Darkness of the Woods

Chapter 12

Elfrida

The Kalen would take place at midnight, per tradition. They were still in the third floor Common Room. Cammi and Akili had left Elfrida and Victoria to meet more new people.

Victoria was just explaining to Elfrida 'cell phones' and other devices of this place when a girl with brown hair came up to them saying, "So is it true you're half vampire and werewolf? Or are all these people just spreading rumors about the three strange new girls?"

"No they aren't rumors. I am half vampire and half werewolf. Same as Victoria here is." Elfrida answered smiling easily while motioning to Victoria. "And who I might ask, are you?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm Rose Taylors. Audrey's little cousin." She smiled brightly and grabbed Elfrida hand, shaking it enthusiastically. "You have no idea how such an honor it is to meet you. I mean you and your sisters are the first people from the home world to come here, let alone your half vamp and were. And your dress is so beautiful I have never seen anything like it ever before, and the materials definitely don't look like there from around here. Wow. I'm talking too much. I'm sorry. But once you get me going I just go on and on and on. Sorry, I'm doing it again." She took in a deep breath and let it out.

Elfrida smiled at her. "It's okay. You weren't talking too much." Victoria sent a 'oh really' look her way.

Rose gave her a thankful smile. "Thank you. Audrey would just tell me to shut the hell up or glare at me till I stop talking."

The poor girl probably doesn't get a lot of kindness from her cousin it seems. I'll have to try and get that to stop. Elfrida made a mental note to herself. Actually the more she thinks about it the more she thinks that Rose is probably the person who knows basically everything that happens around school. She'll be useful.

But first, she'll have to talk to someone about that, making Rose a memeber, she means. There's someone she knows who would not be happy if she did so. Elfrida hadn't known that Rose was Audrey's cousin but it makes sense. Both Audrey and Rose have the same face, if you payed attention, you could almost mistake them as sisters instead of cousins.

"You know, I have never been to the home country before. What's it like? I heard that there are all these strange customs that involve rings or some sort of jewelry or art that tells what each person's importance. Is that true?" Rose asked curiously, even Victoria looked interested.

"Um," Elfrida had not really been expecting that anyone would be interested in costumes, "yes, the vampires use rings to show their status in life, but the werewolves use necklaces instead." She tried to think of more to say. "And I would say that it's quite peaceful there than it is here, especially in the countryside."

The three of them talked more and Elfrida learned that Victoria had actually never known that vampires and werewolves had even existed until a week before she even came here. Her parents had never told her because she had been adopted by a human couple.

She hadn't even learned it from them but from some school officials who had learned of her existence somehow and came to talk to her and her folks. Victoria had denied it at first but her parents hadn't been that surprised. "They always said how they knew that I was special. They just hadn't realized just how special." Victoria had said grimly and sadly. "I think they might be a little bit afraid of me."

"I'm sure there not." Rose said supportively. "They've known you your whole life. They love you after all. Just give them some time to get used to the idea of...."

Rose was cut off. It was her cousin, Audrey, coming towards them with her friends. And she looked mad.

            "Looks like chatter mouth here has forgot how to shut up." Audrey sneered at Rose, she turned her glaring on Victoria, who was silent, and then turned to Elfrida, her glare wavering for a second, barely even noticeable. "And what are you doing here. Shouldn't you be over there supporting your sister?"

             Audrey was pointing across the room where Cammi, Akili, and Cole were standing talking quietly amongst themselves. But then they looked up and noticed Elfrida was surrounded by Audrey and her friends, who were all glaring at her. They looked like they were trying to decide what to do, probably fearful for their sister.

Elfrida turned back to Audrey and sneered right back at her, glaring, "Shouldn't you be getting ready to have your ass kicked? Don't you have more important things to do than trying to be a bully?"

             Audrey looked surprised that someone actually stood up to her. She immediately backed down and even looked at Elfrida with a little bit of respect but she was quick to hide it. "Sorry, I can be a bitch sometimes. It's the easiest way to keep people out of my way."

             She sure changed her tune quick.

            "Yeah well, don't forget who you're talking to. I'm not as easily pushed over as what I'm guessing is most of the school here." Elfrida had a feeling she will have to say this more than once. "But really, you should go get ready for the Kalen my sister isn't going to go easy on you."

              Audrey nodded and left quickly her friends on her heels, one of them asked. "Since when were we friends with our enemies' sister?"

             "Shut up, Abby, you weren't at the meeting." Audrey hissed at her as they walked away. "Come on Rose."

              Rose waved good bye to Victoria and Elfrida then followed her cousin out of the Common Room. "Yeah, since when have you talked to Audrey like she's your longtime friends?" Victoria asked suspicious, she crossed her arms. "I'm new here and I can already tell that she's not so daily pushed over either, but why would she for you?"

             "Since I met her in Velent and we kept in touch." Elfrida answered then looked around. Realizing what she just said. "Please don't tell anyone that I had met her before. I shouldn't have even told you."

             Victoria softened. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. But what was that meeting she mentioned."

             Fortunately, before Elfrida was able to answer, or lie, she saw her sisters and Cole making their way over to them. "I'll tell you later."

              Cammi and Akili both looked a little worried. "Hey, you okay?" Cammi asked looking concerned. She touched her arm as though to check to make sure she was fine physically.

             "Yes...why?" Elfrida asked a little confused as to what the problem is.

           "Because the reigning queen of the school looked like she was about to slap you a minute ago." Cole said also looking a little worried. "What did she want?"

            "She was just trying to intimidate me. That's all. It's not like I haven't dealt with a bully before." She lied easily. Though it wasn't entirely a lie.

            "Just try to stay away from her. I don't think she will bring any good to this school for us." Akili said, trying to control her sister.

             "Of course not. Whatever you say." Elfrida answered sarcastically. "Now shouldn't we get ready for the Kalen?"

             "Um, yes." Cammi said confused at her sister's sarcasm. "We'll meet you in the grand entry in an hour."

             Elfrida left with her sisters, Victoria, and Cole watching her go.