Rousseau's Academy for Vampire Hunters

Lee

I howled and rolled over, shaking out of the other wolf's grasp. I rammed my head into his stomach, shifted, and pinned him to the ground with the heel of my boot, dagger raised over head.

"Rule one, buddy," I growled. "Never attack a werewolf when she's on a vampire hunt. Especially if she's had a bad day." The wolf under me growled and shifted, then lunged for me. I dodged aside and shifted back to wolf, slipping between his legs. He shifted as well, and nipped my tail. I growled and twisted around, then slashed my claws across his chest. He whimpered and shifted. I glared at him, shifted, and lifted him to his feet.

"If you know what's good for you," I hissed, "you'll go find yourself a place at the Academy so that won't happen again." He smirked, shifted, and clawed my side deeply. I shoved him back and morphed, loping away with teeth bared.

I came back home at nearly 5:00 AM and groaned. No sleep tonight. I pulled my hand away from my side once again. It hadn't gotten better at all- still deep, still bloody, and still painful as anything. I watched the last bits of scarlet blood wash off my body and swirl down the drain. I smiled a little; it had been a successful hunt, after all. Lots of action. Lots of fighting. It had been fun.

I got to school early and hung out in the Study room, going over my notes. Study was my worst class, and I had to bring my grades up. I winced and rubbed my side again. Being a werewolf, I did heal faster, but that didn't mean it was 'poof!' and then gone. I had wrapped gauze around it tightly, and it was feeling better, but still, I was going to give that werewolf what was coming next time I saw him.

An official looking faculty member handed me a slip of paper. Schedule change? I glanced over it. All my classes were the same, except... Combat.

It had been changed to this period.

The upperclassmen's period.

Which meant I was now in upper-level combat.

I thanked the woman and walked numbly to the class. Mr. Jackson greeted me with a smile. "Lee, hi! Did you need something?" I showed him the schedule. He beamed and clapped me on the back.

"Well, welcome to upper level, Lee!"

Yeah. Welcome.

Dude, I was such dead meat.

A newbie. A young newbie at that. A young, werewolf newbie.

Oh god, I was going to DIE.

OK, I'm gone for ONE hour, and every one's in a new spot...what's going on!?

Yeah, it's gone by fast. I think, for Ninja, it's the next day. I'm still on that night. A few others are still on day one... Meh. Just catch up in a huge post?

Kassia:

It was well after midnight when I finally caught up with the vampire. He'd been at the club since around 9 and I'd followed him to the alley since then. I frowned, reaching down to yank my dagger out of my boot. What was he doing? There wasn't anything here.

The vampire glanced my way and I crouched down behind a rubbish bin, out of sight. No coubt he could sense me though. I blew out a breath of air and crept around the bin, closer to the vampire. I knew Lucius was around here somewhere-not that I was worried about him. It was the vampire who was far more dangerous than us.

Suddenly I stepped on a piece of glass, swore, and, at almost the same time, the vampire span towards me. Startled, I raised my dagger to throw it at him as he charged me, and found myself pinned to the wall, his hand around my throat.

Damn. It was Adrian. This was not good.

Lance~

Lance's wounds were already healed from his recent scuff with the younger she-wolf the night before. He smoothed his hair back as he walked through the school. Two years ago, he was the ruler of this little adobe. The top-dog. Lance couldn't help but snicker at the very thought. A couple girls, obviously students, were looking over at him giggling and blushing. Lance winked at them as he walked passed, saying a soft, "Morning ladies," before he walked towards the combat class.

"Everyone, you'll all be introduced to a new teacher today." It was right then that Lance walked through the door, shaking his hair out. His silver eyes surveyed the group of students.

His students.

Ah, this felt great.

"Yo," he smirked when his eyes found those of the girl from the other night. Fancy seeing you here, beautiful. He thought to her and then chuckled cruely before sitting down on his desk. "First off, I'm Lance Moon. I'm twenty years old, and I come from a long line of hunters. I'm a turned werewolf, and all I want to say to you all... is welcome to hell." He smirked, throwing an apple into the air and catching it before biting into it smugly.

Adrian

...and Adrian glared down into her eyes, watching the clouds reflected in her eyes as they rolled over the moon. His lips pulled back over his dagger-like teeth and he growled deeply in his chest, registering her for who she truly was.

"Kassia."

Stony fingers gripped her neck more tightly as he pushed his body against hers, feeling her up for any weapons. He shifted his hips and glared into her starry eyes as a sharp fingernail sliced through the leather holster on her hip, dropping the silver dagger to the ground. "I thought we left you to ferment with the whiskey..." His voice flowed like silk around her ears in the thin air; his breath stayed even, even between growls and movements. And he grinned. "But here you are..."

Adrian slid his hand off of her neck, backing off a few steps as he restrained the soaring bloodlust in his throat. "What are you doing out here?" His eyes dropped to the dagger at her feet just a split second before he nabbed it swiftly, taking it out of her reach. "Silver." He smirked, holstering the dagger on his own hip. "Hunting your cousins for sport?"

In a blurry movement, he slid the dagger out of the sheath and slid it gracefully across her wrist, making the slightest incision. With a sparse breath, he pulled the wound to his tongue, savoring the scarlet elixir. Closing his eyes, he let her wrist go, letting fear keep her restrained. "So tell me," he ciphered over his words carefully before turning violent red eyes on her, "who were you hunting?"

Lee

I scowled. I wanted to tear that jerk apart right where he stood. Fancy seeing you here, beautiful. I raised an eyebrow. Don't push me, mutt. I thought back. I thought back on what Alissa had said- happy thoughts.

Rain. Howling at the moon. Strawberry Surf Rider smoothies. Running through the forest. Seeing vampire blood seep through the spaces in my fingers. Blades. Feeling the wind. Biting cold. Blending a smoothie for a new customer.

Well, that helped a little.

I smiled sweetly at him. "Well? Get cracking!" the werewolf- Lance- said. I fought back a snarl and switched over to wolf. I was glad to know that I was still one of the best, even if I was new and young. I ripped the dummies apart. Stabbed and sliced up the replicas. Flipped and rolled seamlessly through rapid bullet fire. Went hand to hand with another student, and won by a lot. It was only when I sank my teeth into the flesh of another dummy that I began to worry for myself.

Calm down, Lee, I told myself. I nodded to myself and carefully removed my jaws. I switched back to human as the bell rang, and right back to wolf, this time with bag in hand -er, mouth. I loped off to Study, pushing all thoughts of Lance Moon out of my mind.

Can we hold on the Study/classes bit for a moment? Just so some of us can catch up?

Kassia:

Oh crap. Crap, crap, crap! He did not just do that! I was shaking. Not good. I could feel the blood lust creeping up on me... No, I would not lose control anywhere near a vampire! I took a deep, shaky breath and stared at the blood. My blood.

"Stop it," I whispered, entranced by the blood seeping out of the wound on my wrist.

"Who were you hunting?" He repeated, narrowing his blazing red eyes at me.

I hissed and looked away, finally managing not to stare at the blood. I wouldn't get out of this any other way: I had to answer him... But could I trust him not to kill once I did? Don't think about that, Kassia! I told myself sternly. I let the internal debate go on for a moment longer before meeting his gaze. He was smirking. The bastard was smirking.

I growled at him and then answered his queston. "I'm looking for the vampires who killed some Academy students and a teacher last week." He paused, frowning at me. Now I had his attention. "It wasn't Declan's coven, was it?"

Lance Moon~

Deciding to push his luck, Lance loped off to the library, his thoughts still swimming with ways to tease the only werewolf at the academy. He smirked as he thought to her. So beautiful, studying it up? He heard her snarl at him mentally.

I wouldn't push your luck. She snarled.

Oh, but I would. You see, although I healed up, I still have a pretty nasty scar, so I think I need an apology. Lance laughed at himself as he flipped through a book.

You're joking!

Actually, my dear, I'm far from thinking this a laughing matter. That pretty little A of your may just turn into a C. Of course, Lance was bluffing. He was just looking for some good-humored fun.

Lee

I really did snarl this time. Unlike you, I'm still young. I still have that wound. I lifted the hem of my shirt so he could see the thick bandages and the blood seeping through them.

And you don't scare me. If I get dropped from the Academy, I'll just keep living and hunting. I'll survive without this place.

I wouldn't disrespect a teacher... Lee?

My head whipped up. It's Annaleya or nothing for you. I hissed, putting my book back. Now if you'll excuse me, I can't be late to Study.

I spun around and stormed off, switching to wolf as I did. I ran as fast as I could to Study, loving how I could feel each ripple of power in my leg muscles, my coat rippling in the wind.

I loved being a wolf.

Except for the part where my teachers tried to kill me.

That wasn't really awesome.

Adrian

"It wasn't Declan's coven, was it?" She was trying her hardest not to shake, not to crumble under his presence. Because she knew; she knew that if she showed any signs of weakness, it could spell death for her. So Adrian smirked and stared more intently into her eyes, focusing beyond her vision of himself.

"It's not in my authority to say." The luminescent vampire grinned and tugged her up, a bit off her feet by her wrist. But then he scowled, slamming her against the bricks behind her. "Though I trust that none of your kind would be foolish enough to draw the blood of our coven..."

She shivered, finally breaking under the pressure. She fought hard against her breaking until she could control her muscles again. But she didn't say a word for the longest time. But finally, she glared down into the hellstorm in Adrian's eyes. "It's not in my authority to say."

The cocky vampire held her higher, taking in the scent of her dripping blood and just savoring the moment, savoring her fear. And, just like Adrian had arrived, a swift gust of wind brought another into their midst. Adrian dropped Kassia and jerked his head around to his brother, leaving the wretch to escape.

And as quickly as she could, the girl scrambled away. Adrian turned to grab her, but a frozen hand touched his shoulder before he could lunge after her. "Not yet," the voice behind him let the words fall flat into the street and Adrian nodded.

"Not yet."

Lance~

Lance sighed as he walked through the corridors of the academy, waving at all his old teachers, and winking at the older girls. He turned into the old study room, and came face to face with a woman, no older than him. Her legs were long, her smile wide, and her eyes very... unhuman. "Anna," Lance winked at the woman, who squealed and hugged him tightly, looking up at him.

"It's been so long Lance!" Lance nodded his head in agreement with his former classmate.

"Everyone, this is Lance Moon! The new advanced combat teacher!" Lance winked at the class, and smirked at Lee. Anna tried to do some reminescing, but Lance denied her attempt.

"There's a student of yours I need to see. Pretty bad abdomen injuries."

"Name?" She sounded... angry?

"L- Annaleya." He smirked, looking at Lee. "I was just going to take her to the nurse for some bandage changing."

**Haha, Ninja, he's loving this whole Lee thing, and the ability to torture her xD**

~Shadow/Davine~

I couldn't sleep. I had so many thoughts flowing through my head. I got up, trying not to wake Sophie while I did, and snuck out into the hall. I had no clue where I was going, but I wasn't staying cramped up all night. I tip toed down the halls slowly, taking my time and waiting for the sun to rise. It seemed to take forever now that I wanted it to.

I heard panting behind me and paws hitting the ground lightly. I looked over to see Sophie next to me. I looked out the tall window and into the darkness, looking at the moon. It was gorgeous this time of night. Sophie put her front two paws on the window, and lifted her head to see outside, then she howled. Loudly.

"Shush!" I said, putting my finger over my lips and laughing. She whimpered, taking her paws from the wall, and turning in a circle, then looking back up at me, eyes expectant. "What?" I asked, kneeling next to her. She came to me and licked my face. I heard someone stir, and I patted her head once, standing and jogging back to my room. There, I waited for the sun to rise.

I dreaded going to my classes tomorrow but I had to. Unless...was I seriously thinking about cutting? They would notice for sure. But I smiled anyway, liking the thought of shopping. OK, more the idea of shopping for weapons than for clothes, though I could totally go for some knew shoes. I was wearing these out, and I loved the eight inch heals. A new wardrobe would be nice too.

I watched as the sun rose slowly. I got up once the rays were in my room, and I got ready, pulling on a black short skirt that poofed out at the end, and shirt with a bodice over it. I pulled my hair back and up with a hair clip holding it up in a fountain effect. This was my usual. There was nothing else to really do with my long white hair, so that was all I could think of.

I brushed through Sophie's fur slowly with her brush while she laid on the bed in front of me. I stared absent minded out the window, daydreaming of fighting a vampire. There was a knock on the door, then my alarm went off. Sophie whimpered as usual--I know by now she seems like a wimp, but she is an excellent fighter when it comes to it--and went to the door, sniffing it, then growling. I knew that growl. There must have been something that wasn't human on the other side of the door, and, by the sound of the growl--low and steady, not a barking she would do if it was wolf--it was a vampire. I pushed the button on my alarm, and went to the door, my heals making a loud noise as I went from carpet to wood. I opened the door.

*Anyone?*

Kassia:

It was practically dawn when I got back to my room the next morning. I could hear the other kids stirring and getting ready for school and sighed, thinking of sleep. I'd get no sleep now.

Cradling my right wrist in my left hand, I slowly picked my way across my crowded room and opened the top draw of my bedside table--It was where I kept spare bandages.

As I bandaged my wrist, I thought about the encounter with Adrian early that morning. What had he said? Oh right. It's not in my authority to say. Obviously Declan's coven wasn't behind the attacks on Academy students... Huh, this was weird. And sort of complicated...

I frowned as dark red began to seep through the bandage. The bastard had cut me deeper than I had thought! I grumbled under my breath as I finished up my bandaging and threw the spares back in the draw, kicking said draw shut a moment later.

Growling to myself about stupid vampires, I rummaged around for my hair brush and quickly pulled my hair back into a ponytail before I turned around once in a full circle. I had to tell someone about this...but not yet. Not yet. It could wait.

I shrugged and left my room, heading for Combat. As I walked, I cursed my mixed heritage for causing the blood lust while Adrian had me pinned to wall. Why did I always end up in those kind of situations? Always. I sighed and shook my head.

It was only after I flew through Combat and entered Study that I realised something; Adrian still had my dagger.

ATTENTION: Those in Declan's coven please reply in the DT. Thanks.

Declan

Grinding electronic music screeched into Declan's ears, smothering him in its celebration. He shook his head ever so slightly, vainly attempting to ignore the music blasting from the club. He would never, ever understand why the others loved this place so much.

Gravity, screamed the harsh neon lights above them.

'Not now, Adrian.' Declan's message slipped into Adrian's consciousness as naturally as the river faded into the sea. The younger vampire

"Not yet," Isidore repeated, his hand firm on Adrian's shoulder. "She probably had nothing to do with it." Isidore's shoulders sagged in defeat, his eyes gleaming less than usual. His headphones had wandered away from his ears - a rare occurrence.

A frown, ever so slight, appeared on Declan's features. The darkness behind Adrian devoured all of Declan's attention. He stayed still, waiting, waiting for the questions to mutate into answers. Willing something, anything, to stretch a hand out of the darkness and attempt to hurt Adrian. Daring the world to hurt his coven.

Adrian growled, shrugged Isidore's hand off his shoulder. "I need time alone."

"Adrian," Isidore began, his tone somewhat threatening. Declan hadn't heard Isidore this sad in centuries.

Perhaps it was because he was the one who found the first body.

"Don't try to stop me," Adrian roared. He shoved Isidore away from him and Declan swore he saw the reddish gleam of bloodied tears manifest themselves in Adrian's eyes. "She knew, she knew! She knew who came after us, and you told me to let her go, Isidore. And she got away, because of you -"

"She knows nothing," Declan interrupted, catching a fly buzzing near him as he did so. The crumpled fly spiraled to the ground , where Declan crushed it under his shoe. He glanced at the mouth of the alley, where the shyest light hovered.

"She said -" Adrian began, but his voice was much calmer this time.

"She lied," Declan corrected. His eyes met those of his friends'. 'You will both go back to the coven, because the morning has returned. We cannot afford any more mishaps, of any kind."

Adrian stepped towards Declan with imploring eyes. "You can't - let us help. They were our friends too."

A crumpled paper tumbled past the trio, who stood in silence as Declan searched his subordinate's eyes. Adrian was right. He lost someone too. Declan's gaze flickered to Isidore, whose eyes asked the same of him.

Everyone lost something. True, he couldn't risk his family any more than he already was, but caging them in would only shred the coven into even smaller pieces.

Adrian and Isidore saw Declan relenting, and brightened.

"We'll take underground passageways," Isidore chirped.

"Meet you there in an hour, headmaster's office," Adrian added.

They were gone before Declan could say another word. They knew his expressions too well. Then again, that was expected.

--

Dim lighting hung over the headmaster's office, marking it out from every other classroom. The headmaster would not be here until eight o'clock, and it was yet seven. Adrian and Isidore paced impatiently around the room, back and forth, back and forth. They'd already torn through the headmaster's papers in an attempt to find out whether or not the Academy truly had something to do with the deaths.

Declan knew better. The truce dictated the Academy to honor its word.

Just then, the door opened, revealing as sliver of sunlight and two students. There was silence as the students realized they were facing vampires. Then, more stunned silence.

"It's good to see you, Kassia," Declan said, breaking the silence.

Mr. Moon was terrible. He bashed everyone in the class. I had been at the academy for three years and never seen someone as bad as Lance Moon. While I was glad I was now in upper class combat, and I was proud that I was the youngest ever to be in that class (obviously, considering that I was the youngest to ever be at the academy) I really was not happy.
He criticized my every move, telling me that my kick was too low and that I had been holding my dagger wrong for my whole life. I didn't hate anyone, but suddenly, I hated him.
Roundhouse kick, punch to the left ear, and finish him off with a stake to the heart. It was quick, and efficient. Overall, that method took about five seconds.
"Alissa," Mr. Moon said. I tensed, dreading what would come next. "You're friends with Lee, aren't you?"
"We're acquantinces," I replied stiffly.
"Well," he said, smiling cruelly. "I would make sure to have her here at midnight tonight if you value your position in this class." He handed me a slip of paper.
I looked at him defiantly, shaking my head. Moon would not make a threat like that unless he was planning on doing something terrible to Lee.
He snickered and turned away.
I opened the paper.
Don't worry your little nose about it, I will find some way to get Lee down here even without you.