Chapter 1

Ann made her way into the school building, eager for its warmth, hardly noticing the beautiful aurora lights that painted Barrow Alaska’s sky that not so dark morning because of the Northern Lights. She saw her best friend Jessica leaning against her locker. People nicked named them ‘twinsies’ because they looked so similar. The biggest difference between them was that Jessica had dark brown eyes, almost black, with long brown hair that reached her hips, and Ann’s hair reached mid-back.

“Hello stranger,” Jessica embraced Ann. “Tell me everything! Did you hook up with that hot guy from the club?” she asked curiously.

“What guy?! I don’t remember anything,” Ann said worriedly, her hazel brown eyes looking more on the green side as the hallway light reflected on them.

“That guy!” Jessica exclaimed, shocked to see the guy from the club. He looked up at them, his mysterious gold-silver eyes catching Ann’s. A smile crept up his face, and he gave her a wink. Ann blushed and looked away.

“I don’t remember anything!” she told Jessica and took her coat off to hang it in her locker. The school building was a comfortable warm temperature despite the cold weather outside.

Ann and Jessica were top students and seated in front of the class. They liked to have fun and sneak out on weekends, but when it came to their classes, all fun and games got set aside. Both with aspirations to leave for warmer horizons, they knew they must get good marks to get into good Universities. Both girls were on the honor roll, Jessica being top of her grade with Ann coming in 2nd. Ann strived to knock Jessica off her pedestal and Jessica welcomed the healthy competition. What Ann did not know was that Jessica has a romantic flirtation with one of the teachers that were their Math and Science teacher and therefore always graded Jessica a tat better than what she deserved. Ann was more reserved than Jessica when it came to romantic relationships.

They noticed that their math and Science Teacher had turned into a young male instead of their usual teacher. He was yet to face the class as he was busy writing his name and surname on the whiteboard. “Good morning students, I am Mr. Dario Carden and I will be your Math and Science substitute teacher while Miss Erin Wangberg recovers,” Dario introduced himself after turning around to face the class. He caught a hint of blood smell in the air, and it led him to Ann.

Ann felt obligated to say something, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the sexy substitute teacher’s gaze on her. “What happened to Miss Wangberg?” Ann asked, trying her best not to shy away from the teacher’s eyes on her.

“An animal attacked her. It is all over the news,” Jessica informed her and smiled at the new teacher. She was a bit bumped that Miss Wangberg won’t be around for a bit fearing that Ann might kick her off her top spot, but when she saw the substitute teacher, she knew she had this year as the top student in the bag. Jessica deliberately changed her leg position and was satisfied that Mr. Carden’s eyes fell on her.

Dario masterfully ignored the hint of blood in the air that came of Ann as he has been a Vampire for over 2500 years. He was about to ask Jessica’s name, even though he already knew it when the classroom door opened.

“Is this the Senior class?” a pretty teenage girl popped her head into the class, bright blue eyes, a pearly white smile, and a dashing mob of blond hair.

Dario rolled his eyes. “Yes, Shysie, you guys are late,” he said, annoyed. Dario hoped that the group of Vampires that are in hiding with him would have kept a low profile and behave themselves until the air was cleared with the Higher Council.

A group of 3 students stumbled into the classroom laughing. Ann’s eyes met one, and she started to get a glimpse of flashbacks. She shifted uncomfortably under his eyes, blushing a bit, not sure about the images in her head. She forced her eyes down onto her table. Paris smiled slightly as he knew that Ann was getting flashbacks of a heated session. Even though they did not go all the way, he saw her life when he was drinking her blood from her inner thigh. That night was the wildest she has ever been with a guy. When he drove her home Saturday morning, he compelled her to forget everything and sleep the weekend off. He compelled her to only remember everything when she was near him.

“Shysie, Paris, and Wynn are new in town, and I hope all of you will make them feel welcome and show them around,” Dario introduced them.

Wynn and Shysie looked like they could be siblings. Wynn, like Shysie, had bright blue eyes and blond hair. Both were tall and had heavenly appearances. Paris had a hint of bright blue, but mostly his eyes were silver and golden brown. Jessica found it strange that the three of them and the teacher's eyes all had a blueish shine to them. Wynn and Shysie took chairs at the back of the class and Paris went standing at a desk behind Jessica. “I would like this seat please,” he openly compelled the student to get up.

“Sure, no problem,” a guy named William stood up and found another seat. Only when William was seated, he snapped out of it and was confused as to how he got to the new seat.

Ann’s flashbacks were coming back full force. Now that she remembered everything, she looked around at Paris. Paris gave her a smile and a wink. Ann quickly faced forward again; cheeks flushed.

“I woke up in my bed this morning, but don’t remember how I got to it. The worst part of all is that I don’t remember anything. The last memory I have is of Friday night,” Ann whispered to Jessica, “and there is this strange bite mark on my inner thigh.”

“You left with that sexy guy we saw in the hallway. Maybe you drank too much,” Jessica whispered back with a chuckle.

Jessica wasted no time and flashes Dario a sexy smile. Dario felt a bit uncomfortable. He picked up the Math textbook that was heavily marked with sticky notes. He opens it at the bookmark that Miss Wangberg placed and quickly looked over the page. “Let us get started with today's math lesson. Please open your textbooks on page 107. Would anyone like to explain to the class their understanding of example 98?” Dario asked, not expecting an answer from the students. He was about to make his way to the whiteboard.

“Sure.” Jessica got up and walked over to the whiteboard, and seductively took the marker out of Dario’s hand, making sure her fingers touch his skin. Dario flinched at her touch and the marker fell. Jessica was a bit taken aback by his reaction towards her, but picked up the marker.

Dario took a seat in the leatherback office chair and waited for Jessica to start explaining her understanding of the problem. While Jessica explained, Dario’s warning eyes went from Paris to Shysie. Dario was not really worried about Wynn as he was silent -stay out of trouble most of the time, kind of guy. Wynn instantly liked Jessica, but also saw the Spirit Wolf hanging over her shoulders. He also caught a hint of wolf smell coming from her. Wynn thought to himself, ‘she must have a mental block, or else she would have not flirted with Dario let alone be so close to him.’ Once Jessica was done, Paris started a slow clapping of his hands, being sarcastic as he never liked overachievers.

“Enough Paris!” Dario said angrily, slapping his hand down hard on the table, making some of the kids jumped from shock. Under his palm, Dario felt the table crack. Dario wiped out Jessica’s work and started the lesson.

The day dragged by for Paris as the teachers came and gone with the ring of each bell. During the break, Paris was disappointed not to see Ann around. Ann was so distracted in class that she decided to stay behind and catch up on some work, revising what was taught. When the bell rang again, she barely got done with one exercise. Ann sighed before grabbing her bag and left the class. She slipped into the bathroom and wanted to wait for the class to fill up before she went back in to take a new seat, far away from Paris. Ann heard what sound like heated passion in one cubicle. She quickly ducked into another cubical and sat on the toilet. The two students sounded like they were done with whatever they were busy with.

“You be a good boy William, not a word to anyone,” Shysie compelled William while sealing up the bite marks with her saliva.

Ann was confused about what she heard but kept silent, waiting for them to leave the bathroom.

Ann stepped out of the cubical to make her way to class and got a fright when she saw Shysie.

“You know it is bad manners to eavesdrop?” Shysie said, about to compel Ann to forget what she had heard.

“Was that William?” Ann asked, stopping Shysie in her tracks.

“Yes, why?” Shysie asked, confused. “Is he your boyfriend?” Shysie asked mockingly.

“No! He just never seemed like the kind of guy that would hook up in bathrooms. He is all yours,” Ann said quickly and made her way out of the bathroom.

“Shit!” Shysie said, angry that Ann boycotted her attempt to compel her.

Ann got to class and took one of two available seats in the class. She made sure to be far away from Paris. Paris stood up and was about to compel Ann to take her usual seat when a strict teacher, Mr. Ondrick, entered the class. He gave one look at Paris and, without uttering a word, Paris quickly found his seat. Paris gave a quick glance at Shysie and Wynn, and the looks on their faces made it clear that they knew the trouble that might be coming their way. One look at the three Spirit Wolves send shivers down their dead spines. A Spirit Wolf looked like someone drew a Wolf coat over them with a neon marker.

Ann felt relieved. She did well in history and got along well with Mr. Ondrick. Even though Jessica did not like history, for some reason, Mr. Ondrick liked her a lot.

After history it was Science, but before Mr. Ondrick left the class, he gave a stern warning to Paris. Mr. Ondrick pushed Paris's hand down with one finger. “If you or your friends cause any problems, you will regret it! You stay in this seat. Let me catch you on another.” Mr. Ondrick burned Paris's skin with his touch. Werewolves with Spirits Wolves, burnt the skin of Vampires and Mr. Ondrick was a Werewolf born from an ancient pack of Werewolves. Besides being a Werewolf, Mr.Ondrink was also one of the most powerful shamans alive.

Paris managed to pull his hand away. He could not believe that this Lycan-Werewolf-Shaman just burnt him. Paris knew he was the only one that could see the smoke coming from his burning dead Vampire skin.

Dario walked a wide circle around Mr. Ondrick. They looked each other in the eyes. With an uncomfortable stare-down, Mr. Ondrick made his way out of the classroom.

Dario started the Science lesson and in the back of his mind, he hoped that Mr. Ondrick will keep his word regarding not contacting the Council until he and his small group of Vampires can find proof that they did not commit the crime they were accused of committing.

Earlier that day, during break time, when Mr. Ondrick cornered Dario, he read Dario’s pass with a spell to see if he spoke the truth regarding them hiding out in Alaska. After Mr. Ondrick saw that Dario spoke the truth and refusing to help them clear the air, he agreed to only let them be if they don’t cause any trouble.

Jessica stared at the back of Dario, wondering why he was so indifferent towards her. She never had a problem getting teachers to like her, especially the young ones, regardless of whether they are male or female. She drifted off in thought, thinking about Miss Wangberg. Just a week ago, she was on her lap kissing her female teacher during break time. How much has changed over a weekend?

“Jessica? Are you coming?” Ann tapped Jessica’s head, that seemed to be miles away. School was over.

In the girls' locker room, they were putting on their swimsuits for swimming class. “How hot is the substitute?” Jessica asked Ann.

“Yeah, I know, right? Did you notice that the three new students and Mr. Carden have a blue shine to their eyes? I wonder if Shysie and Wynn are twins,” Ann asked Jessica, wondering.

“I noticed. Maybe they all wear contact lenses, even though it looked like Shysie and Wynn's eyes are just bright blue. Who knows?” Jessica left the locker room first, followed by Ann.