Chapter 23-Bullying

Chapter 23: 23-Bullying

That evening, Veris academy no longer resembled the prestigious institution Maisa had entered only nights before. It had become a battlefield.

News of Princess Varitreya carrying a redblood from the arena had spread far beyond the academy gates. Every recording, every photograph, every whispered account had ignited outrage throughout vampire society, and that fury had returned to campus tenfold.

The first egg struck Maisa’s dormitory window shortly after dusk. It exploded across the glass with a wet splatter, yellow yolk slowly dripping down the enchanted pane.

Before she could even process what had happened, another followed and then another after that. Soon, dozens of eggs rained against the windows from every direction.

Outside, angry voices echoed across the courtyard. "Human-loving monster!"

"Give back the princess’s white blood!"

"Execution for the redblood!"

Maisa instinctively stepped away from the window with Sapphire holding her steady. "They want to tear me to pieces."

A loud screech followed as someone had begun dragging enchanted spray paint across her dormitory door.

When the guards finally chased the culprits away, the once-polished oak door had disappeared beneath layers of hateful words.

The words; TAINTED! OUTCAST! DIE! HUMAN-TURNED FILTH! were on the door outside.

When Sapphire opened the door, Maisa stared at them through trembling eyes. Every insult seemed to squeeze tighter around her heart.

But the cruelty did not stop there. A few hours into the night, every communication platform inside Veris academy was flooded with posts demanding her expulsion or execution.

Students circulated edited images portraying her wrapped around the royal throne. Others accused her of manipulating Princess Varitreya with forbidden vampire magic.

In no time, the rumors multiplied faster than anyone could erase them. Some claimed she had seduced the Princess and others insisted she was secretly a royal bastard.

The truth no longer mattered as hatred had already decided its target and they were coming at her from all angles.

The anger directed at Maisa soon spilled onto every redblood in the academy. Groups of blackbloods began cornering redblood students between buildings. Bluebloods overturned their desks in classrooms while mixedbloods who defended them found themselves shoved aside and mocked as traitors.

One frightened first-year redblood arrived at the infirmary with a broken arm after refusing to surrender her blood meal card. Another was forced to kneel in the rain while older students dumped bags of animal blood over his uniform.

While their anger was directed at Maisa, none of their bullying involved her since they could not reach her. So they punished everyone who shared her blood.

Fear spread through the Redblood dormitories like wildfire. By the middle of the night, Headmistress Belka Blackwell had seen enough.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

The academy bell rang three long times. Every student froze in their tracks since the sound meant only one thing, a call for an emergency Assembly.

Belka stood atop the central staircase overlooking the entire academy courtyard. She was every inch the formidable blackblood headmistress.

Tall and commanding, with ebony hair swept into a severe knot and crimson-black robes embroidered with Veris Academy’s crest. Her cold amber eyes swept across hundreds of gathered students until complete silence settled.

Behind her stood nearly fifty academy security officers. Each carried enchanted restraints instead of weapons.

Belka’s voice echoed effortlessly across the grounds. "I have tolerated outrage and protest. However, I will not tolerate lawlessness," she said as her gaze swept over every bloodline. "Effective immediately! Any student found physically harming another student... will be permanently expelled without an appeal."

The students gasped in shock. That announcement was unheard of in the history of the school. Being expelled without a hearing, only a crazy vampire like Belka could come up with that.

"They’ll be no hearing and no exceptions for such students!" She went on.

A murmur spread through the crowd as students were thrown into more disbelief at her outrageous warning.

Belka’s expression hardened further. "This academy exists to educate. It is not an execution ground. If the palace wishes to pass judgment... they will do so. Until then... my word is law inside these walls."

The courtyard fell completely silent. No one doubted she meant every word. Within the hour, academy security had spread across every building and peace returned, willingly or not, the students fell in line.

Maisa’s dormitory became the most heavily guarded location in the academy. Two guards stood outside her door, two more patrolled the corridor and additional patrols circled the building throughout the night.

Belka had made her reasoning perfectly clear. "If Princess Varitreya risked her standing to save that girl... I will not allow the academy to hand her back injured."

It was not kindness but a loud caution. Offending the future Queen could destroy the academy itself.

Inside the room, Maisa sat quietly beside the window. She had stopped crying hours ago until her eyes had swollen. Now, she simply stared at the ruined courtyard below.

Every shattered eggshell, patch of cleaned paint were a reminder of what she had become. An unwanted outcast they would all give eternity to ruin.

"It’s not that bad. At least the school is protecting you," Sapphire tried to look at the bright side.

"Yes, but... for how long will they protect me?" Maisa asked, her voice shaking.

She had never known hatred as much she experienced since she woke up. The vampire nation wanted her gone, they hated her and didn’t bother to hide their disdain.

Knock! Knock!

A knock sounded at the door. Sapphire went over to open the door but the guards beat her to it when they opened the door from the outside and pushed it open.

Two familiar figures stood outside. Zolani smiled gently despite obvious exhaustion. Beside her, Lumi held several books and a neatly wrapped paper bag.

"They’re here to see Miss Loven!" The guard announced.

The guards checked the authorization. After several moments, one stepped aside after confirming that they had cleared access to see Maisa.

"They may enter!" The guard instructed.

Sapphire immediately stood. "I’ll stay too. We are already friends and I want to see you through this," she made a move to return to Maisa’s side.

The guard shook his head. "I’m sorry Miss Sapphire. The Headmistress’s orders are that no redbloods should be allowed near Maisa."

Sapphire frowned. "But I’m her roommate."

"The order still stands. The academy will temporarily arrange different sleeping arrangements for you." He spoke apologetically. "There are concerns that emotions among redblood students are unstable after recent events."

Sapphire looked offended. She had immediately picked up on the implied meaning behind hus words. "You think I’d hurt Maisa?"

"No, I don’t. But we’re not permitted to make exceptions."

Maisa looked up and wanted to speak up for Sapphire but Zolani signalled her not to. She narrowed her eyes, wondering why Zolani was supporting the school’s decision which was so biased. But since she had jumped out of a frying pan and right into the fire, she didn’t dare raise questions.

She just lowered her head and returned to her wallowing. Reluctantly, Sapphire gathered her notebook. She squeezed Maisa’s shoulder. "I’ll come back as soon as they’ll let me."

"Sure," Maisa nodded. "See you."

"Take care of yourself, Maisa."

Then she quietly left and the door closed again.