Eryndor walked through the school grounds, his eyes occasionally flicked around when something caught his attention.
The students whispered, some giggled, others avoided the path he took.
He was already searching for his next corner to hide in, but everywhere seemed to be crowded with students.
" Isn't this place supposed to be filled with secret hideouts?" he thought, confused.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a faint sound of body bumping into another body pulled him out. He stood in place, his eyes slowly looking down at the figure crouching.
" I'm so sorry…I wasn't watching. I didn't mean to bump into you." a female vampire said, quickly picking up her books that had tumbled to the ground.
" You're always so clumsy!!" Another female vampire said, then she turned to Eryndor. A smile on her lips.
" Forgive my friend lord Eryndor." she started.
" She is always like this."
Eryndor barely nodded before he proceeded to leave.
" Lord Eryndor?" they called running towards him.
" Uh…I feel bad for bumping into you, so I will be more than glad to be your escort while you're here." she said, a shy smile on her lips.
Eryndor stared at her for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed as if he was considering her offer.
" I won't burden you with that." he said walking away again but they chased after him again.
" We don't mind at all, your lordship." the other one said.
Eryndor let out an exhausted sigh.
" No need." he said in a cold clipped tone. Cold enough for them to notice his displeasure.
He glanced at them to make sure they won't follow him again before resuming his search. He lifted his eyes to the direction of the rooftop of one of the buildings and without hesitation made his way towards it.
" Why is he going there?" a student asked.
" Why don't you go ask yourself?"
" I wouldn't dare. He is a heir after all, he can go anywhere he wants to. An advantage of being born into power."
Eryndor stopped in his tracks and looked in the direction of the voices, his eyes catching two young vampires who quickly scurried away as they noticed his eyes on them.
He refocused his attention to the building and walked inside regardless of the stares that followed him.
There was nothing special about the building. It had a long hallway with photographs hung up on every angle and it was eeriely quiet.
Eryndor looked around, feeling a sense of peace from how quiet it was. He took the stairs heading to the rooftop.
The photographs continued, each one showing different persons. The ones with piercing stares, the ones with blank expressions and the ones that smiled weirdly. Eryndor rolled his eyes not interested in who they were or what significant things they had done in the school. He continued making his way to the rooftop when suddenly…
" What are you doing here?" a cold stern voice asked.
Eryndor ignored and continued walking.
" Are you deaf? Why are you here?!!" the person asked again, louder this time.
Eryndor sighed as he came to a halt once again. He turned around, his eyes meeting a pair of deep blue cold eyes. The man was tall, his presence imposing, his handsome face filled with nothing but coldness and slight irritation.
" That doesn't concern you." Eryndor said with equal coldness.
The older vampire stared at him, quite shocked at the amount of nerve he had to talk back. His eyes moved from Eryndor's face to the insignia on his coat, his eyes narrowing as if to get a better view.
" If there is nothing else…I will take my leave." Eryndor said, turning to walk away but the vampire reached for his arm, pulling him back.
A flash of emotion passed through Eryndor's face. Was it surprise? Or shock from the force exerted by this vampire? His eyes slowly gazed down at the hand of this vampire on him.
" This is a restricted area." the vampire said, but Eryndor's eyes remained fixated on the vampire's hand.
" Let go." he said firmly.
" You are not supposed to be in here. Even if you might be an important member of the Hale clan, this is a restricted area." the vampire repeated, his grip tightening around Eryndor's arm.
" I won't let even the heir come here" he added.
Eryndor exhaled once more, his patience was waning. He had never been so exhausted under just few minutes, everyone in the academy were loud, noisy, chaotic and those things he detested.
" Go back while I am being nice to you." the vampire said.
" Let go." Eryndor repeated, a mix of anger and irritation in his tone. His eyes darkening as he finally lifted it to look at the older vampire.
The vampire stared at him in disbelief, no one had dared challenged him in all his years of being in the academy.
" Do you have any idea who you are talking to?" he asked.
Eryndor frowned slightly. He disliked the likes of this vampire, invading his personal space like it was nothing. He grabbed the vampire's hand, forcefully removing it from his arm as a painful crack echoed through the building.
Eryndor had twisted his wrist!
The older vampire let out a strained hiss, his eyes widening in surprise. He bit his lips to bite back the wimper that threatened to escape his throat.
" When I tell you to let go…" Eryndor started, his face inches away from the other vampire's.
" You let go" he said releasing his hand and without hesitation, he continued making his way up the fleet of stairs.
" You' ll regret this!!" the other vampire said behind him but Eryndor couldn't care less.
It wouldn't be the first time he had heard that anyway.
As he ascended the last fleet of stairs, he was welcomed by the cold breeze that swept past him, making his coat and hair sway in response.
From the top he could see the entire academy grounds and even beyond. He stood in place, closing his eyes as he exhale the cool air into his lungs.
He just had to put up with all this for a while and then he'd be free. Free from the responsibilities, free from the noise, free from everything that repulsed him.
The serene was peaceful, quiet and just as he was beginning to enjoy the silence, the chiming of a bell disrupted his peace.
He groaned lowly,his fists clenched by his sides. He looked below, watching as the students walked simultaneously to a building. It was not as tall as the others but it was longer and wider.
His eyes narrowed slightly as it followed the students into the building. A feeling of curiosity rising in him.
He watched and waited until the grounds were clear of students and with one smooth move, he jumped down from the building landing perfectly and silently.
He walked slowly towards the building and with every step he took, the noise from the building got clearer and louder. The sound of students applauding,cheering then murmuring.
The moment he entered into the building, Erevan's voice sounded and he soon realized that it was the school assembly.
" Unfortunately Lord Eryndor isn't here for.."
He looked at the podium where Erevan and the other heirs stood, taking slow strides towards them.
" And Lord Eryndor." Erevan introduced
He bowed in acknowledgement. He felt everyone's eyes on him as he stood upright but he felt the intensity of Dorian's stare more.
" Where did you go?" Dorian asked.
He heard the faint edge of curiosity in Dorian's voice and he couldn't help but feel amused.
" A walk." he answered.
" I expect you all to make them feel welcomed and treat them as equals." Erevan voice came again.
Eryndor looked through the crowd slowly, his eyes locking with some of the students. Some who looked away quickly, some who blushed and then the ones with empty stares.
He took notice of the movement going on beside him, turning his attention to Erevan who was giving out uniforms to them.
He moved towards Erevan as his turn approached.
" As from today henceforth,you become a part of valemorra." Erevan said as he stretched the uniform to Eryndor.
The moment Eryndor's hands touched the uniform, his eyes changed to a cloudy white color with mist gathering at his feet. He was sucked into a vision, one that was not willled by him.
" Hey! Hurry up,will you?" a voice said in a hushed tone.
" We shouldn't be doing this. We could get in trouble." another voice said, frightened.
Eryndor looked around, confused. He usually triggered his visions himself, so why was he pulled into this one?
As his eyes scanned the environment once again, he realized that it was the academy.
" What?" he thought,confused.
" Are you sure about this?" the voice asked again.
Eryndor turned in the direction of the voice, his eyes catching two vampires creeping in the shadows. His gaze lingered, from their faces to the clothes they were wearing. As they stepped into the moonlight, he got a better view of the vampires realizing they were on the academy' s uniform.
" If we get caught…"
" Quit being a sissy and just follow me." the tone of the voice stern.
One of the vampires had auburn curly hair, some of it's strands sticking to his forehead from how much he was sweating. His hazel eyes filled with worry, fear and concern. Quite timid.
The other had dark long black hair, gathered in a messy ponytail. His crimson eyes glowing faintly with fierce determination.
" I want to go back." the timid one said, grabbing the other vampire by his arm.
The crimson eyed vampire turned around, a sigh escaping his lips before he reached for the hands of the other.
" Trust me, we won't get caught." he assured.
" I just want to confirm something and we'll get going. Not a second wasted."
The other vampire hesitated before nodding slowly.
" Just this time." he said
Eryndor furrowed his eyebrows.
" What is all this? Why am I seeing this?" he thought.
His head clouded with questions that remained unanswered, for now. The vampires began to move stealthily again and Eryndor trailed behind them taking notice of the places they walked past.
The auditorium, the "restricted area" building, the bell tower.
The vampires took a sharp turn to the left, too quick that Eryndor almost lost them.
He steps came to a halt as he stared into the corner the duo had slipped in. It was pitch black, only showing endless darkness.
He looked at the two buildings that created this unnoticeable hideout before heading into the darkness.
For a fleeting moment, he heard nothing. Not the vampires or the sound of their footsteps, just pitch black darkness.
It felt as though the corner got wider and bigger the further he walked.
Then he saw it. The faint glow of fire torches, the two vampires came into view again standing in place as the track had come to an end.
" It's a dead end." the hazel eyed vampire said, disappointed.
" No! It can't be a dead end" the crimson eyed vampire said, his hands moving frantically around the hard cold surface of the wall.
" There…there has to be some switch or something. A trigger to activate the entrance." he said, his voice desperate.
" Let's leave now! You said we wouldn't waste time!" the hazel eyed vampire said, slightly annoyed.
" No..not yet. It can't be a dead end" the crimson eyed vampire insisted. His eyes and hands moved quickly trying to find something.
Eryndor stared at them even more confused. What was this place? What did he have to do with these two? What were they in search of?
" Let's go!!" the hazel eyed vampire said, his voice slightly raised but the other vampire seemed insistent on not leaving just yet.
" Lord Eryndor?!!" a voice called. Erevan's voice, echoing through the place but Eryndor was so absorbed in the scene unfolding before him that he didn't snap out of the vision immediately.
" Eryndor?!!" Corin's voice called, to no avail.
" Let's go!!" the hazel eyed vampire said, his voice getting louder and louder as he tugged at the sleeve of the other vampire
" It can't be a dead end!! No!!"
The voices were getting louder, sending a sharp wave of pain through Eryndor's head. He closed his eyes, shaking his head softly.
" Let's go now!!"
" There must be a trigger switch!!"
The voices echoed, louder,sharper and more painful. Eryndor groaned, using his palms to cover his ears. Then…
" Eryndor?" Soren called softly and he gasped sharply coming back to the present. He placed his hand on his chest, taking in the tightening that spread through his chest.
He couldn't help the amount of questions that flooded his mind. What was with that vision? Who were those two vampires? Was that kind of place really in the academy grounds?
" Are you alright, Lord Eryndor?" Erevan asked, his tone filled with concern.
Eryndor hesitated, gathering his thoughts before meeting Erevan's gaze.
" Did this uniform belong to someone before?" he asked, his voice echoing through the auditorium.
" What the hell is he asking?" a student asked in a hushed tone.
" Why would the dean offer him a used uniform?"
" He is so weird"
" What was with the thing that happened to him?"
The murmurs from the students kept getting louder, sending another wave pain through Eryndor's head. His face giving away the discomfort he felt.
" Silence!!" Erevan said and immediately silence upon the students.
" Lord Eryndor, this uniform did not belong to anyone before now." he said turning his attention back to Eryndor, a gentle smile on his lips but it only increased the confusion in his eyes.
This did not escape Erevan or Soren's eyes.
" Eryndor..what was that just now?" Soren asked, placing his hand on Eryndor's arm but Eryndor pulled away.
" Are you sure it didn't belong to someone?" he asked again and Erevan nodded equally getting confused as to why Eryndor was questioning him about the uniform.
" Is it not to your liking?" Erevan enquired.
" Nevermind." he said, taking the uniform.
He turned to leave, his eyes meeting that of Soren's. They were filled with questions, questions he couldn't answer because he too was seeking an answer. He was yet to understand the vision himself.
" What was that?" Soren asked.
" Nothing." Eryndor answered, looking away as he returned to the line.
He could feel multiple eyes on him from where he stood. Questioning gazes.
" Eryndor?" Corin called.
Eryndor hesitated, considering if he should respond to the call. Slowly he raised his head to meet Corin's gaze and a strange feeling of warmth passed through him, catching him by surprise.
Why was that?
He looked into Corin's eyes deeply, then he saw it. The genuine worry that filled his eyes, soft, comforting,and warm. Was this the Corin effect?
" I'm fine." he assured.
He didn't know why he said that, but he didn't want Corin to worry about him. But why?
" Mmm" Corin hummed, offering a light smile of comfort.
Eryndor averted his gaze, staring down at the uniform in his hands.
" Way to brew up a scene on your first day." Lioran said, scoffing lightly but Eryndor remained quiet his eyes locked on the uniform.
" As usual,I expect good conduct from each and everyone of you. We are all equals here, for you to stand out…you have to prove your worth." Erevan voice came, firm and commanding.
" You are all dismissed." he added.
The students filed out of the auditorium almost in a hurry,few casting one last glance at Eryndor. Soon the auditorium quietened leaving the seven heirs, Erevan, Damon along with few of the guards and two other students walking towards them.
"Ah! Ambrose and Elion, it's good that you stayed behind." Erevan said, a light smile appearing on his lips.
The two vampires were tall, their presence filling the atmosphere. It was obvious that they were powerful, from the look in their eyes and how they stood.
" This is Ambrose,the dorm master of Virelle tower." Erevan introduced.
Ambrose had long silver hair tied up in a neat ponytail, his gray eyes staring hard at the seven heirs as if they were a threat to his position. His face was quite delicate for someone with an imposing aura.
" And Elion, the dorm master of Noxwell tower."
Unlike Ambrose, Elion had a smile on his face. Soft, friendly and inviting. He had blonde curly hair, a few strands falling gracefully on his forehead. His brown eyes weren't filled with warmth but they weren't cold either.
" They will be your guide as you navigate your way through the dorms and they are the authorities above you.." he started, his eyes moving through the heirs and stopping on Raelen.
". And you are expected to abide by the rules and instructions given to you."
" It's an honor to meet you all." Elion said bowing slightly.
" It's a pleasure to meet you." Ambrose concurred although he didn't bow, the action displeased him.
" I am leaving them in care and just in case they act out of turn…do not handle it yourselves and report to me." Erevan said and Ambrose frowned.
" Why is that? They are normal students like every other vampire here. It's only right that we handle it ourselves as always." he challenged.
" Ambrose, please don't argue with me. I've been through a lot today already." Erevan pleaded exhausted, pinching the bridge of his nose.
" Then let us handle their misconduct ourselves." Ambrose said a little too aggressively.
" You talk as if we have committed a crime already." Raelen said amused, his usual smile on his face.
Ambrose glared at him, like a predator setting his sight on its prey.
" I know you will soon enough, and when you do…I will be the one to drag you down from your pedestal." he said, taking a step forward.
The smile on Raelen's lips vanished for the first time since he set his foot in the premises.
" Did you take a threatening step towards me?" he asked, his voice low.
Corin rolled his eyes. He was more exhausted looking after grown ups than his own nephew. Kaelen and Soren watched curious as to what the said "lunatic" would do, Lioran scoffed lightly while Eryndor and Dorian couldn't care less.
" And what if I did?" Ambrose asked challengingly.
" Ambrose, that's enough." Elion's voice came before Erevan could intervene. Soft and gentle.
" This is none of your business." Ambrose shot, his words laced with venom but Elion seemed to be used to it.
" You are acting against your code of conduct as a higher authority here and I will not let your actions daint others." he said firmly.
" Ambrose, that's enough. You don't want to start a fight you can't finish." Erevan said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Ambrose glared at Raelen whose smile had returned to his lips only that it looked deadlier rather than amused.
" I'll be watching you." he said in finality.
The tension still hung in the air, eyes still locked with eyes and unspoken words caught in throats.
Damon cleared his throat, refocusing their attention to him.
" You are to follow your dorm masters according to the dorms you have been assigned to. Everything you will be needing will be sent over." he said.
" Please kindly follow me." Elion said bowing slightly.
Lioran, Dorian, Soren and Raelen trailed behind him. Raelen not failing to give Ambrose one marking glance before leaving.
" The rest please go with Ambrose." Erevan said, exhausted as he watched them leave.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
" It's going to be a tough semester." Damon said coming to stand by his side.
" Mmm.." Erevan hummed in response.
" Keep an eye on Eryndor." he added and Damon bowed in acknowledgement.
" Damon?" Erevan called before he could leave.
" Yes?"
" Watch Raelen too."
Damon gave a brief nod and walked out of the auditorium along with the other guards leaving Erevan alone with his thoughts.