Black Sun Academy: The Next Generation (book 1)
Chapter 1

Blaise

Two days before I turned 18, I stopped at the mailbox to grab the contents that were possibly inside the black metal container. Yanking the lid downward, I stuck my hand inside and pulled out the lose envelopes (mostly junk mail I’m sure) and other arbitrary bits of mail before clutching the items to my chest, pushing the lid closed at the same time and make my way into mine and my grandparents’ home. Lying the mail on the island countertop, I shuffle through it to see if any schools have sent me acceptance letters to the colleges I’ve applied for and spy a manila envelope that appears to be an acceptance packet from a college.

My heart flutters and begins to beat rapidly in my chest in excitement at the prospect of being accepted until I realize I don’t recognize the college’s name. On top of that fact, I don’t remember applying to this specific academy. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of this school!

Arching an eyebrow in confusion and curiosity, I make my way to the kitchen table where I proceed to spread the contents across the grey oak tabletop a slew of papers and the acceptance letter which looks to have been handwritten on old parchment paper.

Blaise Salvino,

We cordially invite you to attend the Black Sun Academy. Should you accept this invitation, important dates are listed below:

July 7th – Deadline for registration

July 31st – Open house

Aug. 23rd – Dorm assignment and Welcome assembly

Aug. 24th – First day of classes

The handbook: School rules and Policies, plus a map of the campus and hours of operation have been supplied within this packet as well. We look forward to seeing you in attendance come fall.

Sincerely,

Raegan Knight

Dean of B.S.A.

I stare at the papers dumbfounded for about thirty seconds before pulling out my cell phone and opening a search engine because I definitely want to see what kind of courses this school has to offer.

Frustration takes hold of me, and I shove my phone off to one side of the table as I quickly come to the realization that there is very little information pertaining to the academy. I turn my attention back to the packet of information that was provided to me and pick up the image of the campus. As I gaze at the colorful map, I hear the side door from the garage being opened and glance up just as my grandparents’ step into the kitchen.

G-Ma Lisa spots me first. “Hey sweet pea. What you up to?”

Grandpa Steven is right behind her. “There’s my ’lil’ Firecracker!” He says with a smile, but it quickly fades as he sees the perplexed look on my face. “How come you have such a look of confusion darlin’?”

As he asked this, he and G-Ma have made their way over to where I’m sitting, and I promptly hand my grandmother the handwritten letter. Grandpa peers over her shoulder so they can read the letter together and almost immediately I hear them gasp. Snapping my head back so fast I nearly give myself whiplash, I look at my grandparents’ faces.

G-Ma’s hand has flown to her mouth and Grandpa’s eyes have gone wide in shock. “What?” The expressions on their faces has me concerned and curious at the same time. “Why do you guys look so surprised? Have you heard of this school?”

I watch as they both hesitantly nod their heads yes and then grandma stutters out, “y-yes.” Lisa gives Steven a look to which he gives a slight nod of his head as he runs a hand through his salt and pepper hair and then I hear grandma say; “Blaise we need to explain some things about our family, about your parents...” As she says this, she takes a seat across the table from me and grandpa slides onto the seat right next to mine, taking my hand in his at the same time.

The look on their faces has my anxiety rising, “um... okay.” They seem nervous and worried and are staring at me intensely as though trying to gage what my reaction might be.

“Okay sweetie so we’ve never hidden the fact that your parents met an untimely and tragic end. What you don’t know is the how and why.” Grandpa’s voice hitches and he turns grey eyes towards my grandmother.

Grandma stretches her arm across the table placing her hand just below his elbow to give Grandpa’s arm a squeeze and then picks up the tale from where he left off. “Dominic and Alina were amazing human beings.” Lisa offers a wistful smile and continues; “Ali attended Black Sun Academy just about twenty-five years ago herself.” This bit of information causes me to gasp in turn. “Back then though, the academy isn’t like how it is today. Now what I’m about to tell you next will shock you, but I need you to listen without asking questions.” She holds my stare and I give a slight nod.

“When your mom attended the academy, it was a training facility for witch hunters.” Lisa stops for a second as though waiting for my brain to absorb what she just told me, and I can’t stop a bewildered laugh from escaping my lips. “Hold on honey, there’s still more I need to tell you.” Pressing my lips together I nod for her to continue. “And even though Alina came from a long line of witch hunters, her destiny was to be so much more than that. Our son, your father and Alina were fated to end the warring between the witches and the hunters, and they were able to do just that.

Once the war ended both communities agreed to convert the witch hunter’s academy into a school of learning for all supernatural beings. They still train hunters there as well but now all supernaturals are trained so that once they have graduated, they can join the Supernatural Council’s Department, or the S.C.D. for short. Those that join the Council are sworn in to protect the non-sups and lesser magical beings of the world.”

My head bops back and forth between my grandparents, my mouth hangs wide open as I stare at them dumbfounded. I clamp my mouth shut but open it again as I try to form words. An image of a fish flashes through my mind as I’m sure that’s what I currently look like as I struggle to speak.

“Are you telling me you guys are witches?” My expression is in a perpetual state of ‘O’ as I look at them both wide eyed. It’s the first coherent thought that is able to make its way out of my mouth. But once I ask this question the other thoughts swirling in my head quickly flow out after. “Ha! This is a joke, right? You can’t really expect me to believe such fairytales... What, next you’ll be telling me that vampires and werewolves are real too!” I scoff and shake my head in disbelief.

“Sweetie, look at us. Look into our eyes. You’ve always had a sixth sense about when others are lying. That in of itself should let you know we aren’t joking with you. That is an inherent trait that most witches possess, actually.” Grandpa gives my hand an encouraging squeeze as he takes it in his hand once more.

“Darling, not only are we witches but you’re a witch too.” The dumbfounded look on my face is probably comical as I continue to stare unblinkingly at my grandmother. “And on June 30th when you turn 18, you will come into your powers as well.”

“I-what! This is just crazy!” I exclaim at the same time shoving myself away from the table and up from my seated position. “I’ve-I’ve got to go. I can’t deal with this right now.” Turning on my heel, I dash out of the kitchen taking the steps two at a time until I’m on the second floor of my grandparents’ house and then I bolt down the hallway and fling myself into my bedroom.

Flopping onto my bed I stare at the ceiling and let the thoughts dance across my mind. Vague images of my parents’ flash like a faulty film reel. Hushed whispers at the kitchen table, them surrounded by a group of people. Muttered words that I thought were rhymes. Hands glowing in different colors. My four-year-old little mind thinking everyone at the table owned really cool flashlights. Other images flicker to life but are so faint they seem ghostly and try as I might, I can’t seem to zero in on any solid images.

I spend about an hour in my room before begrudgingly making my way back downstairs. Walking into the kitchen I see the empty seats where we had all been sitting, the welcome packet still spread across the table. Backtracking, I head to the living room where I replace my grandparents snuggled up on the couch. “Hey,” I say in a loud whisper.

“Hey sweetie,” they say as one, each offering me a smile as they shift their gazes my way.

Releasing a deep sigh, I straighten my shoulders; “okay. I’m ready to listen to you guys. I’m sorry I ran off like a child in a tantrum.” Grandpa chuckles and G-ma pulls me down onto the cushion next to her.

“Oh, baby girl. You’ve nothing to apologize for. We should have told you about who or rather what we really are a long time ago. But we had promised your parents that we would keep you away from that world for as long as we possibly could.” Grandma says quickly as she waves away my apology.

“But since you have received the invitation to attend the Black Sun Academy, we knew it was time. We have no idea what kind of magical abilities you will acquire but just believe us when we say you are a witch and every mythical creature, fairy tale being you’ve ever heard about is real. Supernatural beings are real,” grandpa says in a serious tone. “Being my ’lil’ firecracker, I know you’ll do great at the school if you wish to go there.”

Grinning at them both I tell them, “Well I’ve got one week and two days to decide. Let’s just make it through my birthday before I jump on board with attending that academy.”