Romeo

Once upon a time, there was a boy hopelessly in love with a woman. Their families hated their union and tried everything in their power to keep them separated, but they refused. Romeo and Juliet set the playbook for all teens everywhere. William Shakespeare saw a spark of love and twisted his tales into an epic series. But that isn't the real story. The real story is worse than the tragedy he unfolded. Sometimes I remember feeling things before I became this monster, a vampire. I want to be human. I want to feel my heartbeat. But the moral of this tale is: "Love No One."

"Romeo, Romeo," my surrogate mother's voice called from the kitchen. "I made breakfast." She shouted, and I quickly put on a shirt before joining her. Around the table sat three of my siblings. Well, they aren't really my siblings, but since we all woke up from a thousand-year sleep, we've found ourselves playing these roles. There are my brothers, Demetrius and Richard, and my sister, Ophelia. My father, Henry, and mother, Desdemona, complete our makeshift family. If you haven't caught on, we're all characters from William Shakespeare's literature.

About ten years ago, we all woke up, and my father organized a safe haven for us. He recently arranged for us to integrate into a school with other 'creatures' like ourselves. Today is our first day, and believe it or not, I am terrified. People already have so many misconceptions about us that today could end in another tragedy.

"Remember the rules," my father began, launching into a long speech.

Richard, always quick to defy, snapped, "Well, if someone pisses me off, then damn the rules."

My father's face hardened. "I've worked really hard so you can have a bit of normalcy. We started off rocky, but The Council of Magics has finally acknowledged us in the community. I am President of our species, and I need you all to act accordingly," he stated firmly, getting up before Richard could push further.

Richard stood with an annoyed look on his face. "I'm leaving in ten minutes if you want a ride."

I glanced around at my makeshift family, hoping we could get through today without another disaster.

Rosalind

I remember when they woke up. I was seven and scared. My mother went to cover their awakening and never made it home, leaving me to deal with an overprotective father and a grandmother who speaks in riddles. We live in what is now known as Wicca's Point, just outside New York. Notice the word "Wicca," not "witch." There hasn't been an active witch in almost a millennium, but most of our people can make herbs, heal, and perform small spells.

I struggle every day to be normal like everyone else, but I'm not. I've had powers my entire life, but my father wants me to hide them. He fears what people will do if a real witch comes forward. The truth is, if it weren't for my best friend Nubi, I'd be a disaster.

Hurry up and get to school. The Vampires will be here soon. -Nubi

I read her text, throw my books in my bag, and head downstairs.

"Good morning," my grandmother greets me, placing a bowl of cereal on the bar.

"Good morning," I reply, sitting down to eat.

My father walks in, holding his head. I'm sure he's sobering up from a long night of drinking.

"So, vampires will be at the school today," I mention casually.

"I can't believe the Council allowed this. Just make sure they stay away from you," he grumbles. "I've got to get dressed for work." He pours some coffee and walks away. He's a police officer and saw firsthand what the vampires did when they woke up.

"I'm leaving too," I say, grabbing my bag.

"Be careful," my grandmother says softly.

"I will," I assure her, giving her a hug before heading out.

I get to school, and everyone is in the parking lot, waiting to make a spectacle of the vampires. I wasn't interested in seeing them, but I admit I was curious about what they looked like.

Nubi rushes over, her excitement bubbling over. "Hunter is having a party tomorrow night and I told him we were coming."

"No, my dad will kill me if I stay out late again," I say.

"Tell him you're sleeping over at my house," she insists, not taking no for an answer. As I began to protest the idea, a Camaro SS pulls in, loud and ferocious.

"Oh my God, they're here!" Nubi gets even more excited.

I watch as all four of them get out of the car. Let's be clear: there were over a thousand vampires that rose that day, but only four were here at Helsing's School of the Arts. I look at all of them, but my eyes fall on one in particular. He seems shy and sweet.

"I thought the sun was a no for vampires," Nubi whispers, noticing how the sunlight doesn't seem to affect them.

"I think the sun amplifies how hot they are," I playfully tease and Nubi nudges me, giggling.

As they walk past, I see the shy one glance at me and give a slight smile. I wonder if he heard me.

Romeo

We walk into the school, a mix of ancient and modern architecture, with Gothic arches seamlessly blending into glass panels and steel beams. The registrar's office is in the older part of the building, with dark wooden doors and stained glass windows casting colorful patterns on the stone floor. Richard looks impatient as we wait, tapping his foot against the polished stone.

"We should have said no to this," he complains, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous hallway.

"Come on. We didn't get to be children. Let's have a go at it," Demetrius says, his optimism seeming to brighten the dimly lit corridor.

"Ophelia," the registrar calls, her voice clipped and professional. Ophelia steps up, her ethereal presence contrasting sharply with the heavy wooden desk. She receives her schedule and an escort to class. Soon, it's just Richard and me sitting on the bench, the silence between us thick and heavy.

"This is all your fault," Richard blames me for the hundredth time this week. "You just had to fall for the little witch and get us all cursed."

"Are you done?" I ask as the girl I saw outside walks in. The hallway seems to brighten slightly with her presence.

"Now that's a reason to want to be in school," Richard remarks, his eyes following her every move. We make eye contact as she approaches the desk, her steps light and confident.

"Ms. Gardner, you called for me?" she asks, her voice clear and steady.

"Yes. I would like for you to escort Romeo around this week." Mrs. Gardner motions for me and hands me my schedule. "Romeo, meet Rosalind. Go to her for any questions." Mrs. Gardner dismisses us, and Rosalind looks conflicted, her eyes flicking between me and the floor.

"Hi, Rosalind," I speak first, trying to break the ice.

"No one calls me Rosalind. It's Rose, please. Come on." We walk down the hall, and she starts showing me where different places are. The corridors are lined with lockers and student artwork, the air filled with the buzz of morning chatter and the faint scent of cleaning supplies. I can hear her heartbeat faster when we make eye contact, a rhythmic reminder of the life I once had.

"Am I making you nervous?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"No. I just have never been this close to a vampire," she admits, her honesty refreshing.

"Well, I have been around many witches. You are one of the pleasant ones," I joke, and she giggles, her laughter lightening the atmosphere.

"I'm a Wicca," she corrects, her tone a mix of pride and defensiveness.

"It's all the same. When I was human, Wiccas were the doctors of our land," I say, my voice tinged with nostalgia.

"I didn't realize we were ever held in such high status," she blushes, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink.

"Oh yes. Wiccas were the most powerful beings in my day, and you still are." We walk into our classroom, the walls adorned with posters of famous artists and scholars, the desks arranged in neat rows. We take a seat, the wooden chairs creaking slightly under our weight. I think I may have impressed her with my knowledge of Wiccas. The 16th century had many plagues and diseases, but if you knew a Wicca, you would be fine by morning.

The bell rings, and the room fills with students, their chatter blending into a symphony of voices. As the teacher starts the lesson, I glance at Rose, her attention focused on the board. For the first time in a long while, I feel a flicker of hope.

Rose

I admit, he was nothing like I expected. He looked so normal. By lunch, he came to my table and sat with me. Nubi soon arrived, accompanied by Demetrius, whom she was escorting. People stared at us, but I admit, being around him made everyone else disappear.

"Did you know that Demetrius was born in the 16th century?" Nubi had asked way more questions than I had.

"Yes, that's when we met," Romeo said, sharing a knowing look with Demetrius.

"It's also the century we fell asleep," Demetrius reminisced.

"Well, to change the very dark conversation, there's a party tomorrow at Hunter's place, and he asked me to invite you both," Nubi stated.

"Who's Hunter?" Romeo asked.

"He's a Jinn here at the school. A very close friend of ours," Nubi replied.

"Will you be there, Rose?" Romeo looked at me, and it felt as if he were looking into my soul.

"I don't know yet," I answered, feeling a bit flustered.

"She's going," Nubi insisted.

"Well, we will be there," Romeo said with a smile.

As the day concluded, Romeo changed my perspective on what I thought a vampire truly was. He had manners and respected me. Honestly, he was a lot better than the guys I already knew.

Meanwhile

My father was given a case at work. "Harper," the Captain called him into his office. He sat down.

"We have an unusual case again. A woman was bitten, and the body had been drained of blood," the Captain said grimly.

In the real world, humans don't know about vampires, and my father does all he can to keep the school out of their view.

"I'll get on it," he said, taking the file.

"This is the second one in three months. Make sure you find this sicko," the Captain ordered, dismissing him.

My father left the office, his mind heavy with the task ahead. Protecting the secrecy of the school while dealing with these brutal cases weighed on him more than he let on. As a police officer, he had a duty to solve these crimes, but as my father, he also had a duty to protect me and our community.