– Good afternoon, students! – he said cheerfully.

– Good afternoon!" he replied with a raucous chorus of voices.

– I bet you're all wondering why I've gathered you here. Is that right?

– Yes! That's right! Nice tie! How long are we here for? – came from all directions.

– I admire your enthusiasm. But I'm very kind today, so only the fifth and sixth years will remain in the auditorium. Everyone else is dismissed!

The fifth and sixth year students grumbled unhappily, and the younger ones, with happy faces and a lot of noise, hurriedly left the hall. I gazed intently into their crowd, hoping to see that girl… Damn, what was I thinking! I forced myself to look at the stage and mentally scolded myself.

– Something very strange happened at our university: last academic year, many junior students passed the summer session so poorly that they were suddenly seized by a pestilence," the rector said sadly. – Algebra and physics were especially lame. On both legs.

– What's it got to do with us? – came a disgruntled voice from the gallery.

The students giggled.

– It's none of our business! – came another voice.

The laughter rose again.

– It concerns you most of all. You know, in today's world there are millions of academic programmes that we could adopt, but… I suddenly thought: why doesn't Charles University introduce its own? An experiment, so to speak. The older students, the luminaries of our alma mater, should help their younger comrades to prepare for the winter session…

The rector's proposal obviously did not please the audience: there was whistling, unhappy mooing and even silent swearing.

I couldn't hold back a sarcastic grin: people are completely mad!

– The essence of the experiment is quite simple: each of you will study with one of the junior students until the winter session: one, two, or maybe all the subjects he is not good with… – the rector continued his speech.

– Can I opt out of it? Is the programme voluntary? Why weren't we asked? – was heard from all sides.

– I don't understand why there's so much noise and sour faces? The experimental programme is involuntary, but it is compulsory for each of you! Everyone participates. However, it can be cancelled. – The Rector waited for a sigh of relief to spread through the hall before he continued, dashing my hopes with just three words. – But not you. Only those with whom you will be studying have the privilege of withdrawing from this magnificent programme. But I must personally see an objective reason for the cancellation. Are there no more questions?

There was silence in the hall.

– What a circus! – I said quietly, realising what a swamp I had got myself into.

– After the meeting, everyone come to my office: there you will be given the names of your new friends. – The rector looked round the room carefully. – Anyone who does not comply with the experimental programme has every reason, to put it bluntly, to leave the university.

– But we pay for our studies! Why should we have to fulfil our teachers' duties? It's not fair! – shouted someone from the back row in a disgruntled tone. He was immediately supported by a rumble of voices.

– This experimental programme will only last for a few months. But of course, if you think that your money gives you the right to disobey the programme at Charles University, you can always transfer," the rector replied and switched off the microphone.

These words had a deafening effect: there was a dead silence in the hall.

The rector, probably satisfied with the result of his speech, left the hall. As soon as he disappeared into the corridor, the hall seemed to explode: students were loudly indignant and complained to each other about the blatant injustice. Everyone was displeased. But I kept silent, hiding my discontent deep in my soul.

I walked to the rector's office with a terrible mood. Now I would have to run around with some stupid child. At this moment, the thought of expulsion did not scare me. On the contrary, even attracted.

Honestly standing in a long queue and listening to the whining and complaints of students about their bitter fate, I barely noticeably chuckled at this human stupidity: there is no point in complaining. Complaining won't change anything. All the senior students, including me, stood with sour faces in the queue for the hated name.

Finally, I entered the office.

– Why are you all so sour? – the secretary asked me.

– I think you can see why," I replied dryly.

– This time the rector put on a show worthy of television. I don't know about you, but I'm having fun. It's a real lottery.

– I've noticed. A bloody cruel lottery.

– You gonna pull it yourself?

– I don't want to get my hands dirty.

– No way! This is your destiny! Pull it yourself. Just a moment. – The secretary stuck her hand into a glass round vase on the table, filled with small white sheets, and stirred the white pile thoroughly. – Now you can pull.

I indifferently snatched one of the sheets out of the whole nasty pile, but I didn't bother to look at what name was on it. What did it matter? I hated it already.

– So… Cedric Morgan… – The secretary snatched the sheet from my hands, looked at the name, wrote it into the computer, and handed it to me.

Quickly leaving the university, I sat down on one of the benches in the courtyard. Should I read it or wait? Shit, I couldn't escape fate.

I opened the sheet: there in large black letters was printed the hated name: Viper Vladinovich.

Viper. Stupid name. Who was it: a guy or a girl?

Below it was the date and time of our meeting: tomorrow at 17: 00, library, table No. 8.

Such haste made me wrinkle my nose in annoyance. Suddenly I heard someone's footsteps and turned around: it was Royce, walking briskly toward me. Just what I needed. What a day, huh? Did someone upstairs decide to dump a bucket of bad luck on my head?!

– Hi," Royce said, sitting down next to me on the bench.

I didn't even look at him.

– Well, who do you have there? – The American asked cheerfully. – I've got some chump from my second year. Who do you have? Let me see?

To get him off my back, I hurriedly showed him my sheet.

– Viper Vladinovich… – the American read aloud and snorted like a horse. – What kind of bird?

– I have no idea," I answered gloomily, taking the sheet back. – Viper. A snake.

– My parents named it, didn't they? – Royce chimed in.

Silently, I got up from the bench and headed for the car park. My hands clenched involuntarily into fists. Crumpling the sheet, I tossed it into the nearest rubbish bin. I hated Viper Vladinovich. And tomorrow that Viper would have to wait for me for about an hour, maybe two. Let him wait. Hopefully he wouldn't like my constant tardiness and would drop the class, since he was the only one entitled to it.

It's ironic: I, a vampire, will be studying for my victim's exam. No, not today's victim: maybe ten years from now he'll be my dinner, but for now, let him bear my scorn and hatred.

Well, stupid Viper, you'll realise soon enough that you're out of luck. Large and emphatic.

***

I stared in surprise at the message from the university with the name of the person who would be studying with me on the Rector's experimental programme. Who would be preparing me for the winter session for almost three months. My personal tutor, so to speak.

Cedric Morgan.

Oh, the horror.

Morgan. That's the one.

Of course I know Cedric Morgan. Who at the university doesn't know him? This guy always keeps a low profile, but for some reason I don't know, he's considered the most desirable guy in the university. Half of my classmates were interested in him, and every time they sighed every time they looked at him or heard his name. So I knew who fate had so disgustingly brought me together with, despite the simple logic that Cedric Morgan and I were incompatible. Yes, I knew him. The thing is, he didn't know me, and he was probably just as excited as I was to meet me. Yes, I agree, Cedric is a handsome guy. But I never understood what girls found special about him: his skin was too pale, even white, which made him look like a dead man. He didn't socialise with anyone, and in the presence of other people he was silent. No, I wasn't watching him – it was noticeable. He's too proud, arrogant, and doesn't care about people who aren't as fortunate as he was to be born into a wealthy family. That's why I didn't like Cedric Morgan, not even as a bloke, but as a person. And it was this egotist who was supposed to help me? What am I talking about? He won't! I bet he's pissed off knowing that he, a handsome rich guy, has to spend time with me, a stupid third year girl!