The New

  The sun was starting to just about to peek out from the horizon. The grass glistened with the morning dew and the train rattled on through the rolling, olive hills. This seemed the most calming, perfect place is the world, but it seemed almost too perfect. I don’t know why. I’d lived with my grandma since I was little, my parents died in a fire. She passed away a few weeks ago and I have no other living family. In my hand, I clutched a letter, inviting me to my destination. Formal, like I was chosen specially. I was nothing special. Alone on the train, I was heading to Creatura Noctis Boarding school.

 

  Skidding to a halt, as soon as I was chucked off the train, it dashed off. I looked around the platform, hoping for a friendly face to introduce me to this new land. Unfortunately, a hunched man was standing in the shadows, scowling. He beckoned me to come with a long, bony finger and started walking up the curving path. Quickly, I picked up my heavy, battered suitcases and hurried after him.

 

  This place was nothing like the paradise I'd seen looking out the train window, but it had its own kind of beauty. The grass was dotted with dead, withered flowers; with ancient tree’s carcasses twisting in the agony of their slow deaths along the path leading to a medieval enormous castle in the distance. With tangled ivy climbing up the walls and arched mosaic windows, the castle looked trapped in medieval times. An elegant fountain sat in front of the giant oak door, a magpie dancing in the cascading droplets and ravens and crows screeched and circled the pointed towers. To the left was about twenty cottage-like houses and to the right a smaller building, which looked a bit like a church. Just behind the castle, was a long glistening lake and on the edge was a small outline of what looked like a small shed. The castle looked more intriguing than in the picture in the leaflet, more than I could imagine; an aura of mystery lingered in the air. It was breath taking. The old man was quite  far ahead now and I had to run to catch up with him. To say he looked at least eighty, he walked extremely fast!

 

  Finally, we arrived and I was gasping for breath. The heavy door opened with a creak. We walked into a long hallway and I froze in its wonder. The inside of the castle was even more astonishing then the outside. A grand chandelier hung from the high ceiling and there was a twisting staircase, leading up to what I suppose was the classrooms. The walls were lined from top to bottom in ancient paintings of people, whose eyes followed you as you walked along, and a giant faded tapestry hung at the end of the hall. The corner, where the fabric draped on the floor, was turned up slightly and the tapestry was slightly uneven. But I didn’t take much notice. I was too busy staring around at the castles beauty, taking in as much as I could. We turned the corner and I almost walked into a plump, stumpy lady. She had a giant smile on her face and she was holding a tray full of freshly baked biscuits.

“You must be Ena Intenebris. Have one of these. You must be starving. Was your journey OK?”

I nodded with my cheeks stuffed with biscuits. Shortbread, my favourite.

“I’m Aislinn, the cook here. The castle might look a bit scary but it’s lovely and homey when you get used to It.” her voice laughed and her ginger curls bounced on her shoulders. She talked way too fast as my mind was racing to catch up.

“No, not at all! I love old castles like this. I find them fascinating,” I smiled back.

“Don’t worry Tristan; I’ll take her to her room.” Aislinn turned to the old man and he grunted and walked off down the hall. Aislinn took my suitcases and carried on down the hall to another arched oak door.

 

  “You’ll become part of the Everto house,” Aislinn stumbled through the door. Outside, the sun’s dazzling light blinded me. The grass was a brilliant emerald colour, scattered with tiny daisies. A giant greenhouses, filled with lushes vegetables and huge, juicy strawberry plants. A perfectly straight pebbled path forked off in front of us to the houses I’d seen before. “Everto’s Latin isn’t it?" I asked Aislinn. She just ignored me, not even flinching when I spoke, and carried on walking. Her warm smile returned to her face. Aislinn led me to the forth house. Deep, indigo curtains hung in the windows and lavender grew outside the door, the aroma tickling my nose. The inside was just like the castle, majestic, with richly coloured portraits filling the walls.

 

  “Boys’ rooms are downstairs, girls’ are up. Your room’s the first on the left. I’ll leave you to get acquainted.” Aislinn seemed apprehensive, gave me my suitcases and left. Everything suddenly became dark and echoed. It felt like Aislinn left and took all happiness with her. The eyes of the portraits glowered down on me, making me feel nervous. One portrait was a beautiful young girl with pale delicate hands, flowing jet black hair and a Tudor fashioned purple dress. A gold chain hung around her neck, a large ruby hanging off it. What drew me into it were her pure white eyes. I’m sure that’s not possible. I started up the staircase. Every step seemed to creak and bounce around the room. At the top of the stairs, a long corridor with about eight doors along it. I opened the first door, and walked into a dimly lit room.

 

  A few candelabras stood in various places, flickering silently. Everything was old-fashioned, like the rest of the school but, luckily, no portraits staring at you. The room was divided in half, totally symmetrical. The flocked wallpaper was blood red and  crimson armchairs stood in both corners near the window, blood scarlet curtains hanging over them. The floor, beds, drawers, everything was a shade of red, making the room feel dark. One side was neat and tidy, I’m guessing that was my side, and the other was a total wreck. The bed was all messed up and clothes were laying about everywhere. As I sat down on the neatly made bed, the door burst open and a tall, slender girl with long, midnight hair swept into a messy ponytail, stormed in.

“Hi. I’m Ena. I’ll be staying-” The stranger picked up her book and stormed back out again.

“Well, ok the…,” I mumbled to myself. Clearly she had somewhere better to go.

  Unpacking the dull, grey uniform, I noticed something sparkle under all the mess on the other girl’s bed. I went over, curious. It looked like a necklace or something. I picked it up and it started burning. I dropped and shook my hand in pain, holding in a scream.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I turned around. The dark haired girl was lurking in the doorway again.

“Don’t look through other peoples belongings. Hasn’t your mother taught you any manners?” she pushed me aside and stuffed the pile of clothes, along with the necklace, in her drawer.

“Sorry. I shuffled back onto my side of the room. “I’m Ena. I’m going to stay here.”

Mumbling something unintelligible, she continued stuffing her clothes into the drawers. “I’m Maura and I’d appreciate it if you keep your distance and I’ll keep mine.” She picked up her burgundy blazer and her dark, amber eyes stared straight into mine. I stood in silence, frozen to the spot. I managed to stutter a small, “Okay.”

Maura smiled, smugly, and started towards the door. She paused, flicked her hair over her shoulder and left.

 

  Friendly. I peered around the door down the corridor, mesmerised by the girl’s harshness, but she was just idling near the stairs with two other students. She said something to them, too quiet for me to work out, and the tall blonde boy shot a sharp glance at me, with the other girl joining in too. I quickly hid behind the door. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be the most popular person in the world, then again, was I ever.