Welcome to Willowbrook

That's all folks...for now

This brings Welcome to Willowbrook to a close, but no worries. The adventure continues in Living in Willowbrook. An excerpt from Chapter 1 is below.

September 7
Vamps' shack
Willowbrook
Wisconsin

Ivy turned and felt someone patting her back. "Ivy. Ivy wake up," a familiar voice said. Ivy grabbed her pillow and covered her ears with it. The voice chuckled and she heard footsteps walking away. Finally, she thought. She can go back to... Honk!

Ivy sat up as she heard the loud horn. She saw Arian's tall frame bent over in laughter and she scowled. "Very funny Forward, now get out," she said as she stood up. Arian chuckled, "Sorry Ives, but I had to wake you up somehow. Remember we are going to school today." Her scowl deepened as she noticed Arian was already dressed in his signature uniform. "How can you be so excited we're going to school?" Arian smiled, "Just because you hate school, doesn't mean we're all like you. Now hurry up, we need to get to the clearing. Thunder will be waiting for us soon." Arian left and Ivy begrudgingly dragged herself to the bathroom.

She showered and wore her uniform before brushing her teeth. She elongated her fangs and sighed. Over two hundred years of living and she still didn't know where she came from. She would dream sometimes, about gardens and castles and she would hear voices but she would never see the faces. Her fangs were a constant reminder that something was off with her bloodline, because as far as she knew, she was the only vampire with four fangs, two up and two down. It was the most bizarre thing, and she could never understand how the other two got there. It also didn't help that one of her best friends looked almost exactly like her. Although she denied it anytime Marcie and the others brought it up, she wasn't stupid and she knew that the resemblance between her and Arian was suspicious. Looking at Arian was like looking in a mirror if she was taller, flatter and she cut her hair. But Arian didn't remember his birth parents and she didn't have the heart to start digging in case they turned up blank. She shoved her issues aside and focused on brushing her teeth. She finished, wore her shoes and ran downstairs. She grabbed the can of blood in Vlad's hand and drank from it, "So can we go?" Vlad scowled, "That was my breakfast." She smiled at him and drank some more. Arian chuckled, "Okay kiddos, let's go. Vlad, just let the can go." Vlad grumbled and grabbed his bag before leaving. Arian turned to her and raised a brow. Ivy shrugged, "What?" She finished the blood and threw the can away.

*

They reached the clearing where Thunder was waiting in his Escalade. It had become a routine since the past year, Thunder and the vampires would meet in a certain clearing and he would drive all of them to school. Vlad entered the passenger's seat while Arian and Ivy entered the back seat. Thunder turned, "What took you guys so long? And why is Vlad sulking?" Arian chuckled, "It's the first day of school Thun. Why do you think we took so long?" He gestured to Ivy and Thunder nodded in understanding. He chuckled as well, "Sorry Ives." Ivy rolled her eyes, "Just drive Vashchenko." Thunder pointed to Vlad, "And him?" "Ivy stole his breakfast," Arian said. Vlad grumbled louder. Ivy grinned. Thunder laughed and started the car. He shook his head, "Now now kids, no fighting. It's the first day of school, show some enthusiasm." Ivy raised a brow at him. "And Arian, there's a warmer in the back. Pass a can, would ya?" Arian reached the back and collected a can of blood. He gave it to Vlad who beamed and started drinking. Arian grinned, "How'd you know?" Thunder shrugged, "Guessed. But then again, I know you guys well enough." Ivy settled in her seat. They knew her enough. That made her feel much happier than before and she smiled to herself.

*

Thunder's Escalade slid into the parking lot beside Auria's Aston Martin. They got down and Thunder started laughing. "Come on Marse, don't tell me you hate first days too?" Marcie scowled, "Just because I'm intelligent does not mean I enjoy this hellhole. I don't, and I'd give almost anything to be in my bed right now." "Thank you," Ivy said. "Finally someone gets it." The others laughed. "Who are we missing?" Vlad asked when they recovered. "Jackson," Cali said. A white 2020 Rolls-Royce Phantom drove in and parked beside the Escalade. Jack got down from the driver's side and Chione got down from the passenger's side. He bounced up to them, "Sup?" "Who are you and what have you done with Jack Frost?" Marcie asked. Jack rolled his eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?" "You're happy. On school grounds. You sure you're not sick?" Marcie asked.

Jack scowled and opened his mouth but Chione interrupted him. "Hi Pegasus," she waved nervously. Pegasus gave her a nod, but resumed ignoring her. Chione walked away. Jack chuckled, "Okay, I know I'm a sadistic asshole, but this is something." Pegasus shrugged, "She's unimportant." Ivy knew Pegasus was being cold, but she personally believed they all deserved it. It was like Pegasus had once said; if Poseidon couldn't take care of another kid, he should have kept it in his pants. Instead, he thought with his dick, and now he ruined three lives, with extras. The gods had little to no self control, and, personally she was glad she wasn't friends with any. Sure, a few weren't that bad, but still, she didn't like them. "Okay then," Auria said, "since we're all here, let's go. Anybody have Transdimensional Physics?"

*

Ivy walked out of her Meditation class with Pegasus and they went to the cafeteria. Meditation was compulsory for nearly all students, but the monsters, like vampires and werewolves, did it throughout school. Witches and other supernaturals dropped it in Year three, unless they were advised to take it. The only students who didn't do Meditation were the gods and, formerly, Pegasus and Jack. Now, although Jack didn't have to do it, it was compulsory for Pegasus to offer it, since he was also a monster. But Pegasus didn't seem to mind and she was glad; he needed it. His stability had increased tremendously during summer, especially after that camping trip, but he still needed some work or he could very well destroy something else.

They reached the cafeteria and collected their food. They started walking towards their table when someone called him. "Pegasus!" They turned and saw the gods waving him down. Pegasus kept heading for the table, ignoring his family. Ivy snickered, "I think Jack is right, you're turning into a sadist." Pegasus chuckled and shook his head, "I'm a sea serpent. Sadism's kinda our thing." Ivy laughed, knowing full well that he meant that literally. "Pegasus," a tall frame blocked their way to the table. So close, Ivy thought. Artemis Zeus tried to stare Pegasus down, but it was clear he was just fine, he didn't even bother flinching and stared at her with equal force. "Pegasus, it's been a year. Enough with this childishness," Artemis said. Pegasus raised a brow then rolled his eyes. He lifted two fingers and began spinning them around. A gust of wind formed and lifted Artemis in the air. He pointed towards the gods' table and Artemis fell on top of the table on her back. Pegasus smiled satisfactorily and continued towards his table. Ivy laughed as she sat down, "Dude, you gotta teach me how you do that. I thought sea serpents only controlled water?" Pegasus shrugged and took a bite from his fish finger sandwich, "I can control wind as well but it's harder than water. More advanced serpents can actually create storms, but that's later." "One of these days, Poseidon himself will come to look for you," Auria said. Pegasus' eyes turned blue and he grinned sardonically, his razor sharp teeth showing. "Then let him come."

So, that's part of Chapter 1. I will begin posting chapters for Living in Willowbrook sometime later in the year. Do bear with me, I have only written like five chapters and I'm not comfortable when I have only five chapters. Once I've written at least ten, I'll begin posting. Thank you for reading, I hope it was up to your expectations. Criticism is readily accepted.

Stay home, stay safe and stay blessed!