Frost

VIII.

Defence class was my last class of the day, one that I wasn't too excited to be in. Luckily Marina was in my class, once I stepped into the training grounds, she waved me over to a small group of other girls. The class had both males and females, and was a large compound with padded floors. There was a track encircling the room, and circles painted onto the padded floors. 

"Hey Aspen! How was your first day?" Marina asks once I approach her. Once again, when I stepped into the class, all eyes turned to stare at me openly. I have never felt more scrutinized in my life, and I've been the new girl quite a few times. 

"It's been...different" I say, unsure of what word to use. 

Marina snickers, "Yeah welcome to hell girlie" she slings an arm around my shoulder- well, she attempts to at her small frame, and pushes me towards two other girls standing there.

 "Guys, this is Aspen Iverson, she's new and unsure of what species she is. Be nice to her" Marina declares, I shift nervously at her introduction. 

Apparently at Thornhill, your species declared what kind of person you were. It recently occurred to me that Thornhill Academy had a specific way of doing things, and an order which dictates who you hung out with and how you dressed yourself. The vampires would only hang out with the vampires, the werewolves only hanging out with werewolves, and so forth. There were few mixed species friend groups, such as Marina and Blythe's but other than the odd two or three, everyone kept to themselves. For example, vampires were expected to dress more formally. Blythe wore heels to school everyday according to Lucy, and if she didn't, there would be a social uproar. 

The two girls that were standing there waved to me, unsure if they should be communicating with me at all. One of them, a dark skinned girl with a beautiful face, smiled slightly. "I'm Desiree, werewolf. It's nice to meet you" she said, I nodded at her with a small smile. 

Again, at Thornhill, when introducing yourself, you are supposed to say what species you are. 

"I'm Elise, empath." The other small girl introduces, a tiny blonde girl, she looked uncomfortable to be here. I waved at her. 

Soon after formalities, the teacher came into the classroom. He was tall, with a stocky build, and the same dark hair that appeared familiar to me. "Hello Professor Cyrus" One of the girls chimed as he walked in, at his name I felt myself freeze.

 Cyrus? He must be Dakota's Uncle. I looked the man up and down, realizing the similarities between Uncle and nephew. He turned to look at me once he arrived in the middle of the classroom.