Chapter Nine:
Despite the pain of the bite having completely disappeared, fear still controlled my body. I stayed awake almost all night, sitting on my bed watching the bedroom door anxiously. Every small sound in the apartment made my heart jump out of its place. I was afraid Kevin would suddenly come back and open the door.
Hours passed very slowly. I didn't know how long I stayed like that, but in the end I fell asleep without noticing.
I woke up suddenly when I heard a faint noise outside. I quickly opened my eyes and sat up on the bed. My heart was beating strongly, and I immediately looked toward the door to make sure no one had entered. I kept watching the place for several seconds… but there was no one.
I looked toward the window. Night had already begun to fall, and the sky was turning a deep blue darkness. I stretched my hand toward the phone placed next to me on the small table.
I turned on the screen and found that a new day had already begun. I sighed slowly and kept sitting in my room hesitating. I didn't know whether I should go to the academy or not. The idea of leaving the apartment alone made me feel anxious.
Many thoughts began crowding in my head.
What if they kill me? What if they drink all my blood? I'm still young… the idea of dying this way was terrifying. I was thinking about all this when the phone suddenly vibrated in my hand.
I looked at the screen… it was Maya calling.
I stared at the phone for a moment. I didn't know if I was able to talk to anyone right now. But in the end I slowly picked up the phone and answered.
Maya said in her usual energetic voice: "Hello Iris! I hope you're ready today."
I asked her hesitantly: "Ready?"
She said enthusiastically: "Yes, I heard you have a strength class today!"
I felt confused and said: "A strength class?"
She laughed a little and said: "Yes, and my department has the same class. It seems your department will be our training partner. I'm very excited."
I replied in a hesitant voice: "Ah… yes."
She paused for a moment, then said worriedly: "Iris? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
I said quickly: "I'm just… a little sick."
She said: "That's unfortunate, but Iris, you can't skip this class. It's our most important class. You have to come."
My heart started racing, and I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
I finally said: "Yes… I'll come."
Maya said: "Alright, I'll wait for you at the gate."
She hung up slowly.
Then I covered my face with my hands and screamed: "Dammit… dammit! I hate this!"
I sat for a moment trying to calm myself, then slowly got up and started preparing my clothes. I put on my usual academy outfit, but when I was about to close the closet, I noticed something inside.
There was a plastic cover placed in the corner, and written on it: combat clothes.
I froze for a moment.
I slowly reached out and opened the cover. Inside, I found a dark blue sports suit. The fabric was slightly thick but flexible, as if designed for movement and fighting. While I was taking the clothes out, a small paper fell to the ground. I quickly bent down and picked it up, opened it… and started reading.
"Hello Iris. This is me Carla . I hope you're doing well and that you've started getting used to this world."
I continued reading.
"I wanted to tell you that these clothes are for the strength class. It's a combat class, and it is often intense. So I ask you to be careful of others, because there will be battles that determine each student's level."
I swallowed as I kept reading.
"I know you are confused right now and don't understand much of what is happening, but before I left, I transferred part of my power to you. Not all of it, but enough to help you survive in this world."
My eyes widened as I read the next line.
"Your power is controlling the opponent's mind. You can use it when you feel the hunger for power inside you."
I continued reading the letter to the end.
"I hope this helps you. Take care of yourself."
When I finished reading, I felt anger burning inside me.
I tore the paper into small pieces and threw it on the ground.
I said angrily: "Damn you, Chloe!"
I stood for a moment staring at the suit in my hands. It was slightly heavy, but it looked suitable for fighting. I gripped the fabric tightly until my fingers tightened.
But I had no other choice.
I said to myself: "Iris… you have to accept it. You are now part of this world."
I took a deep breath and continued talking to myself: "You have to survive… not cry."
I finally put on the suit, then left the room carefully. But before leaving the apartment, I stood at the door for a few minutes. I was afraid Kevin would suddenly appear. I waited until I heard the sound of the apartment door opening and closing, to make sure he had left.
After that, I quickly went out and closed the door behind me. I headed toward the academy gate where I had promised to meet Maya. I found her already standing there, smiling and waving her hand when she saw me.
I approached her, and she said: "Iris! Do you know how long I waited for you? You're late."
I replied apologetically: "Sorry."
She shrugged and said: "It's fine."
Then she asked excitedly: "Did you bring your strength class uniform? I'm really excited."
I said: "Of course… it's in my bag."
She smiled and said: "Iris, what is your ability?"
I immediately remembered the letter and said: "My ability… is controlling the opponent."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Then I asked her: "And you?"
She said: "My ability is expansion."
I asked her: "What does that mean?"
She laughed and said: "It means I can expand my body until it becomes ten times my actual size."
I said admiringly: "That's amazing. A special ability."
But she shook her head and said: "No, your ability is better. It's one of the best abilities in the academy."
Inside, I was thinking… how am I supposed to use it when I've never even tried it?
---
We arrived at the academy after a few minutes and went inside, but my heart started beating fast when I remembered what happened yesterday. Still, I decided to move forward.
We separated at the entrance, and I went toward my section to take my seat. Julia was sitting there quietly.
I said: "Hello."
She raised her head and said: "Hello."
I stayed silent for a moment. I didn't know what to say after that.
But suddenly she said: "Your name is Iris, right?"
I said: "Yes."
She said: "You are my opponent in the strength class."
I looked at her in surprise: "How did you know?"
She said: "I checked the list yesterday."
Then she added: "I want you to know that I won't use my power. So you can easily win against me."
I asked her: "Why? Do you pity me?"
Inside, I thought: Does she know I'm human?
She said coldly: "No… I just don't want to use my power."
I had nothing to say to her…
After a while, the history class started. The teacher entered and began explaining the history of the vampire royal family.
He said: "Great power is passed down through generations among the kings."
Then he wrote a name on the board.
"And this power has now reached the crown princess Navarin."
He continued: "She is the candidate to become the next queen and is considered one of the strongest princes."
A student raised his hand and asked: "Teacher, how is the hierarchy between the kings structured?"
The teacher took the chalk and drew a triangle on the board.
He said: "At the top, we have the unified king, who combines the powers of vampires, demons, and ghouls."
Then he pointed to the second level.
"Directly below the top, we have three princes: Navarin, Kevin, and Sophia." "And in the lowest tier are the rest of the kings."
Another girl raised her hand and asked: "Teacher, the crown prince Oliver is the same age as us. Why doesn't he study with us?"
The teacher replied: "I heard he is on a special mission, but he will join the academy next month."
Immediately, whispers spread among the students. The name Oliver felt like someone everyone was waiting for. As for me… I felt like this world was becoming more complicated every day.