Black Sun Academy: The Next Generation (book 1)
Chapter 4

Nox

What feels like a permanent scowl has settled upon my face as I gaze at the red brick structure in front of me. Just thinking of the name Black Sun Academy makes my lip curl in a sneer. The hatred that has been festering inside me for the last sixteen years because of this place has my vision set in a haze of red. To be standing in front of the school that manifested the type of beings that could kill innocents has my emotions running rampant and I do all I can to reign in the repulsion and contempt that I have burning through my veins so as not to explode and tear this institution down brick by brick leaving a path of death and destruction in its wake!

Releasing a caged growl from within my lungs, I shake my head and do my best not to stomp my feet in a death march as I make my way towards the administration building. I can’t believe I’m enrolling into this school but I’m here on a mission and I won’t let anyone, or anything stop me from exacting the revenge I seek on those who killed my family.

∞

Blaise

I can’t believe today is August 23rd! Giddy excitement has my body jittery, and I can’t stop my leg from bouncing up and down on the floor of the back seat as my grandparents pull their SUV into a parking spot. “Are you sure you don’t want us to help you move your things into your dorm room for you, Blaise?” G-Ma Lisa asks as we climb out of the vehicle, simultaneously shutting our car doors as we exit the vehicle.

Shaking my head, no I watch grandpa pop open the back end of the SUV, I say, “nah. It’s just my backpack and this one suitcase.” The rest of my wardrobe had been shipped to the academy a few days prior and was hopefully sitting in my room waiting to be unpacked.

“I can’t believe my ’lil’ firecracker is headed off to the academy!” Steven says as he wraps me up in a bear hug.

“Grandpa,” I whine slightly embarrassed. “Could you please stop saying that nickname? I’m not five anymore!” Instead of giving me an answer though, he rubs his hand on the top of my head causing my red curly hair to frizz out a bit.

Grandma runs a hand over my hair to tame it back into place before wrapping me in a hug herself. “Be good. Study hard, have fun, but not too much fun.” Grandma says as she holds me at arm’s length a happy, sad smile settling on her face. “And be sure to call us at least once a week, okay.”

Nodding my head, I take a deep calming breath trying to settle my nerves and promise before taking the handle of the suitcase from grandpa, and begin my trek across the parking lot to make my way into the administration building so I can replace out what dorm room I’ll be in.

My bright pink flip-flops that match my tank top seem to echo that flip-flop sound obnoxiously through the hallway as I walk into the admin office. There’s a small line forming in front of the desk where office staff are trying to give out room assignments as quickly as possible. I replace myself standing behind a giant in black combat boots, faded blue jeans and a black leather jacket. His 6’4 height makes it hard to see how many people stand in front of him in this line that is steadily growing longer. His broad shoulders are linebacker wide and if I want to see anything at all, I will visibly have to lean outward to take a peek.

Growling in frustration, I’m just raising my hand to tap him on his back to see if he can tell me what’s taking so long when I’m shoved from behind by a couple of guys that were goofing around with each other. The movement causes me to stumble into the stranger knocking him forward a little while I try to stop myself from crumbling to the floor. I’m surprised he was moved at all because to me it felt like I had been shoved into a brick wall. Piercing blue eyes lock with my light green eyes as he snarls out; “watch it!”

Stuttering, I try to say sorry before anger takes hold of me. “Hey, it wasn’t my fault. Someone pushed me!” Folding my arms over my chest I give him my meanest glare, but it only entices him to chuckle. A gravelly sound that stirs something deep inside me. He shakes his head like he doesn’t believe me which causes strands of his jet-black hair to fall into his eyes. The stranger runs a hand through his hair to push it away from his eyes before turning his attention forward once more. Thankfully it’s his turn and I grumble ‘whatever’ under my breath as we move up a step.

“Next!” One of the office aids shouts out and I step to the right, away from the giant so I can hand the clerk my I.D. I’m given a key card and an identification badge before the aid says, “your room is E513.” A second later he shouts, “next!” and I realize I have been dismissed. Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but think thank goodness I didn’t have any questions. Stepping away from the counter, I grab my suitcase once more and make my exit.

Stepping back out into the afternoon sunshine, I squint at the sudden brightness for a second until my eyesight readjusts. Pulling up a mental image of the campus in my head, I recall that the dorm building is to the right of the admin building and so begin my walk across the lush green grass of the campus grounds.

Finally! I think to myself as the chime of the elevator doors sound and watch as they slide open to reveal the fifth floor or the freshmen hall. I have to walk about halfway down the hallway before I locate my door on the left with all the other odd numbered rooms.

Tapping my key card against a magnetized mechanism, I watch as a little red dot flips to green and hear the distinct sound of clicking as the lock disengages and I’m able to turn the handle on my door.

Placing my hand on the door to give the dark wood a little shove, I watch as it swings inward and then I enter. There’s no sign that anyone else has been in here yet and a small burst of happiness courses through me because I don’t have to worry about pleading with anyone for the bed closest to the bathroom.

Strolling into the room I wheel my suitcase over to said bed and drop my book bag on the barren mattress. Set against one wall have been stacked a bunch of boxes in two distinct piles. Glancing at a couple of the boxes I see my name written on a few and whom I’m assuming is my roommate’s name written on others; Clover Lykins. Immediately upon reading the name I wonder if the person associated with it will be as interesting as the name sounds. One can only hope, right...

The smaller of the two stacks are all my things, consisting of four boxes. Moving them to my bed I begin to unpack the things inside. There’s a more wide than tall dresser positioned against the wall closest to the kitchenette by a desk with six drawers in it. Claiming the three drawers to the right I place things like undergarments, socks, sleepwear, jeans and t-shirts inside it.

After that menial task is completed, I turn my focus to the walk-in closet near the bathroom that I hadn’t noticed when we had first toured the place. As with everything else I claim the right side of the closet as well. Unboxing my sneakers, sandals, and dress shoes first, I place them on the floor. Next, I hang up dresses and dressier outfits. On the top shelf I put spare bedding and blankets leaving one set out to make up my bed.

Just as I pick up my obnoxiously bright pink comforter from the box I still had sitting in the closet, I hear the door to our room open and close. “Hull-lou,” I hear a bubbly voice shout into the room. The way the girl says hi causes a smile to take hold of my lips and I quickly walk out of the closet to take a look at the stranger standing in the middle of the room.

“Hi,” I greet her cheerily as I place my comforter on the bed. “You must be my roommate, Clover, yes?” The girl with mocha skin and hazel eyes stares at me wide-eyed in surprise.

“H-how, how’d you know my name?” She asks with a gasp.

Laughing, I point to the boxes still sitting by the wall. “Your name is written on them so...” I shrug still smiling at her.

“Oh my gosh! I’m such a dork. I thought maybe you were psychic or something.” Clover’s grin gets wider, and she walks over to the empty bed. “Mine?” she asks with a tilt of her head. As I nod yes, she asks, “so what’s your name?”

“I’m such an ass,” I say slightly embarrassed. “I promise I was raised with better manners than that. My name is Blaise Salvino.” Clover drops the satchel she’d been holding onto, and it makes a thud as it hits the hardwood floor at the same time as her mouth falls open in shock.

“Salvino? You-you’re not related to TheSalvino’s, are you?” I lift an eyebrow in question, confused as to what she means. “Don’t tell me you don’t know who I’m referring to? They were the most famous witches in the world!”

“Um, I mean I guess I am if you mean my parents, Dominic and Alina...” Clover is nodding her head vigorously as I say my parents’ names. “Oh, I didn’t realize they were so uh – well known... I’m still learning about this world and who my parents even are, were.”

“How do you not know? Have you been living under a rock or something? Everyone knows the tale about your parents and how they saved the witches from being eradicated from the world...” Clover trails off as she realizes I’m not lying.

“Well apparently I have been living under rock.” I chuckled slightly. “I never knew that the supernatural world existed. I only learned my grandparents were witches a couple of months ago; that I’m a witch and that my parents put an end to a feud between witches and hunters.”

“Wow that’s crazy,” Clover shakes her head causing her wildly spiraling curly brown hair to bounce around her shoulders. “Well, if you ever have questions, need to know anything, or whatever, just ask me. I’m a well of information, especially involving historical events. I mean that’s why I’m here anyway. I’m majoring in Magical History so I’m a good source of knowledge.”

The girl is rambling, but I love it. It says so much about her personality and I feel like we could become great friends. Or I hope we will anyway. We will be rooming together for the next eight and a half months after all. I can see the love for history shimmering in her eyes and the excitement she exudes makes me laugh. “I think we’re going to get a long great!” I exclaim. Before we can chat further though a beeping sound comes from her phone.

“Shoot. Didn’t realize I had cut it so close. I hounded my parents to get here early but do they ever listen to me? Noooo. Would you like to walk with me down to the auditorium for the welcome assembly?”

Nodding my head that I would, I watch as Clover digs through her bag that is still sitting on the floor before seeing her stuff her cell phone into her back pocket along with her key card. Quickly I walk over to the nightstand by my bed and pick up my phone and key card as well, just in case we get split up and I get back to the room before she does. Seconds later we step out of the room and make our way over to the auditorium.