Maya was at the University gate, she texted Ashin an address close by and was making her way. She didn't have the patience to wait while he made his way to her and thought if they met in the middle she could see him quicker.
It wasn't as though she couldn't notice how she was behaving; Maya knew she seemed too reliant on Ashin, but she simply couldn't help herself, she was being drawn to him by forces greater than her control.
Although her being moody with others especially Camilla, that she was pinning it down to exam stress or maybe her cycle approaching, either way it wasn't a priority.
'Boo.' A whisper brushed her ear. Maya spun round quickly and almost tripped in surprise, before Ashin caught her safely.
She smiled fully ignoring the cliché move that had occurred before her own very eyes, and the fact that it made her heart skip a beat.
'Sorry didn't mean to scare you.' Ashin was still holding onto her; his hands wrapped her waist from behind.
'How did you…?' Maya was interrupted.
'I had a feeling you wouldn't wait around, so I came to you first.' Ashin grinned playfully knowing full well he had her scent memorised. He brought her into his embrace, 'I missed you.' The hug lingered.
'I did too.' Maya replied as she held on tighter. She knew she had fallen hard but at this point she no longer cared.
'Come let's grab some snacks and catch up at mine.' Ashin took hold of her hand as he led the way to nearest convenience store. He too was worried what his emotions towards Maya meant.
The attraction was undeniable, he wasn't one to go against the flow of where life took him, but he knew very well falling for a human was something he could never do. Being the heir to the last purebred werewolves, the least he could do for his family was continue their legacy.
He knew that.
Yet he still couldn't bring himself to stop whatever was brewing between him and Maya.
________________________________________________________________________________________
A few days later Camilla found herself at the location professor Z gave her, she kept delaying the date and finally managed to find a day after her final written exam was over. The building before her was clearly a well-funded research facility and although this was a university recommended extra credit trial, she still was a bit nervous.
Camilla had sent the address to Maya in case anything went wrong simply because that was what Maya would always do before going on a date. Not that this was a date, her mind began to ramble on, should she had sent this to Cassius too? No, she thought they may have gotten close but they weren't at that level yet.
After calming her thoughts, she made her way inside where she was directed from door to door always accompanied. What seemed to be five security doors later she was finally greeted by a familiar face.
'Camilla, its good to see you again.' Professor Z stood at the door; his somewhat dishevelled look added to his intellectual charm.
'Hi Professor,' She waved nervously.
'Would you like anything to drink?' He offered while tucking her into a seat near his desk.
The room looked similar to a science laboratory, one that you would only see on TV. Bottles and vials of liquids and substances that looked foreign.
'No thank you, this is some research you've got going on.' She couldn't help but comment as most university researchers were based out of a basement room or an unused office.
'Haha, yes well my research has some good sponsors.' His facial expression changed suddenly and became more serious, slightly scary. 'If I succeed it could greatly change the world.' Professor Z's face regained its usual mature but friendly demeanour. 'You see I'm looking to decrease coders activation and response time and given how you are the only case known to programme without the use of runes, I'd greatly appreciate your help.'
'Oh! I see, that's great!' Camilla clapped in interest, his work could indeed make the use of code much easier, she found the idea of helping others appealing. 'What do I need to do?' Her excitement was evident.
Professor Z smiled.
'Firstly, I need to measure your readings while you activate your code.' He said innocently.
A few moments later and Camilla had wires stuck all over her body, the discomfort was evident on her face, but she kept thinking of the greater good of the research and her extra credits.
'Sorry about this Camilla just a few tests and we will be done with this. If you could activate your code whenever your ready.' Professor Z said, his eyes were glued to his computer screen as he tinkered with settings here and there.
Camilla did as she was told and her eyes began to glow gold, her fingertips too.
'Great, could do give anything stronger? Any sort of powerful spel- I mean code will work.'
Camilla focused and gathered the energy around her whole hands, the gold aura began to spill out of her palms and make there way to create a strong shield. The more she focused the denser the aura became, almost as if it were to take physical form. This was her strongest programme yet; she wasn't finished developing it but was hoping it would be her secret weapon in the practical exam.
'These are some great results, Camilla! Keep going!' Professor Z's excitement was growing.
However, Camilla's stamina depleted greatly, she wasn't used to using her aura in such a condensed format. Her endurance was already her biggest weakness and couldn't hold the level output for long.
A few seconds later and the gold aura spilling began to dissipate, till her eyes returned to her natural form. She fell to ground in exhaustion. 'Sorry, that's all I got.' She spoke through her breath trying to recover.
'We were so close but it's fine, you've given me plenty. There is one other task that would greatly help as well.' Professor Z spoke while helping her up and removing the wires attached to her.
'I'll do what I can.' Camilla's eyes were serious, she knew her stamina always failed her with her aura so was determined to make up for it elsewhere.
'If we had a sample of your blood, it would fasten the process as I could see what direct properties cause your power to be used in such a way.' Professor Z began to ramble on not aware of Camilla's reaction.
His voice faded from her focus, as much as Camilla wanted to help everything of her being was telling her no. She didn't feel in any danger, but Cassius' words kept playing in her head- her blood was different.
'Sorry Professor I don't feel comfortable with that.' She felt guilty.
'Oh, no I'm so sorry, I got lost in my own research. I don't want you to do anything you're not comfortable with Camilla. You've already given me plenty.' He patted her shoulder knowing he couldn't push her for anymore. 'Why don't we call it a day, and I'll let you know if need you to come in for some more readings.' The professor smiled hoping to ease her worries.
Camilla agreed, picked up her bag and left through the first set of security doors as a guard came to escort her out.
Professor Z's face dropped his friendly expression as he pressed a button on one of his control panels.
*Beeep Beeep*
[Professor?] A voice spoke through the speaker.
'She wouldn't cooperate, I've played by your rules enough, don't you think?' The professors voice felt unnaturally calm.
[It will take some time to get the authorisation you're after, please hold for a few days.] The voice was strict but had a pleading undertone.
The professor sighed, 'you humans are really testing my patience, but I'll oblige.' He said as he cut the line and took a seat in his desk chair, his head was heavy as it rested back.
'She smelt so delicious!' The voice came from the professor, but it was different form his usual tone, it was higher pitched and snarkier than his normal one. One of his eyes had turned blood red but the white veins cracked the crimson shade from fully taking over his eye.
'No! we are above our desires!' The professor responded to himself.
'Oh Zeleti, till when will you lie to yourself. You can tell instantly she was different otherwise why would her scent be covered so well.' The voice responded.
'It was indeed hard to hold back despite how well she was trying to hide it, what I'm worried about however, is the vampire aura that was so clearly protecting her.' Zeleti was powerful enough to smell Camilla's scent even with the encrypted earrings.
Since he had never experienced Cassius' aura before he was unfamiliar to who it belonged to and didn't want to make a move until he was sure of the consequences- there was too much he could lose if it went wrong.
'Does it matter all we need is a bite.' The voice continued to torment Zeleti with his inner desires as the blood red continued to grow taking over his eye fully.
'NO IGGI!' Zeleti shouted while grabbing hold of his head, trying to stay in control. 'We are too close for any mistakes; we need her alive to extract her blood. Compound V is almost ready!' Zeleti was able to push back.
Zeleti was going back and forth with himself more often than before, these were clear signs of blood addiction deterioration.
This was the price he paid for feasting on so much of his family's blood during his revenge, he knew this but no longer cared as long as he was able to finish his work.