Page 3 of Ever Dark Academy: Vol. 1

“Yes, it is such a pleasure to speak with you Bryce,” Amara answered in a British-accented voice, which was precise, but warm. “My parents and I have watched your program for many years.”

“Thank you so much. I’m thrilled to have you on. Now.” Bryce regarded her with bright eyes. “From what our producers found out about you, is that you’re a medical doctor?”

“Yes, an oncologist.” There was the slightest pause before she gave her speciality. “But I no longer see patients. I am doing research for Dewar Pharmaceuticals.” Then she gave a lopsided smile as she quickly amended, “Well, I was until I was accepted into the academy. We are, as you know, required to give up our former lives when we become a candidate.”

“So you aren’t trying to get some Vampire blood for Dewar?” Bryce waggled his eyebrows at her.

Amara looked alarmed. “No, indeed not. Even if I am chosen and turned, I will not be allowed to return to Dewar. That is not allowed.”

“So you’re giving up all of your research on solving the problem of cancer for a chance to be immortal?” Bryce asked, and there was a touch of judgment in that.

“No, I think of it as allowing me to conduct research at a far higher level for a far longer time,” she corrected him stiffly. “Being a Vampire will allow me to do more for humanity without having… well, without having some of our frailties.”

“As a scientist, was it harder for you to believe in the existence of Vampires than say a less educated guy like me?” Bryce asked self-depreciatingly.

“On the contrary, I think it was easier because the Vampires provided proof of what they were,” she answered and there was a scientist’s gleam in her eye. “In that moment, when proof was given, the whole world opened up like a flower. The possibilities, Bryce… oh, the possibilities.”

Bryce gave her an almost conspiratorial look as he asked, “I’ve asked the other students this that I’ve had the honor of interviewing so I hope you don’t mind me asking you.”

“What is the question?” Those intelligent brown eyes focused on the reporter.

“What Bloodline are you hoping to get chosen by?” Bryce asked, scooting forward to the edge of his seat.

Suspicion left her eyes and Amara laughed throatily. “Oh! That is a good question. But surely you know that it is best if I do not answer.”

“Best?” Bryce gave her a quizzical look.

“While I may think I have a preference now, I have not met Vampires from each Bloodline so I truthfully could not say what Bloodline I’d want,” she answered. “But, even if I did know, I would keep it to myself in order to increase the possibility of my being chosen by any of the Bloodlines. My goal is to become a Vampire to serve humankind.”

“But surely a doctor such as yourself would be intrigued by being a Kaly Bloodline Vampire and be able to raise the dead! Or–”

“A Wyvern Bloodline Vampire who can teleport around the world in moments? Or a Syrin Bloodline Vampire who can use song to heal? Or a Weryn Bloodline Vampire who can shift into an animal form?” Amara shook her head. “They are all incredible. How could anyone be disappointed with any one of those gifts?”

Bryce gave her a bashful look. “When you put it like that, doctor, I think I see your point.”

The screen went back to Karl and Candi in the studio.

“Well, she is impressive, too! What an interesting bunch they all are,” Candi said.

“Indeed. We only got to speak to half a dozen of the students. The identity of the rest has been kept secret from the general public,” Karl explained.

“So for those of us Harry Potter fans is there a train involved in getting to the academy?” Candi wheedled. “The school is in the Ever Dark, which is an alternate or pocket dimension--no human seems quite sure--that can be accessed via hidden gateways. So how are students going to arrive?”

“My understanding is that they will receive written instructions. A literal invitation or golden ticket as it were, which will tell them where to go and when exactly to get there,” Karl answered. “We haven’t seen the invitations. That’s all hush-hush, but I’m sure we’ll learn more soon.”

The bell over the door rang and Grayson turned to see who it was. He let out a slight sigh as he caught sight of Sam. Sam was homeless with a severe drinking problem. Grayson often had bought him food and a blanket. Normally though when Sam came in on his own it was because he had enough money to buy booze.

But it’s cold and wet tonight. It’s too late to get into a shelter, not that he’d go, so can I really deny him this small comfort? Grayson thought. Maybe I can convince him to just bed down in the back room out of the rain.

“Sam, hey,” Grayson said. “Need a dry, warm spot to get out of the rain?”

“G-Grayson,” Sam’s words were already slurred and the reek of alcohol surrounded him like a miasma already. “Just got to get something to drink to warm me on the inside.”

Grayson grimaced again as the homeless man tottered towards the back case where the cheap beer and rot-gut whisky was.

“What about some water and a little food instead?” Grayson called after him. “You can stay my whole shift… if you don’t drink.”

Sam waved him off and kept shuffling towards the cooler. “Just need a drink. No worries.”

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