The Dulcet Bane

  Having to live three hours away from school obligates Lilac "Lyl" Auberon to wake up earlier than those who occupy the dormitories. "Books, check. Journal, check," she had been rechecking her stuff a lot of times to make certain she isn't forgetting anything for the first day of her second year. Summer vacation just ended and her daily preparation for school has begun. Just when she finished putting her things in her bag, she heard a knock on the door. "Are you awake, my lady?" she heard her chambermaid, Frida. "Yes, Frida. You may come in." She then went to her washroom to take a bath while Frida went straight to her closet right away to prepare her uniform. After bathing, her uniform was all ready. Placed neatly on her bed were a white button-up long-sleeved shirt, a gray vest, a green necktie, a black jacket with her school's logo imprinted at the left chest part, a checkered miniskirt, and a pair of knee socks. Frida then helped her change. "It must be stressful, my lady," Frida said while fixing Lyl's hair. "What is, Frida?" Lyl raised an eyebrow. "Waking up at two o'clock in the morning every day for school." "I ought to prepare early to arrive early, Frida. And it is not stressful. Do not fret." She preferred living under her parents' roof rather than in the dormitories for she finds it hard to sleep when the neighbors are always creating havoc, particularly the chamber that belongs to the Corbetts. She always had to knock on their door when one of them was howling in the middle of the b****y night, that dratted wolf. He ought to have controlled his curse years ago! Lyl shook her head with the memory. She despised reminiscing her first year in high school, having the Corbetts making fun of her and how regal she always acts, as if being regal is wrong. The horrors of embarrassing moments in public washed over her. She could only pray that this year would be different. Ahh, but nothing is really more bothersome than her mother, Lady Cynthia Auberon, who never misses a day in visiting her class. She often goes there alone, barging into the schoolroom, pretending to supervise when she was merely searching for her daughter's inexistent admirer, during class hours, yes. Sometimes, Lyl's father comes along, playing supervisor with his wife so he can have peace in his study later the night. "Lilac, dear, hurry and break your fast." Lyl halted as she heard her mother's voice. Was her mother really awake at this hour? She made sure she made her tippled last night so she won't accompany her to school on the first day like last year. "Mother, you do not have to bother the first day of my second year!" she scowled at her mother. "I ought to make certain that the new set of students is a safe environment for my only daughter," there goes another excuse to find her admirer. "We both know what your real intention is. I already told you, dear mother, that the letter was merely a prank." "It is not possible. Whoever would jest about falling in love with the loveliest fairy in Argen?" "Anyone," was her answer. If she was allowed to shackle her own mother to the deepest, darkest part of the dungeon, she will gladly do it to get rid of her. Her father even agrees to it to end her meddling with his work. Lady Cynthia was annoying, really, but they all loved her. Lyl had no choice but to go to school with her mother. She endured three hours listening to her mother's gabs about how the articles in the Argazette, the official publication in Argen, are becoming rather arid. "Why ever would they not write about the rumors that have been spreading through Argen like the elopement of Lord Thistle's daughter and her lover? Or perhaps about that regal in Tillbury, who was it again? Was it Lady Mildred or Lady Callione?" "Lady Mildred lives in Bellrath, mother," she replied. "Ah, yes. Lady Callione was caught in a tryst with a centaur! A rather odd fetish, I must say-" "Mother! You must not judge anyone's affairs! Are you not the one who taught me that?" she scolded her mother. "But, dear, do you not get curious about how a dwarf and a centaur would mate?" "Why would I even think about mating?" she scoffed. "It is part of growing up, darling." "I do not want to grow up then. I am yet to turn seventeen, mother. Mating is not on the list of what I ought to do." The carriage stopped as they arrived at the grand silver gate of Scarlot High. The gate was painted with a shining silver shield and a picture of the Sterling Dragon, imprinted on it was Scarlot High's name. Behind the gate was a large castle, about 60 meters high. On top of it was the flag of Argen. A familiar gargoyle knocked on the window and greeted them. "Lady Cynthia, I see you are accompanying your daughter on her first day again," Montam smiled when he faced her mother. "Oh, yes! I would not want to miss my dear Lilac's second year." The man turned to Lyl and chuckled. "You must be as excited as your mother, Lady Lilac." "I sure am, Montam. I can't wait for the moment she steps out of school grounds," she said. Her mother and Montam just laughed at her. "Well then, I shall look forward to meeting you for the next days, my lady. I shall go now. You may pass," Montam said before going to the next carriage after us. The coachman then lead the carriage inside the school and Lyl did not bother to watch the entrance for all she cares about is getting rid of her mother from school sooner or later. ~~~ "Kite!" Kite Corbett suddenly rose to his feet from his bed when someone called his name. "What?! What happened???" he looked around him and saw nobody but one on the bed next to his. "You go fetch Lucy in my stead. I'm sick," Kite's brother, Zeal, looked rather pale. He is naturally pale as he is a vampire, but this time, he was paler than usual. "Why would I go fetch your girlfriend?" Kite raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm too sick to do it myself! And she's not my girlfriend! How many times do I have to tell you- Ow!" Kite slapped Zeal's forehead to check his temperature. "Why did you just slap me?! I'm b****y sick, you oaf!" Zeal griped. He was burning and didn't feel well. "You're hot," Kite stared at his now swollen palm. "Yes, that's why girls prefer to flock over me than you," Zeal said before coughing. "I mean burning. Look at what you've done to my paw! Now I have to get it checked. You'll pay for this," Kite growled at his brother. "No one told you to slap me, idiot." "No one told you to eat garlic bread, schnook." "It was delicious!" "I'm telling mother about your foolishness," Kite scowled at him. Only in Argen can you find vampires who love to eat garlic. It all started when they used to attack humans, and the terrified humans use garlic and silver to fight back. One human perfectly shot a bulb of garlic into the feared Marcellus Valerian's mouth. With every bite did he enjoy the savory flavor of garlic, not caring about the burns on his tongue and inner cheeks. The news of this discovery spread throughout Argen, and since then, vampires became simpletons to garlic. "What time is she arriving?" he asked his brother as he washed his face. "How should I know?" Zeal looked at the wall clock. "Didn't she send a missive yesterday? She should've written the time she departs from home, at least."   "Erh, she didn't mention it. Although, I'm certain she'll arrive late. You know her." "Alright, I'll just go early then. Oh, and I shall report to Mr. Grigori about your state so he'd ban you, bloodsucking dolts, from anything garlicked," Kite said as he pulled up his slacks. "Yeah? He won't do that. Sick students are his source of income," Zeal smirked. "He's not an imbecile, unlike you. And for sure he's running out of medicinal potions because you vampires never learn," Kite scowled at him while tying his tie.  "Yeah, right," Zeal said as he rolled his eyes. Kite exited their chamber and checked out his name in the logbook. Dorm rules say it is necessary for the warden to know whether students are in or not. It is her responsibility to look out for them in their parents' stead. "You're up early," the warden of the dorms suddenly appeared, startling Kite. "Ack! Will you please stop surprising us, Minerva?" Kite said as he signed beside his name in the logbook. "Hmm. I'm afraid I cannot. It is you, children, who fail to notice your dear warden. And I am quite surprised, Corbett. You and your brother would never wake up this early," Minerva said. She took the copy of the Argazette and took a seat on her rocking chair. "It's only for today." "I doubt that." To the halls, he goes and walked past a few students who were reunited. Kite heard their talks about how they enjoyed their summer vacation. He recalled how boring his vacation was; sleep, eat, chores, and more chores. His mother never runs out of orders. Zeal calls her a chore machine. Ever since their father's death, their mother buried herself to chores. But then she ended up doing all chores herself because of her sons' lazy bums and sent them to the dorms earlier than they should be.  Right when he arrived at the lobby, Kite met a familiar centaur coachman. "Max! Long time no see," he called the man. "Zeal? Is that you?" Max stopped the carriage. "Are you kidding me? It's me, Kite." It always annoys Kite when people mistook him for Zeal. Are they not aware of the huge difference in their appearance? He is obviously more handsome than him! And he definitely looks healthier! "Oh, I'm sorry. It's been so long since we've last met." Kite and Zeal met Max ages ago when they visited their friend, Lucy. Max was Lucy's coachman. He has driven the posse to a lot of places, from Coppice to Brine. They were always on an adventure. The last time they met was a year ago before Kite and Zeal entered ScarHigh. "Yeah. Here to drop off Lucy, yes?" Kite walked towards the carriage door and opened it for the rider. "Wait, Kite, that's not-" "Zeal's girlfriend! Didn't think you'll arrive this early," Kite wore a very welcoming smile. Lady Cynthia gasped. "My daughter has a boyfriend!"