Suck and seeded

City of mist

The sound of the beeping clock pounded her head, forcing Robyn to open her eyes. It was still so early, and yet the sun’s shine already peaked through the curtains.

She groaned, wiping her face because of the sudden tinge of the light peeping from the curtain from her fortieth floor window.

After slamming the alarm shut, she makes her bed before heading straight for her bathroom. Once done, she changes into a pair of jeans, a white shirt, and a jacket before walking out of the room.

Unlike her home, aunt Marcy’s unit was a three-bedroom pad. The receiving area was enormous enough to accommodate several people. With a balcony overlooking the entire city of New Nephtshire.

Of course, there wasn’t much view there, except all those giant buildings with pointy tops, typical of a Victorian style architecture. Though the place seemed like it came out from an odd goth novel, the cars and populace walking below said something else.

She got greeted by her aunt who just finished setting up the table, already dress in her pencil skirt, coat, and black high heels.

“Had a good night’s sleep?”

Aunt Marcy immediately filled a bowl of cereal for her, along with a glass of orange juice, before she can even take a seat.

“Yes, good morning.”

Robyn’s eyes could not stay still, raising a brow at the selection of food on the table.

Cereal, salad, juice, an array of fruits, nuts, and cheese, nothing else. She swallowed hard, feeling her throat turn dry, wincing that there’s not an ounce of meat there.

“I completed all your applications. You shouldn’t have any problems with your transfer. All you need to do is show up at school.”

Aunt Marcy put down a folder in front of her, smiling as she pushes the thing towards her.

“Thank you, aunty.”

Robyn swallowed hard, having the pang insider her chest. She hadn’t even gotten used to the place, and she was being thrust into a new environment again.

“Your documents, uniforms, and other necessities are over there.”

Aunt Marcy gave her a wink, pointing to the nearby coffee table with folded clothing and a backpack.

“And I also drew you a map, just in case you have a hard time finding the address.”

She then taps on the stack of papers.

“Could you give me a ride instead?”

Robyn purses her lips, awaiting that somehow she does not need to go alone. Especially since she hadn’t gotten familiar with the area.

That got a loud, playful laugh out of the woman, fanning a hand like she had said something funny.

“Oh no, girl. You wouldn’t want that. That’ll ruin your entire independent girl vibe. And I know how you youngsters are with your image and all.”

Aunt Marcy says after holding on to her chuckle. She seemed quite certain of her notion.

Robyn’s brow twitch, she did not understand where that came from, but it seems that is how the woman sees in her.

“Yes, of course.”

She forces a smile.

She wasn’t that far off, except for the part where she’d want to keep a persona of sort. She never cared for such vanity, unbothered by it before.

But the change in care and attention being given to her was so new she did not know how she should react.

“Anyway, here’s your card. In case you want to buy anything, it’s on me. Just don’t max it out until next month.”

Aunt Marcy takes out a black plastic from her purse, slides it onto the table with a playful grin. Before turning around, she throws a meaningful wink at her, then proceeds on her way.

“That’s kind of you.”

A grimaced appeared on er face, unable to hold on to the emotions swirling inside her chest. She can’t hide her disappointment, not expecting to be treated like that.

Though she didn’t mind the freedom, the lack of attention to care and consideration for her own thoughts and notion seemed non-existent.

“I’ll see you later.”

Her aunt waves farewell, not bothering to glance back. In seconds, the woman was out of the door, leaving silence all over the place after the loud thud and click.

Robyn swallows hard, having that bitterness in her mouth. Her appetite did not seem to be there, but she still took a few spoonfuls of the cereal.

She cleans everything afterwards, before turning her attention to the stuff laid on the coffee table. A three-piece uniform. A jacket, a polo shirt, and an above knee-length skirt.

A brow rose from her, picking up the long socks and doll shoes prepared for her. She can’t help shake her head and frown, letting out an awkward smirk because of her aunt’s fashion sense.

Thankfully, she had several jackets reaching up to her knee, enough to cover parts of her that her skirt wouldn’t. It was also lucky that the place was quite frosty, making her additional outfit perfect for the cold temperature.

The entire city was already basking in the sunshine when she stepped out of the building. But everything remained chilly, all because of the thick white mist scattered everywhere.

The environment made little sense to her, because of how clear the sky was.

The condense moisture lurking around gave the place this mystical effect, adding to the beauty of the streets.

Robyn took a deep breath before walking out into the cold city. She had to gather her courage to face things head on, especially now that she was far from her family.

With renewed strength, she strolls to the pavement, only fishing out the piece of paper her aunt had made for her once she got to the other side of the road.

Though the sketch resembled a child’s drawing, it wasn’t that hard to read thanks to the landmarks written in it.

The rest of her stroll was but a breeze, as she enjoyed the scenery as much as she can in order to calm her nerves. She was so enthralled with looking all over the place that she got taken aback when she finally reach her destination.

A frown was quick to form on her face, deepening as she squinted to get a better look at the area, then at her makeshift map and then back.

It was the cathedral that she’d seen yesterday. She ended up doing a turn, eyes widening upon glancing at the hobby shop across that confirmed it was the same and exact place.

Only then did she realize the design of her uniform, slapping her face in utter frustration from her own lack of awareness.

With a quick glance from left and right, she heave a sigh, seeing nobody was there. She checks her watch. She was an hour early, which would explain it.

She hurries into the gates, only nodding at the mist covered shadows of the guards on each side. She slowed down midway, squinting upon noticing how the fog became thicker as she got deeper into the school grounds.

She could barely make out anything, that she ended up bumping into someone, when a figure suddenly appeared right in front of her.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry.”

Robyn gasped after nearly losing her balance.

Her entire body froze from having brawny arms wrapping around her shoulders, stopping her from falling. Her eyes grew wide from the sudden rush of heat on her cheeks.

It was so difficult to move, she could not distinguish if she bumped from the back or front of the person who grab hold of her.

The mist made it impossible to see anything, especially with the shade of those giant trees adding to it.

“Are you all right?”

A deep voice asks.

Robyn swallowed hard because of the sudden lump that appeared in her throat.

She got a tingly sensation inside when she saw her savior.

Dark set of eyes stared straight at her, making her insides twitch. His brush up hair complimented his square shape face and nice jawlines, but what truly got her was the smile being thrown her way. As the gesture showed a perfect set of teeth, showcasing a noticeable long fangs.

“Yes, thank you.”

Robyn stuttered when the guy finally let her go. Slowly letting her feet touch the ground.

It only broke her daze when their skin brushed, awakened by the icy sting from rubbing against each other.

“Wow, your hands are freezing!”

A giggle escaped her surprise at the sudden jolt of coldness seeping through her. She can’t believe someone can feel like that. It was as if she brush on a piece of ice from that simple tap.

“Oh, sorry about that. It’s the morning dew. It sticks to you when you stay outside for too long.”

The fellow chuckled, rubbing his hands together before blowing a breath onto it. Before shivering while he hugged himself.

“Really?”

Robyn looked at her own palms.

Her eyes grew wide because of how the vapor all around them stick to her skin. But it quickly dissipated afterwards, leaving only droplets on her.

“I’ve never seen your face before. You’re new here, aren’t you?”

The man’s expression lit up, the line on his lips growing wider.

With a nod and a half-smile. Robyn answered the question, causing the man to let out an amused laugh.

But before they could say anything else, several murmuring sounds got closer to them, echoing through the wind, along with each step.

Robyn’s eyes were keen to search for where it was coming from. Confused by the lack of footsteps accommodating the noise.

She nearly screams, jolting back, seeing someone standing behind her. If it wasn’t for the guy catching her, she’d have a trip.

Her actions caused the individuals to laugh aloud, their voices seeming to pierce through her insides, as if it was clawing at her gut.

But all she can do is gulp the dread that crawled onto her spine, swallowing the fear that grip at her. There was something off with two of the people who stood in front, though she can’t fully grasp what.

“Leave her be.”

The man hissed, throwing the two female a murderous glare.

But instead of backing away, both of them cackled.

Robyn ended up staring at them. They didn’t seem far from her age, but the way they handled themselves, their movements, and how they spoke carried this air of authority and power.

Though pale, they did not seem weak or anything. Rather, they look like porcelain dolls, with their curly hair, red lips, and powdery white complexion.

“Oh, Arthur, always so uptight.”

The one at the back wave a hand, sighing after rolling her eyes at the guy.

That got Arthur’s face twisting. He moves forward to shield Robyn, squinting with a sharp murderous gaze towards the females.

“Watch your tongue, Lucia.”

He snaps with gritted teeth.

Yet the youth did not flinch, but let out a wide, taunting smirk.

Confused and surprised, Robyn couldn’t join in on the conversation. A voice at the back of her mind told her it was not the right time.

“Oh my. A transfer student.”

The girl in front claps her hands upon realizing that. A genuine smile appearing on her face, along with a sudden glint in her eyes.

“Hi there.”

It was only then that Robyn found the courage to wave a hand, together with her greeting, seeing as how the girl’s expression lit up.

But their exchange got cut short when more people emerge from the mist.

Two young men emerged. The second pair was more typical than the first, but still had the same beauty and paleness. Not letting out any foreboding aura or authority, unlike the others there.

Besides that, they were wheezing and sweating like crazy, almost bent down from hand on their knees as they catch their breaths.

“Mistress Veronica! Why’d you run off?”

One guy groaned, his face twisting from the lack of oxygen as he tried to speak.

It was clear they came running there, as Robyn had caught the sounds of their heavy footsteps a while ago.

“Lady Lucia, forgive us. We couldn’t keep up.”

The utter whined. The poor fellow now sat on the pavement, unable to carry himself anymore. This apology only received a roll of the woman’s eyes.

“Shush, all of you. Do you not see we have a newcomer?”

One wave of Veronica’s hand and the others turned silent, to the point they even held their breaths to not create a single noise.

That prompted the young woman to smile, letting out a distinguishable set of fangs as she giggled.

“And whose family do you belong to?”

The girl named Lucia raised a brow, eyes turning sharp, while giving Robyn a condescending gaze.

“That will be enough, Lucia.”

Veronica quickly snaps her fingers, breaking the ominous glance and tension building up because of that. Though that did not seem much, to end the hostility being given to Robyn by Lucia.

It was only when someone else arrived everything changed. The animosity in the air dissipated the minute the person came out of the mist.

It was the guy with the angelic face that caught Robyn’s attention on her first day there. With the individual being in front of her, she ended up gaping in awe at the fellow.

Unlike from afar, she could get a better view of the man’s facial features.

From his sharp jawlines, to his sleepy like eyes, up to the thin lips and perfectly shape nose. The guy screamed beauty. It was as if she was staring at a model from a magazine cover.

“What’s with all the ruckus?”

The guy’s voice was deep, raspy, causing her heart to skip a beat just from hearing it.

It was Veronica who went to the fellow, grabbing hold of the person’s arm with such glee as she pulled him closer to them.

“Oh, Vladimir. Look what we have here.”

The woman says while tippy toeing, pointing at the gawking Robyn.

She suddenly lost her voice, as the drumming inside her chest continued to get stronger with each passing moment. All because of that individual who now gave her a meaningful stare.

“Who’s she?”

Vladimir’s brow furrowed. His gaze seemed to burrow through Robyn’s very soul.

“Sorry, we didn’t ask your name.”

Arthur finally joined in, seeing that the heavy situation had disappeared among them because of the newcomer.

That somehow snap Robyn back to reality, shaking her head to gain her wits from the sudden daze she was in.

“I’m Robyn. Robyn De Pater.”

She blurted out without a second thought, swallowing hard because she nearly stuttered upon seeing how everyone there had their eyes on her.

Each of them had this differing glint in their gaze, ranging from amuse, angry, and gleeful at the sight of her. It made her feel like she was shrinking, not being used to all the attention they were giving her.

But her sense of elation disappeared, replaced by a sudden rush of fear when she saw how the group’s eyes seem to change. It was only for a second, but she was certain it blinked red.

Once again, she became confused when terror that clawed at her subconscious, causing her to be overcome by it.