Creak Waters University is where I go for me to learn normal and everyday human things. It's the only university down the road of the third block, It's the closest school for me. I think the street is called Weren street? and it's by the open field. It is a luxurious private school and I would say it's pretty prestigious. Many known people's children would go there and the teachers do teach us something, They have experiences and their methods of teaching are educational. The professors say that for you to be able to teach there, you need to have at least two degrees in college, which itself is pretty hard.
Stories say that back then, It is an only girls' school, after some time it became a dorm school, then a tragedy arrived at the faculty, renovations occur, and then It became the school it is now. The structure is fine, It is modern with a little touch of intricate renaissance details and some kind of unfamiliar symbols drawn on some of its walls. It stood beside a powerplant for some reason and it is a ten-minute drive from our house.
Now here's some interesting piece of information, For some family reasons, All of my cousins are studying there at Creakwaters. Some of them already graduated and are currently handling some family businesses that are said to only be for 'the responsible ones'. My family says that it is the best as even the laziest of my cousins learn there. I think that is the reason why I am forced to study there (not that I am lazy -_-), add to the fact that it is closest to us and It is the best here.
It's not part of their plan for me to study there or maybe any school for that matter!. They didn't want me to socialize with other humans, to make friends, as according to them, my cousins are enough company (though I can't even pull out a conversation with any of them, not that I want to). I don't know why they're set to think that, they just are. My family is mainly protective, or should I say, strict with me. Every step I make should always be known by them. I'm constantly watched, I don't even know why.
huh, imagine that kind of life.
I'm really an unlucky fella.
The plan is for me to know the Elders as soon as possible, That didn't happen even until now, that's not a disappointment though, I am happy about that. They have their reasons I have mine. I don't know theirs so why would they know mine. But.. Having to go to school is my happiness here. I need to be careful though, one wrong move, and I'm back to that shaggy old house as a prisoner.
I should always remember that even on the school premises I am not free, as my many cousins are under my Nana and they would report me, all the time. Well not all of them would, so that's a relief.
Thanks to the nosy mouths of our neighbors, who did spread the word that the Hargroves have another teen, another prodigy they say. They think that the new star of this family would shine another beam of success, their expectations not mine. Welp, hate to disappoint anyone, but as a prodigy, I am not.
They keep being the people they are and continuously ask my parents why I don't go outside, why I am not known as the other Hargroves, or why I don't go to school like my other cousins. I think they got annoyed and filled up with all of that, so they give in. Besides if they keep me in secret for so long, that would just arouse suspicion unto themselves. The others would think that I am a kidnapped rich child of a very known family who got locked up in here, just like in the novels!, or like forced to follow them at some sort, I dunno, People in the other town that we lived in, think that way.
A 'normal' day comes after the sun rises. I got ready for school and mentally prepared myself to go downstairs because it is possible that the ones assigned to watch over me are still there, they're creepy. Imagine getting a glass of water then you stumbled upon them, staring at you...just waiting. At first, my heart is pounding, not that it beats but -- What a relief They aren't there anymore.
I got to school a bit early, I think. The crickets are still... well cricketing.
"Hi, Goodmorning!"
"Hello!"
"Hi! Hi!"
"Hi, Illiannah!"
"You know, we're friends but, she doesn't want to talk about it"
"I'm her best friend!"
"She's our friend"
"Friends!"
"Friend!"
"Friend!"
Every day, at the campus, Students crowd me in. They're like early morning rosters, they're loud and all. They want me to say that they're my friend, or that we know each other, though I have never even seen them once in my life. It's not a proud thing to say but, being one of the Hagroves can never be a secret. One way or another someone will know and will surely spread it. I did hide my whole life, but here I am.
Those are the 'perks' of having Hargrove as your surname, you are famous everywhere and everyone wants to be your friend, at least when someone's looking. Mainly because many famous people are from my family. Maybe five of my cousins(some are even my age!), half of my aunts and uncles, my father is a known person too, and of course my nana.
Even if this is a known school, peace for an introverted person like me is not possible. Almost all of my cousins get this treatment and just passes away with it but for the love of God, I can't live with this. Many people want me to notice them, recommend them, or even introduce them to my famous cousins or aunts. Well, I'm the easiest to approach they say. That is partially true, all my family members are ill-tempered, every single one of them. But they can be sweet too, they're just busy, that's all.
To think I'm still living now with all this...
"Hey! Get out the way losers!"
"A-ah, Yannahhhhh!"
I heard a familiar shrieking voice calling my nickname, I just secretly rolled my eyes, It was her definitely. The friendly and lovey-dovey, my only "friend" at the campus, Crystal. She's as tall as I am, a sunny person, one popular fella and she's a bully to others. You can all say that she is the typical popular and mean girl in your high school. She has this second batch of minions, they are popular too, but they don't want to be sticking with me as they said I'm their enemy. I know that she's there for the spotlight, She's there to steal all that shine but I don't care either. She can have it all, she's my shield too anyways.
"Hi, yannie! Ah, she's my friend actually, right best friend?"
She said to all of the students staring at me, pointing them one by one and treating me like a limited edition handbag that everybody wants. She's just showing me off like I am some kind of rare thing that everybody wants to get but she's the only one who has it. I just nodded my head. I'm okay for her to use me, as long as I'm not alone during lunchtime. That's the time when the jerks mostly strike. They think I'll be alone at lunchtime, but since I have this friend of mine they can't touch me.
I just go about my day after the teachers and some guards shooed the crowd of my schoolmates away.
Another 'normal' day to live this life of mine. The books in the library are all my motivation to carry on and step into this mystery of a future world. I need to return the one book that I borrowed yesterday, I might be charged if I didn't.
I wish to escape my life one day. To live as a normal everyday human, with my own family living in our house, at the seaside, or in the urban areas of the city, having this amazing view of the mountains. I want to lose it all; the fame, wealth, and surname that mostly belong to this family I currently have and despite out of everything.
I'm not even born here and yet they treat me as their youngest. Well, technically I am the youngest and newest to arrive but still, I cannot live with all this complexity. The bond, the blood, the fangs, the rules, and the elders. One normal sunny day with a book and tea is all I want, a simple life that I can't even dream of.
~~~
The last class before lunch is history. My most hated thing in the world (except for nana and many more things about her of course). I mean, me being this creature of nature... time really doesn't exist. I only age because I don't drink human blood like others. Human blood had its amazing counterparts but I don't want to be a never-aging creep. I want to grow up and learn from my mistakes, to have wrinkles, and have my own family to love and care for, at least by that I can still feel that I am normal.
Professor Nitwilck. One short, half-bald teacher. He is a substitute but his memory is as great as every other teacher in this school. He is great at teaching but I can't really listen to him most of the time as this subject is boring and hard.
"So class coming back from the lesson. This is the final lesson for this quarter, then this being one topic with a long quiz. Listen carefully! now ever heard of the term cryptozoology?" Our professor said, asking those whom he thinks are listening.
I'm never into history and geography. History is about the past, you don't need to search that deep into yourself as that would just bring back a painful past to you. I have my reasons why I hate this moment of school time, I think everyone did.
"The term cryptozoology is used as a reference to the study of creatures whose existence is not very proven and was only based on myths, folklore, and spread the word of mouth of old people. They're studied by cryptozoologist who specializes in this field." I heard one answer, I'm drawing something, not very sure of the context but I'm bored with this subject, I'm not really into listening, I'm more of a reader and I don't enjoy school... but this is the only place I can go to besides my house. I'm not interested in this topic and my brain not picking something, anything.
I continued to scribble on one of the pages of my notebook, I'm not really drawing anything useful but it's great for passing the time.
"Great! Thank you very much for that Mr. Flameo, that's right!. Cryptozoology is the study of those creatures who are said to roam the earth but are not proven. There have been pieces of evidence presented to us but these facts lead to a dead end so these existence aren't really decided. Bigfoot, The Jersy Devil, Chi kai zong, Werewolves, and vampires are some" My professor said to us. He has caught my attention by then, I stopped scribbling in my notebook, and slowly raised my head to listen to him discuss. I didn't notice what I draw, some kind of symbol. It is in a letter of 'V' and has curves lining up the edges of the letter... pretty!.
the lesson though, It's like targeting me or somethin'. Vampires and werewolves are folklore for humans huh?.
"Okay, let's be cryptozoologists by this time, Let's discuss these creatures one by one," he said to us and then wrote some words on the whiteboard.
"Bigfoot is the creature of nature, It is also given the name of Sasquatch which is a more uncommon term for it to be called. It is said to exist as a humanoid figure with a hairy physique, Just like a human gorilla or a bear. It appears to be another northern version of the Yeti or the 'Abominable Snowman'. Now can anyone tell me about the facts that people are basing this myth on?" he called on us, one student raised his hand and the professor called him to answer.
"Professor. It's the ginormous footprints that are found in different parts of the forest right?" The called student answers him, he lets out a smile and nods continuing the lesson
" The Jersey devil is like a hybrid of a dragon of some sort that is said to be lurking in the Pine Barrens. The Chai kai zong is the demon who is said to hunt the pagoda of easter creals. Many said that it is to kill anyone who stopped it in its tracks. A woman in a white dress and long brown hair is said to be the apparitions of this creature." He said. It gained a lot of reactions from my classmates, as some of them are in awe and some are pretending to be scared or in shock.
I'm really listening huh?. For a long time, this subject really doesn't click a bell on me, but now I'm interested to listen to what the teacher is saying.
" Werewolves are human-wolf hybrid who has hairy physique just like Bigfoot, but they're just like that if they transform into their wolf forms. They had non-human abilities that are normal in their nature. These creatures had a hierarchy, having an Alpha, that leads them or serves as the leader of their pack. Beta is said to be the second in the troupe. Teta, the one who manages the packs' members, and the Gammas', who are the members of a specific group in the werewolf population called a pack."
"Vampires, Blood-sucking monsters who are responsible for many deaths. They drink blood from humans and other animals. They also have this hierarchy of living; Deity, Reign, Council, Elders, and Clans. It is proved that Reigns are the royalty for them, just like ours. They can live on other animals' blood but they are simply not that same if that goes on. And studies show that they age and die like a normal human being if that is the case."
"Now questions?" He asked cutting the murmurs of my classmates.
"Are you one cryptozoologist sir?" One student asked him, slightly laughing not expecting anything in return for that question.
He just smiled at us and said 'yes'. Others say their amusement, not believing that their teacher is one professional about these kinds of stuff. But some stayed silent waiting for the lesson to continue.
It's just amazing to think that vampires, humans, werewolves, and other creatures co-exist in this world, though these humans make it look like we are all different and strange to them. They don't like to acknowledge us living beside them every day, they called us different and to only exist in their folklores. There are many pieces of evidence though, we really tried to make them realize that we are real and not living in books, but even that didn't convince them. They treat us like crap, believing they're the only ones living here in this world, the well beings that matter it all, believing that they're the beings that have all the privileges in this world.
We are different, and I can even say that we are better than them, given that we have abilities that we can possibly use to easily rip their heads off, just kidding. We don't do that, I mean some of us do but they only make a bit of the Vampire population's percentage. They're called 'rogue vampires' and they're classified as dangerous and utterly untrained for their lives. I know we're different than them, but saying that we are monsters and emphasizing the difference of it, drawing their line of boundaries of us not being normal just makes me think that I am one big sore thumb here, given that I am in a human school.
I mean we are pretending to be normal and everyday humans, blending in with the humans surrounding us, so we won't be exiled again.
Flashbacks of what happened the other day jumped through me. The smell of that blood also tightens, filling my nose with the sweet aroma, lingering in every part of me. There are so many humans around me, They would all taste good I would say, all of them smelled sweet and...
What's wrong with me?
I cant focus on the discussion my brain freezes the moment the blood drips into my shirt. The moment it touches my lips, regrets flew back as a picture of me licking it came through my mind. I can't imagine the sensation if that really occurs. That would be so sweet tasty and new. The smell of that blood is so tempting, so great.
What the frick is happening to me?. Is there something wrong?
Am I hungry?, did I forget to eat earlier?, did I?.
No.no.no
I breathe heavily as I realized, I haven't had anything for the past 20 hours, I didn't eat earlier and even yesterday's meal is skipped. Since that incident happened, I got traumatized by feeding myself. I didn't eat dinner and lunch the very next day. Now, I haven't had anything to feed, the vampire inside of me is getting hungry. This is dangerous for me and the people around me, I need to feed, I need to get out of here.
I raised my hands and excused myself to the bathroom, I'm sweating and had heavy breathing. The teacher agreed and I grabbed the pouch containing my emergency supply of blood. Every young vampire has these, just in case, a scenario like this happens.
Lucky me, I've got to experience this. (sarcasm)
"Are you okay Ms. Hargrove? You are kind of pale, Is anything wrong? I'll let your classmate assist you to the nurse." Professor Nitwilck said, I just shake my head, not having enough energy to talk to him and answer properly. After I got his approval, I immidietly rushed to the nearest restroom.
I opened the pouch I carried here, and there I found the blood bag. I quickly sip some and there goes my hunger. I unknowingly closed my eyes as the temptation, hunger, desire for other unpleasant things and the slight headache goes away.
That feeling, I hate it. I need to stop forgetting to eat. I'm rebelling against my own appetite and hunger, I'll despise myself even more if I did lose it back there. I could kill someone or many other people if I continue doing such idiotic, unpredictable acts.
A vampire without blood for a whole day would lose control, and would probably cause mass panic and killings. If that happens we're no longer ourselves and would no longer be in control. It's different than having to taste 'it' for the first time though. Tasting human blood for the first time makes you want it more than ever. Being not in control makes you an unstoppable beast, wanting to kill everything you could get your fangs on. None of that sounded good, so to sum up... it's really hard being this creature, a life with such complexity.
I heard someone walk into the restroom so I closed my cubicle door that I forgot to close because of the rush earlier. I stayed silent, minimizing the sound of me sipping the blood makes.
"Did you forget to eat again?" the one who entered spoke up and turned the tap on. I think she's washing her face or her hands or some sort. I couldn't fully distinguish her voice, and I couldn't tell who she is either. But I subconsciously know her.
"What an idiot creature you are. really," she added. That comment made me frown and lit up at the same time. That's an insult but that gave me a clue about who this person is.
Cold tone and voice, Insulting words of 'encouragement', cold comments, and foul praises.
I know who it is just by that.
"I'm sorry, Alexandra, they forced me again the other day, after that, I didn't eat the next day. Then, I forgot to eat this morning, it's almost my limited hours" I replied to her. I opened the cubicle door and she closed the running water.
Meet Alexandra Vanessa Hargrove, she's one of my cousins that are almost my age. She's cold towards others and is a short-tempered girl who's married to cussed words. She hates lovey-dovey words and people not being direct to her. She's the bad-girl type but is the sweetest girl (kind of) if you've gone close to her fully. She hates talkative people and those bookworms, to be precise she mostly hates me. But of all people In the world, she's that friend of mine that I cherished the best and I hold on to.
I looked down at my shoes not wanting to face her in my state now. Even if I hide everything, she would know, I mean she is Alexandra after all.
"Who nana?" she asked me, lifting my chin and scrubbing her hands on the side of my lips, I guessed I had some bloodstain there.
"Yeah, I didn't know she would come, I should've just prepared myself a dinner. I had a hunch but I didn't think much of it, it's not like her to meddle in mom and dad's house after all." I said finally finishing the blood and packing all my trash up.
"Well, Arman told me she had plans and many-many ways. Good luck to you" she said looking at me who is stupidly sitting at the toilet.
"Yeah, I hate her. " I said to her, finally standing up and facing her the proper way. I zipped the pouch up and puts it in my pocket so no one can see it.
"Why don't you follow them, you need to drink some yannah, one way or another. You're becoming weaker and weaker. That is not good" She talked to me, fixing her eyeliner in the big mirror here in the restroom by the sink. She applied some lipstick too and a bit of powder to her face.
"I won't, never," I said to her, looking in her direction, facing that cold eyes of hers.
"Well, that's your choice, stand up for it. You better watch out though, many eyes are looking at you. I think you know where they came from and who are they with" she warned me, smirking a little. A little after she left the restroom, leaving me there wondering what she just said.
I looked at myself in the mirror and reminisced about what really is taking me all this. The face of my brother slightly shocked me as I see him in myself looking me back from my reflection.
He's the reason I need to go through this. I reminded myself of that and fixed myself in front f the mirror.
I think about it for a minute then finished getting ready to go back to my class. I washed my hands and my face so no traces of blood would be seen. That would be suspicious and would probably drop off my cover.
Not a minute after, I rushed back to the classroom and find it empty. No students are there anymore and Professor Nitwilck is nowhere inside. Well, I guess it's lunchtime.
I get my things from my bag and arranged my ragged things. I noticed my drawing again and looked at its design with awe. The curves don't overshadow the letter but bring it out more. The design is beautiful and very detailed, I can't believe I did this without even noticing it.
I wrapped it all up in my bag and organized the mess inside. A few moments later, I head out to the cafeteria and had lunch with Crystal, who's impatiently waiting for me at the table we always used to eat at.