Away
Chapter Three
I blinked, my eyes heavy and gritty. I didn't recognize where I was, but I was 99.9% sure that this wasn't an airport. There were people around me, and I was laying awkwardly across a chair.
"She's awake." Oliver commented with a smile in some unfamiliar adults directions.
"Yeah.." I whispered, slightly frightened at how weak my voice sounded, "Where am I?"
"Well we planned on making this more formal and breath-taking, but you were the one who fainted." Oliver beamed, "Welcome to St. Vladimir's."
My eyes widened as I realized how huge it was. I hadn't noticed while I was waking up, but it was bigger then any place I'd ever seen before. And it was so beautiful.
"Oh my..." I murmured, sitting up. It was a bit of a struggle, and there was a lingering weakness in my movements. I felt pathetic, but it didn't stop me from being so excited to explore St. Vladimir's.
A woman pressed a hand to my forehead, feeling my temperature, and I sat perfectly still. I was slightly uncomfortable at a stranger touching me, but I also felt like I trusted them.
"She's not too warm." The woman moved her head away from my head, and I allowed myself to move again.
Oliver, who'd been kneeling near my head, rose to his feet and I was slightly shocked when I remembered how tall he was. "So there's no reason for her to be laying here." He offered with a nod.
"Do you think you can walk properly, Phoenix?" Stan Alto asked.
I frowned, "I don't even know how I fainted." I remembered dully a throbbing pain in my head.
"You kept saying that it hurt and then you just passed out." Oliver said with his usual care-free tone.
"Oh." I murmured.
"We were hoping you'd tell us what happened, actually." The woman smiled, "But if you don't know it's fine. Mr. James.. Can you show Phoenix around and to her room? Her luggage is already there.."
Oliver nodded, seeming slightly uneasy about being referred to as Mr. James but he helped me get up anyway.
I thanked him, and the people who had gathered around me backed off slightly.
"Tell me if anything happens." Stan said in a low voice.
"Yes, Guardian Alto." Oliver replied, and I made a note to use Stan's formal name in the future. Everything about this place was strange.
Oliver began walking down one hallway, and gestured for me to follow.
I wasn't really paying much attention to what he was saying, I just let him lead me while he explained where everything was. It was such a huge place.
"So, this here is the upper school's quad." He was saying, "All the classrooms are over there and the gym and dhampir dormitories are opposite them.. You shouldn't need to go to the dhampir dorms much. You might need to go to the gym one day.. I guess. But the moroi dormitories are on that end, and the office and admin are on the other side. There's a lot more around here.. But I'm sure you're already freaking out just at this."
I nodded, "You got that right."
"Montana is kind of in the middle of no where." He commented, "So even though this place is huge, it must be nice knowing that it's kind of like your old home."
"It is." I hadn't really thought of it like that before, "Where to next?"
"Wherever you want.. If you don't want the rest of the completely interesting tour of the school, I can take you to your room."
I smiled eagerly, "Will my cousin be there?"
"I think so.." He replied, "You're rooming with her right?"
"Yep."
"Well she'll probably be there."
I was genuinely excited to meet my cousin. It was the main thing about the academy that I'd anticipated. He led me to the Moroi dorms, and I looked at the carpet rather then where we were going.
He stopped and knocked lightly on the door he'd stopped by. We waited in silence for the person inside to open the door. No one did though.
Oliver sighed, "She mustn't be in there then. She could be anywhere, really."
I was disappointed, as he unlocked the door with a key he'd pulled from the pocket of his leather jacket.
With a small effort, he pushed the door open. I wandered in after him, and saw my bags on one of the beds. I bent over to pour over its contents, and double-check nothing was missing.
"Miss Zeklos." I heard Oliver say.
I looked up, but he wasn't talking to me I realized with a puzzled look.
On the opposite side of the room, a petite girl was slung elegantly on a chair in front of a dresser. The dresser was covered completely in little bottles of nail polish, hair spray, head bands and moisturizers.
She didn't turn, her white-blonde hair was all I could see. Her reflection in the mirror showed perfect features and generously coated pink lips.
"Oliver." She purred, her voice soft and sweet. It was the kind of voice you'd imagine an angel having with all that purity. It was probably just me imagining things- but I thought I picked up an edge of bitterness in that smile.
He nodded, "I didn't know Phoenix was your cousin."
She spun around, facing me for the first time. With a click of a stiletto heel she looked over me once.
Oliver introduced us, "Estella, this is Phoenix. Phoenix, Estella."
Estella was gorgeous. Her full lips were in a permanent pout and her blue eyes were crystal clear. My eyes were a dull and boring blue in comparison to her icy sparkling ones. Her straight hair spread down her back to below her shoulders and she blinked at me with heavy dark lashes. Her cheeks possessed a rich rosy tone.
"You're not what I was expecting.." She said simply.
"Oh.." I said wanting desperately to disappear. Her clothes were stylish and chic. The soft turquoise silk of her shirt was tucked strategically into a black high-waisted skirt that hugged her skinny figure. I felt my face flush as I stared at my boots, jeans and white sweater.
She glanced from Oliver to me, "You're so cute." She murmured to me.
"I'd better let you two get to know each other.." Oliver said nodding, "Talk to you later."
"See you Oliver." Estella said throwing him an effortless smile.
He was gone within a few seconds, and Estella dropped onto her white lace bedspread.
"Listen carefully to what I say." She kept her eyes focused on me whilst still seeming distracted and reserved at the same time, "If you haven't established this already, I'm not your friend. I'm not a touchy-feely cousin who's going to baby you like you've been babied all your life. You won't interfere with my friendships, because it won't end well for you. They're off limits to you, and I'd prefer it if you slotted yourself into a group you belong with, rather then clinging to me."
Her words were cold, harsh, bitter. It was frightening me to realize how quickly her mood had changed. She'd been quiet and sophisticated when Oliver was here, and now that we were alone she was like a cat. She still looked perfectly elegant, surrounded by white, as she struck me with each blow.
"Are we clear?" She asked examining her nails.
I nodded, astounded , "Crystal."
"Good. I'm sure we'll bear with each other then." She pointed to the bed where my bag was, "That's your side of the room. We aren't swapping, no exceptions."
Everything of mine looked drab compared to her's. Her bed was elaborate, adorned with white lace and silk draped across the top of it. Neat photos with black bordered frames contrasted with the snow white of the walls. Estella had found her place at St. Vladimir's.
"Yep, that's fine." I responded, dumping my bag on the floor beside my bed. I couldn't be bothered to unpack yet.
She didn't bother reply to me as she organized her pillows to her taste. I laid on the bed, feeling cold and unwanted. I hoped that there would be people at St. Vladmir's who were.. nicer then Estella. I closed my eyes, almost drifting to sleep when I heard the door to our dorm creak open.
"Stell!" There was a shrill cry, that made me blink in shock.
A beautifully tanned girl ran inside and embraced Estella into a friendly hug.
"Nora.." She replied, smiling.
The girl, Nora, gestured to her long brown hair, "Do you like it? I just got it done by Elysse. She's amazing at hair styling. I think it makes me look taller."
Estella touched it fondly, "It's so pretty. It does make you taller." She was ignoring me subtly.
The other girl hadn't even noticed me, "Thanks Estella."
"Are you a Dhampir or a Moroi?" I interupted curiously.
The two girls fell silence, and Estella was shooting daggers in my direction.
"I'm a dhampir." Nora said frowning, "Can't you see my skin-tone? Who is she anyway?"
"Just some new girl." Estella responded, "Don't take it personally."
"I'm not planning on it." Nora said rolling her eyes.
"Disappear." Estella mouthed to me with a incredulous scowl.
I slipped out the door without another word from either of the teenagers. I walked around the school blindly after that, not intending to go anywhere.
It was then that I first saw the dark eyes of a person like no other.
