Chapter 5 Tension on Campus

The morning at the university presented an almost innocent atmosphere. From one side of the garden to the other, groups could be seen lying on the grass sharing anecdotes while others watched them pretending to study. Selena walked among them, clutching a brown folder in both hands and pressed against her chest. Her hair, as usual, was tied back, hanging down her back. Another night when she wasn't awake enough to start the day.

"Are you going to poetry class?" asked someone walking beside her.

It was Sergio, also a first-semester student. He always wore a smile, his red backpack torn in a corner. A calm, easygoing guy who didn't cause any problems, and that morning he decided to walk a few steps beside her.

"Yes," he replied. "And you?"

"I have music class. See you later in the cafeteria? I'd like to treat you to dessert."

Selena was about to decline the offer, but she saw Adrián standing a few feet away, staring at her. This made her very nervous.

"I accept, see you there," she replied to Sergio. And she changed course, taking a shortcut to the Humanities building.

During class, she felt the weight of stares, both when she left the classroom and during the line to buy coffee. It wasn't her imagination; something physical confirmed it: she felt the chill on her neck.

Lunchtime arrived, and the cafeteria was jammed with people. Selena managed to sit at a table that had just vacated, next to the wall facing the door. And to avoid feeling uncomfortable, she started making a to-do list: homework, calling her mom, shopping. Just then, a tray appeared on her table without her having ordered anything: tea, a sandwich, and a chocolate chip cookie.

"It's already paid for," Luciano stated, as he sat down in the chair opposite her. "Consider it a courtesy to make amends. My brother called me out for being mean to you the other night at the party."

"I didn't ask for anything," Selena replied as she pushed the tray aside.

"I didn't ask for you to show up here either. You seem so..." She gestured with her hand. "Interesting."

With subtlety and elegance, she moved, showing off her body as she took off her jacket. Her perfume mingled with Selena's. A delicious, soft contrast, and Luciano also noticed her sweet scent because he smiled as he inhaled.

"Don't be afraid, this isn't the time I bite pretty girls."

"Luciano," Elías quietly came to Selena's rescue. He was holding several books and a glass of water. He nodded and asked her permission to sit down. "May I?"

"No," she replied, feeling overwhelmed by both of them. Then she changed her mind. "Yes, of course. Excuse me."

Elías sat down next to her, placing the books on his lap so as not to clutter the table.

"Did you come to see how she chews?" she asked jokingly.

"I want lunch," Elias replied seriously.

Only minutes passed before Adrian appeared. He didn't sit down, but rather stood to set limits for his brothers.

"You have class in five minutes. Go, Adrian," Luciano ordered without looking at him.

"I have lunch now," he said, baring his teeth as he bit into half of the sandwich.

Selena swallowed, annoyed at the constant awkwardness.

"I push the tray to the center, rejecting the gesture, and answered.

"I don't need bodyguards. I can take care of myself," she said firmly but without raising her voice.

"You're hurting me," Luciano mocked. "Don't worry, that's not why we're here," Elias clarified gently.

Selena raised her eyebrows.

"Tell me why, I want to know."

Adrian intervened before Luciano.

"Because everything looks so good during the day, but campus isn't the safe place it seems."

"They think that way because they're used to running into three people; I've always walked alone. I'm not afraid of anything."

Luciano smiled as Elías bowed his head. Adrián tensed, struggling with what he felt.

"Please don't get involved."

Selena stood up, annoyed, and grabbed her notebook to leave.

"Enough of telling me what to do."

She moved so quickly that she left the three of them wondering what to say.

In the Sociology hallway, Sergio handed her two coffees and cookies.

"Here, let's share this before we go to class."

Sergio's simplicity touched Selena, who knew he had good intentions.

"Thank you," she took the cup. And she apologized for not waiting for him in the cafeteria.

"Don't worry, the Blackwells cause such discomfort among the students."

Selena laughed at the well-aimed comment. They really liked to draw attention to themselves in the worst possible way.

Behind the glass, Selena could see one of the dark-haired men spying on her.

"Shall I walk you to the library?" Sergio offered.

"Yes, please," he replied. And they walked together.

Up the stairs, exactly two flights separated her from Adrián, who, leaning on the railing, followed them with his eyes. One of her brothers, Luciano, leaned against her side.

"Does she like that human?"

"Shut up, that's enough," Adrian insisted without even turning in his direction.

"You like that woman; she's just accepted your reality. You're doing exactly what you hate: denying your destiny."

"Don't tell me how to do things," he growled.

Elias arrived when the discussion was over to report.

"It smells like iron in the Engineering building."

The three of them looked at each other in silence. The smell came from another pack: iron, rancid oil, and rage.

"Watch the perimeter," Adrian ordered.

"Gladly," Luciano smiled.

"I'll be in the library," Elias clarified.

Adrian hadn't asked him to watch Selena; there was no need. It was a silent language.

Shadows fell under the trees. In the library, everyone occupied a cubicle; Selena was in her usual one. Sergio was next to her.

"If I bother you, tell me and I'll leave," he warned politely.

"You're not bothering me," she replied, smiling. Sergio's energy was light.

He turned on his laptop without looking at it, his gaze drifting beyond the window. When he returned his gaze to the table, he found Elías at a nearby table. He noticed he had a book open, but he wasn't reading or even looking at it.

A message on his phone: "Are you going to the writing workshop today?" It was Daniela.

Selena answered yes.

"Excuse me for interrupting, do you have a highlighter I could borrow?" Sergio asked.

She searched in the highlighter case and found a yellow one.

"It doesn't paint much; see if it helps," she clarified, "it's worn out."

A voice behind her repeated.

"I told you not to get mixed up," Adrian repeated gently.

The librarian scolded them for distracting the students.

"I'm not doing anything, I'm studying," he said to Adrián, as he handed the highlighter to Sergio.

"With that guy?"

"He's my classmate," he retorted. "Can't I?"

Luciano appeared, butting in, as usual, inopportune, and Elías shook his head, annoyed. Sergio shook himself uncomfortably.

"I'd better go, Selena. I don't want to cause you any trouble," Sergio said.

Adrián fixed his eyes on the young man and showed his fangs for the first time. Without another word, Sergio left, barely able to say goodbye.

"I'll write to you later," he muttered.

"Don't go, wait."

He didn't reply, but instead trotted off.

"What a coward," Luciano declared.

"Stop causing trouble, don't you see this isn't the place?" Elías complained, bringing his mouth close to Luciano's face.

Shame was evident on Selena's face, for being in the middle of a sibling fight she didn't think she had started. Plus, she was making a fool of herself with the library staff who watched her calmly arrive and depart daily.

"Why are you watching me? You're making me tired," she said, addressing the three of them. "I don't need you to watch over me or give me advice. You don't even know what I really need."

"What do you want or what do you need?"

She was speechless until she found the words.

"Study in peace, nothing more. With whomever I choose."

Luciano cleared his throat mockingly.

He gave them his worst look and gathered his things to leave.

"Leave me alone, we belong in very different worlds."

When Selena stepped out onto the patio, she felt a chill; the air was very cold and smelled of iron. Although it didn't matter much to her.

The skin on his arms prickled beneath his jacket, a bad feeling creeping in his throat. He ignored it and crossed the garden toward the writing studio.

"Did you smell it? It's that smell again," Elías said.

"I felt it, it's coming from outside," Adrián affirmed.

"Yes, I recognized it too."

"Let it not be tonight, and certainly not near her."

Luciano whistled softly, as if calling a dog.

The campus was preparing for another night while Selena would return to the woods after sleeping.

And someone she hadn't yet met had set their sights on her.