Shadow Blood

4

Alex

After the plane landed I found a chauffeur holding a sign.

Alejandro Farley

The people who waited to get their bags watched as I made my way to the suited man. The eyes on me held a vast ocean of emotions, awe, surprise, confusion, but the emotion that was seen the most was by those who waited outside for their loved ones.

Resentment.

The people outside all looked at me the same way, with a hate that spoke volumes. How a person would look if their coworker got a promotion when the didn't deserve it.

The driver leading me to the limbo outside glanced back at me, "Sir, I suggest not mind the stares."

I nodded, "Thank you, and just call me Alex.

The man nodded, but didn't look back at me. We reached the car and he opened the door for me. After he put my luggage in the trunk, he drove me to my new home for the next few years.

***

The school seemed to be deep in the woods area of Danvers. We came upon a very large main gate, which opened when we got close. Let me say the school was huge, bigger than any school I had every seen. At the entrance waited a guy, leaning against a pillar, I wouldn't have gave him a second thought if he hadn't pushed himself off the pillar when I got to the door.

The dude held his hand out to me, "Let me see your letter." the guy demanded.

My face scrunched up, "Um, no."

He shoved his hand back into his pocket with a roll of his eyes, "Are you Alejan-"

"Just call me Alex," I said, it was irritating hearing my full name so often.

"So you're the Farely kid?"he question.

I nodded, he turned and started walking, throwing a 'follow me,' behind his back.

I had to speed up my steps in order to keep up with his long strides. The walk there gave me time to look around, the Neo Gothic architecture looked really good to me (A/N: Example was in the beginning of chapter). It wasn't an ugly school at all.

Against my better judgement, my eyes kept wandering back to the jerk who greeted me at the door. He wasn't horrible looking, his short curled brown hair laid atop his head lazily, but it looked good for him. The stubble on his face compliment his jawline, which was already pretty defined. And he was tall, not towering over me but enough to wear I have to look up a little to make eye contact.

"Take a picture," the guy said.

I choked a little, "W-What?"

The guy stopped in front of a door, the word principal on it, "Next time take a picture, this is your stop," with a smirk he turned and walked away.

I took deep breath before opening the door to see a blonde haired man sitting a large desk, talking very seriously on the phone. I must have startled him cause when the door opened he, looked up with wide eyes.

"I'll have to call you back," there was a pause as he listened to the other person on the line,"yes he's here, bye."

He put his phone away and smiled at me, "Mr. Farley, please come in."

I stepped inside and sat on the cushioned seat on the other side of the desk. It felt like I wasn't breathing, I was that nervous.

The man, I mean principle, must have seen how nervous I was because he chuckled, "Calm down Mr.Farley, you aren't in trouble. My name is Xander Williams, but you will refer to me as Principal Williams, I just wanted to ask you some questions."

I took a deep breath, the feeling of my heartbeat in my fingertips slowly dissipating, "Thank God."

The man smiled kindly, "Do u know why you're here at my academy?"

I shrugged, "Your school is one of the rare schools that can handle people with problems like mine."

I watched as Mr.Williams's eyebrows pulled together, "What do you mean by problems?"

I sighed, "The problems I have such as mild Anxiety, Nightmare Disorder, and Insomnia."

Mr.Williams nodded, "Is that what your parents told you?"

I nodded

He hummed to himself, "Interesting..."

"Is that not why I'm here?"I asked.

The Principal shook his head,"No, well kind of. We here at Danvers only accept those with a magical aptitude."

I laughed, "I'm sorry what?"

Why didn't Mom and Dad tell me that the Principal also had issues.

Mr. Williams fixed his glasses which were laying low on the bridge of his nose, "Danvers is a school for magically gifted youth, for a basic explanation."

I covered my mouth as I tried to hide my laugh, "So then tell me, what makes u think that I have any kind of magical aptitude," I asked as I tried to stop laughing.

He raised an eyebrow," This may seem funny to you, but you are powerful for someone your age. Have you ever felt weird, maybe like a weight in your stomach, maybe like u can feel a tingling or a heartbeat in your fingertips?"

My laughter faltered as I choked on saliva. I have felt that, but that didn't mean anything.

"That's just my anxiety, it happens whenever I get overwhelmed," I explained.

He chuckled and laughed at my answer, "You know you are one of the few students who come to this school not knowing anything about magic, and yet each time someone in your position comes into this office they always think they have mental issues or something of the sort."

I watched in silence, I couldn't help but think that this man was insane, maybe he opened up his school to kids with issues because he had them as well. Maybe he just went crazy having to deal with people like me.

He finished chuckling to himself and continued, "I'm here to tell you that you are special, just not the negative way they would have you believe."

I shrugged, "Eh, for one I don't believe you and two, I've come to accept the fact that I'm a burden to everyone I care about. That's life I guess."

Mr.Williams leaned back in his seat, slowly shaking his head, "You're not broken, nor are you a burden. I don't think explaining to you how...interesting you are will make sense to you right now, but know that here my staff and I can help you realize just how special you are."

I groaned, "Look, no disrespect to you or your school, but I don't believe any of the shit you're spewing, there is just no way to prove it. Even if I don't believe you, you're talking to me like I have the choice to leave, my parents sent me here, if you've forgotten, so it doesn't really matter what I believe or not."

He shook his head again, a exasperated sigh leaving his lips," I was hoping it would be easy for you to believe." he leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desk.

He took his glasses off, looking me in my eyes, as dead serious expression on his face,"What if I could prove to you that magic exists, that its something you can do to?"

I shrugged, "Depends, do you want the truthful answer or the lie?"

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, probably annoyed because I have that effect on people, "The truthful answer, I guess."

"I would probably faint or something."

He slowly nodded, "Works for me."

I smile, "Show me wh-"

I was frozen, with what I don't know, as I stared at the Principals hand. My eyes were wide.

As I stared at an open flame, hovering above his palm, not seeming to burn him at all.

Then it was black. As I drifted from consciousness I heard a chuckle.

"At least he's a man of his word"