03
1158 Words
Silence filled the room as a result of the knock. The mother and her two daughters looked tense for fear that someone would catch them treating Tessa badly, especially when they found out about her anonymous approval to enter the royal academy with the nobles.
Tessa hurried forward to get to the door, since she's always the one to tend to everything in the house.
She opened the door to which her best friend Bonnie came into view. They have been friends since childhood and, despite her parents' position in town, she chose Tessa to be her friend even when she was opportune to befriend Faye and Lola.
She had seen them bully Tessa before during one of the festive seasons. She was young but had to do so much work and Bonnie had no friends then, so she would always come to visit and play with Tessa.
In the past, they tried to put an end to their friendship, as Bonnie was instilling courage in her, but they failed! Bonnie brought up the issue about Tessa staying home while her sisters continued their education and that helped greatly. A letter came a few days later for Tessa to enroll in the royal school, but it wasn't Bonnie. That remained a mystery.
The girls giggled as they received each other in a tight embrace.
Lola and Faye rolled their eyes with hands crossed against their chests in unison. Tessa’s eyes caught the reaction and her smile slipped which made her disengage from the hug.
“Oops, my manners, greetings Mrs.Hawthorne. Hi, Lola and Faye”, Bon said with her eyes glistening, ignoring the ugly look on their faces.
Bonnie was so happy to see her friend that she hadn't noticed the stain on her dress.
“Oh and your ride is outside, sorry I'm telling you late,” she said with a laugh.
Tessa could not believe this was happening to her. It was stated in the letter that she would get a free ride to the academy on her first day and it's true.
Lola and Faye scrunched their noses with jealousy.
“Are you not going today? We can go together “ Tessa squeaked excitedly.
“Uh uh!” Mrs.Hawthorne cleared her throat in a very obvious manner to smack them back to reality.
“Your sisters here are ready to leave as well. You can go with them instead. Your friend should not waste the ride she paid for,” she said.
Hearing this, they didn't wait for any confirmation from Tessa as they pulled her outside with them and shoved her inside the old but treasured car in her dirty-stained dress.
Bonnie’s senses picked the situation late and she was sure to see Tessa open her mouth to say something that starts with D, but they left immediately.
Bonnie sighed worriedly, she turned to leave, only to meet Mrs.Hawthorne's burning gaze on her. She let out a nervous laugh before walking away from their porch.
She returned home to see her mother waiting for her at the entrance with her backpack suspended in the air.
“What? Mom! Can we do that outside?” she ran to snatch the bag hanging on nothing but air.
“First, we are in my house and no bloodsuckers can enter my land unless I invite them in,” her mother said.
“Also, you missed your ride and now you have to wait for an extra one hour miss. Just where did you disappear for heaven's sake?!” her mother scowled.
Bonnie lifted her shoulder with a shrug and a little mix of disappointment thaI includes her not replying to her mother.
“Be careful out there Bonnie, vampires, and witches are sworn enemies... You should know where to disappear to and learn how to inform me!” she said.
“ You are using magic out in the open mother”, Bonnie answered.
“Mine is different! Anyway, have you told your friend about your dream yet?” she added.
“Mom how?! How do I tell her I'm a witch and I see visions? I can't endanger her life.” Bonnie said before making her way inside.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY
The moment Tessa stepped into school space, the air around her switched from normal. She felt so cold like she was out in the snow with no clothes on, totally naked and the hair on her skin rose from its ends.
She wonders if this is how the riches do their thing, but she can not find a reasonable explanation for the chilling effect she's feeling.
Tessa is a beautiful young girl with skin white as snow, brown chestnut hair that drops below her waist and her blue orb eye is enough to enthrall any living being.
She caught sight of three girls of her age giggling and chattering away, but they were looking so different compared to her. The girls are heavily dressed with their hair styled to perfection. She glanced at her stepsisters and then at her stained floral dress that had extra heaviness and designs on it.
“So sorry dear sister, you were so happy that you forgot to change your dress” Faye mocked.
“Make sure to follow instructions here too, since you decided to show up like a poor servant, you are on your first day”, Lola added, and the duo burst into incredulous laughter.
“And one more thing, don't you dare act as if you know us around here, okay? I don't want you tainting my image”, Faye said with her fingers motioning her words better than her mouth.
“We should get going, Sis,” Lola said, and they walked away.
Loneliness settled around her quicker than she imagined. It didn't break her heart that her sisters denied her. She's happy she wouldn't have to serve them in school as well. She glanced over at the gate, praying Bonnie should walk right in, but she saw nothing but emptiness and a deserted road.
She knows at least how to go get her things at the headmaster’s office, but she doesn't know anywhere. She bit her lips as she checked her dress once again.
“I bet he would throw me out, mistaking me to be a crazy girl” she whined, and turned lazily towards the gate. Could she be giving up on her first day?!
She lost control of her tired steps only to bump into a hard surface, so hard and close like it had been there the entire time. The strange part is that the hard surface smells nice and real, smells fruity and at the same time dangerous.
She gasped when she saw a very neat shoe, her searching gaze made it up to the long brown coat and her heart rammed against her chest.
The cold air got colder and her body trembled with fear.
- Writer
