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"Learning Curve"
When you see her sitting there
When her head hangs down to crying
But when she stands high and tall
School. I never thought I would come here at last. Mr. Conrad had laughed at my eagerness when I met him again, telling me that most people thought contrary to what I did about school and uniforms. I can’t see why really, school sounds exciting and the uniform itself is so chic. She had finally gathered the courage to view herself in her uniform. While abhorrent to the possibility of having her reflection scare her again and then gloat afterwards, she took the chance. It was well worth it. Lilith adored her uniform. It was objects of worship the entire week leading up to her first day of school. The blouse and sweater combined together perfectly, giving her an easygoing and warm appearance. The skirt went an inch above her knees showing the lower half of her legs, which were surprisingly pale - probably due to the lack of sunlight in the area and the obsession with baggy pants as displayed by her wardrobe. She didn’t contest the closet space those articles of clothing took up, however, as she was too fearful of her reflection’s alter ego. Mr. Conrad gave her soft red shoes to complete the ensemble, telling her it would match the bag. Alicia, as she had begun calling the other woman, seemed less than happy about the whole issue. She didn’t seem to like Mr. Conrad or have to be dependent on him so much but she seemed to appreciate the gesture regardless. It was one of these occasions after they had an argument that I heard them through the wall dividing my room and Alicia’s. It was the sound of pleasure the permeated the divider and filtered into my ears. I couldn’t sleep that night and it wasn’t because of the mirror. I felt warm. It didn’t help to sleep without a blanket and when I tried to sleep without clothes because of that heat… I felt things. It felt unclean but, at the same time, it felt right – almost like a purpose and belonging. I never knew anything like that before except, maybe, when I had the visions while still in the void. ‘She’ had done what I did many times over. Lilith felt herself blush to her eyes, the thoughts of her midnight caper embarrassing her to a certain degree. She did, however, manage to fall asleep despite the heat long before the noises had stopped – Alicia and Mr. Conrad seemed to be going at it forever much like ‘she’ and the caped figure had done on many occasions. Now wasn’t the opportune time to let her thoughts stray to such carnal issues. Just a few minutes ago she had been dropped off at the exquisite St. Francis, a co-ed Catholic high school that was not only excellent academically but maintained a certain social standing catering mostly to those of the middle class. Located in the suburbs, the scenery was beautiful and green but the entrance building itself was a marvel to behold. The architecture had a Gothic basis and looked rather like a large cathedral. Above the entrance was a spire with a mounted crucifix. It as all like a brightly painted ruin and, alongside the pathway leading to the hallowed halls, were many other people, students she had guessed, all wearing the same thing she was, except for the boys who wore pants and blazers. They were all in little groups and they all looked content, others looked lonely while yet more looked like they couldn’t care less. There was such a great magnitude of them assembled and Lilith couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by a heightened sense of paranoia. What if she couldn’t live up to what was expected of her? What if, despite Mr. Conrad’s kind words, no one liked her? Worry after worry assaulted her as she slowly tread down the pathway through the lawn towards the immense doorway. On either side of her she saw the other students sitting together, having a light snack, chatting and basically converging together. It filled her with trepidation and certain apprehension: What if nobody likes me? After roaming through the hallways amidst yet another sea of students, she found her way to the office, which was where Mr. Conrad had instructed her to go, and stepped in. There were no students in the room. On one corner was a desk, behind which was a large woman with thin narrow glasses and short curly red hair. Her expression was angry and it looked almost like there was no alternative to that expression for this woman, her eyebrows locked perpetually into position. “What do you want, little girl?” she boomed, “Do you have business in this office, are you here to see the principal? Are you to be disciplined? All children deserve a good spanking.” Lilith froze. She didn’t know what to say to this behemoth woman who now assaulted her with questions followed by a rather threatening statement. She didn’t know what a principle was and definitely didn’t think she needed discipline – she was new and just wanted to receive her timetable. “Well?” the fearsome creature roared, “Are you mute, child? Perhaps deaf – or dumb, for that matter.” “I-I…” she stammered, unable to bring herself to say more. She awaited the retaliation. “Speak up! I can’t hear you well enough.” “I-I-I’m… I’m new here,” she managed at last, the sentence wheezing out of her, almost like a dirty secret. The woman behind the desk smiled. “Lily is it?” “Lilith… actually…” “I said: LILY is it?” Lilith gulped. What did it matter if this creature didn’t get her name right. She just wanted to be done with this as soon as possible so she could go away – far away – and hope never to be sent to the office again for any reason. “Y-yes ma’am.” “Good. Sister Fiona wants to see you. That door there,” a large podgy finger pointed in a menacing fashion towards another door on which was labelled: Sister Fiona, DD
The young girl quickly nodded, scurrying off to the door only to be stopped, again, by that same authoritarian booming voice, “What do you say, little girl?” Lilith looked at the secretary blankly. “I said: WHAT do you SAY, little girl?” There was a pause, a long pause after which the woman sighed an angry sigh and resorted to her second line of interrogation. “Did your mother teach you any manners? Are you a rude child, little girl?” “I-I…” The door to the principal’s room opened and a lady dressed in a conservative black and white robe that revealed only her face and hands stepped out. She was thin, lean, and tall and her face was a calm placid look. She had an aura of serenity about her and, when she entered, all became quiet. “Miss Evans, I think you have done enough here,” she spoke, her voice like a gentle stream that hypnotised those that heard it and soothed them. The behemoth, now looking rather worried, had been bested by this soft imposing presence, “This poor girl is not only new to this establishment but was involved in a traumatic accident recently that has robbed her of her memory.” “Yes... Sister Fiona,” the creature garbled. The benevolence grew stern, “I will not tolerate another such trespass.” “I understand, Sister.” This was amazing. I had never seen or known such raw strength hidden behind such great gentleness. She seemed almost surreal to me, this woman, like she couldn’t exist. Despite all doubts, however, she remained before me, smiling and beckoning me to enter the haven that was her office. There was a word for her and I found it as I stepped through the portal and closed the door behind me. Solace. The room was bright. The window looked out into a lush green garden with pools filled with large golden and silver fish that seemed to wade slowly with their sleek bodies in a hedonistic fashion. Standing between Lilith and the principal now was a large oaken desk that was neatly segmented and decorated with various babbles. One like the spire outside sat on the right corner, a small crucifix protruding vertically upwards out of a marble sphere. “Hello, Lily, I am Sister Fiona, Principal of St. Francis. It is a pleasure finally meeting you,” she greeted, that same disengaged voice. Lilith was compelled to answer. “It… It’s a pleasure meeting you as well, Sister Fiona,” she started, still nervous, “I do prefer being called ‘Lilith’ though…” “Very well, Lilith, I will inform your tutors of that preference. What do you think of the school so far?” The conversation continued on. Sister Fiona asked her about her impressions of the campus, the students, how her experience had been in the hospital – along with many other questions. Lilith couldn’t answer all of the queries but each time she paused a look from the Sister would reassure her that she didn’t have to know all the answers. “Thank you, Lilith, speaking to you has been very enjoyable. Before we can allow you into the mainstream I will have to ask you to sit a few tests so we know which classes we can place you in. We have prepared, should you be unable to remember certain things, private one-to-one classes in which you shall be reintegrated until such a time as you are able to join the mainstream courses.” “Thank you, Sister,” Lilith beamed, “Where do I go for these tests?” “The room next to mine, that is a conference room, you will not be disturbed there. I will have Miss Evans bring in the placement test and you can begin as soon as you receive them.” The school day had ended. Already the students in their plaid skirts and black pants were filing out and finding their friends hoping to relieve the stress of the classrooms with some fun. Some of them remained, sifting off to various clubs and after school activities whilst other were forced to remain for detention and remedial classes. From the cathedral opposite the school grounds, a single figure was perched on the roof, amidst hideous gargoyles in a dark hood. Dwayne hated daytime duty. The sun still remained strong in the sky, beating down upon him in his midnight black hooded cloak menacingly. It was a necessity for, if the sun were to touch him in full force, he would crumble to ashes. That was not something he wanted. His master had sent him out at this ungodly hour for ‘information gathering’. Stalking and spying would be closer to the truth. Being lean and small, just a little over five and a half feet and appearing to be in his early teens, it became apparent that he was ideal for the job. Why was beyond him. While appearing to be fifteen years of age he was, in fact, over a hundred. He knew as well as the next vampire that looking young or being small wouldn’t help him at all in his mission. Like any other vampire, he would be forced to stay in some dark corner and watch from far away hoping that by some small chance he would spot the target that had been chosen. "What do they want me to do? Mingle?” he asked himself, rhetorically, muttering the words under his stale breath. The Celtic vampire sighed heavily. He wasn’t even sure of what he was looking for, they all looked the same to him in their skirts and sweaters and suits. It was frustrating, having to watch them, always having to watch. Never had he been chosen for important missions like harvesting food or incapacitating vampire hunters. He had never fed off a human that he had caught himself – it was always second hand and unwanted. “Like me, I know I’m unwanted. So why do I, after an entire century, still follow he who made me?” Why indeed. He had told himself and others that he would leave on multiple occasions but he could never bring himself to do it. There was always this awe when the master was around, one that drew him to stare with admiration at his sire and removed all doubt from him. There was no escaping the master. …Wings? An oddity drew him to stare again into the crowd of students. There, amidst the mob, was a girl who possessed red wings sprouting from her head and her back. They were translucent, intangible possessions of the spirit and very much like the wings of a succubus from the Aensland clan back in Makai. This was what he was waiting for and, compelled by his orders and ‘love’ for his master, he watched her with utmost scrutiny hoping, for once in his miserable existence, that this mission was actually important. I hope I did okay. I couldn’t understand most of those questions but… alright, I admit it, so I couldn’t understand any of those questions, that doesn’t prove anything – it’ll just mean I’ll have to go to special classes… but just what is ‘geography’ and ‘history’ and all this other stuff anyway? She sighed. Lilith didn’t want to go to the special one-to-one classes. She wanted the things Mr. Conrad told her about – classmates, friends, lockers and everything. She figured that she might have some classes with other people but it may not be much. At least I’ll have those. I’m a quick learner; I learnt how to use this body in no time so I’ll have a good chance. I hope. “Excuse me,” someone called from behind her. When she turned to look, there was a tall boy of six feet with broad shoulders and handsome features. He had blonde hair and was slick with charisma, or that she could feel. She looked at him and almost became lost in his features when the second part of the sentence hit her: “Are you new here?” She bobbed her head upwards. Someone was speaking with her! He didn’t look too bad either and struck her as honest and friendly. He stuck a hand out in front of her and gestured her to shake it. “I’m Flash, or at least that’s what they call me, real name’s George but I do prefer Flash better, what’s your name?” She accepted the gesture and placed her hand in his, their fingers clasping on each other causing a certain excitement to shoot through her. “I’m Lilith, pleasure to meet you.” He nodded and returned the smile, his hands dropping to his side once again. “Say, are you free tonight, I was going to hang out with the rest of the basketball team today but I'd rather show you around, what do you say, game?” “Really? I mean, yeah, I’m free tonight!” she hoped she didn’t come off as too excited, didn’t want to scare this friend away so soon. When he said ‘okay’ and gave her another one of his warm smiles she felt elated. The concept of calling Alicia or Mr. Conrad didn’t cross her mind at all. A friend! How lucky can a girl be? He was nice, handsome, and warm and was willing to spend time with me instead of his other friends. Maybe, just maybe, I could meet his other friends after as well. Then more, and more… Maybe, just maybe, I don’t need to have clasmates to have friends. As the mark walked away from the school grounds with one of the other students, talking and chatting about various points of interest, he looked at the position of the sun and the potential destination of the couple. They were heading west, the same way the sun was. Dwayne slapped himself on the forehead and buried his head in his hands as he tried to think of how to follow them. He wasn’t too successful in formulating such a plan and, as he watched them go further and further away a single phrase came to his vampiric mind and tongue: “Why me?” |