Zodiac Academy: New Gen

Elara Chapter One

I loved the feeling of the cold air whipping against my skin. Something about winter brought a slight joy to my cold heart. "Elara, please close your window. It's cold in here!" My brother Kale moans from the seat next to me. I glare at him as I slowly roll my window, taking in every last bit of cold air I can manage. Turning out my window, I peer through the forest trees as the car speeds down a long paved road. It's late December, and it is Christmas Eve. We are headed to Aunt Tory and Uncle Darius's house for the annual dinner party. The last time I attended this dinner party was years ago for the last time; after that, I was enrolled in the Vampire Academy after turning 14. 

My order came to light reasonably early, taking after my father, Caleb. My brother Kale turned when he was 17, taking after our other dad, Seth, becoming a werewolf. My powers came on quickly following my turn of order, and from there, my life changed. From a young age, I was always looked at differently, as I was born with the gift of Spirit Whisperer, which means I see and hear the dead, the last spirit whisperer believed to have lived 200 years ago. Uncle Gabriel, a seer, tried to help me contain these gifts as much as he could, but as soon as my order appeared, he could no longer provide me any guidance. My dads thought it would be best for me to attend the vampire academy and see if they could help garnish this gift until I could attend Zodiac Academy with my brother Kale.

Kale is a tall, gorgeously tan man with shaggy brown hair and hazel eyes. After just his first year, he was the pack leader of wolves at the Zodiac Academy. I, on the other hand, have blonde hair, icy pale skin, and piercing blue eyes, just like my father, Caleb. See, Kale and I were born on the same day at the same time. However, we each come from one of our dads and a surrogate mother. To say we are the complete opposite would be an understatement.

As we pull up to the mansion, the car quickly stops. I can suddenly feel everyone in the car's eyes on me. I lean against the window before slowly turning to connect with the intense eye contact. "How are you feeling?" My dad Caleb asks while taking my other dad Seth's hand. "Great! Could not be more excited!" I say, trying to sound confident but feeling a knot of nervousness in my stomach. I haven't seen any of my dad's friends, who we consider family, for years. I left the Vampire Academy at 14 and am now returning to this society at the ripe age of 20. I spent the last six years honing in on my gifts, power, and order while everyone in the family started Zodiac Academy.

"El, I know this will be different coming back, but I assure you everyone is very excited to see you!" Seth says as he adjusts his bow tie in the mirror. "I'm sure everyone's excited to see the crazy girl who talks to the dead again!" I say, rolling my eyes as I wipe at my dress. These holiday events always had a black tie theme, so the family was dressed to the nines. My dads bought me a dress before my arrival home this morning, a floor-length halter red dress that hugged every curve and barely stopped above my butt, leaving the back completely exposed. I put my hair in a loose twist bun to show off my muscular back, which I had worked on all year at the academy.

"Elara, please, no one thinks that!" Caleb says, looking at me with endearing eyes. "Dad, everyone thinks that," Kale says, smiling into his atlas. "Kale!" Seth says, shooting him daggers. "It's fine, I'm fine!" I say, sliding out of the car and slamming the door. I walk up to the mansion door with my family behind me. I don't have to knock as the doors open, revealing servants at the steps. "Welcome, Miss Elara!" One of the servants says, curtsying before me as I slide past them.

"EL!!!" I hear screams from the left wing as a skinny, light-skinned girl comes tumbling towards me. "Augustaline!" I say back, embracing her muscular body. Augustaline is the daughter of Max and Geraldine. She and I were best friends before I was sent to the Academy, and we weren't allowed to contact anyone outside the vampire order. "By golly, I have missed you more than the Moon misses a wolf!" She says as she looks me over. "You look amazing, so different!" She squeals as she pulls me back in for another hug. We stand there for a minute before I pull away and look around. Before I get a second, Augustaline is yanking me by the arm. "Follow me this way. All the other are in this room!" She says, grabbing my hand before I could even protest her statement. I wasn't ready to see the others, and I wanted to see Uncle Gabriel before anyone else. I drag my feet before she yanks me with all her might forward to follow her. I looked around frantically, hoping to see anyone else before entering the room all the others were in.

I give up, easing into her pull as we approach a double sliding wood door that towers over us. Augustaline quickly pulls them aside to reveal all the other kids sitting in the room with drinks in their hands. I spot Kale sitting knee to knee with Azura, Aunt Darcy, and Uncle Lance's daughter, who has been obsessed with him since childhood. I flash her a quick smile before scanning the rest of the room to see who else is there. I come eye-to-eye with two identical twins sitting slumped on throne-like chairs. I know these two: Aunt Tory's oldest twins, Tarin and Rygar. Both boys have their jackets off, and their bow ties are undone as they sit slumped in their chairs, sleeves rolled up to reveal that each has full-sleeve tattoos on the opposite arms. I spot two girls sitting on the armrests of the chairs, giving me a judgemental look as I snap out of the fog I had entered, staring at them.

 I straightened up and moved my eyes past them to the next pair of twins, pushing each other around before coming to a crashing halt right before me, almost knocking me over. "El?" The one on the floor says before moving the other twine to stand up. "Yeah?" I say questioningly. "Oh my god!" The other one shrieks as he lunges towards me for a hug. These twins were also Aunt Tory and Uncle Darius's children, Ender and Kyle, two years younger than Tarin and Rygar. I hug them both before Augustaline grabs Ender's hand to show they are dating. I look proud before returning to the rest of the room.

Before I can say anything further, Kyle wraps his arm around me and starts to announce, " Guys, it's Elara!" He says, pushing me forward towards the rest of the group. I smile and wave to the set of triplets who are clearly up to something naughty; they are also Aunt Tory and Uncle Darius' children Axel, Nero, and Bowie. Besides them was Aunt Darcy and Uncle Lance's other child, Archer, who gave me a sad smile, and I could tell he could feel my energy wasn't comfortable.

"Hi, guys," I say softly, giving them a slight wave. "When did you get back?" I hear from the throne chairs as Rygar pushes himself up to walk over to us. "Uhh, this morning," I manage as I approach Augustaline and Ender, who already feel the safest. He stops in front of us as he looks me over, taking in every bit of my curve, drawing me to cover my body. "And who is Elara?" I hear one of the female voices say as she strolls to us. "This is Kales's twin sister," Rygar says, drawing her in towards him. "You don't look like twins," she says, laughing and looking at Kale and me. "We were just born at the same time, different moms and dads, but we are considered star twins," Kale says annoyingly before drinking whatever cocktail was in his cup. "yeah, each of our dads donated to a surrogate to have us," I say as I turn from where I was looking at Kale disgustingly.

"Well, Vampire Academy, did you well?" Tarin says as he walks over to us and makes intense eye contact. "Yeah, I guess when all you do is train and study, there is nothing else to distract you," I say, looking up and down at the girl looking at Tarin with hearts in her eyes. "I'm Celaria," The one with hearty eyes says, throwing her hand to mine. I grab it hesitantly before quickly pulling it back. "And I'm Zandera," The slim redhead hanging on to Rygar for dear life huffs as if it were her last breath. I smile at her before letting my eyes wander around the room.

I hadn't been in this room in years; the last memory of this place was playing hide and seek, but that was before... The voices took over, drawing me to a complete meltdown in the corner of the room. Tarin had found me in complete tears, picking me up and walking me to where the adults were. I still think about that day every time I think about the voices. They were gone now, subdued thanks to the Vampire Academy. I turn back around to find Tarin continuing to lock on my eyes. I wonder if he remembers that day and if it left just as big of a mark on him as it did on me.