A Heretic and Some Vampires

So it’s finally my last year of high school, but I have to move countries for a student exchange program that my parents signed me up for before they died. It’s been really hard without them, but I hope I make them proud this year. My flight just landed at Bloom international airport, and I’m now waiting to get off. After a good 10 minutes, I’m finally off the plane. As I walk out of the gate my flight landed at, I see a whole bunch of people crowding around another group of guys waiting with a woman. The lot of them were surrounded by a few bulky men in black suits. They look like bodyguards or something. I shrug it off and walk past. Just as I’m passing by, I catch a glimpse of the woman standing with the tall guys. I think she’s the woman I’m supposed to live with this year... she has, I think, 6 or 7 sons!! Crazy right! I continue walking past when I hear my name being called. “Miss Phoenix?” A feminine voice calls. I turn towards the voice, and I was right; the woman I saw was my new carer for the next year. “Oh, Mrs Mateo?” I ask to confirm. “Yes. Shall we go and fetch your bags?” She smiles. “Uh... sure.” I nod hesitantly. “And don’t worry about carrying your bags. The boys can do that.” Mrs Mateo chuckles. I giggle at her personality. She’s very bubbly. Mrs Mateo is quite a beautiful woman. She has light purple hair and bright blue eyes. Her skin is only lightly tanned but still a bit pale, much like her sons. We walk to baggage collection with the boys following us close behind, and the men in black suits follow them, with a couple walking in front of us. This family is clearly wealthy, and it would seem very influential. “So, Miss Phoenix, do you have any questions? I was told to expect a call from your parents a few months ago, but I heard nothing until I got the email your principal sent me.” Mrs Mateo asks as she gently rubs her chin in thought. “Oh, uh... I’d rather not bring up my parents, Mrs Mateo.” I say quietly. “Ok dear, that’s fine. If you do want to talk, I’ll be here. Did you have any questions then?” She asks again. “Thank you. I’m assuming these guys are your sons?” I ask as I glance back at them. “Yes, indeed. The one with purple hair is Lorenzo. He’s the youngest. Ian and Zac are twins. They both have green hair. Dominic is the blue-haired one at the front. Dante is the one with pink hair, while Benji’s hair is mint coloured. Last but not least, my eldest, Isaac, obviously he’s the one with white hair.” She informs me. “They look so unique. Why do they all have different hair colours?” I ask, intrigued. “It’s pretty much the only way to tell them apart from each other.” She laughs. “I can’t imagine that.” I laugh. “I was an only child.” “Was? Past tense?” She inquires quietly. “My parents died 6 weeks ago,” I say quietly as I move to the baggage area to collect my bags. From then on, I stayed silent. Occasionally nodding along to what they were talking about. I had 5 suitcases with me. One was for my favourite books. I had 1 for clothes, 1 for school things like school clothes if the school doesn’t have a uniform, and books and pens. One suitcase had what little shoes I had in it along with a few gifts from my grandparents and my toiletries and cosmetics. The last bag I wouldn’t let anyone touch was full of heirlooms and gifts from my parents that I simply couldn’t part with. “Do you want me to put your suitcase in the back? Or did you want to put it at your feet?” One of the brothers, Dominic, I think, asked politely. “If you promise to be gentle with it, it can go in the back,” I say with an eyebrow raised at him. “Cross my little black heart,” Dominic smirks as he draws an x over his heart. I giggle and hand him my suitcase gently. We all hopped into the cars waiting for us and began the drive to their home. I was expecting a mini-mansion because of all the boys, but they live in a f*****g CASTLE. Mrs Mateo gave me a tour of everywhere I needed to see and pointed out rooms I shouldn’t go into unless asked. After that, the boys took my suitcases to my new room, and I was anxious to check on my parent's things. “Let’s go check which room the boys gave you.” Mrs Mateo chirped. I nodded in agreement, and we soon found ourselves with Ian and Zac, the twins. The twins led us through multiple corridors and up a large set of stairs. Finally, they stopped in front of a set of double doors and opened them together before gesturing for me to enter. I walk into the room and my jaw slams to the floor. “This is incredible. It’s bigger than what my house was.” I exclaim in wonder. This room was the most beautiful room I had ever seen—impossibly high ceilings decorated by intricate design, with a large chandelier. The walls were white with crimson designs similar to the roof. The floor was hardwood with a few soft crimson and black rugs here and there. The bed was massive. I swear it could fit at least 8 people comfortably. The linen was black with crimson. Did these people know that these colours were my favourite, or was it just a coincidence? “Do you like it?” Mrs Mateo asks. “I love it. How did you know what my favourite colours were?” I ask as I look around some more. “It was with the information the school sent me from when your parents signed you up.” She replies with a sad smile. “Dad,” I whisper as a small smile graces my lips. “Thank you so much for allowing me to live with you and your family, Mrs Mateo. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.” I offer honestly. “That won’t be necessary, dear. You're our guest here. But thank you, sweetie. Why don’t we let you unpack and get settled in? I’ll come and get you when dinner is ready.” She smiles. “Ok. Thank you.” I say as she leaves. I turn to my suitcase full of my parent's things and start to unzip it when I feel a presence enter the room. I stand up straight and flick my hair over my shoulder to see who is here. It’s Mrs Mateo’s eldest son, Isaac. Isaac has white hair that brushes the tips of his ears. Like the rest of his family, his skin is a pale white, but not enough to be considered Albino. They all seem to have similar eye colours as well. Isaac’s eyes are a deep reddish-brown. The person behind them gives me mixed feelings, though. He makes me want to trust him, but his presence tells me he will only ever hurt me. I pray that isn’t true. Because I don’t think I’ll be able to resist the feeling he ignites within me. “Can I help you? Isaac, right?” I say politely. Isaac doesn’t say or do anything but stand there with his arms crossed over his chest as he gives me a considering look. I don’t know why but the way he’s looking at me gives me chills. He makes me nervous. “Do you need any help unpacking...? Uh, sorry, I don’t know your name.” He says politely as he slowly walks closer to me. “Clementine Phoenix,” I reply. “Clementine. Beautiful. Did you need any help to unpack, Clementine?” Isaac asks, his voice deep and husky. His voice alone made my stomach flutter. “Um, actually, would you be able to help me with my book suitcase? It’s a little heavy for me.” I ask, blushing. “Yeah, sure. Which one?” He asks. I point to the suitcase with my books in it, and he picks it up with ease. “Wow,” I whisper quietly as I watch his muscles flex under the sleeves of his dress shirt, which he had rolled up. “Where do you want it?” He asks with a smirk on his face. ‘Did he hear me?! How?!’ “Just over by the Uh... bookshelf. Thanks.” I answer distractedly. “There you go. Anything else?” “I can manage the rest. Thank you, Isaac.” I thank him before unzipping the suitcase to put my books away. Then, I start pulling them out and placing them alphabetically by the author while keeping the series' together. “You love to read, don’t you?” Isaac says suddenly. “I do. It helps to keep me sane. It’s one of the few ways for me to shut out my suici-“ I pause and sigh, “my difficult thoughts.” I finish. “You’re suicidal?” Isaac asks in a whisper as he looks down at me with sadness and worry. “Please don’t tell anyone. Please. Especially Mrs Mateo.” I beg him. “I won’t tell my mother, but I can’t promise not to tell my brothers. We’re very close, and I can’t keep anything from them.” Isaac says with a sad frown. “As long as Mrs Mateo doesn’t find out, please. She seems the type to try and fix it.” “Yeah, She is.” Isaac nods. “But you can’t fix something so broken,” I whisper. I need a release. “You’re not broken, Clementine. You’re just hurt.” He whispers as I walk to my suitcase of my parent's things. Opening the suitcase, I take out my mum's jewellery box. I set the box down on my bed and take out one of mum’s spelled necklaces. I clip it on as I turn to face Isaac. “Who gave you that?” He asks. “It was my mothers. She had it-“ I stop. “Had it what?” Isaac asks, his tone indicating he knows that it’s spelled. “You know, don’t you?” I say as I hold it. “Know what? That the necklace is spelled?” He says as he leans against the wall with his hands in his pockets. “Yeah.” I breathe out. “What’s your favourite colour?” I ask. “Hmm, probably red or light blue, like the sky. Why?” He asks. I close my eyes and take a deep breath as I think of the blue of the sky. I run my hands over my hair, changing my hair colour. “You just- you're a witch?” Isaac whispers. “Not exactly. I’m a siphon.” I reply. “What’s a siphon?” “Basically, I don’t have powers of my own. So I have to siphon them from others things. Such as spelled objects. So again, please don’t tell your mum. I get that you can’t hide anything from your brothers, but please make sure no one else finds out anything about me.” I beg him. “I promise. I’ll leave you to unpack in peace. It was nice to meet you, Clementine.” “You too.” I smile. After Isaac leaves, I change my hair back and start unpacking.