Into the Dark : Shadows

Chapter 3

Rain Forest, western Escovia,
The Moroi Academy.
' what do you mean you were outnumbered?! ' yelled the proprietress, Mrs Katherine at Cyrus and two other students including their professor, lady Gillian.
' ma'am we weren't expecting that ambush ' Cyrus the leading moroi student and a Silas of the moroi academy said.
' There's no excuse... Lady Gillian. ' she called
' yes ma'am ' replied Gillian with a Russian accent.
' how do you explain this?,we lost three of our students to those strigois!'
' sorry Ma'am but just like Cyrus said we were ambushed '
' ambushed, ambushed,ambushed!...i don't give a damn if you were or weren't ambushed. I can't afford to lose any student '
' we are sorry ma'am, I promise this won't happen again. ' Lady Gillian apologized.
' of course it won't. Call an assembly, I'll like to address our students ' she ordered.
' right away ma'am ' Gillian replied and bowed as she and her students left.
A large bell was rung as everyone assembled at the ball room. The moroi students were dressed in black and red. The males wore black pants, a black T-shirt, a pair of black shoes and a red hood sweater. The females wore mini black flair skirt, black shirt, a pair of black stockings and a pair of black flat shoes.
Everybody was engrossed in their chatters and giggles that they didn't notice Katherine stand in front of them. Their noise came to an abrupt end when they heard Mrs Katherine clear her throat. Standing on the left next to Katherine was Gillian and Cyrus and to the right of Katherine were her two daughters, Annette and Abigail.
' good evening everyone ' she greeted.
' good evening ma'am ' chorused the students.
' I'm sure you all must have heard of the demise that face our brave morois today. If notice some of your mates who went out to battle the strigois didn't return... ' she said as they began to murmur among themselves.
'... But not to worry...today will be the last day we'll ever face such fate. From now henceforth, your training will be three times, four times, even five times harder than before. And trust me if we do this with all our hearts and minds, we will be superior to the strigois. A contest will be held at the end of every week. The strongests will be chosen to battle the morois. I wish you all luck...dismissed ' she ended her speech as the students gave her a round of applause, bowed and left the ball room.
Then she turned to Cyrus ' as for you Cyrus. I advice you step up your game or else someone will take your place. ' she said and walked away as her daughters followed leaving Cyrus and Gillian behind.
Meanwhile, back at the strigoi academy Betty slowly rose from her sit and bowed her head.
' please Miss Elizabeth Hackerman step forward ' repeated Wilbur as she descended down a fleet of stairs. Then came to a stop directly in front of the podium.
' please mount the podium ' Wilbur ordered as she did so.
' miss Hackerman, you're 17 years of age, aren't you?  ' He asked.
' I'm 18 sir ' she replied.
' where are you from? '
' the main land of Escovia '
' do you know what this place is? '
' yes sir, I do sir... It's a vampire's academy '
' and you know you can't be here, right?  '
' true sir '
' But according to the laws of the strigois and the academy, it's either you become one of us or you become our play toy. Which do you prefer? '
' none sir,... I'll like to leave '
' hmm...you want to leave '
' yes sir '
' is that your final decision? '
' yes sir '
' members of the jury in support of the girl leaving please raise your hands for identification. ' he said as eleven people raised their hands including Silas and James .
' Those not in the favor of the girl leaving raise your hands as well ' he said and the remaining nine raised theirs.
' so be it then, Miss Elizabeth Hackerman you're free to go. But note if you do not leave within the next three hours your fate rests in our hands ' he warned then dismissed the court.
Immediately, Betty picked to her heels and dashed like a road runner to her room. She opened her drawer and took a medallion and fled out of the room.
' What were you thinking Betty?, you don't belong here ' she said to herself as she ran.
Suddenly, she bumped into someone.  It was Caroline.
' sorry, sorry ' she apologized and tried to move around her but Caroline blocked her path. ' Caroline please let me go ' Betty pleaded.
' I'm letting you leave...not alive at least ' she said and grabbed Betty by the neck. Before Betty could blink twice she found herself on the roof top of the dormitory with Caroline.
' what are we doing here? ' Betty asked.
' slowing you down '
' Caroline please let me go '
' jump down from this building ' she replied.
' what? '
' I said jump down ' she compelled.
All of a sudden, Betty watched herself walk to the edge of the roof. She couldn't explain why she was doing it.
Suddenly, she felt her body fall through the air to the ground as she closed her eyes awaiting her fate.