Camilla and Kai were catching up at the campus café under the pretence of studying. Camilla had her laptop on the table accompanied by a couple of notebooks, and a latte for motivation. Whereas Kai simply brought himself.
'Do you even need to study? I thought with your apprenticeship at VSF gives you a free pass?' Camilla teased Kai as she stared at her full calendar of revision classes and exams.
'Haha don't be a hater. I still need to pass the practical test.' Kai sat across from Camilla at her usual table. He was quite handsome by human terms; his chocolate-coloured hair was always cut short giving him a refreshing feel.
People couldn't help but like and rely on Kai, he held a dependable reputation people turned to when in need. Paired with a bold smile that motivated anyone on his side, making him quite popular among his female peers. However, he drew the line clearly making it very clear to others how he felt about Camilla was different.
'Still, must be nice knowing what you want to do.' Camilla sighed, as a freshman, it was very common to wonder about such woes. Usually, she would dwell on such matters more however, with the recent discovery of vampires and her entanglement with Cassius, her mind was preoccupied to say the least.
Kai on the other hand was older than her and was graduating soon, although he was simply an apprentice he had been working with the VSF for some time now. Making him privy to more than the usual public knowledge.
'Haha! Yeah, I'm passionate about what I want to do that's for sure, you'd be surprised at what's out there in the world Cami.' Kai joked hinting at topics he knew he couldn't reveal. While Camilla looked away knowing full well what he meant.
The irony filled the air.
Kai was an ideal candidate for the VSF, he had good control over his aura making him a versatile agent. His strength was quite rare among scouted agents, in fact one of the conditions for participating in the university exhibition with the first years, was to wear a power restriction bangle.
'How are you though? I've heard some rumours.' Kai questioned her carefully, Camilla avoided eye contact as she sipped her latte. 'Listen Cami, I don't want you to be awkward around me. If it's what you want, and you're happy. I'm cool! You know you can come to me for anything.' He forcefully caught her gaze, 'and I mean anything, Cami!'
Kai had always looked out for Camilla; it was second nature to him by now. It was because of this that Camilla could never accept his feelings, she always felt that he liked her out of duty rather than passion.
'Thanks Kai, and I know.' She smiled, knowing full well when it came to anything related to her knew vampire lover, she could not do anything of the sort. Or perhaps she could, as a last resort if Cassius was indeed dangerous. She questioned her train of thought, was this a possibility? She wasn't naïve enough not to think so, simply too interested to let her fear hold her back.
*Bzzz bzzz*
Kai's phones vibrated on the table between the two now empty coffees, Hina's name lit up the screen.
[Kai! Listen, this is gonna sound weird, but can you just come please?]
'Hina, what's up you don't sound normal?' Kai could sense Hina's panic through the phone, but it wasn't the first time she asked him to come to her aid, it was rarely ever as urgent as she made it sound.
[Please, it's not like always, just come and I'll explain.]
'Hina. Breath. Come where? Ha and you know regardless I'll come.' He tried to ease her worry with a joke, but this was true. Kai's nature made it hard to say no to anyone who needed help, even if he knew he was being taken advantage of.
[Oh, right haha, I'll text you the address.] Hina laughed nervously through the phone.
Kai hung up and started packing his belongings, 'sorry something seems off with Hina, lets catch up again soon.'
'Mhmm sure.' Camilla smiled, while internally cheering for Hina. Hopefully this time Kai would fall for Hina's advance, she thought. Maybe then she'd feel less guilty towards him.
________________________________________________________________________________
Kai chained his bike in front of Hina's Luxury apartment complex, he knew she came from money but coming face to face with her building made him realise she was indeed on a different level to him.
Hina never acted differently towards him or others, most people saw her as a spoilt princess because of her cheeky demeanour rather than a stuck-up rich girl.
Kai pressed the last button, 20, on the intercom and scanned the porcelain white tower that loomed over him. He counted exactly 21 floors meaning each apartment had its own entire floor, and Hina's residence had two including the penthouse.
He couldn't help but imagine how differently Hina grew up compared to him in the orphanage.
*Ding*
[Come on up quick!] Hina's voice spoke through the intercom system and brought Kai back to reality.
The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, the elevator was clear exposing the splendid artificial park outside.
Hina greeted Kai at the lift as it opened directly into the home, she wore casual shorts that barely covered her behind and an overside cropped hoodie exposing her pierced belly button. Simply because it was an emergency didn't mean she couldn't make use of the situation, after all her long-time crush was blessing her empty apartment.
Kai was a man after all, he couldn't help but sneak a glance at her body before focusing on her tense face.
'Come inside, quickly, did anyone follow you?' Hina pulled him in by the arm as she looked through the floor to ceiling glass windows, not like she would have been able to see anything from the 20th floor anyway.
'Hina, what is going on, you sound paranoid?' Kai was starting to worry after seeing her keep up the act in person.
'I need you help, I'm not even sure if you can, but I just didn't know who else to talk to.' Hina began to ramble without really saying anything. 'I don't even know what I saw, but it was definitely weird. It happened so fast, and then somehow, I found myself at home and…'
Kai grabbed her by both arms, 'Hina. Breathe. And sit.' Four words were all he said. That was enough for Hina though. She sat down and waited, watching him make himself at home around her kitchen as he made a cup of tea.
Hina watched him slowly prepare the mug after opening multiple cabinets, tea, one spoon of sugar, and hot water.
He stirred the brew slowly.
She focused on him and every detail, she wanted to remember everything. How he stood in her kitchen in his white t-shirt. Hina found herself calm down as her mind centred around Kai.
He handed her the warm tea, holding her hands over the cup as she took hold of it. This was one of the many reasons she fell for Kai, his gestures showed genuine care for her despite how eccentric everyone else found her. The only problem was that he cared about everyone the same.
Hina began to explain the day's events slowly, chronologically, answering all of Kai's questions as they came.
His face was serious, he was quiet, unlike his usual self.
'Firstly Hina, what you saw was most likely something called a werewolf.' The shock on Hina's face after hearing those words werewolf leave Kai's mouth was evident.
'You mean like the ones in movies?' She questioned, still not quite sure what to believe.
'Haha, yes basically, they are loosely based on the real thing.' He chuckled regaining his usual friendly self for a brief second.
'Secondly, what happened to you is something called being charmed, and it is done by a vampire.' Kai continued in a calm tone.
'What the hell? KAI! You mean the shit we learnt in elementary school was real!?' She stood up in shock.
This was the usual reaction of people who didn't study Programming that learnt the myths being told to them about vampires were indeed real. Hina was a normal student she didn't know how to code nor was she in anyway involved with anything supernatural.
'Sit Hina.' Kai instructed and Hina diligently listened. Despite the situation, she enjoyed following his lead. It was because of this she sometimes acted out more hoping to gain more of his attention.
'Thirdly, now this is the most important bit, so listen calmly Hina. The fact you can fully remember with detail despite being charmed means that you are not entirely human.'