This will be one of several choices for this year’s serial story.
* * *
“I’m a freak,” she said dramatically, throwing herself on her dorm room bed. The room had a bed, closet, dresser, desk.
“Yep,” Ginny replied showing her fangs. “How did you manage to get accepted here anyway?”
“I have no idea. I applied for all the Cryptozoology programs.”
“It’s not like this place is subtle, it’s called Monster’s University,” Ginny’s fangs retracted and she smiled.
“Ok, sure, but I didn’t think there were actual monsters, I assumed it was just a name,” Rachel nervously played with her long red French-braid.
Sitting down next to her and patting her knee with a pale hand, Ginny said, “Maybe it won’t be that bad? I mean no one’s going to expect you to be human. They’ll all assume you’re something else.”
Looking at her new roommate and only friend, Rachel felt a little sad. “Why don’t you just turn me into a vampire? That’ll fix everything.”
Ginny made a disgusted face, “You’re cute but I’m not into girls.” When Rachel looked confused, Ginny added, “We might be monsters but we have rules. We can only turn our future wife/husband.”
“Then how are you a Vampire?”
Running her hands through her perfect blonde hair, everything seemed perfect on Ginny, she explained, “When a mommy vampire and a daddy vampire love each other very much…” she paused. “I was born just like you.” Ginny blushed and Rachel was surprised that she could.
“Oh. Sorry.” Rachel looked sheepish but she was actually extremely interested.
“No one’s going to turn you legally and trust me, the sicko’s that say they will, will turn you into a thrall. It’s like a walking drinking cup.” Rachel shuddered and was about to say something but Ginny cut her off, “Same goes for Mummies, Lycans, Harpies, Sirens, and Banshees.”
“What do I do?”
“Fake it,” Ginny got off the bed and looked at Rachel appraisingly. “We need to find a creature that’s rare enough you won’t find one here, doesn’t have active powers, and doesn’t have any physical differences from humans.”
“Fae?” Rachel suggested.
“With that skin? No way. Plus they’re like a quarter of the population here.”
The mention of Rachel’s skin hurt her. She was self-conscious about her pimples. She’d been teased her entire life. It wasn’t easy being told by her roommate who could pass as a magazine cover model, post-photoshop.
“Dwarf?” Rachel suggested.
“You don’t have enough hair,” Ginny ran her hand on her face indicating a beard. “Not to mention you’re a little tall.” Rachel was over six feet tall and had wide shoulders.
“Demigod?” Rachel was running out of ideas. It didn’t help that she knew nothing but myths about this world. She had been a big fan of the Percy Jackson novels when she was in the orphanage.
As she said Demigod, their main dorm room door flew open and a large boy came in. He passed the small kitchen and walked straight into her room. He had the same blond hair and perfect skin as Ginny but he was taller than Rachel and too wide shouldered to get through the door by walking straight. He wore a MU jacket and held a football in one hand.
“Dude, did I hear you were a Demi? Awesome! Who’s your parent?”
“Ronny, that’s totally rude,” Ginny rolled her eyes in the way that only a sibling can. “Rachel, this is Ronny, my older brother.”
Jumping off the bed in the most awkward way possible, Rachel took Ronnie’s hand and shook it. “Nice to meet you.” She smiled what she hoped was a seductive smile. He was gorgeous.
They shook hands and Ronny said, “Dang. Nice …” he looked her over, making her blush a little at how invasive the look was, and finished with, “grip.”
“I’m not sure who my parents are. I spent half my life in an orphanage.” She decided it was easier to tell the truth.
“Well from looking at you I’d say Norse or Celtic, welcome to Monster’s University,” with that he winked and jogged out of their room.
After she closed the door, Ginny said, “No!”
“What? He’s hot and he was flirting,” A part of Rachel liked seeing Ginny flustered.
“He’s not hot, he’s my brother.”
The two girls looked into each other’s eyes and after a few seconds burst into giggles. After the giggles ended Ginny said, “So are you going to the big welcome street party over on Greek row?”
“Are they Greek gods or…?”
“Naw they’re just Sororities and Frats,” Ginny laughed walking to her identical room.
“Sure why not. I just have to get ready,” Rachel took out one of her two suitcases and put it on the bed. “What should I wear?” she yelled across to Ginny’s room.
“Perfume. You stink of human and it’ll make a few people hungry.” Ginny had already changed into a short white skirt and a dark red crop top. She looked good and Rachel envied her. Sticking her head into the doorway, Ginny asked, “Want me to wait for you?”
“No,” Rachel said a little too quickly, “It’ll take me a little while to decide.”
When Ginny had left, Rachel closed her door and locked it. She then took out the second suitcase and put it on the bed too. She opened both. One filled with clothes, makeup, electronics, and toiletries; the other filled with weapons, religious symbols, herbs, and vials of various substances. She was glad she’d brought a lock for her dresser.
It was a warm night and she decided to wear a skirt with short shorts, similar to what a cheerleader would wear but all light grey. She added a chunky black belt, and for her top she put on a green tank top. She had hard wide shoulders from all her training.
She finished the outfit off with a pair of black leather boots. They were her favourite, mostly for the built in knife sheaths. She then put on her weapons. The skirt hid two blades, the belt was lined with throwing knives and she had a small pistol in the small of her back. A garrotte was hidden in her braid.
As she stared at herself in the mirror, she didn’t like what she saw, but she wasn’t here to be liked, she was here for vengeance. The final part of her outfit was a small bottle of perfume that had been blessed by three holy men and a high priestess. She squirted a little of the lilac scented perfume on her neck and inner wrists.
“Time to get to work,” she mumbled as she walked out of her dorm.