Chapter 13 DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
LILIAN POV
When the school bell rang, it felt like salvation.
The entire class erupted into noise bunch of grown teenagers scraping chairs, bags slamming, the buzz of relief filling the air. I shoved my notebook into my backpack, keeping my head low. My hands were trembling slightly, though I made sure no one noticed.
Don’t look at her.... Don’t breathe near her... Pretend she doesn’t exist... please don't see me.
“Man, that class was kinda weird,” Jonah muttered beside me, stretching. “She gives me the creeps like, vampire-queen energy.”
If only he knew how right he was.
Mia laughed. “You’re ridiculous, miss Vale’s cool... I actually like her.”
“Of course you do,” I said dryly. “You like anything that doesn’t yell at you for chewing gum.”
She nudged me. “You’re just mad she didn’t smile at you.”
“Trust me,” I said under my breath. “The last thing I want is her smile.”
We started toward the door, weaving through the chattering crowd. I could feel Seraphine’s gaze burning into the back of my neck, calm and deliberate. Every step away felt like walking against gravity.
I was almost out.... two more steps and I’d be free when her voice rang through the noise.
“Lilian,” she said, tone smooth and quiet but somehow carrying across the room and turned to know why she called me.
“Can I have a word with you, please?”
Every conversation near me stopped for a heartbeat, then resumed with the subtle hum of curiosity. Mia turned to me immediately. “Ooooh, Somebody’s in trouble.” I still can't place how she forgot Seraphine face so fast though.
“Yeah,” Jonah added, grinning. “Try not to get expelled before graduation.”
I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Ha.. very Funny.”
Inside, I was screaming, “I’ll catch up,” I said, forcing my voice to sound normal. “Don’t wait.”
Mia waved, oblivious jonah just gave me a small smile, already scrolling on his phone.
Then they were gone, swallowed by the hallway noise.
And I was left there rooted to the floor like my body had forgotten how to move.
Every instinct screamed run, but my legs disobeyed. It wasn’t just fear, It was something heavier, unseen, pulling at me like invisible strings and I hated it.
Still, I turned slowly took step by reluctant step until I was standing in front of her desk.
Miss Vale.... Seraphine whatever her name is, was packing her papers, calm and methodical. She didn’t look up at first, but that small smile played at her lips.
“You know,” she said lightly, “that’s not the best way to stand when a teacher calls you. Arms crossed, face all scrunched up that's very rebellious of you, Lilian.”
I folded my arms tighter. “Don’t start.”
Her eyes flicked up, silver catching the light. “Oh? And what should I start with?”
I leaned closer, my voice in a harsh whisper “Oh, fuck you, Seraphine, What the hell are you doing here? What ..... what is this? Some twisted field trip? You plan to bite off the here students next?”
Her expression didn’t change, but the air in the room shifted cold, sharp and heavy, I felt like I was suffocating.
“Watch your language,” she said softly. “You’re in a classroom.”
“Stop pretending!” I snapped. “You can’t just show up here In cool heels, and act like Miss Vale when you’re....”
I lowered my voice. “—a monster.”
Her lips curved, “Takes one to know one.”
That one hit too close and my throat tightened.
“Don’t give me that self-righteous crap,” she continued, voice edged with something dangerous. “I told you to come to me, I warned you what happens when you don’t learn control But of course typical you didn’t listen.”
“Listen?” I barked a laugh. “You bit me! You ruined my life! And now you’re lecturing me like it’s detention?”
Her smile faded, replaced by something colder regret, maybe or just exhaustion.
“First off,” she said with her fingers pointing at me, “I didn’t bite you, a true blood did and it’s not exactly my fault that you got dragged into our world.”
My jaw clenched. “A true blood?”
She sighed, stepping closer. “The one who bit you wasn’t like me, He was… older and purer. The kind that leaves chaos in their wake. You were lucky I found you before you turned into something... worse.”
“Lucky?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I watched a man die last week because of me. I drink blood scratch that I crave it and you call that lucky?”
Her gaze softened slightly, and that made it worse fuck it I didn’t want her pity.
“Then teach me,” I said suddenly. “If you’re going to stalk me, ruin my life, and play professor, then fine teach me. Whatever control you think I can have just tell me what to do so I stop killing people.”
She blinked, surprised by the edge in my tone. Then, slowly, she smiled again this time genuinely amused.
“Good,” she said. “You’re angry, that means you’re still fighting.”
“Yeah, well,” I muttered. “Anger’s free therapy.”
She laughed, a soft sound that somehow still made the hairs on my neck rise. “Then let’s start with something simple.”
I raised a brow. “Like what?”
She leaned casually against her desk, crossing one leg over the other. “How about we go hunt something harmless? A squirrel, maybe a rabbit, You need to practice control, Lilian not bury it.”
I stared at her wide eyed who the fuck hurt innocent creatures. “You’re joking.”
Her lips twitched. “Do I look like I joke?”
I groaned. “Oh, no shit! You actually mean it.”
“Yes,” she said simply. “You need to start somewhere, preferably not with another human corpse.”
“Great,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “So my big redemption arc starts with murdering woodland creatures.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re not murdering them. You’re feeding from them, there’s a difference.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“Then maybe you should stop standing and start learning.”
The way she said it made it sound less like a suggestion and more like a command. That invisible pull in my chest tightened again the one that made me want to obey even when I didn’t want to.
I bit my tongue. “Why do I even feel like this around you? Like I can’t.... ”
“Resist?” she finished for me. “It’s part of the bond Whoever turns you, their blood leaves traces of anchors. You’re drawn to those with similar energy. That’s why you feel it.”
“So you’re saying I’m stuck with you.”
She smiled faintly. “Think of me as your reluctant mentor.”
“Oh, lucky me.”
The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the silence that followed. She began stacking the last of her papers, completely unbothered, while I stood there simmering in frustration and confusion.
Finally, I muttered, “When?”
“When what?” she asked like she didn't know what I was talking about.
“When do we go chase squirrels, obviously.”
Her lips curved into that infuriating half-smile. “Tonight after your shift at the coffee shop, don't want you to loose money now do we?.”
I frowned. “How do you even....”
“I know things and I've visited once remember,” she said lightly, grabbing her bag. “Don’t be late.”
She started toward the door, the click of her heels echoing in the empty classroom.
“Hey,” I called after her. “What If I say no?”
She paused, turned slightly, her profile glowing faintly in the late afternoon light.
Then she said it softly, but with a promise that made my stomach twist.
“Then, Lilian… I’ll make you.”
And just like that, she was gone, I stood there long after the door closed, staring at the empty desk she’d left behind.
Miss Vale was the new literature teacher while Seraphine, the vampire who wouldn’t let me run.
Same monster just some damn disguise, I don't know what she sees in me though.
I pressed a trembling hand to my chest, feeling the faint pulse beneath my skin.
It wasn’t hunger this time. It was something stranger, fear and curiosity twisted together.
“Great,” I muttered. “Guess I’m going squirrel hunting with the devil herself.”