Artemis Sirocco, a young girl of sixteen, is thrown into a new school amongst new people and abilities. While in school, she learns of secrets never imagined, and things that the ordinary cannot do.
At the same time, a killer is on the loose. The b...
Snickering. That's all I heard before I opened my eyes. Grace, Marco, and Maddox were all snickering on while sitting on a sofa. I blinked twice before letting my eyes adjust to the lighting of the room. I tried sitting up, a tight arm wrapped around my waist refused to let go. My eyes widened when I realized that this wasn't my room. My room didn't have gray sheets... Luis's did. I turned towards the arm, pausing when I saw Luis. His eyes were shut, obviously, his blonde hair messy and his bangs covering his eyes. He snored softly, breathing in and out slowly, his chest rising and falling. I turned towards the three, pushing them out of the room with a glare, before relaxing back in bed by Luis and fell back asleep.
***
"You vile creature! Come here! You deserve a punishment!" A shrill voice called out to me. My gaze turned towards my foster mother, who reached over with a long black whip. She roughly pulled me over, tugging off my shirt and threw the whip back and forth onto my back. I had braced myself for the pain but have never felt it to this extreme. The whip came in contact with my skin, breaking the skin and came back to hit me so many times. I screamed, cried, yelled, but no one could hear me. It was only just another day at my home. After what seemed to be the hundredth lash, I was shoved to the ground with my back bloody. I was only four at the time. With tears brimming in my eyes, I ran upstairs to my room, collapsing onto the bed in tears. I pulled a fresh towel that I had stowed away and began dabbing at my back. I put on my shirt after all of the blood was dried off, only to have the door open. A boy my age walked towards me, my foster parent's son. He had a bottle of rubbing alcohol with him, dumping some of it on my back and pressed a cloth to it, letting it seep into the marks. I hissed at the pain, clenching the mattress of my bed as he started to bandage my back. I was thankful for him and appreciated what he did for me.
***
I awoke in a start, faint tears on my face. I pulled my right hand into my shirt and traced the scars that were left on my back. I knew that they weren't going to go away, even after countless years of feeling the pain no more. I sighed, wishing that I knew the boy today that helped me. I was sent off to boarding school for countless numbers of years, and when I returned, he was gone. The years of being whipped, beaten, kicked, and abused were over for me, directly after finally leaving to a new place, the Academy. I was grateful that I was finally gone from my foster parent's home, I was finally free. Alas, I pulled out the paper that I had written last night before I fell asleep in Luis' bed. It wasn't something I was proud of, but rather something that frightened me greatly. The air around me went still as a figure approached me. I quickly turned to Luis, who still happened to be asleep, before turning back to the woman that stood by me.
"I'm so proud of you, dear. Your father is too. It is a shame of what happened to us." The woman spoke, sighing softly. "Nevertheless, live while you can, my daughter. Enjoy life and do well. Be prepared, darling. You have much to see and much to do." The wispy woman disappeared, leaving a fresh smell of pine. I sighed, looking at the clock for the time. It was only eight o'clock, but it was a weekend finally! I am sure that my ability- speaking to the dead would frighten out Professor Callows. However, it made sense, after the deaths of my mother and father. I doubt that my ability could help Detective Ace. It seems that X's victims all died to his hand. None saw his face but Frank Bones, who only saw a mask. Suddenly, I heard a thump, before falling off the bed. I groaned, turning to Luis, who was grinning at me sheepishly.
"Morning," he spoke softly, yawning. "Can you get off of me? I accidentally rolled off the bed." I nodded, standing up and helped him up. "Did you find your ability?" I nodded, before looking away shyly. He frowned, before asking what it was.
"Do you have anyone dead that you want to talk to?" Luis gave me a look, frowning at me. He pondered a bit, a bit puzzled by my odd question.
"Er... I was close to the royal court. Um, I'd like to talk to Prince Rasputin Elton, X's first victim." I nodded, calling to the spirits of the dead. Within seconds, the door opened and a medium height man walked in. He was transparent but stood by the two of us.
"Rasputin? How..." Luis shot me a shocked look before I motioned towards the dead man.
"I can call spirits from the dead. However, I cannot officially bring them back from, though." I responded, turning towards the dead man. "Luis told me to call you, would you like to talk about anything?" Rasputin nodded, turning towards the boy.
"So at last, I can talk with one of the living. I have been dead for what, three years? Killed by being stabbed, and drowned, only because I could drink poison and live! Ha! I will wait until I meet X, and when he is dead, he shall be tortured for what he caused to me." Rasputin spoke harshly, turning towards Luis. "So then, boy, how has the court been? You have been close, no?" Luis cleared his throat, giving Rasputin a knowing look.
"Ever since your death, the royal family has been in hiding."
"Oh? And what the cause?"
"X murdering you. X is still at large, and he may be a student at this school." I responded, swallowing nervously. Rasputin sneered, his soulless eyes staring at me. "We were taught the information during our history class."
"I know your father, girl. Business, famous, and connected the royal family. I'm surprised you don't remember Luis. He was rather close as well." Rasputin spat, before starting to choke. A tall man appeared, anger evident in his eyes.
"You dare not harm my daughter, nor frighten her. Leave her out of our argument." My father gave him a glare. He gave me a pointed look, before disappearing with Rasputin.
"I summon the dead, Luis," I sighed, sitting at the edge of his bed. "I remember Rasputin during my younger days while running around the palace grounds. My father was a businessman, you know. George Lexington was his name. I took my own name, in order to remain safe from his murderer and X."
"Oh." Luis managed to say, sighing while getting off his bed. "I'm going to change, er, I guess I'll see you later?" I nodded, making my way out of his room with my paper. Just before I entered my room, Grace gave me a wink before rushing out with Maddox on her heels. He was yelling at her, only to have her disappear with a pop. I chuckled to myself, departing the living room and went into my room.
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Well, it seems that Artemis has finally found her ability! As Professor Callows stated, her ability did relate to her. In fact, she could talk to the dead. At least Artemis can talk to her parents. Hmm, so Artemis's real last name is Lexington... then why is she registered and known as Artemis Sirocco?
The google definition of Sirocco:
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Hmm. I don't think it has any relation. Although her last name is a key part of the story.
