Chapter One - The Beginning Of The End: Part 1
The two men sat across from one another in the small office. Separated by a small, sterile, grey desk, they talked.
"So it's all prepared then?" The guest and younger of the two men asked, he ran a hand through his blonde hair.
"Yes Mr. Descourdes they're going to announce it on Friday and it will all be put together before Autumn" replied the owner of the office. He paused for a moment hesitant, "Are we sure this is safe?" he asked "It just doesn't seem responsible for us to toy with the balance of things like this…"
Thierry stood up, he was a decent foot and a half taller than the old balding man, "I assure you, as I have already done before, that this is completely safe" he replied "and may I remind you that Hunter Redfern has agreed to this as well".
"Yes, of course" the older man now stood up to face Thierry. He held out a wrinkled hand and Thierry took it and shook it heartily "It shall be done" said the old man solemnly.
"Yes it shall" Thierry whispered to himself as he walked from the office. He hid his excitement at this deal behind a façade of businesslike focus and walked towards the doorway.
The older man dropped back into his seat, somewhat flustered. He ran a hand across his brow wiping away excess sweat. It was no lie he was worried, if this went wrong the consequences would be mammoth and the blame would be set with him. He pondered this for a moment before his secretary knocked on the open door, he glanced up at her slightly startled.
"Principal Wormwood, you have a student here to see you about a classroom disturbance" said the secretary motioning to someone down the hallway.
"Who is it?" He asked already knowing subconsciously.
"One of the Redfern's Sir" replied the secretary.
"Of course it is" he said under his breath, "Send them in" he said louder.
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One Week Later 'Friday'
Quinn hated this. Twice a year, that was how often this happened. He stood in the shadow of the bleachers watching as students from Dewitt Boarding School and Oakley Academy poured into the seats. Out on the field the gardeners ran about making the final touches to the grass, while the cheerleaders stood off to the side waiting to begin in just a few moments. Somewhere behind himself shouts and grunts from the preparing football teams could be heard. Somehow in all this mess and noise Quinn heard footsteps approaching behind him. He held his ground, choosing not to turn until the person was within range of his foot. As soon as they were he pivoted and landed his boot in his attackers face.
"Dammit Quinn! What have I told you about that?" Kara held her cheek where a bruise was already beginning to form.
"What have you learnt about sneaking up on me?" Quinn retaliated. Kara rolled her eyes and flipped her red-brown fringe out of her eyes. "What did you want anyway?" Quinn asked.
"I was coming to check in with you, like you told me to do before I go to my post!" Kara half yelled, not really maintaining any stealth.
"Oh, sorry" said Quinn sincerely "You can go now". Quinn waved an arm in Kara's direction and waited while the girl stalked off angrily. Once she was gone Quinn looked back out at the ground. Dewitt's cheerleaders had begun their routine, while the stands were almost full.
Sometimes Quinn couldn't believe how naïve they were –the humans- , not knowing that the specially trained team of Lancers were attempting to protect them from the 'evils' of the night world, that lurked just beyond a thin forest. Quinn knew better than to trust the Lancer's, but as part of an arrangement with his boss and substitute father Hunter Redfern Quinn had to keep peace between the Night-People and the Lancers, mostly by stopping his incompetent classmates from exposing the Night-World to the humans.
Dewitt Boarding School had been founded in the eighteenth century and was one of the most prestigious human boarding schools in the country. The trouble was Oakley Academy, which had been built in the sixteenth century as a summer castle for the royal shapeshifter family the Drache's and had been turned into a school for nightworlder's a few hundred years later.
The two schools were separated by 10 miles of forest. A hike for the humans of Dewitt, but a light run for the carnivorous Oakley academy students, thus the lancers were hired to protect the students from their immortal counterparts. Most of the time the schools remained separated, but on special occasions, such as this night, the schools came together for sporting events i.e.: football.
Oakley's team was stronger and faster than Dewitt's, but Dewitt had come very close to winning the game several times.
Quinn watched as a busty brunette witch flirted with an unsuspecting water-boy. He gazed at her fixedly, then he wavered on his feet a little and he fell forward into the witches arms. Anyone who wasn't focused on the exchange would have just seen the lovely girl set the boy upright before walking away. Quinn however saw the witch slip the boys wallet from his jacket and into her back pocket. Quinn sighed and went over to the witch.
"Blaise!" he yelled, the witch turned around and rolled her eyes.
"You again" Blaise grumbled.
"Yes, me again" said Quinn "Now give me back the kids wallet and I won't report you" with an eye roll and another grumble, Blaise handed over the wallet.
"Your such a party-pooper Quinn" Blaise grumbled, "Where are your mediocre little Lancer buddies anyway, I didn't think you did their dirty work!" she spat at him angrily "None of them has half a clue about how to fight us, their not real hunters, like 'The Cat'!"
"Whatever" Quinn ignored the comment and walked over to where the boy was looking around dazed, "Hey, is this your wallet?" he asked handing it to him.
"Huh? Oh yeah, it is" the boy said "Thanks" he added before wandering off.
Quinn was about to return to his post under the bleachers when a noise stopped him. It was a giggling, and then a heavy panting. Gross!Quinn thought stepping away. This night just keeps getting better.
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"Has anyone seen Mary-Lynette!" yelled Maggie to the giggling group before her.
"No!" the group chorused.
Dammit!Maggie thought. It was hard enough being captain of the cheerleading squad, but it was much worse when your star athlete never showed up. She couldn't blame Mare for ditching, she hadn't wanted to be a cheerleader, but her step-mother had gotten other ideas after seeing Mary-Lynette's abilities, and had forced Mary onto the team.
Now Maggie looked around at the group of girls who were busy 'admiring' the Oakley academy boys, who were all suspiciously attractive. There was a time when Maggie would have giggled along with them, jumping up and down in excitement at the idea of flirting with one of these boys, but now she was too stressed under the pressure of being cheer captain she had no time for that.
Maggie had unwillingly been named captain after the disappearance of their last captain 'Trisha Valentine'. Maggie hadn't wanted the responsibility at all but their principal had insisted she was a born leader. Considering she was captain of the girls soccer and basketball teams, the editor of the school newspaper, president of the rock climbing club, and in line to be class president it wasn't a far stretch to cheerleading captain.
"I'm going to look for Mary-Lynette" she shouted to the team "We start in five minutes, get ready!" she ordered before running off to look for her friend.
She ran along the edge of the bleachers looking for any sign of her friend within the crowd, not finding any she turned and walked into the midsection of the bleachers. She passed a disgruntled looking girl with short red hair and bright green eyes, the girl looked Maggie over like she was a threat, then supposedly deciding she wasn't, shrugged her shoulders and stepped back as if allowing Maggie to pass.
Maggie rounded the corner, searching quickly underneath the bleachers as she passed them, but all she saw was shadow and under the noise of the crowd she'd never be able to hear anything.
Maggie turned another corner which lead her behind the gymnasium, from here she could see the school and both boarding buildings. All the lights were out, everyone was at the game. Turning around Maggie began to walk back towards the bleachers until something stopped her.
"Holy shit!" Maggie exclaimed.
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James leaned back in his seat, his trademark 'cool' expression set on his face. He was only at the game to show family support, and because a cross-cousin and close friend of his – Thea Harman – had heard gossip that there was going to be some huge 'thing' happening at the night's game.
Even as vague as that was James wasn't particularly one for gossip, preferring to sit on the sidelines and watch rather than get in the thick of it. He scoured the crowd with his eyes not searching for anyone in particular.
"Didn't expect to see you here cousin" a feminine voice commented behind him. Jezebel Redfern, she stood tall, red hair blowing in the light summer breeze, hands on her hips in a gesture of disapproval "I thought you'd be off somewhere brooding and doing all that 'too cool' loner stuff" she smirked.
"And I thought you'd be off plotting some immature prank on the cheerleaders with your little crew" James commented. He pushed his sunglasses off his head and put them on.
Jez rolled her eyes "Be careful talking like that you'll start sounding like our dear uncle" She was right, their uncle Orrick Redfern was Hunter Redfern's great-great-great grandson and one of the cruellest vampires on the face of the planet "Fascist bastard!" Jez added as an after-thought.
"You better be careful yourself, you sound like Ash" Jez made a gagging motion with her finger. Ash Orrick's precious only son was just slightly better than his father when it came to being a prejudicial ass.
"Well I have cheerleaders to prank…" Jez stepped away "Bye cuz"
James watched as Jez ran off to the stairs and in a completely inappropriate manner considering the setting she jumped down the stairs ten at a time.
James rolled his eyes before letting the smirk fall from his face. He zoned out for a while, watching the cheerleaders prepare on the field. He was watching as a human boy and girl fought about their relationship when something else caught his eye. A set of copper curls bouncing up and down excitedly, they were attached to a girl, she couldn't have been more than 5'3 and she was standing across from a blonde girl who was taller than the first girl but looked much younger.
Something about this red haired girl encapsulated James, he had the strangest feeling about her. It wasn't until she turned towards him eyes lit up that it hit him.
"Poppy" her name came to his lips like he'd said it a million times, and yet he couldn't figure out where he'd heard it before in his life.
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Spotting the boy Poppy giggled and looked away shyly. She looked out at the crowd keeping the staring boy in her peripheral vision. He kept staring at her strangely and Poppy found herself staring back at him. He had a sort of James Dean quality to him, he was handsome of course, but with a bad boy edge to him.
"Poppy are you listening to me" Poppy turned back to Illiana, who had apparently been talking the whole time.
"Sorry" said Poppy sheepishly.
"Don't worry" Illiana smiled and patted her friends shoulder "I was just saying that- hey are you okay?" Poppy doubled over, as sudden shockwaves of pain rippled through her abdomen. "Poppy?" Illiana asked again, concern in her voice.
Gingerly Poppy stood herself straight. Illiana was asking her questions, but Poppy couldn't focus on anything but the pain until another voice broke through.
"Are you okay?" it was the boy who was staring at her. Poppy looked up at him eyes wide, she nodded. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes" she gasped and another wave of pain struck her. Poppy turned away from the two and gripped at the railing, holding tears back. She held the railing so tight her knuckles went white. Leaning against it for support for another minute the pain began to ebb slowly away. Relieved she turned around, that was when the railing gave way and Poppy fell.
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Gillian twisted a pen absentmindedly and watched the footballers run out onto the field, or so it seemed. Inside she was in another place. Tomorrow holidays started, students would be put on planes, and parents would arrive to collect their spawn. This worried Gillian immensely.
She had no idea what would happen once she returned home. When she'd left home her parents hadn't been speaking to each other, let alone to Gillian. Her mother was usually in a stupor, drinking for days at a time and hiding away in her bedroom. While Gillian's father was more of a robot, going about everyday activity like everything was fine, yet being completely unemotional. She had no idea what she was returning to, or even if they would remember to pick her up.
Looking around herself Gillian decided she had no reason to stay here and watch the game. Instead she would go back to her dorm and pack up. She walked slowly down the steps of the bleachers before turning down a pathway to the dorms.
She cut a corner going around the gym, and into a passageway. It was quicker this way, but she couldn't help but be scared walking down a dark alleyway late at night. She shook the thought telling herself not to be so silly.
Just as she stepped forward however, the shadows coalesced and a dark figure appeared sheathed in moonlight.
"Oh hello" he said before flashing a pair of pearly fangs at her in a feral smile.
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Delos knew the rules about not eating the humans at this school, but who was he to deny fate. He was innocently resting against the wall of the alleyway when the young gift from fate appeared.
Her blonde hair swung around her waist and her lavender eyes glowed brightly in the moonlight. She looks like a childthought Delos. Ignoring her age he stepped forward into the light where she could see him.
"Oh hello" he said, smiling at her. His fangs had already extended and were digging hungrily into his lower lip. "Don't be scared" he said though his voice sent the opposite message. He took a menacing step towards her expecting her to at least run a little but she stayed frozen.
Not even a chase, of course this was fate rewarding him for something. He closed the distance between them and gripped the girls shoulders. She moved her head back in fear, giving him a clear line to her throat. His fangs broke skin and he felt the thrilling euphoria of predator biting into prey.
She slowly went limp underneath his hands and soon it was only his hands gripping her shoulders keeping her up straight. He still had another good minute of feeding to do when he was interrupted.
"Holy shit" the girl exclaimed from the end of the alleyway.
Another, really?Delos asked silently. He turned his head up to face her, while still keeping his fangs attached to the first girl. The second girl, however, was not as weak as the first and instead of freezing up or running away, she ran straight toward Delos. Her hand collided with his cheek, nails drawing blood.
Delos let go of the blonde girl who dropped to the ground with a thud. The red haired girl watched with disgust as Delos wiped his mouth on his sleeve and then ran a thumb over his wounded cheek.
Seeing the blood the girl had drawn he turned his head towards her, eyes menacing.
Then he spoke in most sinister voice "You'll pay for that".
So that's Chapter 1 – Part 1
Part 2 Will be up in a few seconds, followed by Chapter 2.
Chapter Title: The Beginning of The End – Nine Inch Nails