chapter 12 : A Vampire Mark

��Becca,�� Lucas started speaking, holding a pen near his mouth, ready to chew it whenever bored with the classes. He had attended school with humans because the Lycans were normalized by living with human beings.
Becca, who was bored in the poetry class and missing Alexander because he didn��t attend the class, hummed noncommittally in response, letting Lucas know that she was listening to him.
��A question got into my mind.�� he asked, ��Why do you call Alex by his full name Alexander sometimes and the other times just Alex?��
She twitched her lips. ��That is because���� she trailed off, trying to find an answer to the question she herself didn��t know. Then she answered, ��I don��t know. It depends on my mood?��
��Mood?�� Lucas arched an eyebrow.
��It��s like, I do call him Alex like others, but sometimes I feel like calling him Alexander. I like his full name, honestly speaking. So, depending on my mood, I just call his name.�� She glanced at Lucas. ��Why didn��t he come today, though? Do you know anything?��
He shook his head in denial. ��Even I have the same question,�� he mumbled, wondering about Alisha who got killed. Of course, he saw the vampire mark, and he knew it was against the rules of the vampires to hunt humans after a war among all kinds of mythological creatures took place 500 years ago. Why did he kill a human when it was against the peace treaty? he thought.
��Students, this is to inform you that another student has been reported missing since last night,�� a teacher announced and his voice was heard all over the speakers on the campus. ��Reena Weevils, a Sophomore in the Fine Arts department is missing. If you find any information, kindly reach me out in room 104. Thank you.��
��Did you hear that, Lucas?�� Becca said to him. ��Another student is missing. Will she be found after she killed herself?��
��No idea,�� he responded curtly, mentally wondering what Alexander was doing.
��Fucking asshole,�� Vanessa grumbled and rushed to the Bellmor jungle. Steam was coming out of her ears when she spotted her brother leaning against a tree, closing his eyes in peace. She jumped high with the tight jeans she was wearing and extended a leg to kick him.
Sensing it, Alexander quickly opened his eyes and dodged the kick, making Vanessa hit the tree instead.
��Ouch,�� she groaned.
Usually getting hit wouldn��t harm Vanessa, but the trees of the Bellmor jungle were different and it was under a spell. Therefore, she got hurt after colliding into the branch of the tree.
Alexander raised his eyebrows. ��Is becoming crazy a side-effect from living with Becca?�� he commented.
She narrowed her eyes. ��Can you stop killing people, Alex?��
He put his hands in his pocket, asking innocently, ��When have I?��
She rolled her eyes. ��Oh, please. I know you. These missing students have something to do with you. I noticed the mark on Alisha and now, another student is missing.��
��You know nothing, Ness,�� he answered calmly.
��I can��t understand,�� Vanessa let out in frustration. ��If you are unable to control yourself, just disappear to the vampire world. Stop killing these innocent people. You will break the treaty, Alexander Insworthe, and I will suggest you return before the world peace is ruined.��
Alexander arched an eyebrow in amusement. ��Thanks for the suggestion. I shall keep it in mind. And believe me, I want to return to the vampire world so fucking much that I feel like ripping all these humans to shreds, but I have a promise to fulfill.�� He walked towards Vanessa and patted her head. ��Return to the dorm before the other vampires here catch a fight with you.�� With that, he disappeared into the thin air.
Vanessa watched her brother disappear, and somewhere within her, she felt that Alexander��s heart had started beating. At that thought, she placed her hand over her mouth, preventing a gasp from escaping from her lips.
The hearts of the vampires didn��t beat unless they had found their soulmate and started falling for them. They were still vampires though, only with a beating heart. They were still dead, yet they were given life with the blossoming of love.
For Vanessa, her dead heart started beating when she met Sebastian for the first time, which was a sign that he was her soulmate.
��Does that mean that Becca is Alex��s soulmate?�� she murmured. ��Holy crap.��
It was another new day.
Everyone was worried about the student who was missing. If Reena Weevils didn��t return by tonight, the campus authorities would file a missing persons report.
Becca was decorating the college bus which would be used for camping. Vanessa handed that particular responsibility over to her. So, instead of attending classes, she was busy doing her job.
She was attaching the small crafted stars on the corner of the windows, standing on the ladder. However, no one was holding the ladder because the ladder was strong itself. It wouldn��t even move an inch until a strong wind appeared, which was impossible because of the sunny weather today.
While attaching the stars, Becca��s heartbeat picked up the pace all of a sudden, as if sensing Alexander nearby. Realizing the familiar feeling, a smile crept on her lips as she turned her head to see him. She hadn��t seen him since yesterday and just at the thought of seeing him again made her happy.
She saw Alexander standing a little bit away from her, his arms crossed against his chest. He was looking at her with a neutral expression; mentally, he was trying to study her.
Becca waved her hand at him in excitement.
Suddenly, the weather changed. A cold wind blew��a strong gust.
��Oh, my God,�� she mumbled under her breath, realizing the ladder would start shaking. When the wind started hitting against her face, her clip broke and her dark brown hair flew all over her face, along with the shaking ladder.
Not being able to see properly, she lost her balance and her leg slipped from the ladder. She closed her eyes, waiting to hit the ground and groan in pain. But when she didn't feel any pain, rather she felt like she fell into someone��s arms. She peeked an eye open to see whether it was true or she had already hit the ground, died, and reached heaven.
Her eyes grew as big as saucers, seeing she was actually in the arms of someone.
��Alexander?�� she breathed out, her arms already around his neck in a reflex. He helped her to stand on her feet. ��You saved me from dying.��
Alexander furrowed his eyebrows. ��Dying?��
Becca gasped dramatically. ��I would��ve died if I fell on the ground from that ladder and you just saved me.��
He rolled his eyes. ��No one would die after falling from this height. The most that could happen was needing a bandage on your hands or legs.�� He added, ��Maybe even neck.��
��Really?�� She placed her hands on her hips. ��If that were the case, then why did you save me? You could��ve let me fall and cry in pain and agony.��
��If I didn��t save you, you would��ve taunted me till you were alive that I was near and didn��t help you,�� he deadpanned. He was trying to not let it affect him, but he felt like his heartbeat fastening when he saw Becca was about to fall. How could his heart beat? I must be hallucinating, he assured himself.
��Wait a minute,�� she spoke up after repeating Alexander's words in her mind. ��You said that I would taunt you till I was alive. Are you trying to kill me, Alex?�� she questioned, her eyes grew wider in terror. ��Is that why you pulled me in that secluded storeroom that day? You want to kill me. It all makes sense now.��
��The heck?�� Alexander said, not believing that Becca was actually assuming that he was trying to kill her. She created dots in her head and connected them on her own. ��If I wanted to kill you, then why would I save you from falling in the first place?��
��Maybe because you want to kill me secretly and make sure I have no grudges against you. You want me to die in peace,�� she stated her theory, which didn��t make any sense to Alexander.
��I wish,�� he mumbled, which Becca failed to hear. He was angry at himself for saving her life when she wasn��t grateful to him at all. So, he turned his back to her and was about to head back inside the campus.
��Hey, Alex,�� she stopped him by calling him. ��Thank you for saving me.�� She ran to him and stood in front of Alexander, who was awestruck hearing Becca thank him as if she could understand his feelings. ��But I have a question. Can I ask you?��
��Won��t you ask if I say no?�� he inquired, which made her grin sheepishly as she shook her head in denial. ��What is it?��
��How did you catch me so fast?�� she questioned. ��Last time I spotted you before I fell, you were standing there.�� She pointed in a direction far away from the bus.
Alexander cleared his throat and spoke up, ��I was on my way to you already. So, when you were about to fall, I was near you and then I ran to catch you.��
She was confused with his answer. The way he spoke up, it seemed like he was sure that he was correct. Yet, Becca said, ��If you were already walking towards me, then why didn��t I notice it when I was waving my hand at you?��
��Cause you weren��t paying much attention. Even though you were looking at me, your mind was occupied with how you would complete decorating this bus for the freshman trip of our department.��
Becca nodded her head, understanding Alexander��s point. ��Wait. I wasn��t looking at you. I was waving at you.��
��Same shit,�� he responded curtly.
��These are not the same,�� she protested. ��Looking and waving are entirely two different words. You must know the difference since you are in English Language and Literature department. Otherwise, how will you succeed in your career?��
With the least interest to hear Becca��s lecture, he regretted saying those two words were the same in front of her. He wished he could say to her that the only career in his life was to take the vampire potion from her and make his brother the king of the vampires.
��Als���� Becca stopped midway when her eyes fell to the person behind Alexander. ��Look behind, Alex. Isn't that Reena Weevils? I saw her picture on the bulletin board after she went missing today.��
Alexander looked behind and found Reena walking towards them casually.
��Hello. You guys are freshmen, right?�� Reena asked with a smile on her lips. ��Cause I have never seen you guys before.��
��Where have you been since last night?�� Becca couldn��t help herself but ask.
Reena arched an eyebrow in confusion. ��Even though that is none of your business, I went to meet my parents last night because I was missing them. I just returned to campus.��
��Why weren��t you answering your calls then? The college thought you were missing,�� she said while Alexander stood there quietly, listening to the conversation fully.
��What?�� Reena chuckled. ��This college is crazy. I forgot to charge my phone so the battery had died.�� She pushed a few strands of her blond hair behind her ear.
At that instant, Becca saw the familiar vampire bite mark on the neck of Reena Weevils, but knowing Alexander wouldn��t understand her, she stayed quiet. She had to prove to Alexander that vampires did exist, that was by finding the real vampire who was a part of their college on the upcoming trip.