"I'll meet you guys at dinner," I said as Darius parked the Hummer. Aphrodite nodded as they climbed out and I let out a sigh as I leaned over gently shaking Marla. She stirred blinking her eyes several times before looking at me. "Hey," I said giving her a smile and trying to reassure her. "Darius picked up the stuff you needed. Are you ready to meet your roommate?" I asked as she looked over the seat at the bags that filled the trunk.
"The bed set is pretty cool," she said smiling as she rummaged through the bags. "Zoey?" She questioned, her face becoming more serious, "Thank you."
I nodded, "don't mention it." I grabbed a few bags and got out of the car. "How are you feeling?" I asked when Marla joined me carrying the remaining bags.
She looked at me uncertainly before answering. "I'm fine," she said softly. "I just over reacted, but I'm fine now," she smiled and shrugged as we walked through the grounds. I didn't think she was as fine as she said. She still seemed jumpy and even as we walked across campus I caught her glancing over her shoulder and looking around suspiciously.
"So what was up with Aphrodite freaking out on that guy?" she asked changing the subjects before I could question her any further.
"You saw that, huh? I asked raising an eyebrow. "Aphrodite's just, well, there really is no god way to explain Aphrodite," I said smiling at her.
"Sure there is," Stevie Rae said coming up behind us, "She's rich, kinda a snob, can be pretty cruel, but underneath all the hardness she puts off she really does have a heart."
"Hey," I said smiling at my bff. "Marla this is Stevie Rae. Stevie Rae was my roommate when I first arrived at the House of Night," I explained thinking Stevie Rae couldn't have come at a better time.
"It's nice to meet you," Marla said warmly and I sighed contentedly. She seemed to be opening up, just a little anyway.
"You too," Stevie Rae beamed at her. "You'll like it here, it seems a little crazy at first, but it's really pretty cool, once you start to figure it all out. The classes are great and the teachers are never boring. The uniforms aren't that bad either," Stevie Rae babble. "Plus you've got one of the best mentors," Stevie Rae winked at me.
I gave her a confused expression wondering how she had found out. I hadn't been a mentor that long, only a couple of hours actually.
"News travels fast around here, Z! Especially news like that!" She said giving me a look. "In other words the twins found out somehow and now everyone knows," she smiled.
Erin and Shaunee were experts at digging up juicy gossip. "Well thanks Stevie Rae," I said rolling my eyes.
"No problem," she said in her Okie twang. "Anyways, I'm heading down to the dining hall, you gonna be there?"
"Yeah, give me a few minutes to get Marla settled," I told her.
"Alright. It was nice meeting you, Marla," Stevie Rae said before she left, continuing to walk towards the dining hall.
"She seems nice," Marla said as we began walking again.
"She is," I agreed.
"I think she's right about Aphrodite too," she said casually. "She does seem like she's kind of a snob, but if she was really heartless, she wouldn't have protected you like that."
I stood there a moment taken aback and then burst out laughing. "Marla, don't ever let Aphrodite hear you say that!" I exclaimed laughing so hard I was finding it hard to breathe. I could just picture Aphrodite's face at hearing Marla think she was anything less than a hag from hell. Aphrodite may have a soft side, but she sure as hell didn't want anyone to know it. I looked over at Marla to find that she was giggling too, though I guessed it was more at my reaction to her statement than anything else.
"So what was going on with that guy?" She asked curiously. That was one thing I was beginning to notice about Marla. She had a really inquisitive nature. "Is he your boyfriend?"
I sighed, "No, we use to date before I was Marked and he hasn't dealt well with the fact that my whole life is different, just like your whole life is now different," I explained simply. "Technically as Aphrodite said earlier, we're not supposed to maintain any of our old relationships outside of our immediate family. It just becomes too complicated as you saw tonight. Having a human boyfriend is definitely off limits."
She nodded. "Well you don't have to worry there. My parents were pretty strict and I was never really allowed to date," she said simply. She smile then, "that doesn't mean I didn't try," she said mischievously and I laughed. I shook my head and then led her into the girl's dormitory.
I watched her eyes widen in surprise as I opened the door to the common room. There were several girls sitting around on the couches watching TV from one of the several huge flat-screens. A few of them looked up as I walked in and several nodded respectfully at me.
"Wow," Marla whispered glancing around at the oil paintings that decorated the walls. "This is the girl's dorm?" she questioned, her eyes taking everything in from the antique blue and yellow's to the crystal vases with freshly cut flowers, to the couches and huge pillows that filled the room.
"This is the girl's common room," I said encouragingly. "You'll probably spend a lot of your free time down here, though that's really entirely up to you. The cabinets over there," I said pointing, "have cereal and some healthy snacks if you get hungry and the mini fridge is always stocked with juice and water." (And brown pop! He-he). I noticed a few of the girls were still staring so I projected my voice slightly hoping that I wasn't about to mortify Marla. "Everyone, this is Marla, and I hope you all will welcome her to the House of Night."
A few of the girls murmured their hello's all of them smiling friendly at her.
"Hi, Marla," a third former girl with long red hair and blue eyes said standing up. "I'm Loki," she said approaching us. (I know how her name is spelt but the girl's name is definitely lucky.) I smiled at her as she reached us. "Welcome to your new home," Loki said gesturing around her. I have to say Loki was never one of my favorite people. She almost reminded me of that Elliot kid, just as annoying, just not so lazy.
"Um, thanks," Marla said seeming to have the same first impression.
"If you need anyone to show you around just ask," Loki said smiling and then looking up at me as if she expected a pat on the back for greeting Marla. Obviously Stevie Rae was right and everyone had heard about me being the new girl's mentor. I hoped that Marla wouldn't have to go through the same things I went through when I first arrived, just because of me. The lingering stares, the whispered questions behind her back, everyone wondering what was up with her and if she were special. I smiled at Loki and then looked at Marla who was trying her best not to make a face at this girl. Loki watched my face and then looked back at her too. "Really, my friends and I would love it if you'd join us for dinner or a movie later," loki said beaming at her.
"Thanks, but I think I'm just going to try and settle in tonight," Marla said politely.
"Ok, well, like I said, if you need anything…"
"I'll come find you," Marla finished for her and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at the expression on her face. I could tell she wanted nothing more than for Loki to go away.
"It was really nice to meet you," Loki said and then turning to me added, "Zoey." She bowed slightly and then headed back to the couch she had been sitting on with some of the other girls. I really hated fake people.
"Not everyone here is as obnoxious as her," I said whispering as we went up the stairs.
"Are you allowed to bad mouth people as a High Priestess?" Marla whispered back and I laughed a little shaking my head.
"Are you ready?" I asked as we reached her dorm room. She nodded and I knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in," Jaylynn's voice rang out from the other side. I opened the door and noticed her surprised expression as she realized who had been knocking.
"Hello, Jaylynn," I said smiling at her. Jaylynn was absolutely beautiful. She had pale skin even before she was Marked and if anyone had ever come close to looking like Snow White it was Jaylynn. Her hair and eyes were even the same as the fictional characters. Her hair completely contrasted with her skin, as it was completely black. It fell down around her framing her face and accenting her cheek bones. Her eyes were a colbalt blue and the shape reminded me of small birds kissing the bridge of her nose.
"Zoey!" She beamed as I entered.
"Jaylynn, I would like you to meet Marla. Marla is going to be your new roommate," I said walking over and placing the bags on the empty bed. Jaylynn's dorm was set up pretty much in the same fashion as mine. There were two beds, two desks, and two closets. I remembered how all my stuff had been delivered before I even arrived and felt guilty that I had not been able to do the same for Marla.
"I heard we had a new student join us today," Jaylynn said sitting down on her bed. "And I was thrilled when Neferet told me you were choosing me to be her roommate!"
"Neferet was here?" I asked feeling confused. I had only decided on placing Marla with Jaylynn a few hours ago. Just another classic example of how adult Vampyres know way too much about every decision you make, even when you're a High Priestess in training.
"Yeah, she brought up some clothes earlier," Jaylynn said gesturing to the closet.
I looked over and sighed smiling. The closet was filled with blazers and blouses all with the third former insignia embroidered neatly on the front.
"What's that?" Marla asked looking at the spiral that would rest over her heart.
"It's the mark of the third former," Jaylynn said.
"Third former?" Marla asked looking more confused.
"It's basically the same as being a freshman," Jaylynn explained. "Each 'grade' has a different sign that they wear on their uniforms."
"Oh," she said her face becoming slightly more relaxed.
"You'll catch on quickly," I told her brushing her shoulder lightly as I helped her take out her bedding. "And Jaylynn will help you out."
"Of course," Jaylynn said energetically.
I tossed her pillows onto her bed and then turned back to her. "Alright, Marla," I said looking at her and giving her another small smile. "I'm going to leave you now, but my room is just down the hall if you need anything. I mean it, night or day, you can come and get me, whatever you need," I said giving her a quick hug.
"Thanks," she said softly. I could tell she was a little nervous, but she smiled anyway.
"I'll see you at dinner," I said nodding at them both and then walked out into the hall closing the door behind me. I could already hear them talking and Jaylynn giggling at something Marla had said. I relaxed a little taking in a deep breath and then headed for the dining hall.
