Astrid sat cross-legged on her neatly made bed, her phone clutched to her ear. The voice on the other end was her mother, Tonya, a seasoned forensics specialist at Meta Ops. In her room at the academy, Astrid anxiously awaited the results of the samples she had sent her mother - tomato juice and a few strands of hair, all gathered from her intriguing dormmate and friend, Saiya.
Ever since meeting Saiya, Astrid had been plagued by curiosity. The strange girl had a penchant for tomato juice, paired with exceptional athleticism, intelligence, and a striking beauty that stood out even among the academy's elite. Yet, the more Astrid tried to uncover Saiya's family history, particularly the mysterious Laireins, the more the information appeared locked behind classified doors. Not even her father, Luther, the formidable head of the Thorns, could breach those barriers.
However, today marked a turning point. Tonya, her mother, had concluded her analysis and was about to reveal the results. What Astrid heard sent shockwaves through her.
"Mom, are you absolutely certain?" Astrid's voice quivered with disbelief.
Tonya replied with a hint of concern, "Yes, darling, I've double-checked. That so-called tomato juice you sent me? It's not tomato juice at all. It's vampire blood."
The revelation left Astrid dumbfounded. "Vampire blood? Why would Saiya drink something like that? Even vampires don't consume their own blood."
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Tonya's voice remained calm but puzzled, "I can't say for sure, sweetheart. There could be various reasons, from medical conditions to addictions, or even involvement in some clandestine group or experiment. It's truly baffling."
Astrid pressed on, her curiosity insatiable, "And her hair samples? What did the analysis reveal?"
Tonya hesitated before delivering more unsettling news, "Her hair's DNA is...unknown. It doesn't match any known species or subspecies, not human, vampire, ghoul, or anything in between. It's as if she's an entirely new entity."
Astrid's bewilderment deepened. "Unknown? How is that even possible? What could Saiya be?"
Tonya could only offer uncertainty in her response, "I'm just as puzzled as you are, dear. Saiya might be a unique hybrid or something even more extraordinary. The possibilities are boundless."
Astrid couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that Saiya was hiding something profound from her, something that defied logic and reason.
"Mom, thank you for doing this for me," Astrid finally said, her voice tinged with gratitude.
"You're always welcome, my love. Just be careful, alright?" Tonya's voice held a mother's concern.
"I will, Mom. Love you. Goodbye," Astrid replied.
She ended the call, her mind buzzing with questions. As she gazed out of her window, she spotted Saiya engaged in conversation with Lysander, a twinge of jealousy tugging at Astrid's heart. Lysander, whom she had secretly admired for the longest time, seemed enthralled by Saiya's presence.
But something else caught her attention - Vex, helping Saiya with her belongings, transferring boxes and bags from her room.
Astrid felt a growing sense of urgency. Saiya was evidently leaving, and she couldn't ignore the feeling that she was on the brink of uncovering something extraordinary. With determination, Astrid donned her jacket and bolted out of her room, determined to confront Saiya and extract the truth.
She had no idea what lay ahead, but she was prepared to face it head-on.