The first day of the last year of high school. Senior year was meant to be the best. If you were on the honor roll or had good grades in general to earn the diploma and walk proudly along the line of graduates. Any slackers were held back and forced to endure senior year again.
Randy made said honor roll but decided to not take any awards because he had yet to tell Howard about it. Being the ninja was the only thing he would ever tell Howard. If he found out that Randy had better grades than him than this friendship would end.
It made the 18 year old stop and realize that it would be a petty reason but it was Howard. He would talk with him about later. For now, he had to report to the office. First day and he had been called here? What did he not do this time?
"Principle Slimovitz?" He spoke up.
"Randy...come in," He said with a bored, monotone voice.
The back of the chair was to him as he shut the door. The chairs were gone this time. It was odd but made the room spacious.
"It is time for your true purpose Randy," The principle spoke. "Time you learned your place."
"...learned my place? What place?" Randy asked, wishing to sit now but staying on his feet.
"And why did you ditch the chairs? Too mainstream for you?"
"Please focus on the mirror behind you Randy."
Turning, Randy found the mirror and looked at it. It was a simple mirror. Nothing special aside from its gold border that seemed to sparkle a lot in the light of the small office. In fact, it was mesmerizing to look at it. It was a really pretty border for such a bland piece of furniture.
When he looked at his reflection, he jumped and saw a man standing behind him. It wasn't the principle though. Tall, black cloak with red on the inside of it. A black suit with a red undershirt and black shoes. Looked like a classy vampire lord he knew called Dracula. His mind went to make him to crack a joke but he could only stare at those bleak eyes.
They pulled him in. He felt a desire to just stare and lose himself into them. And lose himself he did, thoroughly hypnotized by the black eyes and hearing words spoken towards him.
"Hello Randy, I am Arnauld. A vampire as you guessed," He said, smirking at the glazed eyes.
"And I have waited for four years just for you."
Randy went to speak but was silenced.
"Ah, you can't speak. You have to remain silent in your master's presence. Understood?"
Randy nodded to show he heard him.
"Good boy, such a good boy. I have a lot in store but for now. I must install, so to speak some...subconscious orders. Orders that you will obey whenever you are around me. Is that clear?"
He got another nod. Which only made his smirk widen. This boy was putty in his hands now. He could quicken the pace and time it would take to fully claim him as his slave.
"When around me Randy, you can never speak nor utter a sound. You are a mute. One who loves to obey and serve me. You will do what I say, when I say it. Understood?" Arnauld stated firmly, implanting the orders into Randy's subconscious mind.
His future slave nodded silently.
"Now then," Arnauld said touching Randy's thin shoulders and leaning against the young adult's ear.
He felt Randy go stiff and smirked.
"I am going to bite you and you'll endure it. Your master demands that you do so"
He didn't wait for a nod. Just bite into the neck and held the boy close as he started to drink some blood for his first meal. The blood tasted amazing. Something he loved in a slave beside pure obedience was good blood. This catch was a good one.
He pulled his fangs out and used tissue to cover the wound before healing it.
"Now, I am going to leave. You won't remember this moment but everything I said will be in your subconscious. Buried deep until the day I truly claim you," He said, licking Randy's ear and feeling the boy lean into the touch.
He got a nod and then faded away.
Randy blinked and looked around the office. Did he fall asleep? No, he was standing in front of the mirror like the principal told him too. He took his leave seeing as the principle was gone and headed to his first class.
He felt like he missed something important but pushed it aside. Classes had to come first and Ninja duties should the need arise.
McFist seemed to be trying so hard of late but he always foiled each attempt at freeing the sorcerer trapped below the school. Even the Nomicon, the 800 year old guide said he was the best one yet. It made him feel great to be appreciated by his mentor.
A sudden glow made him sigh. He couldn't take this call this time. It would have to wait. He was sure it had something to do with advice or a possible lesson to learn for the day. It was something that could wait for the moment. He reached class and told her he spoke with the principle.
She nodded and let him go to his seat. Once in it, Howard got his attention through a note.
~What did the principle want?~
Randy responded and tossed it to Howard. Who read it and passed it back when the teacher wasn't looking.
~So, wait...he called you in and just stared? That was it?~
Randy nodded and passed the note back as his answer. Howard didn't respond as the teacher handed out notes for them to write on. Once she passed, he threw it.
~Lame, so Grave Puncher?~
Randy crumpled up the paper and tossed it into his bag. His way if saying "cant, Ninja Training" to Howard. Besides, he played it all last night with him. He needed to keep his grades and skills top notch.
Howard grumbled but he understood and knew what it meant. 3 years of Randy doing that taught him the hard lessons of "sorry but cant" rule. He looked over at his friend. Randy seemed off since the return from the principal's office. Like he was hiding something but not all at once.
Or perhaps he was reading into the trip too much and Randy was just tired. It was probably tired. It was always like that after a while though.
He could go it alone for Grave Puncher tonight.
At lunch, Randy went into the bathroom with his mentor. Choosing a stall, he walked in and sat down.
"Okay, sorry for ignoring you but I had class. What's up sensei?"
The Nomicon pulled him in and he fell through a bunch of clouds before landing perfectly safe onto a sand like area. Words appeared before him in bright red.
"Beware of the enemy that claims to be your friend" Randy read. "...no offense Sensei but that seems pulled randomly from nowhere."
The words rearranged and a new phrase appeared.
"The vampire's alluring gaze is just that, alluring, do not stare or fall for such deceit," Randy read out loud. "Oh, okay. I'll keep that in mind but I haven't met a vampire today or recently though. But I will be weary of those around me."
He was then returned to his body and shut the book. Once out, he stopped and looked towards the door. It had a man in all black with a black cloak on before it. His mind went blank but all the implanted orders came to life.
"Your master needed to see how you were doing. Feel honored for I normally don't care," He spoke slowly, eyes locked with Randy's. "i also have new orders for you."
"I want you to meet me at 9pm tonight. I will have a whole new...session for you. Understood?" He said. "Remember, forest around 9 pm."
Randy nodded. Watching the man fade away once more. He blinked and held his head.
"I fell asleep again? Man I must be tired. No Ninja training tonight," He said, leaving the bathroom.
Howard watched as Cunningham returned from the restroom and sat down. He looked the same but something was changing bout his friend. It wasn't an over time thing but something definitely happening quickly. He couldn't put his finger on it though. It wasn't NomiRandy though because he still answered that infernal book's call when he got the chance. It wasn't the grades cause that was at the start of the halfway point of freshman year and to now.
"You are sure you can't come Randy?" Howard asked. "I might just beat your final score."
"Howard, I can't. I keep falling asleep today so I may even pass on my Ninja Training tonight. I need to rest more. If I keep this up then I won't maintain my B minus average," He sighed, resting his head on the palm of his hand. "besides, you already beat my high score at the arcadee remember?"
"Oh yeah, you still mad bout that?"
"Its a game Howard. Between the nomicon, sorcerer and Mcfist, I have no time to relax," He stated. "its like they just won't give me a break from a single fight."
At the word fight, a robot that was a mix of dog and scorpion destroyed the cafeteria wall. Making Randy give his friend a "I told you so" look as everyone ran out of the cafeteria.
"Okay, point taken," Howard said as Randy became the Ninja.
It wasn't like anyone was around to see him transform either. Though once done, Howard saw the boredest face ever as he stood and pulled a sword out of nowhere. The Ninja was quick in destroying the robot. Dismantling it into parts and walking away as they slide to the ground. No one had returned so he just pulled the mask off and became Randy as they did come back.
"You missed an awesome Ninja fight guys," Howard told the crowd as Randy sat next to him.
His best buds head hit the table as the crowd of kids sighed in disappointment. Randy didn't move as they returned to their seats to continue lunch despite the...hole in the wall. It was a sunny day so no harm, no foul towards him.
"Go home Randy," Howard stated suddenly.
"But…" Randy started.
"No, go. You are too tired. I'll get your homework for you. Just don't expect me to do this...nice thing again. It ruins my rep." The ginger stated, not looking at Randy.
He stood and smiled. Silently thanking Howard as he walked towards the hole in the wall. Shooting a glance at his friend, he turned and left the school. Howard watched his friend go. Something was happening. Something that just gave him a bad feeling.