Dark Haven Academy

LAMIA

Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.

When they said classroom, I didn't expect a vast room with floor to ceiling windows on one side showing off an elegant view of the countryside. I also didn't expect it to seat only eight students with four stations on each side of the room and a multi-sized smart board at the front. They meant business.

Locating my assigned classroom was easier than expected thanks to the ever so helpful Eleanor as I was assured of the grave consequences if i were not punctual. The place might as well have been inspired by a five-star university hub as my own station consisted of a white plush couch cut into an indefinite shape, a round glass table which i was afraid to touch in case I ruined its fine, pristine condition, a multi-coloured mini bookshelf situated beside my chair and a MacBook sat at one end of the glass. The other room stations were exact replicas of mine only they'd been personalised by their personal owners. We were schooling lavish, to say the least.

I realised that there would be no way to communicate with fellow students in the class as we were set far apart with an aisle separating the left side of the class from the right and even more space separating stations on the same row. Bang at 3:30 pm - after all remaining pupils had filed into the room- in walked an attractive woman who seemed to be in her early thirties. Her hair was strung faultlessly into a tight bun and she simply strolled up to the front - briefcase in hand - before stationing herself behind the large desk. If she noticed our presence, she didn't show it and carried on setting up her workplace. I looked around at the students' expectantly. Once the smart board came alive, she turned to look at us in a way I could only describe as scrutinizing.

"Good afternoon ladies." she said sounding livelier than she looked as the whole class chorused a "Good afternoon, Miss Mellor." back at her. She appeared satisfied as she strolled down the aisle pausing briefly to ask each person a few questions then she finally got to me and words could not describe how intimidating her stare was.

"And who do we have here?" she asked looking down at me as I fidgeted with my fingers avoiding her gaze at all costs.

"I'm Laurel." I replied growing increasingly nervous under her unnerving stare.

"Laurel what? Kitchen? Bananas? When i ask for your name, you give me your full name or I'll assume it's anything at all." she said in her disapproving voice. My cheeks flamed red.

"Laurel silver, Miss Mellor." i said clearing my voice twice, ignoring the smirks directed my way.

"Well then laurel silver, is that the way a young lady sits? Back straight. Legs and crossed and at least try to appear like you're here for some learning." She instructed briskly as I adhered to all her requests no questions asked.

"Would this be your first lesson this week?" she asked after studying me for a few moments. I was about to nod my head but decided that I didn't want a shouting at.

"Yes Mrs Mellor." I replied.

"Well then, I'd like you to forget whatever it is that you've been taught outside of this building because here we teach you about the real world"

"Do you want to know about the real world laurel?" she asked and I felt that the smart thing would be to say no. I mean, the 'fake' world was beginning to look a lot more attractive to me.

"y-yes" I croaked unsure whether that was the right answer or not. She smiled-pleased- nodding her head in approval before stalking off and resuming her lesson.

"Now class, some you would already know this but body language says a lot about a person." The way she had acted afterwards, I would never have thought our little encounter had ever happened.

After the lesson was over i found Eleanor waiting for me outside my room where she walked me to World History. She explained that i was extremely lucky as Miss Mellor hardly said anything to me. Lucky my ass. I couldn't help but think back to her private words to me before I escaped her lesson. "See to it that Miss Trevine has your manners corrected before our next encounter."

World History was the complete opposite from Laws and Regulations. The classroom had sections portraying history from different parts of the world and you never knew if you would be seated in the era of The Great Depression or unfortunately for some, one of Hitler's Nazi Camps. Our teacher a Mrs whose name i couldn't possibly remember was teaching about iconic female vampires disguised as humans during an era when our worlds were yet to mix.

"Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic vampires to walk this earth. Confident? Certainly. Smart? Definitely. We have modules in our scheme of work dedicated to her and if anyone of you come close to what she has achieved in her regrettably short life span then i would be extremely proud-"

A buzzer went off from one of the students which meant that there was a question.

"Yes, Paris?" The teacher asked.

"But Marilyn was murdered before she could reach the peak of her success." Paris recalled toying with a perfectly curled strand of her auburn hair.

"Yes she was, I know you want me to pick your favourite, so Audrey Hepburn would be a good example." The teacher replied earning a delighted giggle from Paris pleased she had gotten her wish.

"The vampire king was practically on his knees for her." Paris whispered to her friend down in the cold war zone.

Even i knew this story, apparently the vampire king did everything in his power to make her his wife. She agreed initially then divorced him soon enough due to his infamous wandering eye. I had actually enjoyed the lesson, until I spotted Paris staring at me as though I was blind with a live chicken on my head.

"YOU!" she cried all of a sudden.

"What exactly are you?" she said regaining her composure and lowering her voice. What was I supposed to say to that? human? Vampire? I couldn't choose one without lying and I sure as hell did not plan on telling her.

"Vampire" I said shrugging my shoulders. But even as the words flew out of my mouth, I knew she wasn't biting any of it as unfortunately for me this was Dark Haven Academy. No one was dumb.

"No you're not." She declared

"You smell weird." she finished

"And it's not human either." She said narrowing her eyes at me.

Her heightened senses were dulled by her lack of fully reaching puberty so she would hardly be able to guess. The bell rang and I ran out in an attempt to escape the nosey Paris. Some people needed to mind their own business.

Alexis was free like me for the rest of the day and we headed to the diner hoping to find burgers rather than the lunch restaurant. She explained to me in detail how the school's system worked.

"Eleanor and I are in group two: star students. We have of course an outstanding star student who is mostly Georgia crowned star of the week every seven days. You can spot us around school with our mini badges as such." she said pointing to the pin that hung on her blazer.it was a shiny gold that held a higher rank and respect.

"Next of course are students in the bronze stage. You and Roxy are currently in that stage as you probably wouldn't know. I'm guessing the school has faith in your looks or previous educational reports or something because they usually put new students in group four which is temporary as they don't know whether you'll last or not. Consider yourself very lucky." She said and i nodded my head in understanding as this i had partly figured out.

"Group 1 students are practically royalty. Known to many as Dark Haven Academy's superstars and the crème de la crème of teenage society you cannot simply bump into a group 1 student on the stairs -no. everything about them is private, you have to seriously earn your way up there and their dorms and classes are in an entirely separate building." She finished eagerly delighted to pour out fresh gossip to an equally eager recipient.

"Do you know anyone who has been sent to group 1?" I ask excitedly, this all seemed strange and foreign to me. I didn't expect her to say yes as judging from what she had said you were more likely to bump into David Beckham in your bedroom than any these students.

"Well Georgia's older sister got moved after her performance at the ball last year-"

"Wait Georgia has a sister? And what ball?" I interrupted confused by the new information. Who would've thought that the seemingly perfect star student with bewitching eyes had a sister who was doing better than her? No wonder she looked so miserable.

"I'll explain about the ball and yes there's another-prettier and bitchier- Tyler in this school." Alexis said then she leaned in close.

"Her name is Lamia." Alexis whispered and I understood instantly why there was such dramatic behaviour.

"Lamia?! As in the half- serpent, blood sucking female from Greek myths?" I asked astonished. Why on earth would you name your child that?

"Word around says that her mother thought the name cute when she was pregnant and honestly its fine because Lamia certainly lives up to expectations."

"Georgia got nicknamed medusa in first year. Get it? Cause Lamia's sister is medusa?" Alexis said laughing. I mean I didn't want to be a party pooper but that was kind of mean.

"Back to balls."

"You know how you have exams and tests in normal schools so teachers know what level or grade you're working on?" she asked pushing my ordered drink in front of me I nodded my head in response.

"Well we have one ball every month. It's like a chance to apply all our skills to a real life situation and when I say that everyone of significant importance in the elite world is there in flesh and blood, I mean exactly that." She said stopping to order more food.

To me it all sounded pretty exciting, I never went to dances or the like of it when my previous school held them. I was either moving to another place or baby-sitting at home-not that I really minded.

"The bachelors or notorious males attending you can simply ignore. They're still going be there in that pitiful stage of their life when you're finally interested. The people however, who you must impress are the already the social icons, influential members of the government or members of the vampire council. These are the people whose son's you want to be seen with and that's never going to happen if you don't impress them.

"The thirsty media will be there-as always desperate to get some gossip for the newspapers and to see if the girls are actually as pristine as claimed to be. Now, headmistress likes to keep them on their toes so don't be the girl that spills the beans." She says offering a smile but I know there would be severe consequences for anyone who crosses the headmistress' path.

"We have these donation card thingies and anyone who talks to us and likes us actually has to sign the cards and donate money to our school accounts and we get to keep it." Alexis said beaming. Knowing Alexis, this would obviously be her favourite part.

"Don't get too excited though, Georgia usually has her bank full within ten minutes then has a trail of the decent guys after her." Alexis stated regrettably.

"Just make sure you get all six of your cards signed because God help you if you don't."

"Headmistress once humiliated a girl in front of assembly because of that." she said quietly, and here I was thinking I had a party to put my feet up and eat food.

"And you said this ball was when?" I ask needing to know how long I had left.

"Next Saturday." She deadpans. And all hell breaks loose.