Chapter One:
Athea sat at her desk in her Vampyre sociology class, thinking back to the summer she spent at the Chicago House of Night since she was Marked in June. Technically she's ahead in her classes since she did summer classes. The majority of third formers are ahead since they were all Marked over the summer. Class sizes sadly sat at a fourth of the capacity since not many have been Marked. Though High Priestess Vasilisa told Athea that there would be a new student coming in today and she expects Athea to show them around.
The door suddenly opens, freeing Athea from her daydream. In walks Head Warrior Sólyom with a boy with sandy-brown hair, standing a few inches shorter than Sólyom's six-foot-two frame.
"Welcome James Stark to the Chicago House of Night," High Priestess Vasilisa says, gesturing for James to take a seat next to Athea. "Please take a seat next to Athea, and we will continue our lesson in affinities. Thank you for bringing him to my class Sólyom." Sólyom nods and leaves the room, and James takes his seat next to Athea.
"Hey, Athea," James says as he looks into Athea's green eyes. "You can call me Stark."
"I'd rather not," Athea glares at him. "High Priestess Vasilisa wants me to explain what Vampyre sociology is about and explain your other classes. Vampyre sociology teaches the history of vampyres along with what will happen as each fledgling goes through the Change. It is the basic class for third formers as well as sword fighting, so we probably have that together. I'm sure Head Warrior Sólyom told you what the four years are and showed you your class schedule. Can you please give it to me?"
Stark hands it over, his fingers brushing Athea's as he passes his schedule to her. Her response is just to glare at him. "Each fledgling is required to take at least one physical activity class to keep us in shape, you have two, and your mentor is William Chensy. It's probably why you were given archery as a class, William is an expert marksman."
"It sounds like you know him."
"Today isn't my first day," That's all Athea was willing to tell him about how long she was Marked. She was able to get him to focus on the last bit of lecture before he leans in and whispers, "So do have an affinity?"
"No, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you, James."
Their eyes meet, green meeting brown, before Stark sighs, and they both return to paying attention to the lecture. At 8:50 class lets out and Athea collects her things and starts towards her next class, Writing when Stark stops her.
"What do you want, James?"
"Can you show me to literature and poetry," Stark asks. Athea looks over at High Priestess Vasilisa, who nods.
"Fine, I'll also show you to all your classes today."
They walk the short distance to their classes in silence. Neither one wants to pick a fight with each other. Though Athea could tell, he noticed the glared other students gave her. With each glare, Athea just stood taller, trying not to show how much it affected her. As soon as she reaches his classroom, she leaves him and wanders into the nearest bathroom. It was empty.
Athea looks at herself in the mirror and lets a tear drop from her eyes. The door opens, and Blair walks in and instantly notices Athea's tears. "Don't even start Blair, you know this is partially your fault."
"I'm sorry Athea, I wish they didn't treat you like this."
"But you don't even try to stop it, do you?"
With that, Blair looks down in defeat, knowing that she never once helped Athea out. Lucetta, Athea's roommate, walks into the bathroom and glares at Blair. "Can't you see you're not welcome here?" Lucetta questions Blair, never releasing her from the glare. Acknowledging that she was not welcome, Blair left. Lucetta walks over to Athea and helps her clean up her makeup. "I heard you got put on babysitting duty with that new fledgling, Stark, or whatever."
"Vasilisa wants me to show him around today, but I know, based on his ego, we won't get along."
"You never know Thee, you might find yourself attracted to that, I mean you did date, Blair."
"I thought we agreed to never speak of me dating her, Etta. Besides, once he hears the rumors, he won't want to be near me."
"Don't sell yourself short. Thee, you're a bisexual queen, and you know that."
"Thanks, Etta. Now let's get our asses to class. We don't want to piss off Professor Frost anymore than we already have."
They leave the bathroom and head into their writing class just as it turned 9 o'clock.
"If you two are late one more time, you'll have to write a 15-page essay on tardiness," Professor Alexander Frost bellows at them while other students in the room laugh at them. "Quiet! Unless the rest of you want an essay on respect."
Professor Frost continues with the lesson, talking about the importance of point of view. Lecturing that too many shifts in point of view can be detrimental or an improvement in a story. It just depends on who writes it. He draws on and on for the rest of the class but assigned them a short story focusing on shifting points of view. Athea tells Lucetta that she'll meet her at lunch since she has to bring Stark to his next class. She walks over to the literature and poetry room and sees Stark talking to Blair. Athea rushes up to them and looks over at Stark, "Ready to go to archery James?" She meets his brown eyes seeing the confusion at her attitude. She looks over at Blair, meeting her blue eyes, noticing the hurt look in her eyes.
"Well, I'll see you around Stark, bye Athea," Blair says as she walks away with her head down, her midnight locks bouncing as she bows her head.
"What was that about Athea," Stark questions as he follows behind Athea towards his next class.
"Just avoiding the most manipulative person. William does not approve of tardiness, just like Professor Frost, if you ever take one of his classes. The only difference is that William will just make you sit out of the lesson, and Professor Frost will make write long essays on a topic he deems you failed at."
"That sounds awful, but why is Blair 'the most manipulative person'?"
"Once you hear the rumors, your entire viewpoint on me will change."
"Does this rumor have anything to do with people glaring at you?"
"Yes."
Stark, getting the sense she didn't want to talk further about it, stops talking. They walk in silence to the open field that archery takes place at. William instantly sees Athea and rushes over to her. "Here to show everyone how it's done, Athea?"
"William, you know if I'm late to Professor Philyra's music class, she'd come out here and beat your ass. I'm just here on High Priestess Vasilisa orders, James Stark is a new fledgling, and I'm bringing him to his classes today." Athea leaves James with William and heads off to her music class.
Professor Philyra started the class off by talking about music theory and the purpose of this class: to work on their musical abilities. Some students are focused on their instruments and others on their singing. Athea is part of the latter. She doesn't want to be a famous singer or anything of that sort.
Athea joins the signing group in one corner of the room. As she's studying sheet music for a song she chose to work on, Professor Philyra takes her aside. "High Priestess Vasilisa would like to speak with you."
Athea nods and leaves the class and makes her way to Vampyre Sociology room, knowing that there's High Priestess Vasilisa would be. The walk only took five minutes since the music room was on the same floor. No class was in session, so Athea walks right in and sees High Priestess Vasilisa there with Head Warrior Sólyom.
"Athearya, thank you for coming so soon."
"Vasilisa, you know I want you to call me Athea."
"Then, you can call me Isa then."
All three of them share a laugh. Sólyom grabs something out of Vasilisa's desk and hands it to Athea. "We wanted to give you this, you've trained hard Athea, and you earned it." Athea unwraps the gift, and inside is a short sword of her very own. Inside the blade was an amethyst, Athea's favorite gem. The handle was purple, her favorite color. Athea hugs both Sólyom and Vasilisa.
"Why would you give me this?"
"When the Summer Games happen in nine months, we want you to be one of the swordsmen competing."
"I'd be honored."
"Now put that blade somewhere safe and get back to class Athea."
"Thank you, Isa and Sólyom." Athea leaves the classroom and heads towards her shared room with Lucetta. She places the sword inside the chest she keeps in her room. Seeing that class is about to end, she goes to the archery ring to meet up with James.
When she gets there, she watches him hit the bullseye again and again. No wonder he is mentored by William.
The rest of the day goes by in a blur. Class. Talk to James. Class. On constant repeat. When Athea's chemistry class ends, she rushes to James' Spanish class. They walk together to their sword fighting class. Athea was excited to see Sólyom again.
Sólyom divides everyone into pairs, telling them to practice the basic attacks and blocks. He had paired Athea and James together. "Don't worry Athea, I'll go easy on you."
"That cocky are you, James? Ever thought that I could beat you."
Athea instantly goes on the attack. Their practice swords clashing against each other. Stark tries to beat her, but Athea presses her blade against his neck. "Yield." Stark does, and they start again. Each time Athea beats him. Sólyom has to approach them and tell them class is over because they were so lost in their own competition.
They put away their blades and walk towards the dining hall. "I'm sorry for being an ass today, Athea."
"It's okay James, I'm sorry for kicking your ass in sword fighting."
"Will, you now tell me how long you've been Marked?"
"I was Marked on June 20th, and I spent all summer here. That's why High Priestess Vasilisa trusted me to give you the tour."
"Can we agree to be better friends?"
"Sure."