Lorelei's School of Deviltry, Semester One

The depth of Kamila’s fury bled over into lunch. She wasn’t satisfied setting her scope on me. As I walked toward Amatory Hall, I saw Milos. He lingered behind the Vamp Squad. Each time he drew closer, Kamila prompted her minions to move faster. Eventually, she stopped and chastised Milos. After she had her say, she deserted him.

The hangdog, forlorn look on his face let me know that something was up. Ordinarily, I would have said it was a vamp issue and wouldn’t have bothered, but it was Milos. He gave me his support. The least I could do was return the favor.

“Hey,” I said as I approached. “What’s going on?”

He glanced at me. For a second, a glimmer of sadness flickered in his eyes. Then he blinked, and it was gone. “Just Kamila being her fabulous self.”

Nope. Kamila was being mean because of me. “If helping me ostracizes you, then—”

“No!” he shouted. “I don’t care what she thinks. I have a brain and am entitled to do whatever I want.” Milos’s voice softened. “Besides, I don’t have to eat with them. I can eat anywhere I choose.”

“Oh?” I thought the rule was that everyone had to dine in their respective dorm.

Tapping his sport coat pocket, he said, “One of the many benefits of being a vampire.” He waggled his eyebrows. “My lunch is totally portable.”

“Eeeewwww…” My nose wrinkled. “Are you carrying blood?”

“It’s either that or I dine out.” Milos stared at me for a moment. I knew exactly what he meant about dining out. “Care to join me?”

Shaking my head, I took a step backward. “I eat real food.”

He laughed. “This is real food...for vampires. I was suggesting that you grab a sandwich and have lunch with me, silly.”

“Oh.” My gaze dropped to the ground. Man, I felt stupid. “I could do that.”