“Oh my God, we are here! We are really here.” Noelle excitedly exclaimed, quickly forgetting about her interrogation two seconds ago. Her face was a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation as she stared out the window as I drove in.



We'd been warned about CHPU's strict security protocols, and the sight of the stern-faced guards in their crisp uniforms did little to diminish our excitement.



My girls have really made it into this prestigious university. The security guys and their biased scrutiny could suck my… No comments.



Noelle and Janelle had their heads glued to the windows gaping like sold virgins. Perfect.



“Hey girls, don’t embarrass the honor of our parents. Keep your heads in the right place and close your mouths, flies are coming. This is not Disneyland.” I said to them exasperatedly in Spanish.



“Yeah right. This place qualifies as the Disneyland of Universities. It looks amazing and so real” Janelle said excitedly in Spanish, using her hands to cover her mouth from screaming.



Okay, so these tweeps have forgotten that their new school has more supernatural than humans.



But I don’t want to be a killjoy and remind them because I am also excited and super proud of them. Getting into CHPU is not a small mountain, especially by their standards and requirements.



And I am sure Mom and Dad will be proud too. I just hope they don't have troubles here.



Sorry, wrong wish. I hope and pray that they don’t have too many troubles here. Emphasis on ‘too many’.



Following the directions provided by the guard, I pulled up in front of the admissions office. 'Only students are allowed in', was the warning they had told us. Janelle and Noelle exited the car, their faces alight with excitement.



"Will you wait for us here or will you go for a little sightseeing," Janelle said, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment because I can't go in with them.



“Don’t worry Jhene. Everything will be fine. You girls have fun.” I said to her.



“Yeah, Jhene…and I am sure Talia is more excited about attending the book reading by her favorite author in the library… Nerd.” Noelle said, then made a dog face at me.



“Yeah, but you ain't never seen a nerd as hot as this” I replied in Mexican before they walked away towards the admissions building with a wave.



A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I watched Janelle and Noelle disappear into the imposing structure. It had been years since I'd last set foot on a university campus, the memory of my own college experience after I dropped out in my sophomore year was still a raw ache in my chest.



I parked my car and went outside. I took deep breaths as I looked around. The energy here was a choking adrenaline rush for a Siphoner like me. How many other Siphoners are here, and how have they coped?



My favorite author is currently in CHPU's library, doing a book reading for her best-selling series, and I wanted in on it. The book reading is actually not open to the public, but I have the family of new students benefit, or I thought so.



As I walked around, students strolled by, their designer clothes and perfectly styled hair an obvious testament to the university's prestige and class.



A pang of self-consciousness lanced through me. I was dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a fitted nude top. My appearance wasn’t fit for this show of wealth and privilege.



Just as I was about to go back to the car to get my jean jacket and give my look a little style, I heard a loud whistle.



I turned to find a group of guys by the fountain; Werewolves. I could tell from their energy. One of them winked at me with a suggestive grin as he approached me.



Uhhh… Mama’s still got game. I stood and did a signature flip of my hair when he got closer.



Before he could launch into a cheesy pick-up line, I cut him off with a haughty lift of my chin.



"Hey Handsome," I said, my voice cool and haughty, "Do you know where the library is?"



He perused me from head to toe “What’s a gorgeous angel like you looking for in the library?” He is American.



“And how come I have not met a Spanish goddess like you before?” He asked with a winning smile, his eyes appreciative.



“Look boy, I just want to know where the library is, but you look like you have never heard the word before or been there,” I said dismissively as I moved aside to walk away.



His friends snickered in the background. Ahh, Werewolves and their heightened hearing.



The surprise on his face was priceless, though. He stopped me before I walked out, and he gave me directions.



Then he added, "Hey, maybe I could walk you there? You look a little lost."



I arched an eyebrow, a smirk on my lips. "Lost, I can handle. I can always find my way, love," I replied, using my eyes to explain the double meaning behind my words. My tone left no room for argument.



"Thanks for the directions though," I continued as I walked away.



I followed his directions, the imposing brick foundation of the library soon coming into view. It was the largest building in its vicinity.



Stepping inside, I was greeted by silent echoes. The library was very big and busy and there were people everywhere with a lot of corridors and staircases.



I asked at the receptionist's table where the book reading was happening, and a lady distractedly gave me directions, not bothering to look up.



I followed her directions, and I quickly got lost. Oh, no! I could hear the voices, but there were just too many corridors to follow.



I turned a corner and stopped dead in my tracks as I found myself in the same space as him.



Dios! What is he doing here? Here at this moment, at this time? Can’t London give me a break? I know his family owned the school, but come on.



He wasn't alone, though. There were well-dressed security guards at every door in the section where he was, and a gaggle of students, mostly girls, gathered around him, but not too close.



Their faces animated as they openly stared at him in awe and murmured to themselves in elation while he stood proudly having a light-hearted conversation with a lady. A lady who happened to be the very reason why I was here.



There he was talking casually with my favorite well-known author, Alessia Elena Priestley. A woman I admired for her thoughts.



My breath hitched in my throat, and I instinctively took steps back. If I didn’t know any better I would say I wasn’t panicking, but I was and why, is because meeting him here is the last thing I had expected.



Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and fit physique, he looked as arrogant and effortlessly charming as ever.



Just as I was about to melt back into the shadows, his gaze met mine, almost instinctively, like he knew I was there, that I was staring.



A flicker of something – surprise? – crossed his features before he broke into his signature smirk.



I know that look. Time seemed to slow down at that moment as we both stared at each other.



Panic surged through me, the urge to run overriding my senses. I guess he saw the intention in my eyes because he started moving towards me, confident and purposefully, and his entourage parted like the Red Sea.



And like a deer caught in the lights, I took off.



I ran fast without thoughts, bumping into people as I took turns without looking back.



Before I could blink, a strong hand clamped around my wrist, pulling me back into the nearest alcove.



My breath came in ragged gasps as I struggled against my captor’s hold, and then I raised my head to face my captor.



It was him. His hands were firm on my waist, pinning me against the wall.



We stood very close to each other, our noses almost touching as we took in deep breaths. Mine shaky, his deep and calm.



A slow, infuriating smile spread across his face.



"Hello, Foxy," he drawled with his pant-dropping British accentuated voice that was laced with amusement. "Fancy seeing you here." He brushed my hair softly, with a false familiarity. He was taunting me.



My mind scrambled for a coherent response, but all that came out was a shaky, almost husky, "Your Grace... I do not believe we have met before."



My mother always said the best lies are the ones we tell ourselves. Well at this moment, my best lies are the ones I say through my teeth with my eyes gaping wide.



I felt utterly exposed, a rabbit caught in a wolf’s trap. How is it that he has this effect on me?