Chapter Text
"Good morning, class!" "Good morning, Professor Kukui!"
I glanced up from my notebook, looking swiftly up at the board, jotting down the homework assignment. Professor Kukui smiled. "Today's lesson is about...Vampires!"
My classmate Lillie raised her hand. "Professor? Does this mean that you're confirming the existence of Vampires?" He laughed. "You'll have to figure that out for yourself, Lillie! But first, we have a new student joining us today!" Murmurs shot around the room, but I only caught a few snippets of conversation. "A new student?" "I wonder who it could be!" "Maybe it's a girl!" "I think it should be a boy, we already have a lot of girls in the class!"
Professor Kukui glanced at the door. "C'mon in!" The door opened, and a tall blonde boy stepped in. I shivered slightly. 'Did the room just get colder or...?' I wondered, rubbing my arms.
"Class, meet Gladion. I want you all to treat him with respect, understood?" "Yes, Professor."
"Gladion, you can sit behind...uhh...Ash! Ash, please raise your hand!" I slowly raised my hand, shaking slightly. I wasn't sure if I could trust this boy or not yet...and I was getting some weird vibes from him.
He walked slowly towards me, it seemed like everything was in slow motion. I trembled as he passed by me, almost like a wave of cold had rushed over me. I eyed Gladion as he sat down at the desk behind me. I turned my attention back to the board, but I couldn't focus...it felt like something was creeping down my neck. I sighed. 'Vampires aren't real...right?'
I tapped the edge of my pencil against my desk, trying to focus on the words Professor Kukui was saying.
As soon as the bell for lunch rang, I was out of that room. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Away from the cold, that weird boy Gladion, just away from it all.
I found my way to my usual lunch table, plopping my tray down in front of me. The sound of footsteps sounded, but I didn't look up until I felt a wave of cold rush over me again. My gaze shot up to see Gladion standing in front of me, hands in his pockets. His green eyes seemed to glow, but I was sure that it was my imagination.
"H-Hi..." I mumbled, staring down at my feet. He sat down across from me. "Hey..."
His voice was surprisingly soothing, and I felt calmer in his presence. He smiled, canines glinting in the light. I blinked. 'Wait...are his canines supposed to be that sharp?' I wondered. I inched back slightly. 'I don't think his canines are supposed to be that sharp...' His grin got wider, almost like he could sense my fear. Why was he staring at me?
I backed up again, scooting my tray back from him. Luckily the bell rang signaling the end of lunch before anything could happen.
"U-Uhh...bye..." I mumbled, wanting to get out of there as fast as I could. I slid into my seat in the classroom, staring down at my feet. I felt that wave of cool again as Gladion walked past and I shivered. I wanted to get way from this guy as soon as I could.
Professor Kukui was lecturing about the powers of Vampires, but I wasn't paying attention. All I could think about were Gladion's strange pointed canines. I shivered again. 'Is he a Vampire?' I wondered, glancing back at him out of the corner of my eye. Gladion noticed me looking and smiled, showing those canines again and I snapped my attention back to the board.
"A group project!" The room went silent.
Mallow raised her hand. "Uhh...Professor? What do you mean by 'group project'?" she asked. Professor Kukui smiled. "You are going to be doing a group project! I will be assigning you a partner and then you will be researching Vampire Biology!"
Lillie's hand slowly raised. Professor Kukui smiled again. "Yes, Lillie?" "What is 'Vampire Biology'?" Professor Kukui nodded. "Good question, Lillie! You are going to be researching all about Vampires! Their powers, their aging process, how they reproduce, etc.!" He explained. "Now, I'm going to be assigning your partners!"
"Lillie and Mallow!"
"Acerola and Lana!"
"Kiawe and Sophocles!"
"And..." I tensed, waiting for my name to be called. My gaze flicked around the room. 'I wonder who my partner will be...'
"Ash and Gladion! Okay, class dismissed!"
I tensed, eyes wide. I was working with...Gladion...? I shivered again. There was no way I was working with him...he's too- "Hey, Ash~" I snapped out of my thoughts and into reality by Gladion's silky voice. I felt myself calm again, what was happening to me?
Gladion smiled, tilting my head up so our eyes met, and I felt a burning blush spilling onto my cheeks. Why did I feel this way? Gladion leaned close to me, and I shivered slightly...he was so close...
"So...we're partners, eh? Whose house do we want to work at?" He asked in that silky voice.
I shrugged slightly, unable to tear my gaze away from those beautiful green eyes. "M-My house...?" I mumbled and Gladion's smile widened. "Perfect, little one. Meet me at the school gate, after school."
I nodded slowly. 'Why am I agreeing to this...? What's gonna happen?'
///
I stepped into the hall, eyes flicking around the mostly-empty hallway. I heard footsteps behind me and a soft touch brushed against my wrist. I took off down the hallway, running away from the person. I slid into the janitor's closet, slumping against the door. The door knob turned and I jumped back from the door, standing in the center of the closet.
"What'cha doing~?" Gladion asked, eyebrow raised, lips quirked up in a grin.
His sharp canines shone, his figure illuminated by the light pouring in from the hallway. I inched back slightly...what was he?
'Vampires aren't real...Vampires aren't real! They can't be!' I thought while taking a small step back, pressing my back against the wall of the closet.
But this mysterious blonde boy, Gladion, standing in front of me...was clearly a Vampire...He took a step towards me, smirking, fangs glowing in the dim light and I flinched. What was he going to do to me?
He pulled me to him, pressing my body to his. I nibbled on my bottom lip, unable to take my eyes off his fangs.
Fingers trailed down my neck, and I squirmed slightly at his touch. He pressed a gentle kiss to my throat. "My, my...you're beautiful, little one…” he murmured against my throat, his breath warm against my neck.
"I-I..."
He trailed his fingers again, gentle brushing my neck. "So dainty, and sweet...like a delicate little flower..." I shivered again, trembling in his arms. He pressed yet another kiss to my throat...and then I felt the sharp pain, like a knife slicing through my neck. He was biting me...my eyes widened and I wiggled slightly, trying to break free of his grip.
But I couldn't shake him off...his fangs were in too deep. I was in his hands, like a puppet, bending to his will.
I shoved my face into his shoulder to keep from crying out softly. I trembled again...I didn't like this. But he was too strong, and for some reason, I felt slightly calmer here in his arms, in his embrace...what was happening to me?!
Biting my lip somehow helped with the pain. But I could still feel him, his breath warm against my skin.
I felt him break away, pressing a gentle kiss to the wound on my neck...I felt sick, why did this happen to me? The pain slowly faded, and I slowly raised my hand up to feel my neck, startled when I didn't feel evidence of any bite on my skin. Gladion swiped the remaining blood from his lips with a quick swoop of his tongue. I watched him, mesmerized by the subtle gesture.
He smiled. "That was lovely, little one, now..." He turned, but glanced back at me with that smile, "I'll see you after school, little one."
///
I carefully made my way to the school gate, hesitant about what would happen with Gladion. He was waiting for me at the edge of the gate, leaning against the wrought iron bars.
"U-Um..." I fidgeted slightly, shifting on my feet.
Gladion smiled at me. "Hey~, little one." I stared at my feet. He stepped closer to me, tilting my chin up. "Is something wrong, Ash? Thinking about me~?" he asked, rubbing my cheek with his thumb. A burning blush crept onto my cheeks, making Gladion's smile widen slightly. "Aww...you're so beautiful." I flushed darker. "Mhmn..."
"So~...you want to go now?" I nodded. "Y-Yeah..."
I led the way to my house, glancing back at Gladion every few minutes to assure myself that he was still there. That I wasn't imagining him, and that this was all just a terrible dream.
But he was there, every time I looked back. I felt reassured and nervous at the same time.
I unlocked the door to the house, Mom was still at work, so she wouldn't be home for a couple of hours...that meant me and Gladion were left alone...together. I shivered slightly, frightened by the thought of being alone with him. Gladion's hand came to rest on my back, somewhat calming me.
I pushed open the door, and stepped inside, breaking the contact with Gladion. He followed me in, glancing around at the messy entryway. "Sorry 'bout the mess," I mumbled, dropping my shoes in the bin by the door. Gladion shrugged, a simple gesture that still made my heart skip a couple of beats. He smiled. "I don't mind." I gestured for him to follow me. "C'mon, we can go up to my room."
As we climbed up the stairs, I had the feeling that Gladion was watching me. I bit my bottom lip, was anything going to happen...?