Day Break Academy Series book 1

Chapter 3: The Academy

"Dude! Shut the hell up!" He said covering my mouth with his big palm. His hand was rough but warm, and the scent of mahogany and vetiver filled my nose.

I rocked back on my heels, staring up at him mouth parted like a gaping fish out of water. He raised a dark eyebrow and smirked at me.

"There, now the drama is out of the way shall we get going?" He asked, still musing at my expression.

"Huh?" I asked stupidly.

He stared at me like I was an imbecile before letting out a huff.

"To the academy. I told you there's things you don't know about and you need to learn to control yourself and your powers before you attack someone and make a big mess for the council." He rushed out impatiently.

"What are you even talking about? Powers? Academy? What do you mean get going, I came to talk not run off into hell with you. Why would I attack anybody? You said you had information on my parents...." I accused, "If this is some twisted joke the seniors put you up to, then thanks for wasting both our time." I bit out and turned to leave.

He grabbed my arm and tugged me back, knocking me into his hard chest by accident. He was warm, and my hand marveled at the hard planes of his chest beneath it. He stepped back like the contact had offended him, and unexplainable rejection stung me. My head swum with dizziness that I quickly squashed down, this flu was getting harder to fight off.

"Look." He said with irritation yet unmoved by my defiance, "I have s**t I'd like to be doing right now too rather than collecting ignorant freshman vamps so if you'd hold your questions for the headmaster we can get moving and you can spare us both that wasted time you speak of."

My eyes popped wide with the ridiculousness of that claim and I snorted a laugh, "Vamps? Like..?"

"Vampires, yeah." He said without a hint of humour. It was only then when my eyes fell to his parted mouth that I noticed the distinctive sharp edge to his elongated canines.

If I hadn't already felt so sick lately I may have managed to hold it together or run from this sultry creep, but instead I swayed backward…forward…backward .. before the ground before me rushed up to meet my face.

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.

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I came to in a room with far too much white and stainless steel. I was laying in a bed with a thin white sheet over my legs. Panic struck me and I shot up to sitting, immediately pain ricocheted around my skull, and I sunk back down with a weak groan.

"Ah, you're awake! How's the head?" Beamed a short stocky man with oversized spectacles and a despwrate meed for a toupee.

"Forgive me, I'm Dr. Palzner, but you can call me Sam." He added, extending his hand out in greeting.

I tentatively returned the shake while answering "Ava, and it's pretty sore. Um, where may I ask am I?"

"The infirmary here at the Academy!" He replied with surprise at my ignorance. "Jet here brought you in after what sounds like a pretty unexpected fainting. You have a good goose egg, but no real trauma luckily", He winked.

It was only then I noticed the tall and sexy, not to forget surly, figure leaning back against the door. Jets eyes raked the length of my prone body with what looked like scrutiny, and I hiked the sheet up higher with a scowl. His eyes met mine and his scrutiny turned to impassiveness before looking away. What was this guys damage?

"When she's cleared, page me, Valhmer would like a word with her." he spoke to Sam before pushing off the wall to leave.

"Actually, she's cleared to go now if you'd like to show her the way. Ava?" He said turning to me, "make sure to rest up and get sustenance for your vitality. It's probably what contributed to your fainting episode." He smiled warmly, nodding to us each then disappearing behind a curtain I hadn't seen earlier.

I internally giggled at his use of the word sustenance, and a sticky cinnamon bun with cream cheese and raisins popped into my head making my stomach growl loudly. My cheeks burned. Jet must have heard because he raised a brow and said "I'll show you the cafeteria on the way, you can stop there later."

I nodded silently, slipped off the bed and gestured him to lead the way.

We walked a few beats in silence before I cleared my throat.

"So, I know we're at a school, but where exactly is it, and why exactly am I here? It's late, and my foster mom is probably fuming with me right now."

I waited for an answer, but he simply kept walking.

"Food. You can binge on your own time later. Pick up the pace freshman." he said over his shoulder, as he pointed to a door to the left that read "Cafeteria" above them in bold black letters. I was about to call him out on his asshole behaviour, when he stopped us in front of a heavy cherry wood door, and rapped once on it. My frustration turned to nervousness. He'd said someone wanted to speak to me, and I never thought who or why until now.

"Come in." Said a woman's curt voice.

Jet held the door so I had to enter first, and I glared at his forced chivalry.

The woman behind the desk was elegant with crimson red hair piled high on her head, and cat like glasses low on her nose. She had sharp features and black eyes that made quick work of assessing me, and an air of authority mixed with disapproval came off her in waves.

"Sit." Commanded the womans pursed mouth. A chair slid back to me by no means other than it's own. Startled, I stumbled back, and grabbed the nearest thing to me, Jets muscular shoulder. He shook me off with irritance, and sighed "just sit."

"Thank you Jet, you can leave us now." She said pointedly to him.

He nodded once, and exited without looking at me. I stared at the door for a moment oddly wishing he had stayed. The woman cleared her throat, and brought my focus back around.

"Miss Venus-"

"Ava" I interrupted.

She stared at me, and I'm sure I physically shrivelled a bit.

"Miss Venus" she continued, "my name is Headmaster Vahlmer. You have been brought to the Day Break Academy for the paranormal as a new arrival. I'm aware that you have no knowledge of your heritage or race so let me brief you." She began.

"Um. I'm sorry, paranormal? That weird dude mentioned vampires which is obvious bullshit" I interuppted with a disbelieving laugh. "Oh, and I'm Irish.." I tacked on.

The woman game me a tight smile with irritance stamped all over it as her eyes scored me over once again.

"He told you correct. You're a Shtriga. A vampire with abilities of the witch. And you are not Irish." She added on with an eye roll.

I took in a sharp breath. "OK…" I drawled with an eye roll, "Pretending that that's all true…I already have a high school, and a foster family who is probably missing me so if you don't mind-" I said beginning to stand when I became completely frozen, my muscles locked down on no volition of their own. My breath came out in a rough exhale and I felt the first shiver of real panic settle within my being.

"You will be excused when I excuse you." Vahlmer said with acid. Ugh I hated this woman, and I hadn’t even known her three minutes.

The fact I couldn't move, and chairs did so on their own, told me she was likely telling the truth. It began to register despite my desperate grasping for denial, and tears betrayed my ego, pricking the corners of my eyes. Instinct leaking fear into my every fibre with unexplained heartache and a desperation to go home. Everything from reading that stupid letter to now had happened so fast, and not an iota of it made valid sense. I felt sick, and I was overtired, dealing with strangers who had an apparent fantasy agenda for me. Her expression softened like she senses my thoughts, and she released her hold on my form. I flopped back into the chair, and sat staring at my hands in my lap. Valhmer sighed.

"If you'd be so kind as to hear me out without interruption you can make your decision to stay or go, understood? After all this is an opportunity not a kidnapping", she chuckled as if any of this was humorous...

Accepting defeat, I nodded for her to continue.

"Very well" she smiled tightly. "Your mother and father were students here long ago…"

At the mention of my parents, I sat forward in attention.

"...They were somewhat of prodigies here at the Academy, your mother in particular. She was a very powerful supernatural. She graduated with a placement in the high council of paranormal beings. A very prestigious title. Rumor has it your father and her abandoned Avexia shortly after your birth, and nobody had seen or heard from your parents again. Except me. Before she died, rest her power, I received a letter from her asking me to personally see to it you receive the guidance required for a transitioning vampire, under my watch, here at the Academy. It was as though she predicted her own passing to be imminent..." she said almost to herself before continuing...

"Vampires traditionally make the change around the time of their 18th birthday. Here we educate, train, and learn to control the less desirable traits of our races. DayBreak houses multiple supernatural races, which you'll learn of in your classes, and I'm sure amongst the halls. That is if you are choosing to stay? If not, I'm afraid the chance of you surviving as an untrained paranormal in the human world will end up with great human casualties at your teeth, that is until the council undoubtedly exterminates you. We take discrepancy at the highest of our laws."

I swallowed the burning lump on my throat, and choked down a deep breath. None of this seemed plausible, but my gut and the things my eyes had seen proved otherwise.

"You mentioned 'Avexia', and the 'human world'..?" I stated as a question.

"Yes", she nodded, understanding gracing her features, "Our Academy is located in a realm outside the mortal world you've been existing in. Our enamored city is one of hundreds in the paranormal realm. We however are located within the confines of the boundaries of Avexia." She stated proudly.

Valhmer sat staring at me for a solid ten minutes as I tossed around, and digested everything she had just dumped on me. I knew she was telling the truth. I could feel something different inside me lately, and I was constantly on the verge of puking.

"What about my foster family? Will I be able to visit or go home?" I asked at last.

"I'm afraid not, their minds will be wiped of your existence, but believe me when I say you'll be shielding them from severe potential danger. You no longer belong in their world, as they do not belong in yours." her voice became a soft caress at those words, clear with the intent to placate me.

Tears filled my eyes, and the headmaster kindly passed me a tissue. I've always wanted to feel close to my birth parents, and I finally had a chance. Unfortunately at the loss of those who raised me. For the safety of Dianna and my siblings I knew I had no choice.

"OK." I mumbled shakily. "I'll stay."

She reached forward and patted my hand, "you're making the best choice here Miss Venus. Your room number is 513, go right when you exit, and the elevator will take you to the fifth floor dorms where the other freshmen reside. Your schedule of classes and a map of the campus will be dropped off in the morning. All necessary belongings, and clothes will be pre stocked in your room when you arrive. For now I recommend you get some rest, some food, and prepare for classes Monday. They begin at 8 am sharp. You're excused."

The elevator clattered along to the top floor, and I stepped out into what looked like a hotel hallway. It was void of any people, and I briefly wondered how late it must have been. Red carpeted floors and cream walls decorated with black doors, lined the lifeless expanse. I forced my lead feet forward until I found 513, and let myself inside. I had lost any sense of appetite I had earlier. I took no note of my surroundings before collapsing on the bed, and letting the tears flow freely. Maybe tomorrow will be better.