Prologue I never thought the day would come. I felt like I was in a movie as I stared out the window of the car. It was raining and I watched as big fat raindrops hit the pavement, slowly turning the sidewalks and streets into little streams. "Lillian?" I turned around to see that we have reached out destination. Henry, my butler, gave me a sad smile when he held out his hand for me to take, making me think he already knows something that's only about to happen. We made our way towards the house. It was actually more like a mansion, than a house. It was a brick mansion; its walls covered in vines, and the bricks looked burnt and aged, giving me the impression that this place was built a long time ago. Before I entered the wooden double doors, Henry leaned to give me a tight hug. I studied his face, his usually cheerful eyes were replaced with nothing but sadness and worry, the creases up his forehead giving him more age than his real 34 years. I didn't know if it was my loss or the nudging feeling that he's going to leave me that made me reflect his expression, but I felt the tears slowly building up. I tried to blink them away, but a single tear fell and I began sobbing. Henry was the closest man to me other than my father. He's like my 2nd dad when my real one wasn't around. My chest constricted and I sobbed, remembering. "It's alright, Lillian. Everything will be alright," he whispered "Miss Hollow?" I reluctantly let go of Henry and looked at a man in uniform. He has a small smile on his face and I nodded in acknowledgment. I entered the mansion and I was led to the stairs. I heard them leading Henry somewhere else. I turned and he gave me a wave. Making my way up the spiral staircase, I took in my surroundings. The walls were filled with paintings of previous leaders and I found my dad's portrait being put up on one end. I immediately looked away and concentrated on going up. "Miss Hollow, Dr. Wesley is waiting for you." He opened the door to a huge office that's filled with the stink of tobacco. I scrunched up my nose, and the door was closed behind me. I found Dr. Wesley sitting on a bear chair behind a wooden table, smoking tobacco. I sat down on a chair opposite him and waited for him to start. "I hope you're alright, my dear" he said through his thick mustache and beard. "I am, Dr. Wesley, thank you" I responded. He brought out a thick envelope, opened it and got one page from it, then he handed me the rest. "Here we are, to read the last will and testament of Morgan Hollow, the latest and one of the greatest leaders of The Circle," he started. "May he rest in peace," I mumbled. He then proceeded to read the will which was only one paragraph long. "This is the last will and testament of me, Morgan Hollow, the leader of The Circle and the heir of the Golden Chalice..." At that moment, it all sank in. I lost my dad. He's gone. I'm alone. My eyes went to the window behind Dr. Wesley and saw Henry being led out of the gate...then the car drove away. "...as my sole heiress, Lillian Hollow shall be left in the care of Headmaster Matthew Hitcher of the prestigious Coolridge Acadamy until the day that she will be formally presented as the new leader, The Mistress, of The Circle." Dr. Wesley took a deep breath and looked at me seriously. "Lillian, do you understand your father's wishes?" he asked. "Yes, Dr. Wesley," I nodded, my attention, partially on the Golden Chalice in front of me "wait, Coolridge Academy?" I asked, wide eyed. I have been doing everything in my power not to be sent there! "Yes, Lillian. You will be sent to the Coolridge Academy because Headmaster Matt resides there. We have contacted him and he will be here to pick you up tomorrow morning." he said. I grabbed the Golden Chalice that was left to me. The Golden Chalice that would choose the next Patron. I studied the words engraved on it: JUSTICE and PROTECTION. The jewels on the edge of the cup sparkled against the light coming from the chandelier. I looked up to Dr. Wesley and nodded in answer to his silent question. I looked at the man beside me. His hair was long and brown matching his hazel eyes. He doesn't look 48 years old, he looks younger. Much younger. His body is not just of a sports player, but of an experienced man of our kind. Headmaster Matt, as he asked me to call him, turned to look at me when the light turned red. "Are you ready?" he asked, I nodded absentmindedly. I assessed my situation the night before. I am the only one left of my family. I am the heiress of my father's position and title. I'm going to be The Mistress of The Circle in about 2 years. Will I be ready? We were heading to my new home, the Coolridge Academy for Advanced Ninjutsu. Yes, I am Lillian Hollow, born with a title, blood of a ninja and heart of a true leader. ----- If you want to be a part of this, please go to my character sign up! It's still open I hope you like it. -Alex
Chapter 1 What comes to your mind when you hear the word 'ninja'? You'd probably say 'japanese' 'black hooded shape shifters' or 'creepy killers'. Our kind have been stereotyped in some weird way that ninjas ended up as fictional characters. Mostly. Ninjas are ordinary people with extraordinary abilities. We're not immortals, we don't have fangs and we don't have naturally heightened senses. We die just like any other human being, only one of us doesn't die; our Patron. But even patrons die after a few centuries. We have weapons that are deadlier than fangs with rabies. Our senses are heightened through training. It doesn't come naturally to us. Through the years, decades, centuries, and millenniums, ninjas have existed quietly among the non-ninja people. Yes, our great great great ancestors are Japanese, but not just. Ninjas exist around the world and the time came when the strongest of us lived in the United States and Britain. The only ones left in Japan are the pure blooded ones who are our great guardians. My father was the leader of The Circle. It's the highest title in the ninja world after the Patron. The Circle is composed of the 8 strongest ninja families in the world and my family happened to be one of them. I have mentioned that I am the last of my family. That's because my mother and brother died 16 years ago when my little brother was born. Since then, it has just been my father and I. Then a couple of weeks ago, he was murdered. I did say that ninjas are not immortal, didn't I? Until now, the murderer hasn't been identified, but I made it a mission to find out. Even if it means I might die in the process. You might be wondering what the Golden Chalice is. My dad was the heir, and now I have it. The Chalice is magical, believe it or not. It chooses the next destined patron when the time comes that the current one expires. A ceremony is performed when it comes. It's called 'The Patron's Calling'. It's where 8 ninjas are summoned by the Patron and each of them will drink from the Golden Chalice. 7 will die and the one who lives is the next Patron. It sounds so cruel and horrific to the ears, but the souls of the people who die will be with the one who's left living. Their abilities are combined, creating the strongest ninja of all who will live for centuries, guarding and guiding the ninja population. We are ordinary people with extraordinary abilities. Not all of us have special abilities, but everyone can 'shape-shift' and have great speed that makes us seem invisible sometimes, but it takes training, just like our senses. Only a few of us are gifted with special abilities... like controlling an element (fire, water, air, earth). Headmaster Matt is one of the 8 ninjas included in The Circle and he's also my dad's bestfriend. He put his hand around me as we made our way to the academy's front doors. "I'll show you to your dorm, tomorrow you'll be introduced to the whole school," he said "the student body is not that big," he added when I stopped walking. "Will I... have a roommate?" I asked. "Yes, you will be rooming with a girl called Selina. She's a year older than you," he started to explain, I nodded "I'm sure you'll get along well," he said. Suddenly, two guys came out of nowhere and grabbed my bags from me and bowed. Then they vanished by the stairs. "What th--" "They're helpers, Lillian. And no cursing," he said sternly, but with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Sorry," I mumbled, "uhm, you can call me Lil if you want to, Headmaster Matt," I said. "And you can call me Uncle Matt when there are no students around," he winked, my eyes stared at him in disbelief. "Are you--?" I asked, uncertainly. He nodded with a smile. "I always wondered where you vanished to..." I said, "...Uncle Matt," I smirked. Suddenly I felt more at ease in the Academy after he told me that he is in fact, my father's best friend and now my guardian. We reached a room on the 2nd floor and he knocked on it three times. "Who is i-- oh, Headmaster Matt," a girl stared at us with her blue eyes and then bowed. Her black hair covering her face a little. "Good evening, Selina, this is Lillian Hollow, you're new roommate," he quickly introduced us and then paused. Selina tilted her head to look at me and immediately smiled warmly. "I'll leave you two, I'll be in my office," Uncle Matt said and turned to leave. Selina helped me get my bags inside the room, once I was settled, I checked out the rest of the dorm. It was big and was equally divided in the middle, you can actually see the 'line' because Selina's side of the room has posters, scattered clothes and random books askew, while the other side, my side, looks dead. Neat and clean, but dead. "I'm going to have to change that," I said. On each side there're closets and study tables, fixed with lamps and pencils. I sat on my bed and looked at Selina. "You can call me Lil," I said, smiling. "Nobody likes to call me Sel even if I ask them to, so feel free to call me Selina," she giggled. "So, anything I have to know about the academy before I start?" I asked. "Nothing much, really. I'll introduce you to my friends tomorrow and we'll help you get around. We're practically one whole team in this school, so everyone already knows you're coming," she said "although you should know that we have team leaders. Technically, they're the strongest here. And a bit older than most, they're around our age." she continued. "huh... this will be fun." I said, thoughtfully. "Just wait till you actually start tomorrow," she raised her eyebrows with a little bit of a warning. ---- Other characters will be introduced on 3rd and/or 4th chapter Please tell me what you think ^_^