'Its our Goddess Isabella.' A voice says from behind me. Startled, i turn around. Its Damon. My heart speeds up a little. 'Shes pretty.' I say, quickly averting my eyes back to the painting. 'We were told she was the first of us; and Original.' He says, walking closer to me. I cant bare to look at him. 'I dont think there is any such thing.' I say simply. 'Our last headmistress; her name was Victoria. She was made by Isabella.' The news catches me off guard and i look at him. He's standing right beside me now. He doesn't look back; continuing to stare at her. 'Where is she now?' i ask, genuinely curious now. My heart beats faster and faster. 'Victoria is dead, but no one knows if Isabella is still alive; shes supposed to be something like 1000 years old. Victoria never used to think so, so I've been told. I came here after she died.' I stand there in silence, processing this information. Maybe it could be true. For all i know, Isabella herself might have turned me in the field back in 1381. I guess id never know... 'I'm legitimately sorry.' Damon says quickly. This takes me by surprise. 'What?' 'Honestly, i dont even know what happened. I never intended to track you; and i certainly never meant to hurt you...' he says, looking at me slightly. He's actually apologising. Bad boy Damon is apologising. 'you're apologising?' He frowns. 'i dont even know why i bother...' he snaps before quickly heading off in the opposite direction. 'No, wait. That's... i just never thought id see the day when youre actually being... nice' i say after him. He stops and looks at me. He says nothing, his face still harsh. He's making an effort; so should i. 'I accept your apology Damon. I know it was an accident. Its really nothing.' 'It was inappropriate. I dont know what possessed me to do such a disgusting thing' he waves his hand towards me. Okay, now this is getting weird... and rude... 'It's fine. Let's just forget about it okay?' I say trying to ignore the tone of his voice. He nods once. 'Good.' We stand there in silence for a moment, awkwardly wondering what's going to happen next. I break the silence. 'Do you know where Daniel is?' 'He's in the common room with the others.' I nod slowly, waiting for him to tell me where that is; he doesn't. 'And that would be...' He points behind me. 'Take the corridor on the left and follow it to the end. The doors will be in front of you' 'Thanks' i say, wondering whether or not i should smile. Things are already awkward. I avoid anymore problems and simply walk away from him. I follow his directions, and sure enough i reach doors on the end of the corridor. I hear talking inside, and i knock loudly. When the door swings open, Daniel is there. 'Eleanor!' he shouts, pulling me in for a hug. I groan. 'Yes Daniel hi. I've been looking for you.' I say trying to break free. 'Come in!' he steps out of the way and i walk inside. The common room is modern. A small kitchen, separated by a half wall; a large black leather L-shaped couch sits opposite a flat screen tv in the living area. I walk further inside, looking around me. 'This is nice' i say, addressing the pack sitting spread out on the couch. 'We have a pool table too' Marco points to a green pool table sitting on the opposite of the room. Glass doors separating it from the lounge. I smile. 'I bet you throw heaps of parties...' i say jokingly. 'We wish!' Daniel says. The door clicks shut. 'Howd you find us?' he asks me. 'I ran into Damon in the corridor.' My statement is followed my several quick intakes of breath around me. I roll my eyes. 'Its nothing. I'm fine. Really, i just want to forget it ever happened...' 'You should stay away from him Eleanor.' Roman says, leaning forward on the sofa. 'He had a lapse. He didn't intentionally...' 'Damon is capable of more than that. He's generally a good leader, but...' Louis interrupts me. 'I'm not talking about this anymore. I'm starving.' I say, cutting the conversation off. 'Haven't you eaten?' Daniel asks me, frowning. i tilt my head. 'What am i supposed to eat, there isn't blood just lying around on the ground is there...' i say sarcastically. Marco laughs behind me. 'You can pick up bottles from the canteen on the oval side of the girls dorm, didn't Stefan show you?' Roman says. 'No, i guess he left that out... speaking of...' i look around me, he isn't there. 'He went hunting. It calms him down.' Daniel smiles a straight line across his face, almost apologetically. 'Hunting for what, animals?' i ask. 'We a human free school in all senses of the word.' Louis says proudly. My mouth hangs open. 'I'm not a bloody vegetarian. I eat people!' i shout, very unladylike. Daniel takes my hand. 'Not anymore, you don't. You drink the bottled animal blood or you starve.' 'I just need to get off the grounds, i only need like, one human a month...' A month is pushing it, but i could do it. I dont enjoy killing, but its my nature; and i accepted that a long time ago. 'We need permission to go off site. And you won't get it to hunt humans.' I groan. 'Are you serious!? I'm going to die here!' i plop myself down onto the couch next to Marco. 'I've drank human blood since i was made, after so long doing so, i cant change now.' I try to get Marco to sympathise with me. He grins. 'I know what youre doing. Not happening.' I groan again. 'I will rip all of your heads off if you dont help me' i stand, demandingly. They all laugh in unison. Marco smacks me on the butt, and i turn and glare at him. 'Go for it, i wont mind honey...' he chuckles. He's cheeky. I almost laugh, but stop myself just in time. 'Just try. Stefan and Damon used to be like you; look at them now.' Daniel says positively I glare at him. Yeah right... 'Okay, look, we'll come with you. We will tackle this together!' he says, like he's finishing a pep talk speech. He grabs my hand and drags me out the door, leaving it wide open as we head toward the canteen. When we arrive at the canteen on the oval, its quite busy. There are more people out here than yesterday, and they all seem happier for some reason. Daniel leads me up to the counter, and we're greeted by a small older woman. 'What are you after love?' she asks Daniel nicely. He shoots me a quick smile, before looking back at her. 'Well have one of everything thanks.' The woman gives us a look, like were crazy. We are... The woman puts 4 clear glass bottles on the counter. They all look identical, except the labels are different coloured. Daniel scoops them up in his arms and walks away, and i follow him to the Rotunda. As we sit, he pops the metal top off each one. 'Okay, the schools become more money efficient over the years; they used to drain animals into bloodbags...' My stomach churns at the thought. '...Now, we recycle the bottles. So dont throw them away.' He says handing me a bottle with a green label. There's nothing written on it, its just green. I sniff the red liquid inside and almost gag. 'This is revolting!' I say. I try to give the bottle back to him. 'Shush! All the students hear frown upon non vegetarians...' He pushes my hand away. 'Just try it.' I look at the bottle in my hand. 'I already know i wont like it...' 'You need to be open minded okay.' I sigh. I really am thirsty. I bring the bottle to my lips, and let a small amount of blood into my mouth. I swallow it quickly, but not quick enough to not taste it. I splutter, sending the remnants over the decking of the rotunda. 'That's horrible! What the hell is that?!' 'Deer' I internally scream. 'I cant do this! This is unnatural!' i stand up quickly. 'You need to try the rest, if you cant stomach any of these, you really will starve.' I look at him. He's right. He hands me another bottle with a blue label. 'This one is...' 'No i dont wanna know!' i interrupt. I sip it and swallow. That ends with the same reaction as the green labelled one. 'Okay okay, not that one...' Daniel picks up another-yellow label this time; Then another-black label. Each one i sip and spit all over the place. They are all as disgusting as each other. 'Maybe if you drink from the vein...' Daniel stands, leaving the bottles behind and drags me along behind him back towards the main building. 'wait what?' 'Maybe you just need to hunt and kill for yourself; its different that way.' He says, pulling harder and harder. I force him to stop. 'No! Daniel, i cant! i have no idea how to do that, and i dont want to.' 'Do you want to starve?' I stare at him. 'It's the same as hunting a human; except your prey sometimes fights back. It's simple, we'll teach you...' Before i know it I'm back in the common room with the pack. Daniel is running around super fast, and i have no idea what he's doing. 'What's going on? Howd it go?' marco asks. 'Well, not too great...' At that moment, Stefan walks through the door. Everyone stops; and Stefan frowns, confused. 'What's going on here?' Daniel looks around before clearing his throat. 'Well. Were taking Eleanor hunting.' He says wearily. 'Take her to the canteen; thats ridiculous.' He says, heading toward the kitchen. 'She cant keep any of it down. She doesn't like it...' 'I eat people.' I say bluntly; saves everyone sidestepping around the fact. Stefan raises his brows. 'That, i didn't know...' he looks shocked. He runs his fingers through his short spikey hair. 'Okay, well thats an issue...' Things stay quiet for a moment before Stefan speaks up again. 'Okay, ill take you off site.' He says, before quickly walking up the stairs near the kitchen. 'What's up there?' i ask Daniel. 'Our rooms...' They all live in here. '..."warrior" thing' he continues, he mustve known i was confused. After a few minutes Stefan returns. 'Lets go, the sun will be gone soon.' Stefan heads towards the door. 'Ill tell aria then catch up.' Daniel say as he follows along behind. 'No Daniel, stay here. Ill take her. Youll be distracting.' Stefan says.
Daniel nods, but he looks hurt. I smile apologetically at him. 'Good luck' he says, just before the doors close behind us.