Shade Academy

Chapter 7

Once I found Elana, I pulled her aside and told her everything that happened. She was so excited to go see my home with me, but was also upset that the rebellion had an inside man. So much had been leaked to them over the years. And now they know there is an Ashford they didn't kill. So now was my life not only in danger, but I would be hunted by the rebellion like game. 

We walked to the front talking excitedly about what the mansion would be like. "Where are you two heading off to?" Alex voice came from behind me, but I shook my head at Elana and kept walking. Elana had an amused smirk on her face, while mine was grim. No way was he going to do this. "Anna." Alex said stepping in front of me. "Alex, don't." I said and side stepped him. "Anna, will you please listen to me?" Alex begged as he walked beside me. "There is nothing to talk about Alex. You made your intentions perfectly clear over the past week." Alex grasped my hand, pulling me to a stop. "Anna, let me explain." He begged.

I pulled my hand out of his hand and shook my head. "Alex, you told me you would gain my trust. You said one way or the other you would prove to me you were my friend and that I could trust you, yet you done the exact opposite. You reaffirmed what I already knew. I can't trust or rely on anyone but myself, so thank you for that. And if you must know, I inherited my families estate today. Charlotte has given me permission to spend the weekend in my new home with Elana. Professor Griffin is coming to be my body guard, because apparently the rebellion want me. Goodbye Alex." 

I turned to walk away. "Anna, how can I make it up to you?" His voice was softer than normal. I sighed and turned to him. "Stop letting Axel tell you who you can or can't hang out with. I don't see why everyone is so damn scared of him. If you can prove to me, you're my friend and don't care what anyone else thinks, I'll consider forgiving you. Now if you'll excuse me." I turned and made my way out the door, leaving Alex behind. 

The drive there seemed painfully slow and my excitement filled the air with energy. Samuel was uncomfortable with all the emotion, I could tell it was affecting him. "I'm sorry Samuel, I'll try to calm down." I whispered to him. He gave me a tight smile before looking back to the road. Elana had fallen asleep not long after we got in the car. Poor thing was exhausted. I mean ya, I was tired. But I was too excited to see my family home. Something I never knew, never dreamed I wold ever have. I thought I was unwanted, unlovable. 

We pulled up to a beautiful silver gate, guarded by four men. "What is your business here?" One of the guards said sternly. "I am Anna Ashford. I wanted to spend the weekend in my home." I replied curtly. The guard paled. "Yes ma'am. I apologize ma'am. Welcome home." The guard opened the gate and as we drove along the bricked drive the beautiful landscape captivated me. Lush grass spread as far as the eye could see. Bushes trimmed to look like animals were lined along the drive. 

The house itself was grand. The massive structure looked like it was out of some kind of fairy tale. Large columns held up the massive entry way porch. Blue stone was scattered along the building in elaborate designs. The Ashford runes decorated the home in gold. The front door was a beautiful shining silver with more runes carved beautifully into it. 

I wasted no time as I jumped from the car and ran straight for the front door. I can't even describe the inside of the home. Beautiful, grand? No, those words aren't strong enough. It was magnificent. Antique furniture decorated the foyer. Spiral stairs ran along the wall leading to the next floor. The dining room table could fit an army, the living space held a marble fireplace with golden trim. Persian rugs decorated the floors, thick blue curtains covered the large windows. Everything was all so beautiful. 

"Wow Anna. This is amazing." Elana said in awe as she took it all in. "It's so big." I stated. "What am I supposed to do? I'll get lost in this place." Elana laughed. "You could throw one hell of a party here over break." I chuckled. "Ya, I guess I could, but I won't. There are too many antiques here for me to risk a load of drunk teenagers coming to break them." 

"It's your choice. Come on, let's go find a room." Elana said as she headed for the stairs. "I was told the master suite took up the entire fourth floor, that's mine. You can choose any other room you want, I'm going to check mine out." Anna nodded and flew up the stairs. I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Samuel? Are you alright?" He stood frozen wide eyed in the front entry. His eyes darted to me and I saw fear in his eyes. "What is it?" i asked concerned. "I know this place." He said slowly. "I was raised here." 

My eyes grew wide. "What?" I yelled. Samuel looked to me "Your families servants are vampires. This was the only place vampires could procreate. There is some kind of spell the Ashfords cast on the building giving vampires the gift of fertility. I was born here. It has been so long ago I had forgotten." 

Wow, my family must be more powerful than I thought. Vampires were not supposed to be able to have children, but somehow my family granted them that gift. "Wow. that's amazing Samuel." I told him. "Will you be alright?" I asked walking towards him. He looked at me and his eyes softened. "I will be more than alright. I owe your family my life. It is an honor to be back here." I beamed up at him. "Great, go find a room and get comfortable. We'll be here all weekend." 

I grabbed my bag from him and took off up the stairs. By the time I made it to the fourth floor I was out of breath. Dang, what is it with witches and stairs? The first thing I walked in to was a large sitting area. Another white marble fireplace with lapis lazuli trim adorning the center wall. Golden antique chairs and chaise lounges sat atop a grand persian rug. A large set of white double doors with golden designs was across of the fireplace. Opening the door I was met with the largest bedroom I had ever seen. A massive four poster canopy bed sat nestled on the far right wall. Beautiful mahogany dressers were on either side of a massive bay window. A fireplace to match the one in the sitting room was across the room in front of the bed. 

Two more doors was on either side of fireplace, so dropping my bag I walked to explore what lay on the other side. The first was a closet. It was filled with elaborate clothes. Ball gowns, business suits for women, designer jeans and shorts. Cashmere and silk shirts. A large jewelry case was on the far wall and was filled with diamonds, emeralds and ruby necklaces, earrings, bracelets. Anything and everything a woman could dream of was here. But one necklace drew me in. It had a long silver chain and a golden pendant hung from it. The Ashford crest was carved into the front. I noticed it had hinges so I opened it up. What I saw brought tears to my eyes. It was me as a baby. I was cuddled into my mothers arms, her and my father looked down at me adoringly. They loved me, I was wanted. I hugged the pendant to me smiling. Placing it around my neck I smiled. I would never take this off. 

The other door was the bathroom and was just as grand as the rest of the house. I didn't explore the rest of the house, I just walked out onto the balcony and looked up to the sky. The stars were brighter here than at the Academy. There were no lights to block the natural light the moon and stars brought. 

I sat in the lounge chair that was out on the balcony and went through the thick envelope the council handed me. The house deed, debit and credit cards, stacks of money that made my eyes bulge and a spell book. It was old and falling apart. The Ashford crest was engraved into the front of the book, I smiled as I ran my fingers lightly over the book. 

The book wasn't in English, it looked to be Sumerian. Weird thing is I could read it without any problems, like the language was ingrained into my DNA. "How are you doing Anna?" Samuel asked as he took a seat across from me. "I'm alright. Well as well I can be at least. I don't know your size, but there are men's clothes in the closet. You're welcome to them if you want, I have no use for them." I said never looking up from the grimoire. 

Samuel didn't respond and I didn't push. His presence meant more to me than I would admit. I was glad he was here with me. Him and Elana. I may not be close to either one of them, but Elana was my friend and I cared about her and I was growing to trust her. Samuel and I had a connection I can't explain. His presence alone put me on edge most of the time, but right now it calmed me. His silent support was more than I could ask of anyone. "Thank you Samuel." I said looking up at him. "For what?" his confused look made me smile. "For being here. You could've stayed in your room, or explored the house. But you came up here to check on me. Thank you for that." 

He ran a hand through his hair, making it look tousled and unkempt, the look suited him. I also noticed he had changed into a pair of blue jeans and a tight black T-shirt. He no longer looked like professor Griffin, but looked like an average man, except there was nothing average about Samuel. He was beyond compare. No one cold hold a torch to this man. "You're Welcome Anna." He said with a cocky smile. I knew he had heard my thoughts and my face heated as I blushed all the way to my hair line. This was going to be a long weekend.