Dark Night

by Stefany Rattles

  "That is something you must teach her, among other things. As I was saying, yes you have met her. She will join us Sunday morning you know she has not had a student in a while well she is one of the best. In a way we are also counselors to you, like I said we are here to help twenty-four seven... moving on." She paused and looked at some more papers that sat in her large desk.

  I thought that she had a huge room for an office and so little in it, her "office" consisted of a large dark wooded desk, some papers sitting in front of her a laptop that was closed, a large painting that I couldn't tell what it was, a lamp that was the only other light lighting the room beside the lantern that was behind Illyanne and the chairs we sat in.

  "Here is your class schedule. Our time is the same as human's are. We are surrounded by humans, and so our time must remain the same to have some equality, you could say we compromised in some things. The night is our favorite time, but light does not bother us either the heat does. It will not harm you unless is over one hundred degrees, now for the Rules." She handed me a few papers.

  "They are fairly simple the most important rule of all is respect for your elders at all times. Our dress code is not a big issue, we wear our uniforms from Sunday - Thursday__ oh, that also, our week starts Sundays, and It ends Thursdays. Most of the other time if you are involved in other curriculum activities you have other clothing you can wear, other than that most afternoons and weekends you may wear almost anything. Just don't walk around in your bikini or anything even remotely close to that." She paused. "You may leave campus during the weekends, of course if you need to go somewhere during the week you need to ask for permission. Slips are in the front office for that." She stopped talking for a second, when she noticed my necklace. "Virgo? That zodiac is uncommon we still have classes for that sign. Not many students have it that is why we combine it with Libra since it is the closest. Yes, we go by the book technically since I am a goddess, I need to represent a sign. I do. That is why when students are picked we base it on their birth that is how it is." I nodded. " It is fairly simple you will understand as time goes by, Robert will explain to you anything you have questions on when you get some rest, you do look very tired. Oh, sometimes boys and girls share rooms, separate beds of course but our dorms were not built separately and we have about the same amount of boys as we do girls. We trust our students, so far nothing bad has happened, I am telling you this that way you understand us better. Robert will probably need to share a dorm room with you for a while." She looked at Robert. "I am sorry Robert, we had to give your room to someone else, you were gone a while. Perhaps you can share a room with your charge... will it be a problem?"

  "Of course not, Goddess," he didn't smile I knew how he was feeling just like I was, very unhappy.

  "Then you may go, everything is ready for you both enjoy your stay at Dark Night Institute, Miss. Dawney." The ancient but beautiful lady said, as she winked at me and made me feel awkward.

  I nodded, and slightly smiled. We walked out of the room and didn't say a word until we were at the main office.

  "Where's my stuff?" I noticed my things were gone.

  "It's already been taken care of." The lady said, behind her desk.

  "Oh," was all I said.

  Illyanne had given the room key to Robert I hoped he wouldn't lose it. As I followed him, we walked in silence we were on the main hall that led to many rooms. Suddenly we turned and to another hall we went, then we circled around a wall where there were stairs, leading up. Lanterns throughout the castle "institute" where very nice fixtures, but unnecessary ones, I noticed the brighter lights coming from chandeliers all through the hall. We went up and another hall, they all looked the same, I took notes mentally otherwise I would definitely get lost. There were only a few doors, but we went through none we kept walking straight, then he took me through a narrow hall that had no doors. Then, I saw the big door. It was at the very end, because it was the only room in this small and narrow hall it almost blended in with the wall.

  He slid the key-card and the door opened. We went in, and both our mouths fell open.

  "My room wasn't even this nice." Robert said unhappy.

  The room was like our own private apartment, it had a living room area which both beds faced. A very big plasma TV, also a mini kitchen that included a microwave oven, mini fridge and a plug in stove top, coffee/cappuccino machine were all sitting on a counter. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling similar to the one in the office. I kept looking around, I saw both queen sized beds made, one with dark colors, another with bright girly colors, I knew immediately that was my bed. I went to the armoire next to it, when I opened it I saw all the clothes that were hanging neatly on matching hangers. I wasn't even that bad of a neat freak, there were more shoes and more space to put more shoes, which I had. I closed it and looked in the dresser there were more things in the dresser, accessories and etc. I saw a door a little further to my side, and I opened it, flipped the switch to turn the light on and to my surprise it was a bathroom. My own bathroom, because it followed the same pattern the bed did, I hoped Robert had his own too cause I wasn't sharing mine. I opened another door and it was a walk-in closet that had even more clothes, Wow. I wondered how often they bought clothes for their students.

  I saw my luggage sitting on the floor and went to it then automatically started putting things up. I forgot about Robert while I focused on unpacking, but when I finished I started walking out of the bathroom when I saw myself in the mirror. I didn't know what I saw at first it was me, except It wasn't me. It was the new me, maybe a little frightened me...

  I shook it off and walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind me. Robert wasn't in the room anymore so I made myself at home and sat on the sofa, -which was very comfortable-and turned the TV on. They had cable it was a miracle, I had not watched TV in a long time and that felt new. I flipped through the channels, I saw that the world did look normal. I left It on the news, while I went to the mini kitchen and looked in the fridge. It was full of food, I grabbed a coke and looked in the cabinets which were full too. I saw some hot Cheetos and grabbed a small bag too-as I went to sit down and was eating-I was thinking that I had been trying to keep my friends out of my head for a while, but I wondered if they had gotten caught too, or if they were still living in the building. If they weren't, where would they be? How would they be? I was thinking about a lot of different scenarios when someone interrupted my thoughts.

  "You look comfortable." She said in an annoyed tone.

  "Yes. And you are?" I didn't want to be mean but she looked like a trouble maker, either way I smiled.

  "I'm Princess Genevieve." She said with an attitude. She wore a plaid mini skirt with maroon boots, a matching tank top, with a white button up shirt on top.

  "Can I help you with something, I'm new but I could get someone?" I offered.

  "No. I don't need anything... well, maybe one thing." She got closer to me, I was standing and had put my Cheetos and coke down on the coffee table. "Robert is mine. I don't care that he has been assigned to you or whatever but he is mine no matter what. Got it?"

  That was a shock, looking at her and listening to what she had just said... it just didn't make sense but I knew I just had to kick her out before I'd lose my temper which I was trying to work on controlling. "You can’t be going into people's room threatening them you know next time you want to talk why don't you knock? That's what the door is for or didn't you see it?" She had basically threatened me I wasn't going to stand for any more of that especially coming from a little girl.

  "As a matter of fact I did! But that doesn't stop me from walking in whenever I feel like it! And who do you think you are talking to me like that? I'm a princess and you're just a__"

  "No. you're wrong, I think you need to turn your ass around and go, before I make you." I said taking a step towards her.

  "Ladies," Robert said coming through the door as if he had just witnessed everything, which he probably did. I h
adn't even noticed if he was standing there before and probably enjoying all of this.

  "Why don't you tell your little girlfriend to get a life? I don't like either of you. Who knew people were made for each other?" I was literally pissed off and if she didn't leave I would have probably done something to make her leave.

  "Genevieve." Was all Robert said, and the little brat followed. She was a brat, she was one of those people who thought just because she was a Princess she could get away with talking to people like that. Not me though no way, not anymore. She was little I'd say about sixteen and small like a twig.

  I was calming down, as I sat down and kept eating my Cheetos and drinking my coke. When I was done I went to the bathroom and then I watched some more TV, I was tired. Later I went to the dresser and took out the first set of pajamas I found and they were black pants and a light pink shirt, they both had the same dragon design. It was cute. I pulled my hair to the side in a ponytail and then took my contacts off. Before I went to bed, I took my cell phone, iPod, and camera out and put them to charge on the boom box looking thing that charged them all at the same time I forgot what it was called. I brushed my teeth then decided to leave the TV on, as I lied down in my new permanent bed, trying to fall asleep.

  CHAPTER 5

  I didn't know what time it was when Robert came back into the room. He barely made any noise, but I still sensed he was there.

  That morning I woke up early, it was seven and to me that was early. It was the first time in a while that I had slept peacefully, no nightmares no nothing. I liked that I didn't know if it was because I was here, but if it was, it was a good thing. Robert was still asleep and I tried to get up careful not to make any noise but I failed, somehow he heard me move and was sitting up in less than a second.

  "Jesus Christ, can I not go to the bathroom without being stalked?" I asked knowing he was paying very close attention to what I was doing. I put on a pair of pretty slippers and started walking to the bathroom.

  "She's not my girlfriend, never was. We were supposed to be together after graduation by law but not because I wanted her... They do that you know, you have someone like that too. Everyone does, it's just the way it is...although sometimes it changes, if the circumstances change but other times you have no choice, like I did."

  I froze and turned to look at him, he looked like he had a good night sleep and had drunk an energy drink, while I was still waking up. But I was shocked by what he had said and for some reason that made me uncomfortable. "You did? and you don't anymore?"

  "That all depends, in what the King and Queen decide." He started towards me.

  "What did you do to change that?" I sat on the arm of the sofa as he kept his distance three feet away.

  "I bonded with you. It was clearly a mistake, because that was not what I had intended to do. No one is supposed to drink the other person’s blood, unless you have become a vampire and it is with your partner, for when things like this happen no one needs to worry because they were meant to be together and then they are. But things can change before time, and like it has with us, I don't know what's going to happen now." He slowly took a step towards me, his face expression changing completely to something I didn't recognize. "I didn't mean to do that, I was trying to put the venom in you but.... Well, the princess was supposed to be my partner...soul mate she's the daughter of the King and Queen Stuart. If they decide I should be locked up, I will be. If not they'll make us stay together, even if the bond is artificial... That means that we're only united by blood, but we don't really bond, for example we never have... feelings for each other or like each other... Those are the only two choices we have." Lines formed underneath his eyes as he squinted as if a bright light was blinding him, while he looked into my eyes.

  "I knew this was all too good to be true." Something inside me told me to break the awkwardness and the tension that had been building up. "Sure you get all rich, the glam, the power but for what price? Freedom, No. that isn't right and you know don't you? They couldn't force us to be with someone we didn't want to be with. It's... disgusting," was the best word I could think of.

  "Mia no, they don't make you, you do choose. Since you were born, we believe your destiny has been written. We believe that you have a soul mate and that you will be happy and so far all have turned out to be true. What I did was not right, and I will be punished, you well... you will be punished too. It takes two to bond, if you hadn't liked it or even got into it then it wouldn't have happened, but it is my fault in the end." He turned his back to me and walked towards his bathroom but stopped short to glance at me when I spoke.

  "This is insane!" I finally snapped, "how can you walk around and be so," Oh well, what happens, happens." No. we have to do something! Me...You...there's just no way!" I stomped off to the bathroom.

  This is not happening to me. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I couldn’t be with that guy he's such an ass. And.... no way they are making me, I'll leave. Run away, yes. I'll run away. Maybe I would wait for them to trust me enough and then make a run for it. It would be the only way....

  After babbling in my head for a while, I took a shower and wore a long robe. I looked outside in the room, and Robert was gone, good I thought. I went back inside and looked in my closet, I had so much to choose from. Everything was dressy, I was more of a casual person. Even when I had lived in Jacksonville which was close to here, Florida had nice weather, so I decided to wear something nice, but not as dressy, but before I could get dressed the doorbell rang.

  “Doorbell?”

  Lucky I was still wearing my robe, I went to open the door.

  "Hello. This package is for Marissa Dawney." A young man said.

  "Um…. Mia actually, yes it's me." I said as he handed a package to me. He nodded and walked off, the package was large with bright red wrapping paper and light, it didn't say who it was from but I opened it and saw it was... a very old fashioned dress the kind that looked like a Cinderella gown only not for a fairy tale but for a special occasion.

  A note slipped out.

  "Dear, hope you like my gift to you. I didn't think you would have a dress to wear to the ball tonight. -Isabelle"

  That meant Isabelle was here. Good thing she was, I was going to talk to her soon. I left the dress on the bed and went back to getting dressed. I wanted myself to be presentable, I knew I was going to meet a lot of people today, so I had to look nice enough, I went for a simple cocktail dress it was simple because it only had the design of my zodiac. Apparently they took it very serious, surprisingly the dress was not black, it was actually a neutral gold the design was made up of sparkling beads (the pretty kind). It was located on the upper left side of the dress. It had straps, like laces but I liked it. It showed off my back, though nobody would see it because I was planning on wearing my hair down. No. I was definitely leaving my hair down once I had the dress on I could see how much back I showed. It was good length though it flared out some right above my knees.

  That was perfect. I picked a pair of maroon stiletto hills then I mentally patted myself in the back for trying some new colors. I left my hair down but instead of straightening it, I curled it some. (I also had two different curling irons, straining irons, blow dryers, and combs.) I picked out a maroon Virgo necklace and bracelet to match my shoes and I was ready to walk around. It was Saturday, obviously no school today, but I would be starting tomorrow according to Illyanne. I took the room key with me and walked out of the room.

  "Wow. What's the occasion?" Robert asked after I closed the door, I hadn't seen him and he had startled me, by standing close to the wall.

  "I would prefer to wear jeans every day, but I guess they don't like jeans so I'm stuck wearing cocktail dresses and skirts forever right?"

  He sighed. "I guess you're right. May I escort you I would not want you to get lost?" He asked halfheartedly. He was dressed very casual, he wore his hair the same. Button up shirt and dark blue jeans, but still with the dressy shoes, which made
him look completely desirable, I blushed and stopped looking to finally answer.

  "Be my guest. But shouldn't you wear a tuxedo or something?" I wasn't trying to be too mean, but there was just something about him that brought out the attitude in me.

  "I could change, but then you would have to wear that ball gown this early. Sure you don't want that." He smirked and glanced at me.

  "How did you know? Are you snooping around my things now?" I asked annoyed. We were now walking downstairs, once again the halls were empty, I wondered where everybody was.

  "No. I helped Isabelle pick it. Do I have good taste or what?" He smiled to himself, which I had to roll my eyes to.

  "I wouldn't say good taste. Because that's just not my style, but it's not ugly either, I'll wear it." I glanced at him to discover that he was staring at me, then he looked away and his face changed.

  "You have too. Everybody is required, girls wear big fancy dresses. And we get to wear the usual tuxedos, lucky us." He smiled slightly and tried hiding it, only annoying me further.

  "Yeah, not fair," we were now at the first floor. We went through some doors and it was dark. When lights came on, I realized I was in an auditorium. Joy. "What is this?" I asked.

  "Just a regular school meeting, the whole student body is here, let's sit there." He pointed at the last row in the bleachers. I followed him, no one looked at us, everyone seemed to be into their conversations, the auditorium was full of students but it was too dark to see clearly. We sat quietly and then we saw a lady walk up to the stand on the stage.

  "Good morning. I am sure you are all waiting for breakfast. This will only take a few minutes." she said looking down at some papers she was looking through. "We are having the Fifth Ball Room Dance tonight." To that announcement, the students applauded. "We will have contests and serve dinner as usual, some received their clothing yesterday. Some will today, but you will all be dressed appropriately by this evening. We will have a band play for us tonight." She hesitated before she continued, apparently not liking what she was about to announce. "Today's activities will be limited, because of the ball. But go about your day as normal as always. If you would like to volunteer to help out, see me or God Frederick. Thank you, have a good day. You are released." She left the stand in an instant.