It was 11 PM and Sunshine was still nowhere to be found.

After the alarm, Parker had locked Amanda safely in an empty Hathaway dorm room, warning her not to leave without supervision under any circumstances.

The room itself was more luxurious than she imagined any boarding school student would ever need. The large four poster bed had oak spindles that came up like fangs out of the crimson satin sheets, and an empty stone fireplace took up most of the opposite wall.

Do vampires even use beds? she wondered.

Still, the luxury couldn’t make up for the fact that Amanda was locked in a vampire school with a bloodthirsty teen on the loose. She had spent the last few hours jumping at small noises and trying to connect to the wifi without success. Apparently, the password wasn’t “vampires123”.

Now, looking at the time, Amanda was certain sleep would be impossible. Memories from the night before kept running through her head, each making her feel guiltier than the last. She really shouldn’t have gone to that party. And was whoever screamed okay?

Suddenly, a soft knock came from the door.

Amanda jerked up from where she had been lounging on the bed. It seemed too late for Parker to be checking on her. But then who was outside her door?

Blood pounding, Amanda yanked an iron poker from the fireplace and inched over to the door. It was no wooden stake, but it was all she had.

“Hello?” she called shakily.

“It’s Vincent,” came a smooth voice through the door. “I figured you would be bored so I thought I’d stop by.”

Amanda let out a sigh of relief before she quickly remembered Parker’s warning about young vampires near the blue moon. She clutched the poker tighter.

“Are – are you going to eat me?”

A low chuckle. “No, I don’t think so.”

He certainly didn’t sound feral. Amanda slid the lock out of its holder and opened the door a crack.

“Are you sure?”

“Promise.” Vincent held out a long, thin pinkie, which Amanda took hesitantly in hers. His skin was cool and dry and made her realize how sweaty her palms were. Embarrassed, she stepped back and pulled the door open all the way.

“Jesus, were you planning on stabbing me?” Vincent’s hooded eyes widened at the sight of Amanda grasping onto her fire poker.

“Um…that was kind of the plan.”

“I hate to tell you, but that toothpick wouldn’t do much harm.”

Amanda rolled the heavy rod over in her hands. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, vampires have pretty tough skin. And we heal incredibly quickly.”

“Ugh,” Amanda sighed. “So no wooden stakes either?”

“Total myth.” Vincent smiled, exposing a row of impossibly symmetrical white teeth. His canines, while a little long, were nowhere close to what they could have become in vampire mode, Amanda noted.

“So what else is a myth?” she asked. “Garlic? Mirrors? Sunlight?”

“Whoa, slow down. Are you going to invite me in?” Vincent had yet to enter the room.

Amanda’s jaw dropped. “So that’s real?”

“Let’s see.” Vincent raised his eyebrows and made a big show of raising his foot over the entryway. “Nope. Myth.” He laughed at her irked expression. “Sorry, that was too easy.”

“Uh huh,” Amanda nodded, returning the poker to the fireplace. She heard Vincent lock the door carefully behind him.

“Seriously,” he said, voice lower. “I’m not any danger to you. I mastered my instincts a long time ago.”

“That’s…good.” Amanda gulped as she turned around and saw Vincent reclining on her bed, toned arms resting beneath his head. Out of his Hathaway uniform, he still looked devastating in a pair of baggy grey sweats and a tight black tee.

“For the record, I probably wouldn’t have stabbed you,” she said awkwardly, hovering by the fireplace. “It’s just been a weird day, especially after last night.”

“Yeah,” Vincent furrowed his brows, “I’m still not sure what happened. Some of the other Hathaway students and I searched the area, but we didn’t find anything. I’m glad you made it back okay, though. Even if you did have to leave with that other guy.”

Amanda winced as she thought of Isaac, alone in his house and probably wondering why she hadn’t returned after school. She had half a mind to text him, but without cell service it would be difficult. Plus, she was a little busy…

“He’s just my neighbor,” she said confidently. After all, it wasn’t every day she had a hot vampire in her bedroom. She’d had a few human boyfriends before, but there had always been a strict door open rule in her household. “Anyways, tell me more about vampires. What’s fact and what’s fiction?”

Vincent looked up, thoughtful, while counting off on his fingers. “Garlic? No. Crosses? No. Same with holy water. Mirrors? Surprisingly, yes. We have no reflection. Sunlight? We are a little sensitive to the sun, but it’s nothing a bit of sunscreen can’t fix. And we definitely don’t sparkle.”

Amanda perched herself on the arm of a high-backed velvet chair. “What about sleep? Do you even use these beds?”

“We sleep much less than you,” Vincent explained. “We don’t really need to unless we’re recovering from using too much energy after night classes.” He paused, rubbing his hand against the satin bedspread. “And you know…they’re not always used for sleeping.”

Heat flooded Amanda’s cheeks. She deflected, unable to meet Vincent’s smoldering gaze. “So what’s up with the whole blue moon thing? How does that work?”

“No one really understands it.” Vincent’s expression shifted. “I guess some young vampires can get crazy for human blood during the blue moon, and it turns them into total monsters.”

“You don’t feel it at all?” Amanda asked hesitantly.

“Well, we all feel this…tug, at first. It’s something that happens every night, not just on a blue moon. When the sun goes down, we get this kind of dryness in our throats, like there’s only one thing that can quench it. But it gets much worse on the blue moon, especially if the vampire actually gives in and drinks human blood. Then, it’s almost impossible to get them to turn back. That’s why even a nice girl like Sunshine can be a monster if she feeds.”

Amanda must have looked worried, because Vincent quickly added, “I don’t feel any of those urges anymore. I did when I was younger, but I’ve grown out of it completely. Like I said, you’re totally safe with me.”

“I believe you,” she murmured. And she did; something in the way he seemed so relaxed on her bed, the way his mouth upturned in a lazy grin, told her she had nothing to fear from Vincent. “By the way,” she remembered, “Have you heard of some ‘Marco Capreanu incident’?”

Vincent instantly stiffened, sitting up with his hair partially obscuring his eyes.

“Where did you hear that name?”

“Tariq mentioned it earlier, during the lockdown alarm.” Amanda watched Vincent curiously. “Why?”

“Vincent Capreanu,” Vincent let out a breath. “That’s my full name. Marco was my brother.”

“Was?”

“When he was a senior he disappeared from Hathaway. I was only a kid at the time. The administration never found him.”

Amanda clutched her mouth. “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry Vincent.”

“It is what it is.” Vincent said darkly. “Since then, people have made up all these rumors about him. Saying he lost control, fed on people in the village, and the school tried to cover it up.”

“Did he?”

Vincent looked at her, a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. “I loved my brother. I don’t believe he was capable of doing something like that. But still...he was the only student who ever escaped. I want to find out what really happened. I...I know he’s still out there.”

“I understand,” Amanda whispered. She moved tentatively to the corner of the bed. “I lost my parents a month ago and I would give anything to bring them back.”

“Sydney told me about that.” Vincent’s voice was husky. “What were they like?”

“They were both geologists at the University of Minnesota, and they loved everything outdoors. We were always travelling, hiking, exploring. My mom was the one who got me into painting. I’ve never been good at traditional school, because I get distracted too easily, but my mom taught me to use my imagination for creativity. She helped me apply to Minnesota Art and Design. I miss her and my dad a lot.” Amanda felt her eyes welling up for the second time that day.

“They sound wonderful,” Vincent murmured. “I wish my parents were like that. They both live in Oxford, where I grew up. They never had time for me or Marco. We were both sent to boarding schools as soon as we could walk. I don’t think…” he swallowed heavily. “I don’t think my parents even care he’s gone.”

Amanda reached out a timid hand to cover Vincent’s. He tensed slightly but didn’t move.

“I’m sure your brother would be glad you’re still looking for him,” she said, smiling before drawing away. “Anyways, I know what it feels like to have tough family members. You should see the way Sydney looks at me, like I’m trash just because I’m human.”

“She doesn’t think that.” Vincent grimaced. “I mean sure, Syd’s a little rough around the edges. But she’s got a good heart. I bet she’s just jealous that Headmaster Rogers is paying more attention to you. Her mom left when she was really little and he’s all she has left.”

Amanda bit her lip. She didn’t know about Sydney’s mom. She must have been the ex lover Parker mentioned, the one who turned him into a vampire. Amanda had lost both parents in an accident, but she couldn’t imagine what it would feel like for a parent to willingly walk out. Something was still bugging her, though.

“So you and Sydney...you’re not…”

“Together?” Vincent laughed. “No, never. I mean, she might want to, but we’re just friends. I’ve never wanted to date any of the girls in this school. They’re all a little close-minded.”

Amanda’s heart leapt. Was Vincent implying that he was interested in her?

“Is that why you’re in here with me?” Amanda asked impulsively, immediately regretting her daring.

“Maybe.” Vincent’s upturned lips smirked as he leaned in. “You fascinate me, Amanda. You’re not from this world and it’s...refreshing.”

Amanda’s blood pounded in her ears. “Thanks for coming to hang out with me. I was getting super bored.”

“Anytime.” His lips were so full, so inviting.

“Actually, I kind of have to pee.” Amanda blurted. She stood up from the bed, mentally slapping herself for being so awkward.

“Oh.” Vincent rose. “I’ll take you to the bathroom.”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to.” Amanda’s cheeks were burning.

“No seriously. It’s still the blue moon, and Sunshine could be out there. I’m not letting you go alone.” His expression told her she wouldn’t convince him otherwise.

The dark halls outside the girls’ dorm were deserted. Amanda crept behind Vincent, who assured her he was used to sneaking around after curfew. At the door to the bathroom, Vincent made to go in but Amanda pushed him back.

“You can’t follow me in there!” she hissed. “That’s the girl’s bathroom!”

“So? It could be dangerous.”

“It’s a bathroom. I’ll take my chances.”

Vincent frowned but stepped back, letting her enter alone.

Amanda walked into the first stall, rolling her eyes. She didn’t need Vincent listening to her pee.

She flushed and made her way back to the ancient porcelain sinks, washing her hands carefully in the freezing water. She splashed a little on her face, poking her cheeks in the mirror. She would have to pull herself together if she wanted to -

Creak.

Something moved behind her.

Amanda looked over her shoulder in the reflection, but the bathroom was empty. She started to dry her hands, then immediately froze, remembering what Vincent had said about mirrors.

Heart racing, she spun around and found herself face-to-face with Sunshine, whose mouth was dripping with blood.