Chapter 2 SECRET'S UNVILE

Students were sitting in the very big classroom, listening intently to the young man standing before them. A picture of a building hung on the chalkboard, suspended by a nail.

"According to history, this house has been in existence for over one hundred years, and it is said to possess magical powers. There's a creature who has lived there for more than a thousand years, but no one knows what he looks like. He never comes out in the daylight," the young male teacher said, and the students gasped in awe.

Ashley, a female student, raised her hand. "Yes, Ashley," the teacher acknowledged, and she stood up.

"What is so special about the building, sir? And what's the proof that there's a creature in there?" Ashley asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Well, there's no concrete proof yet, as all the scientists who went there for research in the past never returned. Everyone who has ever entered the building never made it out alive, creating fear among people, keeping them away from the place," he replied, and Ashley nodded, absorbing the eerie tale.

"What creature lives there, sir?" she inquired again, eager for more details. The man smiled before responding.

"A vampire!" he declared, causing the students to gasp once again.

"A vampire? Do they exist?" Ashley asked, her curiosity growing.

"Yes, they do. Vampires exist, but no one has ever set eyes on them. No one knows what they look like," the teacher explained, and Ashley nodded slowly.

Memories of her dad's death came rushing back to her. When she was just 11, they believed an animal had killed him, but now everything made sense. Her dad was killed by a vampire.

The teacher continued his lecture, explaining the three types of vampires - sanguinarians, who suck human blood; psychic vampires, who drain energy from their sources to gain strength, with humans being their primary source; and hybrid vampires, who have the blood of more than one creature running through their veins. Ashley sank deeper into her seat, connecting the dots about her father's demise. He was once a strong warrior, but the vampire must have drained his energy, leaving him defenseless.

As the teacher delved into the various ways vampires kill - with their fangs, usually biting the neck, draining blood, and using their claws - tears streamed down Ashley's face. Her father had two marks on his neck, which she thought were from an animal attack. The truth was now painfully clear. Did her mom know about this and still lied to her, claiming her dad died due to an animal attack?

The teacher's voice broke her chain of thoughts, and she flinched. Unable to bear the pain of uncertainty any longer, Ashley decided she had to get to the root of everything. She deserved to know the truth - the whole truth.

While the lecture continued, a young man of about twenty-five years old walked into the classroom, capturing everyone's attention. He was incredibly attractive, and the students couldn't help but admire him. However, Ashley recognized him as the man who attacked Lucifer. Her mind raced with questions. Why was a vampire attending college, and wasn't it dangerous?

"Hi teacher, I'm Jasmin Reyes, a newly transferred student," he introduced himself with a charming smile that enthralled everyone present.

"You're welcome to our school. Please take a seat beside her," the teacher gestured toward Ashley, who was still lost in thought.

Jasmin walked towards the seat but halted abruptly as something caught his attention. He sensed the scent of a vampire in the class. Who else could it be - Alex or another vampire?

"Please sit, Jasmin. We need to continue the class," the teacher's voice brought him back to reality.

"Sure," Jasmin replied and took his seat beside the unconscious Ashley. However, instead of focusing on the lecture, he couldn't help but stare at her mesmerizing appearance. Her long, black, shiny hair tied in a ponytail, her pretty eyelashes, and her perfectly pointed nose all captivated him. He found himself lost in admiration of her beauty, wondering if she was a human or an angel, and why everything about her seemed so perfect. The sight of tears in her eyes concerned him deeply. What had hurt this ethereal being, this beauty goddess?

"Please concentrate, Jasmin," the teacher's reminder snapped him out of his trance, and his gaze returned to the class.

"Ashley, are you okay?" the teacher asked again, but before anyone could grasp what was happening, Ashley gathered her bag and walked out of the class, tears still streaming down her face.

She sought solace in the garden, unable to return home until school dismissed. Sitting on a bench, she cupped her face in her hands and cried. The truth about her father's death weighed heavily on her heart. What if it was true? What if her dad was indeed killed by a vampire?

When Jasmin's presence interrupted her solitude, she looked up to find him standing there. He offered her a handkerchief, but she scoffed and turned away, feeling a mix of anger and vulnerability.

Undeterred, Jasmin sat beside her with his legs crossed. "I'm Jasmin... Jasmin Reyes. And you?" he introduced himself, trying to connect with her.

Ignoring him, Ashley stood up, picked up her bag, and tried to walk away. However, he grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving.

She glared at him, her anger evident as she yanked her hand away. "Are you out of your mind? Do you touch anybody you meet on the road? Don't try that with me ever again, or you'll regret it!" she warned fiercely.

Ashley then turned and added, "And one more thing, I don't want to cross paths with you again. If you do, you'll regret it. Rubbish!" With that, she stormed off, leaving Jasmin in awe of her fiery spirit.

As he watched her leave, he couldn't help but admire her strength. No woman had ever talked to him like that, but Ashley was different. Her rude personality intrigued him.

Intriguingly, as Jasmin was about to leave the garden, he noticed a familiar presence - a vampire. Not just any vampire, but the same one he had seen back in the den - Miguel!

"Hi, it's been a while," Miguel greeted.

Jasmin scanned Miguel from head to toe, anger building up within him. He remembered the vampire's black leather attire and sunglasses.

"I'll advise you not to mess around with me. You won't like what I'll do to you. Excuse me," Jasmin said coldly, about to walk away, but Miguel's words held him back.

"Don't you think there's more to Lucifer letting you go unharmed?" Miguel taunted, referring to their past encounter.

Jasmin scoffed but remained facing away from Miguel. "Unfortunately, that's the biggest mistake he ever made," he retorted, taking a step, but Miguel's voice persisted.

"Do you think you'll ever be able to fight Lucifer, even if he gives you the chance? Do you think you can ever challenge him? I'll advise you to stay far away from him and never let your paths cross again like he told you. Because you might regret trying anything in your grave," Miguel warned before vanishing, leaving Jasmin seething with anger.

His whole body boiled with fury as Miguel's words echoed in his head. How dare that vampire belittle him? Did Miguel think he was a weakling?

Jasmin's eyes turned black, overcome by his thirst for blood. He needed to quench it, but there were no humans around. In a blink of an eye, he disappeared into the quiet woods, hoping to find a source of sustenance.

His search led him to the secluded road where he detected the presence of fresh blood. He sniffed the air, following the scent until he found a woman waiting for a vehicle. Without hesitation, he pounced, plunging his fangs into her neck, draining her of her life force. The woman fell lifeless to the ground.

After satisfying his thirst, Jasmin's fangs slowly disappeared as he licked the bloodstains from his mouth. He vanished into a hazy mist, leaving behind the consequences of his actions.