Chapter 1

Chapter

One

TALULLA

I f that buzzing doesn't end in the next five seconds, I won't be able to stop myself from smashing the culprit to a pulp, which would be unfair since, technically, the lamp didn't do anything wrong. But sitting in this obnoxiously large office with very tacky furniture already has me on edge for unknown reasons.

"Miss Popescu." The dean finally breaks the exhausting silence as I nervously grip the armrest of the seventies-style chair. I seriously don't know how someone can think that pea green is a good color for anything. "I don't know how to say this, but…"

"But?" I cross my arms over my chest as the quietness continues to fill the room. He's fidgeting with his tie while tapping his index finger on the desk. "Am I in trouble or something? Because I've been a saint of a student lately."

"No, you're not in academic trouble—per se."

Tilting my head to the side, I notice how his jaw is clenching. "What is it, then?" I finally ask.

"The check for your tuition bounced."

"That's impossible. I talked to my parents just the other day—" No, he wouldn't dare. Not like this, not out of the blue.

"Talulla, you are an extraordinary student, and most likely, you'll be a PhD candidate in your field, but if we don't get the payment by the end of the week, I'm afraid I will have to terminate your enrollment for the semester, if not the entire year." Joining his hands, he rests his elbows on the desk, leaning forward to get closer to me.

"There has to be something I can do! I'm a TA, I have multiple scholarships… I bet there's more I can do to get—"

Dean Jefferson cuts me off. "It's true. You have all those things going for you, which cover part of your living expenses, and your scholarships cover half of your classes. But you're still missing $25,000.00."

My eyes widen at the realization that I am, indeed, fucked. "I'll get the check to you by Friday."

"I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding. You are a terrific student, Miss Popescu. I'm certain everything will be okay. Talk to your parents."

"I will. Thank you, Dean Jefferson."

As I leave the office, I dial my dad's number, walking toward my best friend Cassandra. She's sitting on our usual bench in front of the Victorian-style library. The terracotta-colored bricks of the building look particularly pale as the September sun in Palo Alto keeps shining bright. This is probably our last year together at Bear Creek University. We're both finishing our master's in history. Cassie is a witch, which comes in very handy when a vampire roams around campus and I am too busy with papers. The phone rings, and after three tones, my father, Emil Popescu, the most feared vampire hunter in the world, picks up.

"Hi, copil ."

Child.

Not son or daughter—just child.

The tone of his voice is firm, as always, and he sounds detached because that's just how my Romanian father is with me. Because he's disappointed. He wants me to quit school and take over the "business," and I've told him many times that I will after I'm done with my studies.

"Hi, Dad."

"I guess you are calling for something," he says as I sit beside Cassandra, making sure she can hear the painful conversation I'm about to have.

"I'm sure there was a mistake, but Mr. Jefferson, the dean at my school, told me my tuition for my final year hasn't been paid. Actually, the check bounced."

"That would be correct." The words seem to have no effect on his tone. His reply is monotone—indifferent.

"It's my last year," I groan as I look for something to punch that isn't a wall.

"I am well aware."

Cassandra is looking at me with wide eyes as I anxiously bite my lip to the point of drawing blood. "Can I talk to Mom?"

"No."

Licking off the ironic liquid from my mouth, I try to ask, "Dad, do we have financial problems I'm not aware of? Because I'm pretty sure money has never been a problem in this family."

"No, I have simply voided the check."

I sigh, and my heart pounds in my chest so hard it aches. "May I ask why?"

"You know exactly why, copil ."

"Dad, it's my last year. We had a deal. I finish school, and then you get your perfect vampire hunter."

"I have waited for you to finish school. You finished school." His faint accent makes the monotone replies sound even colder.

I take a deep breath in, trying to remain calm. "I am doing my master's."

"You got your degree. There is no need to waste more time when we both know what you are destined to be. I have already given you enough spare time."

"So your way of getting me back is by not paying for my schooling?"

"Yes." Well, that was way too quick of a response. Shit.

"What if I don't come back?"

"Then I guess you better find a way to pay for your living expenses because, as of now, you are completely cut off." If he sounded monotone and indifferent before, he was definitely annoyed right now. With me. His daughter.

"You won't actually do it."

"As a matter of fact, I would, and I already did. If this is truly what you want, you can pay for it on your own." The line cuts off.

I'm fucked.

I'm fucked.

I am so fucked .

"How much do you need?" Cassandra asks, leaning toward me but keeping a safe distance. She always leaves enough space—for protection. She tends to get visions when she touches people, and that makes her very closed-off, but having her around is still comforting.

"Twenty-five grand."

"Holy fucking shit," she breathes. "By when?"

"Friday," I reply, holding my head in my hands. I stare at the mosaic of stones on the ground, the little tiles forming abstract shapes. Maybe if I start counting them, I'll forget about everything else. I can focus on this one task and avoid the problem altogether.

Cassandra clears her throat, and I snap back out of my trance. "Let me call Asmo. We're gonna figure this out."

"Can we go get coffee? I'm going to pretend everything is fine and go to class."

"Sure," she simply replies, clearly restraining herself from revealing what she really thinks of the situation.

We make our way to the closest coffee stand and order two cups to go, the sudden quietness turning my anger into full numbness. "Okay, go ahead. Say it," I finally break, unable to look at her any longer.

"I can't believe how fucked up your dad is."

"He's—Well, something."

Her response is fast and snappy. "He's a dick."

"He grew up in an environment that made him this way."

"You're trying to find an excuse for him? Really?" Her icy-blue eyes pop out as we make our way through campus. There's only a slight tingle on my fingers, even though the coffee I'm holding is scorching hot. It's one of the benefits of being a vampire hunter. I'm able to resist pain better than most humans. We sit under an oak tree, searching for shade as we wait for our classes to start, and the sudden coolness of the ground balances the warmth of the hot cup in my hands. I stay silent as I look at the people walking around us. Some are calm, some are late for class, and some are crying as they look at their papers.

"I guess I just wish he could accept that this"—I point at the main building in front of us—"is what I love."

"Can your mom make him change his mind?"

"She wouldn't go against him on this. I don't think so, at least."

As if on cue, a tall, slim, blonde guy with a buzz cut approaches us: Asmodeus, Cassandra's wizard childhood friend. Just a friend, nothing else. That's what she repeats to herself and to me every time I point out how he's clearly interested in her.

"Hello, ladies. I heard someone needed a knight in shining armor."

I look around. "Where's this knight you're talking about?" I tease as he sits down beside Cassandra.

"Always a pleasure, Talulla." He laughs before adding, "I took the liberty to ask around to see what was available, and I think there's something we should look into."

"Which is?"

"Underground fighting."

Cassandra snaps her head in his direction, her silky black hair whipping through the air. "Absolutely not."

"And why not?" Asmo asks. "She's literally a walking weapon. It's brilliant." He flashes a bright smile, pointing at me.

It's true. I am stronger and faster than a regular human being and have been training my entire life to kill. My body count is in the triple digits—of staking vampires, not the other body count. That would be exhausting…

"Asmo, I can't believe I'm saying this, but you are a genius."

"See, Cassie? Problem solved." He turns to look at his friend, the corners of his lips lifted, waiting for her approval.

Cassandra rolls her eyes at him. "Problem not solved. Unless you plan to have her fight non-stop from now until Friday, she won't ever get twenty-five grand."

"We get a loan from the organizer."

"Because that isn't sketchy at all." She raises her eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Cassie, we are two witches and a vampire hunter. I'm pretty sure we can handle ourselves."

"Mom, Dad, it was great chatting with you, but I gotta go to class, and then I have to help Mr. Wagner with marking papers," I interrupt their little banter.

"Is that your way of telling us you're banging your professor?" Asmodeus asks.

My feet come to a full stop as the question hits me more dramatically than it should. "Jesus Christ. No, dude. Absolutely not." I shake my head profusely.

"He is cute. You could—" Cassandra tries to say before I stop them both.

"Gross. Not my type, and I don't really want to add to the list of possible reasons for getting kicked out of my program and, well, school. It's very much against all the rules."

"I mean… You are an adult, and you have a lot of the same interests…"

My head continues to shake.

"Fair enough. You still need to get laid."

"I need to get this money and finish my program and then find a job and live my life."

"Good plan," Cassandra finally relents.

I salute them and realize that Cassandra is looking right past me. As I turn, I see a blonde man walking in the distance. The sunrays hit his figure, making his hair look pearly. The brilliance makes me gasp because as I continue to stare, I realize that his skin doesn't belong to the sun but to the moon. He's perfectly dressed: black trousers, a black button-up shirt, and a black trench coat. He passes a hand through his hair, and I subconsciously lick my lips when the light hits his chiseled jawline. He inhales, and I swear I see a corner of his lips lifting up before he slightly turns toward us.

The most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life is looking at me. And he's a vampire. Before I can get a better look at him, he sharply turns away and continues his walk inside the building.

"I thought daylight rings weren't really common anymore," Asmodeus says to break the silence.

"They're not. I haven't seen a vampire wearing one in—Well, I've actually never seen one in real life." My eyes are still glued to where he just walked in, as if a pull of some kind was keeping my sight there, hoping he'll step right back outside.

"Why is he here?" Cassandra says out loud, making Asmodeus and I turn, realizing she knows who the vampire is.

"Do you know him?"

"I—Well, not me specifically, but my brother worked on a case with him a couple of years ago while he was in Europe."

"Okay, well, I don't have time to stake anyone in the middle of the day before a class I'm already late for. Mr. Wagner will end me."

"Go. We'll take care of this."

"Yes, think about all the reasons why I shouldn't do underground fighting and something totally illegal to pay for my tuition, because my Eastern European daddy is disappointed in me."

"That's first on my list, don't worry."