Ravens' Blood Academy 1: A Vampire Historia Paranormal Fantasy

by Scarlette D'Noire

  I popped my eyes open to see them staring in my direction, yet they all quickly closed their eyes when Deb spoke again.

  The thought of them picking up on my emotions caused a lump to form in my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to dissipate the knot tightening in my stomach, but my anxiety persisted. Ezzie lightly brushed her hand across my back, soothing my raw nerves.

  “I’d like y’all to let all thoughts float away, freeing your mind. No struggle. If something pops into your head, imagine a river below you where your thoughts drop and are picked up by the current, drawing them away from you.” The rhythmic sound of Deb’s voice eased the tension in my neck and shoulders. I slumped down releasing the weight of my stress off my back.

  “That’s right continue to take nice and slow breaths. Raw potential is filling your lungs. Limiting thoughts and worries release as you exhale...In and out...in and out.”

  I rolled my head from side to side breathing in peace and tranquility and exhaling my troubles willing them away.

  “Now focus in on the energy in the room. Allow the pores on your body to become aware of the swirling mass of thoughts and ideas floating around you. Past, present, future all here together.”

  Even though she’d lost me on that statement, I relaxed my mind and tried not to let my normal thinking patterns limit my abilities. Deb continued to guide us into a deeply relaxed state and for the first time since I’d found my aunt’s crazy book, I felt secure.

  “As your body becomes more aware of the energies in the room, try to separate the various vibration levels. If you don’t fully understand the concept, think about gut reactions you've had in the past. This is your intuition and that will help you now with this exercise.” Deb’s voice seemed to move toward me.

  A warm sensation traveled the length of my back before I realized she stood over me, grazing her fingertips up and down my spine.

  “Allow your intuition to see. This isn’t something you have to think about. Your soul already knows how to do this. All you have to do is breathe and believe. Now try to untangle the energies by vibration level.”

  She repeated the words ‘just breathe’ a few times as the room fell completely silent. Crickets outside the barn chirped loud and clear. A bee buzzing about somewhere outside mesmerized my mind as it traveled with the whizzing insect.

  “If you’re having trouble keeping your energy inside the room focus on controlling the wandering of your senses. Consciously draw yourself back into the room and float in our collective energy.” Deb nestled her lips against my ear, “Focus Adora. You can do this,” she whispered. “Like a magnet, your energy will be drawn into like energy in your vibration field. In a few moments, without expectation or thought, I want you to open your eyes and pick up your paint brush and let yourself express freely on the canvas.”

  She took some loud deep breaths guiding the class to follow her lead. My mind no longer raced or worried over the little things. For the first time, I felt truly alive. I could hear the Daga brothers breathing in unison and the rattle in Ezzie’s lungs. The scent of Kala’s shampoo, much stronger than earlier today, poured into my nostrils as if she were holding the bottle under my nose. I wanted to run, and dance yet sit and breathe all at the same time.

  “And breathe,” Deb said. “Once you’ve narrowed down the energies humming at your level, circle around it and peer inside. Don’t worry if you don’t see anything, it will all come out on the canvas,” she reassured us. “And three, two, one, inhale deeply, open your eyes and begin painting.”

  Without hesitation, I picked up my brush and swirled it in the yellow paint drawing three rudimentary circle faces. Dabbing brown onto the cheeks of my stick figure I added freckles, then I twisted my paintbrush into the red paint and swirled it on the canvas. A shock of curly red hair appeared on to all three. Deep sadness permeated my heart causing me to drop the brush. Intense pain gripped my skull as electricity zapped my brain in short bursts of unyielding waves. I clutched my head with both hands but didn’t cry out as I didn’t want to disturb the others.

  Deb cradled me and nestled my head close to her. The sound of her heart calmed my nerves and quelled the pain until only tears streamed down my face, slow and steady. She smoothed my hair as I clung to her.

  “That’s right, continue to paint,” she said to the rest of the class.

  She placed the palms of her hands above my head, causing my scalp to tingle. Hot, soothing energy flowed from her hands, over my head, and down my neck. All the pain and sorrow I felt moved downward through my body until it dissipated out of the soles of my feet. Gingerly, Deb broke our embrace, and I looked up at her and smiled.

  Ezzie sat with a blank stare on her face, observing us, and I patted her hand wondering if she was under the effects of energy she’d channeled or had a strange reaction to Deb focusing her attention on me. She blinked a few times, then rubbed her eyes and peered around the room.

  “Very good, everyone,” Deb said as the last paintbrush hit the table. “I’m sure you’d all like to stretch your legs and get the bonfire going, but we need to share while the energy is still fresh in our awareness.”

  She glanced around the room. “Now remember, these are only interpretations. No one has to claim another individual’s subjective interpretation, but let’s stay open to learning something new about ourselves.” She nodded. “Okay.” She raised her eyebrows as if she were looking for agreement. “Some may receive more than one message. Some may not receive any at all. If there isn't an interpretation for you don’t be disappointed. We all learn what we need when the Universe deems us to be ready.”

  I darted my gaze around the canvases. None of them seemed to be for me, and I allowed my relief to blow out of my mouth in a deep breath. The Daga brothers seemed fixated on Arian’s painting, but I couldn’t get a good look at it from the angle of his canvas.

  “Who’d like to start?” Deb pointed at Serena.

  Of course, she had to be a showoff and wave her arm the highest in the air. Serena stood and walked to the front table turning her canvas toward the class. A crude drawing of a man and a woman at an alter holding hands splashed across her canvas.

  “This is for Roar.” She paused. “A prophecy of his future,” she asserted.

  The skinny female stick figure had long blonde hair It became painfully clear she painted an image of herself next to him. I rolled my eyes at her desperate attempt to claim Roar in front of the class.

  Arian almost fell out of his chair stifling a laugh “Deb said an interpretation not wishful thinking,” he scoffed.

  The classroom erupted in low laughter and Serena stomped back to her table. Kala tried to comfort her by patting her shoulder, but she rejected the sympathetic gesture.

  Score two for Arian, zero for Serena. I think I like this guy.

  “Anyone else?” Deb asked.

  Ezzie raised her hand. “Adora would like to try.” She nudged me out of my chair before I could protest.

  Everyone turned to stare at me as I approached Debra with my canvas. “Ummm, I’m not sure what this means, but I felt a lot of sadness and pain in my head when I painted it,” I admitted, shifting my weight from side to side. The thud of my heartbeat rapidly. A hard swallow strangled in my dry throat as I mustered up the courage to turn my canvas around. The minute Kala saw the image she burst into tears and ran out of the barn. Fritz shuffled out the door after her as Jacob let out a gasp.

  “It’s our brother, Jasper. We lost him a few years ago.” Jacob’s lips turned downward into a deep frown, almost touching his jawline, “We’re not really twins,” he revealed. “We were triplets.”

  I barely heard him finish his sentence. I laid the canvas on the table by Kiki and embraced Jacob in a tight hug. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, hugging his thin frame.

  “He had a bad seizure and didn’t recover.” He squeezed me tighter.

  “Come on, buddy,” Lonan said in a voice deeper than I thought he’d use. He stood and towered over
us. He peered down at me before he slapped Jacob’s back a few times in a show of support.

  His gaze drew me in like the deep recesses of a dark hallway winding deeper and deeper into the core of the interior. His eyes were so black they actually seemed void of color. Only by the slightly different shade of his pupils could I see the reflective hint of a blue hue in his black eyes. I shook my head slightly irritated with myself that I would contemplate some guys eyes while my friend lingered in my arms in distress.

  Twisting my head, I glanced backward at Bran and Raban, in unison they brought their eyes to meet my gaze. All three brothers had the same blue-black eyes. Must be a family trait.

  Jacob broke away from my embrace. “May I keep it, Miss Deb?” His voice sounded weary, and I shuddered at the thought of rousing such pain inside him and Kala.

  “Of course you may.” Deb handed him the canvas. “Consider it a gift from beyond.”

  She smiled. “He’s always with both of you.”

  After I settled back into my seat, Ezzie hissed, “You shouldn't have painted that.”

  Heat burned my cheeks. “I had no idea. I wasn’t trying to hurt them,” I insisted. Irritation flooded through me. Why would she say that to me? I decided to let it go and chalk it up to everyone's emotions running high.

  Fritz and Kala entered the barn and I studied my friend’s face for any hint of anger. When Kala flashed a faint smile at me, I instantly felt better.

  She didn’t sit back in her seat. Rather, she picked up her painting and revealed it to the class. A bright sun on one side of the canvas and a dark cloud on the other. In the middle, waves of blue contrasted the lightness of the sun and the darkness of the storm clouds.

  “Yeah, yeah. I get it. All things must be balanced,” Arian said. “I’ll work on it,” he promised.

  It really wasn't a stretch to think Arian may have anger issues. So far, his wrath had been directed at Serena, which I took great delight in witnessing, but I could see it could be a problem for less deserving victims. His willingness to accept that balance may be an issue for him was admirable.

  Arian walked around to the front of his table and held his canvas up higher for everyone to see. A wolf with piercing blue eyes seemed to jump from the canvas. A half circle of ravens enclosed the wolf as if they were framing the beautiful creature. My gaze shifted quickly around the room wondering who would claim this compelling image.

  The Daga brothers lurched forward in time with each other, then stiffened their backs. Lohan balled his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Raban’s jaw twitched but he said nothing, and Bran narrowed his eyes as if he were angry but used all his control to hide his rage.

  Arian walked the length between the tables turning the canvas toward each side of the room so we could get a closer look.

  “This little beauty belongs to no one in particular,” Arian said. “It’s simply a collective lesson that even though the raven ensnared the wolf, the elusive creature still roams free.” He glanced at me, then the Daga brothers. “And reigns supreme.” He curled his lips up on one side revealing a wicked little dimple. He slid the canvas toward Lonan. “You can have it,” he said.

  If I’d learned anything tonight about Arian, he certainly knew how to get under someone’s skin. The tension was so thick in the room, the air hung heavy and stale despite the cracked open barn door.

  “So, the lesson here,” Deb interjected, “is, even though we might have symbiotic relationships with each other, we are still solely in charge of our own destiny.” She smoothed her hand over Arian’s back.

  “Not exactly,” Arian said under his breath, staring at the Daga brothers.

  They averted their eyes from his ominous gaze and my nosy Nelly came out in full force.

  “What’s up with those guys?” I whispered to Ezzie.

  “Nothing really,” she said, matter of fact. “Just your typical pissing contest between guys.”

  “Ezzie! I didn’t know you had it in you to be so crass,” I teased and jabbed her lightly in the ribs. “I love it.” I smiled.

  “They're just showing off for you. The new girl and all.”

  As flattering as her statement happened to be, it didn’t sit right with me. Something more mysterious was going on—or at least in my overactive imagination, there was intrigue and mystery. One thing I knew for sure, I couldn’t wait to spend some time picking Arian’s brain for more dirty little details on the witches three. Knowledge is power, Aunt Marea always said, and in this department, I planned on getting an A in the class.

  Fritz’ loud snoring caused a chuckle to ripple through the room, yet he didn't budge from his old rocker by the door.

  Gabby and Lucinda presented their paintings to the class—one for Deb and one for Fritz. They mumbled on about strength and honor, but call me jaded, I didn’t believe a word of it. Brown nosing at its finest, in my opinion. Deb reacted graciously and moved on to Ezzie. She said she didn’t really think true inspiration had hit her as she only painted lilacs.

  “Lilacs are an ancient symbol of change from innocent ignorance to one full of knowledge and wisdom,” Deb corrected. “Much like everyone's journey at Ravens’ Blood. Good work.”

  A smug look blazed through Ezzie’s eyes, and I saw the competitive nature that must have won her the role of head of the student council.

  I smiled at her. “Great job,” I agreed.

  “I know. This isn’t my first rodeo.” Ezzie half rolled her eyes at me.

  Alarm bells blasted off in my head. I hadn't seen her act catty toward me, until now. I extended her a little leeway, figuring she might be hungry or bored in general from our long session.

  The Daga brothers each painting a variation of a lone red wolf with three ravens interacting and playing with the wolf. Roar said he felt the paintings revealed their strong bond with one another and that they are in sync energetically. But this didn’t explain the picture of the wolf. I let it roll out of my mind as my stomach rumbled.

  “Now Kiki’s,” Ezzie whispered, gripping my arm and the entire room focused on the little girl.

  She stood on the rail of the barstool and turned her painting toward the group. Everyone gasped at the site of a woman dressed in a long cotton skirt, apron, long-sleeved blouse, and a bandana tied around her head. The profile shot obscured her face. She had a large bushel in her hand filled with vegetables. A regal plantation house with a wraparound porch nestled squarely in the background of the painting.

  “Clearly that’s for Adora,” Serena gloated.

  My cheeks burned with embarrassment. Then rage sliced through me. My chest tightened and my face tingled.

  “You don’t get to interpret someone else’s vision,” Arian shot back.

  “She comes from low breeding,” Lucinda hissed.

  Gabby clasped her hands together and thumped them on the tabletop as if she couldn't contain her excitement. “Do you know what this means?” she squealed. “Adora’s meant to be our maid!” The three cackled like hens.

  “Shut up, Blabby,” Arian said. “You’re always talking about shit you don’t know. If you think Adora’s some sort of Cinderella then the three of you are definitely the ugly stepsisters.”

  “Simmer down, everyone,” Deb warned. “This is a safe haven where we don’t ridicule or shame our fellow classmates. For your rudeness and insolence, Gabby, you and your friends can make and serve dinner tonight and tomorrow.”

  Gabby let out a groan of protest.

  “Now y’all can wash all the dishes as well. Would you like to keep going?”

  “Shut up.” Serena dug her nails into Gabby’s wrist.

  Roar glanced back and gave me a sad smile.

  “Kiki, do you have anything you’d like to say about your painting?” Deb asked.

  “The slave is the master and the master is the slave,” she stated. “Separated by generations of love, betrayal and lies.”

  I looked away from the painting. Shame and sadness made my stomach roil
. Waves of nausea punched me in the gut, yet I vowed to keep my expression even. Could this painting really be for me? A slave woman built like Aunt Marea…Clearly, she was a relative. The angle of the face turned back to the plantation house, so I couldn’t entirely make out the woman’s features. I didn’t know if I had slaves in my family history, but the thought broke my heart in two. I blinked back the tears, willing them to stay put.

  “We’re all both slave and master of the lies we tell,” Kiki revealed.

  Arian stood and clapped his hands together. “And there you go. A general revelation for the entire class,” he asserted. “Kiki’s interpretation isn't meant for only one of us. It’s a lesson for all of us.”

  At this point I wanted to run up and kiss him on the cheek for saving me from the humiliation of it all. The fact those girls could be so cruel about everything that painting represented took their evilness to a whole new level. Callous, heartless bitches.

  “Come on, guys. I’m starving. Can't wait for dinner,” Arian gloated, mocking Gabby’s plight.

  Kiki ran over to me and gave me a tight hug. “‘Don't you worry, Miss Adora,” she said. “You’ll be the master of all of them. I tell you the truth. Their day is coming.” She ran back toward Deb, then abruptly stopped and turned toward me and positioned her fingers in the form of a heart making me smile and nod my head.

  Tears welled in my eyes as I cleaned my paint area. The master of them all? Fat chance, at this point, I couldn’t even master my own basic emotions.

  “Hey.” I grasped Kala’s shoulder. “Walk with me awhile,” I suggested. Tiny pin pricks of heat stung my face. “I’m sorry I upset you.”

  Kala turned toward me and gave me a hug. “It’s fine, Adora. I’m happy you could pick up on my brother’s energy.” She smiled at me, and I welcomed the much-needed relief for my frazzled nerves. “I can’t believe Miss Deb is making them cook our dinner.” She giggled and clasped my hand. “Come on,” she urged. “We don’t want to miss the show.”

  As we walked toward the motel, I saw the Daga brothers and Roar collecting firewood for the bonfire. Arian ducked under a locust tree, Avoiding work. He leaned his back against the tree, and when he thought no prying eyes were watching, he lit a cigarette. I shook my head at his blatant disregard for the rules. Always the bad boy. I couldn’t deny something about his nature drew me to him. Yet, my stomach tightened at the thought of speaking with him tonight.