Chapter 6:

For the next month, I got used to life in Gloria's Academy for Enhanced Education. That was the cover she went for so that the rest of the world wouldn't suspect anything about vampires. The textbook also mentioned that there were many other such academies around the world.

Everything I was learning stunned me. I had no idea about the extensiveness of this whole vampire issue.

My life slowly started to have a pattern and normality to it. I would wake up at 8 every morning, go to work, come back to the academy, and then sleep for 2 hours before heading to my classroom where I would have my lesson with the ever-annoying and narcissistic Rick. After my daily torturous lesson, I'd head to the dining hall and sit with my new-found members, with whom I felt more and more like I belonged. After, the only thing on my mind would be to get to my bed as fast as possible and crash.

It wasn't an interesting lifestyle but I preferred this to anything else. On the first day, when I went to my workplace, I expected some comments or questions being raised when I changed my address. "Did you finally realize you were too stupid? Is that why you're finally going back to school?" Jake taunted.

"No matter what, I'll always be smarter than you." I countered before sauntering to my office and getting to my work.

The only person who seemed to show anything was Jake and since he was just a pest to me, I didn't face any problems.

One day, I was listlessly waiting at my desk for Rick to come. The door opened suddenly with a bang and Rick burst in in a frenzied hurry. Grabbing my arm and grinning widely, he rushed me out of the class. My arm was tingling from having his hands on my skin and I started breathing heavily. "Where are we going?" I helplessly let him drag me around the academy to who-knew-where. I repeated my question but received no answer. Finally, we reached a wooden door with carved symbols on it. As I stared at it, I felt a feeling of foreboding. Something's not right here. I shrugged the thought away. There was no way something would be wrong in a place like this. Gloria's Academy was perfect in practically all ways possible. Perfect atmosphere, flexible timings for everything, and the most perfect motherly figure, what more could I possibly ask for to make this more perfect for me? Maybe… getting out of this whole mess?! Well, other than that, there was nothing else I could ask for.

Before I could try and figure out what was making me so queasy about this place, Rick pulled me inside. The feeling of dread grew. "Arisa, today you will be witnessing one of the most important things in a vampire's life, something that a high vampire priestess is required to take part in." Rick stared at me intensely. "This is your first test to determine whether you really ARE the one chosen to be our high vampire priestess." He pushed my arm away and stalked off to the front of the room. What is wrong with him?! I never did anything to him but does that stop him from tormenting me? Nope.

Fuming, I walked over to stand beside him. I looked around and noticed that the room was lit by thousands of candles. In the center of the room, there was a small round table with 3 vials full of liquids and a small, sleek book. The Book of Ignox. I remembered learning about it in one of my lessons. It was a book that was supposedly written by the vampire goddess, Ignox who handed it over to the first vampire being to walk this earth. The book contained the way of life for vampires to, well, live. The text can't be destroyed as it has magical properties that enable it to last forever. The book is written in the ancient language, Ixnior. Only the high vampire priestess knew it. Ixnior gave the speaker the power to control and use powerful magic unknown to any for either good or evil. They would be practically unbeatable. It always surprised me on how much importance and the impact one language can have on a whole nation of vampires. Coventry. I corrected myself. The word for a huge number of vampires is Coventry.

As I stood there, waiting for whatever was to come, I couldn't help but notice that the atmosphere was very dark and intense. This was not how I had imagined it to be when I had read it in the textbook. The ritual was one that was supposed to be warm and filled with light; this dark and intense pressure wasn't supposed to be here. It was one of joy and filled with everything good, not one so…evil.

What do I know?! This is all new to me. Gloria is handling this so it's definitely going to be right. Still, the feeling wouldn't leave me.

The pressure was pushing against me. I felt like I was being suffocated. I needed to get out. My instincts, my brain, everything was telling me to get out.

Before I could say anything, a small side door opened. In walked Gloria, holding the hand of a vampire that was obviously terrified of what was going on. As I looked at the fledgling, which is what they call uninitiated vampires, I saw a bloodlust in his eyes. They had deprived him of blood for a very long time. Isn't that hazardous to the vampire's health?

I had no time to ponder over these things. Gloria turned to face me and announced aloud "The initiation shall begin."