Dark Night: Episode 3 (The Darkest Nights Series) (3 page)

After having
that
conversation with Robert I had a few dances with Jack and then Mereily. After all of that, I headed upstairs. No longer in the mood for more “dancing”. I had met half the students and wasn’t really interested in getting to know everyone in one night. It was past ten and the halls were dark. There was no one wandering around like I was. I guess everyone really was enjoying the party.

I was thinking about going back later when they presented the awards but then I heard steps coming towards me and I kept walking until I saw the person that came into view.

“Hey, where are you going?” Sophie asked. She was by herself.

“I was just going up for a minute. I thought you were with Mereily?” She flinched when I asked.

“No. She’s hanging out with Gene and her friends, I don’t know why Gene talks to her though and she’s not even a royal
yet.
They talk like they’re best friends. When Mereily first came here I was the first one to talk to her and when she was sick I was for her through everything. Gene didn’t even start talking to her until a few weeks ago. I think she’s up to something.” She said quietly. I looked at her face and she looked really upset by this, she really thought that Gene was up to no good. That worried me.

“Don’t get worked up over her, we’ll know if she’s up to something don’t worry. I don’t like her at all but we don’t know what’s going on in her head.” So far, she had only been rude to me which wasn’t enough for me to suspect her of anything weird.

“Well, I’ll go back with you then. If Mereily is still with her then we can hang out for a while.” I decided that maybe it was a good opportunity to get to know Sophie better. She smiled and we went back to the ball room.

Many of the students were still dancing while others were just sitting, eating and talking. Jack was still talking to some friends, he didn’t even notice when I left. But I think that was for the best. He was a royal after all and I wasn’t interested in being friends with them. I also spotted Robert standing by himself and that’s when he met my eyes and for a minute it was like a battle of who would look away first. Sophie interrupted us.

“Mia? Hello?” She waved her hand in front of my face.

“Uh. Sorry__ I spaced out.” I lied glancing back to where Robert was standing but he wasn’t there anymore. “Let’s sit there.”

When we reached our seats the music had stopped.

“Good evening students. Today we have some special news and awards we are giving out.” It was the same lady from the auditorium that spoke while she stood by the podium.

“What’s her name?” I whispered to Sophie.

“She’s an Elder. They’re the teachers. I think her name is Abi.” She whispered back. The room was silent while Abi spoke.

“Tonight, we have some royals among us that we have not yet recognized. That was an oversight, I apologize. We had a mess up with some paper work and now we will announce who these students are. As I call your name please exit the room and follow Goddess Illyanne.” She paused for a second.

“That is crap.” Sophie said.

“I hope they call you though, it’s only fair.” I told her keeping my voice down. She nodded as Abi spoke.

“Before I begin with the list, there is a new student here tonight that I would like to introduce to you. Her name is Mia Dawney. Will you come up here please Mia?” I tried to hide but she spotted me. I had no idea how she knew me but she saw me and I had no choice but to stand up. I wished that the floor would swallow me whole.

I walked around the tables and up the steps to the stage that they had made then I stood in front of the whole student body.

Abi was a tall lady, around early thirties and she smiled a lot.

“Welcome to the Dark Knight Institute. You are here by claimed to be a royal. Take this and Isabelle will see you tomorrow first thing in the morning. You may take your seat.” She handed me a package I didn’t know what to say and was glad that I wasn’t forced to say anything.

I heard claps and whistles from the crowd.

I bowed respectfully then walked in shock back to where Sophie sat with her mouth hanging open. I shook my head trying to tell her I didn’t know. She had to know that my surprise was just as genuine as hers was. Everybody in the room stared which was uncomfortable to say the least.

Abi started with the list of students that were up for awards. Most of the names she called were people I didn’t know so I just mentally blocked it out until I heard the name’s I recognized, “Sophie Carmichael, Mereily Jolie,” I noticed Sophie’s face had brightened and she stood up and walked past me smiling. Then, finally reaching my seat I saw Mereily going the opposite direction. I couldn’t see her face but I bet she was as happy as Sophie was. Once I sat down, there was someone else that had joined the table.

“You
are
special.” Jack said. Then I realized something, I leaned back in my chair and rolled my eyes.

“Oh. So that’s why you talked to me? You knew this was going to happen and here I thought you weren’t like the rest.” I folded my arms across my chest and turned to look at Abi who was speaking to the small group of kids that were standing on the stage.

“Did I miss something? You think I talked to you just because I knew you were a royal?” He paused for my response but I ignored him. “That’s not why. I was about to tell you before
Lord
Robert interrupted us. Well here it goes. I’m supposed to be your soulmate. And the only reason I knew you’re a royal was because I overheard a conversation that Illyanne was having with someone on the phone. I didn’t know that until after I talked to you anyway.” I turned to look at him and could see he was serious about what he was saying.

“Oh no,” My eyes dropped. What he just said wasn’t good. None of it was, “What are you talking about
your
mate?” I couldn’t be with him now.

I really didn’t need this boy crap.

“Everyone has one. I thought you knew,” He was right about that. I did know but chose to ignore Robert when he had told me the same thing earlier today. That’s why he was worried.

“I’m sorry, I have to go.” I told Jack as I got up and left the room forgetting everyone in there and leaving Jack looking stunned after me.

It was awful, everything. I didn’t want to be part of the royals or
be
with anyone. This was already a mess. I ran up the stairs as fast as possible in my heels and tripped but got a hold of the wall and kept running until I reached my room.

As soon as I went through the door, I saw Robert and Genevieve making out. My heart stopped for a second and then I took a deep breath. “Robert, can you not take her somewhere else, please?” Trying not to look at them, instead I stared at the TV screen.

They were “watching” the news. More like they were making out on the sofa while the TV was on. The tears were coming but I just wiped my eyes with the back of my palm and walked to my bathroom. I heard a door close and hoped that they had left but then I sat inside the bathtub and turned the shower on hot water. It always made me feel better after a terrible day. I was still wearing the dress but I didn’t care.

The more I thought about it the more convinced I was that it was all too much for one day. And I was overwhelmed with all the changes that were happening to me in such a short time.

There was a knock at the door.

“Are you alright?” Robert asked. I didn’t want to answer but knowing him, he would probably get a goddess here or something.

“I’m fine. Aren’t you busy anyway?” I told him so he would leave me alone. He didn’t answer for several minutes and then someone knocked again. I stood up and opened the shower curtain. “Robert you better leave me alone! I’m not in the mood.” I tried to yell but the shower running made me sound like I was barely talking.

“It’s me, Mereily.” She said from the other side of the door. “Let me in.” She said softly.

For a second I thought about telling her to go away too but decided that venting to someone was better than keeping it all inside. So I opened the door for her. “Mia? What’s wrong?” She was looking around. I had a puddle of water on the floor. She turned the water off then went into my closet while I sat inside the shower.

“Mereily, is it this bad? I don’t know why you’re asking me what’s wrong, because clearly everything is wrong with me. I bonded with Robert and I just saw him making out with the girl he says he never liked and in
my room
while I’m dealing with Jack telling me I’m his mate and to top it all off I’m a freaking
royal.
” I put my hands on my face. “This
is
bad.” I wasn’t exaggerating. At least I didn’t think I was.

She didn’t answer.

I guess she didn’t want to lie. She had a robe and a towel in her hands.

“Here,” She handed me the towel and she turned around while I got out of my wet clothes. “Sophie and I were looking for you. We didn’t know where you were until Robert told us.” She paused for a second. “Mia, don’t get mad but I was just wondering, do you
like
Robert?” She asked me.

“No. I don’t like him or his little girlfriend.” I said without thinking about it. I’d planned to stay away from both. Nothing good could come from that relationship. “I hope no one expects me to go back to the ball.”

“No. It ends at eleven thirty the latest and the ceremony is over. They‘re just dancing now. Don’t worry about it, you should get some rest. You have a long day tomorrow and school starts at eight.” She smiled trying to be helpful.

“Don’t remind me.” The room was empty after we walked out of the restroom and I was grateful for that. “Umm... I’m sorry I know I made a big fuss over nothing, this was supposed to be your night and I made it about myself.”

“No. You didn’t and what are friends for?” She gave me a hug.

“Right, oh and Congratulations they finally recognized you and Sophie!”

“Thanks, you too.”

I rolled my eyes at that.

“Well, I’m leaving you now. Don’t get in the shower again okay?”

We both laughed at that.

“Okay.” I said smiling. “Good night then I’ll see you tomorrow so text me or something.”

“Yeah, what’s your number?”

Luckily I remembered and gave it to her.

“Got it, see ya!” She said as I shut the door.

I went to bed and didn’t want to think about what an awful night I had.

It was a nightmare from hell. That’s what it was. Mia had witnessed Genevieve’s little scene back in the room, not that I cared. But it was Gene throwing a fit. She wanted to skip her classes tomorrow with some friends to go shopping and I had told her not to. She tried persuading me that way, she thought she had me but I just didn’t want to listen to her anymore. Unfortunately we continued that conversation in her room.

“I think you should attend your classes, shopping can wait for after school. Your grades are more important.” I stood by her door while she sat cross legged on her bed patting it, wanting me to go sit by her but I shook my head and she pouted.

“What are you, my father? Look, screw my grades! It’s not like I have to do the work anyway.” She thought about what she had said. “Ops, don’t freak, ‘kay? I just don’t have time for it, so quit looking at me like that.” She stood from the bed and before she could come close to me, I gave up.

“Do whatever you want. I just do
not
want your parents questioning me.”

“They won’t. So you’re really not going to tell?” She put her hands on her hips.

“No. I don’t know anything about it. Go ahead
princess
.” I said leaving her alone in her room.

Back in my room, Mia was asleep. I wanted to talk to her but didn’t want to wake her. I knew what a hard day she had and how many more were coming her way. Our talk, would have to wait for tomorrow.

Feeling much better the next morning, I had made up my mind about many things. First I was going to ignore Robert and his girlfriend. Second, I was going to get to know Jack better, if he was supposed to be my mate then maybe we would be together in the future. Third I was going to do my best to follow the rules.

After a shower, I returned to my armoire. Robert was in his bathroom. My uniforms were all different. For the first day I went with a flashy outfit. That was another thing, I was going to be more outgoing and if they wanted me to look like a superstar then that’s what I was going to do.

My outfit consisted of a short skirt and the tank top with the sweater on top. The sweater was a dark red and the tank top was a navy blue, the skirt was black but instead of my zodiac sign being on the sweater it was on my skirt and it stood out because it was red like the sweater. I chose to wear black stiletto boots. They completed my uniform. I just left my hair straight down my back which was to my waist.

Once I was ready I looked for my class schedule that I had not looked at yet then found it on the kitchen counter and a bag over it that was black with my Virgo sign on it. I found a book for every class except training and most of them were small but two. There were all kinds of school supplies inside it too.

I looked at my schedule.

1st Vamp. Environ. & History- Elder Abel- Room 400

2nd Vamp. Sociology- Elder Carden- Room 208

3rd AP History & AP Science-Elder Kern- Room 512

4th AP Calculus- Elder Nebula- Room 420

Lunch/V2- Cafeteria/Private- Room 100

5th Astrology- Elder Tariq- Room 380

6th AP Languages- Elder Braeden- Room 256

7th Basic Training-Instructor Lord Robert Townsend-Main Gym

(8th Optional “see training instructor”) Extra training/Study hall/early leave

 8th Extra Training-Elder Abi-Main Gym

I grabbed my cell phone and put it in the bag not wanting to carry two bags so I just figured that was all I would need. Robert was not in the room and he had left the key on the counter so I took it too.

When I walked out of the room he was behind me.

“Can I talk to you?” He asked as I started walking. “Wait, please.” He touched my arm and I looked down then he pulled it back looking away.

“What do you want?” I knew my voice wasn’t friendly but he had to get the point.

“To talk to you about what you saw last night.” He reminded me of the scene that I had walked in on.

“I didn’t see anything, none of my business.” I told him and kept walking. He followed.

“It is your business. Look, I am trying to do the right thing here. I do not want to be with her but I have to. Just like you have to be with Jack and in time you will learn to like him.” I could hear it in his voice that he didn’t even believe what he was saying.

“You knew about him and you didn’t tell me?” It was all clear now, how everyone knew everything, except for me.

“I tried, but forget that. We at least need to try to break this bond while the King and Queen Stewart are gone. That is if Mylian has not told them yet. Only they will decide what will happen with us so until then we need to keep distance.”

“Finally! I couldn’t agree more. Why don’t you start by changing the class that I have with you?” I pointed out. He probably knew about that too.

“There is nothing we can do about the classes. That’s something we are going to have to deal with even if we don’t like each other.” He said flatly.

“Whatever then,” We walked down the stairs and I saw Isabelle standing by the wall.

“Hello, Mia.” She bowed and I bowed back. “How was the ball?” She asked.

“It was full of surprises.” I smiled and looked at Robert who was standing by me.

“I’m glad to hear you have become part of the royalty.” She really seemed pleased.

“That makes one of us.” I said under my breath. “It’s great.” I said to her face knowing that was what she wanted to hear.

“Have you looked at the package yet?” Crap. The package I had last night, I’d left on the table and forgot completely about it until now. So I lied.

“Not yet. But I will later it’s in my room.” Robert had a smirk on his face, so I glared at him.

“Well when you get the chance to look at it you need to come by and see me. My office is right down there.” She pointed towards the main entrance. “Just ask Robert if you need anything. I trust you have been helping her?” She asked him.

“Of course,” It was all he could say.

“There is something I need to speak with both of you about in private later in the afternoon. If you could please, come see me?” I nodded.

“Yes. We will.” He said. I knew what it was about. Milyan had told her about our bond and now we were going to get lectured about it.

“Till’ then I’ll see you, get to class.” She said as she waved.

I walked through the doors that led outside. It was nice and warm, about seventy degrees. Robert was still behind me but he wasn’t following me he was just going to class too.

My phone rang.

I picked it up and didn’t even look at the number but I answered it.

“Hello?” I waited.

“Mia, it’s me. Tell Robert to take you to the cafeteria and from there I’ll meet you and show you the class rooms,” Mereily said.

“Alright,” I hung up but wasn’t happy about the idea of asking Robert for anything anymore though I had to. “Can you show me where the cafeteria is?” I turned to ask him.

“Yes.” He said flatly.

We went into the building and it looked just like a school. There were stairs leading down and stairs leading up. We were in the middle level. We walked straight down the hall until the cafeteria came into view. Students sat there while they ate their breakfast. I spotted Mereily easily. She was standing by the main door.

“Thanks” She told him. I didn’t even look at him and he didn’t say anything either, he just went into the cafeteria. It wasn’t as big as the dining area by the dorms or as nice. But it was to be expected of a school that made me feel like I was in a real school.

“Not covering up much today?” She noticed. I shook my head. “Nice. Let me see your schedule.” I dug through my bag, when I found it then handed it to her. She looked at it for a minute or two. “You have three classes with me.” She pointed at them. We had 1st, 2nd and 6th hours together. That was good to know.

“That’s cool. So where’s our first class?” I asked.

“Follow me.” She said and I followed. We went back through the hall and down the stairs to the first floor. “These are the four hundreds and five hundreds. I think some of your classes will be down here.” She kept walking straight. “Here,” We stopped in front of a door, it was shut but the room number was big enough for everyone to see. “Room 400, this is our first class. Your third class is all the way down the hall and that would be room 512, on your left. Also for room 420 that’s right over there.” She pointed at the right side of the hall. “I’ll show you the rest after class. Confused yet?”

“No. it’s pretty easy.” I wasn’t lying, I had thought it would be hard but it wasn’t yet. The door to our first class opened and an older man greeted us.

“Good morning Mereily, early to class?” He asked her.

“Yes, actually you have a new student. This is Mia Dawney.” She introduced me.

“Nice to meet you Miss. Dawney, I am Elder Abel. And you may call me Elder Abel.” He smiled widely.

“Nice meeting you too.” I said. The classroom was still empty but he let us in.

“I have a sit for you Miss. Dawney.” Elder Abel wasn’t old he was around thirty and he wore glasses. His hair was long but he had it pulled back. “You may sit right there.” He said pointing at a table. There were three large squared tables and there were chairs around them. I went to sit at the one he pointed at.

Mereily sat next to me, “This is my seat.” She said and I smiled, glad to have her in a class. A bell rang but we sat quietly while the students were taking their seats. I saw some that I had met last night, others I didn’t know. A girl that I had not seen before sat next to me and immediately she smiled and started talking to me.

“Hi. I’m Delilah, are you new?” She reminded me of a Barbie with her pretty blonde hair straightened and it wasn’t as long as mine, but still long. She had a black headband with a hot pink bow on her head. Her uniform was a hot pink skirt with black top and sweater. She had high cheek bones, and pretty skin. Her eyes were emerald green.

“Yeah, this is my first day. I’m Mia, by the way.” I shook her hand.

“As in, Mia
Dawney
?” Nice to know there wasn’t a person in the school who didn’t know who I was.

“Exactly,” I said. Mereily said hi to her and apparently they knew each other.

“She’s Robert’s little sister. Lady Delilah but she doesn’t like to be called that. Just Delilah,” Mereily said.

“Really?” I had no idea Robert had a sister. But it shouldn't have surprised me. I didn’t know he was Mereily’s cousin which made Delilah her cousin too.

Hmm, “Yeah, I’m not that little I’m seventeen, he’s the old one. Just call me Delilah or Lilah.” She said. Now I was curious to know how old he was. I had thought he was about nineteen.

“How old is he?” I asked her hoping she didn’t mind.

She didn’t. “Twenty. Well almost, he turns twenty this weekend so basically he’s an adult. But he‘ll be graduating with you, so I guess it’s a good age.” She shrugged. “I’m kind of half junior half senior. It’s really dumb but they won’t allow siblings to be in the same grade or classes for fear of cheating and that kind of goes for everyone. See I’m too smart for my own good and Robby is too but he refuses to get ahead of everyone else so I’m stuck in this weird grade thing.” She shrugged.

Elder Abel closed the door and walked in front of the class. He started talking about something I didn’t pay attention. Delilah left me with some thoughts about what she had said. I was wondering off, which I shouldn’t have because when the class was dismissed by the bell I was lost.

“Mia, did you get the assignment?” It Mereily who asked.

“No. I don’t think I heard anything, I mean I wasn’t paying much attention. What was the assignment?” She looked at her cousin and then back at me.

“Are you alright?” I heard Mereily’s concerned voice.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Just checking,” Mereily and Delilah exchanged another look and we left the room. “Hey, I’ll see you later.” She told Delilah. Delilah nodded.

We walked up the stairs as students were going to their second hour class. “Will you tell me why you were both exchanging weird looks?”

“I knew you noticed. It’s about the other vampires but it’s not important right now, we can talk about it on lunch.” She said trying to change the subject. “You really didn’t know she was my cousin?”

“No idea.” I said.

“You know where the cafeteria is? Well, the Library is right beside it and the one hundreds are on the same floor.” We walked up to the third floor. “This is where you’ll find the two hundreds and three hundreds. It’s smaller, so you won’t get lost. There are two more floors, but that’s the college credit classes only. We won’t need to go there until next year.” We stopped in a classroom that was smaller than the first. “There are only fifteen students in this class. You’ll know everybody once class is over.” She said smiling. “Elder Carden,” She called her.

“Yes. Oh I see Mia is joining our class.” I was going to have to get use to the idea of everybody knowing me. “I’m Carden. You’ll get in trouble for calling me Carden, but I’m Elder Carden. We have fun in this class, so please take a seat where you like.” She told me.

“Thank you Elder Carden.” She was young and pretty. I didn’t know what an Elder was exactly but so far Elder Abel and Carden were good looking Elders. “I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“Um, what is Sociology? Is it like socializing with people and things like that?” She wasn’t surprised by my question.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll cover that today, and you’ll see what it is.” She said.

Mereily told me to sit by her and I did. The last bell rang and the Elder closed the door behind her. “Good morning class, today we’re going to discuss Sociology. It is not a normal class day. No word puzzles or anything like that. Charles, give me your definition of Sociology.” She told a kid that looked just like a kid.

“The study of classification of different societies...” The boy said.

“Yes. That’s the general definition. But our definition is the study of society, humans, vampires, gods or goddesses, and Elder’s social interaction, and the rules & processes that bind and separate people not only as individual but as members of associations, groups and institutions.” I took my note book out and wrote down the definition. “Humans, they are just like animals in a way they stick to their own race. Vampires on the other hand don’t but only the evil mortals and immortals that are banned from our society. Other than that, we live at peace with each other.

We also have good mortals and immortals. The immortals are the goddesses and elders, which I am one. You are all mortals even after you fully become a vampire. I have lived a very long time and I can tell you that not all is good out there. This is why it’s important for you to know the differences between our worlds. Goddesses or gods are also picked to become one. They have their own schools where they learn and train to be one. They are very much like humans. The difference is that they are immortal. To become one, they take an oath, drink from a special wine and stay that certain age forever. Elders, we are different from all three groups. We are not trained to become one, most of the time we are already born that way. Elders come from the mixture of humans and vampires. We are immortal as well. We take on more from the vampires but we have our human side as well. That said we can continue with the classification of each.” She spoke as she walked around the class room.