YAY!!! I'm done! There's some good material here (in my biased opinion) and it's my longest chapter yet - six pages in Word rather than three or four... so read and review and enjoy!
(IV) Passing Notes and Sneaking into Off-Limits Supply Cupboards Without Getting Caught (IV)

Classes began the next night for Araea. Luckily, Inferno was not in her class, but Rakkel was, and he saved her a seat at the back. He gave her a high five as she sat down.

"Welcome to boredom city," he drawled, leaning back in his chair so that the back leaned against the wall, and his chair sat at a forty-five degree angle to the floor. He played with a lighter under his desk, and chewed thoughtfully on a plastic straw.

Araea sat down and pulled out a binder. "I hate biology."

"Where did you go to school?"

"Some place in the inner city. It was a night school, and was probably full of murderers and thieves. Luckily, I can take care of myself."

"Yeah," he flicked his lighter closed as the teacher walked in. She was a tall pale woman who seemed no older than twenty. She shot an inconspicuous wink in Rakkel's direction, and he returned it, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a slight smile.

Araea turned to him and mouthed 'What?' at him.

He pulled out a small piece of paper and scrawled a note on it. He handed it to her. She smoothed it out.

She's a vampire too. She and I, well, we're... yeah... but you can't tell anyone, 'kay? Not even 'ferno knows... about her being a vampire or about... well...

Araea frowned at him, but scribbled a note back.

Why doesn't Inferno know about her being a vampire? And why are you telling me about... the other thing... if you aren't going to tell your best friend?

She handed it to him and he read it. He was just about to write back, but a tall, intimidating woman walked in. His eyes widened, and he hurriedly burned the paper to ashes.

'Principal' he mouthed, and sat up straight in his seat.

"I would just like to welcome Araea Anderson to our school," the principal said, gesturing to the back, where Araea sat petrified in shock. Everyone turned to look at her. She shrank down in her desk until they looked away, uninterested. The principal continued, "And it is time for your monthly evaluation, Miss Kiouriou , so I will sit in the corner, like I always do. Go on."

Miss Kiouriou nodded curtly, gave what almost seemed like a shudder and turned to the class. "Welcome Araea. Now, I would like you all to take out your notes from last class. Now the anatomy of a toad..."

Rakkel scribbled on a piece of paper under his desk, dropped it to the floor and kicked it sharply to Araea, keeping his eyes focussed on the front. Araea pretended to drop her pen, and bent over to pick the paper up.

I didn't know your last name was Anderson.

Araea scribbled quickly back and tossed it underhand to Rakkel, who caught it without having to move much. The principal shot a look in her direction, but saw only a student focussed intently on the subject of toad anatomy.

Rakkel read the note and chuckled.

It's not. My last name's Diokru . I think Sikou decided on a plainer name without consulting me. But the principal's looking in our direction. I'll talk to you after class - in the common room... Unless you need to catch up on your beauty sleep.

Rakkel glanced at her and rolled his eyes. Then, as the principal looked sharply in their direction again, he shoved the note into his backpack and began furiously copying the notes from the board. Araea did the same, trying not to laugh, as she watched Rakkel out of the corner of her eye. He had the most demonic looking grimace she had ever seen plastered across his face. It was evident that he hated biology. The principal shot her a look to kill as a small giggle escaped her. She bent lower over her desk and resumed note writing as quickly as possible.

Finally, after about five eternities and three thousand seventy-two years, five months, seven days and three hours had passed, class was over. The principal nodded curtly to Miss Kiouriou and walked briskly out of the room. The students filed sleepily out, murmuring to each other about various things. Rakkel grabbed Araea's arm before she was able to leave and pulled her over to the teacher's desk.

She looked up as they approached, and smiled.

"Miss Anderson, I presume?" She reached out a hand, and Araea took it, feeling slightly better that there was even another person of her ilk at the school.

"She's new in our... erm... family," Rakkel told her, leaning against the desk, almost falling over as it shifted slightly. He stood up hurriedly and straightened the piece of furniture out. Kiouriou smiled at him and looked back at Araea.

"So, why would Rakkel bring you to see me? Usually, I just see his new friends hanging around with him in places."

"Well, she's kinda one of us," he emphasized the 'us', hoping she would get the hint. Luckily for him, it worked.

"I see," she steepled her fingers in front of her, staring over top of them at the two friends, "but what do you mean by, 'kinda'?"

"I'm, er, fifty-fifty, if you know what I mean."

"I see, and you still need blood to survive?"

"Yeah."

"In the biology storeroom, there is a large supply of blood, if you don't mind that it's not fresh," Kiouriou smiled, "and that, if you were wondering, is the reason why Rakkel brought you to me."

Rakkel nodded and put on a cocky smile. Kiouriou nodded at him and continued, "I can't get it for you. You will have to get there and out by yourself, as, if I am caught doing something like that, I will lose my job. I feel it is important to always have someone like me in the school at all times. I can give you the access code to the lock on the door, but it is your responsibility to stay out of sight. Rakkel can tell you where it is. Capeesh?"

Araea nodded, trying to keep her heart under control. She didn't want to sneak around the school alone.

"Can you remember the access code if I tell you?"

"Yeah, I suppose."

"Good. It's..." she leaned over and whispered it in Araea's ear. Araea repeated it back quietly. The teacher nodded.

"Now go, I've got work to do."

Araea headed for the door, beckoning Rakkel to follow. Her friend shook his head, saying, "I'll be there in a minute. Go on without me, 'kay?"

"Okay..." She left, understanding his reasoning.

As the door clicked shut behind Araea, Rakkel turned to Kiouriou and gave her an adoring look.

"Ah, alone again."

She sighed and looked up at him, "I'll tell you again. This isn't right."

"I know," Rakkel twisted his mouth into a wry smile, "but I just can't stay away. I need you, you know."

"Yes, but - what if we're caught together. In their eyes, this is an illegal act."

"Then we won't get caught." He walked over to the door and locked it. Walking back, he ran his hands through his hair, making it stick up even more. He stopped beside her desk and smiled down at her. Leaning over, he planted a kiss on her lips.

She shrank away from him and put her head in her hands.

"I know this isn't right, but somehow, I don't want it to stop," she whispered down to her desk.

Rakkel crouched down next to her and pulled her hands into his own. Looking at her meaningfully, he whispered back, "It doesn't have to."

He pulled her off her chair into a hug and leaned his chin on the top of her head. She struggled for a moment, but then subsided and relaxed in his embrace. She gripped his shirt with shaking hands, and pulled him closer to her.

They sat like this on the floor for awhile, until a knock at the door pulled them out of reverie. Rakkel let her go and sprang to his feet. He made himself look busy at some school project while Kiouriou straightened herself out and went to the door. She pulled the door open to reveal an upset looking Inferno. Rakkel turned as Inferno stepped into the room and walked toward him.

Inferno grabbed his friend's arm and pulled him out of the room, Rakkel giving a confused glance backward to where Kiouriou stood, bewildered. As he closed the door behind them, Inferno turned to Rakkel, betrayal written on his features.

"I need to talk to you."

Araea paced around the common room, gaining some irritated glares from various people who had been jerked out of their trances. She knew it was wrong that Rakkel was, well, involved with a teacher and that he hadn't told his best friend, but had told someone he barely knew. She finally flopped down on the couch that had been occupied by Rakkel when she had first arrived, sending a cloud of dust out into the room. Sikou, entering the room and seeing the frown on Araea's face, sat down softly beside her friend.

"Why so glum?" She asked, leaning forward, moving her body into a pose identical to the half-vampire's and positioning her facial features into an identical scowl.

"It- it's nothing really," Araea said evasively, trying to shake off the doubt. Rakkel knew what he was doing, didn't he?

Sikou didn't buy her act for a minute. "Did something happen in bio?" She asked. "If Rakkel was trying to hit on you-"

"It's nothing like that," Araea interrupted hastily, embarrassed that Sikou would think such a thing.

"Then what is it like?"

"Leave me alone."

"Tell me!"

Araea rolled her eyes and stood up. Walking over to her new room, she looked back at Sikou briefly and stepped inside, closing the door sharply behind her.

The room was dark, due to the dark curtains, and the fact that it was currently nighttime outside. The first time she had been in here, she had immediately seen why this dormitory had been abandoned before Inferno had claimed it. The curtains on both the windows and the old fashioned four poster bed were slightly ragged and the walls were networked with cracks. The room had obviously previously belonged to someone violent in nature, as deep crevices marked the bed and walls. However, it seemed somewhat cozy to one of her nature, as she had spent most of her life in rotting abandoned buildings and graveyards. The bedding, however, looked cleaner than the rest, and she figured that the students must have cleaned all the empty rooms for newcomers. Well, partially cleaned anyway. She flopped down on the bed and cringed as the springs screeched in protest.

She sighed and lay back on the pillows, staring through the hole-riddled canopy on the bed to the wooden paneled ceiling. She would have started thinking again, but sleep took over and she closed her eyes.

Sikou stared at the door for a long while after it had slammed shut. She couldn't quite figure what could have happened to spark such a reaction from her friend. Finally, she gave up and went to finish her math homework.

Inferno's eyes snapped in anger as he backed Rakkel up against the wall. He grabbed a fistful of shirt and pulled his friend's face toward his, locking their gazes.

"What's wrong?" Rakkel asked hesitantly as he felt himself rise slightly off the ground. "Did I do something?" Inferno took a deep breath. "WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THE SOCIAL PROJECT WITHOUT ME?" He yelled, making Rakkel's hair stand on end.

Rakkel stared at him in disbelief. "You mean that's what you're so mad about?" He gasped in shock, trying not to laugh.

"I can't believe you!" Inferno dropped Rakkel hard. He glared even harder as his best friend slid down the wall into a sit and started giggling. "What's so funny?" He snapped.

"You - are - such - a - nerd!" Rakkel gasped between guffaws, slapping the ground beside him. "Come on man, you really need a life."

Inferno glared fiercely for several more seconds, but gave up and let himself lapse into a fit of laughter. It really was stupid, especially considering how much he hated social.

Finally, the laughter subsided and they decided it was time to go back to the common room and do various homework assignments. As they left, Kiouriou came out of the room and slipped Rakkel a piece of paper. When Inferno looked suspiciously at the pair, Rakkel simply explained, 'Homework assignment.' Although he didn't completely trust his friend's word, Inferno took it at face value.

When they reached the common room, Inferno went directly to his room to sleep, so Rakkel took the opportunity to read the note that he had received from Kiouriou.

There will be no teachers in the halls from 11:30 to 12:00 as there is a quick staff meeting. The janitor left on holidays today, so, although it means increased chores for students, he will not be in the hallways either. That would be a good time to take your friend Araea to you-know-where. As she is only half, I assume she doesn't need blood more than once a week, as people like you and I only need it twice a week as it is.
- K

Rakkel smiled and crumpled up the paper, tossing it into the fireplace and watching the flames turn it into grey ash. Looking at the clock, he saw that it was nearly twenty after eleven. He decided he should tell Araea the plan. Although she might not be in total need of blood just yet, if she got some now, it would tide her over for longer, and tonight was the perfect opportunity.

He got up slowly from the couch where he sat and walked over to the door marked '13'. He realized that it was right next to '666' - Inferno's room. Araea wouldn't like that if she found out. He hoped he wouldn't have to be there when she heard about it. He shrugged and rapped on the door with his knuckles, hoping that she was, in fact, in there, and not trying to wander the halls.

He was in luck, as the door opened and Araea stood there, looking slightly tired.

"What?" She asked, none too politely.

"Glad to see you're courteous to your visitors," Rakkel responded "but that's not why I'm here. We can go you-know-where to get the you-know-what at eleven thirty."

"The what?"

"You are a vampire, are you not?"

"Oh. THAT you-know-what in THAT you-know-where."

"What were you thinking of?"

"Never mind."

He gave her a strange look before glancing at his watch. The minute hand was just past the six.

"C'mon, Rae," he grabbed Araea's arm and began tugging her toward the hallway. "We don't have a lot of time, y'know."

"Coming. Geez."

It was silent as they tiptoed down the hall. Luckily, vampires have a knack for slipping in and out of shadows silently, or else they probably would have been caught a long time ago. Finally, after about five minutes, which seemed like five hours, they reached a tall doorway, kept locked by an electronic bolt system.

"Do you remember the code?" Rakkel whispered, or rather breathed just so Araea could hear.

Araea nodded and punched in the numbers. The lock clicked, loud in the quiet stillness of the hallway, and the door swung inward. The pair walked into the storeroom and shut the door behind them. Rakkel moved his hand through the air, and Araea was about to ask him what he was doing, when he jerked down and a dim light bulb flickered on high above them. She gasped in awe as she saw shelves and shelves of experiments and other things that will be left undescribed. Rakkel tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to a small door in the corner. Araea looked back at him, puzzled. He walked over and pushed it open, revealing a large barrel.

"There's blood in there," he whispered. She nodded and walked over to it. It took her several minutes to work the lid open. She hated the smell of blood, although she couldn't help admitting that she liked the taste, but vampires being vampires, she had no choice. She wrinkled her nose as the metallic smell wafted from the container, but went about her business without complaint.

Rakkel winced as the door shut none too gently behind him. The muffled boom echoed hollowly through the hallway. Hearing footsteps approaching, he grabbed Araea's arm and began moving as fast as he could through the shadows toward the common room, pulling his friend along behind him. Araea struggled at first, but heard the footsteps and began to run too. They reached the dormitory several minutes later and collapsed on a couch, breathing heavily.

"That - was - exhilarating," Araea panted, wiping sweat off her forehead.

"Yeah." Rakkel smiled and leaned back, stretching. "Now go to your room and pretend you were sleeping all along, just in case a teacher gets up the courage to see if we're all doing what we are supposed to do."

"Okay," Araea got up and started to walk toward her room.

"Just-" Rakkel started.

Araea stopped and turned to look at him. "Yes?"

"Don't tell ANYONE."

"Right."

"G'night."

"Don't let the bed bugs bite."

Rakkel waited until Araea's door clicked shut before he got up and made his way to his own room - 31.

He cast a backward glance at the painted 13 and smiled. Sikou had probably done that on purpose. Vampires must stick together I suppose, he thought as his own door closed behind him, leaving the common room empty, the flickering torches casting long shadows on the walls until they burned out.

Just a quick note:
The teacher's name is pronounced [key-OH-ree-oh]. This is actually her first name. Vampires rarely use their last names unless they belong to an old, well known clan, like the Joutari clan.

Now you're gonna have to wait for the next chapter, considering right now, I'm cramming for exams and my summer's pretty much jam packed... but i hope you enjoyed it!