The Domus Paranormal Academy

Domus Academy

I'll tell you a secret...

There is a place called Domus.

It is a university attended only by boys and girls with influential surnames, powerful lycanthropic families, infinite bank accounts, and enviable and secure lives.

It is full of beautiful, haughty, and Machiavellian faces. The latest gossip is whispered mercilessly in its wide corridors. It is demanding, but sometimes flexible, and is surrounded by a campus where every weekend there is a party where you must impress someone. Domus, huge and imperious, has been built on "I'll talk this over with my father" and "My family wouldn't want you to put a blemish on my record."

Inside, everything goes and, at the same time, everything is judged.

It is the magnificent core of hell, populated by attractive, well” dressed, and malicious wolves.

Still, anyone would want to be there, wolf or human.

Your best friend, your evil cousin, someone's brother, the girl you hate, yourself, me?

Anyone would kill “literally” to be part of that exclusive society/circle/sect, to be able to enjoy the laughs, justify their misdeeds and hide with complicity any secret.

Because in Domus there are many secrets. And sometimes, not even parents or money can keep them hidden for a long.

Sometimes, they come out on their own.

Other times, someone makes them come out...

Domus University Campus

1 May, 3 p.m.

“Did you see what happened with the Lycans?

“Yes, how horrible. I would never have imagined it.

“Who would have thought that those three were hiding something like that? I loved Lucian, the eldest. You know, right? The one with the tattoos. God, when he walked into a place, his presence was wild.

“I liked Viktor. He was quiet, but that gave him a mysterious air. Plus, I was in Literature with him, and when he read in front of the class... literary orgasms.

“Ankor was cool too, though he looked like a good boy.

“Whatever they did, they will remain a legend in Domus.

“And now also that girl... What was her name? Marise, yes, Marise.

“She was the one who did it? “Yes, she was the one who did it.

“Yes, she was the one who destroyed them.

Five months ago.

“The secret to surviving here is to trust no one, be discreet about what you do, and be very careful about who sees you doing it.

That strange and valuable advice came from the mouth of Valery, the girl who would be my new roommate.

But, to be honest, I didn't give it any thought, heh.

I could only think: "Domus, here I am finally!".

It was the first day. I was walking through the new student welcome fair in the central campus park, and I was everything I was supposed to look like: the typical new human girl, goofy and dazzled because all around me every single thing was true to the pictures on the website.

The miles of green areas that made up the university grounds were lined with trees trimmed and shaped in the same way as the lives of those privileged enough to have been accepted as students. The paved streets were lined with bicycles. There were billboards on every corner with informational announcements, of upcoming events, was that a poster for a missing girl? And there, in Domus' central park, the first day's meeting point, booths abounded selling shirts, handing out schedules, campus guides, and student clubs.

Inside those booths, the boys and girls had that air of "If I wanted to, my dad would buy me this street, and this floor, and whatever is under this floor." And outside, watching and trying to take it all in, the new students conveyed "What a thrill to be here, even though I won't have to make an effort for anything but my outfit, since my dad wipes his ass with money."

“Are you listening to what I'm saying? “Valery reproached me at my obvious distraction.

She was walking beside me. When we arrived at the apartment, I asked him to accompany me to the fair, as I didn't know how to get around the university labyrinth by myself. To my surprise, Valery had accepted.

“Of course," I lied to him to hide the fact that I had been ignoring what he was saying about social survival. That I have to follow your advice or... What's the worst that could happen to me?

“It depends," she answered, looking at me curiously. What did you tell me your last name was? Is it important somewhere?

Yes, in the silent, dark, unpopulated nowhere.

“Does it have to be? “I asked in response, because, so they say, what matters here is that the students maintain a masterful academic level.

Valery nodded with a laugh.

“Yes, yes, that's very true, and also that important figures come out of here," she admitted, "but get the Domus brochure out of your head. It's not all about spending the whole year alone and studying. Or are you one of those who prefer to be alone?

One of those who preferred to keep her preferences to herself.

“I adapt to the environment," I simply said with a shrug that gave nothing away.

“Well, there's event after event here, and social circles are important," she explained with a seriousness that betrayed the importance she attached to the subject. With a good last name, you don't have to try very hard to find one or to talk to people, because people will be willing to talk to you at any time. For that reason, tell me, do you have any relatives that can be recognized or at least googled?

She took out her cell phone and waited anxiously for me to tell her who in my family appeared on the Internet. As I liked to make mental cards of people, right at that moment what I had written down in my head about Valery was:

Appearance: more or less tall, black hair, wavy and short to the neckline, Marilyn Monroe style. Fairy nose and chin, big lined eyes, sweater, and jeans. Her ** photos should look aesthetic and she should probably never be missing a quote from a book in the description.

Notable trait: a girl who cares too much about social reputation. In other words, she tries too hard. But does it work for her, is Valery socially important?

At least she was nice.