had better head back so that my grandfather doesn’t worry.” Arianna spun an excuse. Turner looked over at the girls approaching.
“I’ll walk you back,” he offered. Arianna quickly shook her head no.
“Devin and Molina are right over there,” Arianna pointed to a group of trees. She turned, and began to walk away.
“Don’t listen to what they’re saying,” Turner replied, catching up and walking beside her. “Those petty girls are only jealous.” Arianna kept walking, not responding. “Besides, we still need to watch these movies,” he replied.
“Hanging out with me is just going to make it worse,” Arianna replied. She knew how these games were played.
“Can we watch the movies at your place?” Turner suggested. “Then no one will know we’re hanging out together.” Arianna turned and stared at him. She could almost feel a hint of desperation in his voice.
“I suppose I do need to pass that test at the end of the week,” she replied, and felt the tension in Turner ease. “Okay.” Happily, Turner followed Arianna back to her grandfather’s house.
TWELVE
“Devin, do we have popcorn?” Arianna asked, sticking her head in the sitting room where Devin was working.
“Second shelf on the right, by the window,” Devin replied, still staring at the papers in front of him.
Arianna hurried to the kitchen and found the popcorn as Turner set up the TV. Though she was beginning to feel Turner had a motive behind offering to help her catch up in her school work, Arianna didn’t care. He was different from anyone she’d ever met. He was so free. He didn’t care what his peers, or the teachers thought of him. He wasn’t afraid of disappointing anyone like Arianna was. Arianna stared into the living room as Turner forwarded through the previews. His loud laugh, and twinkling eyes, which seemed to always be looking for trouble, were such a stark contrast to the composed, quiet, thinker, Devin.
“Which one first?” Arianna asked, returning to the living room with popcorn.
“Here,” Turner replied, tossing the empty film sleeve to Arianna. Arianna wrinkled
her nose as she read over the back of the cover. “Come on, it’s a classic. Besides, the real reason this one is good is because the lead actor really is one of us.” Arianna stared at the cover more. The actor looked human to her.
After it was over, and as Turner was popping the second movie into the old VCR machine they dug up in the manor’s electronics room, Arianna couldn’t wait to start asking questions.
“The main guy wasn’t a dearg-dul was he?” she asked.
“No, the writers combined dearg-duls and baku to make the character,” Turner replied. “When you turn, your features only slightly change, but when someone turns into a baku, they look just like that guy.”
“Then the ugly, white, muscle guys are baku,” she began and Turner nodded his head. “They feed on dreams, right?”
“More so on emotions,” Turner explained.
“Then why do they drink blood?” Arianna asked. “I can feel emotion off of people without drinking their blood. Wouldn’t it be easier to creep around feeling out people’s emotions than waiting for them to fall asleep to drink their blood?”
“The energy they get from feeling the emotion is ten times more than they’d get from drinking blood,” Turner replied. “And most of them don’t need people to fall asleep. They have methods to make people go to sleep.”
“Like hypnosis?” Arianna asked.
“Correct,” Turner replied. “Next movie?”
Arianna nodded, and watched the second movie. Turner added his own comments every now and then. This time they stopped half way through.
“That’s enough of that one,” Turner replied. “The rest of the movie is pretty bad.”
“Awwww,” Arianna complained. “Nice puppy.” She reached over and petted Turner’s head.
“I’m not a dog,” Turner replied with a playful growl. “That’s the one thing I’ve always hated about that one. They used dogs and not wolves.”
“So, do I get to see your lycan form?” she asked innocently.
“Not now,” Turner replied. “One more movie to go.”
“But I’m a little cold,” she replied. “I could use a doggy to keep warm.” She smiled as she got another growl from him. Turner stood and started the last movie.