Vampire Secret Agreement

That afternoon, no vampires had emerged from their rooms. Odel peeked out, feeling confident that all her vampire fiancés were fast asleep. The small apartment they shared wasn't very spacious, and Odel had deliberately chosen a unit on the first floor so she could escape easily if the opportunity arose.

"This seems like the perfect time," she muttered with a sly grin.

Odel opened the door to her room, slung a backpack filled with meager supplies over her shoulder, and crept out quietly. There were no terrifying zombie-like humans, just regular people going about their daily activities.

"Perfect! " Time to escape!" Odel whispered before bolting out of the apartment as fast as she could.

She hurried toward the bus stop, quickly boarded a bus, and exhaled a sigh of relief as it began moving. Panting slightly, she found a seat by the window and kept a close watch on her surroundings. There were no vampires in sight. Finally, Odel relaxed and let out a deeper breath.

But her sense of security was short-lived. As the bus turned a corner, Odel noticed something suspicious. A dark shadow flitted by, keeping pace with the bus.

"What was that? Smoke? " Is there a fire somewhere?" she muttered, uneasy.

She glanced out at the roadside but saw nothing that could have caused the shadow. Still, she was certain she'd caught a glimpse of something moving unnaturally fast.

Her unease grew. "Was that a vampire shadow?" she whispered, swallowing hard.

Slouching low in her seat, she scanned the surrounding area. The thought of her three vampire fiancés suddenly appearing on the city bus sent shivers down her spine. Yet, everything seemed normal. There were only a few workers and students sitting calmly in their seats.

"Maybe it's just my imagination," she said, trying to reassure herself.

The more she tried to calm down, the faster her heart raced.

After a few minutes, the bus stopped at a station quite far from their apartment. Odel got off, walking briskly before breaking into a run toward a quieter street. She hoped to put even more distance between herself and the vampires. But the unsettling feeling that someone—or something—was following her wouldn't leave her mind.

As she entered a small park to hide, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Whirling around, she found no one there.

"No one? " I definitely heard footsteps!" she said to herself, confused.

She kept walking, but the sound of footsteps only grew louder, matching her pace. Faster and faster.

Certain she was being followed, Odel turned around again—only to see her three fiancés standing there, looking far from surprised. Their expressions were more… smug.

"So, you thought you could escape just like that?" Clayton asked, stepping forward with a relaxed smile.

Odel froze, panic washing over her.

"Why can't you just let me go for a little while?" she asked, trying to sound composed.

Emilio raised an eyebrow. "So you were actually running away from us?"

"Who is running away? " I was just going out to get some fresh air," Odel retorted.

"Fresh air? In the middle of the city, during the busiest time of day? " Are you sure?" Clayton teased, his smile sharp.

"How could you leave me, Odel? So cruel!" Daffin chimed in, sighing dramatically with an exaggerated pout.

Clayton moved swiftly, almost floating until he was right in front of her. Grabbing her arm, he stared into her eyes.

"So this was your plan? " To drag us into a human neighborhood just so you could escape?" he accused, his tone triumphant. "I'll report this to Baron, and there will be no more nonsense like this!"

Odel was stunned, momentarily speechless, but then she quickly tried to explain.

"No! Who said I was escaping? Who told you to sleep during the day? I needed to go shopping for food! That's all! I need food, and none of you even understand that!"

"Oh, my poor darling, you must be starving," Daffin said with mock sympathy.

"We'll go hunting," Emilio suggested.

"You idiot! This is the human world. There are plenty of food stalls around here. " We just need money to buy something," Clayton scoffed, digging into his pocket.

Everyone stared at him as he raised an empty hand.

"I don't have any money," he admitted with a sheepish grin.

"Neither do I," Daffin added.

"Same here," Emilio shrugged.

All three turned to Odel, who crossed her arms and scowled.

"I knew it! " You're all useless. " You want to marry a human, but you don't even understand basic human needs! " Pathetic!" she huffed, turning away in frustration.

Odel marched off, and the three vampires trailed after her.

"Where are you going?" Daffin asked.

"Yeah, take us with you!" Emilio chimed in.

"To get food, obviously," Odel snapped.

"Let's go home; I'll cook for you," Clayton offered.

Odel stopped, narrowing her eyes at him.

"You? Cook? " Are you sure you can?" she asked skeptically.

"I've helped the servants chop chicken before. " Perfect cubes," Clayton said proudly.

"And then?"

"Isn't cooking simple? " Add spices, put it over a fire, and it's done," Clayton replied, full of confidence.

Odel stared at him, dumbfounded. It wasn't clear if he was trying to impress her or was just plain clueless.

"Then?" she pressed, curiosity piqued.

"Well, you have to make sure the chicken is fully dead! " Humans won't eat live chickens, right?" he declared, as if he'd shared groundbreaking wisdom.

Odel facepalmed, glancing at Emillio and Daffin, who looked equally impressed by Clayton's statement.

"Oh, I'm going to lose my mind," she muttered, clutching her head.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Daffin asked.

"Just shut up! " All of you, shut up! " I'm going to get food, and I don't want any of you bothering me while I eat!" Odel snapped.

She stormed off toward a nearby food stall, ordering one portion of lunch and sitting in the corner. The three vampires sat at the next table, watching her closely.

"Wait, did she only order one portion?" Emilio whispered.

"I can't believe someone as sweet as her is so stingy," Daffin remarked.

"Why are you expecting so much from her? " You're the fools here," Clayton scoffed.

"Quiet, all of you! " I can hear everything! " You don't have money; my money's only enough for one meal! " Did you think an orphan girl would be rich? Odel snapped, glaring at them.

Unable to escape their company, Odel was left fuming, her fear of the vampires replaced by sheer annoyance.

Seeing Odel angry, Clayton stood up from his seat.

"I'm heading back," he said.

"Aren't you waiting for Odel?" Emilio asked.

"As long as she doesn't run away, I don't care," he replied.

Odel glanced at Clayton, their eyes met, and the man began to issue a warning.

"Don't ever dare to run away! " Wherever you go, I can find you!" he threatened.

Odel didn't respond; she was only interested in the food that had just arrived and began eating it immediately. Clayton walked away, while Emilio and Daffin decided to wait for Odel until she finished her meal.

As the evening turned into night, after escaping and returning to her apartment, Odel chose to isolate herself in her room. She claimed she wanted to rest and prepare for tomorrow's classes.

Meanwhile, the vampire men became active, always finding something to do since they had never lived among humans before. Emilio, for instance, started playing with the window, opening it wide.

"What are you doing? " You're standing by the window but not flying anywhere," Daffin asked, looking at him confused.

"I'm just getting some fresh air," Emilio replied casually.

"Ridiculous! Are you following Odel's habits? Did you forget you're a vampire? " Since when do you need fresh air?" Daffin asked, baffled by his friend's absurdity.

Clayton, who happened to step out of his room, overheard everything. With a faint snort, he began to comment.

"I'm sure he's just trying to act human. Even though it looks foolish."

"And you look smart, Clayton? " You claim to know how to cook, but all you do is talk!" Emilio retorted with a mocking expression.

"Are you mocking me? " How dare you!" Clayton snapped, his eyes glowing.

"So what if I am? " Weren't you the one who started it?" Emilio's eyes glowed as well.

"Are you two planning to fight? In human territory? " Huh!" Daffin said, laughing at them both.

Emilio looked away, choosing to close the window and watch TV. Meanwhile, Clayton returned to the storage room to drink some blood juice.

"How many times have you drunk today, Clayton? " You need to leave some for me and Emilio!" Daffin shouted.

Clayton didn't respond, instead closing the storage room door and staying inside.

"See that! " He's so selfish," Emilio grumbled.

"But I understand why he's like that. " Among us, he's the most ferocious," Daffin replied.

"Yeah, let's hope he doesn't secretly bite Odel!" Emilio added.

"That's what worries me. " When his blood cravings can't be satisfied, he might go wild!" Daffin whispered.

Night turned into morning. The sun had just risen when Odel, with half-closed eyes, dragged herself out of bed. Her alarm kept ringing non-stop, turning the peaceful morning into a noisy one.

"Oh God, I have to deal with vampires and college," she groaned, stumbling toward the bathroom.

At the end of the hallway, a minor commotion was already brewing. Emilio stood in front of a small mirror in the bathroom, glaring at his reflection—or rather, the lack thereof—with an annoyed expression.

"This is ridiculous," Emilio muttered, tilting his head left and right. "How am I supposed to look human if I can't even see myself?"

Odel peeked around the corner and rolled her eyes. "Just comb your hair and pray it looks good."

"Easy for you to say—you have a reflection. " I'm not walking around with messy hair," Emilio complained.

Daffin, leaning against the doorway, chuckled. "Relax, Emilio. If your hair's messy, it might make you look even cooler. Humans love that 'just woke up' style."

Emilio seemed resigned, but given his appearance, he still looked ridiculously handsome—much more so than most humans. None of Odel's three fiancés could be called unattractive. All of them were good-looking and charismatic. The only downside is none of them were human.

Hearing the commotion near the bathroom, Clayton looked unfazed. He sat on the living room sofa, organizing his bag at a leisurely pace. He took ages to do it, possibly not even understanding the purpose of half the items inside.

All their college preparations had been handled by Baron. The eccentric vampire whom Odel blamed for her misery had even enrolled all four of them at a well-known university in Velderine City.

Not wanting to hear the chaos, Odel quickly got ready. She showered, got dressed in her room, and soon emerged with her backpack slung over her shoulder. She was surprised to see that, while she was ready, her three vampire fiancés were still not done. Daffin and Emilio were still fussing over their appearance and spraying cologne, while Clayton lay sprawled on the sofa, looking sleepy.

"Oh my God! Why are you still fooling around? " We're going to be late!" Odel shouted, glaring at them.

"Late? Impossible. " I can sneak into class easily," Emilio replied.

"No! You're not allowed to use your powers on campus! " Do your best not to let anyone know you're vampires!" Odel said firmly.

Hearing Odel's scolding, Clayton got up, slung his bag over his shoulder without much fuss, and headed for the door.

"Let's fly," he said.

"Fly, my foot! " We're taking the bus! " We still have 30 minutes to get there," Odel snapped.

Odel dashed out, and the three vampires quickly followed, running toward the bus stop. One beautiful woman and three handsome men running together—silly college days awaited them.