I waste the next couple of hours worrying about tonight's party. This is horrible, I can't go, not after knowing that every single student will be there. A lot of things could go wrong. My mother would've never allowed me to go if she knew about the party. The way Sera talked about meeting up with me in a few hours tells me she won't take no for an answer. What do people even do at a party? I can't even dance.

I lay on the bed, my back sinking into the soft mattress, glancing towards the desk. Maybe I could take two calming pills instead of one, just to be extra safe and keep my anxiety at ease.

She told me to wear something nice and sexy, but I'll be going for the exact opposite. Wearing something pretty will make people stare since I'm also new and that's exactly what I need to prevent from happening. The worst thing I can do is wear something eye-catching. I don't want to draw attention to myself. I get up and open the closet, pulling out a simple black tight, a large hoodie, and a pair of white sneakers. I really hope my mother doesn't find out about this. She'll kill me before they do.

***

"Where's your outfit?" Sera asks, looking me up and down. She's wearing a long blue dress, her eyes darker from the thick eyeliner she was wearing and her hair still the same, two buns on her head.

"This is my outfit," I say, lifting up my arms slightly.

She stares at me, a look of disgust appearing on her face. "You're not wearing that. You should've told me you didn't have something nice to wear. We could've worked something out," she frowns.

I shake my head. "I would've still worn this outfit. I don't like having my skin exposed."

"The Royals won't even look at you."

I don't want them to look at me, which means this outfit is perfect.

"I'm going to be here a while. I'm sure I'll have other opportunities to impress them," I lie, trying to reassure her.

"I guess you're right. At least your hair and makeup looks good. Now let's get going."

Sera guides me out of the dormitory. The night air is chilly on my face, and the red moon above us shines brightly, casting dark shadows on the ground. We walk past a few students that were also on their way to the party, I'm relieved when none of them even glance in my direction.

As we continue walking I see what most girls are wearing, I look out of place from everyone here. They're all pampered, showing off their thin legs beneath their short dresses. Probably to grab the royal's attention and leave an impression. I admire their outfits as I pass them, knowing I wouldn't look as good in them as they do. My thighs aren't as slim as theirs. Part of having human genes, I guess.

We walk into an open field located on the Academy grounds, surrounded my empty trees, that are stripped naked from their leaves. Since vampires are what humans call dead, so is our realm. Nothing that lives in the human realm can grow here and if they do, they're already dead. Roses and some other flowers are an exception though. The open area was filled with students and tables. We walk towards the drinking table where a boy with blonde hair and toned back stands. Sera taps him on the shoulder, and he spins around still drinking from a plastic cup. His eyes quickly shift between me and Sera.

"This is Nadeline, the new girl I told you about," Sera introduces me. The both of them look at me in silence.

"Hi," I wave awkwardly. He looks down at my clothes, furrowing his eyebrows before whispering into Sera's ear. "You let her come to the party wearing that?" he questions.

I shift uncomfortably, feeling his gaze on my covered body. Sera rolls her eyes and pushes him away from her. "What a good way of introducing yourself to a girl asshole," Sera glares. "This is why you're still single."

"You're single too." He rolls his eye back at her.

He smirks at me, "My bad. Hi I'm Aster," he steps closer, taking my hand and lifting it towards his lips. I gasp, snatching my hand away and holding it against my chest. He almost touched me and I almost let him. With him being that close, he'd feel the warmth and movement of my blood beneath my skin. A vampire's blood is cold; mine isn't. He'd immediately recognize the abnormality.

He freezes, keeping his head down for a few seconds like he couldn't believe I refused him before standing up straight. "Not even a small kiss?" he pouts, catching me off guard.

"I wouldn't want a kiss from you either, especially not after you criticized her outfit." Sera folds her arms, glaring at him.

I hear voices and look around taking in the party while Sera and Aster talk. Students are drinking and chatting with each other in small groups. But I've noticed a few of them glancing around, searching for someone. My vision blurs for a moment and I blink a few times, the extra pill I took finally kicking in and making me drowsier than usual.

"You're so rude," I hear Aster groan and turn back to them. Sera grabs two cups from the table and pours blood from a huge bowl filled with ice cubes into the two separate cups. It's not unusual to find vampires drinking cold blood; for most of us, it's refreshing. While I have to admit I know there's still many that only drinks it when it's warm, and directly from the veins. Like my mother.

"This is for you," she hands me a cup and I take it. "Be careful not to drink too much. They make sure to get the humans drunk before draining their blood, so we can get drunk too," she explains. She didn't even need to tell me; I wouldn't have drink all of it anyway. That would be too risky.

I swirl the blood in the cup, wondering how many humans they've drained to fill all these glass bowls. By the amount, I'd say a lot. I feel sorry for them, to be taken from their realm to ours just be killed. Their family's will never know what happened to them. It's wrong. So wrong.

"They're here," a student in front of us gasps. Serena pulls me toward her, our shoulders bumping. I inhale sharply; she's way too close. I drink some of the blood, the cup slightly shaking in my grasp as I slowly exhale to calm myself. It's okay. She won't notice, there's a thick layer of fabric between us.

"Have you seen the twins before?" Aster asks standing in front of us, looking directly at me.

"No, I haven't," I say honestly, looking down at my feet to avoid his gaze. How could I have seen them when I was trapped inside the walls of the estate my entire life?

"Neither have I," Serena says, smiling excitedly.

He sighs. "I know they'll be the most beautiful vampires you'll ever see. But don't make eye contact with them unless they give you permission. It's very disrespectful," Aster says, looking at both of us.

"Do you really think we're that stupid? Everyone knows not to make eye contact with the royals," Serena says rolling our eyes sounding offended my Aster's words.

Suddenly everyone around us goes quiet and start whispering to each other. The group of students in front of us move out of the way and I see two tall figures approaching us. Both a female and a male with similar features: bright red hair, narrow eyes, sharp jawlines, and wearing elegant black suits with red patterns. Their presence screams power and authority. Now I understand what Aster meant; even I struggle to look away and I'm sure so is everyone else, almost like we were hypnotized by their presence.

I snap out of my trance as everyone around me bows in respect. I look toward the ground, bowing on one knee like everyone else.

"I'm glad to see all of you here tonight," the princess speaks lightheartedly to the crowd, and everyone rises from the ground.

"As you all know, we arrange these parties so that every student can enjoy themselves and take a break from all the hard work they're doing at the Academy, and to one day assist the kingdom in the future. Even more so for those who work hard and aim to work under me and my brother one day." She glances towards someone in the crowd.

Everyone claps, and I join them, my palms hitting each other awkwardly.

"Now enjoy yourselves," she lifts a glass in the air and toasts. Immediately, music starts to play, and everyone go back to normal. Students grab each other and start dancing to the music, pouring themselves more blood.

"I didn't think they were this hot!" Sera breathes out, dramatically waving her hands in her face to cool herself down.

"The two of you were practically gawking at them," Aster says, sounding irritated.

Sera leans against Aster's shoulder. "No reason to be jealous. You were gawking at the princess just as much as we were," she teases him with a smirk.

I smile and watch the two of them argue like children. Sera mentioned she's only been here a week, yet the two of them act like they've known each other for a long time. An unfamiliar warmth blooms in my chest. Being around others feels strangely comforting.

"Nadeline?" I hear a too-familiar female voice behind me. I turn around, seeing my sister for the first time in years. She looks just like our mother, her brown hair short and styled just like my mother used to in the early days. She was the exact copy of her.

A look of terror plastered on her face as she grabs me by the arm and pulls me away from Sera and Aster.

"What are you doing here? How...?" she panics. I stare at her. Her fingers tightening around my arm, and I can feel her nails digging into my skin.

"I thought you knew..." I whisper.

"Knew what?" she asks in impatiently.

"I thought mom told you. Two days ago, the king delivered a message saying he knew about my existence and that by his order, I needed to attend the Academy just like you," I explain, gritting my teeth from how strong and painful her grip on me was.

She releases my arm and puts her hand on her forehead, breathing loudly. "This can't be happening. Nadeline, you shouldn't have come," she says and then looks behind me with wide eyes.

"You need to go home," she whispers sternly and walks away, leaving me standing there. I turn around, seeing my sister walk toward the princess, who's talking to three other girls. Seeing the princess, my eyes automatically search for the prince and I find him sitting far away from the crowd, resting his heel over his thigh and drinking from a glass. I put a hand on my forehead feeling my surroundings sway a bit.

Tearing my gaze away from where the prince is sitting, I feel a light stinging sensation on my arm. She dug her fingers into my arm, I hope I'm not bleeding. I lift the sleeve of my hoodie and see a bit of blood from where her nails dug in. I gasp, quickly pulling it down and putting my hand over it to prevent the smell from leaking.

I look behind me to the crowd, making sure no one smells the blood coming from me. Instead, I lock eyes with the royal prince. He is staring directly at me, his gaze intense, making my body warmer. I break eye contact, remembering Aster's words.

I don't look back and sprint away from the party. He was staring at me right after I lifted my sleeve. It's over. She was right; I shouldn't have come.