Hello all! Welcome to my new story, "Bastet and Seshat," the first in The Secrets Never Told. This is a revision of season 1 of the show, House of Anubis. This story is about my OC and the relationships she forms with those at Anubis House and their school. This will be a Jerome Clarke/OC story. Each episode of the season will be one chapter, with individual chapters here and there throughout the story.
My OC is Cameron Zack aka Mack Renacoz. She is 16 years old and is American. Cameron is a taller, petite girl with pale skin, some freckles, dark brown eyes like coffee, and long, thick caramel hair that is always in a ponytail or bun. She has no real defining marks and is pretty thin for someone of her height, which is 5'7". When she's not in her school uniform, she likes to wear leggings or skinny jeans with tank tops or sweaters. Flats and combats are her shoes of choice, but she occasionally wears converse. She is never seen without a notebook of some kind of her laptop.
italics is Cameron's texts
bold is Cameron's correspondent's texts
~)8(~ is a scene break
This story will be told in 3rd person, but more often than not, will focus on the scenes with Cameron, or where people are expressing her views of her.
Disclaimer: I do not own House of Anubis in any way.
Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to the user, Lauren Kassidy. She has helped me so much with this story and my confidence in putting my stories out there. She really is an amazing person and this story would not be here without her. She also has her own House of Anubis story, go check it out!
Episode 1: "House of Secrets"
Chapter 1: American in Anubis House
Cameron Zack got off the train and watched as it pulled away. She sighed, but not in defeat. It was a sigh of relief. She was finally here. She had been looking forward to this for months now. She would've been here earlier if it weren't for a screw up with her scholarship. They had thought she was someone named Nina Martin. But now, she was finally away from the chaotic Manhattan she had previously lived in. She was finally away from all the pressure. She was finally away from her stressful family.
Cameron walked through the small station, which was just a building on the side of a road and waited. There was supposed to be a cab coming for her. Not even realizing she was doing it, Cameron began to chew on her nails. She always did that when she was bored. Her laptop bag was starting to get heavy on her shoulder, so she switched it to the other one. However, the cab pulled up right then. A bald man climbed out and looked at her.
"Cameron Zack?" he asked. Cameron gave a small smile and nodded. "Great! How are you today, love?"
"I'm good, sir. I'm glad to finally be here," Cameron replied. The man looked at her for a second.
"Are you American?" he asked. Cameron nodded. She was currently in Liverpool, England where she had the accent, not the other way around. This was where her new boarding school was. "Go on, get in, I'll put your suitcase in the back." Cameron thanked him and climbed into the cab. She slipped her bag off her shoulder and put it on the seat next to her.
"So which house are you in?" the cabbie asked once he started driving towards her new school. Cameron looking around in her papers.
"Uh… Anubis House," she answered once she found the information.
"Oh, really? I just took another girl there. She was American as well," the cabbie said. Cameron raised her eyebrows at that. Maybe she wouldn't be alone. Well, it wasn't like she was worried about making friends. She had some back in New York, but not a lot. Cameron was perfectly content by herself. But… this was England. This was a totally different country in a totally different continent. Despite how excited Cameron was, she felt somewhat nervous. She heard her phone vibrate and pulled it out of her bag.
"Are those your parents?" the cabbie asked. Cameron almost snorted. No, they would not be checking up on her. In fact, they were probably glad she was gone. It was Matthew, her older brother.
"No, it's my brother, Matt," Cameron told him. The cabbie nodded and fell silent. She texted Matt back, telling him that she was okay and on her way to the school.
"We're here, Cameron," the cabbie announced after a few minutes. Cameron looked out the window and her eyes widened at the sight of the school. It was massive, brick, and gothic looking. This almost seemed too good to be true. The cabbie pulled up to the front of the school. There were only a few students around, but they were all staring at Cameron. She did her best to ignore them and walked off with the cabbie. He was carrying her duffle. When they got to the property, Cameron paid the man and he left. She looked at the large house, it was beautiful and old looking. Cameron smiled looking at it. Living here was going to be amazing. Cameron had hated her modern flat back in Manhattan. Cameron walked forward and rang the doorbell. Within a few seconds, a friendly looking woman opened the door.
"Um, my name's Cameron Zack. I'm supposed to be staying here," Cameron started. The woman beamed at her.
"Oh, hello, sweetie! Come in, come in." Cameron did and gasped when she saw the interior of the house. It was beautiful with a wood staircase and a spacious entry. "My name's Trudy. I'm your housemother." Cameron shook hands with the kind woman. She already liked her.
"Nice to meet you," she replied.
"Now, why don't you come upstairs and I'll introduce you to Victor," Trudy said. Cameron recognized the name. Victor Rodenmaar was the caretaker of Anubis House. Cameron picked up her duffle bag and followed Trudy upstairs. They walked across the landing and into an office. There was a looming, frankly scary looking man sitting at the desk.
"Victor," Trudy started. "This is Miss Cameron Zack." Victor looked up and Cameron almost shivered under his critical and hard gaze.
"You're late," he said standing before her. "Two weeks late."
"There was a mix up with the scholarship," Cameron explained. Victor didn't seem to care and walked out of his office.
"Follow me," he merely said. Cameron did as she was told. Victor led her to a bedroom. There were three beds in it. One was completely in use. Another one looked like someone had just moved in. The empty bed was obviously Cameron's.
"This is your room," Victor told me. "That bed is yours." He turned and pointed to a door across the hall. "That is the attic and it is strictly off-limits, am I understood?"
"Yes, sir," she replied. She hadn't been here five minutes and Victor was already giving her the creeps. After a few more rules, like the fact that the cellar was off-limits as well, Trudy rescued her and decided to give her a tour of the house. Basically, she took Cameron downstairs. However, Trudy had to prepare dinner and left Cameron to introduce herself.
"Welcome, space girl," Cameron heard a boy say. It was a thin, black guy. "Or, blurp bleep blop as they say in your language." Cameron noticed the girl he was talking to laugh nervously. Obviously this was the other new girl.
"Supper's ready!" Trudy called. Cameron almost went to go join them when she realized she didn't have her phone. Cameron went back upstairs to get it and came back down. However, when she got there, something hit her right in the face. Cameron cried out and someone quickly followed. Next thing Cameron knew, she was covered in water. Cameron let out a small scream at the iciness of it and her hands flew to her face. There were seven shocked faces staring at her. The girl right in front of her, the one with dark hair and a blue extension was holding a pitcher in her hand. Cameron ducked her face down and walked back out of the room. She bolted upstairs in embarrassment and shut the door. God, that was awful. So far, her exciting new start at a boarding school in England was not getting off to a good start. She changed out of her wet clothing and let her hair down from its bun to dry. It was time she started unpacking. Cameron found her trunks at the end of her bed and began.
She put her grey sheets and white comforter on the bed with an extra blanket at the foot. She put her two black pillows on the bed before starting with the surrounding area. She put her clothes away and was almost done with her books when the other American girl, Nina, came in. Cameron looked up when she did and noticed the spaghetti down her front.
"Oh, hey," Nina greeted. "Are you okay?" Cameron nodded.
"Yeah, it's just a little embarrassing," Cameron admitted. Nina nodded in understanding and sniffed. Cameron thought her eyes looked a little puffy, but didn't say anything.
"I'm Nina," she introduced. "Nina Martin."
"Cameron Zack." Nina's eyes lit up with curious recognition.
"Oh, you're the girl whose scholarship got mixed up with mine," Nina realized. Cameron nodded and smiled a little bit. "Well, I'm glad it got cleared up."
"Me too," Cameron agreed. With that, Nina turned to change, as she was covered in the spaghetti Patricia Williamson, the dark-haired girl who accidentally drenched Cameron, had dumped on her. Nina changed into a pink sweater and turned back to her new roommate. Cameron seemed nice, but quiet. But Nina could already tell they would be good friends.
"Can I help?" Nina asked seeing Cameron unpacking her things. Cameron looked startled at the offer, but smiled and nodded.
"Sure. Thank you," she replied.
"It's nothing," Nina said with a smile. "Besides, we Americans have to stick together." Cameron's smile got bigger and she let out a small laugh.
"Yes, we do," she agreed. Nina and Cameron laughed before getting to work. However, Cameron had gotten most of the unpacking done by herself. Within thirty minutes, she was completely unpacked.
"I'm going back downstairs," Nina told Cameron. "Do you want to come?" Cameron shook her head.
"No, I'm going to go for a run," she told Nina. It was true, she did want to go for a run, but Cameron wasn't sure if she was ready to face her new housemates yet after what happened.
"Well, okay," Nina said. She sounded a little disappointed. "I'll see you later." Nina grabbed a magazine and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Cameron changed into shorts, a tank top, and running shoes. She pulled her now damp hair into a high ponytail and went downstairs. Cameron quickly went outside and started her run.
~)8(~
"So what do you think of the new chick, then?" Mick Campbell asked his friend and roommate Fabian Rutter. Mick was currently eating a salad. He had been on a run and in the shower during dinner so he had to get it himself. Fabian looked at Nina, making brief eye contact with her.
"I think the new girl looks nice," Fabian said. Mick looked at him with a cheeky smile.
"Oh, really?"
"No, I meant she seems nice," Fabian corrected once he realized his mistake. He looked at Nina again. She really did seem nice. It was a shame Patricia was being so mean to her. He had to admit, Joy leaving so suddenly was a bit of a shock, but he seriously doubted Nina had anything to do with it… or the other new girl who he hadn't seen since she had water dumped on her at dinner. Fabian also felt a little bad for that. He knew it was an accident, but that didn't make it any better. He would have to go check on her later, see if she was okay, and introduce himself.
"What about the other one?" Mick continued. Everyone had told him what happened and when they asked who the other girl was, Trudy had said she was taking the third bed in Nina and Patricia's room. When they asked what her name was, Trudy scolded them for not introducing themselves properly. Fabian merely shrugged and left Mick alone and started making a card castle out of boredom. He made brief eye contact with Nina again and they shared a small smile. Amber Millington, Mick's girlfriend, was sitting on the couch with him laughing at something in a magazine a few minutes later.
"I can't believe that creep won't give me Joy's home number!" Patricia cried coming into the living room and sitting down. "At least she should get her stuff back the day after tomorrow."
"That's good," Mara Jaffrey said. "You'll be able to ring her then." Patricia nodded in agreement before looking at Nina.
"I know you've got something to do with this, newbie," Patricia said. "You and the other one. And I'm going to find out what it is!"
"So you've mentioned," Nina said. She lowered her voice and muttered, "ten times."
"What did you say?" Patricia demanded.
"Nothing," Nina replied. Thankfully, Patricia let it go and Nina was able to return to her magazine.
~)8(~
"It's ten o'clock!" Victor called through the house. "You have five minutes precisely, and then I want to hear a pin drop." Victor took the pin from his lapel and dropped it. He heard someone come down the stairs and scowled at Alfie Lewis. Alfie quickly saw Victor's glare and hurried to his room.
Upstairs, Cameron was reading on her bed. She rolled her eyes at Victor as he called out the curfew. She had come back from her run and hour and a half ago and quickly showered before retreating to her room. She heard Patricia tell Victor she didn't want to share with Nina or herself, but Victor dismissed her and everyone went to bed. Cameron shut her book and lay down as Nina and Patricia came into the room. Nina gave her a small smile and wave which Cameron returned, but Patricia didn't even acknowledge her. Without a word, the three girls lay down and fell asleep for the night.
~)8(~
"Joy definitely would've called me by now! I'm telling you, something has happened to her!" Patricia exclaimed the next morning at breakfast. She was seriously starting to worry about her best friend. She had just… disappeared! But, no one seemed as concerned as her.
"Patricia, give it a break! You're driving me crazy," Jerome Clarke complained.
"Jerome," Mara scolded. "Some of us are worried about Joy, even if you're not."
"Did you get any response to that email you sent her last night?" Amber asked.
"No," Patricia sighed.
"It's difficult to know what else we can do," Fabian said. Patricia knew he was right, but she wouldn't give up. Not until she knew Joy was safe.
"Question the newbies, that's what!" Patricia exclaimed. Fabian almost stared at her for that. She seriously seemed to believe Nina and the other girl were involved in Joy's leaving the school.
"They have nothing to do with this, Patricia," Fabian told her exasperated. He knew she was worried about Joy, they all were, but she was being ridiculous. "They just have… really bad timing."
"What about last night?" Patricia asked. "That business with the mirror?" Patricia had been brushing her teeth in the bathroom last night when she noticed the message written in the steam on the mirror. "Help me, Joy!" Jerome laughed. "What? You don't believe I saw anything, do you?"
"Yes, we do," Amber quickly told her. "It's just… Mick saw Alfie hanging out on our corridor last night." Patricia felt anger rise in her. Alfie and Jerome were notorious for their pranks. If he planted that message from Joy on the mirror, she was going to kill him. No! Alfie wouldn't! He was her friend.
"Not even Alfie would have the nerve to sneak into the bathroom and do something like that!" Even as Patricia said it, she knew it wasn't true. Jerome looked at her.
"Are we talking about the same Alfie?"
"So, who do you think did write it, then?" Fabian asked. "Joy?" That didn't make sense. Why would Joy sneak into the bathroom, write the message, and sneak back out when she could've talked to Patricia herself? Why would she hide?
"I don't know!" Patricia exclaimed. She got an idea. "Maybe… maybe Nina or the other one wrote it to drive me crazy." Jerome covered his mouth at that to stifle the laughs. Patricia was being so ridiculous about this whole ordeal. Even after meeting Nina very briefly, he knew she wasn't the type to do something like that. He had no idea about the other one though. Then again, no one seemed to know anything about her. She had come down to dinner last night and left in embarrassment when Patricia accidentally splashed the water all over her. He couldn't blame the girl, though. He would be embarrassed if the same thing happened to him, he just wouldn't show it.
"Where are they anyway?" Patricia spoke up. Jerome looked around. Neither girl was downstairs with them.
"Gone into school early, I think," Fabian said sadly. Again, he couldn't help but think about the way the two new girls were being treated, how they had been so mean to them.
"Oh, so they're geeks as well as everything else, are they?" Patricia criticized.
"I think it's probably more about getting away from us!" Fabian said. Everyone looked at him for that. "I mean, we've hardly been very welcoming. We don't even know the one girl's name."
"I know," Mara agreed. "I was thinking that too. I feel a bit mean." Jerome rolled his eyes and Patricia's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe they were feeling bad about not welcoming the two girls. They were in on Joy's disappearance! Patricia was sure of it.
~)8(~
Nina and Cameron walked away from the house, their bags over their shoulders and their new school uniforms on. The skirt was a little too short for comfort to Cameron, but she could deal. The two of them were going to walk over together, neither one of them wanting to deal with their housemates this morning, but they stopped when they saw an old woman sitting on a bench. She was looking at Anubis House.
"Are you okay?" Nina asked. She grabbed the woman's hand and worriedly began to check her over.
"That's my house," the woman said. There was a happy gleam in her eye, as if she was remembering her childhood.
"Uh, I don't think so. It's a school," Nina told the woman. Cameron took the other spot on the bench, on the woman's left while Nina was on her right.
"No, that's my house," the woman insisted. Cameron and Nina exchanged looks. She must've been terribly confused, the poor woman.
"Okay, it's your house," Cameron said.
"But, maybe you could tell us where you really live and we could take you back," Nina suggested. "Oh, here. You'll get cold." Nina took off her school jacket and wrapped it around the woman's shoulders.
"It's you, isn't it?" the woman breathed looking at Nina. The American girl paused, but the old woman paid her no mind and turned to Cameron. "And you as well. It's you. I knew you'd come." Cameron and Nina exchanged confused looks.
"Uh…" Nina started, "I'm sorry, we don't know-"
"Sarah! Sarah, my name is Sarah!" the woman exclaimed. She grasped the two girls' hands and smiled at them.
"Okay, Sarah," Nina said. "Why don't you come inside for a cup of coffee?" This 'Sarah' woman became frantic.
"I can't go in there," she said. Sarah looked back at Anubis House in fear and Cameron grew concerned for her. "He's waiting. He's always waiting."
"All right, then," Nina stumbled out. Neither she nor Cameron really knew how to handle this situation, but they silently agreed they would help Sarah. "Why don't you just wait here with my friend and I'll go bring someone back."
"Are you coming back?" Sarah asked, fearful of a bad answer. Cameron squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"Yeah! Yeah, yeah. Just stay with my friend." With that, Nina turned and walked away. Sarah watched her go, a scared expression on her face. Cameron squeezed the woman's hand again, making her look at the girl.
"Sarah, I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay here with you, okay?" Cameron said. Sarah's expression relaxed a little and gripped her hand. Within 15 minutes, Nina returned with a woman in tow. They took Sarah back to the old folks' home of town.
"It's not like you to go wandering, Emily," the woman said as they entered the home. Nina and Cameron's faces took on confused expressions and Sarah put her finger to her lips, telling them to keep quiet. The woman spoke to the two Americans. "She's rather confused as you've probably realized. But she's not normally a sprinter."
"That's Anubis House!" Nina exclaimed. Cameron followed her and saw a painting of Anubis House on the wall. "She said she used to live there." The caretaker laughed.
"I don't think so, although with some of these old dears, you never know." Nina and Cameron began to pay very close attention to the woman. "Truth is, we know very little about Emily's background. Isn't that right, Emily?" The woman had raised her voice.
"There's no need to shout. I'm not deaf, you know," Sarah… Emily… whoever she was told the caretaker. Nina and Cameron gave small laughs and followed as the caretaker took Emily… Sarah… back to her bedroom. The caretaker sat Emily… Sarah… down and put a blanket over her lap.
"There, that's better isn't it, Emily?" she asked.
"No," the older woman bluntly replied. The caretaker ignored her and turned to the two students.
"Now, you got time for a cup of tea or something before you get back?" she asked the girls. Cameron and Nina exchanged a look before smiling.
"We doubt anyone's missing us," Nina told her, careful to make the words sound nonchalant. But… it truly seemed that their housemates didn't like them very much, especially Patricia. "Thanks, that would be nice." The caretaker left the room.
"I've been waiting so long," Sarah… Emily said before getting out of her chair. She was looking at Nina and Cameron felt a little uncomfortable, like she was seeing something she wasn't supposed to. "Keeping the secret. Now it's your turn. Quick, take this." The old woman stuffed a necklace into Nina's hands. Cameron and Nina gawked at it. It had an antique, mysterious beauty to it. The necklace was a locket in the shape of the Eye of Horus with a red jewel in the middle.
"But keep it well hidden," Sarah… Emily warned. "Or they'll take it away from you. They take everything away from you in the end." She went towards her dresser. She opened the top drawer and dug inside for something. She pulled out a small box and handed it to Cameron.
"Open it when you're alone. No one but you is allowed to see what's inside," the old woman told Cameron. The American girl was confused on why this woman was giving her something and why she gave Nina her locket, but nodded. Cameron slipped the box into her bag and took one of Sarah… Emily's hands.
"Take them," the old woman told the girls. "They will keep you safe. There's treasure hidden in that house. And only the two of you have the power to find and protect it. But you must be careful. There's danger in that house. Evil. It's a bad house. A dark house." Nina and Cameron exchanged sad looks. This poor woman… she was so confused.
"Well, the house is a little creepy," Cameron said, "but I don't think that necessarily makes it evil."
"Emily, I don't think-"
"Sarah! My name is Sarah and I know you!" Sarah insisted cutting Nina off.
"I'm sorry," Nina told her. "We know what it's like to miss the place you come from."
"And you know me Nina, Cameron…" Nina and Cameron stopped at that. They had never told Sarah their names.
"How do you know our names?" Cameron asked.
"But you must beware the black bird," Sarah continued. "Do you hear me? Beware the black bird." Cameron felt a shiver go up her spine at that. She had seen a raven inside Victor's office, but she highly doubted that bird could harm anyone seeing as it was stuffed.
~)8(~
That day, Cameron had learned the names of everyone in her house, but still, none of them knew her besides Nina. She tried her best to ignore Patricia throughout the day and when she got back to the house, she decided to open Sarah's box. Nina seemed to think the woman was confused, but Cameron wasn't so sure. She had been around confused people. None of them looked as sincere and honest as Sarah had.
Cameron carefully opened the box and inside was a necklace. Cameron gasped when she saw it. On the chain was a key and the stem was in the shape of an Egyptian Ankh. Well, the key was certainly beautiful, but very strange at the same time. Cameron slipped the chain over her head and tucked it into her shirt before starting on the day's homework.
~)8(~
That night, Nina, Patricia, and Cameron was all fast asleep, but Nina was tossing and turning. In her nightmare, Sarah was warning her about the evil in the house and the black bird. Victor was there too with his stuffed raven, Corbiere. In all of Nina's tossing and turning, she woke Patricia up. The girl heard Nina muttering in her sleep and grabbed her black boa.
"Beware the black birds! Beware the black birds!" Patricia cawed. She dropped feathers from her boa onto Nina, waking her up.
"What are you doing?" Nina asked as she tiredly cleaned herself of the feathers.
"Nothing. You woke me up," Patricia told her. Nina felt bad for a second, but then Patricia started making fun of her again and the feeling was gone. Patricia mocked Nina once more before laying down and going back to sleep. Nina scowled at her and turned off her light. She stared at the locket Sarah had given her and opened it. Inside was a picture. She quietly lit up her phone and looked at the young girl in the picture. It looked… she looked like Sarah. Maybe she really was telling the truth. A few minutes later, Nina put down her phone and tried to go back to sleep. She had no idea that Cameron was currently having the exact same dream she just had.
~)8(~
"I wish I could've seen her face when she woke up just covered in feathers," Jerome commented the next morning at breakfast when Patricia was telling them about what had happened last night with Nina and the feathers. He, Patricia, and Alfie laughed.
"Was it like this?" Alfie asked before making a ridiculously shocked face. The three of them laughed even more.
"Hey, guys. I have an idea that really will give her and the other one nightmares," Patricia said.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" Jerome asked. Suddenly, Alfie shushed them because Nina and the other girl came in. Jerome, Alfie, and Fabian stared at her, finally really seeing her for the first time. She was about 5'7" with a petite build. Her hair was in a high ponytail, thick, and a rich caramel color. She had a pale skin tone and some freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her eyes were dark brown like coffee. However, all three boys were snapped out of their thoughts when Patricia started making fun of Nina again for her dream. Fabian wanted to tell them off, but didn't. He saw the other girl's eyes widen at the taunts, but she quickly recomposed herself and sat down across from him.
"Ignore them," Fabian told Nina.
"I am," she replied.
"So what was this dream anyway?" Fabian asked her. He was curious.
"It was awful," Nina breathed. "I know they're making jokes but it felt so real. It felt… evil."
"Nina, what exactly was the dream?" the other girl asked. Fabian was startled to hear her talk. She had been so quiet before.
"Just something about a black bird," Nina said. Fabian was confused, but the other girl seemed to get what she was talking about. However, she also looked a little frightened. Nina noticed. "What is it, Cam?"
"I had a similar dream," the girl, Cam, breathed. Nina gasped, but Fabian wasn't so quick to believe it.
"Are you serious?" he asked her. She looked at him with criticizing eyes.
"Why would I joke about that?" she asked him. Fabian immediately apologized. Cam was not Jerome and Alfie. She wouldn't joke about something like that, especially if she and Nina were friends. "I'm Cameron, by the way." Fabian shook her outstretched hand.
"Fabian Rutter," he introduced. She gave him a small smile before turning back to her cereal.
"Anyone seen Mara? She's got my hair straighteners," Amber said coming into the dining room.
"Yeah, she's with Mick in our room," Fabian said. Mara was helping Mick with their biology assignment, that was it.
"What?" Amber exclaimed.
"Uh-oh. Green-eyed monster alert," Jerome joked.
"I mean…" Amber started, trying (and failing) to seem cool with everything. "I'm not jealous." Amber came and sat down in between Cameron and Jerome. "Why would I be jealous? What is there to be jealous of?"
"She's helping him with homework," Fabian clarified. "That's all."
"Yeah, I know all about that, and it's cool," Amber said. No one believed her. She was radiating jealousy. "I would help him but I'm just so busy." Amber pushed her blonde hair behind her shoulder and Jerome mimicked it rather dramatically, making Patricia and Alfie snicker. Amber turned to face Nina and Cameron. "I see you two haven't sneaked out at the crack of dawn today."
"Wow, everyone really does keep tabs on everyone around here, don't they?" Nina said sarcastically.
"Fabian said you'd gone into school early, but then you didn't turn up at first class," Amber said.
"Nina and Cameron were helping an old lady across the road," Trudy said coming to the table. "Literally. We had a surprise visitor from the old people's home."
"I'm not very good with old people," Amber commented. "They're all so... old… aren't they?" Fabian choked on his orange juice and Cameron bit her lip to keep from laughing. No one else was that subtle.
"Really?" Jerome said looking at the blonde.
"Still, Nina, you must be used to it. Trudy said your gran brought you up," Amber continued.
"She did," Nina replied with a nod.
"What happened to your mum and dad?" Amber asked. She turned to Cameron. "And what about yours?" Both the girls became uncomfortable, but for very different reasons.
"Oh, Amber, Queen of Tact," Jerome said sarcastically.
"They died in a car accident," Nina answered ignoring Jerome. Amber grew uncomfortable and looked apologetic. Cameron saw how sincere she actually was and that she really didn't mean any offense by asking.
"Oh," Amber merely said. "That's awful."
"It was a long time ago. My gran and I are really close," Nina said.
"So how come she's packed you off to a big, bad boarding school miles away from home then?" Patricia mocked. She looked at Cameron. "And what about you? Do your parents not want you?" Alfie snickered, but Jerome didn't. He noticed the look on Cameron's face at Patricia's snide comment. He got the feeling it was a little more accurate than she wanted to admit.
"Sounds to me like they wanted to get rid-"
"Patricia! Don't be such a witch!" Fabian cut her off. Not only he was surprised at her comments, Alfie, Amber, and Jerome were as well. That was taking it a bit too far. "I know you're upset about Joy but that is no reason to be taking all of this out on Nina and Cameron!"
"Yeah, well, everyone seems to have forgotten all about Joy accept me," she replied. With that, she stood and strode out of the dining room.
~)8(~
"Your biology assignments, please!" Mr. Sweet called through the classroom as the bell rang. He was the headmaster of their school as well as the science teacher. "And no excuses this time," he added towards Mick. Mick handed him his assignment and he started collecting the others.
"Hey, Nina, Cameron," Patricia said coming towards them. The two girls and Fabian paused and looked at her. "I just wanted to say, you know, sorry about breakfast." Both Nina and Cameron knew she didn't mean it, but accepted it anyway.
"It's fine. A little teasing helps the tea and toast go down," Nina told her.
"Oh, and I think it's about time we welcomed you into the school properly," Patricia continued. "The traditional way." By now, Jerome and Alfie were standing on either side of Patricia.
"What are you going on about?" Fabian asked. He had no idea what they were talking about, and if he was right, Nina and Cameron were about to get punked.
"Alfie, why don't you tell Nina and Cameron about the initiation ceremony," Patricia suggested. Fabian's eyes widened.
"The what?" he demanded. Alfie ignored him.
"Yeah, every new person who comes to this school has to undergo like… an initiation ceremony." Alfie had tried to find a better term for it, but couldn't.
"Since when?" Fabian exclaimed.
"Since forever, Fabian!" Patricia said firmly.
"What are you trying to-"
"It's okay," Nina cut off Fabian. "Sounds like fun. What do we have to do?" Patricia, Alfie, and Jerome said they would tell them back at the house before leaving the classroom.
"There is no initiation ceremony, is there?" Cameron asked Fabian quietly.
"No, there isn't," he replied. Cameron nodded. She had been expecting that.
~)8(~
"So, Nina and Cameron's initiation takes place tomorrow night, okay? At midnight." Patricia told everyone at dinner.
"The witching hour!" Alfie let out a cliché evil laugh.
"Alfie, cut it out," Fabian scolded.
"Tell me Fabian," Jerome started. "Does it get boring always being the one who's like, 'Cut it out,' or, 'That's not right,' or, 'that is bad'?" Fabian laughed humorlessly at this.
"No."
"What do they have to do?" Amber asked about Nina and Cameron's initiation.
"Go up to the spooky attic and bring something back to prove they've been," Alfie said. Nina and Cameron exchanged looks. Didn't Victor say the attic was off-limits?
"You're going up into the attic?" Amber asked them.
"Sure, why not?" Nina said. "I mean, it's not like it's-"
"Totally haunted," Amber cut her off. Cameron rolled her eyes, not believing it for a second, but Nina looked nervous.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah, she's right," Jerome spoke up. "By the ghosts of former students who went up there, never to return." Jerome and Alfie cackled and Nina felt more nerves fill her.
"Getting cold feet?" Patricia asked. Nina quickly masked her nerves and shook her head.
"Not at all," she replied.
"Just one question," Cameron spoke up. "Why aren't we doing it tonight?"
"Oh, we've got something else planned for you tonight," Patricia said with a smirk. Fabian muttered something under his breath, but Patricia continued. "The key. They can't go up into the attic without the key. They have to steal it from Victor."
"Or I could just pick the lock," Cameron suggested. Fabian and Nina laughed. Cameron even saw Jerome hiding a laugh. Patricia merely shook her head.
"You either steal the key or don't complete initiation," Patricia said. "And you'll never live it down if you don't complete it. So which is it going to be?"
"So what you're saying is that if I don't do this, I'll receive tons of taunts from you?" Cameron snarked. "I already get that." Alfie "oohed" and Jerome outright laughed. Normally Cameron wouldn't say anything like that, but Patricia was really starting to get on her nerves. But, no matter how bad Patricia was, her parents would always be worse. Patricia scowled at Cameron and Jerome slung an arm over the American girl's shoulder.
"You know what I think, Miss Zack?" Cameron raised her eyebrows at him. "I think I am going to enjoy having you around." Cameron rolled her eyes and turned back to her food, but didn't remove his arm from her shoulder. It wasn't that she liked Jerome, no, but she wasn't sure she didn't like him either. She wasn't sure how she felt about everyone. She had an impression of everyone in Anubis House now. She liked Nina, Fabian, Mick, Amber, and Mara. However, she didn't like Patricia. Cameron still wasn't sure how she felt about Jerome and Alfie. Alfie was a prankster, but she was sure he was nice enough. Jerome, well… she wasn't sure. He was a prankster as well and quite annoying, but she didn't dislike him. She just didn't know what to think of him yet.
~)8(~
"See the bunch of keys on the desk next to Victor?" Alfie asked Nina and Cameron.
"Yeah," Nina replied while Cameron nodded. Alfie had figured out she was pretty quiet, but wasn't shy. Oh, no, judging from the way she had talked to Patricia earlier, she was definitely not shy, just an introvert.
"Those are the master keys," he continued explaining. He, Nina, Cameron, Jerome, and Patricia were standing on the landing near Victor's office. "He carries them with him everywhere he goes. So you'll never get them." Both Nina and Cameron gave him looks. Were they sending the two of them on an impossible mission?
"But, there is a key box on the wall just beside him," Patricia continued. Okay, so this wasn't impossible.
"Yeah, he keeps a spare set of every single key in there," Jerome said.
"What are you lot looking at?" Victor suddenly asked them. Everyone but Cameron shuffled around uncomfortably as Victor came out of his office and towards them.
"Sir, we were just trying-" Jerome tried.
"We were just admiring your coat," Nina cut him off. Everyone looked at her. "Is it vintage?" Victor didn't answer and Alfie spoke.
"Yes! Just as I thought, this floor… it could… use a polish." Alfie began to trail off as Victor loomed over him.
"Hmmm," Victor said. "Yes. In that case, please feel free to polish it, Alfie." Victor picked Alfie up by the arm and dragged him down the stairs. Nina turned to go into Victor's office, but saw Cameron was already unlocking the key box. She grabbed the spare key, locked the box again, and calmly placed the master keys back on Victor's desk. She strode out of the office and everyone gawked at her.
"What?" she asked. Cameron held up the spare attic key. "I got the key."
"How did you do that?" Nina breathed. Cameron shrugged.
"I'm quiet and I stay calm. Being calm makes things go faster, not slower. If you're nervous or in a rush, you tend to make mistakes." Cameron made sure to leave out the part where she learned to sneak around back in New York. Her parents had disapproved of her writing and she often had to sneak out of the flat at night in order to see her editor and/or publisher.
"That was… amazing," Jerome breathed. He was staring at her like he was seeing her in a whole new light. He was. Just looking at her, one would peg her as a "sweetheart." She was wearing a baggy sweater and black leggings with flats. Her hair was currently in a high ponytail. All you had to do was add glasses and Cameron would look like the stereotypical bookworm. But she was nothing like that. Cameron was sarcastic, sneaky, and not afraid to speak her mind when she did speak. Jerome had to admit, she was pretty quiet. Cameron stuffed the key into the pocket of her sweater as Victor came back up the stairs. He scowled at all of them one last time before retreating into his office.
"That was lucky, very lucky," Jerome commented. Alfie looked at Cameron and nodded, like he respected her for getting the key. He was carrying some cleaning supplies.
"We'll see how lucky they are tomorrow night when they go up into that attic," Patricia commented. Cameron looked at her and noticed the sour look on her face. Apparently she was not expecting Cameron to get the key so quickly and easily.
~)8(~
"The calls were going to Joy's voicemail, but now I'm just getting an unobtainable signal," Patricia told Jerome as they walked into their classroom. "What does that mean?"
"It just means, Patricia, that she's gotten fed up with you bombarding her with messages and texts and now she's changed her phone contract," Jerome told her. He sat down at a table in the back with Alfie and noticed Cameron sit up front by herself. Nina was sitting with Fabian.
"All the world's a stage," they heard someone say from the back of the classroom. Everyone turned and all the girls, including Nina and Cameron, gawked when they saw who had spoken. It was a man in his mid-twenties. He had brown hair and a thin build. All in all, he was very attractive.
"And the men and women merely players," the man continued. "Hey. My name is Jason Winkler and I'm your new history teacher. I'll also be teaching drama." All the girls in the class became even more intrigued with him at that.
"You're Mr. Fleming's replacement?" Mara asked.
"Yeah, that's right," Mr. Winkler said with a smile. All the girls continued to stare at him and he grew slightly uncomfortable before going to the front of the room.
"Wow! I am so pleased he had a heart attack!" Amber cried. Everyone laughed out loud at this and Amber turned a shade of pink. "Sorry, that didn't come out right." Mr. Winkler ignored this and started the lesson for the day. In the middle of handing out a paper full of the things they would hopefully cover this year, Cameron was handed a note. It was from Mr. Winkler.
Mr. Sweet has told me all about how you got the scholarship and your writing. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.
-Jason Winkler
Cameron sent him a thankful nod and stuffed the note into her bag before anyone could ask about it. She seriously didn't want people knowing about her writing… not yet anyway. She knew someone would find out about her being Mack Renacoz at some point, but she hoped that point would not arrive for a long while.
~)8(~
Nina, Fabian, and Cameron were sitting at a lab table in science class, neither of them really paying attention while Sweetie droned on and on about Pascal's law. Nina was staring at her locket and Cameron was writing in her notebook, but she was not taking notes.
"That's nice," Fabian commented about Nina's locket. "Does it have a photo inside?"
"No!" Nina immediately stuffed the locket into her sweater and fell silent. Cameron knew she was lying, Nina had showed her the photo, but she didn't say anything. It wasn't her place to tell Fabian about the locket and where Nina got it.
"I'm sorry, I was only making conversation," Fabian apologized. Sweetie came up to Fabian, having heard him speak.
"Mr. Rutter," he scolded. "Fari argentums aurum tacere. Which means what? Anyone?"
"Silence is golden," Cameron answered. Everyone stared at her in shock as she translated the Latin phrase.
"Correct," Sweetie complimented.
"Mr. Sweet?" Patricia started. He turned to her.
"Yes, Patricia?"
"I've been meaning to ask about the school photo." Everyone either sighed or rolled their eyes. They all knew where this was going.
"I fail to see how that applies to Pascal's law," Sweetie commented. He knew where this was going as well.
"Why has Joy been erased from the photo?"
"Uh-oh… Crazy conspiracy alert," Alfie joked with a hand on his ear like he was a hearing something in an earpiece.
"That is a ridiculous notion, Patricia," Sweetie subtly agreed with Alfie. The bell rang and everyone began to pack up their things.
"Just one moment please!" Sweetie called through the classroom. "I have your last assignments here." Sweetie took the pile of assignments and looked at the top one. Cameron, Nina, and Fabian went to get their assignments. Fabian had an A, Nina had an A-, and Cameron to their surprise had an A+.
"Fabian, wait," Nina said as the three walked out of the classroom. "I'm sorry if I acted weird before. You've been so nice to me and it was kind of-"
"Rude?" Fabian suggested.
"Well, I was going to say, 'snippy,' but, yeah okay, rude works too," Nina replied.
"It's okay," Fabian assured her. He had a smile on his face and Cameron felt like she was intruding. It was obvious the two liked each other. Then again, Cameron didn't blame Nina. Fabian was really nice, smart, and cute too with his boyish face and dark hair. But… Cameron just didn't like him that way. Cameron predicted that if she fell for anyone in Anubis House, it would be Mick. They had met up this morning for a run and became fast friends. However, he seemed pretty hooked on Amber.
"Look, you two aren't seriously going to go through with this initiation nonsense are you?" Fabian asked the girls. Nina looked at him sheepishly and Cameron shrugged. "You don't have to, you know."
"Yeah I do," Nina said. "I'll never live it down if they think I'm scared."
"And if Nina goes, I go," Cameron commented. She slung an arm around the girl's shoulder. Cameron had to admit, she was seriously beginning to open up to Nina. "We Americans have got to stick together." Nina laughed and put her arm around Cameron's waist. They smiled at each other before facing Fabian.
"You two are tougher than you look. Especially you, Cam." Fabian had taken up Nina's nickname for Cameron and admittedly, she liked it. No one had ever given her a nickname besides Matt, and he called her "Squirt".
"I think I speak for both of us when I say you mean we're willing to do anything to survive in the dangerous world of English boarding schools." Fabian laughed and the trio walked to their next class together.
~)8(~
Cameron and the rest of the class watched as Alfie took a deep breath and let it out while calming himself, slightly reminding her of Sharpay Evans. They were currently in drama class and Alfie was getting ready to impersonate something. Seeing as this was Alfie, no one had any idea of what to expect.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Alfie let out. It was a nasally bug sound and everyone, especially Jerome, laughed as Alfie darted across the room, acting like a bug of some kind. Cameron let out a chuckle. Alfie certainly was amusing, that was for sure. She had decided she liked him. However, she was still undecided about Jerome. Alfie came and got in Cameron's face briefly. She swatted him away with a smile and he moved on.
"Thanks, Alfie," Amber said while smacking him with her magazine. "Some of us are here to learn." Alfie merely continued with his impersonation.
"And what exactly are you supposed to be, Alfie?" Mr. Winkler asked.
"A mosquito in a spin dryer, isn't it obvious?" Everyone laughed amusedly and Cameron saw Fabian shake his head slightly above her as she was sitting at his feet. Although, he did it with a smile on his face.
"Now something a little more serious," Mr. Winkler said. "Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Timeless. Tragic." Mr. Winkler handed Cameron half of the books and she helped him pass them out as Alfie muttered, "Tedious." Mr. Winkler and Cameron finished passing out the books and he assigned scenes and partners. First up was Amber and Alfie.
"O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" Amber recited. "Deny thy father and refuse thy name. If thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet."
"Shall I hear more or shall I speak at this?" Alfie recited dramatically.
"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art… thou art… truly the yummiest boy I've ever seen, Romeo."
"What?" Alfie cried.
"That's not in the script, Amber!" Mr. Winkler scolded from the back of the classroom. Amber ignored him and dropped her book. She planted a big one on Alfie and everyone's jaws dropped. Cameron heard some people cheer and Jerome laughed, but she ignored them and looked back at Mick. He and Amber were dating! What was she thinking! And, oh, Mick did not look happy. His nostrils were flaring and his face was hard. Cameron bit her lip. This would not end well.
~)8(~
That night, Nina and Cameron stayed up along with Patricia, waiting for midnight to strike. When it did, Jerome and Alfie showed up and the three of them pointed flashlights at the American girls.
"Are you Nina Martin and Cameron Zack?" Patricia interrogated.
"Yes," both girls answered.
"Is there anyone here who can confirm this?" Patricia asked. Alfie and Jerome looked at Patricia, amused at her antics while Nina and Cameron exchanged looks.
"Us?" Both girls suggested.
"Are you for real?" Alfie asked Patricia as he and Jerome laughed. Patricia quickly shushed them and got in the two girls' faces.
"Nina Martin and Cameron Zack. You are here to prove that you are brave enough to live at Anubis House. Swear on the graves of all your ancestors that you will never, ever tell a living soul about tonight." Jerome saw Cameron wince on the word "grave", but didn't say anything.
"I swear," Nina said.
"I swear," Cameron repeated. Patricia led Nina and Cameron out of the room, she was holding her flashlight up to her face. Alfie and Jerome walked behind them, doing the same thing. Fabian, Amber, and Mara stood on either side of the hallway, also holding flashlights to their faces. Mick was not there. Cameron knew why. He didn't agree with the whole initiation thing and refused to take part in it. Plus, the whole thing with Amber and Alfie had left Mick in a pretty foul mood. When Amber asked Fabian where he was, Patricia shushed her.
"O, spirits of Anubis House, guide the new girls on their initiation quest and keep them from harm in the haunted attic," Patricia started.
"Come on, this is ridiculous," Fabian said to Patricia. She shushed him and Cameron noticed Jerome and Alfie laughing at Patricia behind her back. Cameron was glad to know she wasn't the only one who found this whole thing incredibly silly (Fabian and Mick) or amusing (Alfie and Jerome).
"Unlock the door," Patricia instructed. Nina and Cameron stepped forward and Nina pulled out the key. Since Cameron had stolen it, both girls had agreed Nina would keep it safe. Both of them stepped forward and Nina inserted the key into the lock.
"We just have to go up there and bring something back?" Nina asked Patricia. "And then we're done? I mean, you guys didn't booby trap the place or anything, did you?"
"Of course not! Go. One item for each of you," Patricia clarified. Nina and Cameron nodded before Nina unlocked the door. She slowly opened the door and the girls stared at the staircase in front of them. Cameron was the first to move and Nina followed her. They slowly walked up the stairs, but turned back around when they heard people talking. The next thing they knew, the attic door was shut and locked on them. Cameron mentally sighed. She should've expected Patricia to do something like this.
"Hey! What's going on? Let us out!" Nina cried. She tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.
"Come on, Patricia, let us out!" Cameron repeated.
"You heard them, let them out!" The two girls heard Fabian say.
"Not until you tell us what you know about Joy's disappearance," Patricia said.
"Nothing, Patricia," Cameron said. "We don't know anything. Now let us out!"
"No. You'll have to stay in there until morning." Cameron couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"All right, Patricia, you've had your fun, now just unlock the door," Fabian told her firmly.
"Yeah, Patricia. This is getting silly," Mara agreed.
"Whose side are you on?" Patricia demanded. "Last chance, newbies. What can you tell me about Joy?"
"Nothing! We know nothing!" Nina cried.
"You're not really going to leave them in there all night, are you?" Fabian asked incredulously. No one on the other side of the door were aware of the noises Nina and Cameron were hearing.
"Hey, let us out!" Nina cried. "There's something up there!"
"Open the door!" Amber hissed.
"The zombies are coming," Alfie said. Everyone, including Jerome, began telling Patricia to open the door.
"What is all this noise?" A voice sounded. It was Victor. Nina and Cameron fell silent on the other side of the door, having heard Victor. There was a click and they knew Victor had turned on the lights. Cameron tapped Nina's arm and pointed to the stairs leading up to the attic. Victor was certainly going to check the attic. Nina nodded and they silently made their way up there. They didn't take time to admire their surroundings and searched for a place to hide. Victor was coming for them.
Hey all! Here's the first chapter to my story! I hope you all like it! I'll try and get the next one up tonight as well, but I don't know. Homework, you know.
Cheerio!