Page 14 of Before We Burn

“It’s sad when beautiful things begin to die.” She turns to look at me, her eyes wide and wet as if they’ve filled with tears.

My brows instantly pull together, and I go stiff. I take a moment, as if thinking about what she said, but I’m just trying to get a grasp on my own emotions.

“Beautiful things are meant to die like anything else. Death isn’t something that cares about beauty or hopes and dreams. Just the natural order. Balance.” The words feel like acid as they leave my tongue.

“Vampires aren’t natural,” Bunny says, matter-of-factly. “Vampires are beautiful things that aren’t meant to die.”

She turns her body to face me, and I take a moment to look her over. She has bags under her eyes, which is something that occurs during your first year as the body adjusts to vampirism. She has her hair styled in two flat twists with the back out and her coils loose.

“Your hair looks lovely today.” I tried to keep my tone as calm as possible, but I feel the anxiety building in my chest.

Bunny touches her hair, a smile spreading across her face. “Thank you. I didn’t know what to do with it. I like to experiment, and this place doesn’t have many products for hair like mine.”

“I’ll get you some.” I move to my desk quickly, digging into the supply drawer I keep for anytime one of my students needs something.

It’s stacked with essentials, like soft toothbrushes—something no one thinks about. Your gums are so sensitive when you first turn, so the hard bristles of a regular one hurt. Besides, we don’t actually need toothpaste or anything to physically clean them, just some water and brushing so the blood doesn’t stain. I also stocked up on hair supplies no one thought of.

The school supplies the basics—clothes, shoes, hair ties, and bathing supplies—but that was about it. The professors and staff take on the rest. Sahara is known for supplying undergarments—most made by hand for the students—since she’s an excellent seamstress and her speed allows her to make a lot of them. Erik, the feeding instructor, provides herbs for those who can’t rest. And I provide various things; students just need to ask.

Out of my supplies, I pull out a leave-in conditioner, a styling cream, gel, and a scarf so Bunny doesn’t have to worry about her protective styles being messed up. I put them in a small bag and handed them over.

I smile brightly, pride swelling in my chest. Bunny takes it, smiling as she looks at the contents. “You’re very kind. Too kind for me to believe you used to be an assassin. Too kind to believe you killed all those people.”

I step back before I realize it. My eyes widen in shock, and I let out a shaky laugh. “That was a different time.”

She shakes her head. “Time doesn’t matter; the person does. You killed them because you thought it was right.”

I’m so stunned I don’t know what to say. “I—I…Uh—” Nothing comes to me. I take another step back as Bunny stands.

“You’ll be on the right side of history. I know you will. Just like the moon, we all have different phases. Yours will be transformative this season.”

She slings her backpack over her shoulder, her eyes glued to mine as she gives me another small smile. “I know I make no sense, and I wish I could tell you more. But we just share the same protective instincts.”

Bunny moves to leave the room, but I step in front of her. My hands find her arms and grasp tight. “Is there something I need to protect you from? Is there something you need help with?” I ask, the words rushed and whispered.

She looks at the door then back to me. Soon she will be in another class and Alexander will be knocking on my door with the threat of the council. She shouldn’t know that, but I have a feeling she does.

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “Maybe I’ll be the one to protect you.”

With that, she walks past me without glancing back, and my stomach lurches.

Students begin to pile in for my next class, their chatter becoming background noise as I sort through the thoughts in my head.

Bunny is special. Bunny is someone the council would seek out to make themselves stronger. But they are not kind nor careful, and they would do to Bunny what they did to me and Constantine.

I refuse to allow another poor soul to be ravaged by them. I refuse to allow Bunny to become a pawn in a system that wasn’t designed with her well-being in mind.

Mindlessly, I walk back to my desk, taking a seat and looking at the Bloodlings sitting before me, all young and lost. Footsteps in the hall echo and draw my attention. I know who it is from the piercing whistle that follows, and when Alexander stops in front of my classroom door, my decision is made.

Bunny will be under my protection from here on out. I won’t allow Alexander to be within two feet of her if I can help it.

Our eyes lock, his blue icicles in competition with my lush greens. He smirks and turns to face me fully, almost as if he knows what I figured out. But I don’t care if he did.

Without hesitation, I get up from my seat, walk to the door, and slam it in his face. I know I’ll get spoken to about it at some point, but it felt good in the moment.

“Alright,” I say to the class. “What adventure shall we go on today?”

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