"How do you know my name?"

"Oh, I make it my job to know everybody," Aubrey Jane responded, waving her hand at Sophie. She turned and sashayed towards the now wide open front doors. Sophie grabbed her suitcase and fumbled after her, just in time to hear her little speech.

"As leader of our...student council," She paused for a split second, as if she'd just remembered something, or was looking for a different term to use, "which, of course, you will learn more about later, I always greet the new students and show them the ropes."

Sophie nodded. "Thanks, then."

Aubrey shot her a patient smile. "First, let's check you in at the main office. The headmaster probably wants to meet you. After he's finished with you, I'll show you to the dorms."

"Should I be worried?" Sophie fought back a wince as they climbed up the marble steps towards the main door. Aubrey stopped in the doorway, eyes raking over Sophie's battered t-shirt, short frayed shorts, and black flats. Her baby blues flicked upwards, hesitating at Sophie's face, before taking in the messy bun her hair was falling out of.

Then Aubrey's lips curled. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about."

Sophie's stomach did a nervous flip and Aubrey twirled around again, stepping over the threshold. The sound of her pumps clicking against the tiled floor echoed throughout the vast expanse of space. The room was huge, with sky-high ceilings and jagged stone walls. An elegant chandelier hung above Sophie's head, sparkling with diamonds, and it cast a glittering reflection of dulled rainbows down onto the floor. Two huge staircases circled around the opposite end of the room, facing Sophie and Aubrey, and vanished behind a stone wall, where a large ornate tapestry with the school crest—the same engraved crescent moon that had been stamped onto her invitation—was centered in a bubbled gold color.

Aubrey started clicking towards their immediate right, where a large angled desk was set up in front of a glass trophy case that was almost as tall as the ceiling. It was almost overflowing with different shaped trophies and different colored ribbons and plaques.

A slender woman with a sharp face and tanned skin sat behind the desk. She had the same unnamable quality as Aubrey, which made it look as if she belonged within the pages of a fashion spread. The woman flashed her a beam of pearly whites when Sophie met her gaze. "Welcome to Redstone, Sophie."

"This is Ms. Liza." Aubrey gestured to the receptionist as she sauntered past, completely cutting off Sophie as she went to respond. She then disappeared through a doorway several feet from the magnificent trophy case.

Sophie stared after her, a mixture of confusion and irritation swirling inside. Then she looked to Ms. Liza, who only looked amused.

She smiled at her and then thanked her before rushing after Aubrey. Said girl stood a few feet away from the door, arms crossed beneath the abundance of her chest, right foot tapping impatiently. Her eyes caught Sophie's as the girl entered the hallway, and Sophie could almost taste the disapproval radiating off of Aubrey in waves.

"What?" she asked innocently.

Aubrey clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Just thinking. Come on."

Sophie once again trudged after her, the wheels of her bag catching on the rivets between the tile she walked on. The sound bounced along the walls of the barren room, making it seem even more empty than it really was. Aubrey paused in front of an unmarked door and Sophie slammed on the breaks behind her to keep from plowing over the undiscovered supermodel.

Aubrey glared at the elegant handle.

"What?" Sophie asked, exasperation tainting her tone.

"Nothing." Aubrey started down the hallway again. "Absolutely nothing at all," She repeated, and something about her voice made the knot in Sophie's stomach tighten.

They stopped in front of another impressive door. It looked like a smaller, more compact version of the double doors out front. Aubrey quickly rapped her knuckles against the old stained wood. No sound answered her knock, but after a few seconds of silence, Aubrey opened the door and held it open for Sophie to pass through.

Sophie entered the room slowly at first, eyes wide and roaming the barely lit space. There was a smaller desk, carved with extravagant symbols and swirls, and bookshelves behind it. A large rectangle of blackness was also behind it, somewhat centered between the two bookshelves. A lamp sat on the desk, casting light across the room, and there were two maroon cushioned chairs in front of it.

"Sit," a deep voice rumbled ominously from the darkness.