The letter came in an envelope so black it looked like it swallowed light.
Beatrix Vale had never seen anything like it before. She found it slipped beneath the door of her apartment the morning after her birthday, it was tucked between unpaid bills and discount ads. There was no return address, no stamp, it had just her name in silver ink. BEATRIX VALE, written in a hand that felt too elegant for her small, crowded life.
Inside was a single sheet of thick parchment, It smelled faintly of old paper and like rain on stone.
"YOUR APPLICATION TO ECLIPSED ACADEMY APPROVED."
"You are invited to attend the Eclipsed Academy for the Advancement of Rare Study. Full scholarship, travel arrangements enclosed. Semester begins in ten days."
"Ahhhhhhh"
Beatrix screamed in joy as she ran to hug her mum.
"Hey, what is it?"
"I got the scholarship mom, I'm now a student." She jumped excitedly.
"Oh my goodness, let me see." Her mom took the acceptance letter.
Her facial expression changed after reading it.
"What mom? Don't you like the school?"
"Of course I do, but it's strange."
"How is that?"
"No phone number, no website. Just a plane ticket, and a packing list?" She asked curiously. "That's not how it works right?"
"Umm, that doesn't matter anyways. I'll be going to school, that's all that matters right?" She said with a smiley face.
"Right." Her mom nodded. "What about your applications to other schools, any news?"
"No mom. I can just go with this one instead of waiting for the others."
"How about we wait for a few more days? This doesn't feel right."
"Mom…semester begins in ten days, I have to be there. I can't miss this only opportunity right?"
"Right."
**********************************
Ten days later, Beatrix stood at the edge of a mountain road, staring up at a place that didn't feel real.
The Academy was built into the cliffs. Its towers rose above the mist like ancient watchmen. Everything was gray stone and narrow windows, no lights in sight. The taxi driver who brought her wouldn't even wait, he took her suitcase from the trunk, nodded once, and sped off before she could ask a single question.
"Okay,"
Beatrix said aloud, trying to calm herself. Her breath came out in a puff of white.
"This is fine…... Totally normal, creepy mountain school in the middle of nowhere, that's ...fine."
She followed the worn path to the tall front door, which looked like it hadn't been opened in a century. When she reached for the iron knocker, the doors creaked open on its own.
The entry hall was silent, with thick rugs covering the stone floor.
A huge portrait of a woman in a dark dress stared down from above the stairs. Her eyes were strange and scary.
"What the fuck is this place? Is this even a school? My mom warned me."
She tiptoed inside.
From a side hallway, a woman appeared.
"Oh my god." She was startled.
"Miss Vale," she said. Her voice was calm and polished, She wore a long coat that looked like it belonged in a museum, and her dark hair was tied back tight. "Welcome to Eclipsed."
"Hi," Beatrix said, awkwardly adjusting her backpack strap. "I… wasn't expecting someone to….."
"We've been expecting you."
Of course they had.
The woman turned and began walking. "I am Dr. Merrow. Orientation begins in the morning. You'll find your uniform and schedule in your room. Please follow me."
Beatrix followed, trying to soak everything in. The halls were full of old paintings and statues, there were Latin quotes carved into the walls.
"How many students go here?" Beatrix asked.
"Fewer than you except. This is not a school for the masses. You were chosen."
"Oh…. Chosen for what though?"
Dr. Merrow didn't answer.
They reached a tall staircase, climbed three flights, and stopped at a thick wooden door.
"This is your room," Dr. Merrow said, pointing at a door. "You'll share with Cassia Levan. She's returning for her second year. I'm sure you'll find her… illuminating."
With that, she handed Beatrix a brass key and walked away.
The door creaked open before Beatrix could even knock. Someone had already opened it from the inside.
A girl stood in the doorway, she was tall, thin, and looked like she had stepped out of a perfume ad. Smooth copper hair, perfect posture, and a calm, curious look in her pale gray eyes.
"You're Beatrix Vale?"
"Yes," Beatrix said, suddenly feeling like a wrinkled tourist in her sweater and jeans.
"I'm Cassia." The girl stepped aside and let her in. "Your bed's on the right and your uniforms are in the wardrobe. Don't touch the top drawer. That's mine."
Beatrix blinked. "Thanks?"
Cassia nodded once, then sat at the desk near the window and returned to writing in a thick leather bound book.
The room was small but elegant, it has two beds, a fireplace and a long desk. There were no computers. Just books, candles, and strange symbols carved into the floor beneath the rug.
"No laptop or something?" She turned to Cassia.
"For what? You don't need them here." Cassia replied. "Your smartphone is enough."
"Oh"
She unpacked in silence afterward.
That night, Beatrix lay awake in her unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling for hours before finally drifting off.
She had a strange dream of stone statues moving and voices whispering her name and a staircase that never ended.
She jerked awake with a gasp. Looking around the dark room, Cassia was still awake, writing.
"You're not tired?" She asked.
Cassia didn't look up. "You'll get used to the hours here. We keep a different time than the rest of the world."
"What does that mean?"
Cassia closed her book, her expression changed to that of disgust.
"Oh...too many questions?" Beatrix asked.
"It means nothing stays still at Eclipsed. Not time. Not even you."
Beatrix didn't know how to respond.
She lay back down to avoid irritating Cassia more.
When she closed her eyes, a flash of memory came back. She heard voices speaking but she couldn't understand what they were saying.
And for just a second, she could have sworn she heard someone whisper in her ear.
"Welcome back."