Storm Mountain Academy

Chapter 1- Azaria

The battle, no war of us versus them is all I've ever known, all my family has ever known and it's time someone won the war. Supernaturals or humans, one of us will come out on top, I just hope the scales tip our way. I'm tired of being hunted just for having fangs and craving blood.

When I was young my grandma told my cousins and I a story of the real monsters, the real villains in the world. The ones who would try to kill us just for being different. I always thought her stories were tall tales or fables. I know better now. Back then I was naïve, my naivety may have caused my brother's life. Heck, my whole family's naivety cost many their life.

Now when the family gets together all I see is who isn't there. The cousins, aunts, uncles, friends that we call aunt or uncle just because, and grandparents who have all lost the battle of us vs. them, supernatural vs. humans. It wouldn't be long before I'd have to survive in the real world away from the relative safety of my boarding school, but first I'd have to survive the journey back in one piece. There aren't many places in this world that are safe for us, at least for now. Because there's one thing I am absolutely certain of. If I have anything to do with it, supernaturals will now longer cower to corners, staying hidden from those who would harm us, we'll be doing the harming. It will be the humans who have to fall into line.

I set my trunk down with an ungraceful thud as I arrived at the bus stop 4 minutes before midnight on September 2nd. There was a light rain that almost made this humid night tolerable, my jean jacket with different pins and patches sewn to it, tied around my neck for later. I never knew what weather to expect when traveling. I wouldn't be taking the bus, but this is where I always met my witch, ever since Storm Mountain Academy accepted me, back in the fourth grade. One incident too many at the private human school, at home, heck anywhere I went and the Headmaster, Dr. Jetswater of SMA came offering me a spot. That was the only time I had reliable transportation from my house in Maine to halfway across the country where Storm Mountain Academy was located in Benvali, Colorado.

I couldn't wait to be back in the mountains with snow and cool air all around me and best of all in the middle of nowhere miles and miles away from the humans. I checked my smart watch for the third time in what must be a minute and let out a long sigh. I always hated traveling back to school. It made me nervous, jumpy, and altogether irritable because there were so many things that could go wrong, so many things or people out there trying to kill my kind.

I tossed my black under armor backpack right on top of my trunk, that was an ombre shade of a deep dark green and black, complete with my family crest on the side, in a big fancy cursive M, in an effort to distract myself.

I heard the footsteps before I saw them. "You're late," I said, not turning around just yet.

The dim flickering light filled the otherwise empty dark street, "I'm here now and it was only a minute darling." Mrs. Ella Callsom replied as she appeared under the streetlight beside me, providing the only light on this end of the street. Although part of me believed she made it shine slightly brighter.

"You know I hate coming home for breaks." I growled back at her as I tapped my foot anxiously still scanning the street.

She tossed a few of her long gray strands of hair over her shoulder and offered a tin, which I knew would have some sort of baked goods in it. She was always too good to me. Back in the 5th grade Mrs. Ella provided my very first portal, although that's only half of the battle of getting there. By the next year she learned that I didn't come home for the breaks of Christmas and Spring holiday, which got her thinking if I got care packages or letters or anything. So one day she wrote to me at school and I suppose I was feeling nice that day and responded. From there on she had kinda become my adopted grandmother.

"I do," She smiled, taking my hand. My pale white one contrasted with her dark brown one. "I know you hate the journey back even more."

I blinked my eyes closed just as she began to say something in Greek, Latin, or whatever language it was the witches used. "Oh do I ever."

Right before our eyes the purple glowing portal appeared. "Good luck dear."

I gave her a hug before I grabbed the handle on my trunk and slung my backpack on to one shoulder as I walked through the portal. And let the journey begin.