Blood Runs This School

De Lutha Academy

Chapter One

De Lutha Academy

My dad drove slowly round the bend of the long driveway that we had been cautiously following for sometime now, dark bushy trees shadowed the graveled road where the autumn foliage lay, crunching loudly on the wheels of Dad's shiny blue business car. I would of thought we were going the wrong way if it wasn't for the bright orange minivan upfront and the two cars trailing behind us.

My chest was warm, the ring hanging lowly on a gold chain nestled under my shirt. It was burning, pulsating in rhythm with my heart beat. I clenched my hand around it through the cloth of my shirt and it instantly cooled.

I couldn't help but gasp when we came into the view of the castle. Plunged out of the darkness and into the glaring sunlight I was in awe. The sun was rising behind, casting shadows on the dark building, the silhouette rose into the sky of the dauntingly tall pointed pillars. Crisscrossed windows with golden swirled edges and dark crimson flags that hung above the open entrance. It was breathtakingly scary.

"I cant believe I'm going to be living here" I whispered inaudibly clenching my hand even harder around the ring "I can't believe you're sending me here" locking eyes with my Dad in the rear view mirror.

"Lailah . . ." My mum said in a pained voice that begs for me not to make a fuss. Mum is finding this harder than dad, maybe it has something to do with the fact they're giving me away to the devil.

"Lailah it's time you stopped talking like that, you're aware that they expect obedience and respect" Dad said speaking as if he was reading right out of the school pamphlet. I roll my eyes turning my focus to out the window instead of starting an argument with him.

"Did they tell us where to park in the acceptance letter George?" Mum asked the panic started to rise to her voice. My mother hates the idea of the unknown, she likes her structure and routine. Anything out the usual can set her right off balance.

"Yes Sara, you know they mentioned the left side of the north tower" My dad sighed keeping his cool like he always does "we'll just follow all the cars ahead"

Mum let out a long shaky breath which made me look up from the window "I'm slightly nervous George aren't you?"

My dad took one of his hands of the steering wheel to hold my mum's hand "Darling we'll be out of there in a heartbeat"

"Wow gee thanks guys" I sighed glaring down at my hands "Did you forget it's me that's being led to my pitiful end?"

My dad didn't respond just removes his hand from mums to run it down his face in frustration an act I've seen many times when I'm present , while mum however turned round to look at me "it's not the same Lailah, they can't hurt you we have a legal binding contract of your safety, but there's nothing stopping them from hurting us"

I sucked in a sharp breath and turned away from her to look out the car window again trying to swallow my burning anger that soon turns to something colder. Sometimes I cant believe they can actually find any excuse for what they're doing to me. It's shameful, unbelievable and completely unfair. The day I found out was no denying the worst, they couldn't of found a better time to tell me really. On my birthday they broke the news to me, they said it was 'for the best', 'the right thing to do'. How could sending me to De Lutha Academy possible have any positive benefits? My parents have heard the rumors of course, girls being forced by they're evil parents to attend and each and every one ending in a saddening and life crumbling death. My acceptation letter that came through the post two nights ago has been echoing in my head on the whole trip over here.