The Vampire's Bride

"But are those even real?"

Leo's question stunned Mallory for a moment. It wasn't until she realized what he said that her mind started processing once more. She felt... terribly calm. She was surprisingly calm that it scared her.

Does that mean... Master Orpheus knew?

Leo watched for her reaction and felt it was weird. She had no reaction at all. He knew she was... calm. But why? With her usual attitude, she would have been scared.

But no, she was not scared. Something else must be going on...

"Hey! Hurry up, Mallory!" Leo called and Mallory quickly snapped out of her thoughts.

"Y-Yes." Mallory started catching up to Leo while she was still thinking about his question.

...

At first, Leo and Mallory were walking besides each other. But Mallory felt pairs of eyes staring at them. She subconsciously glanced around and saw people gossiping. Others were staring at her while some were just simply looking. She looked up and saw that Leo was not affected at all.

She heaved a sigh of relief but then realized that she shouldn't be too close to Leo. Even if Leo did not mind, his reputation was at stake when he was with her. With a bit of hesitation, Mallory walked slower than Leo, until she was a few steps behind him.

Mallory walked slower once more...

And Leo walked besides her again...

...

T-This... Master Orpheus is doing it on purpose!

Every time she walked slower, Leo would match her pace. This caught even more attention than they had when they stepped inside the school this morning.

Mallory prayed to the Gods to spare her. If she stepped to the sides, Leo would follow her. If she slowed down, Leo would also slow down. If she walked faster, Leo would still catch up! If she stopped... then he would, without a doubt, stop as well.

Mallory opened her mouth to protest but she heard other students gossiping a bit louder than before.

"Uwah... the freak is actually gutsy."

"See? Who gave her the right to even walk within his range?"

"Azazel is such a gentleman to not chase her away. If it was me, I'd kick her away from my sight! My eyes are already going blind just by looking at her!"

"And she even smells..."

"Ew... disgusting."

"That's why Azazel is the best! You wimpy guys can't even handle her at all! Look at Azazel, he doesn't react - he simply ignores her!"

The students laughed at the last sentence. "Haha! I guess, we have to give it to Azazel! We, boys, admit defeat when it comes to the freak!"

Mallory bit her lower lip and kept her head down. She tightly grabbed the edge of her polo and tried to ignore their words.

"Hey, hey. Want to learn a thing about ignoring the freak from Azazel? Watch this."

"A-Ah?!" Mallory yelped as quiet as a bee when she felt her body falling down. She could see the floor in front of her and a shoe besides her. That's when she realized what happened.

The student had deliberately tripped her. She was not fast enough to react and could only close her eyes and waited for the impact.

She prayed quietly that everything would be fine.

Instead, she prayed that Leo would not react!

Please! Please do not react! Please! Please let me go!!!

A soft "thud" was heard and Mallory knew that it was no use.

Mallory lacked the tears to cry when she felt the familiar touch on her arm and shoulder.

It's literally no use... M-Master Orpheus is just... so unfair.

"You okay?" Leo asked as he helped her back on her feet.

Mallory gave him a dejected smile and said robotically, "Yes. Thank you very much."

Leo's lips twitched. Oi oi! I helped you not damage your face, okay?! Show a little appreciation!

Unless... you wanted me to actually follow the gossip?

Mallory silently yelped as she saw Leo's smirk. She did not know why but that scared her even more.

She could literally see devil horns and a tail growing out of Leo's body.

She could only think of one thing: I'm D.E.A.D.

"T-That..."

"Wh-What happened?"

"Azazel... saved her?"

The students were quiet for a moment before someone started commenting.

They all looked at each other. The man who tripped Mallory was frozen stiff and could only pull his leg back awkwardly.

Isn't this the handsome but apathetic prince rumored to be in the Night Class? Isn't he supposed to ignore the freak?

What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On?!

"N-No way!"

"What is Azazel doing?!"

"He... just saved her, right?"

"My eyes are fine?! I thought I needed to recheck them!"

The man who tripped Mallory meekly asked, "A-Azazel, what are you doing?"

Leo looked at him coldly and glanced around the hallway. Everyone shivered as they heard his cold voice, "What? You guys don't know that you're supposed to help others when they fall? Don't tell me that you guys are cowards!"

With that, Leo pulled Mallory out of the scene. "Let's go."

...

Leo entered their classroom with Mallory besides him. The moment they stepped inside, everyone in the class stayed quiet and watched the two. This was the reaction Mallory expected.

She sighed and quickly went to her seat. She fixed her things on the table, getting ready for the next class when she heard a screeching noise besides her. She curiously looked at it and when she did, she sincerely hoped she did not.

"What? Something wrong?" Leo asked as he settled in.

Mallory's lips twitched as she watched Leo acting like that was his place.

Yes, something is wrong, Master Orpheus...

Your seat is at the front! Why are you sitting besides me?!

Where are the Gods?! Are you not even listening to my pleads?!

...

Time in school was very slow for Mallory. When she realized it, it was already dismissal. As she was packing her bag, she felt exhausted.

The reason?

Well, for the whole day, Leo was like a leech staying by her side in every subject, including break and lunch time.

"Mallory! Let's go home for the day!" Leo called after he passed his homework to their classmate.

"I-I might go alone," Mallory mumbled. She did not want to attract anymore attention from the students.

If things go out of hand... her family might use it to their advantage...

"What are you saying? Come on! Let's g– –"

"Azazel from the Night Class, please go to the principal's office. Azazel from the Night Class, please go to the principal's office right now. Thank you."

The notice was broadcasted all over the school. Mallory and Leo looked at each other in confusion.

"I'm being called," Leo stated.

"Y-Yes..."

"Let's go." Leo did not wait for her reply and once again, pulled her out of the classroom.

Mallory felt like crying. Why am I being dragged around by Master Orpheus?!?!