Prime Ward

-Katrina

The first day of Secondary School...

...why did I ever believe I'd receive different regards from those who I'd been bullied by in Primary School?

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to go to another Ward's school. Though, I wouldn't have the influence from my parents that I do within their Ward. The Prime Ward, governed by the opulent, the most affluent in our Vampire Society. At the very least, I am thankful I'm the Offspring of an opulent...

...better yet, the hand I was dealt by Our Maker placed me under the roof of Ekaterina and Pax Ocklorn. The ruling pair and part of The Synod, the five most opulent pairs, my parents are untouchable.

Many others don't feel the same way, seen as a disgrace by many; including scrutiny by select other pairs in The Synod.

I'm not immortal.

I can't elongate my fangs.

The taste of blood makes me puke.

I don't have the strength everyone else was born with, the gift given to me...weakness?

I've been told by others, my peers, that I'm not vampire...

...that I have a genetic mutation.

Though, when everyone else in the world is the same and you are the single variant...

...where do you turn for recognition and affirmation of who you are?

I've been told everything happens for a reason, that nothing is obscure from Our Maker. Our image is that of his, our gifts blessed, bestowed upon us with different variants.

It's hard to believe and follow in a way that does not show these gifts in return.

"Katrina!" My eyes scan up from the pavement leading to the front of the school, gaze landing on Elodie.

A soft smile forms on my lips as I wave back, Elodie practically tapping her foot, her arm falling and crossing them both in front of her chest. She's not much of a friend in the way I see others interacting with one another, but she does tolerate me at best.

I'd rather not feel completely alone...

...shallow of me to allow myself to be treated like second class? It hardly matters. At least she stands her ground around me and doesn't abandon me like others, a small constant in my life.

Approaching her, I ask Elodie, "When did you get here?"

"Few minutes ago," she unfolds her arms and pulls out her phone, sliding it open and texting quickly. When she shuts it off, her eyes meet with mine as she says, "Come on, we can't be late our first day."

I haven't received my itinerary for my class schedule...

"Actually, you'll have to go on ahead without me," I release a sigh, the assembly freshman are required to attend the meetup point for all friends from Primary School to see which classes they have together here.

Elodie furrows her brows, asking, "What?"

"My parents said that I'm to report to the office, not the assembly," I admit to her, fidgeting slightly with the strap of my backpack.

She rolls her eyes and sighs, "So I waited for you for nothing?"

"Sorry," I mutter under my breath.

"You could have texted me," she huffs, turning on her heels and sprinting away from me, the wind whipping around the spot I'm left standing by myself.

I could have...

Releasing a sigh and placing Elodie at the back of my mind, I head toward the hallway leading to the office. Those around me move faster than I can follow at times, reaching the door to the office as the bell rings for the assembly. Letting the door fall shut behind me and stepping onto the marble floor, I glance to my left to see a woman behind a low desk, the countertop in front of her about the height of my chest.

Stepping up and leaning my arms against the countertop, I part my lips to speak, though I'm startled when a deep voice sounds from next to me, "Ms. Ocklorn?"

Turning away from the desk, I see Director Dragonore standing with his hands in his pockets. His attire is kept tidy, his suit dark, matching his hair that's slicked back against his head. I recognize him instantly from the brief orientation a few weeks ago.

"Director Dragonore," I nod my head and he motions to the hallway leading away from the main office waiting room. Following him silently, he walks through a doorframe at the end of the hallway.

He motions to the chair facing the front of his desk, telling me, "Please, have a seat," while he walks around and lowers himself into his chair.

Sitting, I look up at him and ask, "Why did my parents want me to come here first?"

"The revered Ocklorn's requested that I speak to about your transition from Primary School to Secondary School," Director Dragonore informs me, though I already can tell this is going to be more...

...because isn't that what the assembly is for?

He notices when I say nothing and further elaborates, "You were bullied in Primary School," he tells me, my parents telling him more detail then what I would have wanted, "we want to ensure you're well taken care of here. If you don't say anything or speak up if something happens, there's nothing we can do."

"I'm not a snitch," I glance away from him, not wanting to put myself in front of a firing squad.

It's true though, that most of the bullying comes from silent shadows, my peers aware of who my parents are and what could happen to them if they were caught. It could affect their future, should they ever select another as a pair and want to have an Offspring. My parents might not be able to lock them away or have them executed, considering bullying isn't a crime, but they could very well hold a grudge for a long time.

"You might not be a snitch, but I'm not fond of anyone from The Synod looming over my shoulder about their Offspring," Director Dragonore narrows his eyes, folding his hands as he rests them on the top of his desk.

Basically...

...he'll take the brunt of anything that happens to me that isn't reported.

Fantastic.

We remain silent until he asks me, "Do we understand one another, Ms. Ocklorn?"

"Yes, Director," I nod, keeping my features even and from lashing out at him. Once again, everyone falls under The Synod, their best interests and survival skills are better kept for themselves then the wants of others.

I have a tough shell and I don't let the bullying get to me—

"Just remember, the difference of bullying from Primary School to Secondary School, is that if it hasn't stopped, it continues to escalate," Director Dragonore lifts his chin and I understand what he's getting at. Most of the bullying was verbal in Primary School, but if my peers know what is best for them, they won't escalate anything...

...since I can't heal the way everyone else does, it would be obvious.

"I understand," I reiterate his point given, taking it and asking, "may I go now?"

"Of course," he motions to the open door and telling me, "the assembly will be over shortly; I suggest you get familiar with your core room and study period."

I think the only reason the put core room and study period together first thing in the morning, is to allow students to finish the homework...or start it...from the previous day. Not holding them accountable and trying to get them out of the school on time helps no one, except those who will test well for a trade they will be assigned to once completion of the final year.

Leaving the office behind and heading out of the building. I walk across the quiet campus, my footsteps and leaves that crunch beneath my shoes are the only sound...aside from the ruckus coming from inside the assembly room.

I release a small sigh, holding my backpack straps close and tight in my hands.

Our species limited viability on Kosmos is cutthroat, and The Vanguard will seek any excuse to execute those not contributing to society. Fail to move forward with the trade you are assigned through testing and hope to show skills in an application at a chosen trade...then rejected because you don't possess those skills? You end up holding onto the last rung on the ladder for dear life, becoming insolvent. The poorest...ones who turn to cannibalism when they can no longer afford synthetic capsules or frozen livestock blood.

Halting at the door to core room, I open it briefly before stepping inside and letting it shut quietly behind me. My instructor is behind her desk, lifting her gaze to settle on me before a soft smile forms on her lips. She rises from her chair and crosses the room, informing me, "Director Dragonore called and told me you were on your way, Ms. Ocklorn," she reaches her hand out and I shake it, furrowing my brows at her greeting. She squeaks like a mouse, pulling her hand away and saying, "I'm so sorry! It's just an honor to meet the Offspring of the revered Ocklorn's."

That's all I am through the eyes of many...

...a status symbol—correction, thee status symbol.

I see her name written on the board out of the corner of my eye.

Ms. Mirth.

She's yet to find a partner matching for a pair. She does not have an Offspring, so she's yet to be presented before my parents.

I reassure her, "It's alright."

She clears her throat and introduces herself, "I'm Ms. Mirth and it's a pleasure to meet you and have you in my class."

"Thank you," I return, asking her, "could you please just call me by my first name? Katrina."

Ms. Mirth smiles and nods, taking a few steps back and motioning to the classroom, "You are more than welcome to any desk you want. There is no assigned sea-" she's cut short by the sound of a bell ringing...though it sounds more like a foghorn. I can hear others roaming the campus, Ms. Mirth finishing, "If you want the first pick, you better hurry up! The rest of the class will be here shortly from the assembly."

I thank her briefly, walking down a few and select a seat near her desk. I'd rather stay closer to her and avoid any unwanted trouble during the only class I'll have that won't require work. In Primary School, I was quick to come home and immediately start on my homework, finishing it well before dinner. I don't plan on changing any academic schedule, because I want to test well by the end of my time here...

...although, rumor has it that Offspring of The Synod don't test and immediately are trained for work within their ward's building.

In my case, this would place me in Prime Ward Citadel, working directly under my parents.

Part of me doesn't want to be handed a position...but—

The door swings open and multiple students enter, beginning to fill the classroom with their boisterous chatter. They swing their bags down next to the seats or on their desks, some who are friends from Primary School sit near one another while others start small conversations next to the closest peer.

"Katrina!" Elodie's voice startles me from my peer watching, hearing her drop her bag on the desk behind me. She leans forward and whispers, "Why'd you pick a seat so close to the instructor?!"

"The heater is over here," I nod at the side wall in front of Ms. Mirth's desk, partially using this as a good excuse since I'm the only one to ever really get cold. Sure, everyone else gets cold...but it must be close to freezing point for them to be bothered.

Elodie rolls her eyes and pulls at her shirt, "I'm going to suffocate from the heat when it's turned on."

"I'm sorry..." my voice trails off, glancing at a few others who are a row over from us hear Elodie and me.

"Let's switch over there," Elodie points at a desk across the room...

...and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact she finds the boys over there attractive...not the heater being a deal breaker and problem.

I glance to Ms. Mirth while she stands in front of the board, her arms crossed in front of her while holding a marker. She tilts her head to the side, watching everything play out between us.

Calmly, I tell Elodie, "You go ahead, I think it's best if I sit here-"

Elodie snarls lowly and rolls her eyes, scoffing as she snatches her bag off the desk. She retorts under her breath, "Fine."

Surprisingly, she draws more attention as she makes her way down the row at the back of the room and across to the desk, she wants to sit in. She lowers herself onto the chair and slams her bag on the desk. Peers look to her and back to me, a few whispers breaking out as most of them I've had classes within Primary School...but not all of them.

Ms. Mirth clears her throat and asks, "Class," this draws all attention away from Elodie, myself, and the personal conversations between my peers, "I'd like to welcome you to core room, year one of Prime Ward Secondary School, the beginning to your futures. My name is Ms. Mirth and I'll be here to help guide you through any subjects or course work you come across that your other instructors might not have time to go over even past the after-hours office."

"Hello, Ms. Mirth," the class says close in unison.

Ms. Mirth smiles and asks, "Does anyone have any questions?"

"Yeah," one of the guys that Elodie is sitting next to raises his hand and asks, "when're tryouts for the school's year one Arena team?"

Arena.

The blood sport of Kosmos.

A fight to render an opposing team unconscious...by any means necessary. Anything goes...except for killing. It can get brutal as I've seen the Kosmos' teams at Prime Ward Citadel when they host an Arena match, but the pay is the highest any trade outside of The Synod can attain. The excessive violence makes me sick, finding ways to avoid matches when my parents insist, I need to be present for appearances.

"Tryouts will be held the beginning of next week," Ms. Mirth informs him, explaining, "flyers will be sent out during your physical education classes today and in order to try out, your parents must sign off on the return form. Forms can be returned to either me or your physical education instructor."

"Ms. Mirth," another student raises her hand and asks, "is Shadow Trade still an available elective? I didn't see it on the registration list."

Ms. Mirth shakes her head and notes on the board, "Currently, Shadow Trade is under review by The Synod."

"Why?" The girl appears completely taken aback, "How are we supposed to view other trades in case we want to opt out of testing to try for them directly?!"

This is exactly what my parents have been training me for...questions I do know the answers to for when I leave Secondary School. Ms. Mirth shakes her head and replies, "I'm not sure..."

As her voice trails off, I raise my hand slowly and say, "I can answer that."

She nods and motions for me to stand so I can have eye contact with the girl. I breathe out, steadying my heartbeat as everyone in the class is now staring at me. Explaining calmly, I inform her, "The Synod have reason to believe that the Shadow Trade elective in each sector's Secondary School is the leading cause of the recent spike in insolvents. With the rates rising, they want to pull the elective for revision, using the data gathered to analyze if it is directly affecting this rise."

The girl's features distort as she growls, "How would you know that?!"

I've never had a class with this girl in Primary School, so she very well doesn't know how I am.

"I'm Katrina Ocklorn," I introduce myself; those who know me merely roll their eyes, as they are already aware of my genetic difference. Those who are unaware and just know my name, they immediately turn pale, and either fear or excitement crosses their features, shock ending for most.

I wonder how the other Offspring of The Synod are being received on their first day.

**

Sooooo...what do ya'll think of the new world so far?

Kosmos! Who wants to live there?

Thoughts on Elodie?

Arena, who's excited about tryouts?

Thoughts on Katrina?

I wonder if we'll get a look at another Offspring...

...perhaps this story is two stories and how their lives are affected by the world they live in; Kosmos.