Chapter 3

The plane was awesome. I mean talk about first class all the way. It was all leather and the seats reclined almost all the way into a laying position. There were even foot rests. There were little TV screens that were in the arm rest. Stan told me that I could watch basically any movie I wanted on the flight. He showed me a little kitchen area that had all sorts of soda and snacks. And the bathroom, well it's not like what you would usually get on an airplane. It was huge! I truly believe I could have been very happy if I didn't have to leave the luxuries of this airplane. "Does everyone fly this nice at the academy?" I asked Stan a little overwhelmed with it all. "Pretty much," he said. "Although if we are taking a lot of students somewhere, we have a larger plane, but it's pretty nice too." I settled into my seat and got comfortable for the three hour flight from Minneapolis to middle of nowhere Montana.

I decided that since my nerves were shot and I knew I wouldn't be getting any sleep on this flight, I would try and calm my nerves with my favorite book. I pulled it out and started reading. Stan laughed. "Twilight fan huh?" I blushed a little embarrassed. "Yeah, I don't know, I kind of have a strange fascination with vampires. I don't know what it is but I can't get enough of Bella and Edward." Stan nodded. "I don't think it's strange, I think it's pretty neat."

When the plane started to descend, I felt like I was going to be sick. My nerves were definitely getting the better of me. Stan placed a hand over mine. "Sam, it's going to be fine. I know you are going to love it here." I smiled at him wondering if he was right and I was just over reacting.

After we landed Stan escorted me off the plane and told me he would be right back. From where I was I could see I was surrounded by woods. It was completely dark out and I could only see the outlines of some tall buildings that looked almost like a castle.

"Samantha?"

"Yes?" I turned around to look into the face of probably one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen. She was tiny. I mean super model skinny with beautiful blonde hair that came to the middle of her back and gorgeous green eyes.

"Hi, I'm Lissa," she said extending her hand to me.

I nervously took her had. "It's nice to meat you Lissa."

"I hope you don't mind my meeting you at the plane, but when Tasha called and told us you were coming, I just couldn't wait. I was hoping you would let me show you around and introduce you to some people."

Wow, what a welcome, I thought. "I would really like that actually."

"Great, I know you have to go and meet headmistress Kirova, but I'll meet you over there in a little while with some of m friends and we can show you around and get you something to eat."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure, I'll see you then." With that Lissa started walking back in the direction of the castle looking buildings.

Stan showed up a few minutes later. "Ready," he asked. I sighed. "I think so."

"Good, and remember everything is going to be fine. You are going to do great things here. Headmistress Kirova is very excited to be meeting you." I smiled over at him. "I'm really looking forward to meeting her as well." I don't think I did a very good job at hiding my nerves though.

As we got into the school grounds my breathe was taken away. I mean this place was amazing. It really was a castle. The school was made of some sort of grey stone in a very mid-evil fashion. There were large window and many of them had stained glass. I don't know how this place could exist and not be known about. I mean it was a freaking castle school in the middle of nowhere. I wasn't really watching where I was going because I was too busy gawking at everything. Before long we were inside one of the buildings. I figure it was probably like the main office because there was a secretary and a few offices and a nurse's office. Well, they call it the med clinic, but whatever, it's still a nurse's office.

I was quite surprised to see someone still at the front desk at this time of the night, but I guess since it's a boarding school someone is here all the time. The lady smiled at me and told Stan that we could go right in. I followed close behind Stan getting more and more nervous.

Headmistress Kirova was and older women who looked really strict an maybe even a little mean. She had beady little eyes that looked as though they were reading me from the depths of my soul. Her nose looked like a beak and I decided right then that I did not want to get on the women's' bad side.

"Guardian Alto, it is so good to have you back," she said with a smile. "Guardian?" I thought. "And you must be Samantha. It is so nice to finally meet you." I shook her hand and smiled back. "It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Kirova."

"Please, Samantha have a seat. I was hoping we could have a little chat before you get settled in. I just wanted to go over a few thins about life here at the academy." I nodded and took a seat hoping this wouldn't take very long.

Kirova looked over at Stan with a look that kind of confused me. It was like she wasn't sure if she should go on. He nodded to her and she turned her attention back to me.

"As you know this is not like any normal school. Our academics are much more focused on physical training, but we also have our regular courses." I nodded at her. She looked over at Stan again looking more nervous that I was. I was a kind of wondering what that was about, but I chalked it up to me not exactly being the most physically fit person in the world. "We also run on a nocturnal schedule. This means our classes are all held at night. And there is a reason for this that you should know." She took a deep breath and looked at me for a moment before continuing. "St. Vladimir's isn't normal because it's a school for vampires."