I peacefully finished my classes and didn't see or hear anyone that has the surname of 'Hargrove'. I didn't get to focus too much though, as what they say bothers me much more than the upcoming tests. I surely despise the Nightblood family, and my family sure does too. They've been here for more than a millennia, and they never once beat the Nightbloods. I guess you can say that they're jealous, but I have different reasons. I'm not practically too sure whether they did this to me or not, but since I've no other leads but Arman's stories, I believed him.
I got off school and went directly into my room. My mom's in the kitchen, I don't know what she's doing, but she doesn't want me to bother her. It's silent as always at home. Mother and Father do talk to me at times but we rarely have time with each other. Father always is at work, busy handling other assets that are assigned to him. My mother sometimes stays at home, but she's also out most of the time. She's into Archery, but she's not allowed to take that hobby seriously. The elders say that it's 'too human', but they want us to act like humans. Easier said than done.
I changed my clothes into my Pajamas and other night accessories like my headband and comfy slippers. I then brushed my teeth and washed my face and body. Since I've got no assignments pending, I grabbed my book and continued to read it on my way to bed. I practically threw myself into my comfy paradise and just continued reading while laying flat on my chest. It doesn't hurt, There's nothing to hurt so I'm okay laying in my front.
Not long after I started reading the climax, mom called me for dinner. I closed the book with dismay and promised myself to continue to read it before sleeping. I slipped into my fluffy slippers and then I went downstairs to 'eat'.
The meal goes as expected, with not much talking from the start. But when they started blabbering about things I mostly don't understand, I slightly listened.
" They say they wanted to see her before she goes into that Eudoxia camp." my father started. My ears perked at the word camp, I pretended like I'm peacefully sipping my meal and didn't know a damn of what they were talking about.
" Do you think she's ready? I'm still scared of their Fuzz, much more her. That concerns her too.. the fizz 'bout her?" My mother answered then sips again. I continued on listening to them, who were still talking about something indirectly.
"We'll see about that, she's brave and fearless even towards her Nana." My dad said, chuckling a bit, and then slightly got a glimpse of me, which then gave me the idea that the 'she' they're talking about is none other than me.
They talk about more things, surprisingly. My mom sometimes tried to involve me in what they were blabbering but I didn't budge. I finished my meal halfway through. I left them there.. still talking about 'the thing' that I couldn't quite understand.
I know that they're trying to hide the conversation from me since they're talking in circles and indirect words. They did great with that though, I didn't understand a thing.
I did hear some unfamiliar but perky and ear-catching words.
There's a thing where they talk about a 'ceremony' having 'three candles'? Then that follows the 'elders' and a 'dagger'. I don't understand anything and would probably not even bother about knowing that, I have my own matters to think of.
I read a few more chapters of the book after I got back into my room. I didn't finish it as I'm feeling a little bit tired from all the walking and talking I've done, though to think much I haven't even spoken at least a-hundred words today. And, vampires don't get sleepy, much more tired. Oh, but sometimes we do, but being tired is pretty much rare for them, I do get human tiredness and sleepiness as I lack human blood in my system.
I slept thinking more about the camp that my cousins feared... as if I'd go.
~~~
Everything's black and I feel a bit tingly. I don't think I'm in my room either. Everything feels fuzzy and I can't even see my own body when I look down. I walked a bit more and found a scene in front of me, everything was still pitch black, but for some reason, there was a light illuminating the scene unraveling in front of me.
"I told you not to!" A man said, There's another guy here. The guy that just talked seems angry and has his fangs out. The other seems unbothered, even if the other vampire is shouting and is challenging him, he doesn't budge. He has a bloodied mouth that leaves me thinking he just feeds himself with whatever blood he's drunk. I tried to back out as I might get in their way if I were there. I can't move though, my body is numb and all still feels tingly and fuzzy. But what's happening is clear as day, I can clearly see two men fighting.
My view then dissipates into the view of a woman lying down on the ground. I can feel the ground beneath me, hard and solid, smells like soil. I can't see the men anymore, It's just pitch black and nothing is illuminating me or my body. My senses except vision are still running; smell, hearing, and even touch.
Wait.
Am I dreaming?
Vampires don't dream!
Vampires don't have the capacity to experience things that are only for the living. Dreaming and meditation are not given unto vampires. But given their supernatural abilities, they sometimes see half-true visions, and when that happens, your end is near. Visions are only for elder vampires exceeding thousands of years, and thus their body doesn't support them anymore. But strong vampires live more than just thousands of years, some are even there when the first clothing is invented.
"Mind your own business, Copper," another voice says. I'm still laying flat on the ground. I can definitely feel footsteps, but not seeing these people or vampires makes me nervous for myself. I tried moving myself but the only part of me that moved are my fingers and toes.
My body is lifted by a man, whom I can't see on their face. I can feel their warmth and the skin-to-skin contact makes me shudder. I'm mostly scared as I don't know what is happening. I'm scared as if this is a dream, this is my first time again in five years.
I am dropped and I can finally stand on my feet. I can also see the silhouette of the man that 'carried' me. His face is so blurry that it appears to me as erased and he's just a faceless man. I don't know who, but he seems so familiar that I think I've seen him before. He's as tall as Arman as but has the Body of Joseph and Mateo, a slim but tall figure.
He disappeared in front of me and I am left in a cage-like structure. The bars are thick and without my vampire abilities, lacking them as I refuse to drink human blood for extra abilities like normal vampires have. I tried screaming but my voice was gone, I tried moving but this confined space is my only moving ground. I panicked thinking that I am in trouble and no one is there to at least talk to and ask for help. I held my throat trying to figure out how to at least muster a whisper or some sort, I then felt something, there were swollen little holes in my neck. Are these vampire bites?!
I wake up abruptly, panting heavily. I dreamed of something. It's a very new and creepy experience as dreaming is nothing but a privilege for creatures like vampires. I haven't had any dream for the last five years of myself as a blood-sucking creature of nature. Also, those people in my dream seem familiar but I don't have a single clue about who they are, their faces and voices seem strangely familiar to me.
I went downstairs and got a glass of water. As the guards of our house looked at me, I drank the water in my glass and emptied it. I pondered for a second and went back to my room, all awake and I felt wide awake.
I got back to bed but strangely I couldn't sleep. Again, I just grabbed my book and read until the story ended. I ended up reading for about two hours and just falling asleep, still holding the book.
~~~~
Three days had passed and none of my cousins bothered me with anything. I have not seen even their shadows which is pretty odd as Arman is nowhere to be seen too. My life is finally silent and the topic of that camp being today totally slipped my mind.
I mean peace finally has come upon me and I will not waste a single second wondering where all of them went.
I got up that morning and saw the book on the floor at the side of my bed. I remembered what happened that night but decided to just brush it off since it's maybe because of my body reacting to my blood neglect. That's just a sickness I guess.
I did my normal morning routine and didn't bother to eat breakfast as I'm avoiding getting used to eating too much. My dad drives me to school as normal but he talks to me when I get out of the car, what he said makes me think more than ever..
"Good luck on your new journey. It's been nice having you as my daughter, I wish to oppose them but, sadly I had no power against an absolute order. I love you honey." he said then quickly drove off, leaving me there dumbfounded.
There are three subjects that day. Classes go smoothly and nothing really happens at lunch break, except the fact that all of the Hargroves are not there. I didn't question it, in fact, I gladly accept that blessing. Blissful time for me as the book I'm reading finally ended and I'm not happy about it. The author seems to be in a hurry to finish the book and I find it lacking. I'm not making hateful comments here, but leaving the story unto the death of the characters and the reader's questions: why did she do that? Why would she think of that? those whatnots. Since I'm not a writer or good at anything that involves writing, I'll just shut up.
Classes ended and nothing special happened. I'm a bit thirsty for blood but not by a lot. I didn't eat that morning or at lunch so it's normal for me to feel thirsty. I'm just waiting for dad to pick me up this afternoon so I can go home and I'll probably eat there.
I'm playing with my bag's handle when…
Unexpectedly, an unfamiliar van stopped in front of me. The sight of it makes me a bit nervous as my father or mother don't own any vans. The side window of the driver's seat opened. There I saw Uncle Mark. The uncle that I accidentally tossed the other night.
The smiling sight of him inside that vehicle made me set aside my thirst and I just wanted to run. I looked at him straight in his eyes and he just smiled even bigger, which is in fact creepy as hell.
"Hello, darling." He said to me, I took a step back and just stared at him and the van.
"Anything wrong with anyone?" I asked him, but he didn't bother answering. The doors of the van just opened and there were five of my cousins, all showing a defeated look on their faces.
"Oh no."
I just started looking at his face, but there's his smile, still plastered. I just kept my distance, not showing any interest in riding that van. This is kidnapping if you ask me.
"Nope" I said and raises my hand in the air.
The fact that this ride goes directly into that camp or whatever it is they're planning makes me nervous and just want to run and never show up, ever. I tilted my head toward him, not wanting to budge at his creepy but meaningful look and smile.
"Come on Darling, just ride in. I told mom that I'd handle you all so that she wouldn't be the one who escorted you. Unless that's what you want." He said, showing that never-ending and very annoying smile.
I closed my eyes firmly in my frustration and reluctantly hopped into the van. I had no choice, I won't wait until my psycho grandma escorts me herself into that stupid and nonsense camp she wants us to go to. Not long after we were all buckled up, the van drove off, having the speed of a cheetah.
"We tried escaping. It didn't end well." Alexandra started during the first five minutes of that silent ride. She did a great job as the atmosphere here got really loosened and is not as serious and gloomy as before.
"I tried to jump into the window," Cassandra told us, chuckling a bit which is contagious as they all laugh too, except me.
"I tried hiding in my closet when my father found me. It's like we're playing some game of hide-and-seek or something ''' Arman said which leads to another laughter moment for them. I'm here, the universal KillJoy, looking at them profusely as I'm not into talking.
"I'm at the bar, I cut my classes but still got found at my hidey-hole, hehe," Alexandra told us which they laughed at.
"Oh, you won't believe what I did," told Chelsea with a sweet but menacing smile. "I growled at mum and showed my fangs at dad. didn't end well, am tellin' ya," she said which they laughed at again. They talked about how they tried leaving and escaping but still failed. I just listened and looked at their laughing faces.
How could they smile and be happy at the fact that we're going directly at our enemies? It's a camp full of vampires but we're with 'those' vampires. Tch.
"Illiannah's cool though. She just looked at Uncle and just went 'oh no'. HAHAHA '' Arman said and they laughed again, I scoffed. They're only laughing to ease their minds unto their upcoming doom, our upcoming doom.
"Why didn't you escape Illiannah? I mean you could do that but it seems that you don't even try anything or anyway to run away." Mateo asked, gaining the other's attention which then turned to stare at me, waiting for an answer.
To be honest…
"I forgot that it's today," I told them and pouted.
A moment of silence took over them which took me a moment, has I said something bad?.
"AHHAHAHHAHAGGSHHAHA '' They laughed at me, which I confusedly questioned with the rapid blinking of my eyes.
" Wha– what, HAHHa, Ow!" Arman said to me, which was cut short by the van's sudden halt. We don't know what's happening and just turn to the driver's seat and see uncle smiling at us through the rear-view mirror.
"We're here, go get your things at the back. I won't help you with that since you're all grown-ups now, and no one would do that to you here, so better start it right?" he said, still freaking smiling.
" I don't have anything, you picked me up at the bar uncle," Alexandra told him.
" Your parents have your things packed, all the necessities are there." He told us and made us fetch our stuff at the back of the said van.
He's right, there are named bags here that are packed for us. Our parents knew this, even my parents. So.. that's what they were talking about last night. What's with the things about the ceremony then?. I just shrugged off the thoughts as I was shocked to see that uncle drove off as soon as we all got our stuff.
~~~
We walked through the path into the forest. At least we think that this is right since uncle didn't leave us a single clue on what to do after he left us here.
" Why are we here again? remind me please?" Chelsea said while gripping me tightly, yes she's griping me... ME tightly. Me, the girl whom she hated dearly.
I understand how she's feeling, I'm scared too, as this environment is new for us. We're easy prey for all the creatures here. Although we know how to protect ourselves, having these abilities, we're still powerless against superior creatures.
We're currently here at the entrance of this so-called camp, we finally reached it after walking for who knows how long. It is pretty big for a camp, to be honest, though it's the creepiest place I've ever been to.
"Eudoxia Castra" In a broken accent, I read the name on the big-big-big signboard on the top of this big-big-big gate. Though it is in the middle of nowhere, covered with vines, rust, and who knows what that red thing is, and is dead silent, I think it's fine. We're probably gonna die here and no one will ever find our bodies and our souls will remain malevolent and roaming forever and ever. Oh, we don't have souls, yeah right.
"Wha--?" asked Arman, who seemingly enjoyed this. Chelsea's still here with me in the back of the group, still holding for her dear life. Her grip is tight, it kinda hurts, but her fear is understandable, even though I am scared too, I just poker-faces everything.
I mean could you blame us both? UNCLE JUST LEFT US HERE!. Without anything to know at all! He just goes "bye!" and then gone. We know nothing about this place, and worst, we didn't even choose and wanted to be here.
I'm covered with mud and mosquito bites, also I think I became deaf with all the shrieking of Chelsea. Mateo is lost too and he's the best at these things. Arman's still loud and, I mean he is Arman. Alexandra's hands are cold too, proving that even if she's as fearless as a lion, she's scared.
"That means Flawless Camp stupid.." Mateo answered him, smirking at his dumbfounded reaction.
"Oh, could you blame me? That's freaking Chinese!!! How would I know that?" he snapped back at him.
"It's actually a Latin phrase, but yeah how would a monkey know such complex language?" he told him, making us all giggle.
"Let's get this over with, let's go inside," Alexandra told us, mustering all the courage she had left, and we then all followed her inside this rusty gate.
Over the entrance stands an old building that has intricate designs on the walls. It is painted with a black-gray-white color scheme and a series of unfamiliar drawings.
There are many people here, I think they are our age too. Murmuring and whispers filled them all when we walked through this long path. Chelsea finally chose to break free from her grip and proudly walked as there were now people looking at her. Alexandra falls behind as she chooses to walk with me, leaving Mateo to lead our way.
We entered a door where many people were going in and out. There's a desk inside and there's a hallway to both of its sides. There's also a lady, creepily smiling at us, who just entered. The five of us walked up to her and asked her if this is really the camp we are supposed to go to.
"Oh perfect! Here comes the Hargroves! Just a tiny bit more and we're good to go!" The lady at the front desk joyfully welcomed us. We don't even know why, to be honest. Since we entered here up until now, her smile hasn't faded. She also didn't answer our question.
"Excuse me miss, we don't actually know anything about the place, is this where we are supposed to go? Or I'm just lost because some pretty lady's here blocking all my view." Arman told the lady. Mateo just facepalms himself and just pulls the flirtatious Arman away. That's his thing, every new lady in front of him should avoid his gaze as you're the next target if by any chance he chose to talk to you.
Mateo better do the talking here. It's still a very hostile environment for us, we don't even know if we're right on track.
"Of course, most of the students here don't even know they're going here… most families don't tell them. One student thought that she's goig for a vacation!" The lady said with a smile. She pulls out a thick compilation of paper, some pens, and a stapler.
"Why though?" Chelsea told her, seemingly annoyed by her never-fading smile and it also seems that she doesn't want to entertain us and our questions.
"If you knew, Miss Hargrove, would you come?" She asked, raising one eyebrow but the smile was still there.
She lays some forms in front of us and then talks...
"Please fill these forms out," she said, making us all look at each other… then Mateo. He mostly reads all the content of the paper, then he would let us know if our signatures are all worth displaying on that document. As said, he's in charge. We are always told that we don't sign all the things that are laid upon us, we must check it, as our signatures are worth millions.
He grabbed a piece of the stapled bunch, then read it with his eyes. Alexandra comes up behind him and reads it too, Arman plays with the other stapled papers that are on the desk of that attendant. Chelsea and Cassandra check their phones and try to find some signal to at least call for their parents or someone that might actually help.
What am I doing you may ask? well, I'm actually a very heavy burden here, I'm not like them at all. I can't even run as fast as they can, so… If a dying situation comes up, I'll be the first to die.
Wait what Am I saying? Dying situation?. I'm thinking a lot, thinking too much, as I am clearly affected by what is happening today.
Mateo's eyes widened, which itself was enough to make us all nervous and stop whatever they were doing and stand straight waiting for Mateo to speak. A bunch of 'What' and 'Why' questions were swerved to him, not gaining the chance to even answer.
"A form? This is a WAIVER." He said firmly to the lady, placing the paper he just read in front of her face.
"No big deal! That's just a confirmation of the student's approval." She said, still smiling.
"Huh. 'The school wouldn't be the one responsible for any case of injuries that happened in this school premises; Broken bones, Vampires gone wild, Killing Sprees and Death' also 'The school is allowed to do measures of safety for the staff and other students like keeping the said teen into a dungeon.' THAT IS STATED HERE ON THIS VERY PAPER!" Mateo tells her, who is now grinning creepily and losing that joyous smile.
Each of us gets a bunch of stapled paper and reads together with him. I didn't waste any time and also read the said paper with them. There are a total of five papers here, each for every one of us.
"Also, 'If a student doesn't comply, has a total of three warnings already, gaining a red tag, he or she would be thrown out the woods, during a Howl Night,' That of which is tonight! '" The lady said to us, looking through us head to toe one by one. "I could give of one warning or three for the better." She said and grinned again.
We stood there shocked by what was unraveling in front of us. The lady earlier seems so calm and joyous, which has then turned into this creepy lady, warning us to comply, and that's for the better of us.
"Then why would you think we would sign this? " Nervously, Cassandra told her.
"Look at the back" She instructed, making us follow.
There we saw our family's signature seal. With that in this document, our signatures wouldn't be needed, since the seals themselves are from our elders, the highest monarch in our family. The Golden wax seal is authentic, which made our eyes widen.
Only a highly ranked Hargrove can achieve these, even our parents can't have them. Why would this school have them now?. I haven't even met the elders, and now, they're using a stupid seal to control, even my education. I hate them now, and I haven't even met a single one of them.
As she told us that the tour of the school will be held shortly. She makes us all go outside and socialize with other vampires outside.
We have no choice about this, as the seal fixated our names into their records. We can't go out now, There would be chaos if you were out there. It is truly a howl night as the werewolves outside make their presence known, howling loudly at the full red moon.
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