Chapter Two

“DOBRE odpoledne, Rie,” the two students greeted her in Czech.

“Good afternoon as well,” Rie greeted back in the same language.

Both of the girls squealed. She continued on walking, not affected by it. It’s not something that’s really new to her. Whenever she talked to some students, they would blush for no reason. They would even squeal just like those two girls earlier.

Czech was the major language in Prague, where St. Markéta Academy was located. It’s a boarding school for girls. Most of the students there were mostly from rich families all over Europe. They would send their daughters here mostly for protection. Because St. Markéta has the most advance defense against supernaturals, particularly vampires and demons.

It’s because the headmistress of the school was a high-ranking member of House of Hecate. That’s why a magical barrier surrounded the entire school. For some reason, humans trusted witches and wizards more than other supernatural beings. Maybe because, aside from being immortal and having magical powers, they looked a lot like humans. It also helped that humans weren’t part of their diet.

St. Markéta Academy was divided into three main parts. The elementary department, where girls from ages 7 to 12 studied. The high school department where girls from ages 13 to 18 belonged, Rie was also part of this department. And the dormitories, where the cafeteria and other school amenities were. This showed just how large the whole academy was.

Rie went straight to the school garden. She hadn’t arrived there yet, but she could already hear the soft sound of the violin. It was Pachelbel’s Canon in D major. She smiled and continued walking. At the center of the garden was a gazebo and inside it was a girl with long golden hair and golden-brown eyes. She was the source of the wonderful violin music that Rie had just heard.

Rie closed her eyes and savored the music she’s hearing. Then the music paused. She opened her eyes and saw that the girl was looking back at her. The girl then smiled as if she had just saw the most wonderful thing in the world.

“Rie!” she called with a bright smile on her beautiful face while waving enthusiastically at Rie.

The girl’s name was Federica, and she was Rie’s twin sister. The one connected to her since birth, the most important person in her life, and the only reason she continued on living. 

“Eri,” she called the other’s nickname.

Despite them being twins, they couldn’t be any more different. Just in their appearance alone, one could clearly see how different they were. Her hair was black like that of a raven’s feather and, unlike her sister’s golden-brown eyes, hers was violet.

Eri was full of love and compassion for others. That’s why it’s easy for other people to love and care for her. While it’s hard for Rie to even trust other people. She always has her guard up, constantly being careful. Because it’s the only way she knew how to protect her sister.  

“Are you done with your research?” her sister asked when Rie sat down inside the gazebo where Eri was.

“Yeah, sorry if it took a while. I kind of feel asleep.”

The other sat beside her. “Are you having trouble sleeping at night again?” Eri asked worriedly.

“No,” Rie quickly denied. “I just stayed up late last night because of some student council work,” she lied, without changing her expression. She couldn’t just tell Eri that she was once again being haunted by the nightmares of the past. There’s no reason for her to make her sister worry. “Is Canon the piece you’re going to play at the music concours?” she asked, changing the topic.

Eri would join a music competition next week. It was an annual competition where students from different schools in Czech Republic would compete. They would hold it at Klementinum—one of the largest and most historic complexes of buildings in Prague.

It was only this year that Eri had the courage to take part in the said competition. This was their last year at St. Markéta. Eri said that it would be such a waste if she didn’t even try.

Eri stared at Rie, as if reading every micro-expression she had on her face. Then she suddenly smiled. “Yes. Do you think I could win?”

“I just don’t think it. I know you would.”

“You’re not just saying that because we’re twins, right?”

“Of course not. You are very talented, Eri.”

Eri leaned on her sister’s shoulder. “I wish I can have your confidence, Rie.”

I’m not confident. In fact, I’m always scared, a part of Rie said. But she chose not to voice it out. “Hey, I will be there to support you. If you ever feel nervous, just look for me in the crowd and I’ll make funny faces just to make you smile and relax.”

The other suddenly laughed. “You wouldn’t! The perfect Henrietta Snow doing funny faces? No way! Your fans might leave your fan club if you do.”

Rie pinched her sister’s cheek. “I don’t have fans. And I’m not perfect.”

“Tell that to the younger students who always put love letters in your locker.”

“They’re hormone-crazed teenagers, Eri. They’re just looking for someone they could direct their affection to because we’re all girls here. And for some unknown reason, they chose me.”

Of course, there might be some who really swing that way. And there’s absolutely no problem with that. They’re all young and it’s normal to explore their own sexuality. It’s just that Rie wasn’t interested. But that didn’t mean that she would disrespect them and mock them for it.  

“The reason is not totally unknown, you know. They think of you as their prince. If you haven’t noticed yet, you have this princely vibe that most teenage girls like.” When Rie frowned at that, Eri just laughed again. “I really love how you’re so dense sometimes.”

Rie stood up. “Let’s just go back to the dorms. I think you’re just hungry. That’s why you’re saying a lot of nonsense.” She was about to walk out of the gazebo when Eri held her hand. She looked back, wondering why her sister stopped her. “Is there a problem?”

“Rie, you know you can tell me anything, right? That’s why if there’s something bothering you, talk to me. I’ll always be here to listen.”

Rie was slightly surprised by what the other said. Eri was still worried about her not sleeping properly during the night. She just forced herself to smile. “Of course. I don’t have anyone I could confide in besides you,” she joked.

But despite saying that, she knew she couldn’t tell Eri the contents of her nightmares. She could never put Eri in that kind of sadness. In that kind of pain.

~o~o~o~o~

In the middle of the dark night, four shadows walked through the streets of Prague. They were doing everything they could to not attract the attention of others. But the chances of that happening were probably lower than seeing a crow with white feathers. That’s how strong their presence was. It’s like if they entered a room, people would focus all their attention on them.

The four looked around, sniffing the air as if they were looking for something.

“Are you certain about this place?” the one with long gray hair asked in an annoyed tone. “If this is another wild goose chase, I swear I will leave the lot of you.”

“How many times have you said that? And yet, you always come back to us,” said by the one with blue hair in a lazy tone. “Don’t worry. Because according to the information I found, we’re in the right place.”

The gray-haired guy tsked. “And how many times have we encountered trouble because of that information of yours?”

“We’re definitely in the right place,” said by another, the one with chestnut brown hair. “Can’t you smell the air? It’s filled with the scent of night-blooming flowers,” he said excitedly to the others.

The one with black hair closed his eyes, covering the irises that were the same color as the night sky. “She’s here,” he said in a whisper. He turned to the other three, a grin on his face, and continued, “The Moonflower.”