Fated

“Help!”
The unknown voice startled me. The blazing scarlet sunset had only just reached the mountain range's crest. The Academy students were still dormant. They'd rise when the twilight was over. The strange voice had risen from deep within the forest on the outskirts of Academy MUA. Only elite vampires were allowed near the institution, but the voice seemed different. There was no iciness in its tone, only desperation and sorrow.
I had barely turned my head when I was thrown to the ground by a massive weight. "Damn, Athena! What happened?" Loki's eyes were wide with curiosity. Under the setting light, his green eyes and short golden curls shone. My lips traced a smile. This American vampire was far too human for his own good. I sighed. Hosting an ordinary human in their world frequently drove vampires insane, but Loki was different. The flesh and blood of the living piqued his interest—eerie flavors came with distinct flaws.
"Come on over here!" Loki frantically signaled an Egyptian vampire. Seth was dark, tall, and ripped. He handed Loki his football and bolstered me like I was a mere doll lying on the grass.
They were my friends, but we buried the concept in a more ancient explanation. Contracts made by our forefathers thousands of years ago bind us together. I shuddered at the thought. I desired a genuine friendship. I despised the idea of someone else controlling my life.
I especially enjoyed the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins when I played American football with Loki and Seth, and I appreciated their thoughtfulness in rising up early for me. It was the most humane thing I could do at this boarding school.
The school grounds covered nearly 250 acres, stretching from the Eastern mountain range to the Western pastures. Loki and Seth were holding back their strength, but I was tougher than I appeared. I patted the dirt from my plaid skirt and looked out at the forest. There was not a single whisper. The shadows cast by the trees hid the mystery of the woods. The shift in the color of the leaves marked the arrival of the cold rainy season. Fall was nearing, with shorter days and longer nights.
“Well? Are you going to leave us hanging?" Loki insisted. Patience was not his strong suit, and I had witnessed his ability to manipulate people to do his bidding. He would not use his abilities on me out of principle, but a vampire was still a beast of many surprises.
"I heard..." I couldn't believe I was going to say it out loud. My mother had warned me to be a good member of her family. With just one blunder, I'd be sent straight to the family dungeon. Though powerful, reputation and status were easily destroyed. "I heard a voice coming out of there," I said, pointing to the woods. We were aware that all creatures existed, but none lived near this society. Academy MUA's students were not permitted to leave the school grounds, and magical barriers were put in place to prevent them from even attempting to flee. The safety of vampire offspring was of the utmost importance.
This imposing Academy was for the elite—the descendants of the oldest families. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but if something was out there, Loki and I would know," Seth said, his arms resting on his chest. Their senses were unrivaled, but there was something inside, perhaps a hunch, that nudged under my skin.
I nodded and turned to face the Academy. The thousand-year-old institution was a small five-tower castle distinguished by the causatum of its longevity. It was built entirely of everlasting stones. It was a little crowded due to the vampire kind's increasing birth rate, but it was home.
“Please! Help!" the words pierced my heart like a knife. I felt the distress in the voice as if it were my own. Loki and Seth were approaching the massive iron gates that guarded the entrance, but I didn't follow. The thumping was striking my chest, begging me to cross the barrier and save the poor soul. My companions would undoubtedly stop me if I returned to the forest's edges before they were out of sight.
The sky was engulfed in Hellfire, providing a reassuring sight—the sun would always rise another day. To control my heartbeat, I kept a close eye on my surroundings. If an attack occurred, defending myself would quickly become difficult. My weapons remained in my room. I cursed. Seth had repeatedly warned me to keep a dagger hidden beneath my skirt, but I assumed the blade restricted my movements. "I am a foolish prey in a predator world," I murmured, tying my long blond hair into a bun.
I rushed to the barrier, gathering my overconfidence and adrenaline. As the faint red glow of the barrier approached, the wind swirled ruthlessly. On the other side, the forest remained silent.
I reached out a tense hand toward the woods. By chance, I was not a supernatural being. The barrier could not prevent me from crossing. I quickly touched the invisible wall and noticed the movement of a shadow at the corner of my eye. I came to a halt.
A dark hooded and ominous figure appeared on the outskirts of the forest, staring in my direction. Curiosity or folly set my legs back in motion. It drew me in like a magnet to its other half. Two of my fingertips stretched, inches met the other side of the vigilant wall.
"No!" screeched a male voice between my ears as a white flash blinded my vision. I took a step back, perplexed, and fled to the Academy. "What in the world happened?" I mumbled to myself.