Dangerous Game

Chapter 1 Austin's Arrival Pt. 1

1700's C.E.

    I barked at the servants to run me a bath and stripped out of my bloodied trousers. I had a bathing room connected to my office for instances like this. I preferred not to trapeze through to halls looking disheveled when I could run into any student at any given notice. I sank into the warm water of the bath and let out a sigh.

    I can't feel any pain as I am a vampire but my emotions were still at a high after the duel. Since I am the one who created the Council, and will never die, I am constantly challenged for my seat. I've obviously never lost, but that has never stopped new attempts or plots. After several years of challenges in the cellar of our building and having to wonder several corridors for a bath I decided to add a private bathing room to my office and a hidden staircase behind my bookshelves.

    I looked out the windows and saw the coach for the Academy making its way up the walk. I frowned as I was not aware that we would have a new arrival so late in the evening. I was about to call a servant in to go and wake one of our witches but I heard a knock at the door before I could.

    "What?" I yelled.

    "S-sir, they are arriving with the child you requested."

    "What chi-" I started to yell before I remembered.

    At an inhumane speed I got out of the bath, dressed in my robes, and smoothed my hair down. I opened the bathroom door before the servant was able to open his mouth to respond. He was a short man and looked at me with terror in his eyes as I towered over him.

    "Out of my way!"

    He let out a small yelp and stumbled over his own feet trying to move. I rushed into my office and quickly grabbed to belt that holds my robe closed. They were rather fitted to my physique until it reached my waist. Both the sleeves and the skirt of the robe were lose but the front of the skirt ended at my feet, brushing the ground lightly, and the end trailed behind me dragging a yard of loose fabric. The sleeves ended at my wrists, leaving my hands exposed. The whole garment was a deep crimson and the belt was made of real gold that resembled a chain.

    I tied the interior strings together and fastened the belt. Rushing into the hall I made my way to the main entrance within a few seconds. I saw a servant girl cleaning around the main hall and yelled to him.

    "You! Go wake Marina and tell her I command her here at once."

    The servant nodded and ran to wake the witch. I smirked as she obeyed me and was rather fond of the power I had over all these mortals. I clasped the door handles and threw both of the doors open. The stagecoach had just stopped as I went down the few steps to the cobblestone walkway. The coachman jumped down and I smiled as he went to open the locked door.

    Against the carriage wall was finally my captured prize. The girl looked to be no more than a preadolescent child. Her hair was a white blonde and it grazed the floor with her sitting down. Her face was almost doll-like without a single flaw or blemish. Her bright green eyes went wide as she caught my stare.

    "Wh-where have you taken me?"  she asked. Her voice had even sounded fake and almost child like.  

     "Austin, only child of  Christina and James, we have searched a long time for you. Our witch had foretold of your birth and your power. From this moment you are to join us and live here. When destiny is set you are to join us and govern the supernatural." I said still in disbelief she was actually found.

    "Where am I?" she asked again.

    Knowing she was trapped in my gaze I smiled at her. She really is going to be powerful as shouldn't have been able to speak, much less ask a question twice. This is a power I have had and built since I was turned millennia ago.

    "Welcome to the Order Academy, my name is Garrett but you are to address me as Order Garrett. This is where earth meets hell," he paused,  "symbolically speaking of course."