The Mystical Adventures of Della Doyle Devereaux — Chapter 3
Della closed her eyes for a moment, biting her lower lip, her legs raced towards the portal. Mystical energy lit every nerve in her body, and as she opened her eyes, she found herself inside of a small wooden built cottage.
Glass bottles filled full of ingredients; some she knew and some she didn't. Leather books and loose papers scattered about the living space. Images flashed in the young woman's mind, each explaining a little about what she saw. At the same time, she walked about the cottage in its entirety.
Her mind preoccupied with studying the cottage of her grandmother that she didn't notice that the front door opened up, someone entered.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" A deep soothing voice questioned from behind the redhead.
Della turned around to see a teen male who was taller than her by a few inches. He had jet black hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing a long-sleeved dark gray shirt with jeans and black boots. His brow was raised just slightly in confusion that only lasted for a moment until making a realization. His body toned with lean muscle. His hands stuffed in his front pockets.
"You must be Della. Your grandmother mentioned something about you popping in one of these days. She sent me to check out the place in the meantime." The male answered his question, his eyes studying Della carefully up and down.
Della did the same, studying him. She felt her heart pounding in her chest from the excess of adrenaline from the sudden encounter. "My turn. Who are you? A warlock training under my grandmother?"
"No. Werewolf. Name's Damon Harwood." Damon answered, a smirk rising on the corner of his lip. "Let me show you around here. Being as you're new to this." He wasted no time in leaving out the front door without waiting for her, like a lost and curious pup, she followed after him.
Just outside of the cottage was a stone sidewalk that Della assumed led straight into town. Tall green trees lined the path. Her eyes bore into Damon's back while she walked behind him. She kept her guard up, uncertain if she could trust him just yet. Her hands radiated with magical blue energy.
Damon abruptly halted when he smelt the energy from behind him, pivoting on his heels. Her smaller form bumped into his unmoving chest. "Seriously? You just had your magic unlocked. You think that you can take me on, princess. You can't, trust me. Your grandmother sent me to protect you when you came through the portal from the non-magical world you grew up in." His piercing eyes glowing yellow glared daggers into hers as he gripped her wrist tightly with no intention of letting it go until she calmed down.
Della struggled to break herself out of his grip with a matching glare up to the taller form. Eventually, after several minutes into their staring contest, she finally caved and dispersed the energy from her hand. The moment she called off her attack, Damon let her hand go as promised with a cocky smile, his eyes returning to the usual blue hue.
"Glad to see that we understand one another." He stated sternly, turning on his heels and started on the path once again.
The remainder of the journey into the bustling town was quiet between the two. People walked around the city, chatting and doing whatever it is they do. The buildings varied in shape and height, all made of either brick or wood. All seemed to be unique. All seemed to have a flair all their own.
Damon saved the best for last on their little tour, the Academy. The one that he attended along with many others like them; vampires, werewolves, and witches alike. The Academy was a large boarding house that resembled a mansion.
He presented the Academy with a grand gesture to the red-haired witch. "Welcome to the Academy. The place where all werewolves, vampires, and witches learn how to control and hone their supernatural abilities. Your mother attended here when your grandmother was a teacher."
"Is she still a teacher here?" Della asked.
"Unfortunately, no. Retired 18 years ago." Damon explained with a half-smile. "Just in time to do her last spell that she'd ever do before she died."
"But you said that she was out getting some ingredients and that you were housesitting for her."
Damon shrugged his shoulders gently and winced slightly. "I was lying. I wasn't looking forward to being on your bad side, knowing your mother and grandmother. You don't ever want to be on the wrong end of their wra-"
The werewolf was interrupted by a blunt punch to his gut fueled behind a strength spell. His back hit hard against the beige bricks with a loud thud, knocking the wind forcibly from his lungs.
Della's blood boiled in her veins, tears burned against her eyes. "How could you?! How could you lie to my face like that? About my grandmother of all people! I didn't think that I had one for 18 years of my life! Now you're telling me that she's dead?! That she's been dead for 18 years!" She screamed her lungs out with tears streaming down her cheeks. Her knees gave out from under her. Her arms snaked around her legs and buried her head. Her hands covered her ears from hearing any amount of reason that Damon had for lying to her.
Damon regained his breath as he watched Della's breakdown. He closed his eyes gently and rested his head against the cold brick. With his werewolf hearing, Damon could hear her sobbing muffled into her knees. He opened his mouth to say something and stopped when he saw a familiar form walk by them and kneel by Della.
"What did you do, Damon?" The female seethed, glaring daggers towards the werewolf.
"I just told her the truth, Elnora, about her grandmother being dead." Damon crossed his arms in front of chest.
"You are so inconsiderate." Elnora wrapped her arms around the sobbing female. "...Hey now. Everything is fine. Damon can be extremely indelicate and selfish. Elnora Faust at your service." She gently pulled away from the embrace and locked eyes with her, wiping the tears away. Elnora's pupils dilated, and Della's pupils followed suit. "You can stop crying now and calm down."
The tears entirely dried from her eyes, and a calming feeling washed over her. Della blinked a few times once she felt like herself. "What just happened? How did you?" Her hand reached up and touched her cheeks, noticing that they were dry.
Elnora smiled gently and tipped her head to the side slightly, her fingers trailing through her short brunette bob. "It's called compulsion. It's a perk of being a vampire. But I only use it for good where it is needed. Welcome to Etheria, Miss Devereaux." She stood up and held out her hand to the redhead witch.
"Thank you?" Della took Elnora's hand, and she helped her to her feet.
"Come on, let's give you a pleasant tour of the Academy, and if you like, we can get you enrolled here too." Elnora released Della's hand and ushered her inside.
Damon wasn't far behind the two girls as they traversed the halls of the Academy. They visited each wing, where the classes sat divided by species. After all, The Academy was a school for young supernatural beings could control and hone their powers. It didn't make much sense to have mixed classes unless they were general education classes.
They visited the vast library and museum displaying ancient magical relics. Bookshelves filled to the top and towering towards the ceiling. Glass cases displaying all the relics procured by the historians and researchers at the Academy.
Elnora was kind and patient with Della while she answered any questions that she had. It was clear to the young witch that the vampire was genuine and that she wished to be her friend.
The last place on their tour was the admissions office. Two well-dressed twin male receptionists sat at the large joined desk. Upon seeing the trio, Della's red hair standing out like a sore thumb, they gestured for them to enter.
"You do know that classes start in an hour, Damon and Elnora. But," One spoke.
The other continued his sentence. "We have been expecting you, Miss Della Doyle Devereaux."
"After receiving the grand tour, will you be joining us here?" The twins asked in unison.
Della mulled over her answer to their question. Elnora's expecting eyes and Damon's curious gaze bearing into her, urging her for her response. "...Yes."
"Great!" The twins replied in unison with grins on their faces. They dug out some dusty textbooks and set them on the table in front of Della, who scooped them up in her arms. Damon rolled his eyes and took them from her, not saying a word. One of the twins had printed her schedule and handed it off to Della. "As we said before, classes start in an hour and have a pleasant first day of class, Miss Devereaux."
Della gave the twin receptionists a curt smile, a 'thank you,' and walked out of the admissions office with Elnora and Damon behind her. "My first day at a new school in a place that I didn't know anything about until a few hours ago with powers that I only know how to use instinctively. I should be fine, right?"
"You'll do great," Elnora said with a friendly smile settling on her lips. "Right, Damon?"
Damon responded with a roll of his eyes, adjusting the textbooks in his arms. "Yeah...yeah..."
