Nightworld Academy - L.J. Swallow Page 0,3

with a group of dumb students who like to hold on to human activities rather than learn their place in the supernatural world.

Theodora places her pen down. “Don't make me regret this, Matt.”

My shoulders sink and whole body relaxes. Another chance.

“And don't make me regret this,” adds Sofia. “I’m putting myself on the line for you here.”

2

AMELIA

The auditions for this year’s school musical take place early evening, in the performance hall, before classes begin. This way, vampires can take part. The hall is situated in the centre of the main school building with its own entrance up a flight of stone steps, allowing audiences to attend without walking through the centre of the academy.

This was once a large dining hall, when the academy was an asylum in Victorian times, but has since been furnished with rows of seats and a stage. Several theatrical families sponsor the plays and musical, as well as music recitals, whereas others grumble about how frivolous this is for an institution teaching their children how to become leaders.

They sit now, Katherine and her group of hangers-on, chatting and whispering about the people around. The self-appointed school queen commands respect partly due to her family status, and partly because she’s skilled at using her looks and natural lamia charm to draw people to her. Katherine’s careful to choose friends in all three houses—Gilgamesh shifters, Walcott witches, and Petrescu vampires—and has her eyes set on a high-ranking shifter or witch guy.

Currently, that’s Clive or Matt. Last term she pursued an unimpressed Ash. She backed off the day Ash discovered Katherine threatened me, and Ash told her exactly what he thought of her. Unfortunately, this backfired as Katherine became convinced me and Ash were an item. A couple of days later, Jamie came across her threatening me again. That led to further complications when Jamie told her I wasn’t with Ash because I was in a relationship with him.

I would’ve denied this, but at the time Katherine had cornered me and threatened to set her minions on me. Since then, she’s never let up. Katherine deliberately sabotages my spells in class by distracting me and watches me like a hawk. Ash caught wind of what happened and told her to stay away from the three of us. The only person she’s nice to now is Matt. Katherine is smart and knows who would make an unwise enemy.

Katherine set her sights on Matt as her next conquest. Somehow, I can’t picture Matt as anybody’s ‘conquest’.

Until she turned on me, I’d felt sorry for Katherine. Yes, she has perfect everything from sleek blonde hair and expensive clothes, down to her to-die-for figure and social standing, but underneath everything I sense an unhappiness. Aren’t bullies always bullied themselves, somewhere along the line?

My sister, Genevieve, dates Ash on occasion, in secret. She’s in her final year studying—a year above me—and we couldn't be more opposite. In looks she’s a dark-haired Katherine, but in personality she’s more like me. I’m short to her tall, and hate how I look with long hair, preferring to keep my straight dark hair in a bob style.

Final-year students attend exchange programs with other Nightworld academies in order to foster relations between the different communities. She’s in the States currently, and I miss her terribly.

On my bad days at the academy she’d lend me a helping hand, and we’d often sit and watch old '80s movies. We know every one word for word from watching them over and over as kids. We’d rewind to those days and switch off from all things Nightworld academy.

Genevieve is due home in a couple of months and I’m counting down the days.

I sit on the edge of the stage and count through the number of people who are here to audition. Suzie, a girl from my house, chews on a pen as she scans the sign-up sheet. “Some of these people are overconfident. Tamara tried out for Cats last year and she certainly had the wail.”

I nudge Suzie. “Shh. That’s mean.”

“Oh, I don't intend to be. I'd rather some new students auditioned this year, because with this choice of candidates, I’m worried about the show.”

Katherine put her name down to audition for the lead, of course. Mine is written beneath hers to apply for a backstage position. Last year, my sister worked in costume and taught me makeup techniques which I loved. I don’t like being centre of attention, so there’s no chance of a public performance for me.

Sofia walks through the double-doors