Chapter 1 Playing with fire.

Rowena's POV. 1.

Being in college should be the best time in every girl's life-like getting your first real boyfriend or when your crush surprises you with flowers. That kind of happiness. That kind of excitement.

And getting into Blue Vi College? It should've been a dream. A place filled with the elite, the powerful, and the supernatural. Vampires, witches, werewolves-you name it. A school where magic ruled the halls, and danger walked beside beauty.

But for me? It wasn't a dream. It wasn't happiness either. It was the beginning of something else entirely.

"Rowena!"

Cindy's voice rang through the break room the school cafeteria, cutting through my thoughts, even loud enough to turn a few heads. I sighed, gripping my fork tighter as I turned to see her waving from the door, her face splitting with that ridiculously cheerful grin of hers.

Somehow,I worried her cheeks would crack one day. I was just about to take another spoonful of this excuse for food – seriously, you'd think a place like Blue Vi College would have better catering to us the less people.

Sometimes I really hated being human in this supernatural school. Blue Vi was supposedly one of the best universities in New York, but it was obvious who the favorites were. My dad pulled some strings to get me in, and that wasn't the only reason why I am here. My mother's death, Brought me Here.

Here, the supernaturals lived on easy street, and for a human to even get a seat at the high table, you either had to be loaded or come from a loaded family.

I had become pretty much invisible around here. One wrong move, one slip-up, and you could open a can of serious supernatural whoop-ass. Constant bullying, being someone's errand girl, or running dirty work for the... top students.

"Rowena?" Cindy called again, her smile still plastered on her face as she hurried towards me, practically wrestling with her overflowing bag. Always a mess.

"You always do that..." she said, pointing at me with a playfully shocked expression.

"Do what?" I asked, my voice sounding flatter than I intended.

"Rowena Northwood!" Cindy snapped, her tone suddenly a little more serious.

I raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"You always isolate yourself. Like you're convinced the entire world is out to get you or something. And besides," her nose crinkled with distaste, "why are you here eating that?" She still looked ready to burst with whatever she was about to say, but I cut her off.

I gave her a blank stare. "Because I'm hungry? What else should I be doing?" I asked, my brow furrowed.

"Ugh, whatever. That's not why I came," Cindy said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"There's drama outside. And you need to see it, and I don't think you'd want to miss the drama for... this," she said, pointing at my food with disgust on her face and excitement vibrating off her.

I arched a brow. "Drama? No way I'm going out."

"Rowena, stop being difficult. Please? Just come see the drama! it's Jason again. He's bullying some poor girl, and everyone's out there watching. Seriously, it's going to be fun to watch!" she gushed.

My grip on the fork tightened. "Jason?"

Jason Castillo.

Blue Vi College's golden prince.

"I'm not going," I said, shaking my head. "I don't care about his stupid games, and after I'm done, I have another class. So, either go watch your drama alone, or... join me... for the next class." I said flatly, crossing my arms. I turned back to my lunch immediately.

Cindy groaned. "Oh, come on! Skipping one class won't kill you Rowena! Besides, you're already the best in class, like, the top student! Just come with me already!"

"It's not about the class," I muttered. "I just don't want to waste my time watching that prick feed his god complex."

Damn it! I really didn't want to go. Especially since it involved him. Jason. The airhead, popular vampire prince of Blue Vi. If he ever went a day without tormenting some girl, I'd probably believe the world was ending. Always bullying and taunting people. He had the looks, the money, and the annoying supernatural advantage. His perfect complexion and ridiculously handsome face seemed to excuse him from every single rule.

Damn him.

I let out a heavy sigh, pressing my fingers against my temple. Cindy was relentless. Or maybe a little curiosity from me...

"Fine," I muttered, standing up. "I'll go look."

Cindy shrieked, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the door. I barely had time to grab my bag before we stepped out of the break room and into the bright afternoon light. The moment we reached outside the break room, I knew this was a mistake.

The crowd was much, voices rising in excitement, laughter ringing through the air like a sick melody. I didn't need to see what was happening to know-Jason was at it again.

"See? Told you it'd be worth it," Cindy whispered, eyes glowing with anticipation.

I swallowed, my stomach churning as I caught sight of the scene in front of me.

A girl...she couldn't have been older than me, was on the ground, her arms trembling as she tried to push herself up. Her dress was ripped, blood smeared across her cheek, bruises already forming along her arms. She was crying.

And standing over her was him.

Jason Castillo.

But Jason wasn't just some spoiled, arrogant heir.

He was feared, Untouchable, and Worshiped.

Even the Supernatural Council----the ones who were supposed to keep order-looked the other way when it came to Jason. He wasn't just another rich supernatural student. His family owned the supernatural world, even the school.

I had seen the aftermath of his bullying before-the trembling students, the bruises, the humiliation. And people loved it. They cheered him on like he was some kind of king, while the victims were left broken.

I had never spoken to him. Never crossed his path.

Because to Jason Castillo, people like me didn't exist.

And I wanted to keep it that way.

And then there were his eyes.

A deep, piercing red that seemed to glow under the sun. Cold. Uncaring. Like the rest of us were nothing but insects beneath his feet.

The girl whimpered, her whole body shaking. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out, "P-please... Jason, I swear... I didn't mean to!"

Jason crouched in front of her, a slow, lazy smirk twisting his lips. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse before killing it. His fangs were visible in the dim light, sharp and waiting.

"You stepped on my foot, human." His voice was smooth, almost amused, like her terror was some kind of joke.

The girl swallowed hard. "I...I stepped on your foot by accident! I didn't mean-"

Jason's smile vanished. So fast I almost missed it. He grabbed her chin, yanking her head back so hard she gasped. My stomach clenched.

"Accident?" His voice was softer now-too soft. Deadly. "You think I care?"

Her breath hitched. I felt a knot forming in my chest. The crowd around them laughed, the sound echoing in the night, bouncing off the walls like ugly taunts.

"Pathetic." "She should have known better." "Stupid human." Someone murmured.

Jason ignored them. His eyes were locked on the girl, like she was the only thing in the world. He sighed, like he was bored. "And yet, here we are."

His fingers tightened on her chin, nails digging into her skin. I could practically feel her pain. He tilted her head back, exposing her throat. She gasped, her eyes wide with horror, but Jason just watched-like he was savoring it. Like he enjoyed it. My hands curled into fists. I hated this.

"Nobody's bothered to teach you any damn respect yet," he murmured, his voice like silk over a razor blade. His thumb brushed over her pulse, which was probably going a mile a minute. "Guess I'll have to do it in own fucking way."

And then-it happened.

Her flesh Ripped under his claws, skin peeling away in rough and brutal strips as Jason dragged his sharp fingers down the girl's throat. She shrieked, thrashing, but he held her still-one hand clamped around her waist, the other digging mercilessly into her flesh. Blood poured from the gashes, thick and dark, soaking her collar.

Her body convulsed, her fingers twitching as she tried to push him away, but Jason only tightened his grip, his expression twisted in something almost dangerous. He wasn't just feeding-he was savoring it.

His nails carved deeper, tearing muscle, and the girl let out a choked sob, her legs giving out. The scent of blood filled the air, thick and metallic, mixing with the sound of wet, ragged gasps.

I couldn't look away. My stomach churned, my hands trembling at my sides. I should stop this. I had to stop this.

The crowd roared. They were loving this. Sickos.

That's when I snapped.

"STOP!"

The word ripped through the air, sharp and unexpected.

Jason's head snapped up. Slowly, so slowly, his blood-red eyes locked onto mine.

His face didn't change. No anger, no shock-just... stillness. But behind it, I saw something else. A flicker of predatory interest. Like a lion spotting a new target.

The blood on his lips glistened under the lights as he straightened up. He was tall. Intimidating.

"Who," he said, his voice dangerously calm, "the fuck do you think you are?"

His gaze felt like a physical weight, pinning me to the spot. The crowd had stopped laughing. Everyone was watching, waiting.

And for the first time since I'd walked into this hellhole of a school...

I had Jason's full attention.