Vlad took his backpack out of his locker and slammed it shut. He ran down the hall in an attempt to avoid Bill and Tom; attempt failed. Tom shoved him up against a locker. “Hey Goth boy. Where you headed to?” Vlad said nothing and waited. Just then, a slender Goth girl with sleek black hair and big blue eyes tapped on Tom’s shoulder. “Tom, Angie’s waiting.” She said shyly. Out of curiosity, Vlad pushed with his mind into Tom’s. Gahh!! Gee thanks Morgan. How are we even cousins? Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on her… Her dad DID just get arrested for drug use… Thank god I’m not related to him… Whatever. Screw it. I’ll pumble the nerd later. Vlad escaped Tom’s mind while he set him down. Huh. So Tom was related to a Goth girl. This could come in handy. Vlad smiled. “Don’t get any ideas Goth boy.” Tom mumbled. Vlad knew what he meant. There was a somewhat protective edge to Tom’s thoughts about Morgan, as if she was more like a baby sister than a cousin. Vlad ran over to Henry and they started down they’re usual path to get to Vlad’s house. “Have you met the new girl yet? What’s her name… Morgan?” Henry questioned. “Yeah. Sort of. She’s Tom’s cousin you know.” Vlad replied. “How’d you know?” Henry questioned back. “She interrupted Tom before my daily beating and I got curious. So I read his mind.” Vlad replied. “She’s pretty…” Henry smiled

Morgan had been swept away by the popular crowd for her first few days at Bathory high, But the Goth kids soon discovered her. She seemed happier there. Tom didn’t seem too pleased with her new crowd. Vlad expected him not to. Vlad noticed that she was in two of his classes, one before and one right after lunch. Maybe he would sit next to her, just too formally introduce himself… Vlad took a spot right across from Greg and waited for Henry to get his lunch. “Hey Greg. How’d your date go last night?” Henry asked with a smile. Vlad immediately tuned out and ate his blood filled cupcake quietly. These conversations weren’t pleasant for Vlad. When the bell rang, Vlad threw out his trash, and hurried to his math class which he shared with Morgan. He took a seat right next her and she looked up from her book. Vlad read the cover. Twilight. Hm… He heard about the series. It’s about vampires… He smiled at her. “Hey, I’m Vlad. Your Morgan right?” Vlad asked. She looked up at him and smiled. “Yes. Nice to meet you.” She replied. “So you’re into Twilight? I heard it’s really good.” He asked. “Yeah, it’s my favorite series. I finished them all, but I’m rereading it.” She answered. “Cool. Some people say that vampires are too creepy for them to read about…” Vlad trailed off, wondering strongly what her answer would be. “I don’t think they are. I actually have this huge thing for vampires. They’re awesome.” She replied with a smile. Vlad grinned. Just then the bell rang, and class started.

After the teacher passed out the assignments, Vlad and Morgan continued their conversation. “So where did you live before you moved to Bathory?” Vlad asked. “Austin Texas.” She replied. “So, aren’t you Tom’s cousin or something?” Vlad asked. “Yes. I’m living with them indefinitely.” She answered. “Oh, ok. So, uh, how old are you exactly? I don’t mean to sound rude.” He asked. “I skipped a grade. I just turned fourteen.” She answered. “Awesome. Happy belated birthday.” Vlad replied with a smile.  She smiled back. The bell rang. Class was over. Crap, he didn’t finish his assignment. He’ll just have to do it tonight. To his surprise, Morgan had her assignment finished, even the bonus problems. She was right to skip a grade. It all looked like she got them all right too. Vlad almost walked her to her next class, but two things helped him change his mind. One, Tom caught him walking near her, and shot him a look that said ‘Keep going and you will regret it.’ Two, because her next class was across the school from his. She waved goodbye and headed to gym. Vlad went to his next class.

At the end of the day, Bill and Tom caught him and shoved him up against the wall. “Hey Goth boy, where’s the fire?” Tom asked. Vlad winced from his bad breath. “Do you mind? It’s bad enough I have to hear your insults, but do I have to smell them too?” He replied. Tom slammed Vlad into the locker a few times; Vlad’s head ached from the blow. He pushed with his mind. That’ll teach the little punk. He better stay away from Morgan. If anyone sees them together, she will never hear the end of the teasing. And he’s such a freak… Who knows what could happen to her if they were together… Vlad pulled out of his thoughts. Just then Morgan walked by and Tom set Vlad down. She went outside and started talking to a friend. Tom picked Vlad up and practically beat him into the lockers behind them. “Vlad!” Henry called from down the hall. Tom gave one final shove and walked off to meet Morgan.

Later that night, Tom knocked on Morgan’s bedroom door. “Who is it?” She called. “Just me.” Tom replied. “Come in” She called back. Tom leaned on the doorframe. “Look, I don’t want to sound controlling or mean or anything, but… Well… I want you to be cautious of the guys at school. Not all of them are nice, and I don’t want to see you get hurt. Promise me that you will be careful.” Tom warned. “I promise. Are you talking about anyone in particular?” Morgan questioned. “Um, well, you know the Vlad kid?” Tom said. “Yeah…” Morgan replied. “Him.” He said. “Why? He’s nice.” She replied, puzzled by Tom’s answer. “Well, he’s just sort of a freak.” Tom answered. “Goodnight.” He added, and closed the door.

Around midnight, Vlad snuck out for his nightly trip to the belfry. He grabbed two or three snack packs and crept out the door. When he arrived to the school, he went straight to the back and willed his body up. He lit the candles he had in there, grabbed a book, and sat down in Thomas’s chair. After being bored with his book, Vlad looked over the edge at the Goth kids, with Morgan as their new addition. “I’m serious Morgan, this place is haunted. The pastor went insane or something and started killing people. He even drank their blood out of the communion chalice.” A Goth boy was telling her the story of Bathory high, as he put his arm around her. “Cool.” She smiled and stepped away from him. The Goth boy didn’t seem to mind the minor rejection and he stepped beside her.

“You don’t have to act brave, we’ll keep you safe.” Another Goth boy said to her, and they both put their arms around her. She laughed. It all happened too quickly then. A man in a trench coat stepped under a pool of light and observed the group. They all quickly ducked into the bushes out of sight. Morgan was, unfortunately, the slowest. The man caught her by the neck and pulled her away, out of sight. She kicked and tried to scream, but it didn’t seem to even bother the man. Vlad jumped out the frame, and landed next to the scene. “What do you want from me?! I’ll do anything, just please don’t kill me!” She pleaded. “I’m afraid there is nothing you can give me. Just your delectable blood” He smiled and sniffed her throat gently. Vlad ran up to her, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled away just before the man bit into her neck. “Let her go” Vlad ordered. “Excuse me, but I would like to resume my meal.” The man said politely. “Find another meal. She’s with me.” Vlad barked at him. The man stared Vlad down. He tried to push into Vlad’s mind, but Vlad clamped down on his thoughts. He turned around, realizing that the area was claimed, and started east to find a new snack. “I think you should go home now.” Vlad said darkly, hoping he could scare her off. She just stood there in shock; staring out in the direction the man was headed. “W-w-what’s going on?” She stuttered. Vlad ignored her, picked her up, and carried her to her house. He knew every house in the small town. She was surprisingly light. He set her down, and she snapped out of it. She opened the door, but turned around and said “Tell me. Please.” “I will… Later, but please don’t tell anyone about this.” Vlad pleaded. “I promise.” She whispered, and she turned around and snuck inside.

Vlad turned around and headed for home, dreading the future that might come.