Author's Note: 'Kay, this is where the story actually starts! Tell me what you think.
Akai:
This was the real thing. Even though I've hunted before, this was the first time without an elder wycan, and we were going to be victorious. Nothing could ruin this bright, chilly day. Rave stood next to me behind a tree, both of us waiting for the prey to arrive. The bait was Michael's younger sister, Mary, who was still in training, but was an excellent actress. She performed the character of a weak, fragile human girl, lost in the woods with all hope lost. Her expression was more than convincing, almost real. Of course, she was technically food, so acting out this part would be easy for her to do. If we were to go after a stronger vampire, however, we would use help from an experienced graduate hunter.
A twig snapped and all breathing ceased. My muscles tensed, helping me hold my ground, watching, waiting…
I woke up to the sound of music, the notes of an electric guitar blazing in my ears. "Ugh." Rising slowly from my bed, I smacked my flat palm against the alarm switch. Lifting my head, I squinted at the clock. It was 6:15 a.m. "Damn, it's time to get up already?" I asked aloud to myself. Pulling my violet and maroon covers off, I dragged my feet over the side of my bed and groaned. This was going to be a slow day.
As I left through the front door, I directed behind my back, "I'm leaving now!" As always, silence was my only reply. It was always that way, ever since I was little.
Outside, it was a refreshing autumn morning and although the sky was bright, it was nothing but white clouds. Gold and auburn leaves rustled in the wind, while their many look-alikes crunched beneath my feet. The air was crisp and smelled of burning wood. I waited for autumn every year; I lived for its calming embrace. Just the view alone made my eyes become more focused. The feeling would be ruined the instant I stepped into the hallways of Aurora High School. Snap.
"Who's there?" I yelled, quickly turning to face a sudden crack of wood. There was nobody, but I wasn't naive enough to think it was just my imagination. It could have been an animal, such as a squirrel or a bird up in a tree. Or someone really is following me. I shivered from a sudden gust of wind and cautiously continued on my way.
Aurora High is always plain. Nobody goes to the sports events, no one likes to meet new people, and most people avoid me. At times like these, I would just find a reason to ditch school, but my parents were already on edge about my poems, so I didn't want to make it worse. Don't think of me as the wrong type of person. I get A's and B's, read good books, and enjoy playing around, but I would rather be home schooled than stay around my "popularity crazed peers".
First period started the same as usual: with attendance. My teacher, Ms. Haverd, began reading aloud the class's names in her casual, rich voice. "John Admon. Richard Alsmith. Eric Banks. Trina Childs. Angel Feldswin. Hudson Lee…" she called out. One by one, they all drawled, "Here." At last she said, "Akai Samuels." I looked up and replied, "Here," in a tired voice. Attendance didn't take very long, considering we only had eighteen students in our class.
Ms. Haverd crossed her hands and laid them gently on her desk and smiled. "All right, class," she began. "Before we get started with notes, I'd like to announce the coming of a new student." She paused to place her short, blonde hair behind her ears. "His name is Jaden Alexford and he just transferred here from Montana, so please welcome him warmly when he arrives." She turned her head to look at the clock above her monitor. "Actually, he should have been here by now," She mumbled. I quietly groaned. Just another guy to ignore me, as if I really needed that. Still, it was rare to get a new student in such a small town.
At the exact time that Ms. Haverd had finished speaking, I heard a few resonant knocks from someone's knuckles. All of the student's heads turned quickly to face the object of distraction, except for one, Elizabeth Rayne, who happened to keep her head down in concentration. "Sorry I'm late," apologized the boy standing at the doorway. "But I lost my way here. I'm Jaden Alexford, by the way." When I heaved my head up, what I saw wasn't what I expected. Jaden was... different. All of the other guys at Aurora were decent, but this one was unique (in a really hot way). He was tall, about six feet, and looked strong, but not buff like a jock. His hair was a thick black that went down to the tip of his nape, and his skin was fair: almost white, or even pale. Then I looked at his face. Jaden had a natural devious look about him. His lips had formed into a mischievous smile, with teeth that were pure white. The bone structure was amazing, too, and worked perfectly with his slightly (naturally) curved, black eyebrows. Wow, I thought. He has the good genes.
Instantly after I had that thought, Jaden flashed his eyes in my direction, stunning me. He frowned, and we held each other's gaze in, to me, what seemed like a time void. His eyes were bright green, like poison. "Mr. Alexford? I'm Ms. Haverd. I was wondering when you would arrive." Jaden shifted his eyes towards our teacher and time returned. "Well, then take a seat. Anywhere you like," she implied. Hearing that, I quickly jerked my head to the desk on my right. It was empty. "Sure thing," Jaden responded. He looked back over at me, his smile returning, but with more of a flirtatious look. Pacing himself, he made his way in my direction and (you guessed it) sat in the empty desk next to me. I glared at him for getting in my space. He just leaned back and, in return, winked at me before facing the front of the classroom.
When school was over, I took as little time possible to leave for my home. On this particular day, however, I happened to have no homework or studies, helping me able to leave before the school's yard got too busy. Knowing that I could spare a few minutes to get home, I went the long way through the deciduous woods. Colorful leaves danced around me, becoming more vibrant when, at last, the sun came out. It wasn't bright like on a summer's day, but dim, causing a light, orange haze. The trees were spread apart nicely, but not too much to create a meadow. I looked back on Jaden and thought about the way that he saw me. No other guy had ever even looked at me before. I began to walk slowly and more confidently.
I stopped halfway through the woods. A whispering voice echoed between the trees. It was soft and feminine, chanting rhythmic words through the air.
Enchant those of evil
Pray they turn their ways
Protection divine
Towards the innocent of this time
The chant pulled me forward with an invisible hand. I became aware of everything: the birds stopped singing, the wind ceased, trees creaked, and I even felt my rushing blood, flowing through my veins. Yet, my hair was still blown and leaves continued to dance. The chanting repeated itself over and over, getting louder and clearer, twisting my mind. Take control, Akai, someone told me. Fight it! You know you can fight it. Wrenching my mind away, I dug my feet into the ground and pulled against the force that clung to me. Let go of me, I thought angrily. "Let go!" The strange force snapped, making me stumble backwards and turn, just in time, to catch myself.
I was in front of huge maple tree; immense in size with gold and crimson leaves still clinging to it. Again I heard the chanting, but it was soft again and came from one direction: on the other side of the maple. Cautiously, I stood up and stepped carefully through the leaves, taking my time to get over the huge roots emerging from the ground. I peered around the tree.
A girl about 15, my age, was kneeling on a boulder near the edge of a small pond, filled with clear water and a few leaves. She had ghostly white hair and pale skin. The girl was thin and curvaceous, though lacking a bosom. I estimated that she would be about 5'7'' if she stood up. Upon her body she wore a nude corset over a sleeveless, long, flowing white dress that went down to her mid-thigh. Her accessories were elbow length, fingerless and laced white gloves and a white-laced choker with a gold locket. There were no piercing in her ears and no shoes on her feet. She looked beautifully mythical. At last, I looked at her face and gasped. Her full lips, high cheekbones, and dazzling red eyes looked familiar. "Elizabeth Rayne," I whispered to myself. I watched her chant a bit longer before leaving.
I hung up my thin, gray coat when I finally arrived home. My father sat in the living room, reading a newspaper and my mother was looking at herself in a mirror with her new dress. It was primrose pink with short sleeves and a darker pink ribbon that tied beneath her chest. With it, she wore a necklace of pearls and white, high-heeled shoes that clicked the wood floor when she walked. "What do you think, John?" she asked my father, hoping for approval. John nodded his head. "It looks amazing on you, Daniel." He assured her, without looking up. Daniel put her hands on her hips and huffed, giving John an annoyed look and was about to lecture him, when, instead, she saw me. John, who was curious about why he wasn't being yelled at, looked up and noticed me, too. They both frowned, probably at my dirty jeans, stained shirt, and messy hair. "Honey," my mother said. "Aren't you a bit late?" John put the newspaper on the coffee table and I sat down. "I took a quick detour through the woods and it took a bit longer than I expected. Sorry," I answered. They both gave me the "obviously" look. "I know I'm late. Sorry," I insisted. "I just happened to run into a classmate on the way."
"In the woods?"
"She probably lives in that neighborhood beyond the edge of the enclosure."
My parents looked alarmed. "Akai, if this classmate of yours is from there, then I don't want you taking your detour again. People go missing near that community all the time."
"But I-"
"Akai, we're telling you this because you went too far into the woods," my father said, forcing himself to not seem intimidating. I quietly replied, "Yes, Dad," and went upstairs to my room.
My room was different from the rest of the house, which was pink, white, and copper and covered in frills (Mom's design). My walls were burgundy and my floor was made of dark wood. The bed was black, but was covered in violet, maroon, and red sheets and pillows, except for one stray black pillow, which was square. My vanity was the same as my floor and had a circular mirror with a black frame. In it were hair products, cosmetics, art supplies, and a red brush on the top. My closet's double doors and my window curtain were a deep violet. The rim of my window was black. The rest of my room was empty.
I put on a dark blue sleep-shirt and forest green pajama shorts. Collapsing on my bed, I closed my eyes. What had happened back in the woods? No doubt about it, it was Elizabeth. But what was she doing there? The chanting had been so powerful. It took sheer will power to escape the trance. Maybe I should confront her tomorrow, I thought. Then I could get some answers.
I traced my memory back farther. Jaden Alexford. What was his deal? I felt like he was playing with me the whole day. Girls at Aurora were already giggling about him, doing their best to flirt with him. He kept looking at me, though. Even if his second smile had been flirtatious, all the other looks were devilish. However, he frowned every time I turned away from his gaze or avoided him in the halls. Sure, I was attracted to him, but there was a dark aura about him. Okay, so that made me like him more. That's what scared me. I've never been this curious about a guy this much before, nor did I ever pay attention to a guy like him. I was interested in him, but at the same time, I didn't like him. Jaden. He was definitely a mystery.
Sighing, I pulled my covers over me and relaxed. Within minutes, I fell asleep.
At long last, the vampire emerged. He wore loose jeans and a dark green T-shirt, but was barefoot. His long, brown hair was held back in a tight ponytail. The creature had winced at the sound he made, and now took steps more cautiously. However, Mary had heard and instantly went into role-play. Pretending to trip, she fell and yelled out in false pain. I saw the vampire stop and smile, his sharp canines glistening. He crouched down, observing his prey. Mary cried, "My foot! Oh, it hurts!" She began to whimper. He crawled forward, slowly, carefully.
Then we heard it, a long, quiet birdcall. I jumped forward and stunted at an all out sprint towards the vampire, chanting vigorously. "Dark soul of ancient times, destroy yourself for your devious crimes!" Immediately, a white aura appeared around the vampire, sealing him from movement. His eyes went wide, revealing their crimson color. Bringing one arm forward, I turned my scarred palm towards him, focusing all of my power and energy into the spell. Losing concentration could mean my life.
The monster's eyes went blank, his pupils dilated. The black soul of his being began to emerge from his chest. Perfect, I thought. Once his essence is removed, it can never return. Another vampire to add to the count. As the last of his soul was being ripped out, he screamed in pain. "A vampire can't feel pain!" I yelled at him. "It's no use trying to fool me!" Anger boiled through my veins. How dare he mock our power! My magic continued to grow, slowly ripping the life from his body. Crack. The left side of my torso heaved with pain. It raced through my lungs like a wildfire…
Cold sweat dripped down my forehead, my ribs burning. I gasped while trying to catch my breath. Throwing off my covers, I walked over to my window. The maple tree in our front yard slightly obscured my view outside, but I could see the night sky well. The clouds were mostly gone now, except for a few gone astray. Up in the darkness were the many small lanterns that which burned brightly every clear night. It would be a full moon soon.
I unlocked the latch on my double-door window and pulled them open. A fresh, crispy breeze kissed my face as it entered the room, pulling my pajamas tight against the front of my body. Smiling slightly, I looked up to the sky and inhaled deeply through my nose. I always felt much better doing this after I've had a nightmare.
Shortly after breathing in, the pinching pain in my side returned. My dreams always felt real, but this had never happened before. I winced when I put my hand on it. I let the pain linger, uncared for. Frowning, I looked outside again. Having the discreet feeling that eyes were watching me, I closed my window and retreated to my secluded abode. Only when I sat on my bed did I notice the conversation between my parents downstairs. Daniel was the first I heard.
"John, what are we going to do? She is such a sweet girl."
"Who are you talking about?"
"About Akai, of course!"
"We have to do what we must. If Chasitee said that Akai is rare and special, and you know that it's true, then we have to let her go."
Daniel sounded upset. "But she's like a daughter to us! And she doesn't even know the truth of her origin, so why take her away?"
"Do you suppose she's asleep now?"
"Don't change the subject, John."
John sighed. "You know that Akai will find out eventually. Her true parents will come looking for her, and when they do, it would be best that she's not here."
"Are you sure that she will be safe there? At the Academy, I mean."
"I'm positive. They're having everything prepared for her security."
"After the research is done, they'll bring her back, right?"
"I have no doubts that they will."
There were a few moments of silence. "When does Akai leave for the Academy?"
"In about two weeks. Come on, Dani. Let's go to bed." John spoke calm and collectively.
That was all I heard. I pulled my feet under the covers and stared up at the ceiling. The room was hot again. The only emotion that could describe what I was feeling was stunned. I felt empty, even when questions began to fill my head. The Academy? Where is that? And my true parents, I frowned at the thought. But I wasn't adopted. By law I should know if I am. My eyes began to close as I became drowsier. I didn't want to believe it, I couldn't. Yet I knew it was true. I didn't look anything like John or Daniel and I was taller than both of them were. One more thought flowed through my mind before I welcomed the dark abyss. Who is Chasitee?
Opening my eyes to the morning sun, I lifted myself up and stretched. I looked into the vanity mirror across from my bed. The person it was reflecting looked sickly pale and had red rings around her eyes. The questions in my head were still there. I have to settle my curiosity. Should I confront my… guardians… about last night? No, I thought. It's too early. Then what about the Academy? What was that all about? I had never heard of them before. There was a Chasitee, too. Who was Chasitee, and how did she fit into all of this? Why am I going there, and what did they mean by 'rare and special'? Though I was sure I wouldn't forget these questions, I decided to write them down anyway. It ended up looking like a personal interview.
Should I confront my guardians about last night? No.
What is the Academy?
Who is Chasitee?
How does Chasitee fit into all of this?
If Daniel and John don't want me to go, then why do I have to?
Who is Jaden Alexford, and what is his business here?
Why was Elizabeth chanting in the woods?
Why is the Academy waiting for me?
Who are my true parents?
What is so special about me?
I know the last question is a little weird, especially for me, but I don't know specifically what makes me stand out so much from others. Besides, why would this Academy have their eyes on me? Just exactly who am I? Did my true parents want me, or did they even have a choice? I didn't add this question, since I didn't think it was as important as the rest.
After I packed all my stuff, I looked at the clock above the stairway. 6:45. Yeah, it was early, but that's good, because Elizabeth gets to school early, too. I left for school. This time, though, I wore my black trench coat. Daniel bought the gray jacket for me on a sales rack. It was a birthday present, but she didn't wrap it up, and put a huge smile on her face. Her smile looked really fake because it had been so big. She seemed so happy and said it was the cutest jacket that she could find for me. However, I was oblivious to how much she cared and just rolled my eyes, but I would wear it everyday because I wanted to show Daniel how much I loved how much she tried. I believed that she didn't care when she stopped noticing. I know it was a childish thing to think. Anyway, I was upset, so I had bought a black leather trenchcoat so I didn't have to wear the gray jacket. It looked really cool and I liked the black. But I never had the courage to wear it; I was too afraid of what other people would think of me. Until now.
I looked at the woods. If I went through them again, it would make my guardians worried. I smiled a little. Well, then they shouldn't have kept secrets for me.
Making my way past the trees, I kept my senses on ultra-high alert. The whole Elizabeth chanting thing was getting me on my nerves. I didn't want to be nervous every time I went on a little hike. After a short time, I heard some humming. Is it her again, I thought. Then I realized it was me. On a scale of 1-10, it seemed that my bravery was at a 3.
I looked around me. There were definitely no people, obviously. So I let myself sing. If Elizabeth did start chanting any minute, it probably wouldn't have as big of an effect on me as it did last time if I sang. I probably will be concentrating more on my voice than on hers. I continued to walk more confidently as lyrics rang throughout the forest.
Author's Note: Awesome chapter, yes? If you don't think so, or if you do, please review and make me happy! The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll get IB published!