Blood Doll

Chapter One

The obnoxious trilling of the antique alarm blared toward Lola's right where it sat on her mahogany nightstand. She pulled the feather pillow over her face and groaned into the delicate fabric. Aisline didn't waste any time slamming her palm down on the dismissal button after climbing out of bed. Her room mate hated the sound more than Lola did and always got up to turn it off.

She had been rooming with Aisline Brooks since she arrived at Superno Academy for exceptionally gifted youth.  Lola's mother had insisted that Headmistress Blake would be able to accommodate her as the Blood Doll and keep her hidden. She had been assigned Valerie Arwood, or Ms. Arwood to the others.

Aisline and Lola were truly opposites from their personalities to appearances. Aisline was pretty and had unique features. Her eyes were dark and always made people feel as though she could peer into their soul. She kept a golden hoop in her nose and flowers in her hair. Unlike Lola, she was always the first one up and loved to lend a helping hand whenever the chance presented itself. Whispers that Aisline was a witch sometimes spread at the Academy.

Lola, on the other hand, hated volunteer work and preferred to keep her space. She had blue eyes that seemed to shimmer when light hit them. Some of the other students thought they were creepy and Lola was fine with that. Since arriving, Lola had bonded with exactly two people: Aisline Brooks and Chavelle Montgomery. 

"Sheesh, Lola, get up," Aisline grumbled shoving Lola in the back to shake her. This disrupted what little time asleep she was bound to have.

Lola felt obliged and peeked from beneath the ivory pillow, "What for? We don't have class today."

"We have volunteer work," Aisline reminded giving Lola a final shove before wandering to her side of the room to get dressed.

Lola mumbled incoherently about their day, but found the will to climb out of bed. Her feet hit the wooden floor and immediately engulfed her in chills. Why was this place always so cold? She bit her tongue to prevent futher complaints and ambled to her dresser where she rummaged for an outfit.

Before either girl was able to change, someone was knocking on their door. Lola glanced over at Aisline whom looked just as lost as she did about who could possibly be there this early. Lola gave a shrug dismissing the taps which caused Aisline to answer the door.

When the door was open Ms. Arwood could be seen lingering. She was a round woman with lovely waves with glitter-like freckles embellishing her cheeks. Lola realized early on that the freckles weren't make-up, they were actually apart of her features. This was after Lola learned what Ms. Arwood actually was.

An elf belonging to the Sol line, whose ancestors thrived from the ultraviolet rays. Now, their bloodline had been diluted and only remnants of her family secret were on display for others to see.

"Good morning, girls." Ms. Arwood's usually chirpy voice was full of sorrow, and when she looked at Lola, she knew something was wrong. "Miss Brooks, do you mind giving Lola and I the room?"

Lola and Aisline exchanged a look, but Aisline didn't argue. She gathered her clothes and with a final glance at Lola, slipped past Ms. Arwood disappearing down the hall.

"Ms. Arwood? Is everything okay?" Lola didn't bother closing the drawers, instead she abandoned the task and waited.

Ms. Arwood shut the door after stepping inside and exhaled a deep breath. The room wasn't as cramped as it looked, but appeared smaller with Ms. Arwood inside. Twin beds settled perpendicular with a mahogany night stand between them. On either side of the bed against the wall was a dresser, and a desk and chair. The mirror that Aisline had placed on back of the door revealed only Ms. Arwood's backside at the moment. She was stark still.