Chapter 3 The Arrival

• Petrichor and Parchment.
• The hallway smelled of petrichor and Parchment as the Guardian led Evana down the hallway, which began to grow quieter as he led her to the Central building, finally. They came to a stop at a thick door flanked by cold iron sconces. An old yet stubborn placard on the door read 'Headmaster Voledore'.
• Headmaster felt ancient. Well, the school was indeed ancient after all.
• Bastien, the guardian, knocked twice on the door and then opened it.
• "Headmaster Voledore, the new ward has arrived. She's here with me." Evana was quick to notice the faded accent that rolled off the Guardian's tongue. Once again, she snuck a glance at the features of the man and wondered what his actual age was. She had heard Vampires were immortal. Could it be a hundred years? No, too old, maybe 70?
• "Let her in, Seb." A dry voice came from inside.
• The guardian motioned her inside and then turned to leave, closing the door behind him.
• Evana, who had already stepped into the office, took in the view.
• The office was lined with shelves of ancient books and scrolls and a large crystal window that shed dusk-light across the polished wooden floor. The office was so vintage she would have loved it if only it did not belong to a Vampire.
• Speaking of Vampires, Evana's eyes roamed the room in search of the Headmaster. She was sure she had heard his voice earlier.
• "Up here." Fingers snapped from above her head, making Evana jerk back in slight shock, her muscles almost jerking in flight motion. Up and suspended in the air, legs crossed and eyes closed, was a black robed old man.
• Levitation.
• She had learned of this special ability possessed by Vampires. To manipulate elements and even themselves. She had known this, but every single Vamp she had seen previously did not levitate, so seeing it first-hand had caused her to fret for a moment.
• "Did I scare you?" He chuckled, eyes still closed. Slowly and steadily, he descended before unfolding his legs to stand on his feet.
• Evana offered a curt smile, "Of course not." Evana held the urge to rub her chest to ease her racing heart. It would be weird if she were shocked that he was levitating. She knew she had to become extra cautious to avoid slip-ups.
• He walked to his desk and gracefully to a seat, a toothy grin exposing his glistening fangs.
• His skin was too pale, just like everyone else she had seen, his eyes even paler than her skin. They weren't silver, they were white-ish and grey at the same time— nearly blind, but there was no mistaking the intelligence and shrewdness hidden behind them.
• "Do not concern yourself with this old man." He referred to himself in an archaic manner.
• "Of course," She replied.
• Evana's eyes twitched. She wondered how many years this man was. Maybe Two-hundred? Nah, that was impossible.
• "Evana Graye," He called smoothly, his smile vanishing into thin air, so quick she almost jolted in shock. It was disconcerting how it felt like another person was speaking, like there were two people in one. Was he mad? Again, what more did she expect from Monsters?
• "Welcome to Gore Academy, University of Gore, whichever you wish to call it." His voice was strict.
• "Thank you." Evana gave a polite nod and quickly added, "My parents had to leave quickly, unfortunately. They send their regards."
• The lie smoothly delivered the smile held just enough to control the peace.
• Voledore nodded, neither believing nor questioning her statement. "I saw"
• He what now? How? Evana's pulse raced with trepidation. Since he could 'see' her parents leave, did he hear their conversation?
• She stole a glance at his expression, but nothing gave him away.
• Did he have mind-reading powers? She could not help but think. She knew she was safe regardless, because mind reading, she learned, was only possible if the Vampire had a link with the other person. She did not have any link whatsoever to this man.
• "Graye, you'll find the Academy strict but fair," he peered at her through the lenses of his round spectacle, "Follow the rules and you'll thrive. Break them...and you'll answer to me."
• Evana squirmed in her shoes at his words but kept a straight face. She did not feel confident that any trickery would work on this man. She wanted to leave his office before he sniffed out the human in her.
• He rose and gestured to the door. "You'll be sharing a dorm in the East wing. Your roommate will show you around."
• Just on Cue, a short and plump girl with curly, pretty, fiery auburn hair and a bright hazel eye bounced into the room.
• Her eyes weren't Crimson, Gold or Silver. Hazel...just so close to silver.
• "Good morning, Headmaster! Master Bastien summoned me." The girl dipped her head down in a reverent bow. She glanced up and caught Evana's eyes. A smile spread across her face instantly.
• "Hi," She chirped, clearly oblivious to the tension in the room. "You must be my new roommate, oh, finally! I have been alone the whole season. I'm Faye, by the way. Oh Gods, you look even prettier than your file photo, which by the way is Gorg, like usually, people look way worse, no offence!"
• The girl finally breathed after that marathon of words.
• Evana blinked. What...just hit her?
• Headmaster Voledore turned back to his desk. "She'll help you settle." He sat down and, without looking up, waved his fingers, "dismissed."
• Evana opened her mouth to protest, but Faye was already linking her arm through Evana's and pulling her back into the hallway, closing the Headmaster's door with her free hand.
• Evana had the strong urge to push the girl away from her, but she swallowed that intention like a hard pill.
• "You, my friend, are going to love the East wing! Well... Maybe not love—it creaks a lot, but the windows have the best views of the forest. You'll see! Also, I'll have you know that we have the best laundry rotation. That's really important around here, trust me."
• Friend? Isn't that a bit too far? Evana had yet to get over the fact that one of the monsters was holding her arm, talking like they were long-lost friends, smelling like...well, this one did not smell like metal and blood like the ones the Agency hunted. She smelled like Tulips.
• She zeroed her mind away from the disturbing anger rising in her chest and allowed herself to be led by the chatter box, she hummed occasionally despite not listening to Faye rattling about curfew, dining halls, hierarchies, the most beautiful females and the strictest Professors.
• Evana stole a glance at the receding view of hallway where the principal's office disappeared behind the stone
• "That's it." She thought. "I'm in," A sigh washing down her limbs. Step one was ticked off the list.
• She refused to dwell on the way this place made her skin crawl, yet in the seat of her soul, there was a calmness that swirled.
• A human amongst these bloodsuckers was definitely a drink for dinner. She shuddered secretly at the thought of being caught.
• Oh, lord, I pray my soul to keep. She chanted internally.
• Next was to begin digging.
• First, for information.
• Secondly was to find the descendants of the Vampire couple that had fed on her innocent family.
• Finally, she would see if she would find the boy from her dreams.
• The one she had started seeing since she was fourteen.
• She remembered
• She'd never seen his full face, but she knew deep in her bones that she'd recognize him the moment she did. She knew that somehow he had some answers to questions that ate at her.
• There were a lot of things she could not figure out... Like how she was sure that he was a Vampire. She just knew. This was the only thing the Agency or her foster parents did not know about.
• Evana stole a glance at her new roommate. What was her name again? Freya? No. Faye.
• Faye was saying something about the window views again, and that was when it hit her.
• A talkative roommate was a gold mine.
• Evana was silently relieved. This was going to be her first pawn. She was bubbly and said a little too much about everything.
• It wasn't going to be a hassle to dig information out of her. Just a little push and everything would come tumbling from her loose mouth.
• Evana hummed a reply here and there as Faye spoke. She took in the view of everywhere that led to the East wing.
• Evana took note of every corridor and exit they passed. It was easy to get lost in this Academy. So many corners.
• Evana glanced around at the hallway of doors leading to the various rooms of those unsuspecting Blood suckers, devious glint flashed in her eyes.
• She couldn't wait to see this building crumble, set ablaze and run to the ground.
• Faye opened the door to their shared room and bounced inside, "Welcome aboard!" She flashed a toothy grin. Another fang.
• These things did not know how to hide their weapons, did they?
• Evana stepped into the airy room, and a victorious smile threatened to spill from the corner of her lips. Who would have thought? The Fox was finally in the hen house.