The Witchness (English version)

Chapter 1

Clifftonfort 1561. A place in an unknown land. Land, forest, a large village, more forest. The inhabitants of the village are quiet, friendly fellows but also very superstitious. The large church tower in the center is reminiscent of a creepy, abandoned castle top with ancient runes and a huge bell tower right next door.
What nobody knows, the forest on the other side of the village is not a normal forest. It is guarded by wolves and is the passage to a huge castle. Count Dracula's castle.

A carriage drives towards the castle. She looks like royalty. Two white horses with gold pendants, the carriage is adorned with several precious stones - not too little but not too much either. The driver of the carriage is an elderly man, dressed like a butler, with a short mustache, gray hair curled back and a snooty demeanor. A girl is sitting in the carriage. Black dress, pale skin, long blond hair, her face looks like porcelain, her big green eyes resemble those of a doll, she has full red lips with almost perfect contours.
The girl pulls the curtain to one side and looks out the window with a slightly sad look. She sees a large room full of trees but how on earth can a carriage ride through a forest seem so easy? The carriage makes no naggler despite the stony and bumpy forest floor strewn with earth, sticks and grass. She draws the curtain back and looks at her hands, which she places on her thighs. After what feels like 30 minutes, the carriage drives out of the forest and sees a huge castle. She drives over a large stone bridge and comes to a stop.
Under the bridge there is a river whose water seems clearer as if it were painted. You can see stones, smaller algae and several fish. They look expensive.
It makes a loud bang and a large wooden gate opens in front of the carriage ... well ... what does a wooden gate mean? It is more of a kind of wooden bridge that guides the way to the castle. The bridge is down and the carriage continues. The horses trot across stony ground in the direction of the large estate. All around is a huge meadow with rose bushes, a little to the side you can see a hill, a large meadow landscape and on the top of the hill is a single large tree.

The carriage suddenly comes to a stop in front of the property, the driver gets down, opens the door and helps the girl to get out. Now that she is standing, you can see her long blonde hair that almost goes to the back of her knees, she is tall. To be precise, 1.75 m, if you leave off your high heels. The butler gives her a large suitcase and says: "From now on you have to be on your own." "I know," she says with a sad look. They hug and the butler goes back to the carriage and drives back towards the forest.
The girl pauses for a moment, takes her suitcase and slowly walks to the lock door. Before she can even knock, an older, very thin lady opens the door for her. She has a look like the old women at the counter in a cosmetics department - cocky - their brown hair was pinned into a bun, their red fingernails are long like the claws of a dragon, the clothes are reminiscent of a Victorian-style office group and their high heels she is even bigger than she already is, which is why she is a head taller than the girl. In a loud, very high-pitched voice, she calls out: "Are you the new one? Come with me to the director's office!"
The girl takes her things and drags them through a large entrance area, straight ahead are stairs, a small hallway and then again stairs to the left and right. She follows the lady to the left and walks down a long corridor with a red carpet, old candles on the wall and large windows on the sides that allow a view to the outside, on the opposite side of the windows are doors, they look as if they were room doors .
One read "Elizabeth and Luca" and another read "No trespassing or I'll bite you". Not exactly serious but you have to accept it.
The two of them go to the end of the hallway and stand in front of a large red door. The lady knocks and from inside the room you can hear a strict "come in". She enters the room, it smells of perfume, rather sweet, on the right side of the room is a large four-poster bed, on the left side there are boxes, tables and some pictures. There is a desk in the middle of the room. A lady is sitting there with short wavy blue hair, very pale skin, a white dress with flowers on her sleeves, she wears black gloves that are just short of her elbows. She has big blue eyes and a fine, calming look.
She waves me over to her and orders the lady, whose name appears to be Grace, to leave. "Take a seat," she says, pointing to an armchair in front of her desk. The girl sits down and rolls her suitcase on her left side. The woman takes a stack of paper from one of her drawers and begins to write down data. Name, birthday, age, height and reason for admission.

"My name is Nora Montgomery, I am the director of this academy and I will help you start a new life here."
"How do you know my exact dates and what kind of academy?" Asks the girl.
"This castle is no ordinary castle. It belongs to my husband, Klaus von Dracula and was converted into an academy for magical beings several years ago. I know a lot about you, Sarah. We have known each other much longer than you think. Me also knew your mother and father. But I'll tell you about it later.
The reason for your admission was because Charlie, your butler, sent me a letter and asked me to take you in with us, as the staff in your castle can not take care of a child alone and look for a new owner. Your mother told me a few years ago and asked me that if something should happen to her, I should take you in and take care of you. We were all shocked when we heard what happened and also what your father did. I'll take care of you just like the others here at the academy."
Sarah just looks at Nora with big, frightened eyes and can't get a word out. How did she know her mother, what kind of academy is it and how did she know all this? There were just more questions buzzing around in her head. "You should call me Mrs. Montgomery like everyone here does, but I'll explain everything to you differently." Mrs. Montgomery suddenly calls for Grace and asks her to show Sarah to her room and to enlighten her.

When the two of them reach the room, the big explanation begins. "This is your room. Arrange it as you want it is your retreat here. This box is already filled with clothes that you have to wear here. You throw the dirty things in the basket next to it, they are used by our ladies every day Washed. In your free time, that means outside the house you can wear whatever you want. You had to bring your own bed linen with you, when we're done here you will put the bed down first. Every morning, afternoon and evening you bring ours Servant tea and a small luggage. Here at the end of the room you have your own bathroom. Please note that breakfast starts daily at 5 am and ends at 8 am. Classes start at 9 am and are held at the back of the house Lessons then end at 2 pm You have the weekend off. There is also no attendance check here. With us, "if you don't show up, you miss your future" and that also applies to you ann come to me or ask one of the employees. I'll let you unpack everything and set it up. Then come for lunch at noon and get to know the others! " Grace suddenly closes the door and Sarah stands alone in the room. This is a bit too much for her right now, but slowly starts to unpack her things. She covers the bed, puts away her belongings and changes. Her chest is full of clothes on the upper left. All black or have a white top and black skirt. She puts on a white frilled blouse and the long, wide black skirt that goes with it. High black boots and your outfit is ready. She does her make up. Smokey eyes, eyeliner and dark red lipstick. She lies flat in bed and starts thinking about everything. "This is probably my life now ... why mum? Why do you have to do this to me?"