WHEN I ARRIVED AT the mansion, I expected to receive some disciplinary lectures from Mrs. Heathers or either of the Maids living in the house because that's the lifestyle that I grew up with. But surprisingly, there wasn't. Mrs. Heathers herself seemed to be joyous and delighted the moment I arrived. And I suddenly felt guilty because I did know that I deserved a punishment.

"How's your first day of school?" Mrs. Heathers asked. Holding a thick novel in her hands, I said, "It's nice. "I've met some new friends in Mastema."

Her eyes lit up. And she patted the sofa, motioning for me to sit with her. "Tell me more about it, Mary." She said sweetly, settling the book on top of the table—I hesitated initially, not used to talking with my real mother. But I followed her amidst my hesitation.

"They're three girls," I started, "all seem friendly and nice. So, I grew comfortable hanging out with them. Their names are Emily, Alexis, and Esmeralda." I smiled, remembering my friends. Mrs. Heathers flashed a tight smile and put her hands on my shoulders.

"It's very nice to hear you already have friends, Mary. But keep in mind never to put your complete trust in anyone other than me. Because you never know if that or those people will betray you," she scolded. Her dark red eyes pleaded for obedience.

I pressed my lips together, nodding my head. "Yes, Mrs. Heathers, I'll keep that in mind," I answered quietly. She smiled and kissed my forehead, "Good child, now ask Naomi to change your dress. We'll be having supper,"

Nodding my head, I exited the living room, Finding Naomi before I proceeded to change my dress. The truth is, I felt embarrassed that I had to order someone to change my clothing and bathe me. But I didn't have a choice because it was Mrs. Heathers' orders.

"I'll take off your clothes, young mistress," Naomi informed me. And I just nodded, seeming to zone out. While a single thought occurred in my mind, I didn't seem to pray lately for the past ten weeks. I wondered, feeling odd that I'd forgotten my eighteen-year-old routine.

"What happened, young mistress? You seem to be off the top," Naomi asked worriedly. I sighed and shook my head, "Nothing, Naomi. I'm just having this feeling that I'm slowly changing into someone else that I'm not." I said honestly. Naomi's eyes flashed an unreadable expression. But she hid it professionally with a smile, "Oh, young mistress. You're just having a culture shock since the ethics here differ from those in Christians."

I partially agreed with Naomi. Maybe I'm just having a culture shock, and yes, the ethical standards here really differ from the things that I grew up with. I just hope that somebody will teach me to come up with these things.

After I changed my clothes and bathed, I walked through the dining room. Freshly fixed and presentable enough for Mrs. Heathers, she, too, seems to have fixed her. She looked radiant and glowing under the chandelier. Her eyes flickered when she saw me smiling warmly.

"Let's eat now, shall we?"

THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL didn't start out nicely. I woke up late, and a tremendous personal delay hindered my way through Mastema. The guidance counselor gave me a minor offense, which caused me to miss my first class, Math.

I grew nervous. When the guard at the front gate informed me that I had to proceed to the detention room, I was astonished and scared at the same time, wondering what a detention room looked like. "Pardon," I said to the guard. "But can you please tell me where the detention room is?" I asked shyly, blaming my ignorance for forgetting the most important thing in the house: my map. Fortunately, the guard didn't mind and carefully told me the directions, ensuring I'd catch up.

The detention room was not as frightening as I expected. It looks like a regular classroom with long tables with two chairs each. But the counselor himself looks like someone whom you didn't want to mess with. Like the other version of Mrs. Heathers I thought. The counselor ordered me to sit on one of the chairs, and I walked in.

But my eyes darted to the only guy at the corner.

I recognized the guy as Reid. His dark chocolate hair was disheveled in many places, highlighting trouble. He also had thick, long eyelashes like Alex. His red eyes flickered when he saw me, but he suddenly filled them with hatred, turning his eyes away from me.

"You're a new student here, Ms. Heathers?" The guidance asked me when I finally settled on my chair. "Yes, sir, I'm new here." I stuttered, looking at his I.D., and discovered his name was Mr. Gibson. I forced myself to look at his raging eyes even though I was scared because it would be rude and ill-mannered if I didn't.

"Such nerves, to be late in your second day," he muttered, thinking I hadn't heard it. "Now, write me an essay of eight hundred and ninety-seven words. And don't you dare find your relief because the words will increase as your late coming increases, a fair bargain, you could say?" He smiled sadistically.

I nod, blinking away the warm tears slowly forming in my eyes. I grasp the thick pages of bond paper atop my table and hold my pen gently, starting to write my excuses and commitment that I'll never be late again—finally understanding what detention was. I try to ignore the emitting glare behind me, coming from Reid.

It was our sports class, or so it was called when I finished writing down my essay. And it's already the fourth period. This is not good, but Mr. Gibson frequently tossed my papers aside, making me repeat them until satisfied. I changed my uniform into Gym sweatpants and a shirt, feeling shy and flushed that the shorts were too—short. And it reveals most of my skin.

I tied my hair in a high ponytail, looking oddly at my reflection. My sapphire blue eyes seem strange nowadays; it's starting to have dark red pupils. Like Mother and the rest of the people here in Mastema, I gasped and muttered, "Dear God." And do the sign of the cross.

And strangely, the dark red disappeared.

I was confused and scared until the bell dragged me back to reality. Emily, surprisingly my classmate in our health education, called me, guiding us towards the School gym. "I was worried about you; you didn't show up in the past three periods. And someone told me that you're late," she rambled on, and I stopped listening after that, dazing off somewhere or might be thinking about the strangest thing that I've experienced.

Why did I have the same red color as theirs? I thought. And why did it disappear after I did the sign of the cross? My heart beats louder as my question deepens. And it took me a couple of minutes to realize that Emily was calling my name, "Mary, are you listening to me?" She asked worriedly. "You seem to be off the top,"

"I'm not," I said quietly the moment we arrived at the gym. And it didn't surprise me that it's grand like any other part here in Mastema. It even looks like a modern version of the Parthenon in Ancient Greece. It consists of high, thick walls with different shapes and symbolism sculpted magnificently. The ground is an astonishing light gray tile, with bright lights emitting from a large sphere at the center.

"This is breathtaking," I whispered under my breath. Emily smiled when she saw my expression, squeezing my hands gently before grinning like a Cheshire cat: "Welcome to Mastema, Mary." I was so drawn to the gym that I didn't notice that Emily freed my hands, turning her attention to the guy I recognized as Luca. He was a seemingly soft and kind-hearted person who smiled sweetly when he saw Emily.

They greeted each other like old friends, and Emily smiled at me. "Mary Jane, this is Luca. Luca, Mary Jane." She introduced while her grin became wider and more enthusiastic. The guy's cheeks flushed, and I smiled when I saw his appearance.

He has curly blonde hair with the shade of golden tone as mine. aseyes were a deep pool of marine. He seemed pale, but it was contrasted by the rosy flush on his cheeks. His height was the same as mine, 5'7. And Luca seems to be the guy version of me. "Nice to meet you," I smiled, and he even had to force one, turning his eyes directly to Emily.

She guided him to the corner, soothing the soft-hearted guy when he cried out of nervousness. And I suddenly felt bad, wondering what traits of mine made me look intimidating.

"You made our poor brother cry," a deep masculine voice whispered. I flinched, and another voice startled me, "such a bad girl," my chest rose. "I wonder if you could be our bad girl," another voice muttered.

Emily suddenly came into my view, and her eyes widened when she saw me. She dragged Luca with her before whispering something in his ears.

The guy's hands slowly wrapped themselves around my waist, embracing me gently before another hand soothed my hair, and the last one whispered. "What's your name, lamb?" I swallowed the lump in my throat, managing to stumble down my words, "Please let me go."

"Hmm, I've never heard of that name before," the voice asked in a deadly sing-sang voice. Smirking as he inhaled my scent. "Such a sweet fragrance..." I gathered my courage and unlocked the hands, turning my head around.

"Who are you?" I glared and stopped. You didn't even say your name," Calvin smirked. It's the triplets, The Sin triplets, looking at me with amusement. They all looked the same, but Darius played with my hair before I could even absorb their appearance.

"I didn't see you here before, new student?" he wondered. Enrique whispered something in Calvin's ears, and they both looked at me deviously—they all have the same Raven hair, dark brown eyes with red encircling them, and manage to be darkly handsome and thin. Their rosy lips are curved in a mischievous smirk.

I slapped Darius' hands away from my face and glared at them. "Just. Leave me. Alone."

I TOOK ONE LAST GLOSS at the mirror and guarded my eyes, watching carefully to see if the crimson color would reappear. Brushing my fingertips...

"Young mistress, it's time for Supper," Naomi called out behind my bathroom door. I withdrew my hands and fixed my skirt, answering in an unsteady voice. "Just one sec," I turned the taps and washed my face, wiping it off thoroughly before walking out.

Mrs. Heathers watched me eat my food improperly. She put down her utensils. "Mary Jane. Mind to tell me what happened?" she spoke in a motherly voice. The reflection I saw flashed across my mind, forming an unasked question.

"Mrs. Heathers, did you believe in Demons?" I asked. Her red eyes gleamed, giving shivers on my neck.

"Why did you think I know?" She asked, looking at me suspiciously. "Did someone tell you about this certain topic?"

"No," I managed to say. "No one Mrs. Heathers, but I'm just drawn to that question of mine lately," I said honestly. Her head tilted, boring her eyes into mine. "Mary Jane," she started. "If you want to know more about the demons, then seek for the eyes that are lurking in the shadows."

I prayed that night. Feeling scared of the strange accounts that have been happening lately. God, I cried. Please protect me from any dangers that might be happening lately... I asked, pleading for mercy and acceptance.

But it seems that God had forsaken me because he answered Death between my prayers.