The gates of Nightshade Academy towered like dark sentinels , carved with creatures that seemed to shiver the mist. Today was Damien's first day at Nightshade Academy— a school he'd only heard whispers about , a place rumored to be anything but ordinary. His mother had smiled too brightly , insisting it was "a good fit" for him.
As he walked through the gate he admired the gothic looking school with its old wooden doors and its big windows.
"First time?" a voice asked. Damien spun around. A boy leaned against the stone wall , his hair white like snow and his eyes glowing faintly like the deep blue sea. He grinned as he approached Damien.
"Uh … yeah" he answered . "I'm Damien"
"Call me Enzo" he said while offering his hand.
Damien gently shook his hand but pulled back immediately . His hand was cold , this type of cold that stings in your hand when you're touching it. I looked at his hand and saw little ice fragments on his skin.
"I'm sorry . I can't control my powers that well.
I'm a Yuki-Onna" he explained calmly.
Damien's stomach did a nervous flip .
"A…what?"
Enzo raised his eyebrow and looked at him confused. "You actually don't know anything huh? Okay let me give you a small explanation"
"This school is full of supernatural creatures. We have Werewolves, Vampires , Witches , Sirens , and more.
I'm a Yuki-Onna a creature known for its unique white hair and pale skin that's cold as ice"
Damien froze. He had heard from those creatures before but always believed that they were just some stupid fairy tales .
As he was about to say something the school bell started ringing and everyone rushed inside.
Inside , the halls were lined with portraits that murmured when no one was looking . A staircase wound upward like a twisting tree trunk. Damien felt like he had stepped into a dream — or maybe a nightmare.
"Follow me . I show you your dorm room" Enzo said . He went up the stairs and left a trail of ice behind him.
We walked past other students who looked scary. Some had big horns with shiny eyes and some people had big wings like a dragonfly .
"Here is your dorm room . Come downstairs after you put your stuff in" Enzo said and left Damien alone in front of the door .
"I can do this . Just … blend in." He said as he opened the door and stepped inside.
Damien looked up to slowly see a boy hunched over on all fours , a thick coat of brown fur covering his body . His amber eyes locked into Damien. Another boy was standing in front of the werewolf looking boy but he looked "normal" no unique eyes and no outstanding features .
A soft shuffle came from the other side of the room . Damien stiffened , glancing at the third bed. A figure stood up , tall and lean . His hair was jet-black , eyes a deep red that shimmered unnaturally and a faint aura of cold radiated from him.
"Damien" the boy said , his voice smooth and deep. "I'm Lucius . Your… roommate and a Vampire. This is Jax , he's an werewolf . And this is Logan he's a sorcerer "
Damien nodded , unable to find words .
Why did it feel like the room itself was holding its breath? And why does he know my name?
Lucius stepped back and sat on the edge of his bed , eyes never leaving Damien .
"Don't worry . I'm not … violent . At least not without a reason."
"Nice to meet you Damien" the werewolf Jax said as he transformed back into his human form .
Logan just nodded and left the dorm room. As he walked past me I got a shiver down my spine. Even though he's quiet he seems like someone I shouldn't mess with.
"I'll do my best " Damien finally said .
Jax's smirk deepened "Good That is… a promising start" He leaned against the wall and started at Damien with his Amber eyes .
A couple minutes later Damien went downstairs and met with Enzo again.
"Classrooms are this way" Enzo said , his voice low . "The teachers are… special. Don't do anything that makes them notice you quickly."
Today was going to be nothing like any school he had ever known.
Damien survived the day and went to the Cafeteria with Enzo . They sat down near the window when three figures approached them .
"Mind if we join you two?" A familiar voice said. Damien turned around and saw Lucius , Jax and Logan.
Without even answering they sat down in front of Damien and Enzo .
They all chatted and got to know eachother more and more . Damien was about to eat the unique looking meat when he heard a silent voice.
"I wouldn't eat that if I were you " the quiet boy Logan said , his voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't scare him like that Logan" Jax said.
"Just try it it's delicious" Enzo said to Damien .
Damien was now unsure . The meat surely looked different than any meat he had seen before but it also looked delicious.
He saw that everyone was looking at him so he avoided their gaze and ate the meat carefully.
The sun had long since disappeared behind the towers of Nightshade Academy , leaving the courtyard covered in a silver glow.The halls were quieter now , though the shadows seemed thicker.
Damien sank into his bed staring at the ceiling . His first day had been … overwhelming. He quickly learned that Nightshade Academy wasn't a school— it was a test .
Damien slowly drove off to sleep.
…
A faint noise drew his attention. His body was heavy he couldn't move any limb , he was awake but unable to move.
"Quiet or he might wake up" a quiet voice said
Damien tried to open his eyes but they would close themselves immediately.
He felt immense pain on his arm which made him hiss softly.
"That's enough Lucius… " someone said
Lucius? What is happening right now ? Why can't I move my body . What are they doing to me?
…
Everything went silent now , only the sound of the rain could be heard.
Is it over ?
Damien realized that it was a big mistake to move here. As sleep crept in , he couldn't shake off the feeling that the Academy wasn't just watching him— it was waiting…
And his roommates were dangerous…