The Rise of Exile Coven: Fractured

Chapter One:

SAGE'S POV:

My Cousin Tabitha and I stand at the gigantic black gate, of what will be our new school for the next four years. If I am being completely honest with myself it is all a bit intimidating. Unlike Tabitha who loves to travel every summer, I've never once left our small town of Danbury, let alone home. "We're in the big league now." She smiles widely before turning around and waving at my uncle to say goodbye. If she thinks that college is the big leagues I wonder what she thinks being assigned into a coven would be. He waves back and calls out a wish of luck from his car window. "I love you girls, be safe, and take care of one another." She throws her arm over my shoulder and leans most of her weight into my body. "Always, dad." She kisses two of her fingers then shows him a piece sign. He catches the kiss on his own two fingers and places it against his lips, before sending her one back. A thing they have done since we were toddlers to say goodbye to one another. That's what they say anyway. I don't recall any memories with them, or with anyone else until I was six years old, which also happens to be the year I moved in with them. Why these memories don't exist is a mystery to me and everyone else. Uncle Demetri has adopted me, whenever my dad decided he wasn't cut out to raise me, anymore. I believe the Dalca family to be cursed or something. Tabitha and I were both unlucky enough to grow up without our mothers. Tabitha's mother died in a car accident when she was three, so I was four at the time. Mine, I never met her. She died giving birth to me., unfortunately. I fantasize often about what life would look like if she lived. Demetri used to tell me the story all the time of how my dad held me with pure joy, then fell to his knees at the news of my mother's death. Perhaps that's why he abandoned me. I began looking too much like her. The photos of Demetri and her as kids told me that much. I envy Tabitha in some ways, the relationship with her father being at the top of the list. Her confidence is next to it.

Lighting strikes down five feet away from us as rain clouds begin to emerge across the eerie sky. "We better get inside before we're caught in the rain." She pushes past the gate, and tugs onto my black sweater pulling me through the courtyard. The gates shut naturally behind us and locks once more, a spell to ensure intruders don't enter. "Do you even know where you're dragging me too?" She continues north, this is the learning center. Where all of our classes will take place. It's more of a giant castle, multiple really. The Learning center is where we take our classes, and where we learn our housing. East of here is where those who practice dark magic dorm, and toward the west are those who will practice light magic, dorm. South of where we are now is where the cafeteria is, there's mini markets and stores where we can shop for school supplies, eat, and hang out with our friends. I can't help but notice the drastic difference in the visuals of the dorms. Looking east gives me an intense feeling as I watch as bats and ravens fly across the dim sky, it's all very intriguing. The west looks homey and bright.

"Earth to Sage. Are you listening?" I turn toward my cousin and smile. "Yeah sorry. I was a bit distracted." She pulls me through the doors and we are met with a huge crowd of students waiting for their dorm keys at the table before us. There are five faculty members running the tables, and two are standing, directing kids in one direction or the other. "The busiest day of the year!" Exclaims a redhead woman with pale skin and freckles, as she guides Tabitha in the opposite direction of me. "Aren't you a cute button?" She taps my nose and I scrunch it as she touches me. She's a bit... quirky...Her name tag reads "Delaney Rivers." She's a bucket of sunshine and rainbows. I walk over to the man before me, who I learn to be Evan Richardson. "Name?" He asks as he scans his paper looking for mine. "Sage, Dalca." He finds my name in a matter of seconds. It seems he's memorized the list after going over it so many times. "Ah, Here you are." He hands me a string bag, and crosses my name off the list, causing it to disappear. The list continues to shorten on the page as other crossed off names disappear. Some kind of spell, made to make his job easier I assume. "This is your room key. You'll be in Viridescent house...if you look at the tag attached to the key there is a map there, the red dot is you, the green dot is where you'll be headed. If you ever find yourself lost, you can zoom out and there is a map of the whole school there. The instructions are listed in the care package in your bag. Welcome to Crimson Peak Academy." I thank him with a smile as I watch the keyfob light up with directions. I wonder where Tabitha is being housed. It's based on the forms our parents fill out about us, and our magic. By second year you will have your permanent housing based on what you are developing best in school, and test scores. Most people remain in the housing they came in with. The red dot inches forward as I take a step closer toward Viridescent House. As I make my way to Viridescent house I look inside of the bag also coming across an empty grimoire meant for me to fill. "Woah careful there." I look up as I am moments away from bumping into the shaggy blonde haired boy. "Sorry..I'm a bit preoccupied." He smiles, his aura is child-like and he beams as if the sun shines only for him. "Are you headed toward Lux Domus?" There is hope in his voice, I think he may be lost. "Yes I am actually. Do you need help finding it?" He nods eagerly and I gesture for him to follow me after shoving my belongings back into my bag. Turns out his map has been malfunctioning for some reason.