Coterie of Darkness

Chapter 1: The Characters

The days were cold, the end of autumn showing in the yellowing dying trees and the gloomy weather beginning to set in. Leaves crushed under feet or flying through the air, pumpkins sat on doorsteps and stores filled with the seasonal holidays decorations. A buzz was in the air as the festivities shook the students as they left their final class of the week, Ridgewood Secondary looking as dull as ever surrounded in its armour of trees that went on for miles, separating the school from the rest of the civil world.

Time ticked slowly as the darkness filled the sky quicker in the cold days, clouds avoiding the perfect full moon that gave little light to the campus grounds. The school building was old, the bricks in need of proper cleaning and retouching, dorms were put on opposite sides of the building separating genders like some old fashion rule that never got changed. The large fountain past the front gates was the only sound left on the grounds as most students went out into the nearby town to celebrate the night, and the rest hibernated in their room avoiding people at all costs.

"Hey, stop that!" One of the janitors screamed as he fled the main doors of the school chasing some students from the fountain. They laughed as they outrun him, escaping their little harmless stunt, leaving Mr Brock to sigh, taking his cap off to scratch at his balding head. "Damn kids." he muttered as he began walking back to the school, leaving the red dye to fill into the fountain's water flow. Halloween truly was the season for tricks.

Marian, Connor, and a few of their fellow gang had stopped running, laughing in the trees as they walked more into the woods. "Every year they never stop us" Luke high fived Connor who kept his stone face as usual, only a small smirk pulling at his lips.

"Wait til they see the mural on the back wall of the dorms" Marian laughed out as they began to giggle among themselves. The small group had messed with some of the art teachers' paints and made some not so safe for work masterpieces on the walls of the dorms and a few smaller ones around the school.

Connor's phone pinged as their laughter began to fade, stopping in a small clearing of the woods. "Let's go." he nodded to Marian to signal its time. They all simultaneously took small breaths of air, closing their eyes as the darkness consumed them, pulling them into the shadows. A few moments passed before they opened their eyes again to be met at the abandoned factory away from the eyes of the common folk.

"Ladies first" Emmitt did a little dramatic bow outstretching his arm towards the graffiti covered wall. Marian smiled as she stuffed her hands into her pockets and walked forwards, going through the wall and into another building unknown to the normal realm, a pocket dimension she had created a few years ago for all demons alike. Shadow walkers and creatures of the dark sometimes joined in on their little gatherings. Tonight was a night where all of the dark kinds could gather in the pocket dimension and enjoy the night how they wanted, under the safety of the dimension away from hunters or other unnaturals.

Marian and the others were greeted as they walked in, smiled and drinks were offered as they went on their way. Luke and Emmitt went to find Jenny their partner whilst Marian and Connor made their way to the back rooms. The two sat in their private room where it was quieter, and with better drinks, but the others don't need to know that.

Connor sat in his padded chair and leaned his head backwards, his drink sloshing in the glass he dangled over the edge of the arm rest. Marian collapsed in a window reading nook he had made and picked up something to read, sticking with non alcoholic drinks for the night. Connor tilted his head slightly to look towards her, he sighed once more and sat forwards with his arms on his legs.

"Are you really gonna stay up here all night and read?" he asked her, sounding a little concerned. Marian's gaze never left her book as she took a sip of her drink, too into the words to listen to him. "Mari..." he spoke a little louder and prodded her foot with his that hung off the side of her nook. She finally looked up with an innocent look on her face before breaking, sighing and bookmarking her place before putting it down and locking eyes with him.