Wizard Blood, Vampire Magic

Girls

                An hour or so after Marius left, I stood and stretched my arms over my head.  Dress nicely, hmm?  I was sure I could manage that.  On my way back to my room, I ran into the little blonde girl, Elle.  We stared at each other for a moment before she smiled at me and nodded.  I raised a brow before asking, almost without thinking, “Is it weird in the summer dorm?”

                She stopped and stared at me, startled that I had talked to her, I think.  She toyed with a curl, thinking about it.  “Oh, um.  Not really.  It’s quiet and nice, no one bothers us, and there aren’t any rules to follow.”

                I nodded but apparently didn’t look satisfied, because she came over and smiled at me gently before she walked slowly over to a miniature garden with its own fountain and benches.  She sat on one and gestured for me to join her, which I did after a few seconds of thinking.

                “It’s hard being the new girl here, isn’t it?”

                “Yeah…  But I’ll get over it.  I’m leaving soon anyway.”

                “You don’t have to, you know.  You could take college courses and stay here if you liked it.”

                “I’d have to like it first.”

                I smiled and after a moment, so did Elle.  It felt nice to have someone just smile at me, like I wasn’t something to be gawked at.  The conversation quickly delved into idle gossip and questions.

                “Are all the other dorms as nice as ours?”

                “Not really… I mean they are, but we’re allowed to customize our rooms as much as we like.”

                “Was there a special reason you three are all in one dorm and no one else is?”

                “Well it has to do with this certain test.  But as far as I know Marius has always been in that dorm.”

                “Is Ian a playboy?”

                Elle stopped for a moment as she considered her answer.  Finally she nodded, laughing softly.  “Yes, yes he is.  He’s a nice guy, but he’s so jealous of you.  Please don’t take offense to what he does or says.”

                “Jealous?  Of me?  Why?”  I frowned, never dreaming that someone who seemed as popular and perfect on the outside as Ian would be jealous of me.

                “Your mother, mostly.  He always wants her attention, but can never quite get it.”

                “My mum.  Really?  What, does he also not have…”

                Elle looked past me and I slowly turned to see Ian standing there, glaring at us.  He was tense, not quite as tall as Marius, but still tall, and looked like he was sculpted from the mold of a god.  I felt Elle grow nervous beside me and I puffed my cheeks out, staring up at him.  “Go on then, tell me why you’re jealous of my mum.”

                “She’s wonderful, kind, forgiving, patient, thoughtful, caring, considerate, doesn’t judge, flawless…”  The list went on and I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the smirk that was threatening to show.  “…And it’s all wasted on someone like you.”   He crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at me.  “Did you know every year on August 8th we have a ball?  Only the nicest clothes can be worn, and in the corner is a special display that no one’s allowed to touch.  It’s on the day of your birthday, but you’re never here to celebrate it.  But she never forgets, and makes the biggest event out of it.”

                “Well that’s nice, but she never stopped by after this place got running.  All she did was send a book or something twice a year.  So forgive me if I don’t see her as the saintly mother you do.”

                “She built this place for-“  Ian cut himself off and scowled, then stomped off.  I watched and then shook my head.

                “Boys,” I said, looking at Elle.  She gave me a weak smile and then fidgeted with her hands.  I had watched people enough without getting involved to know that she liked Ian, more than as a friend, but knew that he didn’t see her in the same light.  “Why don’t you go talk to him, Elle.  I’ll see you later?”

                “Oh!  Um, sure.  If you go to the top floor, my room is there, at the furthest end.”  She hopped up and scampered after Ian.  I watched and then leaned back, sighing and staring up at the sky.  I hadn’t learned too much about this place, but I knew enough to know that life here was going to give me the short end of the stick, most likely.  Especially if my dorm mates included a boy obsessed with my mother, a lovesick girl that followed him around, and a guy with hair that came to the floor and seemed to want to play a perverted game with me.  Which reminded me… I had to go pick out something to wear tomorrow.  I was already bored, might as well see what was so special about this game.

                Standing, I wandered back towards the summer dorm.  I could feel warmth from my pocket and tuned into the sound my wand made, smiling a bit.  “No, no, don’t even go there.  No magic to make me prettier.  I want to go at this all natural.”  The disappointment I next felt made me chuckle.  “Well, maybe I’ll need some help changing my clothes to something more… snug fitting.”  I could feel the wand perk up, apparently glad to be of use.

                Back at my room, I went through the wardrobe.  I had a skirt, a dress, and a blouse, all of which had been used for mock interviews, real interviews, and the rare dinner party my father and I had hosted for his police friends.  None of them were modern, frilly, or cute looking.  They all screamed librarian at me.  I winced, then booted up Bastian and asked for his advice.

                “Searching for modern fashion.  One moment please.”

                While I waited I contemplated what colors went best with my complexion.  Purple, grey, green, red...  I thought it over and finally decided on a black pair of leggings, a grey cloth belt, a half skirt that would show off most of my legs, but would cover the top of my thighs and fall down to my calves in the back, a tank top, then loose tunic that fell off the shoulders and was held in place with another belt.  As for shoes, I figured adventurer shoes would be the best…  And a thick headband.

                “Christine, I have found the latest fashions.”  I glanced over at Bastian and wrinkled my nose.  They barely had any clothes on!  I told Bastian about my idea and he sketched it out on MSPaint.  I giggled, but nodded.

                “That looks about right, Bas.  And I want to wear a lot of bangles.”

                “Going for the seventies look?”

                “And a bit of a whimsical, mmmm, magical touch.”

                “I see.”

                “Bas, you’re a computer, you kind of don’t see.”

                “Oh.  I suppose you’re right.”  I thought he sounded disappointed, but I couldn’t really tell if computers could feel such things, or replicate them.  Still, I took out my wand, Irjland, and opened my wardrobe.

                “Alright then, let’s get to work!”  I put on some music and sat up for part of the night, playing with my outfit, modifying it, changing the color, texture, feel, weight…  It was a lot of fun, and by the time I was done it was hanging up on a mannequin with my measurements that I had conjured out of a pillow and a couple clothes hangers.  “Magic is so wonderful,” I murmured to myself.  I couldn’t wait for the morning now.  All I knew was Marius had better watch out!