"Some Necromancers pour magic into dead things.

  I summon all dead things. These two events are not the same."

  -Pens&Keys

  “Being cared for is not the same thing as being loved.” Crissa stated. Her bright red hair was a clear indication of the power every thought she had ever spoken out loud in this css. “When you care for something, you “intend to love it.” “Intentions also have nothing to with love. Love is an action, not a thought, not a feeling, most certainly not an impulse.” Crissa advised. I enjoyed listening to her debate her emotions. Her low raspy voice made it sound as if she didn’t care at all. Love and children were the only subjects so far, she seemed passionate about. Before her opponent could speak again, Professor Davis intervened in the worst way possible. “Ms. St. Vincent, what are your full thoughts?” Mr. Davis leaned against the edge of his oakwood desk. I was sure he shined it every week. It never cked for shine power, never held a scratch mark, never appeared to be used at all even though I saw him using it for two hours a day. Crossing his legs at the ankles, his bck eyes locked in on my face. The thing I found peculiar about him was that he never looked us in the eyes. From the outside it would have appeared as if he made eye contact as easily as breathing, but he did not. Was it fear, shyness, or his introverted nature that seemed extroverted in this css? Sighing and sliding my chair back so I could stand. “I believe it’s a mixture. To care for something does not equate to loving it. However, I disagree entirely with the statement, “Intentions have nothing to do with love.” Intentions often set the foundation of how you will choose to show love or care for a thing. For example, pnning a date. Your intentions would be to make it a good date. And if those ''Good Intentions' are understood but more importantly accepted, doesn’t matter how bad the date may have turned out, the other person would still feel as if you good intentions define your character, and they will feel important.” “Thus, proving my point that love is an action.” Crissa interrupted. “Love is not an action, it’s a word. The actions of intentions build out the word and give it sometimes false meaning.” I replied,crifying myself. “What do you mean false meaning?” Crissa asked, from over the rim of her yellow pstic gsses. I swore she had a different pair for everyday of the year. Before I could answer her Mr. Davis cpped his hands together. His gold wedding band cnking against his css bronze css ring. Sitting back down, I gnced out the window. The sky clouded over with silvered white clouds reminded me of an early snowstorm. I could feel the cool air seeping through the cracks of the window seal. Not enough to make me want to put my jacket on, but just enough to know I needed one. It seemed like only yesterday we roasted in the summer sun. But it wasn’t yesterday. Mr. Bluestone’s party happened three months ago. Three months ago, I sat on top of a building with a boy in silk pajamas who was attempting to escape not sleeping. I wondered if he was successful that night or any other night. I opted not to tell Elloren of the encounter. Besides she had her hands full with Mr. Bluestone. Apparently, he asked her to spend one month with him and his family in a pce called “California”. She went of course. “We will pick this up in tomorrow's css. Ms. Crissa come prepared you as well Ms. St. Vincent.” Damn a debate. I hated these things. One topic debated for thirty minutes. Our peers would pick a victor based off each argument. I have never lost and neither has Crissa. Just fucking great, I truly must put effort into this if I want to win. Crissa may look and sound like she doesn’t care, but she is second to none in this school. The bell rang and before I knew it, Elloren sat on top of my desk. Her dark blue hair framing her face and showing off her elegant neck. I swear that thing had to have been designed specifically for her. Her green eyes glowing with charm and life as he told me about how she thinks I am going to win the debate. She based her conclusion on nothing more than our friendship and incorrect judgment about Crissa. I let her babble on because interrupting her was not an option. Even though she ascended Elloren at heart would always remain a childlike. I adored her more for that. “So, you want to come to the midnight showing of “Interview with a Vampire?” “Not really, I know vampires in real life. Why would a fake one be interesting?” “Simple Alucard, because they are hot.” Elloren bounced off my desk, did a twirl and flipped her hair back. “Now come I will meet you at the front gate around 11:00pm.” With that she left the cssroom leaving behind a white ash scent. Dropping my forehead on my desk, I sighed. Today just isn’t my day. Making my way to my dorm, I unlocked the door and slipped inside. The evening sun would soon say it goodbyes, but for now it casted warm golden glow. Our dorms weren’t normal dorms. They are what some people would consider to be a studio apartment. The only walls were the four that enclosed the space. However, the back wall was mostly floor length windows and French doors that led to a modest patio. Slipping out my grey Doc. Martens, I sat my backpack on the bck cemented floors. Walking towards my green velvet couch the motion sensor mood lights came on. They automatically adjusted to the time of day it was. Orange hues began to blend with the golden hues from the sun. This was my favorite time of day. Sitting on the couch, I folded my legs underneath me. Using my telekinesis, I selected a record from my album collection pcing it on the record pyer. Soon the melodies and harmonies danced together in my living room. Laying on the couch and pulling out my phone. My mother called five times and Elloren texted three times to remind me to meet her at 11:00pm. They both are insufferable. Calling my mother back she answered on the first ring. “Comment s'est passé votre premier jour de retour?” My mother if it could be helped did not speak any other nguage besides French. She said, she always wants to remember her human life. I used to think she wanted to always remember my original father. He taught her French when he brought her out of her courtesan contract. But once she told me he was only a gateway to my actual father, I banished the thought. “My first day is like almost every other day here. Infini.” Laughing she asked me if I received the blood she gifted. Flipping off the couch I went to check the fridge. There it was, fresh hymen filled blood sitting in a French styled gss. “Merci”. “Profite bien ma chérie, on t'aime.” “I love you both as well my daughter." Putting my phone in my back pocket, I grabbed the gss out of the fridge. Soon the air smelled like dried cherries dipped in honey. Brining the gss to my lips, my throat went dry. Running my tongue over my fangs, I tipped the gss and blood poured into my mouth. Every feeding no matter how long I lived would taste like the first. The fvor may differ, but the euphoria would be the same. As the fresh red honey coated my lungs and satisfied my hunger, I wondered what kind of human she was. Would I know her if I ever met her? Washing the crystal gss out I checked the time. 7pm. Nap, I could nap then meet for the movie. My phone starting ringing and without looking I answered. “Alucard are you okay? I am on my way to you.” Elloren sounded out of breath. From the background noise it sounded as if she was making her way through the park. “Elloren I am fine, why? What is happening?” “Didn’t you receive the school text? A spirit got out and possessed one of the Mr. Cravemount. It’s bad like really bad. They are calling in the four gatekeepers. We are going into total lock down.” “Does this mean the movie has been cancelled?” “Alucard now is not the time for jokes. Mr.Cravemount, he was close to you right? Meaning he might come for you or to you for help. I need to be there just in case.” “The four gatekeepers are coming?” “Yes, all four.” We both went silent for a while. Then my phone buzzed with a reminder for a notification. Opening the message, this was not a drill. Mr. Cravemount is actually possessed. “Fuck.” “Right, now open the door.” Opening the door, Elloren practically dove inside. Her heart was louder than her breathing. Quickly removing her pink and yellow oversized scarf from around her neck, she also slipped out her wool coat. She would have dropped them were she stood if I wasn’t watching her. Rolling her eyes she put both items on the back of the barstool. “The entire campus is freaking out. I mean, Mr. Cravemount out of all people?” Flopping down on the couch, I could hear the concern dripped over her words. “He is a legit Magician. The real deal, how could this happen to him?” “You tell me you’re the Necromancer.” Elloren did not respond. She is truly worried about it. I mean bringing in all four of the gatekeepers is extreme. It’s not like we can call them up. They each need to be summoned. Even then they could always refuse to come. Sitting on top of the small kitchen isnd a memory made its way to the surface. Mr.Cravemount only worked at the school because of his daughter. I remember him saying that to another kitchen chief. Something about her being rare even amongst the Magicians. Her name, what the hell is her name? Just then The Headmaster’s voice came through the internally. “Are you all safe in your rooms?” Elloren and I both answered her internally while nodding externally. Whenever she communicated like this, she spoke to everyone at this school. This is her power, mass communication. “If you are in pairs, you know the rules or else you are pcing yourselves in danger. Your rooms only protect certain individuals based on their lineage. Also, my deepest regrets for not communicating earlier. I have failed you in that manner. We needed to act fast.” Elloren and I waited for another moment before we gnced at each other. The Headmaster’s voice had stopped. I could no longer feel the tingles of her wave lengths. Fuck, this is bad. The Headmaster out on the front lines? All this for Mr. Cravemmount? I know Magicians are extremely powerful being direct descendants from witches. But a possessed Magician is next level. “Is she okay?” Elloren asked me, dragging her eyes from the floor to my face. Her heart still beating with worrisome speed. I know why she is nervous. If they needed her, she would have to go. If the High Priestess decided not to show. Elloren would need to fight. No doubt The Headmaster would do everything to prevent that from happening. Elloren may have mastered the darkness in her soul, but that was only one part of ascension. This year she would learn how to weaponize that mastery to build an undead army. I could at least do something to ease her worry. Using my own power “Devil’s Search” I can locate anyone in the word if I know who they are. This skill is still underdeveloped and I unable to use it for a prolonged time. But I could locate The Headmaster. During my search everything faded to bck. The only person I would see would be the person I am looking for. Instead, something else happened, two people appeared. The Headmaster and Mr. Cravemount, only not Mr.Cravemount. They were talking but I was unable to hear their words. Damn I am too weak. Then Mr.Cravemount turned his head towards me and smiled. Only it wasn’t him. It felt like him, but it wasn’t him. My eyes never lied to me. Whoever this was possessing him is ancient. And powerful, she kicked me out. Blinking my eyes, Elloren’s face came into view. “Are you okay? You are bleeding.” Jumping off the countertop I ran into the bathroom. This has never happened so soon before. Wiping the blood from my face, I faced Elloren who was slowly going from worrisome to panic mode. Turning back to the mirror my eyes slowly turned back to their natural shade of crimson red. My mahogany skin felt damp and warm. The warmth part concerned me. “I am fine, I saw them speaking about something. Hey do you recall the name of Mr.Cravemounts daughter?” “No, why?” Moving past Elloren, I went to the couch. Who would know the answer to this? “What else did you see? I have never seen you bleed after only three minutes Alucard." “I do not know what I saw. But Mr.Cravemount, he is not him. I mean it feels like him, but it doesn’t look like him. I have seen a possession before Elloren we both have. But this, this is different.” I could feel my own instincts telling me danger was here. If I could panic, I would be. The st of the sun faded behind the mountains and as the mood lights slid into a new brighter color, there was knock on the door. A knock that I did not hear coming. Elloren gnced at me, and I could see fear in her eyes. The school is on lock down and every student should be in their rooms. More importantly if they were here for Elloren, no way would I allow her to fight on her own. “Alucard it’s me, Crissa. Please op..” Before she could finish her sentence, I pulled her into the room. “Fuck, don’t do that.” Crissa stated as she found her footing. I could smell magic on her. Concealment magic. Strong concealment magic. Strong concealment magic that I knew. Mr. Cravemount. Without telling my body to react it did. I held Crissa by the throat baring my fangs at her. Elloren followed in suit summoning two fairies. The entire scene happened in less than one minute. With two fairies standing in front of Elloren, Crissa screamed.The vibration felt like music notes against my hand. “What the fuck.” She choked out. “Can you please calm down.” Elloren didn’t answer and neither did I. Tighten my grip I was prepared to rip out her throat. “Please Alucard. That woman in my father, that’s my mother.” Her voice barely above a gasp. “I am not fighting back. Please.” After searching her eyes for any untruth. I released her and she fell to the ground. The sounds of coughing filled the otherwise silent space. Elloren remained on high alert. I could sense her fairies ready to attack the moment danger was directed towards her. Stepping in front of them, the worrisome Elloren was not to be found. “Fuck, Elloren do you even know why you are so ready to kill me?” “I do not need to know. If a vampire reacts, you react.” “That’s some bullshit.” “That’s survival.” “Survival of what? What fucking battle have you fought in? What fucking hard life have you lived Elloren?” Slowly standing up, Crissa pulled down her sweater dress. The imprint of my hand had already begun to fade. I didn’t need to look at her Elloren to know fshes of her past showed in her eyes. Crissa held no knowledge of the life Elloren lived before she became apart of my family. “And Alucard, What the fuck was that?” “How many times are you going to say fuck Crissa? I asked. “How many times are you going to try and kill me?” Rolling my eyes I sat on the couch. Once Crissa could fully speak, she sat on the bar stool. Elloren remained standing. Distrusting Crissa enough not to make herself comfortable. “Like I said, that woman inside my father is my mother.”