"Endora!" the director called, her voice sharp but controlled. Endora tried her best not to show how nervous she was.
"Yes, ma'am," she replied, forcing her voice to sound calm even though her insides were churning.
"Today is your first day, so I don't want to welcome you with punishment. But consider this a warning. You're here to learn, not to get involved in other people's business. Understood?" the director said firmly.
Endora nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."
"You may leave," the director said, and Endora thanked her before walking out of the room, leaving the others behind. As soon as she stepped into the hallway, she let out a deep sigh of relief. Her mind had been racing with thoughts of what her punishment might have been.
She remembered leaving her luggage in the pathway and hurried back to retrieve it. When she arrived, she spotted a girl and a boy standing near her bags. The girl was strikingly beautiful, with a polished, elegant look, while the boy was undeniably handsome.
Endora approached them cautiously. "If it isn't the attention-seeker. First day, and you're already making a name for yourself," the girl said with a smirk.
"My name is Endora. I'd like to take my luggage," Endora said simply, trying to stay polite.
"You should thank us for watching over your things. I'm Anastasia Liden, but you can call me Ana. This is my boyfriend, Brixton Bennett," Ana introduced herself and the boy.
"Thanks," Endora said, reaching for her luggage. But as she grabbed it, Brixton stopped her.
"Seems like you forgot this," he said, holding up her dorm keys. Endora realized she must have dropped them during the earlier chaos.
"Thanks," she said, reaching for the keys, but Brixton raised his hand higher, teasing her. He was much taller, and she couldn't reach them.
"Brixton, give her the keys. Let her be, she's had enough attention for one day," Ana said, rolling her eyes.
Brixton laughed. "Just having a little fun," he said, finally handing the keys to Endora.
"You look lost. I can show you to your dorm if you want," Ana offered. Endora nodded, grateful for the help. Finding her way alone would have been difficult.
Brixton left, and Ana led Endora toward the girls' dorm building. As they walked, Ana asked, "So, why did you choose Nightshade University?"
"My father chose it for me," Endora replied simply.
"Oh, so you're a daddy's girl," Ana teased.
"Not exactly," Endora said with a small smile.
"Sorry if I sounded rude earlier. I thought you were someone who liked causing drama," Ana admitted.
"It's okay. I brought it on myself," Endora said.
"I know you said your dad chose this place for you, but are you on a scholarship? Most of us here, including me, are scholarship students. We have to be careful one mistake, and we're out. Plus, we have to maintain top grades. I'm lucky I even got picked. The fees here are crazy high," Ana explained.
"I'm not on a scholarship," Endora said.
"Okay, I figured. You definitely look like a rich kid," Ana said with a laugh, and Endora couldn't help but chuckle too.
"So, what's your last name?" Ana asked.
"Endora Windsor," she replied.
Ana gasped. "No way!" she exclaimed, but before she could say more, they arrived at Endora's dorm room.
"Here we are," Ana said, quickly changing the subject. She handed Endora the paper with her dorm details. "Guess what? I'm right next door," Ana added, pointing to the room beside Endora's. Endora's room was the last one in the hallway.
"What a coincidence," Endora said, unlocking her door and stepping inside. The room was spacious and well-furnished, with a single bed, a desk, a chair, and a closet. There was also a bathroom, and a toilet. The walls were freshly painted, and LED lights brightened every corner. Her other luggage, which her father had sent ahead, was already there, neatly placed.
"Wow, this place is amazing. I can't believe you get a room all to yourself," Ana said, looking around in awe.
"Is your dorm not like this?" Endora asked, sitting on the bed.
"No, I share a room with another new student. I think you two would get along," Ana said.
"Wait, you're not a new student?" Endora asked, surprised.
"Obviously not. I'm in my third year. Don't worry, I'll fill you in on everything you need to know about this place," Ana said with a grin.
"Thanks," Endora replied.
"Do you need help unpacking?" Ana offered.
"No, I'll manage," Endora said.
"Okay, I'll leave you to it. See you around," Ana said, waving as she walked out.
"Finally," Endora said to herself, taking a moment to breathe. Ana was nice but talkative, and Endora needed some quiet time to settle in. She looked around her new room, feeling a mix of relief and excitement. This was her space now, and she was ready to make it her own.
Endora picked up her phone, hoping her dad might call to check if she had arrived safely. But deep down, she knew better. Her father never cared enough to call. Still, she dialed his number, praying he'd answer. After three tries with no response, she gave up, setting her phone down with a heavy sigh. Disappointed but not surprised, she decided to focus on unpacking.
First, she walked over to the windows to let in some fresh air. The room had two windows, and as soon as she opened one, a blast of cold air hit her face. She looked outside and saw a breathtaking view. Beyond the school buildings, the land was covered with tall, dense trees, stretching as far as the eye could see. It was peaceful yet eerie.
She left the window open and turned back to her luggage, starting to unpack. She hung her clothes in the closet, arranged her books on the desk, and placed her personal items neatly around the room. When she was done, the space looked tidy and welcoming.
Sitting at her desk, she flipped through the school's rules and regulations. The list didn't interest her much. "Stay out of trouble" - she'd already broken that one. "Mind your own business" - another rule she'd ignored. "No physical confrontations" - well, she'd definitely failed there too. She sighed, wondering if she could even follow these rules with the way things were going. Elion was clearly out to make her life difficult, and she knew she'd have to avoid him at all costs.
Other rules included not leaving the dorm at night, staying within school grounds without permission, and general guidelines for behavior. Endora skimmed through them, feeling overwhelmed. She decided to rest for a bit and lay down on her bed. Before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
A sharp knock on the door jolted her awake. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and went to answer it. Standing there was a girl she hadn't met before.
"Hi, I'm sorry for disturbing you," the girl said, noticing Endora's yawn.
"It's fine. Do you need something?" Endora asked.
"No, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm in the room next to yours," the girl explained.
"Oh, come in! Anastasia mentioned you," Endora said, stepping aside to let her in. The girl entered, and Endora closed the door behind her.
"Wow, your room looks amazing. You've already unpacked? It took me forever to get my room in order, and I've been here for a week," the girl said, looking around.
"It wasn't too hard. What's your name?" Endora asked.
"Oh, sorry! I'm Lucinda Britton, but you can call me Luci," the girl said with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Luci. I'm Endora Windsor," Endora replied.
Lucinda's expression suddenly changed. "That's... strange," she said, her voice dropping.
"What's strange?" Endora asked, confused.
"You have the same last name as one of the most feared seniors here. He's trouble - like, big trouble. No one wants to cross paths with him. If you do, your life becomes a living nightmare," Lucinda said, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"Well, guess what? His name is Elion Windsor," Luci continued, her voice dropping to a whisper as if saying his name too loudly might summon him.
Endora felt a chill run down her spine. She had a feeling her life at Nightshade University was about to get even more complicated.