The night sky was painted in deep crimson.
It wasn't the normal hue of sunset—it was the Blood Moon, an omen whispered about in the academy's forbidden archives. For vampires, it was a night when instincts became dangerously sharp, and emotions… harder to restrain.
I stood alone in the academy's rose garden, the moonlight turning the pale petals around me a shade of violent red.
My knees trembled—not from the cold wind, but from the knowledge that tonight was the first Blood Moon since my reincarnation. My heart pounded like prey sensing the approach of predators.
Footsteps echoed against the cobblestone path.
When I turned, Lys Valenhart emerged from the shadows, her golden hair glowing faintly. She didn't smile this time. Instead, her amber eyes were fixed on me—hungry, unblinking.
"Airi… You shouldn't be out here alone."
Her voice was low, almost a growl.
"I… I just wanted to see the moon," I whispered, clutching my hands together. The submissive reflex inside me made it impossible to meet her gaze for too long.
She stepped closer. Too close. The tips of her fingers brushed my cheek, and my breath hitched.
"Do you know what tonight means?"
Before I could answer, another voice rang out from behind us.
"Lys. You're scaring her."
It was Rena Harugane, the fiery red-haired noble vampire who always wore her smirk like a weapon. She walked toward us with her hands in her pockets, but her crimson eyes locked onto me as if she were already imagining sinking her fangs into my neck.
"Airi belongs to no one yet," Rena continued. "If anyone's going to claim her on the Blood Moon, it should be me."
My legs froze, caught between two dangerous predators whose rivalry I'd only barely begun to understand.
Before they could clash, a cool, soothing presence approached. Tsukiko, the quiet raven-haired prefect, stepped between us, her expression unreadable.
"Enough. The Headmistress ordered us to keep control tonight. Airi is… special. We can't risk her awakening too early."
Awakening? My mind swirled with questions, but before I could speak, Celene du Noir appeared behind me. Her silver hair brushed my shoulder as she leaned in, whispering with a teasing lilt,
"Don't listen to them, Airi. You want to be claimed, don't you? Your eyes… they're already trembling."
I flinched. She was right—I couldn't hide how my body reacted when they surrounded me. I felt like a helpless rabbit in a den of wolves… yet some part of me didn't want to run.
"Stop it, all of you!" Tsukiko's voice sharpened. "The Blood Moon draws out our instincts. We can't—"
But the moment she spoke, the wind shifted, carrying the scent of my blood. I didn't even realize my fingertip had been cut by a thorn from the rose bush.
The effect was immediate.
Lys's pupils dilated. Rena's grin widened. Celene's breath hitched. Even Tsukiko's hand twitched toward me before she caught herself.
"Airi…" Lys whispered, her voice shaking now.
"That scent… it's intoxicating," Rena murmured, stepping forward.
I backed up until my spine hit the cold stone fountain. My breath came in short bursts. The Blood Moon's light felt heavier now, as if pushing me down.
Suddenly, Lys's hands pressed against the stone on either side of my head, trapping me. Her face inched closer, her lips parting just enough to reveal her fangs.
"Just one taste…"
"Lys!" Tsukiko's voice snapped like a whip, but even she sounded strained.
The tension was unbearable. My heart screamed for escape, yet my body… wouldn't move. The air around me was thick with the scent of roses and danger.
Then—a loud toll from the academy's bell tower shattered the moment.
Dong… Dong… Dong…
It was the signal for all students to return to their dorms immediately. The Headmistress herself had invoked a curfew.
Lys's eyes lingered on mine for a moment longer before she pulled back.
"This isn't over."
Rena smirked. "Next time, I won't let the bell save you."
Celene chuckled softly, brushing her fingers along my arm before turning away.
Tsukiko gave me one last long look, as if silently promising to explain everything—when it was safe.
I was left standing in the garden alone, the roses swaying gently as if mocking the storm that had almost consumed me.
Somewhere deep inside, I knew tonight had only been a preview.
And that the Blood Moon's hunger… wasn't theirs alone.