Abigail grumbled; she walked silently over to the school's back entrance. The favor that Roman Roble had asked was that she and Camellia pick up a secret package. Why he picked them in the first place was weird. Well, maybe it was due to the way their argument ended yesterday. Abigail sighed and looked ahead and saw Camellia standing near the back entrance, her long silver hair swaying in the wind, and her dark leather outfit made more mysterious and badass. 

Abigail felt like she would look like a twelve-year-old standing next to Camellia. Maybe it was because of Camellia’s overflowing confidence. She wasn’t sure what exactly made her feel that way. But whatever the feeling was, Abigail took a deep breath and tucked that away. She walked toward her, calming her nerves; Abigail was quite the introvert. So this whole secret package had her nerve fried. 

“Hi.” Abigail shouted. Camellia looked behind her and saw Abigail walking toward her. She sighs but quickly gives Abigail a small nod back. After Abigail catches up to her, Camellia is quick to start leaving through the back gate of the school. “He-hey, wait up.” Abigail pants; Abigail quickly catches back up to Camellia’s long strides. “Man, you walk fast.” Abigail tells her, only to be met by awkward silence. 

“What’s the rush? Know of some good cafes that sell killer desserts that are on sale at the moment?” Abigail asked in a cheery voice. Camellia stops for a second, taking in what Abigail asked her. Camellia gives Abigail a small ghost smile; “That was really specific. But I guess I could take you to one.” Camellia replied cautiously. “Really! You Promise?” Abigail asked excitedly. “Yeah.” Camellia smiles. 

Abigail smiles happily at this. “My name is Abigail Foxwood, but you can call me Abbie.” Abigail tells Camellia happily. Abigail’s friendly demeanor somewhat takes Camellia aback; “Umm, well, it’s nice to meet you, Abbie. I’m Camellia.” Camellia replies back politely. 

It quickly got awkward again. They were walking downstairs to get to the valley and the village. Abigail wasn’t sure what to ask Camellia, nor did she know how to get over the silence. The breeze was nice, making a lovely day for an outing and brightening Abigail’s mood. “ So what made you enter the school with guns blazing?” Camellia asked. “Oh… Yeah, I said a word that got me in trouble. And technically, I was defending myself.” Abigail replied softly. She looked at the ground, guilty for how she entered the school. 

“Well, I was going to say I wasn’t judging, but that’s really cool you fight against so many.” Camellia said, hoping that would lighten Abigail’s mood. Abigail blushed, “Thanks. I didn’t do it all on my own. I got some help with the last one.” 

Camellia gave her a soft smile. “I heard, also heard, that the night students don’t like you.” Camellia told her. “I wouldn’t blame them.” Abigail said ruefully. “Hey, don’t be too down about it.” Camellia encouraged. 

“So, how do you know all about that?” Abigail asked.

“Well, me and Sophia are what keep both schools in line. Our job is to ensure that day students never discover what the night students are. And we keep the night students from harming the day students.” Camellia explained. 

“That’s cool. Sounds like something out of a book.” Abigail jokes. “Though it’s not.” Abigail said quickly to show she wasn’t disrespecting Camellia. 

“Though, it’s not that bad.” Camellia said shyly to Abigail. “Ooo, does someone have a crush?” Abigail teased. Camellia blushed. “Yeah, do you think a vampire and a human could be together?” Camellia asked shyly. 

“Honestly, yeah, I think so. Or so I’ve been told.” Abigail replied encouragingly. 

“Really, by whom? Well, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” Camellia said curiously. 

“Nah, you're fine. I guess it was a friend of mine. He never told me, but it didn’t take me long to figure out he was a vampire. In fact, he was looking for people with an old bloodline to prove his ideology.” Abigail explained.  

Camellia thought about this, and she was curious to know more. Abigail could feel her thinking, so she continued to explain. “He said that back in the days of the medieval, or dark ages, there lived a group of people who could talk to the spirits and see the dead. Some say they could read the future of others. But others called them monster breeders or children of the devil.  None of it’s true, of course. But many vampires said to find one with magical blood is nothing more than a story like the philosopher's stone. I believe that they are normal humans with a culture of music and arts.” Abigail told  Camellia. 

Camellia was stuck thinking of that. “Do you like to read?” Abigail asks to change the subject. “Yes, I enjoy it. I like mostly adventure and romance fantasy books.” 

“I see, that’s cool. Have you ever read any monster romance ones?” Abigail asked.

Camellia looked down, embarrassed. “Yeah, those are always fun to read. I don’t like the ones with smut, though.” Camellia clarified. 

Abigail grinned. “They don’t need to write smut to entertain readers, but I enjoy it.” Abigail beamed. 

Camellia rolled her eyes playfully. “Of course you do. You look like a dirty mind girl.” Camellia jokes. “What can I say?” Abigail smirked. The girls slowly bonded over their long walk to the village. By the time they had reached the town, it was eleven o’clock a.m. It took them about an hour and a half. Camellia kept her promise and took Abigail to a coffee shop called, ‘Słodka Smocza Kawiarnia.’ It was a very cozy-looking place. 

It was a small Zakopane house. It was very cozy on the inside. The whole thing was enchanting to Abigail. Camellia also enjoyed it, but she was used to the beautiful enchantment of the house. After walking inside, the girls' noses were hit with the fresh smell of Polish bread and nut rolls. {Polish bread is a sweet bread with raisins.} The aroma was mouth-watering. {Nut roll was filled with a sweet paste of nuts, either almond or pecans.} 

Abigail walked up to the counter where you ordered your drinks and food.  The lady who ran the story was polite. She explained each pastry and the best drink to go with them. Abigail ended up getting Russian tea with two slices of nut roll. {Russian tea is more from the United States, but many Eastern European countries serve it. It is an orange and cinnamon sweet tea.} 

Camellia ordered a small piece of black forest cake with black coffee. They both sat outside of the shop; it was a lovely day for it. After eating their meal, they headed toward the post office, where the Headmaster's secret package awaited them. The walk is quite a distance to get there.  After arriving at the post office, it had a musty, cedar wood scent inside. Camellia and Abigail giggled and agreed how they both enjoyed the smell. 

The package was a three-foot box in length. The girls decided to take turns carrying it. They made it to the main square of the village. The place they stopped at was closer to where they entered the village from. It was about five miles away. The square center was alive with people going about their business and children running around and laughing. 

Camellia decided to guide them on a less busy street. They headed down an open street with fewer people. The further they got, the fewer people they saw. Camellia started to tense, weary of their surroundings; Abigail noticed her guard was up. Abigail looked around and grabbed Camellia's hand, and began guiding her instead. Abigail seemed to know where she was going. 

“Wait! Abigail slowed down.” Camellia begged. “You could get us lost.” 

Abigail turned and looked at Camellia with a bright smile. “Worry not, just watch, I’ll keep you safe.” Abigail told her warmly. Camellia slowly let down her guard; she began to relax. The warmth from Abigail’s hand reassures her. They exit from the side street into the main road, the little cafe a couple of houses down. 

“Look, see. I kept my word.” Abigail says cheerfully. Camellia smiles back and relaxes. “Yeah, you did. Thank you.” Camellia says with a soft smile. Camellia took a step back right when a young child ran into her. This startled her. She took a quick step forward and turned around. 

The young child is around the age of eight. He has red-orange hair and bronze-colored eyes. He would be considered short for his age. He had fallen on the ground after crashing into Camellia. He stood up and brushed himself off. He had a pouty face while doing so.  

“Excuse me, it seems I have run into you.” The boy said politely. He had a very noble air about him. Camellia looked a little taken aback, “Umm, yes, you did. But are you okay?” Camellia asked. “Yes, I will be fine.” The young boy replied. The little boy looked at Camellia, and then his eyes caught a glimpse of Abigail. 

The little boy's pout soon turned into a smile. “How are you today?” the boy asked with a chuckle. Camellia was about to respond, but the boy glared at her, making her go silent. “ I’m good, what about you?” Abigail responds. “I’m doing well. Big brother told me he would buy me ice cream.” The boy answered. 

“That’s good.” Abigail said with a bright smile. 

Just then, a voice called out, a deep and gentle voice. “James, where did you go?” A tall man around the age of 21 walked out from the shadows. He had more red in his hair than the little boy.  He had jade-colored eyes and a cocky grin. 

“James there you are. I was beginning to worry.” The man said, looking down at the boy named James. “Yes, I am right here. And look who I found.” the boy said happily, pointing towards Abigail.

The man looked over at the girls and gave a slight bow. “How do you do, ladies?” He greeted them. Camellia looks scared and backs away. “Good.” She mumbled. Abigail grinned, “Great, and you?” She asked happily. “Very well, thank you.” The man replied. Camellia backed away even more; she was now standing behind Abigail. 

“Abigail, this man is dangerous. We need to go.” Camellia whispered urgently. Abigail noticed her friend's fear but didn’t know why she was fearful. “Please.” Camellia begged. Abigail looked back at the man, and the man gave her a nod. 

“Young ladies like you should have an escort.” The man said flirtily. “Umm, No thanks.” Abigail replied coldly. 

“Aww, don’t be like that, dear.” The man said slyly. “Two beautiful lasses like yourselves should have someone to protect them.”  He smirked. 

“No thanks, we’ll be fine on our own.” Abigail retorted. “Please leave.” She told him coldly while glaring.  

“Tut-tut. No need to be frosty, dear.” He took a step forward. Camellia flinched a little. Abigail stood her ground, ready to defend her friend. 

“Take one more step, and you’ll regret it.” Abigail growled. 

“Hmm, I think I will.” The man looked down at them since he was taller than them. He stepped forward, waiting for Abigail to shrink from him or cower away. 

She did not,  and she took a step forward, meeting the man head-on. “ Piss off.” She said menacingly. He was about to say make me when she kicked him right in the left side of his head. The kick was a roundhouse kick. It was solid and sturdy. The man fell to the ground, flabbergasted. Camellia became even more terrified after this action. 

Camellia ran up to Abigail and grabbed her hand. She started pulling Abigail towards the back entrance of the school. She began to run faster after Abigail started following her actions. “How could you do that!” Camellia shrieked. 

“I can’t believe you kicked that man. Do you know how lucky we are that he isn’t coming after us?” Camellia lectured to Abigail. 

“Umm, No? Should I be worried?” Abigail asked, confused. 

“Yes, yes, you should. That man is evil.” Camellia pants, slowly coming out of her run. “He is known as ‘Red Fox’ and a famous villain around these parts.” 

"I didn't know that. What did he do?" Abigail asked innocently.

"He is known for being a part of the Breeder Association." Camellia said with a shiver. 

"Hey, you don't have to talk about this, if you don't want to." Abigail told her gently. 

"Thanks." Camellia murmured.

Both girls walked in silence on the way back. The silence wasn't awkward, but comforting. 

By the time they got back it was 6:30 p.m. Camellia told Abigail she would deliver the package to the Headmaster Roman, and Abigail could head back to the dorms. Abigail did as Camellia told her, but her mind stuck on what Camellia had told her about the mighty 'Red Fox.' 

She knew most of those facts, but to call him a villain seemed wrong. She was overjoyed to see the little boy named James and the man known as 'Red Fox'; those were her old friends. And her ticket to gather up little tidbits about where her friend Nathaniel Wryn was.  Abigail walked to her room inside the dorm and set an alarm for 1:30 a.m. Abigail fell into a gentle slumber. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 At  4:30 p.m., After getting kicked in the face, the man named ‘Red Fox’ lay there watching the two girls run off. He started to stand up when he felt someone jump on his back. “Stupid!” pauses, then another jumps onto his back. “Scoundrel!” Then, one last pause, he jumped onto his back. “Jerk!” James cries. He stood there huffing and puffing at his older brother. “WHY? Why do you say those things!” The boy cries out. “James…” Red Fox sighs. 

“James, we had to do that. And she never really hit me.” Red Fox tells James, trying to comfort the young boy. 

“But, Alexander… Are you sure? Are you truly positive you didn’t scare her?” James says, close to tears. “James, I would never scare her. And the way you put that seems a little weird.” Red Fox, a.k.a Alexander, jokes weakly. 

Alexander kneels and wipes his younger brother's tears away. “Look, see, there’s no mark. We were just playing.” Alexander says with a smile. 

James looked at his brother's face and saw he spoke the truth. “See, she was protecting you.” Alexander says softly. 

“From what?” James asks weakly. 

“She’s at the school with the three last remaining pureblood vampires. So the girl she was with would probably tell all the nobles, and the nobles would tell the purebloods. And then it would be even harder to protect you from them. So Abigail kicked me, well pretended to, so that way the girl’s racing mind would be stuck only on that fact.” Alexander explains. 

“Okay. I understand, big brother.” James mumbles. 

“Good. Let’s go get that ice cream now.” Alexander replied, trying to cheer his lil’ brother up. Both of them left and got the ice cream. Alexander is stuck thinking about meeting Abigail again, and Abigail is stuck on the good memories she made with the two brothers.