Chapter 1

University starts in three days. I am excited and a little nervous at the same time. Nervous, because I have just started at Ravenwood and I don't know anybody. Excited,  because I can't wait to start classes!

My plane landed yesterday, in the evening, and the only thing I have seen of the town so far is this horrible motel room. As I am exhausted I could have slept anywhere. Thanks to jet lag, I slept until noon.

Today, I have to settle my registration formalities. For that, I have to go to the admissions office at the University. What a program! I think I’ve got everything I need for my registration in my little shoulder bag.

I am trying to explore the city, but it will have to wait. I pause for a moment in front of the university.

WHOAAA!!!!

Amazing! The architecture of the building facing me is really impressive. I love this mixture of modern and antique styles. Between the red break building and the sculpted columns, the atmosphere is really different, chic and studious.

I look at the paths lined with trees and areas of grass. It is very welcoming. I feel immediately in harmony with this place. I can already imagine myself spending my time here! 

The campus seems huge. It looks like a neighbourhood in its own right. I hope I don't get lost. Thanks to the signposts, I manage to find my way and push open the doors of the administrative building.

But after about fifteen minutes, it becomes obvious: I have no idea where I am. All the corridors look the same, I feel a little lost. Which way should I go?

I hear footsteps coming up behind me. A young girl comes forward. She is very beautiful. She’s got an eye-catching trendy look about her. I can feel her energy.

Unlike me, she seems to know exactly where she is. Maybe she could help me? 

“Excuse me….?”

She strides over to me. Everything about her exudes self-confidence. “Hi, are you here to enrol?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“It’s the only valid reason to being here before the school starts!”

I chuckle at her wit. “I’m looking for the admissions office, but I’m having trouble finding my way…”

“You’re new?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Let’s say I haven’t seen you around before and I’ve lived here forever. So it’s not hard to guess.”

“That explains why you seem so at ease.” I comment.

She laughs and links her arm through mine. “Don’t worry, I'll show you where it is. I have to go there too…. By the way, my name is Sarah.”

“Celeste Osborne” I introduce myself.

She takes me to the admissions office. Once outside the door, I take the papers out of my bag and Sarah grabs them. “I want to take a look at the options you’ve chosen!”

I watch her until she lets out an excited squeal. It startles me and I stare at her with round eyes. She’s a little weird, this girl.

“You’re enrolled on the course Myths and Legends! Me too!”

“Awesome!” Well, I think it is.

This girl is mysterious, playful and explosive at the same time—the complete opposite of me. I’ll have to adapt. As they say, opposites attract. 

Given our differences, this is perhaps the beginning of a great friendship!

Once the formalities are over, Sarah drags me to exit. I have a hard time following her. “Hey… Not so fast!”

Once outside, she drags me along. We sit on a bench in the shade of a large oak tree. “I have a feeling this is new year is going to be thrilling!”

I stay quiet. Unlike her, everything is new to me. I’ll need to find my marks before I feel so enthusiastic. 

Her brows furrow. “You seem a little anxious…” 

This girl reads me like an open book.

“It’s not easy to move to a city where you don’t know anyone.”

“Well, that’s not quite the case… You know me, now!” she beams. Her enthusiasm is contagious.

“Anyway, thank you very much for guiding me through the labyrinth! I thought I was going to get lost!”

“Don’t worry, I know my way around here, tell me, what do you say to a little tour of the city?!”

“Maybe later, I already have a busy evening ahead…”

“Really, you landed in town yesterday and you already have plans? You don’t waste time, do you!”

“I committed myself to something before arriving. But when I arrived yesterday evening I was so exhausted that I rushed into the first motel that I came across.”

“Judging by the look on your face, it couldn't have been that great!”

I laugh with her. “Thank you!”

“If it’s that bad, I can put you up, until you find something else.” she offered.

“That’s kind of you, but don’t worry. I’ve found a place as an au pair in a local family. I’ll take care of their little girl and, in exchange, they give me accommodation, and it’s also a good way to help pay my school fees.”

“Well, that’s lucky.”

I smile. “I think so too.”

“Won’t it be too far from the campus?” she asks.

“I don’t know, I’m going tonight for the first time.”

“Who’s the family? Maybe I know…”

I hesitate about telling her, I hardly know her. Why is she interested? Well… After all, it’s not top secret… “Bathory, an old family, born and bred here, from what I understand.” 

Sarah is transformed before my eyes. She looks like she has seen a ghost. 

I put my hand on her shoulder. “Everything okay?”

She gets up quickly and backs away from me. “No, no… It’s nothing, I’ve just remembered i have something to do…”

“Something to do…?”

Sarah is really weird all of a sudden. Well… even weirder than before.

“Yeah, stupid, huh? Sometimes I'm a real airhead!” Yet that’s not the impression she gave me.

She’s already a way off when she gives me a wave. This didn’t sit well with me. I catch up to her and insist. “There seems to be a problem. Did I say something I shouldn't have?”

She pauses for a bit and says, “We’ll see each other in three days when classes start!” And with that, she literally flees. I just don't get it!

I watch her go off feeling doubtful. Ok… she’ll get over it, as my grandmother says!

I slowly get going myself. I’m in no rush, I want to make the most of the sun before nightfall.