Another school year begins at Winterglen College, and Darleen, the newest student, just wants to go by unnoticed. But, being the illegitimate hybrid daughter (half elf, half vampire) of the renowned vampire Kurt Sylvainstain, she's got nothing but a...
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I learnt to be on my own, that first week before the beginning of classes. As I got bored of exploring around, I grew into the habit of running every day across a lovely forest walk that led to the village. I knew I was advised not to exit the castle, but there being few people at school yet, I thought it wouldn't be a problem. Plus, I wasn't completely defenceless; I knew how to fight.
Slowly, the party Lev had invited me to was approaching. It was supposed to be the last Saturday before the start of the academic calendar, on Tuesday. I was reluctant to go, and didn't have anyone whom to ask for advice, so one afternoon as I came back to my dorm from running, I decided to break the barrier between my flatmate Hellena and me— and just question her about it.
Conveniently, or perhaps, awkwardly, when I walked into our living room that day, she wasn't on her own, sipping coffee and reading a book as she would usually be. A brunette with dark eyes was with her, and they were kissing.
Immediately as I walked inside he pulled away from her, sitting apart at the other end of the couch.
— Sorry —I apologised anxiously. Maybe not today, I thought awkwardly.
— Don't worry, we were just leaving —said Hellena in a soft voice. That was the first time I had heard her speak since the argument with her sister.
I gulped and nodded and the three of us remained silent and motionless. Suddenly I could hear my breath, which was heavy since I had just come back from a 4K run.
— Are you okay? —asked Hellena.
— Yes —I said, nodding —. I went for a run.
— Oh, okay.
Suddenly we were silent again. I could have gone to my room but for some reason I wasn't moving, since I was exhausted. I tried to break the ice again.
— It's nice out today —I said.
Hellena and the guy looked at me still. What a pair of talkers, I thought. Giving up on the conversation, I started heading towards my room.
When suddenly the boy's voice stopped me.
— Are you the new girl? —he inquired. I stopped and looked back at him,
— I suppose I am.
— Where do you come from?
How problematic would it be to say the truth?, I wondered in my head. A lot, probably.
— Ekkendal —I lied. Ekkendal was the place most southern in what was typically considered the northern vampire realm: the Arctic ring. I had been there once, visiting as a child, and I had read many things about that place.
— Cool —the guy answered, without giving it much thought.
At this point, the conversation stopped again, and I decided to shoot my shot.
— Are you going to that party on Saturday? A guy invited me but I don't know what it's all about —I said, timidly.
Hellena and and him looked at each other for a second. Hellena didn't speak a word, and something about her expression told me she wasn't very convinced about this party thing.
— Who invited you? —asked the guy. His voice sounded like genuine curiosity.
— Um, a guy called Lev —I said, not knowing if they would recognise him. I saw Hellena roll her eyes discreetly.
— Oh, Lev is cool —said the guy, by contrast —. He's a close friend of mine.I'm Darcy —he introduced himself.
Darcy. So this was the famous Darcy the two sisters had been fighting over...
— Darleen.
— So, yeah, we'll be at the party. We can see you there —Darcy kept going. But Hellena didn't seem to agree.
— We will? —she said, her voice sounding almost concerned.
— Why not? Everyone's going —Darcy replied.
— Everyone's not going —said Hellena, distressed —. Every one of your friends are going, it's not the same thing. It's not a school party —she added, this time looking at me, as if to warn me —. I'm surprised Lev invited you.
— Oh, you know Lev, he can't help himself —Darcy replied casually.
I watched the both of them discuss as if it were a tennis match, not quite understanding what they meant sometimes.
— Anyway, you two should come. You can always leave early if it's not your vibe —Darcy insisted.
I sensed the two of them wanted some space to discuss this upcoming party, so I announced that I was going to shower and leave for dinner now. But again, things didn't work out quite as I had expected.
— Sure, we were going now too. We can wait for you if you want —Darcy suggested. I watched Hellena's expression and could see that she was not comfortable with such decision. But I didn't know how to react, so I just answered quite impulsively.
— Sure, okay —I said.
And Darcy gave me a friendly smile as I went inside of my room.
