"Bloodlines and New Beginnings"

But it wasn't bullets my family cared about.

It was the sun.

Every possible gap was sealed tight; luckily breathing for us was optional. I flopped into the back seat, the leather groaning beneath me. A week had passed since the gala event, and Dad agreed to send me to the Academy, seven days of waiting, 168 hours of counting down. And here I was, bags in the trunk, ready, but still...something felt off.

The black window tint blocked out 99% of the sun's rays, but it didn't block out the movement of Mom's frantic waving. Dad stood with his hands folded over his chest, holding his emotions in check.

Like always, Dickhead Thorin lingered like an unwanted lump, farewelling me only because it was expected of him, but we all knew the truth.

Even Dad. Thorin pretended to like me for the sake of family and greed; mostly greed, and I was the sucker jammed in the middle of that fucked up sandwich.

Unease stirred in my gut again.

I'd dreamed of moving out of home for decades. Countless reruns of 90210 and Pretty Little Liars fueled every fantasy.

So why was I worried now?

I attended all family functions like the good Vampire. I had no friends unless Daddy approved, not that there was anyone outside the backstabbing, vein-puncturing girls who moved in certain circles.

And there was no way I was dealing with that.

"You ready for this?" A voice came from the darkness.

Chuck leaned forward, and I sensed his concern. Ice Pick, others called him, but not me.

To me, he was Chuck, my bodyguard...my friend. But he had a reputation to uphold, so Ice Pick it was, given to himself for driving an ice pick into his victims on every kill, right before he bit through the side of their neck. And I'd bet my kickass stiletto Manolo Blahnik black boots l'd find his weapon of choice somewhere in this limo if I checked.

But I honestly didn't care. Half the time, l assumed the muscle in the Immortal elite gang made up their own name to sound terrifying. No idea why, when Dad's name alone sent the fear of death into most people, immortal or otherwise.

Yep, lots of death and blood in my past.

But not my future. That, I was determined to change.

If it was up to me, l'd change my name to Brenda, be an ordinary girl, and catch a bus to the Academy without drawing attention. Dad would be mortified that I had a shadow...Chuck.

The Vampire had been with me for as long as I remembered. A warrior from the Night core clan, he was more my father than Dad ever was. He'd attended every birthday party, every defense class, and even my first aid lesson for vamps.

On my thirteenth birthday, Dad forgot to get me a present, not that l'd needed one, but Chuck was sweet enough to give me something in secret. A thigh strap for stealthily carrying a blade. I loved it because Dad would disapprove. If Chuck had a beating heart, it'd be made of gold.

"Do I have a choice?" | replied through the dark, the speakers delivering my response to the driver's compartment out front, where he sat with the driver.

"You always have a choice, Morwenna."

I groaned under my breath, turning the gold ring on my middle finger, the power rushing through me. It pricked along my arms like ants biting my flesh.

"Then I guess I'm ready," | added with a sigh.

We pulled away from the curb.

I glanced back at my parents and waved, but felt stupid because they couldn't see me. Lowering my hand, I slouched into the seat.

Yep, this was happening, new start. No more dull parties. Hell, I was going to love living at this school and leaving all my baggage behind. I'd be normal here. Make new friends and have fun for a change. I fidgeted in my seat, ready and pumped. Just like in 90210, l'd fall into the role of Brenda at the Academy with my gang of friends. I'd find my Dylan, and I pictured my favorite episode of the Spring Dance with Dylan deciding who to ask to the dance. Of course, he'd select me.

The first time my aunty, Lentua had come to visit us all the way from Romania, she got me hooked on the show.

Apparently, she streamed the series in her castle...yep you heard right...and she got me addicted, even if it wasn't the in thing. I didn't care. For me, it was the epitome of the life I longed to experience.

Close to two hours later and after three pit stops for the bathroom, we veered off the freeway. I'd drunk two bags of blood this morning to keep myself full for the day and night, but the stuff went right through me.

When we slowed down, butterflies somersaulted in my stomach, and I opened my window with the press of a button. Fresh air washed through my dark hair, driving it over my shoulders. The air was rich with the fragrance of freshly cut lawn and dampness. Sunlight pinched my skin, and I squinted against the brightness, but the sting faded just as quickly as it started with the power of the ring on my finger.

We drove down a two-lane, winding road, past an open field. A dense forest lay in the distance, so dark that the light seemed to have vanished within its grasp. It stretched out in every direction like an ocean.

Soon enough, we passed a lofty stone wall that stretched out the length of the grounds.

My knees bounced as I spied the arched entrance and pebbled driveway.

We turned into it, and the school's name, Betias Academy, was chiseled in stone near the entrance, worn and aged. I remembered the sign from my internet search, having learned the word meant beast in Latin.

Wrought-iron gates lay open as our black limousine glided through and guided us along a driveway to the Academy.

A perfectly manicured lawn spreads out across the property.

We approached an oversized, baroque-style stone building with clusters of sculptured winged creatures perched on the roof's corners. The place could pass for an old church.

Twisted columns at the front flanked a small set of white stairs leading to a set of grand doors made of rich mahogany.

Ivy clung to the edges of the walls.

The building had that rich old - money feel to it, but also a touch of the macabre.

Totally my vibe.

I'd spent the past week researching the school.

Attendees came by invite only, so l guessed I ought to feel privileged. Or maybe it was another: don't upset the Head Vampire in town, so we better invite his daughter to a pity party.

At least it wasn't an old asylum or a death row prison.

Yay. It was just a boring old school.

Betias Academy...

Originally, it'd been built for training boys to control their beast side.

Now it just housed beasts...

We came to a dead stop, and unease crawled through my insides again. When Chuck appeared at my door and opened it, the feeling clenched tighter, and I knew what I felt.

I'd never been on my own, so what if I didn't fit in? Didn't pass the classes and got kicked out. Didn't make Dad proud and became another disappointment to him.

Then I'd be forced back home to marry demonic dicknose, Thorin.

And I was better than that. I wanted so much more out of life...not quite sure what yet, but it wasn't to follow in the family footsteps of knocking off other vampire clans.

So, I lifted my chin, swallowed back the uncertainty, and readied to make my time at Betias Academy work, whatever it took.

I climbed out into the bright sun, and already the first threads of a headache webbed through my skull. In front of the doors was a woman dressed in a tight pencil skirt which fell to her knees, matching red heels, and a white button up shirt, tucked and cinched in around her tiny waist. Short, cropped blond hair parted at the side, the longer strands tucked behind her ears.

 She stood, her hands held behind her back, waiting steadily. When I met her pale blue eyes, the color of the sky, she smiled, and lines curled around the corners of her mouth, showing the age she otherwise concealed so well. So, she was the welcoming party. Only one person, which I appreciated.

No making a big deal, and already I liked this place.