I didn't have much time to sleep, I was too busy packing up my life into four way too small suitcases. Mary-Anne arranged the whole setup in just a couple hours. I got a fake ID issued from Greenland, one of the few remaining unoccupied territories, a fake plane ticket to keep as a 'memento' in my dorm, and a half-fake name: Avalynn Thorn.
"Are you ready?" Mary-Anne stood with her back against my door. She was quite eager to get this mission rolling, but again, it wouldn't be her in a school full of murderous Arcanae.
"Are you sure I can't pack any weapons?" I asked as a last effort. I already knew the answer.
She gave me a stern look. "Do you want to be discovered on the first day?"
I sighed. "Then I'm ready."
"Excellent. We'll leave for the airport immediately. You will be picked up by one of their caretakers."
She grabbed two suitcases and rushed down the stairs. I took a good look at my room. It was fairly small, but cozy. I think I'll miss it. I know I will.
"Stop blubbering and hurry up. You'll come back soon if you do your job right." Mary-Anne was already back at the door, staring me down. She can be crazy fast, or just plain crazy sometimes.
"I'm coming," I said.
We put my stuff in her SUV and set out for the airport.
"Is everything clear about your mission?" she asked.
"Yeah, go to school, get all buddy-buddy with the Blackbloods, solve crime."
"Please treat this more seriously. You will meet one of the leaders of our world."
"Growing up as a daughter of one of said leaders makes me hard to impress."
Mary-Anne took her eyes off the road to meet mine. She made a very serious expression before releasing my gaze.
"Vampires are different…" She wanted to say something more, but she stopped herself. "Just be careful, okay?"
"As always." I gave her a quick smile, but I wasn't sure she saw it.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
We finally arrived at the airport half an hour before my plane was supposed to land. I gave my sister a hug, then went into the halls to wait for my 'caretaker'. I know that sis arranged everything, and I trusted her completely. What I didn't trust were my acting skills.
After a bit more than half an hour, I walked outside, to be greeted by a smaller crowd. People were standing around, shyly holding up signs, or excitedly looking for their loved ones.
I found my name fairly quickly on a sign held up by an old man in an expensive looking suit. I walked up to him.
Let the play begin.
"Hello," I said. It wasn't the cleverest opener in history, but it did its job.
"Lady Avalynn Thorn?" I nodded. "Greetings my lady." He bowed, nice and proper, which made me question if I was supposed to do the same or not. I voted the latter, and just stood slightly confused and scared looking. I knew that my deep blue eyes were the perfect color to sell my nervousness.
Blue eyes can make people underestimate me, put me in the pile of oh-so-dainty, especially with my golden blonde hair. I looked like a damned princess, and normally I hated it. Men wouldn't take me seriously before I've beaten their asses in a match. Women would shower me with compliments, then gossip about me jealously when they thought I wasn't looking.
But in cases like this, cute-and-dainty was the perfect cover-up.
"Please, allow me to introduce myself. My master has graciously given me the name Alistair. I am the head servant at the academia." He gave me one of those smiles that only wise and old people can give, full of reassurance and protection. It did make me feel better, but I had to keep up the act. I was supposed to be a newcomer to a completely unknown world. That kind of shock doesn't vanish from a goodhearted smile.
"Nice to meet you, Alistair."
"Please my lady, follow me back to the car so we can get to the dormitories in a timely manner."
He took all of my suitcases and pulled them back to what turned out to be the same kind of SUV my sister had, just in black. It was the best luxury SUV of the year, so I shouldn't be surprised, but it was still a funny sight.
We got in the car and spent the one-and-a-half-hour drive to the school listening to classical music. It would've been nice, but it felt fabricated. The Blackbloods wanted me to feel good and homey. What the heck did my sister tell them about me? I started to get truly nervous.
We arrived at the dormitory an hour before classes begin. It looked like a very expensive hotel (emphasis on very). My Hunter salary was really good, but for a moment I wasn't sure if I could afford living in this place. Alistair must have sensed my doubt, or was just accustomed to the newcomers' questions, because he said: "All of the dormitory's fees are covered by our kind king."
That made me feel better, but I did notice how he referred to Gaediel Blackblood as our king, and I wasn't happy.
"Here is your key." Alistair gave me a small bracelet. It was a thin silver ring, with a small blue stone that matched my eyes. He slid it on my left wrist. "Nearly all doors should open for you now, both at school and at the dormitory." I nodded. It was modern and pretty, but I was convinced it had a tracking system in it. I hated to be tracked, but I had to look innocent and inconspicuous.
"Wow, it's so pretty," I said. Alistair smiled.
"Now, my dear lady, I would like to ask you to follow me to my lord for a brief introduction."
"Okay, lead the way."
The school was astounding in person. I've never been in this part of the city before, just as pictures on the net, but those couldn't even be compared to the real thing.
The building took up the same amount of space as the stadium beside it, but it stood taller. It's black marble walls symbolized the Blackbloods – obviously – and its grandiosity symbolized just how superior they imagined themselves to be. The school also served as headquarters for them. With all the new knowledge I gathered up yesterday I assumed this to be Elessa's idea.
"Our king is waiting for you in his office." Alistair said, as he entered the building.
I took a deep breath to center myself then followed him inside. Here goes nothing!