Belaian angin dingin menyentuh wajah manis gadis remaja berambut koko gelap saat tingkap bilik tidur dibuka. Bunyi kicauan burung yang bingit menyedarkannya dari alam mimpi.

Salji yang kelihatan turun di luar dari tingkap bilik tidur mereka membuat suasana di sekitar kawasan sekolah itu menjadi lebih suram, diisi dengan alanun suara binatang di sekitar.

Like a scene that comes out from a fairy tale book.

Violet yang kembali duduk diatas katil mengambil gelas kata yang berisi coffee, matanya melirik tajam kearah tingkap.

"Vio?" panggilan mengejut Hana membuat gadis berambut pendek yang asyik memerhati permandangan di luar tersentak

Wajah dialih melihat Hana " good morning"

"Morning.." Hana bangun sambil mengeliat " the coffee smell nice."

"Kau boleh bancuh one if kau nak, serbuk kopi ada dalam balang warna hijau atas meja study aku" Violet mempelawa "but aku advice kau siap dulu. The class starts in an hour and you don't want to be late on the first period."

"Oh my god!" Hana melihat jam di telefon bimbit " Kau patut gerak aku awal lagi Vio, oh my god aku harap bilk air tak penuh."

Gadis itu bangun lalu berlari laju kearah pintu bilik dengan tuala di tangan

"Good luck finding an empty bathroom stall" ujar Violet, masih menghirup air coffee dengan tenang.

Mukanya sekali lagi dialih kearah luar tingkap, melihat ketulan salji yang turun tanpa henti, cuba menghayati setiap detik yang berlalu.

What a wonderful way to start a day
.............................................................

-DEMON QUARTER, NIGHT DORM DORM-

"Why can't we just burn this school" suara berang memecah kesunyian ruang tamu yang kesemua hiasannya berwarna hitam

A group of people, each with stunning facial features who also wearing black clothes gather around , making vicious noises.

"Cool down" Castriel sitting in the sofa, crossing his leg and finger under his chins carve an irritating complexion " the kings want us to come here, so here we will be."

"Bullshit" Kyle yang  duduk di sisi meja berhadapan sofa membantah "when they kill Audrey, the peace treaty is officially broken. They kill one of us, it's only normal we kill all of them"

Suasana sedikit tegang sebaik sahaja nama gadis itu disebut. Celeste yang berada di dalam dakapan Damien membaling batang lilin kearah Kyle

"Shut up." Celeste mengeluh " listen, the point is, we all come here because we want to make an alliance and friend between races kan?"

"Nope, just you" Ivy menyilang rambut " how even King Adriel have a daughter like you Celess? You too soft-hearted to be called a demon"

"Hey!" Celeste membantah " but seriously guys, it"s was fun kan the time we spend in this school. Come on, dari menghadap api serta lava panas and all those hideous monsters and screaming humans in hell, living here is a blessing."

"Stupid blessing" Kyle meletakkan lilin yang menyala tiba-tiba keatas meja " you sound like that foolish angel, blessing this, blessing that. Hell is billions times better than this place. The reason why our parents hantar kita ke sini is because they got nothing to do. They too bored to the point they actually agree to play this childish game with Ravaryn"

"aku tahu.." Celeste mencengkam tangan " tapi guys, bila kita datang sini, we did made friend with them, kenapa nak hancurkan persahabatan tu just because.."

"So, kau lebih pentingkan nak jaga hati those creatures from the fact yang one of them kill Audrey? Our Audrey?" satu suara dingin dari sisi kiri Celeste memotong percakapannya.

Celeste mengangkat muka kearah suara tersebut. A guy, with black comb hair, a pair of glasses, and a black long coat and knitwear, complementing his light skin tone looking back at her.

"Kau tahu bukan tu maksud aku, Mike. I never forgive them for.." Lirikan mata Celeste melihat Castriel yang memandang tenang menyandarkan tangan di dagu dengan mata tertutup " for what they did to Audrey. But that doesn't meant aku agree for you guys to do the massacre"

"They not our friend, Celess" tona nada Mike masih dingin "those being only lived for hundreds of years before their demise. Why bother ourselves to associated with them. It's just a waste of time."

"It's not!" Tona muka Celeste sedikit merah, dia melihat kesemua  mereka " nampak tak? This the exact reason kenapa kaum lain hates us . We look down on them so much because of our inferiority.  I get it we kinda immortal, more powerful than them and all other shit but guys, at least try to resonate. Sebab tu peace treaty diwujudkan, for us, the younger one to change the impression that beheld on our races."

" Riel, you should tell King Adriel untuk to detain your twin in hell for a while" A girl, with a black jean jacket and split skirt overlay, long braided ponytail that made her look intimidating directly cut out Celeste word " sebab aku rasa makin hari she forget she was a demon, considering how she romanticized on being pal with those entities"

"You too Ruelle!? Fuck all of you are freaking jerks, you never listen to me." Suara Celeste kedengaran merajuk sebelum dia kembali duduk, masuk semula ke dalam dakapan Damien

Lelaki itu membelai rambutnya "Sweetheart, I know how you loved..this school but others were right. Diorang bukan kawan kita, and far away from reasonable to be labeled as an ally. Diorang yang hancurkan the small trust we have on them, so it's only natural why we behave like this"

Celeste menjeling tajam " not you too Damien. I have enough for me to hear my boyfriend jadi salah seorang yang bantah my opinion"

Damien ketawa "sorry. Saya cuba nak sokong but I really can't." He kisses Celeste forehead, "but you have to understand, I always love you, and respect everything you want even when I not on the same side as you"

"Damn lovebird, get a room" Kyle mencelah " anyways, aku vote untuk kita hancurkan sekolah ni and all inside it. This what Audrey would want, for those idiotic beings to suffer."

"Yes. Me second. If Audrey is still alive, we all know how exactly she will react to" Ivy menambah " and damn this pretending school life getting boring, might as well ending it at once."

Suasana di dalam ruang tamu kini mula bingit, with the rest of the group agreeing with what Kyle and Ivy just said. Even Mike, yang selalunya tidak masuk campur mengangguk kepala, giving his support."

"Silence." An icy tone abruptly makes the noise cool down " aku tak kisah whatever korang nak buat, but don't use my girlfriend name for that." Kelopak matanya yang ditutup dari tadi kini dibuka " my Audrey is one of the kindest between us. She would not wish you to use her name to create havoc."

Tiada siapa yang membantah ayat yang keluar dari mulut Castriel, kesemua mereka look at each other with a complicated expression.

"And if anyone wants to start revenge for her, it will be me and me only, since I'm the closest to her" Castriel menyambung

"Tapi kitaorang kawan dia juga Riel, as it hurt you to lose her, the same goes to the rest of us. You might lose your girlfriend but me, we lost our best friend. We spend a thousand and half year with her too " Ruelle finally open her mouth after a moment of silence "you not the only one who hurting, Riel"

Castriel Echethier sneer " Aku cakap, if someone wanna revenge her, it will be me alone, but aku tak kata you guys should stay low. If anyone wanna create wreckage toward this school or anything in the three realms based on your personal reason then up to you. I don't give a fucking care."

It takes a second for all people in the room to finally understand what Castriel meant by his word before a sinister laugh broke out

"Damn, finally, the Riel we all knew. Aku ingat kau dah berubah jadi baik macam Celess. Kau even said kau tak peduli kalau we create a mess in hell, our own home. Damn Riel, damn. Imagine if the kings hear you said that" Kyle cuba menahan ketawa namun gagal

"So, everyone setuju we just fuck this school? Great. Where should we start first. No, which races should we slaughter first?" Nada Ivy kedengaran teruja " been a while since i kill something"

Celess yang berada di dalam dakapan Damien mengengam erat tangan lelaki itu, her eyes showing dissatisfaction.

She just wants to experience joyous school life, something she dreams of since hundreds of years ago. But how can she ever forgets she come from a place that thinks bloodlust a normal phrase.

Damien, menyedari perubahan mood Celeste kembali mengenggam erat tangan gadis tersebut

Mike melangkah menuju ke arah tengah bulatan yang dibuat oleh kumpulan tersebut " if you really wanna make something impactful, killing people from other races won't generate much storm"

Perhatian seluruh kumpulan tersebut kini beralih kearahnya, termasuk Castriel who looks like he didn't care about whatever happen in the first place.

Mike Agnello membuat senyuman yang mampu menghantui sesiapa yang melihatnya " the day class student."

Kening Ivy terangkat. Anak mata hitam milik gadis itu memandang tepat Mike " the mixed blood? Aku lupa diorang wujud."

" Because the school doesn't hold them much significance. Diorang cuma digunakan sebagai cover-up from normal human eyes dari apa yang sebenarnya terjadi in this school during night time. Selain senang dibunuh because they don't realize the half power inside them, they probably tak tahu how to use it to fight us back, if we massacre all of them, the school can't do much even the kes getting larger. A win-win situation for us, we can outlast our bloodlust without having opposition and give other races an indication"

Celeste cuba membantah, namun suaranya hanya tersekat di kerongkong. Looking at others' eager eyes for killing, even Castriel, she knows she faces a lost battle kalau dia cuba menolak cadangan tersebut.

Tapi, those student in day class, walaupun status mereka sebagai mixed basically meant nothing  for any races in the three realms tetapi kesemua mereka tidak bersalah, terlalu kejam untuk membunuh mereka semata untuk mempamerkan kemarahan terhadap Ravaryn dan kaum lain

What should she do, she can't let the plan work atau the guilt will linger in her heart for eternity.

Ruelle and Ivy was right. She really too soft-hearted to be called demons.
...........................................................

-FORBIDDEN LAKE, QUERENCIA HIGH-

Keadaan di tasik yang terbentang luas dikelilingi hutan tebal yang berwarna biru laut dan langit cerah membuat sesiapa yang melihat permandangan tersebut merasa tenang dan nyaman.

Xavier Michaelis yang berdiri di sisi tasik melihat ke dalam air tasik yang sedikit keruh.

"Oh great Serene, the lake guardian, I summon you out with a sacrifice"

Dia membuka mulut, menunjukkan kedua bahagian gigi yang lebih panjang dan tajam dari biasa sebelum mengigit tangan dan membiarkan darah yang mengalir turun ke dalam tasik.

Beberapa minit,dan gumpalan air mula muncul di hadapan lelaki tersebut. Kelibat sepasang tubuh muncul dari balik lapis air, from her face to the blonde long hair, everything about the creature is gorgeous.

If you include out the fact that she was naked, with a fish tail in half her lower body.

"Oh, a very handsome one." The alluring voice sound delighted. She swins near Xavier, her long blonde hair hidden her upper private part "and.." Mata biru laut perempuan itu bersilau " a vampire on top of that"

Xavier memberi senyuman, who made anyone seeing it stuck in awe because how attractive he look " it's been a while, Serene."

" Dearest Xavier, you won't even humor me prentending we meet for the first time today. What a turn off." Wanita itu merehatkan wajahnya di sisi air sambil melihat Xavier "you were lucky you look so handsome and my type, or I just eat you regarding how boring your attitude is. You never respond to my flirt, it's annoying."

Xavier made a low chuckled "even when I already give you the blood sacrifice?"

Tubuhnya yang berdiri kini tunduk dan duduk menghadap Serena dan tasik tersebut. Belaian angin membuat his mid-length black hair bergerak mengikut alunan.

He really looks like he just got out from a painting.

"What a view." Serene masih melihat dengan riak ghairah " it's a blessing you're vamps, at least this kind of beauty can be preserved for a long time."

Xavier tidak menjawab, dia hanya memandang kosong kearah tasik di hadapannya. " show me the Sirens town"

"Why? Did you want to go there? And you act so hard to be a saint like those angels and ignore my flirting all these years. Oh wait, where is she? You always come here with her, it's.."

Suara Serene berhenti. Dia seperti baru menyedari sesuatu. Her red lips now make a menacing smile. Kuku panjang wanita itu disua ke arah muka Xavier, touching his chins

" oh, I forget about that. Well.. now that she left, you finally went on a lecherous phase and want to meet the girls in Siren's town. Xavier, I never thought you this kind of guy. If you wanna go down that path, at least made me your second woman, I show your what fun actually is."

Dia mendekati wajah Xavier, trying to kiss him apabila bahagian lehernya dicengkam kuat.

"Show. Me. The.Sirens.Town" lirikan mata Xavier with both his red irises, who can make anyone scared to death  kini bertentang dengan mata biru milik Serene " or next day there will be new guardian for this lake."

Serene ketawa menyindir. Gengaman tangan Xavier di leher dipegang " you know you can't kill me. Even aku sirens, I'm a cursed one. Being cursed to guide this lake for infinity. Do you think Ravaryn akan duduk diam if you killed me, dearest Xavier?"

"Oh, that will be a problem..for you huh" suara Xavier semakin kejam "cause I don't give a shit what those old geezers think."

Serene kembali ketawa, dia melihat tepat Xavier "I thought so, something change in you. Tell me, you not fully vamps anymore, do you? I can feel this weird energy from you. Something that I feel when.. demons come to visit me. What have you done, Xavier."

Wajah Xavier still seems kind as ever, even his red irises giving the threatened gaze " that got nothing to do with you."

Gengaman tangan yang mencengkam leher Serene dilepaskan.

"She does something to you, did she. Since she.." Ujar Serene apabila Xavier memotong percakapannya.

"Serene." The voice sounds cold "know your limit."

Serene memandang lelaki itu lama sebelum berenang ke belakang " fine, since I been cursed, I swear I want nothing to do with whatever happened in the three realms but Xavier " suaranya kedengaran ikhlas
"it's a waste you change into something like this."

Xavier made a sorrowful smile, his face staring emptily at Serene " did I?"

Serene mengalihkan badan membelakangi Xavier, looking at the lake. She thus cast a spell.

"Precuiro Cie Soeculle" serangkap jampi dari bahasa latin lama keluar dari mulut Serene, mata biru laut wanita itu bersilau dan bertukar warna kepada hijau gelap

Sebaik sahaja jampi tersebut diucap, keadaan langit cerah dan warna air biru tasik tersebut berubah. Sekelilingi kawasan tasik itu kini ditutup oleh bulatan halimunan with the bright sky change into night one. The lake water also changes into a darker tone, complimentary the sky tone. Di tengah tasik, kelibat gelap seorang lelaki di dalam sampan yang sedang mendayung kelihatan.

" do you wish to go to the Sirens town" lelaki di dalam sampan itu bertanya dalam tona senada terhadap Xavier yang  duduk di atas rumput di belakang Serene

Still with the sorrowful smile, Xavier mengeleng " No, I just wish to see the scenery from here,  Eryx"

Eryx mengangguk sebelum kembali mendayung ke arah pekan yang bercahaya lampu neon oren on another side of the lake.

A loud singing and the sound of music with laughter voice from both man and woman can be heard coming out from the town.

Cahaya oren yang menyinar dari pekan itu mengenai tubuh Xavier, making his look more stunning than he already is under the night sky.

Serene kembali menghadap Xavier "puas hati sekarang?"

"I am." Xavier glancing melodramatically over the town  "thank you, Serene."

Serene mengeluh. " she loves to swim here, I still remember every time you come here with her, she never missed the chance to drove into this lake. It's really a tragedy..what happen to her"

Xavier Michaelis tidak menjawab. Dia masih leka memandang pekan yang disinari cahaya neon di hadapannya.

Serene membiarkan lelaki itu leka di dalam dunianya sendiri, staring at him for a last time sebelum berenang masuk ke dalam ruang tasik.

Leaving Xavier alone with the noisy voice from the town. His red irises seem lost

" she loves to swim here, I still remember every time you come here with her, she never misses the chance to drove into this lake. It's really a tragedy..what happen to her"

Ayat yang diujarkan oleh Serene sebentar tadi bermain semula di minda Xavier. His face turns dark.

"She did love this lake.That's why U keep coming here" He replied in the softest voice.

Dia menyeluk poket seluar, mengeluarkan telefon bimbit before he stops for a moment, trying to catch the courage that long leaves him, before finally open the app, seeing the chat that he ignores so hard in this one week, to prevent his heart from feeling more broken and empty.

You can't always run away from reality.

The sorrowful smile on his face twists a tone saddened when he read the word on the chat.

He chuckled again. Ayat Castriel sejak beberapa hari lalu kini menjelma semula

Why" did you go to this extreme? Kau masih tak beritahu aku the real reason behind it"

Melihat tulisan chat dihadapannya and all memory he has with her along these years, the look turn from sorrowful to miserable.

"Because it's not just you who lose her, I am too."
..........................................................

"Vio, perlahan. Aku tak boleh keep up dengan kau" Hana cuba berlari anak mengikuti jejak Violet

"Kita dah lambat Hana, aku tak ada pilihan selain cepatkan langkah aku" desak Violet saat tubuh mereka bergerak di koridor bangunan sekolah "kau pun tahu Mr Abraham strict when it's come to attendance. Aku tak nak masuk dalam list bad side dia in my first year here."

Wajah Hana berubah bersalah " sorry Vio, sebab aku lama dekat bilik air, kita lambat"

Violet menghembus nafas " not totally you fault. Memang ramai orang dalam bilik air tu."

Hana baru hendak membalas apabila langkah Violet berhenti mengejut

"Auch!" Muka Hana menghentam belakang badan Violet.

"What the hell" suara Violet kedengaran terkejut

Hana yang pelik dengan kelakuan gadis itu melihat ke arah pandangan mata Violet sebelum matanya terbuka luas

Di hadapan mereka, kelibat Adrian dan Elys, both laughing happily and walking side by side giving friendly atmosphere making anyone who sees the fight yesterday doubt their eyes.

Just like both Violet and Hana now

Adriane, who finally recognize Hana and Violet froze looking at her made her usual gummy grin "hey guys, morning!"

She then run to them.

"Elys" di sebelahnya kelihatan seperti she was suprised seeing Adriane cheerful attitude and also shift her gaze toward Hana and Adriane

"Korang lambat juga? bilik air dekat wings korang penuh juga ke?" Adriane bertindak ramah seperti biasa " wings aku bilik air penuh aku terpaksa"

"So it's you"

Suara ceria Adriane terhenti apabila "Elys" membuka mulut. The girl then walk and touch Hana dark brown hair

"It's really beautiful." ujar "Elys" with a smile " no wonder Adriane keep talking about it"

Hana yang tergaman dengan kelakuan mengejut Elys memegang rambutnya kini terlepas cengkaman buku text di tangan.

Pap! Bunyi jatuhan buku itu bergema di ruang koridor sekolah

She blinks her eyes a few times, still standing without any reaction.

Wait, the girl who touches her hair is still the same Elys who hating on them yesterday right? The one who fights with Adriane and all?

But why did she feel something wrong with Elys today?

Did the aftermath of fighting and getting lectured by Mr Abraham the whole night end up making this girl lost her mind?