Vampire Assassin: Love and Lies

The courtyard buzzing with tales of the competition. The successful students bragged about their prowess while the ones that lost gave one excuse or the other Under the sprawling oak tree, Nadia sat, knees drawn to her chest. The weight of Cassius's latest tirade lingered like a storm cloud, her thoughts a tangled mess.

She pressed her back against the rough bark and sighed, trying to push it all away.

"Brooding again?" a familiar voice teased.

Her head snapped up, and there he was—Damian Vesper. His green blazer hung loosely over his broad shoulders, the gold accents on the school crest gleaming in the afternoon sun. His dark tie was slightly loosened, giving him an effortlessly casual look that stood out against the disciplined attire of the other students.

"Damian," she said softly, almost unsure if she wanted him to stay or leave.

He smirked, a faint glint of mischief in his gray-blue eyes. "Mind if I join you?"

Without waiting for her permission, he settled beside her, leaning back on his hands. His movements were unhurried, deliberate, as if he owned the space around him. The sharp green of his blazer caught her attention again, and despite herself, her gaze lingered.

"You always sit here looking this lost, or am I just lucky today?" he asked, his tone light.

Nadia huffed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Just trying to think."

"Think, or overthink?"

She didn't answer right away, instead tracing circles on the grass. Her mind swirled with frustration—at Cassius, at herself, at the expectations that shackled her.

"Let me guess," Damian continued. "Cassius again."

Nadia's shoulders stiffened, and he chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."

"It's not that simple," she mumbled.

"Nothing ever is," Damian said, his voice softer now. He tilted his head, watching her with an intensity that made her heart race.

She tried not to look at him, but it was impossible to ignore the way the sunlight softened his sharp features, the way his quiet confidence filled the space between them. And there was something else—a depth in his gaze that seemed to say he understood her in ways no one else did.

Nadia bit her lip, hating the warmth that spread through her chest. How could someone like Damian, with his carefree demeanor and quiet strength, draw her in so effortlessly?

And then there was Cassius.

Before she could drown in her thoughts, Damian spoke again. "You know, you don't have to stay stuck in someone else's idea of what your life should be."

She frowned. "It's not that easy. My father… he's worked so hard to secure his position in the empire. Breaking off with Cassius would—"

"Jeopardize it?" Damian finished, his voice sharper now.

Nadia nodded, feeling the weight of that truth settle heavily on her. "Cassius knows it, too. He's threatened it before—said he could convince the council to oust my father if I ever tried to leave."

Damian's jaw tightened, his usually calm demeanor replaced by something colder, fiercer. "That's low, even for him," he muttered.

The way he said it, the quiet steel in his voice, made Nadia glance at him again. She hadn't expected him to care. Not really. But there it was—a flicker of something genuine in his expression.

Unbidden, a memory surfaced: the first time she saw Damian at the academy. He'd walked into the school premises with that same green blazer, his stride easy, his smirk infuriating. Back then, she'd dismissed him as another arrogant troublemaker. But now…

Now she wasn't so sure.

And Damian, for all his nonchalance, found himself equally drawn to her. He admired the way she carried herself—the strength she tried to hide behind polite smiles, the fire that burned just beneath the surface. He saw it now, in the way her eyes sparkled with defiance even as she spoke of Cassius's threats.

He wanted to tell her she deserved better. That she wasn't just a pawn in Cassius's games or her father's ambitions. But he didn't. Damian Vesper wasn't a knight in shining armor. He wasn't anyone's savior.

Still, the way she looked at him, her gaze hesitant yet searching, made him wonder what it would be like to try.

"Well, isn't this cozy."

The sharp voice shattered the fragile moment.

Cassius stood a few feet away, his expression dark and stormy. His uniform was immaculate, but the rigid set of his shoulders betrayed his barely contained rage.

"Vesper," Cassius growled, his voice dripping with venom. "Do you have a death wish, or are you just too stupid to know your place?"

Damian stood slowly, brushing off his blazer with deliberate calm. The movement only seemed to enrage Cassius further.

"Neither," Damian said coolly. "But thanks for asking."

Cassius's eyes flicked to Nadia. "And you," he spat. "What are you doing with him? Do you have any idea what this looks like?"

"It's none of your business," Nadia snapped, standing to face him.

"It is my business," Cassius shot back. "Do you think the council will tolerate this? That your father will, when I tell him how you've been consorting with someone like—"

"Enough," Damian interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. He stepped closer to Cassius, his height giving him an edge. "You want to drag her father into this? Fine. But don't think for a second I'll let you use her as leverage."

Cassius's aura flared, the air around him crackling with energy. "You think you can challenge me, Vesper? You're nothing but a—"

"Stop!" Nadia's voice rang out, cutting through the tension. Her aura flared, bright and commanding, forcing both boys to step back.

"This isn't about you, Cassius," she said, her tone sharp. "Or your ego. I'm done being treated like a pawn in your games."

Cassius stared at her, stunned. "Nadia, you don't mean that."

But she didn't waver. Instead, she turned and walked away, her steps firm and unyielding.

As she passed Damian, she paused briefly. Her gaze flicked to his, and for a moment, the world seemed to still. There was something in his eyes—a quiet understanding, a reassurance she hadn't expected.

"Thank you," she murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.

Damian didn't respond, but the faint smile he gave her sent heat rushing to her cheeks.

When she disappeared into the crowd, Damian turned back to Cassius. "Word of advice," he said, his voice steady. "Next time, try treating her like a person instead of a prize."

And with that, he walked away, the sharp green of his blazer disappearing around the corner.