Chapter Text
The leaves rustled in the midnight wind. The sky was dark, full of little white stars that barely illuminated the light as the moon was the source of it all. The land was full of trees, bushes, everything that nature had to offer within the bounds of a giant forest that shielded them from the human world that was beginning to form in the distant land.
Protecting them from the world that harmed them and made them seem as if they were monsters. Treating them as if they were the problem with the world when humans were the key factor to all of the world’s problems.
On this particular night, a vampire was born. A newborn vampire to take the ranks of her father before her. An adorable little child to be raised and brought up in the coven, learning their ways. She was a bright vampire, allowing her mind to wander when she could. Quick witted and polite. Sarcastic but mindful.
Dong was the perfect balance of most things.
“Must she go to that far away school?” Her mother spoke with a frown.
“She must learn the ways of other creatures if she wishes to take control one day. I ventured out on my own to learn of the world when I was her age,” Her father spoke. “Of course, I didn’t attend such a school… But times have changed for the better. I am sure you will learn a lot,” He whispered with a proud smile.
Creatures of all species would come of age and attend an academy that allowed them to freely mingle with other creatures under the interspecies law that protected each and every one. No other laws existed other than the academy’s, allowing any creature to join their ranks and learn of each other and how they work. Each creature saw it as a growing opportunity for their children. A way to learn politics from an early age.
Dong smiled as she stepped out of the carriage, free of her parents’ prying eyes and judgmental glances of her choices. She was free to do anything and everything she wanted. Which was exactly why she made sure her room was perfect. Just to her own tastes. Yes, it was odd for a vampire to have a nice fluffy bed, but it was so much more comfortable than the barely cushioned coffins that her father swore were incredibly comfortable.
“You’re a first year here?” A new voice, one that sounded mildly melodic as she spoke.
“Yes, are you a first year?” Dong asked, hopeful that her roommate was the same as her.
“No, they don’t like to place first years together. They like to mix them with other years just so they have someone that has answers to their questions,” The woman smiled. “I’m Seulgi,” She introduced while extending her hand.
“Dong,” The vampire held her hand briefly, feeling the skin that didn’t quite feel right. “Pardon my intrusive question, but what are you?” She whispered.
“I’m a siren,” Seulgi smiled. “Do you want a little tour?” She asked, watching the vampire nod her head.
Seulgi was a great siren. She brought her to the cafeteria, the class buildings, the courtyard that was open all hours due to some creatures being nocturnal, and then the fields. She was curious about them until she saw mounds of fur running toward them, nearly missing them but causing Dong to fall back.
“Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry!!” Another voice shouted.
Dong looked back, seeing one of the giant mounds of fur had shifted into a human. A gorgeous woman at that.
“Are you okay?” She frowned while helping Seulgi stand Dong up.
“I’m fine….” Dong whispered, blushing at the sight of this gorgeous woman.
She was doomed from the start. This woman was going to be the death of her.
She settled quite nicely with her roommate, learning all there was about sirens and how they lived their lives above ground and underwater. She was shocked to hear that the two worlds were divided, each section having their own feuds with one another about which way is better. Some enjoying the time on land because food was abundant and easier to obtain while living under the sea allowed them to be their true selves, but food was scarce… Ships were equipped with radars and trackers instead of just going by the stars…
Dong was learning a lot about other creatures, learning their power balances within their own territories and lands. Within the first few months she had been able to learn about four different species while still keeping her own traditions to herself.
And that was when she learned vampires were a very rare creature to hold within the school.
“Wow! A real vampire… Usually they don’t come to these things…” The fae whispered.
She ended up befriending Seulgi’s friends, enjoying their company despite each one being extremely different. She liked the fae and learned her fae name was Seungwan but liked to be called Wendy.
“I wonder why… It’s so… So much better this way?” Dong whispered, looking at the fae and siren in front of her.
“Well… Honestly the stereotype and stigma around vampires… is really…” Wendy frowned.
“Really what?” Dong frowned.
“That vampires are selfish… Angry all of the time… Brooding and even aggressive… Honestly we were sent out a letter when you enrolled… Explaining that a vampire would be joining the ranks and to approach with caution…” Seulgi whispered. “I was the only one they could pair with you since sirens are kind of the same as you… We lure in our prey and… yeah…” Seulgi whispered.
Dong never felt so outcasted without even being approached. A letter had gone out to tell students to be wary of her… She hated it already. It was now making sense why it was hard for her to make friends. Why people would run off and make empty promises to hang out. The only two that were really her friends were Seulgi and Wendy.
She spent the rest of the week proving her own theory, seeing other creatures not even looking in her direction. She didn’t think she looked horrible. She wore normal clothes and wouldn’t even let her eyes shift colors. She wanted to look normal and approachable, and yet… She shook her head, running out of the halls and into the fields. She took in a deep breath, feeling her entire chest tighten. She had never felt this feeling before.
The vampire decided to take a walk, deciding that if they were that wary of her, they wouldn’t mind that she skipped classes for the night. Wouldn’t mind that the most terrifying monster wasn’t in their classroom. Wouldn’t mind that the only creature willing to sit still and pay attention wasn’t in their class.
She kicked a rock as she walked through the forest, ignoring every single ounce of terrifying thing. If she was the most terrifying creature, then why would she be scared? Why would she be scared of anything in the dark forest? She could just kill it with her bare hands according to every single rumor she heard that floated through the school.
Dong didn’t even want to stay anymore. She just wanted to go back home to her parents, her coven. Where they weren’t selfish or angry. They were social creatures… Making connections with one another… Taking care of each other when they were sick… Tending to their young ever so carefully… She recalled the days when she used to cling to her mother tightly, letting her carry her everywhere until she couldn’t be held due to her growing nature.
She wasn’t entirely watching where she was going, taking one wrong step and slid down a steep cliff. The vampire let out a scream as she slid, hitting a few branches before she slid to a stop at the end of the giant cliff. She glanced up, wincing at the pain she felt as she stood up. Her eyes trailed up the cliff, frowning at the sight of the distance she fell.
“Stupid… Path…” Dong muttered as she started to dust herself off. She was getting ready to begin her journey back up when she heard a thrashing noise. She frowned at the sound, deciding to follow it and see what was making that noise.
She wandered through the less dense forest, looking around before she saw a mound of fur nearly throwing itself on the floor and rolling. She could see the giant muzzle of the beast, seeing the sharp teeth attempting to gnaw at its paw. As she stepped closer she realized it was a wolf… trapped in some kind of contraption. It was clamped on it’s paw and she could smell the blood that was dripping onto the metal.
She wouldn’t thought it was appetizing if it didn’t smell so heavily of dog…
She saw how the wolf acted, seeing the fear and desperation growing in its eyes as it tried to use it’s teeth to open the contraption. And it only got worse when they heard a gunshot.
The vampire darted out of her hiding place, running right to the wolf. That was the only thing she knew. Gunshots meant humans. Something her father taught her years and years ago. Humans use and create weapons to kill their kind and that sound was one of the many weapons they used to kill off most creatures.
Her hands reached the contraption and she heard the loud snarl from the giant wolf. She glanced up, seeing the wolf already baring its teeth, ready to pounce and kill her.
“No, no… I’m here to help you!” Dong whispered, falling back on her rear as the wolf stared her down.
Another gunshot rang in the air, triggering her own vampire instincts. She winced at the sound, feeling it ring in her head. It was way too loud which meant it was getting much closer. When she opened her eyes, she watched as the wolf’s head moved back, the growling stopping before it looked back at the contraption that was still trapped on it’s foot.
“Let me help…” Dong whispered while moving to the back leg. She had never seen such a crude device before. The metal looked rusted and old, and very sharp. She saw it chained to the thick wooden log and tilted her head. If she could just… wedge it out….
Her hands gripped the little openings and she pried it open. Forcing it to release it’s extremely strong grip. She heard a whimper escape the wolf as she saw the teeth of the contraption pull out of it’s paw. Dong knew it must’ve hurt a lot to have the thing trapped there.
“Okay! It’s open!” Dong quickly said watching the wolf pull its leg out. Dong was quick, letting go of the contraption and watching it snap shut again on nothing this time. She saw the wolf circle around her, limping slightly as its ears perked up at the sound of another gunshot, nearly causing Dong to fall to her knees with how much it hurt her.
She immediately felt the wolf’s head lift her up, throwing her up onto her back before taking off away from the area. She felt the soft fur of the giant wolf, now realizing that this wolf was much, much bigger than the wolves that ran through their territory back home.
Before long, the wolf brought them back into the campus territory, long after classes were over. The sky was starting to lighten up, allowing them to realize that they had been gone for ages. The wolf limped over to the buildings, stopping and looked back at Dong.
“Thank you… I don’t think I would’ve made it up here without your help…” Dong whispered while patting the wolf’s muzzle. The wolf leaned into her hand, taking a few steps forward before resting its giant head on Dong’s shoulder. Almost like a hug… So Dong wrapped her arms around the wolf’s neck, hearing a loud sigh escape the wolf.
She pulled away first, looking into the wolf’s near black eyes before the wolf turned tail and headed to the infirmary. She wondered if the wolf was a student since the wolf just knew where to go… But she didn’t want to think too much about it. Not today at least.