《Origin Of Blood》 Chapter 1 - Dream ''Where am I?'' asked a fearful, teenage male voice. His surroundings were so pitch-black that he could not see even a few inches from his face. ''Am I dreaming?'' Though he asked, there was a bit of certainty in his tone as if he were just confirming. He tried to squint his eyes to see if he could see anything at all, but it seemed fruitless in the face of the thick fog that blanketed the area. ''I can''t see anything at all...What kind of dream is just darkness?'' he thought in annoyance, a bit angry that his dream was boring. However, a strange feeling crept up his spine, the anxious feeling of being watched from the darkness. Although there is no basis for this feeling, just the cold tingling sensation running up and down his back. His body hairs standing on end and his breathing was a bit labored. ''This weird feeling...'' The fearful feeling continued to grow, but as he looked around, he saw and heard nothing. "Grrr~..." A deep and loud growl suddenly shook the depth of his soul! The surroundings seemed to vibrate as the growl got louder and louder! He grabbed his head in terror and tried to look around but saw nothing. "GRRRRRR~..." The growl seemed to shake up the entire darkness; the fog seemed to be blasted apart by a supernatural force. "AWOOOOO~..." The loud growl soon morphed into a full howl that sounded primal, ancient, and wild like the Amazon forest! "Clink! Clink!" Accompanied by the roar, the sounds of chains breaking and falling to the floor echoed in the darkness as if a chaotic beast were breaking free! At this point, the young man was supremely terrified. Covering his head did not matter; the growl and roar of such a creature made covering his ears pointless. Suddenly a bright light illuminated the surroundings, breaking apart the darkness. The roaring also stopped, and the young man stopped clutching his head. Curious about the light, the young man looked forward and was terrified by what he saw. Two large, almond-shaped eyes with deep-red, reptilian, slanted pupils stared at him like bright suns. The light in the darkness came from this pair of eyes that stared at him. The young man took a step back as he recoiled in horror. The eyes were several times bigger than his body! The red eyes seemed ancient, wise but primal and chaotic as if they were a force of nature condensed into pupils. The deep red color seemed to be like oceans of blood condensed into two drops that made eyes. The more he stared at it, the more his terror peaked, and he could not even move an inch as if he were paralyzed. Suddenly everything disappeared, and he regained consciousness. "...*Gasp* *Gasp* What the hell was that!" he exclaimed in sheer terror. His bed and clothes were soaked in sweat, and he gasped for air as if he were beneath the ocean''s depths. "What a terrible dream! It felt so realistic!....*sigh*" The young man exclaimed and let out a sigh of relief as he was happy to wake up. He looked around the room to confirm his surroundings and saw his familiar yet messy room. The room was simple and small; aside from his closet, bed, and PC space, there wasn''t much room for anything else. ''I need to clean up this place before Mom sees,'' he thought inwardly. He glanced at the clock and saw it was 7:00 AM, and a shocked expression crawled on his face. Usually by now, he would have already woken up and done his daily hygiene activities. ''How did I sleep so long?...'' He pondered as he thought this was quite strange. ''Whatever...let''s get the dailies done.'' He shoved the useless thoughts to the back of his mind and rushed to the bathroom. He quickly showered and started brushing his teeth while he stared into the mirror at his reflection. A young man of 18 years old, his face was incredibly handsome. His chiselled facial features didn''t lose out to a fashion model, with raven-dark hair and pitch-black eyes that seemed to draw a person in. A toned body that stood at 6''0 and wasn''t too slim nor muscular but very well defined. His physique resulted from steady dedication and a proper nutritional diet. ''Who''s this handsome guy?'' He thought narcissistically to humor himself. ''It sucks going to Graduation Day solo... Well, it''s not like I couldn''t get a date. Just... I would feel weird going with someone I don''t know.'' he thought with a bitter expression. ''I''ve been so busy with work and school, I haven''t had the time to focus on that. Besides... it''s not like I''ve seen anyone I like either.'' he thought seriously. ''Well...I can just come home early and play some Call of Duty, right?'' he wondered as he weighed the options. ''Actually...maybe I should just not go? I don''t have any friends either...No, I should go. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event...and Mom would blow a gasket if I didn''t take any graduation pics.'' He struggled internally and finally decided he would go. Thinking about his mother, who worked as a nurse at the hospital, and how she barely had any time to see him, he felt his heart get much warmer, and the internal struggles ceased entirely. ''She does so much for me and works so hard to put me through school... I should at least do this for her... even if I end up looking like a Kraft single''s cheese.'' He made up his mind and finished brushing his teeth. ''First, let''s clean up and then go pick up my tux from the cleaners...'' He made his way back to his room and started cleaning up. ''Friends...hmm,'' he thought as he stopped brushing his teeth and suddenly seemed to remember something. The faces of two beautiful girls came to mind. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ''...I wonder how they are doing?'' his eyes squinted as if reminiscing. ''They probably have some decent guys as dates...Guys that don''t have to rent a tux! Hahaha!'' He humored self-deprecatingly, but a deep sense of sadness gripped his heart. As he thought about his estranged childhood friends who suddenly stopped talking to him after they entered high school, he suddenly felt a sense of loneliness again. ''They both come from extremely wealthy families, they both look like supermodels, they are at the top of the school in grades, and they both have a huge social following...we don''t even live in the same world,'' he thought dejectedly. ''I do have confidence in my looks, though, so I''m not entirely a lost cause,'' he thought proudly. However, he knew in his heart that aside from his good looks, he couldn''t compare with people like his two ex-friends in terms of everything else. He just wanted to bolster his confidence a bit. Though they no longer spoke to him, he didn''t hold any grudges since he just considered it part of growing up. The room wasn''t too big, and neither was it dirty, aside from some clothes that were thrown around and a few empty soda bottles; he cleaned up the mess relatively fast. He started vacuuming and cleaning the furniture and walls; since he had enough time, he would do a proper cleaning. After cleaning up, he picked up his dry cleaner''s token with his name on it that read: "Leon Vasilios." He put it in his pocket and decided to go pick up his clothes. Leon lived in a small apartment in New York City, America. The moment he walked out the door, the loud, nostalgic city ambience filled his ears. The sounds of taxis blaring their horns, dogs barking, people chatting, and police sirens. As Leon began walking down the street, he suddenly remembered the dream he had. He remembered the sounds of the growling and the terrifyingly booming roar at the end, which scared him awake. ''There was something there... and that growl...'' His dark brown eyes narrowed as he tried to remember. A confused expression on his handsome face. ''Was it a wolf? Why did it have the eyes of a snake?'' He pondered as he recalled the dream. ''The growl sounded like a wolf...but it had the eyes of a snake.'' What the hell kind of creature is that?... Sadly, I didn''t get to see its face. Hopefully, I never see that thing in a dream again,'' he thought worriedly. Lost in thought, without realizing he had already gotten to ''Timmy''s Dry Cleaning.''. Leon pushed open the door and walked into the store. Seeing a familiar old face falling asleep at the counter, Leon couldn''t help but smile. The old man was Caucasian and seemed to be around his late 70s; his face was wrinkled, and his spectacles hung loosely on his face. He was dressed in grey old-fashioned dress clothes that were a bit worn out and a matching old cap. Despite the clothes being old, he still looked quite fashionable as they were formal clothes. Leon looked at the old man falling asleep on himself, a hint of mischievousness in his eyes, and he yelled out... "Old man Timmy! Give me my clothes; I have a date tonight! What kind of bad service is this...the receptionist is sleeping on the job." Leon yelled teasingly at the old man, a big smile on his face. The old man woke up, clearly shocked by the sudden loud noise, a look of anger on his face that suddenly turned sadistic when he saw who it was. "What a date! A loser like you with no friends! HAHAHA!" The old man Timmy broke out laughing as he pointed his finger at Leon knowingly. "If you could get a date, wouldn''t I have many sons?! HAHAHA." The old man burst out laughing again. "Ugh...Aren''t you supposed to be nice to your respectable customers?" Leon asked him provocatively. "Yeah! As soon as I see a respectable customer, I''ll be nice to them! Heh!" The old man Timmy didn''t let up and continued to abuse him verbally. "Hahaha! Old man, your tongue is still as vicious as ever!" Leon laughed hysterically as he knocked on the counter with his knuckles. "...Indeed, otherwise an ugly kid like you would definitely bully me...Your graduation is today, right?" Old man Timmy asked Leon, but there was a bit of uncertainty in his voice. "What?... Are you getting dementia? You can''t even remember that?" Leon teased with a big smile. "Come here, you ugly brat; I got something for you..." Old Man Timmy ignored his comment and proceeded to walk to the back. The sound of some plastic rustling could be heard as if he were getting something. Leon moved over to the counter and waited for him to return. Leon closed his eyes, memories of his childhood appearing in his mind. He had known this old man for quite some time, and he often babysat Leon. He remembered his mother often used to drop him here when he was younger when she had to work and couldn''t afford a babysitter or to watch Leon. This old man was a true blessing to Leon''s family, and his mother often came to him for help. No matter if it was babysitting, fixing appliances, or utilities, he would always lend a hand. As the old man had no relatives or children, Timmy and Leon bonded quite quickly, and Leon learned many things from him. It could be said that Timmy was the closest thing Leon had to a father, and vice versa; Leon was the closest thing Timmy had to a son. Due to this, Timmy taught Leon every trade/craft he knew and how to make a living. If Leon somehow ended up on the streets, he would never be helpless and would be able to make a living, and this was the greatest gift the old man could have given him. This was why Leon loved this old man so much; in his eyes, he was family. A few moments later, old man Timmy came out with a perfectly stylish, white silk tuxedo; it was cased in a plastic suit and looked prepared to go. Despite it being a bit aged, that only made it stand out even more. The classic style of the tuxedo looked quite alluring, and it fit Leon''s taste quite a bit. Old man Timmy looked at it for a bit; he stroked it from over the plastic, and a reminiscent look flashed through his eyes. He placed it on the counter and looked Leon dead in the eye. "Ugly brat, this is yours now! I made some adjustments to fit your size, so it should fit just fine. Don''t worry about the suit you brought; I already carried it back! You better take care of it!" Old Man Timmy yelled at him as he looked at him seriously. "Old man, did you rob a bank? Where''d you get this expensive thing?! I can''t take it!" Leon rejected it immediately, although the desire in his eyes was quite noticeable. "Really?! Well... Why don''t you put it down?!" The Old Man Timmy yelled at him as he watched Leon hold it tightly, clearly unwilling to let it go. A hint of a smile crept on the old man''s face. "Hahaha! Never! An old man like you doesn''t need to look this good anymore!" Leon teased him and then looked down at the tuxedo gently. "...Thanks, old man" Leon quietly mumbled as he looked at the tuxedo with appreciation in his eyes. ''Look at you...getting all emotional over...Hmph.'' The old man thought inwardly as he looked at Leon, but he couldn''t hide the smile on his face as if he were looking at his son grow up. "Don''t worry about it! If you still can''t get a girlfriend while wearing this, you''re doomed to end up like me... At that time, just burn the suit and don''t pass it to anybody else lest we pollute them with our bad luck." Old Man Timmy didn''t forget to put the last dagger in. "HAHAHA!" Leon laughed loudly as tears formed in his eyes. The two continued chatting for quite some time before Leon decided to head home. Chapter 2 - A Dinner For Two? Leon returned home shortly after receiving his attire for the graduation in the evening. He carefully rested the tuxedo on his bed and appreciatively admired it. ''I really am quite grateful to the old man... this is definitely the nicest thing I own.'' Leon thought inwardly. Leon was grateful for two reasons. Firstly, Leon''s first choice was a rented tux instead of his current one. Secondly, the attire he got from old man Timmy was of a much higher quality. *Rumble Rumble* Leon''s stomach rumbled in hunger; his hand subconsciously rested on it as he looked at the clock. ''2:00 PM...Maybe it''s time I grab a bite to eat... Fast food?'' he pondered as he lay down on his bed. ''Nah, I''ll just make a sandwich and play some Call of Duty until later...'' He didn''t take too long to decide and began walking towards the fridge. Leon opened the fridge and looked around. There were a lot of leftovers and some stuff to make sandwiches. ''Mom never lets this fridge go empty anymore...'' His heart warmed as he thought of his mom and their tough earlier times. After looking around a bit, Leon didn''t feel like eating anything. ''I''m hungry for sure, but for some reason, I just can''t get into the mood.'' He felt a bit frustrated as he couldn''t pinpoint his feelings. ''Whatever, I''ll just force something down sigh who knows what time I''ll be back'' Leon thought as he grabbed some bread and cheese and began making a small sandwich It did not take him long, and soon he was sitting at his computer. He turned on the PC to watch some videos while he ate and catch up on some current events. After finding a video about recent gaming news, he decided to take a bite of his sandwich... *Munch Munch* *Gag* "...YUCK! What the hell!" He yelled as he spat out the bite of the sandwich. He gagged and almost threw it up. "Is the cheese spoiled?! Mom bought it yesterday!" Leon frustratingly opened the sandwich and smelled it...which smelled totally fine. ''Huh? It doesn''t smell spoiled at all...'' he thought as he examined it and then took another bite. *Gag* *Heave Heave* This action resulted in the same effect...in fact, the second time was much worse as Leon began dry heaving. "...*Heave* What the hell?! My chest feels like it''s on fire!" At this point Leon was going crazy; he couldn''t understand why this happened. ''Why can''t I eat?!... I''m clearly hungry enough to eat a cow!'' Leon''s confused expression froze when he looked down at the food he dry heaved out. ''It''s covered in blood! Wait! Am I poisoned?! How?!'' At this point, Leon couldn''t keep calm anymore. He lost his cool and pulled out his cell phone to call the ambulance. Suddenly, Leon''s arm trembled and the phone dropped to the floor. Leon felt immense pain coming from his entire body along with a burning heat. He fell to the floor and started convulsing. "Ahhhhhh!" Leon screamed madly as he grabbed the edge of his clothes in pain. Without knowing how much time passed, Leon crawled into a fetal position. The pain only intensified, and his ravenous hunger only continued to grow. He could feel his muscles burst, his skin tear, his bones break...over and over again. "Ueekkh... Ahhhhh!" Leon tried to get a hold of himself, but the screaming still continued. Leon considered himself tough, but he had never experienced something akin to torture like this. Slowly, large fangs crept out from his mouth, and his fingernails grew like small surgical blades. His eyes layered into darkness, and the whites of his eyes became totally black; his pupils slit down the middle like a reptile. He closed his eyes in hopes that the pain would lessen, and it did lessen, except... ''Hungry...So, so hungry.'' ''Hungry... I feel so hungry.'' All Leon could think about was this deep primal urge to gorge himself. The starving feeling grew so strong he no longer felt his body breaking apart. Knock Knock Knock The sound of knocking came from outside, alerting Leon, whose eyes flashed open in a terrifying dark light. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Who''s making all that noise in there?! Keep it down will ya! And your rent is due!" came an annoying, middle-aged male voice from the other side. His voice was reminiscent of a used car salesman. Leon did not reply. Living in a small apartment, he could see the door from where he was lying down. As he stared at the door, he noticed he could see right through it at the man. However, that wasn''t all Leon saw. He saw straight through the man as well! Almost like an X-ray, he saw the man''s red beating heart in his chest and the red outline of his blood vessels. ''...How absolutely lovely.'' Leon''s face distorted in pleasure without his knowledge. ''I never knew blood could be so beautiful.'' was Leon''s honest thought. If he saw his face in the mirror, he would certainly be terrified of himself. His expression distorted into pure bliss as he looked at the man, his hunger intensifying. He stared at the trail of blood droplets that seemed to shimmer like diamonds as they moved around the man''s blood vessels like a toy model train. Leon started to salivate, and he instinctively knew what to do, even if his brain had not realized it yet. Knock Knock Knock "Kid, I know you''re in there! Your mom said she left the rent with you! Hurry up!" The landlord yelled angrily as he knocked. Leon got up and slowly walked towards the door... His figure swayed like a tree in the wind, and a smile slowly crept upon his face unknowingly. His eyes seemed unfocused as if he had lost consciousness, and his body moved on instinct. Closer... Even closer toward the door... *Click* The door creaked open, and the middle-aged landlord was terrified by what he saw! Before he could scream, a pair of large clawed hands gripped his throat and arm and pulled him inside! *Slam* *CRUNCH* The door slammed shut, and a sickening crunch echoed around the small apartment. *Snap Snap Snap* *Slurp* *Munch* *Slurp* The terrifying sounds of a monster feasting on flesh and gnawing on bones filled the room! It seemed insatiable, like an appetite that could never be quenched! *** A few hours later... The silhouette of a naked man lay on the floor covered in blood. Naturally, this man was Leon. He had perhaps done the most terrible thing that he had ever done and something most people would never do. Yet, he seemed strangely calm. Surprisingly enough, there was no mess around him. Aside from the blood on his body and a large quantity of blood on the floor... there was no other evidence! Strangely, it was as if nobody had been there... Leon''s body reverted to its normal state, except his appearance had a few minor changes. His once short raven-dark hair changed to white and grew to his shoulders. Although his hair turned white, there was a light gloss that made it seem almost silver. Leon''s pitch-black eyes went through a similar dramatic change. His right pupil changed to a deep red color like an ocean of blood. His left pupil shone a ghastly pale blue light and seemed to resemble a tiny moon. Also... If his appearance before could be considered quite handsome, then now his beauty would be in its own class. His facial features seemed to have become even more striking, and all imperfections disappeared from his skin. It would indeed not be an exaggeration to call him beautiful. The person himself had no idea about these changes...and in his current state, he may not even care. However, Leon himself just calmly stared up at the ceiling. He seemed to be in his own world. Although conscious, his pupils appeared dilated, as if he were under the influence of something. This was further evidenced by his unaware attitude of what he had done. In fact... It looked like he hadn''t remembered at all! ''Oh crap...is this the blood I threw up? I need to clean it before mom sees'' Leon misguidedly thought, he got the supplies and started cleaning. ''Man...I made a big mess this time...Let''s use the heavy-duty stuff'' Leon mused, as he seemed to enjoy cleaning, proven by the humming of his favorite songs. *humming humming* Leon was so absorbed in cleaning and humming that he hadn''t realized the ''natural'' speed he moved with was quite abnormal. He finished cleaning in less than 15 minutes. "Hmm... *hic* I better throw out these clothes since they''re ruined... That was my favorite Iron Maiden shirt." He hiccuped as he looked at the clothes on the floor and seemed to grumble about it. Leon put the clothes in a garbage bag and tossed it in the dumpster outside his window. Since he hated going downstairs to drop the trash, this was a skill he developed. It was also pretty convenient that the dumpster was right outside his window, and being on the second floor made it easy. ''Oh right...Today''s Graduation Day. I can''t reach late!'' Leon thought to himself. He strolled to the shower with a slight smile and began bathing. He whistled more of his favorite songs as he showered; obviously, he was in a great mood! A devilish smile hung on his face as he cleaned every inch of his body. Soon he walked into his room and picked up his tux. *Whistle* ''Man, will I look good tonight... Hahaha, maybe I''ll get to dance with a beauty.'' Leon surprisingly looked excited to go to the Graduation Day compared to his earlier feelings. He also seemed to be much more confident now. Leon removed the tux from the plastic and started dressing. However, Leon, being in his strange state, missed one important detail. The tux he wore was brand new! The old Leon would have noticed it immediately and tried to return it. The current Leon just marveled at its beauty while he dressed. He felt like it was ''worthy'' of him. Soon he finished dressing, gave himself a look in the mirror, and walked out the door. The changes to his appearance had not even registered in his mind. *** As Leon walked out the door, he was greeted by the cool breeze of the evening. Off in the distance, the last rays of the golden sun were barely visible in the sky, ushering in the dark embrace of the night. ''I can feel...see...taste...smell...hear...EVERYTHING.'' Leon''s thoughts became chaotic, and he seemed to tremble as he stood outside his apartment. He trembled in excitement and sheer utter delight as a feeling he had never felt before gripped his soul. The way he perceived the environment with his senses was unlike anything he had ever felt before. After adjusting his senses to this new feeling of "freedom", Leon soon pulled himself together. He started walking towards the school, which was only two blocks away from his apartment. His mother had purposefully moved here so that he would be near this high school. Walking down the familiar road, he seemed to draw a lot of attention, and many people wondered if he was a celebrity. Some girls directly took out their phones and snapped pictures shamelessly. Some people who knew him did not even recognize him as the change was too great. "H-Hi... excuse me... w-would you like to buy a rose?" A quiet, feminine, and shy voice called out to Leon. He turned to see a young brunette woman holding a basket of fake roses under a streetlight. She was dressed moderately in a baseball cap, T-shirt, and jeans. Her appearance was quite average, and she didn''t seem to stand out much. "Sure...give me the prettiest one." Leon smiled as he calmly walked toward the woman, who started blushing. The woman fumbled around with the basket of roses and took one out. Blushing, she handed it over and received her payment. ''This guy is way too handsome... Is he a celebrity? ...and those eyes'' The woman thought to herself quietly. She didn''t want to look at him too much as she felt it was rude to stare so she ''tried'' to look elsewhere. "Thank you for the beautiful rose...too bad I didn''t get the nicest one. Haha!" Leon said provocatively as he gave her a look with meaning; he laughed and walked off. The woman understood what he meant; she blushed, but when she turned to reply, he was already gone. "Sigh... I really wanted to ask him for a picture..." she muttered with a bit of disappointment. The old Leon was not as sociable as he is now, and usually, he would have never had the courage to flirt with a stranger. This strange state caused him to be quite out of character, as he hummed his way to the venue. An enchanting air of dark mystery seemed to follow him in the dark embrace of night. Chapter 3 - Graduation Day At the heart of New York City was a high school called "Harvey Brooke High School". This high school was having its Graduation Day ceremony which consisted of students receiving their certificates and then participating in a chaperoned ball. Harvey Brooke High School looked just like any other high school with all the usual utilities that one would expect. Utilities such as; layers of classrooms, a large staff room with multiple offices and cubicles, A huge gym where the ball would be held, a large cafeteria that brought back many fun memories and a large auditorium where the students would receive their certificates. Today the school didn''t look as it usually did and instead looked to be housing a grand celebration. Different from its usual look, it was decorated in white and royal blue reminiscent of the school''s colours. The walls seemed to be recently painted since the slight scent of new paint lingered in the hallways. All the graduate students, their families and the staff gathered at the auditorium for the handing over of certificates. Rows and rows of chairs were filled and the auditorium seemed completely packed. All of the people were dressed very elegantly and the mood was very lively and joyous. On the stage of the auditorium, were a row of chairs where the teachers sat and conversed with each other. Since the graduation had been held back by 6 months, many reunions were happening today and emotions were high. Many students were excited that this chapter of their lives was over and a new beginning would occur. This led to some students becoming more mature as they put grievances aside and advocated to end past quarrels. Needless to say, these actions made many teachers proud as they looked on and personally witnessed the growth of their students. *Static* "Testing! Testing! 1! 2! 3!" the voice of a 30-ish-year-old female came over the PA system as a lady dressed in royal purple walked onto the stage. Her attire was very professional but it could not hide her curvaceous and ample bosom. Her hair was neatly combed in a bun held together by a hairpin. On her soft nose rested a stylish glasses that matched her face quite well. Her jewellery was quite modest consisting of small stud earrings, a gold ring and a watch. However, she seemed to be a person of high status in the school as the looks thrown her way were of great respect. A proud expression was prevalent on her face as her glasses shifted on her nose bridge. Her voice on the PA system permeated the boisterous atmosphere as she started her speech. "First off, to those of you who do not know me. I am the Principal of this great school, Mrs. Adelia Smith. Good evening and welcome to the 30th Graduation Ceremony of Harvey Brooke High School 2024!" The principal''s pleased voice echoed throughout the auditorium. *Clap* *Cheer* *Clap* *Whistles* Her opening remark was greeted with thunderous applause accompanied by cheering and whistles. The students'' exhilaration reached towards the skies as evidenced by their boisterous cheers. "Okay now - quiet down! Quiet down!" After letting them cheer for a bit, Principal Smith shushed the noise and continued her speech. "Today marks a big milestone for all of you, and that is you take your first steps toward adulthood. Here, you''ve acquired the tools that will help you going forward whether you choose to further your education or take another path." "However...You must not get lazy! You must sharpen these tools so you can succeed in the future!" The principal spoke from her heart and as she said the last line she gave them a serious look with meaning. "Listen to this part carefully! Some of you may transition easily into adulthood, and others may not have such an easy transition. We all have our circumstances and we all have different trials in life... So it is of great importance that you do not compare yourself to others and move at your own pace!" The principal seemed to have great wisdom as she spoke loudly and proudly. "Some of you have performed for our school in sports, academics and volunteer humanitarian programs. The hard work and dedication you have given to us have greatly uplifted the name of our school. To that, we at Harvey Brook High School sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts." Principal Smith said happily with a wonderful smile. As if rehearsed, all of the teachers stood up and gave a bow to the students along with the principal. *Cheers* *Clapping* *Whistles* The students erupted with great cheers and applause as they all revelled in the moment. The atmosphere seemed to skyrocket even further. "Now! We will now hand over the certificates. When you hear your name please come up on stage! Also... please no pranks. I''m old enough to get a heart attack" Principal Smith solemnly declared seemingly wanting to move things along. When she muttered the last line, her voice was a bit fearful making the students laugh. "Aiden Thomas" Principal Smith called the first name. An average-looking guy dressed in a black suit hurriedly walked on stage. The young man seemed excited to be called first as he nervously walked towards the principal and received his certificate. After receiving his certificate, the young man performed an exaggerated salute toward the crowd that cheered him on. Based on the huge cheers he seemed a bit popular and known. "Ashley Davis" The principal called another name. A cute girl with a small stature wearing a white dress appeared on stage. She seemed young and quite shy like a little rabbit but managed to get off a peace sign. After receiving her certificate she quickly scampered off. The crowd laughed at her antics and then awaited the other names.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Andrew Jones!" "Mahalia Thomas!" "Julia Smith!" "Gordon Wright!" More names continued to call but most of the other students didn''t seem too popular. Though they all received cheers, it had been quite tame for a while until the next name was called. "Lilith Amelia Van Essen" An otherworldly beautiful young woman around 18-20 years old wearing a black, gothic, Greek-styled dress walked on stage. As soon as she walked on stage the crowd immediately became quiet, gasps could be heard along with praises of her beauty. Her appearance was breathtaking. Curly platinum blonde hair loosely flowed down her back. A golden tiara with a butterfly made of diamonds rested on her head and it seemed almost natural. She wore gold and blue butterfly earcuffs which complemented her cute ears. If one looked closely they would notice her ears had a peculiar slight point at the top. Her large eyes were a piercing cold blue that seemed almost devoid of emotion yet incredibly alluring. Her dreamy eyes seemed to convey that her mind was far away in her thoughts. Her nose was slender and perfectly shaped with a slight upturn. Her lips were blood-red like a drop of blood on a red rose, they were full and pouty and seemed to contain endless charm. Her expression seemed disinterested as if she were a Goddess that didn''t belong to this world and she was merely passing by. It made her seem otherworldly and noble, untainted by the filth and grime of the world. She stood at 5''6 and her body was greatly well-endowed but also very curvy and well-proportioned. Her greek-styled gothic dress clung to her body revealing her ample breasts, narrow waist, wide hips and toned legs. On her arms were golden armlets with cute butterfly designs that matched well with her dress and earcuffs. Her figure was enchanting and seductive and would drive even the most faithful priest to think sinful thoughts. "...Can I have it?" Lilith asked in a monotone voice which had a slight European accent. The principal snapped out of her daze and smiled. "My apologies, I was taken aback by your grand entrance. Here you go. Congratulations!" Principal Smith handed over the certificate with a smile. *Cheer* The students cheered loudly for her, and it had been the loudest cheer for a student since. Clearly, her popularity was immensely high in Harvey Brooke High School and she had many fans and admirers. "...Thank you" Lilith received it but her voice was still monotone and didn''t show any change in emotion. Even cheers of that magnitude didn''t seem to phase her. ''This girl is still the same as always *sigh*'' Principal Smith thought to herself. She didn''t seem to be surprised as she was quite familiar with Lilith''s temperament. Lilith''s eyes covertly glanced around the room for a brief moment as if she were looking for someone, a brief look of disappointment appeared in her eyes. Most people didn''t notice this brief action as it happened too quickly. She then made her way off the stage with graceful strides; her enchanting body moving seductively like a leopard with each step. People couldn''t help watching her walk all the way back to where her family waited. The Principal then continued to call names. "George Percy!" "Andrea Clarke!" "Allison Brewner!" "Joseph Caleb!" All of these people received cheers, however, none of the reactions were even close to the cheers Lilith received. Until... "Luna Nyx Lycan" Another earth-shaking beauty had appeared! A young woman around 18-20 years old wearing a white satin silk dress walked on stage. Her height seemed around 5''9 and she was a bit taller compared to the other female students, which made her stand out more. Her long curly hair was pitch black like deep space, the locks were wild, untamed and roved around her face. She did not have a set hairstyle and her hair seemed almost alive as it danced around her face. Her eyes were grey like a thunderstorm, a mischievous glint flickered in them that drew people''s curiosity. Her eyebrows were perfectly curved and seemed to contain a particular charm. Her nose was slender and small, and a few cute freckles were present on them. This did not tarnish her appearance, rather they seemed like tiny stars on her lightly tanned skin that further enhanced her beauty. On the right side of her nose, was a small platinum nose ring in the shape of a half-moon. On her well-shaped ears, were two large, platinum, moon-shaped hoop earrings. The earrings seemed to have writing inscribed on them in a strange language. Luna''s brown lips were shaped like a bow and a slight smile was present. A tiny mole at the side of her mouth was present, another tiny imperfection that made her even more gorgeous. Her expression seemed to alternate between playful, mischievous and sweet or a blend of all three. Luna''s body was different from Lilith''s seductive beauty but did not lose out in the least. Luna''s body was well-toned, athletic and curved in all the right places. The dress hugged her body further accentuating her perfect body that barely had any fat. *Cheer* *Whistle* Immediately the crowd erupted in cheers just as they did with Lilith. It appeared that Luna was just as popular as Lilith and had the same following of fans and admirers. As Luna walked forward she stuck her tongue out at the crowd playfully which incited another round of cheers. She weirdly enough, just as Lilith did; covertly scanned the crowd as if looking for someone. A sliver of disappointment appeared in her eyes but quickly disappeared. This time, Principal Smith was ready and waiting. "Here you go! Congratulations and Good Luck" Principal Smith congratulated her with a warm smile. "Thank you Principal Smith! You look stunning and gorgeous like you run this place! Oh wait - You do! Hahaha! You should dance at the ball later or it will be a huge waste!" Luna spoke in a lovely, playful and energetic voice with a happy smile. "Haha I will keep that in mind" Principal Smith replied warmly as she watched Luna walk off with a gentle look. ''This naughty girl, I hope she causes less trouble at College. Expecting her not to cause any is impossible, I just hope she matures a bit. *sigh*'' Principal Smith thought to herself as she watched Luna return to her family. ''Anyway, let''s continue'' Principal Smith''s thoughts ended as she continued calling the rest of the students individually. "Juliet Rose" "Victor King" "Bruce Banner" All of the names were called and many students went up to receive their certificates. Some of the students made gestures they considered cool, some went for a more professional approach with a handshake, and some were too shy and hurried off stage inciting a few laughs. However, some people were late and there was an issue with the car parking outside resulting in some people missing their opportunity. Since this was a once-in-a-lifetime event, it was decided a second round would begin. "Joy Williams" Principal Smith called out on the microphone. A young brunette woman quickly appeared in a black tube top dress, she seemed quite hurried with a bit of sweat on her brows. Though she appeared distressed from rushing she still looked pretty and gratefully received her certificate. After which she flashed a smile and said her thanks. Principal Smith then called the next name. "Leon Vasilios" When this name was called, two young ladies visibly shivered...Lilith and Luna. Previously, both hadn''t shown a single interest in any of the students until now. *Tap Tap Tap* They both seem to hear the sound of calm footsteps approaching the stage. From the distance they were at, in addition to the ambient noise and idle chatter; it should have been impossible for them to hear footsteps. Yet... Somehow, they both heard it clear as day. An expectant look appeared in both of their eyes as they looked toward the stage. Chapter 4 - Certified "Leon Vasilios" Principal Smith called the name over the PA system as per usual. Tap Tap Tap The sound of the calm and steady footsteps seemed to almost echo in both Lilith and Luna''s hearts. Lilith unknowingly gripped the edge of her dress, and Luna''s pretty fingers curled into a ball while she uncontrollably fidgeted. A young man dressed in a fine white silk tuxedo appeared on stage. A single, real, blood-red rose that contrasted his pure white attire rested on his lapel and gave off quite a romantic vibe. His boutonni¨¨re differed from the ones worn by the other students that matched the school theme, which was royal purple. This made him seem a bit rebellious, but it only increased his charming appeal. As for Lilith and Luna, the young man they saw on stage was definitely familiar, yet he also seemed to be someone else entirely. Their faces could not contain the amount of shock, with wide eyes and mouths slightly open. They seemed to be looking at someone else entirely. ''Can six months change a person this much?'' Lilith seemed to be pondering. ''...He looks like someone else,'' Luna thought, a bit of fear in her eyes. The old Leon had short raven-dark hair and eyes to match. Now his hair was silver-white and glossed over like the finest silver. His eyes, which were once pitch black, bloomed into different colours as if they were planets that suddenly came to life. His right pupil was reminiscent of a sun, and his left eye seemed like a blue moon. Almost like the two most perfectly cut jewels. Before, he was a bit shy and had a modest attitude; sometimes, he even lacked a bit of confidence and could be considered introverted. Now every step forward demanded subservience from everything around him. His confidence was proven in the devilish grin that hung on his face. Although before Leon was handsome, his skin had blemishes, and it was only of a mortal beauty. Now, his appearance had already transcended the realm of mortality. His facial features were perfect, and his skin, although a bit pale, was spotless. He also seemed to grow taller, and his muscles were more robust yet compact. Now his entire being as a whole had greatly changed... "Did someone like that go to our school?! How come I never saw him!" A girl opened her lips, and she couldn''t help but ask loudly; her voice sounded like she was robbed of something. She seemed to voice out the same thing everyone else thought. Almost the entire crowd was staring at Leon. The principal was greatly shocked. Everyone had the same question as they looked at Leon. ''Indeed... Did a person like this go to our school?'' The principal seemed to be wondering something. She couldn''t help but ask again¡ª "I''m sorry... do you go to our school?" Principal Smith asked with some confusion in her voice as if to confirm his identity. "Haha, yes... I am Leon Vasilios, and I am indeed a very lowkey person, Mrs. Beautiful principal." Leon laughed as he replied and gave her a small wink. Principal Smith couldn''t help but blush. However, remembering where they were and their relationship as teacher and student, she calmed down. ''This guy actually has the balls to flirt with me. Well, it''s graduation day... I should let it slide and not make a scene,'' Principal Smith thought, and she was genuinely a bit shocked. ''Strange... I would remember a student with this kind of crazy character.'' She pondered a bit and didn''t notice Leon approaching. Leon approached the principal to receive his certificate, his physique towering over her, and she seemed a bit lost in thought, her head staring down at the name on the certificate. "Beautiful lady... you''re spacing out again," Leon said teasingly with a smile. Principal Smith, who was totally spaced out, jumped up in fright as she heard the voice that was practically in her ear and realised Leon''s handsome face was right in front of her already. She subconsciously took two steps back in fright and nearly fell backwards off the stage. Luckily, a hand immediately grabbed her by the waist and stabilised her. Leon didn''t take advantage of her too much and let her go almost immediately once she caught herself. Principal Smith placed her hand on her ample chest in relief, as that fall would have been terrible in more ways than one. There was a slight blush on her face, and her professional demeanour had already disappeared. "Thank you!" She thanked him with a genuinely warm smile. "Anytime..." Leon responded with a roguish smirk. His reply seeming to indicate something. "Congratulations, Leon Vasilios! Good luck going forward in your future endeavors." Principal Smith handed over the certificate in a professional manner and pretended nothing happened. ''I need to get this guy away from me quickly,'' Principal Smith thought intelligently as she ignored his comment and proceeded with the ceremony. Her rosy cheeks proved how embarrassed she was, whether it was by her near fall or Leon''s provocation nobody knew. *Cheers,* *applause*, *Whistles* Surprisingly, Leon got a reception from the crowd, which was much louder than both Luna''s and Lilith''s. Rather... the female students seemed quite fond of him, and the male students seemed quite happy to see someone make a move on the beautiful principal. Leon turned to look at the crowd and gave them a devilish grin and deep bow. Then proceeded to walk off the stage with the same steady, confident footsteps he came with. There seemed to be a strange charm and mysterious aura emanating from Leon when he moved. His different-coloured eyes appear to shine with contradicting polarities, almost as if they tried to devour each other''s presence. His eyes were mesmerising, like two strange jewels blessed by a red sunrise and blue moon. Together with the pure, confident look in his eyes, it made him seem dreamy. The slight smile on his face seemed mischievous and seductive but also... dangerous, like a trickster with a plan or a man planning on stealing someone''s lover. This only made the girls who saw him more curious about it, a bit of heat on their breath. This phenomenon was like a strange aphrodisiac had suddenly wafted through the building. Not only was he remarkably stunning, but people couldn''t help but feel their eyes drawn to him even if they wanted to look away. Unbeknownst to Leon, his strange yet beautiful eyes and body changes caught the attention of a particular group, aside from his ex-childhood friends. Lilith and Luna''s eyes trailed his back from the moment he appeared until he left; their gazes held an intense multitude of different emotions. The most prominent ones were longing, confusion, and anxiousness. As soon as Leon left, Lilith and Luna, as if made from the same brain, immediately looked at each other in deep hatred. The look they gave each other seemed to want to tear each other apart; it was as if they were never childhood friends. These changes weren''t noticed by many people except the same group of people who noticed their reaction when Leon''s name was called. This was the same group that paid attention to Leon and noticed his changes. Those groups of people were Lilith and Luna''s family, who were beside them. Lilith''s only attending family member was her mother, a woman of extraordinary beauty who was no less beautiful than her daughter. She looked like a slightly older copy of her daughter. If they weren''t sitting together, it would be easy to mistake them for each other if seen somewhere else.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She wore an extremely gothic black dress, less flashy than her daughter''s and more reserved. She wore a see-through black veil that covered most of her face and seemed disinterested in anything that didn''t involve her daughter. The only slight exception is Leon, who seemed connected to her daughter in some way. In contrast, Luna''s attending family consisted of her father and mother and one older sister. Her father seemed to be around 40, and his dark hair had some greys. He was a robust man and was a bit taller than Leon. However, his most striking feature was his grey eyes, which looked a bit wild and uncontained, but he was very calm, and his expression seemed gentle. His face couldn''t be considered handsome but neither ugly; rather, he seemed a bit heroic. He gave off a very dependable feeling that he was solid like a rock. He seemed uncomfortable wearing formal clothes and looked funny fidgeting with his big body and pulling on his clothes. His wife, seated next to him, kept slapping away his hand, which made it even more hilarious. Clearly, he didn''t like this sort of event very much but came for his daughter''s sake. Luna''s mother was a very beautiful, buxom woman; it''s evident that''s where Luna got her looks from. She also seemed to be in her late 30s and wore a beautiful white satin dress like her daughter. A cute straw hat decorated her dark curly hair, which flowed gently down her back, unlike Luna''s wild hair. She had tanned skin and brown eyes and wore a gentle expression on her face. Her motherly aura was quite strong and gave off a trusting and warm feeling. The girl sitting next to Luna''s mother, Luna''s older sister, had more of a valiant look compared to Luna. She seemed to inherit more of her father''s facial features and her mother''s brown eyes. She had short black hair that was stylishly combed to the side and dangle earrings that accentuated her style. The formal pantsuit attire she wore couldn''t hide her incredibly voluptuous figure. Although her facial features were not as beautiful as Luna''s, her face was still very charming. Her vibe was much more mature and sexy, and she seemed easy to talk to. These two families were watching Leon with great interest. As soon as he got off stage, they immediately noticed the change in Lilith and Luna. Both families started paying attention to the two girls and seemed to be expecting something. ''His life pulse changed... He''s not one of us either, but somehow he''s blood-drunk. Who and what changed him?'' I will find out and tear everyone involved to pieces. Lilith''s thoughts were calm and logical but very brutal. ''Are they involved in this?'' Lilith wondered as she looked at Luna, her gaze growing increasingly colder. Lilith noticed Luna seemed to be looking at her with unbridled rage; Luna''s expression appeared to be teetering on the edge of breaking her composure. Lilith shook her head. ''No... she looks just as angry as I do. Someone else interfered,'' Lilith thought as she began racking her brain. Meanwhile, Luna couldn''t take it anymore and started walking over to Lilith. There was a dangerous look in her eye, and she seemed to be contemplating something. ''That bitch did something. He doesn''t smell human or like us. It''s got to be her. I will tear off her head if she broke the pact.'' Luna''s rage-filled thoughts filled her head, and the edges of her fingers seemed to be sharpening. ''How dare she look at me that way! I''ll find out what that bitch did to him!'' Luna''s rage seemed to peak as she hastened her footsteps. However, before she could reach over, Lilith''s calm and cold telepathic voice entered Luna''s head. [Get control of yourself] Lilith''s telepathic message was simple and calm. Luna''s feet froze, her expression struggled for a bit and then seemed to calm down. Luna then looked at Lilith again and noticed her expression. ''I''ve never seen her this angry. Then...'' Luna thought as she seemed to have realised something. Her fingers slowly went back to normal, and her mind seemed to have cleared up. [We need to talk... Meet me on the balcony.] Lilith conveyed as she looked at Luna calmly; however, there was a slight fluctuation in her telepathic voice that couldn''t be hidden. ''Even this stone-cold woman seems bothered,'' Luna thought to herself and gave Lilith a slight nod. It seemed although the two were no longer friends they still had some level of understanding. The auditorium was large and had multiple floors; the two quickly headed up a flight of stairs and disappeared from view. The two families of both girls, seeing them come to some kind of conclusion, released a sigh. Leon, who had already walked off, had no idea that any of this was happening. Actually, it was possible he wouldn''t even care. As far as Leon knew, he had not spoken to either girl in 4 years, and they made it a point to distance themselves from him. Leon made his way to the seating area, passing lots of people, and found his seat and sat down. People threw him all sorts of gazes, but Leon didn''t mind. For some strange reason, people always ignored him, and nobody spoke to him, and only today was it as if people saw him. So he sort of enjoyed the attention... although nobody actually approached him. Principal Smith, who had finally collected herself, started the closure of the distribution of diplomas ceremony. *** Meanwhile, Luna and Lilith were staring at each other on the balcony. The moon in the sky was bloody crimson tonight and gave off a foreboding feeling. "Lilith... What the hell is going on?" Luna didn''t beat around the bush, her usual playful tone gone, and she said seriously. "To put it bluntly. I don''t know either..." Lilith said calmly, but the horror in her eyes betrayed her feelings. "Then what the hell are we doing?! We need answers!" Luna basically growled at her. "I know.... Calm down. We can''t figure out anything if you act crazy," Lilith again reminded her calmly. However, the increasingly cold glow in her eyes stated her patience was reaching her limit. ''It seems she figured something out... well, she has always been pretty smart,'' Luna thought as she decided to trust her. "...Fine." Luna took a deep breath before she replied flatly. She then looked at Lilith. "Answer me honestly: after you injected him with werewolf venom, did you do anything... extra?" Lilith asked seriously and gave Luna a questioning glance. The question made Luna shiver, which did not escape Lilith''s eyes. Luna did not hide it and admitted the truth. "...I implanted the Great Ancestor''s fangs in his body about a month later. I thought it would wipe out your vampire''s curse and... make him a werewolf," Luna said guiltily and with worry. Luna wasn''t in the mood to play around; she wanted to find out what happened to Leon and didn''t dare to hide the truth. She fully expected Lilith to get angry and lash out at her; instead, all she got was Lilith''s helpless sigh. "*Sigh*...After I bit him, I gave him the blood from the previous King of Vampires." Lilith''s voice sounded heartbroken. "We both had the same idea... Unfortunately, it may come at the cost of his life." As Lilith said the last part, she mumbled it in an almost robotic manner. Her eyes glazed over, and she seemed to be enduring great pain. Luna, who heard this, froze. "FUCK! WHAT DID WE DO?!" Luna practically screamed as she held her head. "Then... Then Leon, Lilith?! What do we do?!" Luna seemingly started to panic and lose her composure entirely. Her voice sounded desperate and scared. "To make matters worse, he''s in a blood-drunk state, and it''s the worst I''ve ever seen," Lilith added as her voice became a bit dry. "Blood drunk?" Luna asked quizzically, as she hadn''t heard the term before. "The only way to get drunk on blood... You have to drink someone dry until they are dead," Lilith said. She made sure to stress that they had to die twice. "Typically... the werewolf curse and vampire curse fight for dominance in the host with a clear victor after a short time," Lilith murmured as she continued... "In Leon''s case... he seemed to be totally fine with none of the curses happening. We thought we had failed, and the curses destroyed each other... but we still needed to monitor him to prevent him from randomly turning into one of us and hurting someone or making a scene." At this point, Lilith''s voice trembled. "...Yeah, that''s why we got the witch to cast suggestion magic on Leon and in the school so he would go unnoticed," Luna added as she followed Lilith''s logic up to here, but she still didn''t know what Lilith was getting at. "Luna... He''s neither a vampire nor a werewolf. Luna, what does a werewolf do when it first turns?" Lilith turned and asked Luna suddenly. "Well, the elders take us out to hunt, and it''s instinct to kill the first thing we see... Wait! Lilith! You mean..." Luna replied almost immediately, and then her face froze. "If you add both vampire and werewolf urges when awakening for the first time, it may very well be that his first instinct was to drain someone dry... and his mother was not present at the graduation. Quite frankly, I''m terrified he did something to her." Lilith at this point was almost in tears; usually she never showed this much emotion. "Lilith... if that happened... We... He''d never forgive us, and... we wouldn''t deserve it." Luna finally realised the horror, and she just froze up. Both girls just stared over the balcony as if they had lost their souls. "Wait... My sister works at his mother''s hospital! I can ask her!" Luna suddenly said as she took out her phone and hurriedly called her sister. Luna paced back and forth, her ears twitching as she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She turned to look and saw her sister suddenly come up the stairs to the balcony and join the two girls. "Selene..." Luna said with almost tears in her eyes as she looked at her sister, and she flew over and hugged. "*Sigh* Leon''s mom is fine; she''s working a double shift. I just called, and apparently, she does regret not being able to make it; some people overheard her saying in the lunchroom," Selene said as if to comfort the girls, as she could see their terrible mood. Lilith just let out a sigh of relief and stared at the moon. The emotions in her gaze contain several different feelings. "So are you guys going to tell me what''s going on now? ...Or do I need to get all of our parents involved? We have a short break before the ball." Selene stated matter-of-factly and threateningly. "When it comes to that boy, both of you get stupid, and you better not do anything you will regret," Selene added seriously. Lilith sighed and opened her lips... "*Sigh* Call them... This is outside of our realm of control, and we need help." Selene looked at her and then shook her head as she made a few calls. The families of both girls soon came upstairs, and both girls soon began telling them what happened.