Chapter 9: 9. New Students
Odel and her three vampire fiancés, who lived in the city of Arventia, had been registered as new students at Valtrossa University. Baron handled everything. No one knew how he managed to have so many connections in the human world, but it was clear that Baron could accomplish many things related to humans.
They rushed to board the city bus together, searching for seats. Odel quickly claimed a seat by the window and refused to let anyone sit next to her.
"This seat is mine. Go find another one!" Odel snapped as the three men began to argue over who would sit beside her.
Clayton, with his usual arrogant expression, stood firmly in front of Odel.
"I have to sit here. " As the primary fiancé, it's only right that I sit beside you!" he declared, intimidatingly.
Daffin scoffed, flipping his always-perfect hair.
"Primary fiancé? No one decided that for you, my dear Odel. Besides, I'm far more charming than you two, so I'm the one who deserves to sit next to Odel," Daffin retorted.
Emilio, who was usually the quietest, couldn't help but chime in this time.
"Since when were you the most charming, Daffin? I think Odel needs someone calm, not as noisy as you two. For comfort's sake, she should choose me!" Emilio countered.
Odel rolled her eyes, feeling her patience wearing thin.
"I said no! Go find another seat, or I'll throw my shoe at you!" she threatened.
"You're even more beautiful when you're angry," Daffin teased with a smirk, clearly enchanted.
Odel's face darkened further. Her three vampire fiancés completely ignored what she had said, continuing to argue so loudly that the other passengers started to take notice.
An older woman with a shopping bag whispered to her child, "See, dear? " This is what they call a love triangle... or is it a love square?"
The tension finally eased when Daffin casually plopped down into an empty seat in front of Odel.
"Alright, fine. " I'll sit here. " From here, I can admire your face without interruptions," he said smugly.
Clayton, not wanting to be outdone, took the seat directly behind Odel and leaned forward. Without saying much, he simply wore his usual brooding expression.
Emilio let out a long sigh and eventually chose a seat across the aisle.
"I'll sit here, Odel. " If you need me, just call," he said with a small smile.
Odel covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her embarrassment. She hoped the other passengers wouldn't pay them any more attention—at least until they arrived at the campus.
Unfortunately, the situation didn't improve once they got there. The three men immediately drew the attention of nearly everyone. Whispers filled the air as students ogled the trio of handsome men walking in unison, each of them looking like they'd stepped off the cover of a magazine.
"Who are they? " Are they celebrities?" a female student whispered, sneaking out her phone to take a picture.
Odel walked ahead of them, wishing the ground would just swallow her whole. But the three vampires seemed to attract even more attention. Daffin led the way with dramatic flair, Emilio smiled warmly at every passerby, and Clayton strode forward with his usual cold expression that somehow still managed to captivate onlookers.
"Stop it! " Don't overdo it! " We're here to study, not to become the center of attention!" Odel hissed under her breath, trying to get them to behave normally.
Emilio nodded seriously. "Got it. I'll be a model student."
Daffin winked at her. "I'm just being friendly, darling. Isn't that a good thing?"
Clayton shrugged. "I'm not even doing anything," he grumbled.
Odel let out a long sigh. "Good grief... it's only the first day, and I'm already exhausted."
As they walked, whispers continued to trail them. The students seemed both confused and awestruck by the presence of these unusually attractive newcomers.
"Who are they? They're gorgeous!"
Odel glared sharply at a girl holding her phone, making her lower it in a hurry. But before Odel could say anything, Emilio waved at the girl with a bright smile, making the situation even worse.
"Stop it! " You're making me want to crawl into a hole!" Odel growled, quickening her pace toward the main hall. But her three fiancés calmly kept up, unfazed by the commotion they were causing.
When they finally arrived at the registration hall, the atmosphere was even more chaotic. Lines of new students crowded the space, and the staff bustled about, directing people to their assigned stations. Odel quickly grabbed her form and tried to focus on filling it out.
As usual, the three vampires were anything but helpful.
"This form... what does it mean?" Daffin asked, holding the paper as though it were an alien artifact.
Odel covered her face with her hands, trying to hide her growing frustration. "It's just a form. " Fill it out," she said without looking up.
"Why is there a column for parents' names? " What am I supposed to write there? " Baron?" Emilio joked, stifling a laugh, recalling that all three Doyle descendants were orphans.
Odel groaned, both irritated and embarrassed.
"Did you all forget your form? " Baron gave us a cheat sheet, remember?" Clayton chimed in, already filling out his form.
"Good grief, I didn't even read it. " So that's what it was for," Daffin muttered.
"Same here!" Emilio scratched his head.
"Just copy mine. " Our family details are probably identical anyway," Clayton offered.
"That makes me the oldest brother," Daffin announced.
"And you're the youngest," Emilio teased, pointing at Clayton, the youngest of the trio.
"But I'm the strongest, so I'm the eldest!" Clayton countered.
"Doesn't matter. " You'll always be the youngest," Emilio said smugly.
"Forget it. Don't copy mine. " Just make Baron your parent," Clayton grumbled.
"Don't be stingy," Emilio whined, trying to peek at Clayton's form.
"Can't you all just focus and finish before we miss the orientation session?" Odel snapped.
Daffin examined the form with exaggerated seriousness. "I don't get why there's a blood type section. Do humans really care about this?"
Like Daffin, Clayton and Emilio found the question absurd.
Not wanting to waste more time, Odel grabbed their forms and quickly scribbled in the details. "There, all done!"
"Wow, you're amazing, darling!" Daffin exclaimed cheerfully.
Once the forms were submitted, Odel hurriedly dragged her three fiancés to the orientation session. Some new students deliberately approached them, extending their hands to introduce themselves.
Initially, the vampires looked uncomfortable, but gradually they warmed up to the attention. Odel noticed their friendliness had a different undertone. The scent of humans was intensifying their vampire instincts, turning their expressions predatory.
"You three, come with me now!" Odel hissed, tugging at Daffin's sleeve.
"Why the rush, darling?" Daffin whispered playfully.
"I'm leaving," Odel said firmly, walking away from the gathering crowd.
"Hey, wait!"
With no other choice, her three fiancés followed her.
"What's the problem?" Clayton asked.
"Didn't you say we should adapt and socialize? " Isn't that what we're doing?" Emilio asked innocently.
"Don't lie to me. " You were tempted by the scent of humans, weren't you?" Odel accused.
"Of course. Besides, I'm starving. " I didn't even bring any blood juice," Clayton muttered under his breath.
"Starving? Seriously? " We just got here, and you're already hungry?!" Odel groaned.
"You wouldn't want us to lose control, would you? " If there's no fresh blood, we'd better find something to stave off the hunger," Daffin suggested.
"Fine! " Let's go to the cafeteria. " Get something—anything—but don't bite anyone!" Odel whispered sharply.
The vampires exchanged glances, reluctantly agreeing. Baron had made it clear before they entered the human world: anyone caught biting a human would be disqualified.
They made their way to the cafeteria, where the atmosphere shifted immediately. Students stopped eating to gawk at the handsome trio, who followed Odel into the room, looking like they belonged to a high-fashion campaign.
"You sit here," Odel ordered, pointing to an empty corner table. "I'll get the food."
But Daffin ignored her, walking up to the food counter and eyeing the menu with raised eyebrows. "What is this? Spaghetti? Burgers? Salad? None of this looks like food."
"Be quiet and pick something," Odel hissed, trying not to draw more attention.
Meanwhile, Emilio approached a student eating fries. "Is that good? Can I try?" Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed one and popped it into his mouth. His expression turned blank. "What is this? This doesn't even taste... decent."
Clayton, already seated, stared out the window, trying to ignore the overwhelming scent of human food. "I don't want food. " I want blood," he muttered.
"This is driving me insane!" Odel gritted through her teeth, struggling to keep her cool.