“Good night, Miss Wing.”
“Good night,” she replied, then closed the door behind him.
She took a deep, soundless breath. Looking around the room, she was happy to see that, at least, the accommodation was kept top notch. She’d arrived in a carriage, but at least the bed was proper and not something filled with straw, like from the Dark Ages, as she was starting to fear. There were two beds but the other one wasn’t occupied. There were also two wardrobes but one was empty. Two desks, two of everything. She figured students usually had a roommate, she just didn’t get one, because she arrived late, as the school year had already started three weeks ago. She’d have to catch up but she didn’t mind. She’d do anything to keep a low profile and try to find out as much as she could about Dante and her brother, before she actually met him.
Rumors were that Dante was the Headmaster here. Mina never found out if that was true or not. She never needed to know. She was happy enough killing his messengers and getting rid of killer vampires, one by one, making the world a better place but, now, everything was important. Anything could be crucial. Anything could mean the difference between life and death. That was why she needed to be ready when facing Dante. She couldn’t just appear before him now, having no ace up her sleeve.
She wondered if Dante really didn’t know she was here. She’d arrived safe and sound but that could mean nothing. He could just be playing. She could wake up, tied up to the bed, her wrists leaking precious fluid into his wooden pots.
The wind howled outside, as if it had a mind of its own, telling her to beware. She made sure the window was locked from the inside, then drew the curtains but the sound remained. It was in the room. It was in her mind.
She took a quick shower and quickly went over her curriculum for the current week. The moment her head touched the pillow, she was fast asleep.
Chapter 5
Mina opened her eyes, and realized that she was feeling well rested. That was a bad sign. That meant that she had surely overslept. She grabbed her phone, and realized to her horror, that it was 6:45 am. She only had fifteen minutes to get ready and get to class.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
Mina jumped out of bed and started stripping on the way to the bathroom, leaving items of clothes on the floor like a trail of breadcrumbs. She brushed her teeth quickly, then rushed over to the wardrobe. A sigh of relief escaped her chest upon seeing her school uniform hanging neatly inside, ironed and pressed. It looked pristine.
She got dressed in less than a minute, grabbed her backpack and rushed outside. The hallway to her dorm was empty. Everyone was already in the school building. She ran over there as quickly as she could. Upon reaching the entrance, she found a map on the wall and tried to remember which class she was supposed to have first.
“English Lit!” she shouted to herself, as a few other students, probably feeling as lost as she was, circled around her, in an effort to find the right classroom.
“You going to English Lit?”
Mina suddenly heard a voice behind her and wondered how, lately, everyone seemed to start talking to her when she was turned around.
“Yeah?” she replied, hopeful that someone else was going and was as late as she was, so at least, they could share the punishment.
“Come on, it’s this way!”
The girl gestured at her to follow her and Mina did as she was instructed, running after the girl down the already empty hallway. The girl turned left, then right, then up a small flight of stairs, then a swift right and the classroom was the last one on the right.
“I never would have been able to find it on my own,” Mina admitted and the girl laughed.
“I know,” the girl replied. “Took me three weeks to learn the route. I’m Reeba, by the way.”
“Lucy,” Mina smiled, trying to sound sincere.
The name was still new and she had to make a conscious effort every time someone asked her for her name, otherwise her cover could be blown before she even got to Dante.
“Now, let’s get in before Mrs. Whittmer comes and sees we’re late.”
Mina rushed in after Reeba and tried to find an empty seat, preferably somewhere in the back. Unfortunately, all of the safe ones in the back were already taken, so Mina just sat down wherever she could. She could almost feel the piercing gazes all around her but she tried not to pay attention to them. Of course, it was a given that everybody would stare at the new kid, for whatever reason. It could be the clothes, the hair, or just the way someone walks. It’s never anything logical, though. She just didn’t want to give them any additional reasons to keep staring at her once this initial curiosity had passed, so she just slumped down into the seat and remained quiet.
A few moments later, a woman waltzed into the classroom on heels much higher than Mina expected from a teacher here in the middle of nowhere. She was wearing just a little too much makeup, especially taking into account her age. Again, Mina was unable to pinpoint her age, even roughly, because she seemed old, but the gleam in her eyes, the way she carried herself, the way she spoke, revealed a woman of much younger age. Then, Mina remembered where she was. Of course all these people were much older than they seemed.
“Alright then, settle down everybody!” she voiced herself, not overly loud, but loud enough for everyone to be able to hear her.
It took a while for everyone to do as they were told and Mina could only hope that she wouldn’t have to do the usual new kid introduction. Being in the line of work she was, Kellam took it upon himself to home school her, though Mina knew of the usual school experience, because she started going to school as a young child. Only once they were left all alone, did Kellam take over full custody of her and make sure she was doing well, both physically as well as psychologically ever since. He managed to make everything interesting. With him, every subject was an adventure just waiting to be discovered, he knew exactly how to create that connection between a student and the subject matter. Mina had always thought, if he wasn’t a vampire slayer, he definitely would have been a teacher and an awesome one.
The very thought of him brought tears to her eyes. For the last two weeks, she’d been immersed in planning for this trip, so she hadn’t even had time to sit down and be sad about everything that had happened. Not that it would do much good anyway. At least, that was what Kellam always used to say. It was better to use
that energy to try and come up with a solution, than sit down, throw in the towel and just cry. Crying had no purpose.
So, Mina bit down on her lower lip, in a futile effort to displace the feeling of discomfort and pain, and gazed forward, waiting to hear what Mrs. Whittmer would say next.