Daughters of the Damned

by Cecily Dawson

  Natira giggled, “That’s for making me go last night”

  “Wait-what?”

  She waved her hand over the window and door again and we left the room to meet our suitemates at the table. Today, the headmistress served us pancakes. They were banana pancakes with fruit. We were silent at breakfast. The suite mates had no idea what had happened the night before, so they were as usual talkative. Beverly talked nonstop about her never ending boy crush back home, she received a letter yesterday and she couldn’t stop talking about it and showing off the pictures he sent. Casey was having a bad hair day and was begging Lisa to use magic to make her hair behave. They both sipped on blue juice boxes.

  “You know we’re not allowed to use magic first year,” I said.

  “But no one will know, I cannot go out looking this away. Please, just one spell.”

  Sumi’A rolled her eyes, her beautiful golden hair was always perfect, and she never had a hair out of place. She and Kira had both colored their hair golden on the first night. It was their way of standing out as werewolves. Akela had no desire to be part of their pack.

  Lisa looked around the table hoping someone would deter her, but everyone wanted to see her use her magic. They wanted to know just how powerful she was? They’d heard that her mother and grandmother had been students at the Desert Academy and had graduated at the top of their class. Lisa pulled out her wand and smiled. “Corishpus Lotatum!” she said and swirled her wand in a circle. Casey smiled wide as her hair started moving around on her head. It came alive and turned several colors until it settled on light pink, with beautiful silver glitter. She was wearing a high ponytail that hung all the way down her back with elaborate silver sparkles along its length. Lisa waved her wand again and the silver streaks started to move and flow like water.

  The girls were overcome with excitement and chatter as they took pictures and selfies of her for their social media accounts.

  “I love it!” Casey giggled with delight.

  Sumi’A and Kira got up from the table, rolled their eyes to the ceiling, and left the room. “They were such haters!” Casey said.

  “It looks great,” I said.

  “Thanks.”

  I looked at Akela and Natira. Akela was crying again. She must have been thinking about her mother and what happened last night.

  “Did you guys hear about the Duchess?” Casey leaned into the table to cover the intercom in the center.

  I was ready to hear her gossip about our incident, I prepared myself to tell her to shut the hell up. But to my surprised she said something very different.

  “Duchess was MIA most of the day yesterday, some of the girls were saying that she has a boyfriend. Her office was closed, and we all know she’s always roaming the halls or in her office disciplining a student. But yesterday, she was MIA for several hours. Someone said they saw a dragon flying over the school yesterday.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “Drisdol, is the only dragon we know of.”

  “You mean the head council?”

  “Yes, they say he comes at night.”

  I thought about what Kenneth said yesterday, he said she was with a man in a white suit. Was it Drisdol Prescott? I had to find out more. I had to speak to Kenneth again. But how? How would I get away from the school without being caught near the hills?

  The intercom interrupted my thoughts, “Natira, Rune, and Akela please report to the Duchess office immediately!”

  “Uhh Ohh, someone’s in trouble,” Beverly said.

  I grabbed my satchel and we walked through the halls toward the office. I swallowed hard because I knew that we were in big trouble. Natira didn’t seem moved at all, and Akela was crying again. I placed my hand on her shoulder and whispered, “It’s going to be ok.”

  Inside the office, Lucy gave us a look of pity and mouthed, “sorry” she had a hangover and held her head in her hands whenever he could. “I’m sorry guys,” I tried to get you guys out of it, she whispered.

  “It’ll be ok.” I said not believing my own words. I was more concerned about Akela and how much she was still suffering from the encounter.

  The Duchess entered the room and took her seat. “OK, listen. What happened last night was serious, you girls could very well be suspended for this. You better be glad I was there last night, or this could have ended in a lot of deaths. Now, you’re going to follow me and DO NOT SAY A WORD. I will speak for you. Do not try to defend yourselves and do not try to correct me. My job is to save your asses and then punish you for what you’ve done.”

  What the hell was she saying? Save our asses? Suspended. I wanted to be suspended. I wanted to get out of here. Maybe this was my time.

  “Follow me.”

  We followed her down the hall and into the Latorium. It was empty. We were placed in our perspective pods and she left the room. But not before waving her wand at us and whispering, “Do not talk, the walls have ears.”

  We held hands and looked at Lucy, who sat all alone in the class two pod. When the doors opened the council walked in one at a time. The first member was a frail woman wearing a white robe, the second was a man with a long beard wearing a yellow robe, while the third middle-aged woman wore a green robe. Each robe representing one of the classes at Desert Academy. Finally, the last wore a blue robe and it was Drisdol Prescott. He first sat in the center chair and then the rest of the council took their seats.

  He looked at us, then started shifting through manila folders in front of him. As he opened each, he examined each and every detail of our persona.

  Duchess walked in from the door behind us, she was carrying a second set of file folders on each of us. She pointed her wand at the air and a huge screen appeared and along the side wall so that we could all view with shame, our misdeeds. The first face to appear on the screen was Lucy’s. A mug shot with her number underneath.

  “We have Lucy Blessing, number 2342 Dark Angel. Violation Trespassing, Alcoholism, and Bribery. She pleads guilty. This is her third violation since she entered Desert Academy. We believe Lucy is struggling between doing what she knows is right and what she knows is wrong. She is in a constant battle between good and evil. She sees shadows and hears voices at night and struggles with influence toward evil.”

  Lucy put her head down and started sobbing. She had no idea anyone knew her struggle. A shroud of shame covered her, and the feeling was unbearable. Up there, she had been the most beautiful singer in his choir, and her worship brought so much joy to his presence, but now she struggled to even hear his voice over those of the darkness.

  Drisdol’s lips curled into a smirk as he looked upon her countenance. There was no pity in his eyes, only satisfaction.

  I gasped; I didn’t want my whole life on display in front of everyone. I wished I could comfort Lucy right now; she was all alone and I knew what being alone felt like. I couldn’t wait until my turn so I could set them straight.

  Duchess continued, “Next we have Akela Truit, she is number 1177, she is a werewolf. She struggles with the call of the wild beast that lives inside of her. Her dual personality causes her to forget for long periods of time, often waking up with blood on her hands and half dressed.

  “There is Natira, 1189 Alien. She is on the run from A51 Agents and we are protecting her here. She is very intelligent; she gains her power from the sun. We are still testing her abilities but believe she will be a great asset to the school,” Duchess smiled at Drisdol, “and your army.”

  My image glared on the screen. Finally, Rune Porter, 1176, vampire. Weakness is blood. She has a smart mouth, but she is very wise for her age. She has mastered an ability to sustain a mortal diet with blood as a supplement.”

  “I see,” Prescott looked at each one of us, as if he was thinking of a suitable punishment. “Do you girls know what danger you’ve placed yourself in?” he stood and walked around the podium. He paced the floor in front of our pods as he thought.

  I opened my mouth to speak and Du
chess shot me a glare.

  “Yes, sir they are aware of the danger they’ve placed themselves and the school in,” Duchess spoke.

  “I can speak for myself,” I said defiantly, looking straight at Drisdol.

  “Rune-” I could see the fear on Duchess’ face.

  “No, no let her speak.” Drisdol held his hand up. “Looks like we have a fiery one here,” he said walking over to our pod to stand in front of me. “You know your mother was the same way,” Prescott said with a smirk. “I had to put her in her place too.”

  “Rune!” Duchess pleaded.

  “Please,” he beckoned for me to come down and stand in front of him. I ascended the four steps that stood between us and stood in front of him. He towered over me. His massive shoulders were two of me.

  “Where is my mother?” I asked, looking into his eyes. There was nothing there, barrenness and evil stared back at me.

  “Your mother is dead; didn’t you attend her funeral. See her body committed to the ground? Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” He waved his hand and then opened it to pour dark ashes to the ground in front of me. I could smell my mother in them. The tears streamed down my cheeks against my will, but I kept a straight face. I refused to allow him to see my weakness. But from somewhere, deep inside of me an anger arose. There was something so sinister about his presence, that it brought rage to the surface.

  “You did this!” before I would reason with my emotions, I lunged toward him and he held a hand up and within seconds I froze in mid movement. My arm outstretched, my face distorted and my mouth wide open. I could only move my eyes. My thoughts were intact, but I was left a statue as Drisdol continued. We were given detention to be served the very next day.

  “As for you, my dear.” He stood before me. “You will remain here for a time longer to think about your defiance,” Drisdol dismissed the council. He stood watching them as they left the room and then he turned to me again. He directed his words to Duchess as if I were not in the room.

  “She seems to be angry with the council, as if we are to be blamed for her mother’s death.”

  “Yes, she wrestles with a lot of guilt. I believe it’s because she doesn’t know what her mother actually did to leave Desert Academy. Perhaps we should share it with her.”

  Drisdol waved his wand and a huge screen appeared right in front of me. “Rune, your mother came to us when she was a girl of about five.” On the screen I could see my mother sitting alone in a church. She was wearing a pale-yellow dress with red shoes. She looked scared. “She was abandoned by her own mother when she realized what she was. When she came here, she was cared for and given every comfort a child could want. Warm clothes, food, education, and love.” The screen revealed Drisdol and one of the other council members embracing her.

  “You are safe here,” Drisdol whispered in the child’s ear.

  It showed her growing up and sneaking around the school kitchen to steal blood boxes. One night, she is seen leaving her room and attacking several students to draw blood. The girls were screaming and when Drisdol tried to stop her, she lunged out at him to bite his neck. He had to tie her up and she was placed in the dungeon, away from everyone else. One night she is seen escaping to the hills, where the spirits of the dead vampire and werewolf hunters are arisen and follow her into the school. They kill many people and then, there is a fire in the basement, where the spirits are killed and turned to ash. This is where her mother is burned.

  Rune didn’t understand. Had her mother been responsible for the fire that killed over 20 students? Had her mother been dishonorably discharged from DA? What hadn’t she told her? Perhaps this was why she was given a mortal diet. Her mother wanted to protect her from the the Council and the school. She wanted her to live a normal life.

  “I loved her like a daughter, but she tried to kill me,” Drisdol turned to show the scar on his neck where my mother bit him.

  “No!” I yelled, but nothing came out. I knew there had to be something else. My mother told me that she received that burn as a child, at camp.

  “I can’t seem to hear anything you are saying Rune,” Drisdol laughed out loud. He removed the screen and turned to Duchess. “Be sure that she is escorted to detention straight away, she will serve two days instead of one.” He waved his wand and excited the room, the tingling in my limbs began, it was as if my limbs had fallen to sleep and were slowly regaining their function.

  “See why I told you to be quiet and let me speak,” Duchess said. “The tingling wears off pretty quickly and you will regain feeling momentarily.”

  I slowly raised my eyes to her; I saw that she only meant to help us. “Girls return to your room. Rune you come with me.”

  I tried to move but my limbs were still uncooperative. Duchess stood in front of me and waved her wand, “Undimuscando!” she said, and the tingling moved out of my body and through my toes.

  Chapter Eight

  I followed Duchess to my fate, we went down the hall and through the courtyard, past the waterfall and sun wall to an opening that led to a dark dungeon. Inside the dungeon were two rooms marked Detention Level 1 and Detention Level 2.

  “You will be housed in Dungeon Level 2. Your punishment will begin immediately and will go through to tomorrow night. At that time, the others will join you for the second phase. Prepare yourself because you will be tested mentally and physically.”

  “What do I do, just sit here? Do I get lunch or dinner?” I asked.

  “Drisdol wants detention to be an experience that will not only reform but also cause the student to self-reflect. IF you survive, you’ll never defy the rules again.”

  Before the Duchess closed the heavy iron door, I looked around the room, it was an empty iron chamber with nothing but a cement floor. Darkness. A clinking of a lock, then a light so bright I was blinded. I closed my eyes to allow them to adjust and when I opened them I was no longer in the dungeon chamber but on an island surrounded by water as far as the eye can see, the heavy stench of sulfur made me gag, next to me was a gas mask half sunken into the sand.

  I grabbed it and placed it over my nose and mouth and took a deep breath. Where the hell am I? The wind was blowing so hard I was afraid to stand. Sand had created a haze of blurriness in front of me so I secure the mask over my eyes and turn to observe my surroundings.

  Behind me was dense jungle, I am on a desert island. I wondered how deep the forest was. Two Days in detention. OK. I start to walk around; the midday sun is hidden behind a dark cloud that has formed in the sky. I need to find shelter. I walk against the wind and enter the forest which is a canopy against the vicious wind. I listen, and I hear no birds; I look up into the trees for a moment and there is no activity. No monkeys. Nothing. I go to take another step and a huge black snake stands up on its belly and opens its mouth wide. I stop in my tracks and stare at him. Slowly I back away in hopes of a retreat. The snake strikes and I am bitten in the face, “Auuugghhhh!” I yell throwing my hands over my face, they land on top of the mask. I am ok.

  When the snake retreats and slithers away, I carefully watch where I am going and continue to walk further into the forest. The foliage is thick and unmoved by previous visitors, I assume the island is uninhabited. After ten minutes of walking and not coming upon anything that signifies life, I choose a palm tree that is leaning to one side and I climb as high as I can. I can see to the other side of the island. Water. The width of the island is approximately 1.5 miles wide. I am surrounded by water on all sides. I climb down and remain still and silent for a minute. I try to listen for something, someone. Nothing.

  I close my eyes and think of my mother. What would she do? She would have done whatever she needed to do to keep me safe. She would move mountains for me. Drisdol said that my mother had betrayed him. What did he mean? What did my mother have to do with the ashes and the fire that happened in the basement? He’d risen so many questions.

  When I opened my eyes, I was face to face with a 7-foot alligator. I slid up the palm t
ree as far as I could just as he closed his jaws around the entire space I had abandoned. Within seconds he was joined by four or five additional alligators, who were just as hungry as he was. I scampered up a nearby tree. The air around me started to swirl with a heavy wind and before I could blink rain was pouring over me. The rain made the sulfur in the air evaporate and I was able to take the mask off. I hung it on one of the nearby branches up high incase I needed it again. The alligators were swarming the space below and the rain was coming down in sheets over me. Lightning. Thunder. A tree nearby is struck sending the alligators scampering in different directions.

  I climb down and run through think brush in search of shelter. The branches slapped me in the face and cut at my arms. Before me as if it heard my thoughts, a cave appeared. It was dark and had a small hooded entryway. I peered into it as far as I could see, and nothing looked too dangerous. I crouched down in the entryway for shelter from the impending storm, hoping nothing lurked in the darkness. What is this place? I wondered. How is this detention?

  Close by, another tree was struck by lightning and came crashing down through the surrounding jungle clearing a path to the other side of the island. I could see shore and sudsy water beating against rock under the light of the moon. As darkness fell, I closed my eyes to seek sleep. A troubled shroud of drowsiness covered me, and I dreamed of my mother again, this time, she was alone and in the basement of the school. She was afraid. Someone was there. She a necklace, whispered something. There is a kerosene lamp next to her and she picked it up and looked around the room. There were several other people with her, they were asleep. They were all hiding away from something. My mother clutched her necklace again and there is a loud boom in the background, everyone began to scream.

  “Rune!” I heard my name and opened my eyes to the bright sun; I was still on the island. I had made it through night one.

  “Rune Porter!” I looked around, on the sandy beach I could see Akela, Lucy, and Natira.