by Rocky Grede
“You know him?” I ask, as we head towards career class. An Artico Guard from the border will be here to talk to us about pursuing a career as a border Guard. Not that I can ever be one with my weak prowess, and I have no interest either, but it is compulsory to attend.
“You could say that,” Maxwell replies, his voice brisk and suggesting the matter is not open for discussion. Something definitely has happened between them, or, he could have a dislike for Victor because of the past rift Victor harboured against Lexus.
Elis, who hadn’t spoken at all, says, “Kruse will be delivering the lecture.”
“You mean career?”
Elis nods, his blue eyes laced with amusement. “He is an interesting character.”
“How?” I ask, and stop at the door of the classroom. From what I have heard and read, Kruse is a celebrated Artico Destroyer. He is commander of the borders too and has a hell of a reputation. He is like a celebrity amongst the common folk.
“You’ll see,” Elis says, gesturing me inside.
Half the class is full as we enter. I slip into my seat at the back. Students steal glances at me, and their eyes flicker to my hat. I pretend nothing is amiss and try to relax. Elis and Maxwell take the usual positions behind my chair, leaning against the wall.
The head teacher - Mr Macmillan - is standing at front of the room. He is wearing an ancient two piece suit and one of those old fashioned button up shirts. The top of his bald head shines under the dim lights littered across the ceiling. He stands motionless. The only part of his body that is moving are his eyes, and the sharp and brutal stare stops conversations around the room in their tracks, and the whole class gradually falls into complete silence.
Other Vampires saunter in and quickly glide to their seats when they see the head teacher standing at the front. Fruz and Nathan enter together. I ignore their stares as they slip into the chairs either side of me. They will probably ask me about the other day. I play several responses in my mind to the most likely questions they will table. Nathan’s would be simple, while Fruz would want all the tiny details.
“As you were informed, an Artico Guard was scheduled to arrive and deliver a discourse regarding a profession as a border Guard.” Mr Macmillan’s sharp dagger like voice has the class’s full attention. “Unfortunately, the individual in question was unable to attend. So in his place, Kruse, Artico Destroyer, War hero”- he says those two words with utter reverence -“Commander of the border guards, Lexus’s trusted inner Council member, will be assuming his place instead.” He pauses just as the door opens, and a tall Vampire with hazel eyes and long black hair flowing down to his elbows, enters, ducking his head under the door frame as he does.
In two strides he’s standing next to Mr Macmillan, who looks out of place beside Kruse’s unnatural height. Kruse is at least seven foot tall, and his head hovers just below the ceiling. He is wearing the Destroyer uniform, and a small smile lightens his dark skinned face.
Mr Macmillan nods to Kruse, before leaving the room at Vampire speed. He’s a blur of clothes and flesh, and the door shuts softly behind him.
“Good evening,” Kruse says. His voice is deep like Maxwell’s but has the trace of a different foreign accent. “As Mr Macmillan mentioned, I will be overseeing this lecture instead of my colleague.”
Excitement seems to bubble in the air due to this unexpected famous guest. Fruz is eagerly listening, his cookie brown eyes fixed on Kruse. Nathan is leaning on his desk, and his face displays eagerness. Davilon is sitting with his small group of friends on the other side of the room, looking Kruse up and down. Kruse has everyone’s full attention, including mine, and I sit up straighter in my chair, pushing my worries away for now.
Kruse waves one long arm in my direction, and for a second I think he is waving at me, but then he says, “Elis, Maxwell.” He nods at each of them in turn, a respective gesture on his part. Vampires shift in their chairs as they glance at Elis and Maxwell, and then back at Kruse.
“Very kind of you to notice us,” Elis says. I look back to see his lips pulling up in a half smirk.
Kruse sighs, blowing out his round cheeks, and then looks around the class with raised eyebrows. “Ignore them,” he says with a dismissive wave of his hand. “They are just amateurs.” He smiles, wiggling his eyebrows, and his hazel eyes sparkle with mischief.
The Vampires in the class grin at one another, and turn back to see Elis’s and Maxwell’s response. I find myself grinning too, and I twist in my chair.
“Says the guy who has failed to win a duel against me in the last few centuries,” Elis says with a grin.
There are several ‘Oooh’s’ from the class as they join in on the light hearted banter. I grin and shake my head, and turn my eyes back to the front.
Kruse clears his throat and flashes Elis an uneasy look. “Anyway,” he says, clapping his hands together and turning his attention back to the rest of us. “Let’s proceed with the main event.”
The class listens in silence as Kruse explains the requirements for becoming a border guard; perceptiveness, alertness, quick decision making, rational thinking in dire situations. He goes on to describe that it can be enjoyable at times, but you must always be prepared for anything. He says they are looking for strong headed people, those who can handle intense and difficult situations with ease and calm.
“Any questions?” he asks, pausing the lecture. His alert hazel eyes scan over the class.
A girl, several rows in front of me, puts her hand up. I think her name is Tracey or Samantha.
Kruse gestures at her with his hand. “Name?”
“Margaret,” the girl replies with a bright smile.
Kruse nods at her.
“I was wondering, how do the border guards patrol during the day? Is it true that they have shelters across the borders?”
Kruse licks his lips and straightens to his full height. “Yes, you have been informed correctly. They take turns patrolling during the day. But as you can guess, there aren’t any threats during the light hours. But you never know, and must always be prepared for the worse or highly impossible scenario. The shelters provide them with an undisturbed view of the surroundings, while at the same time protecting them from the burning sun.”
Several of the Vampires in the class whisper to each other. I look to the right, just as Davilon raises his hand. Kruse points to him.
Davilon clears his throat as if to get the class’s full attention. Once satisfied that every-one is looking his way, he says, “I heard there was a border breach, is that true?”
It is as if he has pulled the trigger on a rocket launcher. All friendly amusement slips from Kruse’s face like a light switch going off. “Not to my knowledge,” he says, his voice is hard and tight.
Davilon shrugs, his broad shoulders rising and falling. “Just a rumour I heard,” he says.
Kruse ignores him and turns back to the rest of us. “Any more questions?” he says, though the tone he uses seems to convey that he has no further interest in answering anymore.
Vampires around the class exchange questioning glances. I try to act as if I’m in deep thought and stare at the far wall, but Davilon’s words have stumped me too. It is pretty obvious how he knows – Victor. I try not to steal a glance at Elis and Maxwell, but I know they won’t be happy about this new leak.
Kruse continues the lecture, describing other qualities they need in border guards and how the day actually plans out. He summarises the pay and benefits that come with the position and the occasional bonus. He stops, says it was a pleasure for him to come in and that he has thoroughly enjoyed it. It is only then, that I, and the others realize it is almost break time. The lesson has flown by.
The shrill of a bell, finally does bring the lesson to a close. Kruse ambles behind the front desk, immersed in his own thoughts. Students begin to leave, some glide up to Kruse and ask for his autograph. He scribbles it down and flashes them a bright smile.
I take my time stuffing my books
into my backpack and watch Davilon and his cronies walk out laughing at some private joke. I realize Nathan and Fruz are waiting for me. “I’ll catch up with you guys at lunch,” I tell them. “I’ll fill you in on what happened then.”
Nathan nods, and scratches one of his thick sideburns. “Good to know you’re okay.” He places a strong hand on my shoulder and squeezes. He casts an uneasy glance at Elis and Maxwell, before saying, “Come on Fruz.”
Fruz gets up too, a paper in his hand. His eyes flicker to Kruse as though he is considering if he should get an autograph too, but he shakes his head, thinking better of it. “Catch you later then,” he says, turning to me. Both of them exit the class, leaving me, Elis, Maxwell, and Kruse alone.
I get up with a sigh, flinging my backpack over my shoulder. I notice Kruse’s lips moving, but when I look at him, he is occupied with shuffling some papers on the desk, leaving me thinking I imagined it. I glance at Elis and Maxwell who walk up behind me with unreadable faces. They must be concerned that Davilon knew about the border breach, but worse of all, does Davilon and Victor know that Zack is a human?