Heiress of the Supernatural

Ivy Angpetu

“…And when that happened, they say she gave birth to the mystical creatures — what we call the supernatural. You know? Werewolves, vampires, witches… and many others. Since then, they’ve lived among humans. Stronger. Faster. Gifted with abilities beyond anything we understand.”

“What is that?” I asked, stepping out of my bedroom and heading into the kitchen.

Anna sat at the dining table with her laptop open, completely absorbed. Jaqueleen lounged on the couch, casually eating an apple.

“It’s a story,” Jaqueleen said.

Anna shot her an annoyed look.

Jaqueleen is an accounting major. Anna, on the other hand, is double majoring in History and Mythology — which explains her obsession with folklore.

“It’s not a story,” Anna argued. “Stories are invented.”

“Vampires and werewolves don’t exist, Anna,” I said, opening the fridge and grabbing the pitcher of mango juice. I poured myself a glass.

“They do,” she insisted. “There’s evidence.”

“Then why haven’t we ever seen one? Why don’t they show themselves?”

“Because they’ve been hunted for centuries. They hide so they can live normal lives.” She shrugged. “And some of them live on the other side of the barrier.”

“Sure,” Jaqueleen muttered, tossing her apple core in the trash. “I don’t believe any of that.”

She disappeared into her room. Anna looked at me. I just shrugged.

“Oh — and you better get off that computer and start getting ready for tonight,” Jaqueleen called from behind her door. Then it reopened. “You too, Ivy. Finals are over.”

Tonight, there was a party at the campus nightclub — Library. The soccer team had won again, and that meant celebration.

Jaqueleen never missed a party. Especially not when Jonathan would be there. They like each other.

Later that night, inside the club, music pounded through my chest.

“Which one is he again?” I asked, squinting toward the VIP section where the soccer team stood.

Anna and Jaqueleen exchanged a look. They both shook their heads and sighed.

“How am I supposed to know?” I continued. “They’re all tall, muscular, and either blond or brunette.”

"Oh my God, you really-"

"Ah, how I love the athletes at our college." Jaqueleen said, cutting Anna off. She fixed her blonde hair and leaned closer to me. Jaqueleen laughed. “Blake is the tallest. The strongest. The best player we’ve got.”

“The bullet,” Anna added. “Best striker.”

Of course I knew who Blake was. His face was plastered across campus posters. Girls practically treated him like a required subject.

He stood out even in a crowd — dark brown hair, sharp jawline, broad shoulders outlined beneath his black shirt.

Too perfect.

A group of girls approached him and his teammates. The way they looked at those girls made my stomach twist.

“I prefer someone with a brain,” I muttered.

“He has a brain,” Jaqueleen insisted.

“I mean someone who doesn’t have a soccer ball instead of one, Jacks!” I said. "You know I’ve never been into athletes. Especially the playboy, fuckboy type."

Life isn’t just studying, Ivy, Jaqueleen always said.

For me, it was.

"Let’s get something to drink? Talking about men is depressing." Anna said

We went to the bar and ordered drinks. I’m not much of a drinker, but whenever I go out with Jaqueleen and Anna, I drink.

"Hey, s*xy ladies." A tall figure appeared beside Anna. It was Tristan. He shouted again because of the loud music. "I’ve been looking for you everywhere. And of course my three super alcoholics would be here."

Tristan Baines was Jaqueleen’s older brother. He was the leader of the college football team. He had a charming smile, dark blond hair, and grayish eyes — very cool gray eyes, I thought. He was tall, but what made him stand out wasn’t his height. It was his confidence. The same confidence Jaqueleen had.

"Screw you!" Jaqueleen shouted back, making him laugh.

"Well, I came to ask if you wanted to go to the VIP area!" he yelled. "But judging by how I was treated, maybe I’ll just leave you here!"

"Oh, come on!" Jaqueleen protested.

"I think we’ll stay here for now!" I shouted, earning an angry elbow from Jaqueleen.

"Okay, text me when you decide." he said as he walked away. "Someone in the VIP area can’t take their eyes off you."

I didn’t bother looking. I knew it was Jonathan staring at Jaqueleen. She smiled and turned around.

Later, Jaqueleen disappeared, leaving just Anna and me. I knew she was in the VIP area with Jonathan. Anna was beside me, already on her fourth beer.

"You’re not drinking anything else?" she asked near my ear. I shook my head.

"I have work tomorrow. I can’t overdo it." I said. Truth was, I was exhausted. Two exams today and no time to relax.

Soon, Anna went to look for Jaqueleen, and I stayed alone at the bar. I was distracted, still nursing my first drink, playing with the straw and melting ice.

That’s when I felt it. A light touch on my arm.

I looked up.

Blake.

He leaned casually against the counter, eyes scanning the bottles before drifting toward me. My face burned. I looked away quickly.

When I risked another glance, I saw he had rested his face on his hand and was staring directly at me.

Not casually.

Intensely.

A girl slid between us, talking loudly, laughing too much, touching his arm. He barely reacted.

His eyes never left me.

There was something in his gaze — something wild.

Predatory.

And for a split second, I could swear his eyes flashed red.

I blinked.

They were brown again.

Club lights, I told myself. Or the alcohol.

I left soon after, too tired to care where my friends had disappeared to.

When I got home, it was 2 a.m. I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto the couch.

Just as I was about to drift off, three sharp knocks echoed through the apartment.

Through the peephole: Tristan and Brandon.

Brandon was Tristan’s teammate. They were inseparable. Brandon had tanned skin, and a buzz cut.

Brandon looked half-conscious.

“What happened?” I asked as soon as I opened the door.

“Pretty boy drank too much,” Tristan said, dragging him inside. “Found him on the bathroom floor. Can I lay him on the couch?"

I grabbed an old sheet and covered the couch before Brandon collapsed onto it.

“Why didn’t you take him home?” I asked. But i really don't care about it, Tristan and Brandon always come here to sleep over.

“He lost his car key.”

“And yours?”

“In his car,” Tristan replied, already raiding our fridge for chocolate cake.

Typical.

“Has Jaqueleen come back?” he asked.

“Nope. Neither has Anna.”

He smirked. “I won’t say where they are.”

“Good night, Tristan.”

“Good night, Ivy.”

I closed my door, exhaustion finally pulling me under.

But even as I lay there, I couldn’t stop thinking about one thing.

The way Blake looked at me.

And the red in his eyes.

Ivy Angpetu

The darkness of the forest swallowed me. The dry leaves beneath my feet seemed to amplify my panic. I didn’t dare look back. I knew something dangerous was chasing me. I could smell the damp earth and feel the cold mist brushing against my face, but fear drowned out everything else.

I ran and managed to break out of the forest, but I didn’t slow down. I ran even faster.

In the distance, I saw Blake.

He was coming toward me. His motorcycle was parked by the side of the road. He walked in my direction.

My hands moved frantically, and I saw Blake look at me in confusion before shifting his gaze to whatever was behind me. Unlike me, he didn’t look afraid.

His eyes turned a vivid red.

And he started running toward me—

I sat up in bed, breathing heavily, my