Lacey let out a long breath as she stood at the bottom of the stone steps, her large leather suit case by her feet. She felt her stomach churn as she heard the taxi pull off behind her. The boarding school was rather small, an old English country manor and it was half an hour away by car from any civilization. Behind her stood large wrought iron gates with spiked tips, and the gate rested in a cement base. There was no climbing the gate or digging under it.  With another shaky breath the girl picked up her luggage and began to ascend the steps; She wore a black vintage dress with a sheer neck and sleeves, atop her head was a black hat that covered her platinum-blonde hair and shaded her grey/violet eyes, her black heels clicked on the stone. Her parents were by no means rich but her grandmother had been, and from an early age the older woman had taught her grand-daughter about self presentation.<br/><br/>As she neared towards the door it opened, a woman stood there with a smile on her face wearing a navy blue and black pantsuit her hair golden. Lacey walked in and the security man beside her shut the door behind her. The woman smiled again before sticking out her hand, Lacey hesitantly grasped it and shook. The stranger spoke with an overly positive tone that Lacey just knew she'd quickly grow tired of. "Lacey Eunis! Welcome to Madame Camelia's! I assure you this is the right step to take to back on the true path to success and happiness! My name is Penny Willbrooks, but you can call me Miss Willbrooks, I am the assistant to the Headmistress and the immediate authority over all the wards here at the academy." Lacey nodded looking around, the academy was rather extravagant or at least the entrance hall was, everything looked vintage. Miss Willbrooks gave her a minute to observe before piping up again, she looked the new student up and down. "You sure like the color black-, I've read your file, maybe we should get you into more feminine colors, a little brighter, pastels maybe" Lacey looked at her, a slight look of distaste passing over her face at the word 'pastels'. "Black saps the pinkness out of skin, making any girl look like she has skin of porcelain. Pastels seep an excess of pink into the skin, making a girl look swollen." She reached up pulling her black leather gloves off. "Not to make you think we're off to a bad start, but please, my sense of dress is my own." Miss Willbrooks looked slightly taken aback, surprised that a girl of eighteen could talk so much like a formal lady, and irritated that said girl had the gall to talk to her like that. She stuttered slightly. "O-of course." She extended her arm directing Lacey to the stairs.<br/><br/>When they reached the top of the stairs Penny began to show her new charge around the the living quarters. "This wing is where the students sleep. We have a strict curfew of eleven PM. We don't check to see if your sleeping, but you have to be quiet after that time. Two security guards patrol the various wings and sections of the Manor at night and if you are caught out of your room after eleven you will be in big trouble." Penny lead Lacey to her room opening the door and handing her a key as she entered. This will be your room, normally it's two to a room but we have a shortage of students right now so for now it's just you." Lacey walked in setting her suitcase down on the bed. Miss Willbrooks continued to speak. "Every morning we meet for morning Discussion during breakfast, the Headmistress will introduce herself to you there and usually reads any significant news or current events, and has you discuss them amongst yourselves... Anyway, I want to welcome you again and wish you luck on your path to getting over these habits." Then Penny bid her a goodnight before leaving. Lacey groaned and locked the door behind her before pulling out a small stere and some clothes from her suitcase. She turned the radio on and began to undress.<br/><br/><i>Come as you are</i>by Nirvana droned into the room as the new girl pulled her top over her head leaving her in just her panties. She looked herself in the mirror, observing herself, the bruise on her arm still fresh, from where her dad had grabbed her and yanked her down from their attic after he'd found her consulting a book of witchcraft and taking notes. She looked at the bruise until she felt like being sick then slipped her black satin nightgown on and turned the music off, going to bed.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~~<br/><br/>The next morning Lacey walked down the stairs in her Navy blue dress with black leggings, ear buds in her ears and her hair swinging free down to the middle of her back. Her lips shined with a clear gloss but she didn't smile. She walked into the dining room looking around at the faces there before sitting isolated in the corner. A woman with grey hair in a bun wearing old fashion blouse and mid-driff high pants looked at her sternly. "well well, our brand new girl has been here less than a day and she's already late to breakfast. Have anything to say for yourself?" Lacey rolled her eyes internally before speaking. "I apologize, back where I'm from most people are asleep at seven in the morning." She got a couple snickers from the other students but the woman's face only tightened. "Lacey Eunis, your grandmother was Catherine Marie Eunis right? I knew her for a short period of time, you've got her attitude, although suited for this era of course. I suggest you lose it before it gets you in trouble, like it did her." At those words Lacey shot the old woman a glare that could've decapitated her had it been a knife. She was about to shoot off a retort when she felt a warm and gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned slightly seeing the spectral hand of her grandmother on her shoulder massaging it gently. Lacey calmed and stayed quiet. The woman continued to talk. "Anyway, I am the headmistress Mrs. Crosslot. Now, it has come to my attention that some of the boys have been sneaking out of their quarters at night, may I remind you-" But Lacey tuned her out, eating her eggs Benedict and trying to pretend she was somewhere else.