Camilla sat on her usual table at the campus café assessing her latest exam results. She always excelled academically and was still doing so in almost all her subjects. She scrolled down the page on her laptop, pass after pass. Top marks. Apart from one, Practical implementation of Programming, also known as PIP. Despite her superior theoretical knowledge that helped her develop code without runes, she still had sub-par practical skills. She would tire too easily to fully execute her skills. However, Camilla couldn't fail, her scholarship and funding depended on her showing exemplary results. She scowled and scrunched her forehead as she worried about her future.
Until a cold touch pressed against her brows startling her. 'Easy on yourself, or perhaps I should worry more on your device, if expressions could kill.' Cassius spoke as he pressed Camilla's favourite iced coffee against her.
After the initial startle, Camilla smiled at his presence. 'You say that as if you're not more dangerous than me.' She teased back although her soft expression pleased to see him betrayed her.
Cassius handed Camilla the coffee while smiling mischievously. 'You say that as though you're not fond of my danger.' He said as he sat down on a chair beside her and on inched closer. His arm naturally embraced her chair from behind, Cassius always knew how to close the distance between them effortlessly.
Camilla's shy smile invaded her expression as she lost the battle of flirtatious wit, and she would often do so.
'Seems as though you're on track to fail your practical training.' Cassius pointed to her laptop screen, changing the subject.
Camilla sighed, 'I know, I'm really struggling I just keep losing energy before I can even try out any of my strong programs.' She slumped down in defeat on the table.
Cassius looked at Camilla with pitiful eyes, once he gave into his feelings he couldn't stand seeing her upset. 'Am I correct in assuming you have always hid behind this laptop?' His hand brushed her hair in consolation.
Camilla's eyes peaked at him from the side. 'Is it that obvious?' An embarrassed smile crept up on her.
'And I'm to assume you don't regularly exercise.' He laid his head next to hers on the table. 'Well apart from our own private physical activities.' Cassius teased her with a snap of his fangs.
Camilla shot up in her seat as the heat flushed her cheeks, she looked around wondering if anyone saw Cassius' blatant reveal. He too sat up slowly in response. 'It may be more standard for humans to control aura- sorry code, however your methods are still quite primitive at times.' Cassius grabbed her hand and let his finger slowly caress her wrist. 'In your case, you're theoretical programme is so advanced that your body simply cannot keep up.' His finger continued to stroke her skin elegantly, left and right. 'A simple fix would be to exercise more to bring your physical up to your mental level.' He smiled softly at Camilla's puzzled face.
'You're telling I've been working so hard for all these years, when all I needed was to work out more?' Camilla couldn't believe that her issue was so easily solved with simply going to the gym.
'I told you, primitive.' Cassius laughed. 'Although you'll have to work very hard to reach the advanced level your code is currently on.' He leaned in closer to Camilla's ear, his lips brushed her lobe as they barely parted. She could feel her body melt under his slight touch, she tensed her legs as a tingle travelled through her.
Cassius spoke softly. 'So why didn't you train harder?' Camilla froze momentarily. Her head spun to check she heard correctly. 'If you trained more maybe Eamon wouldn't have died.' Camilla began to tremble under the realisation. His voice turned cold. The air around them felt suffocating. 'Wake up Camilla you don't get to rest while others die.'
Camilla's eyelids shot open in shock, greeting the cold hard white ceiling of the VSF research facility. She looked down to find Kai holding her hand tightly, his face looks relieved to see her awake.
'Hey Cami, just another case of mana fatigue.' Kai forced a smile, although the fear and worry at how helpless they currently were was clear on his face. 'He's already taken your blood when you were asleep, you've been asleep for a while.'
Camilla didn't speak, she was still trying to orient herself to everything that was happening, and what was going to happen next. She felt Kai tighten his grip on her hand. 'You were calling his name, Cassius.' He didn't meet her eyes, he couldn't.
'Cassius! Yes of course, if he finds me-' Camilla started to speak as though she found a ray of hope.
'What the hell! Camilla WAKE UP! This is the VSF and Vampires, what is a ordinary student gonna do! Why would you even involve another civilian. Stop being naive and realise the situation we are in!' Kai snapped. Perhaps because he had always come to her rescue in the past and solved her problems that he felt Camilla too naive to understand the gravity of the situation. 'Wait I'm sorry, I lost it but-'
Camilla cut him off this time, she found his assumption about her this time simply annoying. 'No Kai you listen, Cassius is a vampire and like a really old one so we can count on him!.' She hissed back, thinking this would shut him up but she was gravely mistaken.
'You Knew?' Kai whispered, he took a second to piece the puzzles together. 'CAMILLA! Are you crazy? You've been dating a VAMPIRE? What the hell? Did you not see how dangerous they are? It's their nature! They can't help but kill and feed...' He let go of her and almost in disgust or perhaps it was on reflex. 'No, no, no, nonononono. If you knew... Camilla, did you give him your blood?' Kai held his head in his palms as he backed away from his childhood friend, the shock hurt him. He had grown up always hating vampires from the moment he was orphaned by one, he had been trained to hunt them down, and now his lifelong crush was willingly giving herself to one of them.
'Kai!' A voice called from behind them. 'And Camilla?' Hina walked up to Kai, she was confused as to why Camilla was here but thought maybe it had something to do with her being with a vampire.
Kai met Hina halfway, 'what are you doing here?' He grabbed both her shoulders worried that she was now also in danger.
'I dunno, the agents that were watching over me said they needed me back here.' Hina began explaining.
Camilla stared at the pair, she found their voices slowly begin to fade out, even their figures looked blurred. She was losing herself in thought, thinking why? Why did this happen? Was it really because of Cassius like Kai suggested? All she ever wanted in life was her own family. When she met Kai, and the Maya, she thought she was finally happy. Yet she still wanted more. She wanted a love story of her own too. Meeting Cassius uncovered an infinite amount of emotions that she never knew she had, to the point that him being a vampire didn't put her off. Was she being too greedy? Is that why this all happened? Her wondering mind was brought back to her stark reality when the voice on the intercom spoke.
'I think that's enough from my test subjects.' Zeleti's voice resonated through the laboratory. 'Well, I should give you some grace considering your help. I have finally completed my lifelong ambition.'