CHAPTER ONE
The cackling noise of the carriage wheel kept interrupting my thought every single time, just when I am thinking of how am going to adapt to my new life the carriage just jeers me up throwing me off guard, yes concerning my new life, apparently I just got admitted into a very prestigious school in which getting in was pretty hard considering the fact they just started accepting female student, this was a great news for my mum has she had always wanted me to attend one of these prestigious school, even though we were not all that well of, we ranked among the middle classes in the society, the Victorian era really made sure to distinguish the higher classes from the lower classes, lucky for us we were among the higher classes even though we were at the bottom of the higher classes, I was supposed to be happy for I was attending a very prestigious school Oakhaven university but I was very perplexed for a lot of reasons, most people who would be attending the school were mostly high class students whose parents had great influence and I would just be like one insignificant someone in their midst, on the other hand I could never have afforded the school but mum went a great length to make sure I attended especially when she heard my childhood friend lex who I really don't remember was also spending his second year in Oakhaven she pushed all the buttons she could, worked overtime and even begged lex family to look for connections for me thinking of all those stress she went to makes me all the more want to make her proud and doing that in this school might not be all that easy.
The carriage came to a halt in our new home, we had moved from Brindle's Street where the middle class stayed to Brickman's Alley where the working class could afford, I helped offload our luggage on the porch of the little apartment we were to stay as mum settled the coachman, immediately she was done she helped me into our new home which was quite nice not too spacious but okay for the two of us and considering the fact I was to spend four years in school it should fit us really well, we spent the next few hours just putting everything in order without saying a word to each other I guess she didn't know what to say considering the fact she was sending her only daughter to a God only knows forsaken school, I didn't say anything either because I was basically speechless. It wasn't long after we finished cleaning and then we settled down finally and then my mum broke the silence.
"Harriet how do you like the new house?" she asked,
"Fine, I guess" There was silence for a moment then she leaned forward and faced me,
"Look I know you must be thinking am cruel for sending you into a school where I know you might not actually fit in but look, I want you to know it's for your own good, the life we are living now I don't want you to leave such life there are a lot of opportunities for you out there you can't continue helping me in the Millinery shop(people who make hats and headwear) besides I wouldn't want you wasting your future learning a stupid skill, look I want the best for you," she said as she drew closer and held my hand,
"I understand I just felt you should have told me sooner before making the step and let me have a say in the matter, by the way, when am I leaving?"
"Tomorrow" At this statement my jaw dropped,
"Tomorrow!!!" I asked shocked,
"Yes, I know it's too soon but they have resumed for the spring semester so I would want you to catch up with the lectures, so get packing" I just sat there gasping at Mum as she left to start preparing me for tomorrow, I just got here.
Morning came early I was too excited, and different thoughts kept going through my head at once but I just suppressed them, my mum was up early, at a single glance one could think it was my mum getting enrolled instead of me because she kept chattering, she didn't even sleep a wink I just kept listening to how impressive the school was and all, a knock came on our door, the sound I dreaded was finally here, my mum hurried to the door and opened giving passage for the coachman to enter she took pain to hire a Brougham (A popular, enclosed four-wheeled carriage drawn by a single horse, suitable for everyday use and navigating city streets.) which was quite pretty expensive.
"Mum!!! this is actually a lot, how were you able to afford a brougham?" I asked in shock,
"Never mind that, I just wanted you to arrive in style you know feel among by the way lest I forget I had a letter sent to lex mum informing her of your arrival, she responded by saying Lex would welcome you when you arrive at Oakhaven, do well to be of your best behavior child." I scoffed. Who knows if he still remembers me?
We were done with organizing my luggage in the brougham and were set for departure, as I sat down in the carriage I held back my tears that was about to force their way through, my mum's eyes were watery I mean we had spent 19 years together after my father passed away when I was one year old so leaving her to go to a strange place was pretty painful, I did a pretty good job of holding back my tears but my mum couldn't she burst into tears and I had to comfort her.
"Mum, don't worry, I will be fine," I said,
" I am going to miss you, do well to make me proud Harriet, I love you," she said giving me a peck on the cheek and wishing me farewell I got on the carriage and we departed for my journey which was going to be a pretty long one about three days journey I glanced back at my mum and couldn't suppress the tears any longer, it just kept pouring down at that instance I felt like jumping back into her arms but I was too late for that.
CHAPTER 2
The journey was very comfy I never knew a brougham could feel this soothing, damn the upper class were enjoying, As the carriage crested the hill, the sight of Oakhaven stole my breath. It wasn't merely a school, but a citadel of knowledge, its silhouette dominating the landscape. Turrets pierced the sky, their stone surfaces softened by ivy that crawled like emerald veins across the facade. Stained glass windows, towering and intricate, hinted at the colorful world within, a stark contrast to the imposing gray stone. The drive wound through a meticulously kept park, where ancient oaks, their branches heavy with years, stood sentinel. A long, wrought-iron fence, punctuated by imposing gates bearing the school's crest—an open book beneath a torch—separated the grounds from the wilder countryside. The air grew thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant echo of a bell, a sound that spoke of order and discipline.
The main building was a sprawling edifice of Gothic architecture, its facade adorned with carved gargoyles and grotesque figures that both fascinated and intimidated new arrivals. A grand clock tower, its face a mosaic of time, stood at the heart of the structure, its steady ticking a constant reminder of the passage of hours and the importance of punctuality. Wide stone steps, worn smooth by generations of eager and reluctant feet, led up to the massive oak entrance doors, stepping out of the carriage I noticed gazes were stoned at me but as quick as they landed on me, the gazes focused elsewhere like they didn't have the energy to waste on me.
"what pride," I said as I got my stuff out of the carriage, the coachman was nice enough to help me offload my heavy luggage but I guess that was where his empathy ended because how in the world am I to lift all these things my mum packed and by the way where am I to start from in this huge place by the way where the hell is lex that's if I still remember his face, as I kept contemplating on where to start, who to call I felt a tap on my shoulder, turning back I met a giant figure, very masculine, handsome and dark green eyes which stared at me with deeply intense, I gulped as I wondered who the figure in front of me was, we stared at each other for a few seconds then the figure broke the silence.
"Pardon me, but do you go by the name Harriet Bennet?" It took me a while to process the question; his voice was not what I had expected. I was expecting a groovy, nonsensical voice, but all I got was a very calm and smooth voice.
"Yes, I am, and I guess you are, Lex?" I replied,
"I am," he said, without hesitation, he lifted my luggage with such ease, like it was nothing, and headed for the massive door that led into the grand hall. I tagged along with the little things left as we marched into the hall.
Stepping inside was like entering a cathedral. The entrance hall soared to a vaulted ceiling, where sunlight streamed through stained glass, casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the checkered marble floor. Portraits of stern-faced benefactors and headmasters lined the walls, their eyes seeming to follow every movement. A grand staircase, its banister of polished mahogany, swept upwards in a graceful curve, promising further wonders—or perhaps trials—on the floors above. Here the students all moved with elegancy their uniform glistening with the stones adorned on it, their steps like peacocks with their feathers outstretched, maybe I was overexaggerating a bit but seeing this setting I knew it would be hard to fit in, hell even Lex might not want to interact with me that much, we ascended up the huge stairs heading to wherever lex was taking me while I took in the views.
"It's beautiful, right?" Lex asked,
"Yes, I guess you must have seen it pretty often, so it doesn't seem all that grand to you, by the way, Mum told me we were childhood friends, but I really don't remember our time together," I said
"Well, I remember you were practically 2 then and I was 4 so I basically remember our time together, you were a very stubborn lot and always loved going on adventures, we would go into my house my dad would hide something and give us a really messed up treasure map and ask us to go seek for what was never lost you were always energetic for someone your age then." He explained, I could see him smiling from the corner of his lip.
"What happened? Where did you guys go after all these years?"
"Well, we had to relocate because of some issues which I would rather not say," he replied coldly. I kept quiet after that, and we finally got to a large space, it was filled with seats and tables, where I think most of the students hang out.
"Over there," he said as he pointed to a group of people sitting on one of the seats. "Those are my family."
"Like your blood relatives?" cause last I remembered, Lex had no relatives,
"More like my closest of friends but I don't refer to them as friends but rather families" I just nodded in understanding "Go meet them I will go help you drop your luggage in my room till you are assigned a room" I wanted to protest I didn't know them how the hell am I supposed to introduce myself I guess he read mind as he just smiled,
"Don't worry, I've told them about you, just go."
I walked towards the seat, getting nearer I could feel my feet tremble I really dreaded meeting new people, but I still moved despite that fact, getting closer my jaw almost dropped I could literally see the difference between lex friends and me, the word high class was literally oozing out of them like they were the one that formed the word HIGH CLASS I stopped in my steps as I felt their gaze meet mine, I could feel their icy cold stare on me, of course they would wonder who I was the only high class thing I came with was the brougham I came in apart from that what I wore was passed down from my family it was considered a family heirloom my mother had forced it upon me said the cloth was an item of significance, a long dark gown with large fleece and emerald adorned, the emerald though glistening was very dull, and the necklace I wore was sort of a miniature very tiny and hardly could be seen except one stared closely and I barely even wore any makeup no wonder as soon as the students stared at me they averted their gaze, I didn't know how long I stood there but I felt a hand tap me, I gasped in shock as I saw a very cute face staring back at me eyes as blue as the ocean, hair as dark as a raven and her smile so heartwarming,
"Are you Harriet by chance?" the girl said. I could only manage a nod,
"Great we have been expecting you don't be shy," she said dragging me towards where they all sat as I tagged along "am Kirstein by name, lex told us all about you here let me introduce you to the family," she said as she sat me down on an empty space,
"First our older brother or our guide or anything you wish to call him, meet Alistair he is very calm, nice, gentle I really can't start to describe him," she said pointing to a very calm guy as the name depicted, I could feel the stare of his golden eye deep in me and yes I wasn't insinuating his eyes were truly golden, he smiled and stretched his hands towards me which I reciprocated by taking his hand, he then lifts them to his mouth and pecked them,
"Nice to meet you," he said in a very chilly but calming tone. Strangely, I felt at ease after he greeted me.
"Well over to the next person, meet Arabella though she prefers the name Bella better, Arabella seems to touché for her" she said pointing to a girl sitting by the corner, her hair pure white she has this nonsensical look that nobody could try nonsense with her, despite that she was very sexy, she looked built like a warrior, she caught my gaze and smiled.
"Nice to meet you" she said and that was all, Kirstein then went ahead to introduce me to the rest of the gang, Thomas who also had the same build has Lex and finally Fritz the quiet and strange one, they all treated me like one of theirs though, I was very welcomed, not long after Lex came back, I didn't even notice he was back as Kirstein kept indulging me in various topics with the others contributing little to the discussion.
"I see you guys have gotten along, that's nice, see I told you it would be alright," Lex said as he sat down beside me
"My family is familiar with the school lucky for you my mum had prepared everything for you, your room, your uniform, and your class but you still have to be interviewed, Kirsten would guide you through everything don't worry all would be fine" he said, wow am so lucky that my mum knew someone like lex, just as lex was about to chip in to the discussion the whole hall became silent which was very odd considering how noisy the hall was before, I turned around looking to identify the cause of the great silence but found none it was then I noticed the look on lex and his friends, it was not a look of fear it was a look of hatred, despise, what the hell is going on I asked myself just then I noticed their gaze shift to the stairs in which lex had led me through, right there on the stairs where some group of students all in dark cloaks, their pace slow but emanated authority, I could feel their aura feel the space, who were this people? I asked myself, the one whose presence felt more dominant was the guy leading the group he seemed to be their leader, his hair as white as the snow and his golden eyes stared at everyone like they were insignificant to him, just then his gaze met mine, we stared at each other for a few seconds then I noticed the smile he had on his face when he arrived vanished, he tilted his head and I could feel the pressure of his gaze at that instance I averted my eyes.
"Here they come" Kirstein said, and truly they were approaching our seats, I swallowed hard was it because of me they were approaching here, I could hear their footsteps getting closer and closer and just then it stopped, I lifted my head to see them already at our table, though their pace was slow I had no idea how they reached our table so fast, I just bowed down my head and fidgeted with the helm of my clothe.
"Zariel, is anything the issue?" Alistair asked calmly
"Nothing, brother, or is there anything to be worried about?" I gasped at the world, brother, so they were brothers, no wonder I could see the resemblance, the golden eyes, and their voice, which was almost the same, except Zariel was fiercer.
"Who is she? Newly admitted?" I gulped at the statement. Oh no, he had noticed me.
"She is, I don't see how that concerns you," Lex replied arrogantly. I stared at Lex, who didn't even seem to notice me.
"Lex" Zariel sighed, "always arrogant as usual, you don't want to cause a debacle between families now, do you?" he said coldly.
"You..."
"Stop, Lex, leave it," Alistair said, calling Lex to order. "Come on, Zariel, it's enough," he said. I could feel the tone change at that word, like it was a threat.
"Sure, brother," Zariel replied and turned to me. "Young lady, what's your name?" he asked. I turned to Alistair, who just nodded with a smile.
"Am Harriet"
"I meant your full name," he replied,
"Oh, sorry… I'm Harriet Bennet," I said
"Bennet, nice to meet you, I'm Zariel," he said as he smiled and left with his gang.
"Who are they, Kirstein?" I asked,
"Sorry for that, well here in Oakhaven we have a student body and they are part of the student body of course we are also part of the student body Alistair is the president and Zariel is the vice, we all have a post in the student body but both we and Zariel don't see eye to eye their method of instilling discipline is different from ours so every student fear them, but don't worry all would be fine as long as you are with us" she said
"Harriet, don't worry, Zariel can be a bit of a bully, Kirstein will take you for your interview and show you your room, okay?" Alistair said,
"Okay, pretty time to go," Kirstein said, dragging me to my feet,
"I would come check up on you later, okay?" Lex said. I just nodded.
*************
The night was dark, the rain gave everywhere a soggy feeling, the town was quiet nothing to be heard, the thunder strike was the only form of noise to be heard, the trees swayed their leaves as the wind carried them to and fro, there on the top of the trees stood seven hooded figures, their cloaks flicking as the wind carried them they were like guardians watching over the city or were they?, all of a sudden they all descended down the trees falling like stones being dropped immediately they landed on the ground they vanished, then the next things to be heard were screams, growls and shouts, the once quiet town turned into a sea of horror, blood splattered everywhere, people ran helter skelter, then all of a sudden the screamed stopped and the hooded figures were seen walking the streets, just then someone appeared in front of the hooded figures all bloody and tattered his glowing dark red eyes, his teeth had an unusual shape his two canine protruded out, he growled "am going to kill you all" he said, almost immediately his body started cracking, the sound grotesque he howled in pain has he slowly but painfully transformed into a very big wolf his eyes glowing deep red, one of the hooded figure then stepped up to the one leading them and said "Zariel, don't worry I would take him" the hooded figure said,
"well just take care of him, I need to prepare for tomorrow class, truly this is stressful" he said, at this the hooded figure pulled of the hood to reveal a girl, her eyes pure black it stared at the beast in front of her and she smiled, the beast leapt towards her and almost in an instant the beast landed on the floor blood gushing out of its body, the girl was at the other side of the beast clutching what looked an heart she had plucked out the heart of the beast with immense speed, she dropped the heart and the other hooded cloaks joined to meet her as they continued their journey,
"That was fast, Yvette, clean as usual."
"I was hungry, I really needed to feed, and it was sort of wasting our time, so I had to be fast, Besides it would have died anyway".
NOTE: pls anywhere you see this (***********) means I changed the POV from Harriet's POV that's first POV to the authors POV that's second POV, it means that the scene is happening in a place where Harriet isn't present thank you for reading this far, the story is going to get interesting further as we move to the next chapters.