Simplicity was best, Crow decided. All this fussing and carrying on was for naught really, only the complex required it. Why worry, why cause complications? Had it not been proved immeasurable times that life could go on happily even with the barest of comforts, the most basic of luxuries?

Was not ignorance bliss?

He heaved a sigh, knowing that his own malcontent did not mean that others weren’t satisfied with the complex. Simplicity was best for him, he amended his earlier thought. In point of fact, people in majority were likely to go insane without so many details and problems to focus on, which was likely why they created them.

Crow was only fifteen years old, were he an average boy he wouldn’t have been having such thoughts. No pensive reflecting on life’s many standards, although he was intelligent enough that deep thought would prevail even were he in normalcy. Not that such a thing could be verified.

Because the term ‘average’ didn’t have any application to Crow Marandici. He was the first born in the third branch of the Marandici line, which meant that when he turned twenty, he was going to be changed into a full-blood vampire. As it was, he was merely one eighth vampire.

It was a very complicated system, his family, which was the main reason for Crow’s musings. The original patriarch of the family had come to America a little under five-hundred years prior to the present date of 2007. Upon his arrival he had ingratiated himself with a small tribe of Indians, selecting one of them for his bride even. Over the years the offspring of the tribe and Marandici interbred until the whole family was a mix of Native American and Transylvanian. And vampiric.

The current patriarch of the family was Dorinel Marandici, Crow’s grandfather, and he continued the customs of the family’s ancestors. The firstborn of every Marandici family was to be made into a full blood vampire on their twentieth birthday, any and all children born to the family were meant to blend further with humans thereby preserving both the human and vampire bloodlines.

It was all a very neat and organized system. There was just one problem: Crow didn’t want to be a vampire. When he was much younger he’d thought it would be awesome, but not now. He didn’t want to leave the world of sunlight, didn’t want to be forever ostracized from humanity. He didn’t want to have to drink people’s blood every night. It wasn’t a problem of being squeamish, because he most certainly wasn’t, he just didn’t want to be so dependent on something, especially not something that lived and breathed.

There was one other reason, but really it shouldn’t matter. It was ridiculous and fanciful, and would certainly be even less viable a reason to his family than the others.

Besides, he hadn’t seen him for over six years…

“Crow!” A feminine voice hollered, seeming to resonate from the stairs leading up to the second story of the mansion, where Crow’s room was located. The teen snapped out of his brooding. That was his Aunt Luminita’s voice, which could only mean one thing: Bad News.

It wasn’t that Crow disliked his Aunt or anything it was simply that, whenever Aunt Nita came to talk to him she always brought bad news of one sort or another. Like the time when she told him how his little sister had fallen out of a tree and sprained her ankle, or when the thunder storm had knocked out cable for the whole mansion. Or how his mother had tried to make chicken cordon bleu and ended up making a burnt lump that they all had to eat because she was pregnant and would have an emotional breakdown if she thought they didn’t like her cooking.

After episodes such as those it really is no surprise that when Aunt Nita burst into Crow’s room he wasn’t really jumping for joy. She was actually smiling this time, beaming even, but Crow didn’t allow himself to be drawn in. He’d seen that smile once before when she’d announced she’d purchased a pet cat. The cat had turned out to be a nasty piece of work, a vicious monster that would attack anyone who got too close, throw up on the carpet, and shred furniture mercilessly.

Cousin Estera hadn’t even been punished when the thing turned up bloodless a month after its arrival.

“I have wonderful news!” Aunt Nita clapped her hands joyfully, perhaps knowing that usually her messages were less than endearing and gleeful that she had something she at least thought was good.

“Thank you for troubling to come and inform me.” Crow stated respectfully, if a little resigned.

“Of course, of course! It concerns you, after all, so you would have found out eventually, but I just couldn’t resist being the one to deliver it.” Her smile hadn’t faded. This was a bad sign. Crow really hoped she hadn’t bought him a cat.

“Anyway,” Aunt Nita continued, ignorant of her nephew’s melancholy expression, “Here it is: You’re to be sent to the Obscurus Magic Academy!” She looked expectant, as though she thought he would leap up from the window seat in happiness.

The happy leap was not forthcoming. In fact, Crow was fighting a vicious internal battle just to keep from expelling some very rude words that would buy him no points with his Aunt. He won it, but still couldn’t bring himself to give more than a weak smile. Fortunately this was enough to placate Aunt Nita, and she bustled off with a cheery “You’re leaving in just a few days! So I’ll just let you get all packed.”

The following quiet left Crow feeling numb. He listlessly stared about his room, his sanctuary. Pale grey walls and dark iron bedspread gave a twilight feel that was unbroken by the white birch desk, bookshelf, and set of drawers. The light coloring was something Crow insisted on; he didn’t want or need anymore reminders of the night in his future. He was halfway to the full length mirror on his closet door before he realized he was moving.

A glance in the mirror revealed a tall, slim teen with long black hair. His skin was actually quite tan, as he spent as much time in the sun as possible. Dark red eyes stared from the black tattoos that covered his face, marking his place as a firstborn male. The intricate designs whirled across his face and down his neck. The ice blue sweater he wore obscured the rest, but he already knew the tattoos continued over his back in heavy whorls that melted into the shapes of feathers, marking where his wings would be once he was changed.

Crow felt like breaking the mirror, just slamming his fist into it and then punching and pulling at the cracks until the thing was utterly demolished. But he didn’t. He stood there, examining himself, in perfect solitude.

“Why?” He asked aloud, “Obscurus is a human magic academy. How could they think I’d fit in?”

“Well, there aren’t any other kinds of academy, are there? Besides, you are human at the moment.” It was a female voice, but far more warm and sensible than Aunt Nita’s. Crow looked up at his mother. Laura Marandici was a sorceress, not powerful enough to be famous but no one doubted her competence. She was elegant and no-nonsense, but she was loving as well, lacking the chill that accompanied most of the rich and well-bred.

“What’s the point, mama?” He searched her face for some sort of hint to… anything.

“The point is for you to learn magic, my son. You have shown an aptitude and the gift will prove useful to you if you know how to wield it.” She didn’t move into the room, but neither was her presence rushed. “Are not you the one who wanted more time in the sun? This will give you that. A normal life, for the next five years at least.”

“Normal? I’ll be learning magic.” He raised an eyebrow exasperatedly.

“Normal enough.” His mother smiled tolerantly. “It’s the best I could do, Crow. Now do hurry and get packed, I’ll make sure none of the children come in and bother you.” And she swept out, leaving him again alone. Crow sighed, pulling open his closet to get at his suitcases.

Aunt Nita still held her reputation.