CELINE'S POV
"That is the end of the presentation. Everyone should please retire to your dorms. Dinner will be ready soon," Triss announced. "You are all dismissed."
Whispers filled the air as everyone got up. I sat down, my legs weak, my buttocks glued to the seat.
"Should we leave?" Kiera asked me. I shook my head. "I don't know where."
As I mutter the words, a small piece of brown paper appeared in my blistered palms that I had been trying so hard to ignore. "I am not having dinner, so I think you should just head on," I told kiera with a smile. "I'll see you tomorrow?"
She was hesitant, fear and alarm in her eyes. "I am fine," I chuckled. "Really."
"Okay then," she relented. "If I can sneak something out, I will."
I watched her walk away. The witches' table was almost empty. Okay, I thought, I had to find my dorm at least.
The map was easy to understand, with pictures of each dorm drawn on it. The hall building glows, and I follow the direction, not looking at my surroundings, when I feel a tingle in my neck.
Three pale boys, their hair blonde and their eyes white as snow, stood at the entrance. I saw death clearly clinging to them, and they noticed they finally had my attention. I glanced back, thinking they may be waiting for a friend, but there was no student close to me. Slowly, I turned back to face them.
One by one, they bared their fangs.
Vampires, I screamed at myself. How could I, on my first day here, anger a clan that was more likely to drain me of my life source? I took a step back, then another, my heart beating frantically in my chest as I called on any god that could rescue me from this mess.
"Watch where you are going."
I turned. "I am so sorry," I apologized to the girl I had stumbled on. "I was just trying to head away from them."
She looked terrific; her long, straight black hair fell to her waist. Her eyes were green, and her cheeks were red with life. "It was a mistake."
Her lips twitched upwards. "You're already running away from people?"
I glanced back. The three pale boys were still there, but they had not taken a step forward. "Them?" she whispered.
"Yes," I breathed. "I think you want to harm me."
The three boys start moving again. I force myself to stand still, to kill my racing heart, to quieten down the rush of blood in my veins-
They walked right past us, as I wasn't there.
The girl burst into laughter. I stared at their backs in shock, as her laugh vibrated the air. "I can't believe this," I groaned, closing my eyes. I was scared for nothing.
"Here I was thinking I had a tough competitor after your classy display in the hall," the girl said. I chuckled nervously and stretched my hand out. "I am sorry, I'm not always this skittish. Celine Fallows."
She glanced down at my hand. "Dahila," she said, not shaking it. Instead, she took a step closer, so close I felt her hair on my ear, and I could inhale the jasmine perfume nobles showered themselves in after a bath. "Remember that name, Celine Fallows. I am going to be your worst nightmare," she breathed, "I will make sure a scum like you never thinks you can be as strong as one of us."
Dahila shifted back, a massive smile on her face. Anyone not near her words would have thought she was showing me kindness, but all she spoke was full of spite. "Are we clear?"
I swallowed. "Crystal."
"Good," she moved around me. I waited, then slowly began to walk away, still rattled. "Oh, and Celine?"
I turned back to face Dahila. "Stay away from the blood suckers? They never forget. I am just letting you know because I am a witch, and it's my sisterly duty. Okay?"
I nodded. Dahila chuckled and continued walking away. I made sure to walk alone, without running into anyone, in case I got threatened again. Once was more than enough.
The witches' dorm lit up on the map as I stepped into it. Soon, I watched the figures on it move, and the layout of the dorm appeared in the paper, leading me to my room. The door was locked, and I heard voices,
So I pushed it in.
Three girls stared at me. Their expressions were clear as day: shock, regret, and anger. They did not want me here, and were clearly having issues being my roommate.
"This is my room," I said quietly, closing the door behind me. A girl scrambled to the other side, while one sneered at me. "
"That's your bed," she hissed, pointing at the only bed without a stand. If only she knew, I was even grateful I had a bed.
"Thank you," I said, dropping my bag on the bed, "my name is Celine-"
"We don't care," the same girl shut me down. "I would rather not be associated with someone so reckless. You will definitely not last a week here."
"Lena," the girl who scrambled, groaned.
"I am telling the truth," Lena hissed. "What sort of luck did we get to be roommates with her? She provoked the vampires on her first day."
They all stood up, and after casting side glances at me, showing their disgust, they left the room.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I collapsed on the bed. Why did I come here? Could I handle it? What did I even have to prove?
The thoughts haunted me, but I shook them off. I knew why I had to be here, and if I continued wallowing in self-piety, I would not learn anything.
I used the map to look for the infirmary. I had to thank the shifter prince for helping me instead of getting disgusted with my lack of talent. I got to the infirmary, and two guards were standing in front of it.
"Hi," I said. "I came to see the prince."
"He instructed no visitors," the guard replied sharply.
"Can you let him know, though? It's Celine, the girl he helped."
The guard looked down at me. "he instructed no visitors, especially a girl named Celine Fallows."