1I looked up into the High Priestess's perfect face.
"Your Marks are beautiful," I stated, without realizing that I'd even opened my mouth. I could feel myself blushing scarlet as she giggled a little, her long, blond hair moving with her shoulders as she giggled. Her hair was very long, now that I thought about it, and hung down just below her waist.
Her Marks were fantastic, better than any of the other vampyres' Marks I've seen here so far. It was a beautiful knot work made of what looked to me like stardust; little specks in the shape of intertwining strings. The specks must have been meant to be stardust because between all the loops which framed her face were intricate and beautifully crafted stars. The sapphire blue of her Marks framing her perfectly toned face added an aura of awe to her already mysterious beauty.
"Thank you, Isabella." She responded, smiling a smile which could have melt the sun. "And now we have some matters to attend to. You sure did arrive here quick all the way from New York." She said, apparently she didn't know about how I'd already been here, but she did know that I was JUST Marked and that my name was Isabella AND that I was from New York.
"Well actually, I was already here. I was visiting my friend, Lyrissa DeLuca, I hadn't seen her in about half a year and I decided to come and talk to her, and then I was speaking with the woman at the desk and then a man walked over and Marked me...so I'm not really prepared to be here..." I felt like I could pour my heart and soul to her. She was so kind natured, and I could almost feel her sincerity when she said,
"That's perfectly fine, dear. We can send for someone to get your things. For now, we've got a lot to do." She smiled that same dazzling smile at me. I felt perfectly fine now. I wasn't nervous, I wasn't scared. I felt so...welcome here. I belonged at this House, and I would be with Lyrissa now, and we could work things out and everything will be fine.
"Alright, first order of business, I'm sure you've heard a great deal about the House of Night, have you not?" She asked. I had. I'd heard plenty of things about vampyres and about their Houses.
"Yeah...I have." I responded.
"Perfect." She said, smiling, if possible, brighter. "Isabella Arless...What a pretty name. Now, Isabella, Once you've arrived here at the House of Night, you have begun your new life. And, at the beginning of each new life on this planet, you are given a name. What do you choose yours to be? It's up to you, Isabella" She asked me. Well hell, I loved my name. It was really cool that I had the opportunity to change it, but I loved it, and so I decided to keep it.
"Um...if it's alright, I'd like to keep my name in my new life." I said, wondering what was going through her head right now. Hoping I wouldn't have to come up with a new name.
"Of course it's alright, I told you, it's up to you." She giggled a little again, wind chimes blowing in the playful breeze. "The next order of business; Your mentor." I needed a mentor? Ah crap, I hoped I got a good one!
"Um...Priestess," I began, wondering what I was to call her.
"Oh! Sorry, Isabella. You may call me Aglaia" I smiled, I knew who Aglaia was. It was the Greek muth name of one of the three Graces. It meant beauty and splendor. It suited her.
"Aglaia, my mentor...how will that be decided? And what is a mentor exactly..." I felt like an idiot, but I really did want to know!
"Your mentor has already been decided on by me, and she will help you with anything you need and will serve as your guide here at the House of Night."
"Alright then...who is my mentor going to be?" I asked, hoping and praying that it was someone nice.
"She walked toward the back of her desk and looked at the computer screen. "The equestrian studies teacher, Professor Eris, has been chosen for you. I'll introduce you to her later on. Next order of business. Your room. We had decided on a room for you after you were Chosen to be Marked, however, you said you were here to visit a friend?"
I heard a whispering in my head. The words were muffled, and I couldn't undertsand them. More words drifted within my mind. I'd always been a curious child, and it was frustrating that I couldn't even understand my own thoughts. Maybe I was just hearing things.
No, I wasn't. Something told me I wasn't imagining this. A soft voice which I didn't recognize drifted into my mind.
Focus, daughter. The voice was motherly, and calm and sweet. I trusted whoever it was whispering in my ear.
You are special, Isabella, you are special, daughter. Focus.
But what do I focus on? Focus on what?
A soft breeze came in through the open window, and my hair blew with the wind in the direction of Aglaia.
Focus. Recognize your gifts
It was a long shot, but I focused on Aglaia. I put her image into my mind and focused as hard as I could. I didn't knwo what I was waiting for, but I trusted the little voice in my head.
After a moment or two, I thought I might be going insane, listening to a strange voice in my head and focusing on nothing.
And then I fely a pang in my chest as I could nearly feel my soul being ripped from my body. I screamed in pain and fell to the floor.
And then my World went black.
When I could see again, I was staring down at my own lifeless body. I didn't appear to be breathing. Was I dead? What had happened to me? That is the LAST time I listen to the voice in my head. And then it hit me:
Where was Aglaia?