Chapter 1: Welcome to the academy!

    It’s my first day at the academy since my parents left me. They thought I was a freak since I developed the ability to see and hear a conversation if I touched an object. I could morph into any type of bird and always had a pair of wings on my back and I had the power of Lumen. And apparently Lumen includes having lights beam from my hand like flashlights and the inability to take a nice hot shower. The shower never seemed to get hot enough any more since I was resistant to fire. 
    So, it was my first day and I was the new girl. The academy isn’t for normal people like some stranger walking down the street in New York. It is for people like me who develop unnatural abilities, like Lumen. As I climb out of the taxi, I get my first good look at my future home. My eyes travel higher and higher trying to find the top of the building. When they reach the top I realize that it’s not a building, but a castle that resembles the tallest church from my home town. I focus my eyes forward and walk towards the entrance where an escort patiently waits for me. She had a high blonde ponytail and has too much makeup on. She wears a work out suit as if she was about to go for a jog.  “Hello Miss Dhamrait, how are you?” the escort asks. I cringe at the sound of my last name and respond “I’m fine thank you. You can call me Alexis”  “Well Alexis, if you’ll follow me I will walk you through your new home.” I reluctantly follow her through the insane amount of twisting hallways that consist of many gloomy classrooms. It was difficult to see the details of the walls and ground since the halls were lit dimly by torches. The gray tinted windows prevented sunlight from beaming into the rooms. When the tour ends, she asks “So, Alexis, do you think you can manage on your own?”. Happy to get her away and be finished with this tour, I nod my head. “Great! Then I can show you to where you will be staying now.” ‘Fabulous,’ I sighed ‘Another two hour tour.’. 
    The cold wind swept by as she opened the wooden door outside. Despite the fresh green grass out in front of the building, the courtyard was made up of thin dirt and hard stone paths. Matching stone walls surround the area. My escort added cheerfully, “Most students prefer to stay in their dormitories,”. ‘No wonder nobody hangs out here, it’s plain out depressing’. I trudged through the wind, my gray jacket wrapped around me. “Ah! My headband!” I heard her squeal as she went to chase after it. I rolled my eyes and walk inside the tall building in front of me. The entrance was tall like it would lead into a dungeon. “Sorry bout that,” my escort giggles from behind me. I almost jump, I thought she would still be chasing that headband around. “Follow me to your room, please. You’ll get to meet your new roommate! She’s queen of the house!” she squealed all the way upstairs. ‘Even better,’ I follow her up the stairs ‘A room with a prep’. My escort unlocked the door and screamed. I peer inside the door and my eyes grow wide. Their was the queen of the house, blood from the squirrel she had been eating dripped all over her lap and covered her mouth. Her fangs glistened as she licked the blood off of them. She turned and hissed at the escort. “I told you not to bother me during feeding time, or you’ll be my next snack” she snapped and glared at my escort. The prep ran away from the door, screaming. ‘At least she’s finally gone’ I thought as I walked inside. A mischievous smile spread across the queen’s face as she wiped her mouth. “What was that all about? Why are you smiling?”. She laughed a little and said “It’s fun to scare those preppy girls.” I smiled along with her. ‘I think I’m going to like this girl’ I thought as I set my bag next to my bed. 
    She stood up and held out a blood coved hand, “I’m Zoe, queen of the house.”. “Uh… nice to meet you,” I took one of her finger tips a shook it. Then a boy’s head popped through a small trap door that I had not seen before. I jumped back I shock “Who are you?!”. He had short, preppy brown with a faded blonde streak on his side swept bangs. His blue green eyes shone as he looked me up and down. “I’m Ben… are you the new girl?”. Zoe flipped her wavy blonde hair and sighed “No RBH, she’s the Queen of England.”. “RBH…?” I asked. “It’s the nickname that I call him. It stands for rich boy haircut. Isn’t that right Benny-Boo~?” Zoe smirked. Ben blushed as red as a tomato and stepped through the doorway. ‘Benny-Boo…?’ I shook my head. “Anyway, I’m Alexis. But call me Lexi,”. “Alright, I will.” another boy said as he stepped through the trap door. This one had short, dark brown hair with a bowl-like haircut. He had even darker brown eyes. “Hey Jacob,” Zoe said as she tried to clean some of the blood off of herself. ‘Well she’s not teasing him… strange,’ I sighed again “Anyone else going to pop out of that door?”.   
    Zoe opened up the window door to the balcony. “Aren’t we going to go eat?” I followed her out. “Yeah, I’m just waiting for the signal” she looked down to the ground as she spread her bat wings “Oh right, do you want me to carry you?” she turned back. I smiled a little “No, I’m fine.” I said as I let my hawk wings show. She smiled “Nice wings!” and looked back down “Oh, there they are. Lets fly,” she climbed up on the railing of the balcony. I looked down to see two small figures riding a brown and white horse. ‘Must be Ben and Jacob.’. I looked up to see Zoe already beating her wings and soaring above them. I jump off the edge and catch up with her. “Boy versus girls!” she shouted through the wind to the ground “Loser has to buy!” and started flapping faster. I laughed, happy to be in the air again, and go faster. It is my first day at this school, and if I can help it, I’m not going to be paying for my food.