Days of Alexandra: Prime Peak Murders

It had been exactly 7 months, 42 days and 3 hours since the Alexandra Family settled in a peaceful, little village called Prime Peak Gardens in the highland city of Garden Gate, brilliantly nestled within the Cordillera Central mountain region of Northern Luzon.

 The Alexandra Family were once a residence in Eurasia, but once every two to three years, the Family had moved from one continent to another. They had lived in the Middle East, Austronesia, Europe and even in the South Pole. It was their father's work – the only head and authority of the family – that had forced the family to compromise many aspects of their lives, including the Alexandra Sisters' childhood and relationships, in which were all almost non-existent. 

 The Family has Warren Alexandra as father, head and authority. He is also a widely known Detective and Private Inspector for the World Chamber – the official organization for all supernatural movement. Detective Warren Alexandra is known as an empath, quite sympathetic and fairly philanthropic. He devoted his time and power on every case, old and new, and he always made sure that the right justice would prevail in the end. There was no challenge he couldn't overcome. No murderer he couldn't catch. No case he couldn't solve. And he did all of them while raising eight orphaned girls. 

 Warren was already established and prominent at 29 years. The same year he was dispatched by the World Chamber to icy antarctica, for the first time. The barbaric and heartless murder of Warlock World's oldest and ancient coven family was what led Warren to Castelvetra Stronghold, the home of Silent Snow Coven, a recluse, peaceful and thriving group of powerful warlocks that lived off the grid and only had their magic to live on. It was in Castelvetra that Warren Alexandra first encountered Harleen, the oldest of all his adopted daughters. 

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 August 12, 2024 • 8:14 AM 

 Monday

 Martina Daniels, Head Girl of Peak Point Academy, is the prime example of leadership, grace and academic intelligence this humble secondary educational institution – and might as well her very own kin – has produced. Daniels stood elegantly prepped from head to toe like a doll soft-handedly crafted by its maker, at the front portico of the main building, pridefully exhibiting the formal crimson red, gold and white uniform of the academy. To say that Daniels is devoted to the doctrines and principles of the school is an understatement. She in fact worships it in a deep psychological sense that remains a mystery to all. 

 Daniels faced south where she anticipates the arrival of the new student. She was also the Head of the Welcoming Committee; tasked every waking moment to welcome and tour a new student or a transferee. Sun was peeking from the east lancing through the tall, thick pine trees that surrounded the campus from all direction the light hits and splits majestically. Not a moment later, Daniels task arrives. 

 Her eyes hopped and twinkled and a smile played out from her lips as the sight of the academy limousine speeds out from the south road. As the vehicle approaches, Daniels utilizes the remaining seconds into straightening her already straightened hair, adjusting her headband – for the twelfth time – so it doesn't slide off her rich black hair. She parts her hair from the back and flips it in front right above her clavicle. All these seconds she put into looking more refined and more perfect than she already is. She pats her hair down and straighten her blazer and her skirt. 

The Head Girl fixates on the limousine circling Lavarias Warbeck's fountain statue standing heroically in the middle of the driveway entrance until it halts at the bottom of the portico steps. She watched as the new student shyly steps out from the passenger seat. She was visually impressed. The new student, Aileen Darling was dressed in the school's formal colors and uniform, something Daniels never expected from a new student in an unofficial school day. Daniels pulled out a grey PA Tablet that had been clutched between her left arm all along and switched the system on revealing the new student's profile. She had reviewed the document for three days, two nights. It was enough time to memorize everything about her.

The new girl, Aileen Darling acknowledged the limousine driver, stuffed her hands inside her blazer front pockets, went on a 360 examination of the entrance before starting to take the steps up the main portico. Martina Daniels met Aileen Darling halfway with a hand extended and a smile that would make your cheeks pop like a balloon. 

 "Hello. Welcome to Peak Point Academy," Daniels chirped and slightly tilted her head. Only because she thought it was a cute and friendly gesture. 

 Darling met the Head Girl's smiley eyes. She took Daniels' hand and shook it, "Hi and thanks," was what she could only reply. 

 "My name is Martina Daniels, but you can call me Tina," she started. "I'm Student Council Vice President, Head Girl of 11th and President of the Welcoming Committee," she enumerated as if it was some sort of a contest rather than an introduction. Daniels took pride in her titles and authority.

 Darling on the other hand did not quite reciprocate her enthusiasm and stayed kind on her facial projections, "Wow. You must be really busy," she replied. There was a hint of sarcasm in it and yet Daniels missed because she shrugged and grinned. 

"Oh no, I mean, well, yes, but it's fun, for me. Plus, I earn a lot of credits . . ." she replied bobbing her head, " . . . anyway, we should get started, I'm tasked to give you a tour of the whole campus and help you settle in. It's a big campus so we have a lot of ground to cover but don't worry, it can be done before dismissal . . . so, are you ready?" she asked, as if she was more nervous than Darling. 

 With a flat smile, "Uh, don't I have a class to go to?"

 Daniels shook her head, "Oh no. Just a tour for today, tomorrow the real fun and battle begins," Daniels playfully rolled her eyes and chuckled. 

 Darling replied with a quick nod and a low chuckle. Daniels led Darling into the vestibule where the wall to the right is fully accessorized with framed photographs, famed certificates and recognition awards relevant to the school. Of course, as Head Girl, Daniels made certain that Darling was well informed and knew of the basic history and significance of these framed documents that they accomplished to spend forty minutes in the vestibule – what no student had done, ever – before turning into the main office on the left wall side where a clear sliding glass door in the middle was implanted. They entered the Main Office and Daniels guided Darling to the Main Desk where all of her books, tablet, educational materials and the Academy's official leather case should be checked out by the end of the tour. Darling had already claimed her ID Card two days ago because it was an imperative tool to enter the premises.

 The tour guide and tourist re entered the vestibule and stopped at the main entrance lined with seven automated barrier gates. It was Daniels' awareness of Darling's homeschooling that she felt responsible to perform a quick demonstration of how the automated machine worked. Like a mother teaching her infant how to walk in its early stages of life, Daniels walked Darling through the procedure step by step. Darling on the other hand may have been homeschooled all her 17 years with no proper experience navigating life in a real high school institution but was not illiterate as Daniels expected her to be. 

 Of course, Darling wasn't one to point the assumption out. The goal was to make people feel comfortable around her. So she did exactly as Daniels proceeded, mimicking every simple uneventful step, until she made it into the lobby. 

 Daniels clapped, "That's great! Easy right?" she beamed nodding like a cheerleader and then led Darling down the hall. 

 The only perceptible feature in the lobby other than it's washed brown stone walls – that somehow reminded the Aileen of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem – was the oval wooden white reception desk highlighted by a mountain forest carved onto it. Both receptionists in their early thirties greeted the girls and welcomed Darling, briefly before they headed down a flight of stairs that easily took ten steps. They land on a pentagonal foyer with the academy's palette and emblem plastered brightly on the marbled floor. Corners lined with fat marbled beams. 

Darling looked up and sure enough, the ceiling painted bright figures in a story-like cycle of events. A story alien and new to her. It was like one of those cathedrals she once visited for shelter as a child.

Straight ahead which was further east, led to a wide and outstretched hallway where the painted ceiling continued on its fairytale and the prominent color which was crimson red from the pentagon floor bled down further and further east. Sides of the hall were lined with dark brown arched wooden doors ornamented with glass stained mosaic of what Darling assumed to be significant werewolf figures in history. The two sides that nestled the hall of classrooms stood the lifts in Darling's surprise was the second modern equipment she had seen throughout the tour.

"You may notice that it's awfully quiet right now and that's because everyone is in their respective classrooms this hour of the day," Daniels thought relevant to share. "We're standing now at the Pentagram, and this may seem unimportant but . . . at the least, thirty eight characters can occupy this space."

Darling confirmed its lack of importance just by hearing it. 

 "Are the classrooms soundproof?" Darling asked as she finally noticed the disturbing echo of screaming silence.

 "Yes. An official Warlock Minister set up the soundproofing that even a Werewolf hearing from hundreds of yards away could not be penetrated," Daniels grinned proudly as if it was a necessity.

 "So . . . the Chains linking the pack members to each other is cut off from the room next to, and across them and . . . everywhere?"

 Daniels nodded, "Correct. Chain connection is immediately cut off once the doors shut. The door sets of a magic reaction that influences the magic within the four corners of the room. This has always been the rule and it's been there since . . . the date of its establishment. Even my parents have gone through this. And it works you know? Easier for the students to focus on their lessons than anything else, and it helps them no matter how much they complain about it," she shrugged. "And besides, there's a built in alarm system in every classroom that signals danger from the outside. So no need to worry about the chain discontinuation."

 Darling nodded, "Odd, but beneficial . . . I guess . . . " she whispered and then glanced at Daniels. " . . . and the Warlock came up with it?" she asked with careful eyes.

Daniels tilts her head away from Darling and thought for a while, "Huh. I have no idea," she returned to Darling with an amused and embarrassed look and then shrugged.

Daniels pointed at the far end, "The Square, much like where we're standing but only four sides."

The Square which was not visibly square from where Darling stood.

"Beyond that is the courtyard," Daniels added.

A foyer stood inside the square where two luxuriously wolf centered ornamented splitting grand staircases curved along the walls leading to the higher floors. In the middle, right below the balcony landing of the grand staircase Darling could see a bright green field that must be the courtyard.

 "The building is a six story quad. Right now we're at the East Wing and here –" Daniels point to one flight of stair on her left before the lift, "– going through there is the South Wing with the Department Offices, Faculties and Staff Rooms."

The pair went on to the South Wing that looked evenly similar to the classroom hall. The offices here where only on the left side as the right side were walled with arched glass windows looking out the campus courtyard. Darling may have underestimated the size of the campus when she first came in. She had never expected the courtyard to be thrice the size of a basketball court. 

 After the South Wing, they went on to the West Wing, and the North Wing but the tour hadn't end there for there were five more floors to take. Once the the pair had covered the ground floor quad, they took the lift back at the East Wing.

 It took almost four hours to cover all the most significant area of the building which in Daniels' case was everywhere and everything. No door, office, facility left unfolded. Darling, though tired by all the walking, was elated enough to have learned everything about an institution's history in a short amount of time than she could learn day by day seated in a history class. Going through the student's manual would now prove futile as Daniels had covered and blabbered about everything this school had to offer during the whole tour was what Darling thought every time they ascended a floor.

 By the time the school bell chimed – indicating lunch time – Daniels had finished preaching about the birth and concept of the courtyard where they currently stood. The courtyard is clean green grass with benches and tables scattered randomly and yet don't touch. Ivy leaves hugged the columns of the portico along the main quad and ran up to the balcony of the higher level. 

 "We better get some lunch, I'm sure you're hungry."