Two young vampires peered around the corners of the bookshelves, making sure the coast was clear, as a third went through books.

Yvette cast a glance over her shoulder and whispered loudly, "I thought you said you knew exactly which book it was?!"

Dane threw up his arms, "I could've sworn it was one of these, but- I got an idea!"

Quickly he set the books he'd pulled off the shelf back roughly where they had been and then rushed off not waiting up for the girls.

Lisa and Yvette did their best to follow him, but this was Yvette's first time in the library and Lisa avoided it at all costs due to its size.

When they finally found him he was behind the librarian's desk rooting through stuff while the librarian herself was taking a nap right next to him.

As they approached he looked up and held an index card, then put it and the rest of the things he'd pulled out back and walked to them.

"What do you three think you're doing?", a chill went down their spines as they turned to see Varric towering over them, "Rifling through things in the library and on top of that looking through the library records."

The other two were stammering nervously, but Yvette looked her sire in the eye... then immediately looked away as an immense pressure bore down on her, "I-I want to figure out what's going on around here! There are so many weird things happening that aren't normal for this school apparently."

Shaking his head Varric sighed, "That's something even I am unsure of, what makes you three think you can figure it out?"

None of them answered at first been Dane held up a hand, "Mister Crowley, I remembered reading a book about a coven, The Reds, and The Warriors of Mar's trying to revive bloodlines... so I thought maybe it would be a good lead."

A smirk appeared, "Oh? Tell me what you found."

Dane continued after a quiet laugh, "Well, it was checked out by someone named Benjamin Stone three years ago and obviously never returned."

"Interesting... come with me you three.", with those words Crowley turned on his heels and led them through the school.

The three quickly became confused as Crowley seemed to lead them through hallways and rooms they were sure hadn't been there before until they arrived at a set of stairs leading down.

Lisa furrowed her brows, "Where are we, Crowley? I'm certain that I've never seen any of this on the maps of the school!"

Chuckling Crowley shook his head and began descending the stairs, "Elizabeth, I've led you through this school many times and you're only just now realizing the inconsistencies? It's no great secret that this school is enchanted, only three people in this school can see and navigate the hidden areas... normal individuals such as you three can only witness these areas if we allow."

"If it's no secret why are Dane and I only just now finding out? My sire is the dean, his is Diorjo! They and you are the highest authorities in the school!"

"I only assume it's no secret, I don't know about them, but I make no effort to hide it.", Varric pushed the door at the bottom of the stairs open and led the students into a large basement filled with rows of filing cabinets.

It didn't take long for Varric to find the one he was looking for and pulled out a file, he skimmed through it furrowing his brows, "Oh, boy... you three get back to it I'm taking over this little investigation."

Dane and Lisa began to leave grumbling, but Yvette stood her ground, "No! You wouldn't have found this without us! There's no way we're quitting now."

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Letting out a huff Varric put the file away and looked at his child, "Yvette, it's not happening, I barely got away with taking you off-campus! I cannot take them off campus as well."

"Take all of us or I can explain to Dean Rosa that you're investigating this when you're supposed to be teaching a class... and about the time both you and Mister Diorjo skipped class to play chess!", Yvette raised one eyebrow as she began to smirk.

Her sire however looked unimpressed, "It's not happening Yvette-", Varric whipped his head around to see Dane looking at the file he'd put away as well as another.

Varric moved to snatch them but Dane kept both out of reach, "Mister Crowley, you have to take us with you or we'll tell Dean Rosa about what's written in this second file! What you did."

Clenching his fist Varric extended one hand, "Give them to me Dane, you're playing with fire on this one."

Slowly nodding Dane nodded, "Y-Yeah I know that one, but it doesn't change a thing, it's our lead!"

"Fine, I'll take you, but we do things my way! I can't waltz you three out of here as I would normally, you three have to sneak out and make it to the old bridge.", Varric looked to each of them getting affirmation from each.

Lisa nodded but she had questions, "So to investigate this we have to risk our lives in those woods? The ones that are most definitely crawling with all manner of hunters and monsters?"

Varric nodded, "That's the only way you three can get out without being caught for sure, I will have my car waiting at the bridge and I will be in the woods, clearing it of any and all dangers I can... so it's either this, find your own way out, or back out now."

Yvette nodded, "Got it, I'll be there for sure!", the other two quietly agreed.

They left the records room, once they reached the top of the stairs they realized they didn't know the way back, but when they went to turn back to ask Varric the stairs were gone and they were in an empty bathroom.

Instead of returning to class three of them ran about the school gathering things up for their escape, a bag with some blood fruit they stole from the kitchen, granola bars, a few sodas.

Being vampires they didn't need much more, but they did get changed into their darkest clothes, and then met up in Lisa's dorm room.

There they all went over their abilities; Lisa being a seer could get glimpses of the future, Dane can manipulate blood to a certain degree.

When it was Yvette's turn the two stared out her expectantly, "I can see people's circulatory system? I don't know, It's inherited from our sires, right? So I guess I should be pretty good at fighting?"

Lisa rubbed her forehead, "I forget you're still new to this, but all I can really say is while we're waiting try to get Crowley to teach you some stuff."

Nodding she left the room and made her way back to the teacher apartments where she found Varric and Diorjo sitting under an awning staring at a chessboard.

Seeing her walking up they looked at her and stared, she walked up to them and stared back... no one said anything.

Varric's brows furrowed, "Why do you want to learn something like that?"

Letting out a sigh Diorjo spoke, "Good that wasn't just us awkwardly staring at each other, regardless, what is she wanting to learn?"

"Combat skills and such.", After replying Varric leaned back and looked up to the sky to mull it over.

"Well, given recent events I feel it may be appropriate, normally I'd say it's too early, but again recent events taken into consideration maybe we should start training everyone in combat early.", with Diorjo having spoken Varric got what he wanted.

"You're right, also, you won like two turns ago.", Looking to the board Aleister moved the pieces back to how they were two turns ago and let out a groan.

With that Varric and Yvette went to their apartment where Varric entered into his combat state, his skin tightening all over his body better showing the muscles underneath, his nails became black and grew long and sharp and finally, his eyes began to glow with a pale amber light.

"This is one of our special traits, in this form we are far stronger than most vampires and leagues ahead of the average human. As you learned before our abilities are based heavily on instinct.", Yvette's eyes diverted from her sire, in this form the aura he emitted was far stronger, and looking at him instilled fear deep in her heart.

Taking a deep breath, Yvette thought about it, an instinct or emotion that would let her tap into such an ability? Simple, things like survival and anger.

She focused her will thinking about Varric's form and prodding her emotions and instincts, one after the other as she couldn't feel any change, then as she became frustrated she felt a sharp pain in her hands.

Yvette let out a cry and opening her eyes looked at her hands, they had become thinner, skin pulled tight, her nails black and razor-sharp, "W-Why did that hurt so much?!"

"You're still young and you're forcing your body to change, once you practice and learn the pain will fade... and you'll be able to transform your whole body, but for now this is good enough, keep working at it.", with that Varric walked past her and began cooking their dinner.

Yvette sat at the table and got her hands to change back after some difficulty and pain, but she was happy with it, she wasn't going to be completely useless tonight.