"Quiet!!!" Mr. Fabio's voice sliced through the room, jolting the students from their conversations. "As I said earlier, you will be sparring today with the older students," he added, his tone commanding the attention of every vampire, witches and shapeshifter in the hall. "And please, when I call your name, step out."

I could feel the nervous anticipation buzzing through the room. I was hoping he wouldn't call on me first. Tina, however, remained calm, her expression unreadable, while the twins stood silently beside me, their faces as neutral as always.

"Is it just me, or does anyone else feel nervous?" I whispered, pinching Tina on the arm.

"Not just you," Tina replied, nodding toward the other side of the hall. There, a group of students seemed about to burst from anxiety, their faces pale with fear. A few of them were almost shaking in their boots, their hands wringing nervously.

"They're the ones who should be worried," Tina said, the faintest smile tugging at her lips.

"First up, Constantina Walker and Valeren Thomas. Please step out," Mr. Fabio's voice rang out, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

Tina stepped forward, her movements confident, but there was something more in her posture today a strange intensity I hadn't seen before. Her lips curved into an almost eerie smile as she faced Valeren. Tina's eyes, dark and determined, were fixed on her opponent.

Across the room, Valeren stepped out. She was a striking figure her long red hair cascading down her back, her high heels clicking sharply on the floor. She wore black leather pants and a tight crop top, exuding an air of confidence and effortless elegance. Her blue eyes locked onto Tina with a calculating gaze.

"Now, bow and greet each other," Mr. Fabio instructed.

Tina faced Valeren, her posture low and ready, like a predator waiting to strike. Every muscle in her body was coiled with anticipation, her eyes burning with the desire to prove herself.

Valeren, in contrast, stood tall, perfectly composed, with a slight, almost smug, smile playing on her lips. She had the poise of someone who had always been in control, the golden child. Tina had always been the fiery one, the one who acted first and thought later. But today, Tina was different.

"Ready to lose again, Tina?" Valeren's voice was smooth, mocking, but underneath, I could hear the faintest tremor of unease.

Tina's grin was fierce. "You never learn, do you, Valeren? This time, I'm walking away victorious."

The tension between them was electric. Without another word, the fight began.

I turned to Dax, my heart hammering in my chest. "Who do you think will win?" I asked, though I had my own doubts.

"The redhead, obviously," Dix said, her voice almost flat. "We're just first years. We haven't learned enough yet to take her down."

I raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

Dax, however, was more confident. "Nah, I think Tina's got this one."

The first move came from Tina. She rushed forward with a speed that surprised even Valeren. Her fist flew toward Valeren's midsection, but with the grace of a seasoned fighter, Valeren sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow. Tina spun on her heel and aimed a swift kick, trying to catch Valeren off guard.

But Valeren was already leaping into the air, twisting in mid-flight like a silver blur, and landing behind Tina. Before Tina could react, Valeren jabbed at her shoulder, her strike quick and precise. Tina winced but didn't break her focus.

"You're too predictable, Tina," Valeren said, her voice dripping with condescension. "You have the strength, but no control."

Tina's eyes flashed with frustration. control. That was always Valeren's edgecontrol over every move, every strike. But Tina wasn't the same reckless girl she used to be. Years of training had shaped her into something more. Today, she would show Valeren just how far she'd come.

With a sudden burst of speed, Tina launched herself forward. Valeren barely had time to react as Tina's elbow slammed into her side, knocking the air from her lungs. The impact was enough to make Valeren stagger.

Before Valeren could regain her footing, Tina swept her feet out from under her with a quick kick, sending her crashing to the floor. Tina didn't hesitate. She was on top of Valeren in an instant, pinning her down with a powerful movement that left Valeren no room to escape.

For a moment, the hall fell silent. The only sound was the heavy breathing of the two fighters, both stunned by the speed and intensity of the exchange.

"Surprised?" Tina's voice was low, full of barely contained rage. Her grin was fierce, almost predatory. "You've always underestimated me. That's your mistake."

Valeren struggled beneath her, trying to push Tina off, but Tina tightened her grip. She wasn't going to let go. Her knee pressed into Valeren's chest, her weight preventing any further movement. Tina's hands held Valeren's arms to the floor, pinning her down with more precision than I'd ever seen before.

"I've had enough of being your punching bag," Tina hissed, her words filled with venom. "After everything, all the years of you bullying me this ends now."

Valeren gritted her teeth, clearly struggling against Tina's grip. "This isn't over, Tina. Not by a long shot," she growled, her defiance still evident in her voice.

Tina's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing. "It is over. You've had your chance. You'll never look down on me again."

She shifted her position, locking Valeren's arms down further, ensuring there was no way out. A tap on Valeren's shoulder would've signaled the win, but Tina wasn't just going to take the easy route. She wanted to make sure Valeren understood that this was no fluke.

"You're still the best sparring partner I've ever had, Valeren," Tina said, her voice still intense, but there was a thread of respect in it now. "But I'm done being your stepping stone."

There was a brief moment of stillness before Valeren raised her hand in surrender, tapping once on the floor. "Alright, alright. You win."

Tina immediately released her grip and stood, offering a hand to help Valeren up. There was no bitterness in her gesture, just the quiet acknowledgment of a hard fought battle.

Valeren took her hand, slowly rising to her feet. "You've gotten better. I'll give you that."

Tina grinned. "I told you I'd catch up. And I'm just getting started."

The tension between them remained, but it was different now. There was no hate, no animosity just the satisfaction of knowing Tina had finally proven herself. For the first time, Valeren looked at Tina not with disdain, but with something far more dangerous respect.

"That's enough," Mr. Fabio said, his voice booming over the silence. "You can return to your seats."

The crowd erupted into applause, especially the first-year students, who were now cheering for Tina. The older students, including some from other years, watched in silence, their expressions a mixture of surprise and respect.

"And with that, Constantina Walker, first year vampire, defeats Valeren Thomas, second year vampire!" Mr. Fabio announced, his voice proud as the students cheered louder.

"Told you Tina was going to win," Dax muttered under his breath, a grin spreading across his face.

"Yeah, whatever," Dix replied, though her tone held admiration. "That was a hell of a fight."

As Tina walked back toward us, I couldn't help but be impressed. "That was incredible. I didn't know you were this good."

Tina's smile widened, pride radiating from her. "Thanks. I've been working hard for this moment."

"This moment?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You two know each other?"

Tina's smile faded slightly, and her gaze turned distant for a moment. "Yeah... We used to live together. She always bullied me when we were younger. But not anymore."

Before I could say anything, Mr. Fabio interrupted, his voice carrying once more.

"This is the end of the sparring for today. Witches, get ready you're next!" he said, signaling the end of the session".

As we prepared to leave, I heard my name called.

"Evelyn Everlone, please wait behind."

My heart sank into my stomach. A million thoughts raced through my mind. Did he know? Had he figured out what I really was?

I turned to face him, dread pooling in my chest. I couldn't have anyone finding out what I truly was not yet.