Chapter Text
Being enrolled at Nevermore was when reality finally sunk in.
You were a freak of nature, an outcast. Your parents, who had tried so hard to raise you in a ‘Normie’ way, had also failed to tell you about the family history. The one where their parents, and their parents' parents, and their parents, were all what they called… ‘Sparks’.
Brilliant.
So you could generate electricity at will, cool! At least.. in theory. In practice? It was less heroic. One small slip of control and your parents’ brand new TV was up in smoke… followed by the entire neighborhood losing power.
Now here you were, rolling past iron gates into a school that looked like it had been plucked from a Bram Stoker fever dream. Spires of brick, gothic arches, students in black uniforms drifting across the lawns towards the main buildings.
Maybe.. maybe it wouldn’t be so bad?
“You’ll be taught how to harness your abilities here,” Your mother promised, “and you’ll meet others who are just like you.”
“Great.” You retorted. “Let’s just hope I don’t fry anything important.”
“Don’t be such a pessimist,” your father sighed, parking the car. “It'll do you good to be around other outcasts your age.”
The goodbyes were brief, and soon you were standing alone in the Quad, hauling luggage that suddenly felt heavier than it should have. There were all sorts of students crowding the courtyard - some teary eyed in their farewells, others already paired up with friends. You, however, lingered at the edge, nerves buzzing loud as the static that lived beneath your skin.
First day jitters. No big deal, right? Before you spiraled into an anxiety ridden panic, a voice pulled you from the depths.
“Hello there,” she was tall, blonde, impeccably dressed. “I’m Larissa Weems,” a hand was extended - which you took to shake; only to accidentally let out a bit of your powers.
“Sorry,” a forced laugh left your lips. “Nervous.”
Unfazed, Larissa only offered a small smile. “Understandable. First year?”
“Yeah.”
"You’re under my supervision, then. Name?”
You give it, and she checked you off her list with a crisp penstroke.
“Excellent. You’ll be in Ophelia Hall with the other girls.” Larissa turned, her heels clicking against stone. “Come along.”
The other girls were all close to your age. Some stood beneath dark umbrellas, their pale skin and crimson eyes making their nature obvious. Vampires. You’d never seen one in person before… but the stories were true. They were breathtakingly beautiful. But the rest of the girls? Harder to discern. They all looked… well. Like typical teenagers. Part of you wondered how many of them had stories just like yours, with secrets that had exploded out of hiding and rewritten their lives overnight.
Maybe you’d find out soon.
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Some girls were crammed into rooms of threes or fours, but luck seemed to shine upon you today. Your dorm was surprisingly.. Spacious. Arched windows were framed with heavy curtains, polished wooden floors softened by some patterned rugs, and two matching canopied beds were separated by a pair of desks. The dark stone walls gave it a touch of gothic chill, but the warm glow of the lamps made it a little less crypt and a little more like a ‘temporary home’.
Your roommate was already there when you arrived, kneeling beside her trunk. She looked up when you entered, smiling wide. Brunette curls bounced around a heart-shaped face, her eyes a deep shade of brown that caught the lamplight.
“I’m Francoise,” Her voice was gentle. “I hope the two of us can be good friends.”
“Francoise is a beautiful name,” you tell her your own while setting down your bag. “I’m really glad I didn’t get stuck with a vampire. I am the farthest thing from a night owl you can imagine.”
Francoise laughed. “Don’t worry, no midnight feedings here.” She rummaged in her trunk again and pulled out a small stack of rolled up posters. “Do you like New Kids on the Block? I thought we could liven the room up a bit… if you don’t mind, that is.”
“I don’t mind at all,” you grinned, grateful for the hint of normalcy. “A little color might keep us sane here.”
Her face lit up as she hopped to her feet, climbing onto the bed to tack a poster to the wall with some strips of tape. “Judging by your looks of confusion, you must be a first year, too.” Francoise shifted down the bed, taping up a Madonna poster. “But don’t worry, my brother’s been here since last year. He swears that Nevermore is amazing - says there’s more potential here than… well, literally anywhere else.”
You flopped back onto your mattress, closing your eyes. “So you’ve got family backup. That must be nice.”
Francoise glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t you?”
You shook your head. “Only child. Which… in retrospect, is probably for the best. I don’t think my parents could’ve handled two of me.” Sitting back up, you lifted a hand. A flicker of static haphazardly lit across your fingers.
“You're a Spark? No way.” She bounced down onto her bed, approaching to get a better look at the tiny bolts arching across your palm. “That’s incredible. Do you know how rare that is? The potential is literally limitless.”
“Limitless, or catastrophic,” you muttered as the sparks vanished. You knew you should probably try and calm down, or risk letting a loose bolt free. Besides, your roommate seemed nice enough… No need for nerves now.
She lifted her head thoughtfully. “Maybe both. But still… It's better than being boring. My brother says Nevermore thrives on chaos. He’ll probably want to meet you. He’s a DaVinci. A real brainiac. Into science. People say he’d rather live in a lab than at home.”
“Sounds… fun?” you said.
Francoise shrugged. “He means well, though. He just doesn’t always know how to talk to people. If you’re lucky, you’ll see him later.”
A knock sounded at the door before a reply formed, and Larissa’s voice carried clearly. “Girls, dinner in the main hall. Don’t be late.”
Francoise hopped up eagerly. “Come on! Maybe we’ll see my brother there, and we’ll get to meet everyone.”
Your stomach twisted at the thought, but there would be no backing down now. You squared your shoulders, preparing to take on Nevermore. After all, first impressions mattered.
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The main hall was unlike anything you’d ever seen before. Vaulted ceilings arched high overhead, chandeliers dripped with candlelight that painted everything in gold and shadow. Long tables stretched across the room, packed to the brim with students whose voices rose in a steady hum of chatter and laughter. The smell of roasted meat and spiced vegetables wafted through the air, making your stomach rumble.
Francoise tugged you along, through the food line, and then scouring until the two of you found seats halfway down one of the tables. She sat eagerly, eyes scanning the hall with the kind of excitement only someone on a mission would have. And that mission?
“Franny!”
You turned just as a tall, lanky boy maneuvered through the aisle. He balanced a tray stacked high with food, much outweighing his stature. His hair was touseled, tie already crooked, and his grin was wide and unguarded - clearly for Francoise… which could only mean-
“Isaac!” Francoise lit up, scooting over to make room. “I was hoping you’d find us.”
“Of course I did,” he said, sliding in beside her. His gaze flicked across the table, curious - but not unkind. “And who’s this?” He took a bite of the sandwich from his tray.
“This is my new roommate,” Francoise announced your name proudly.
You offered him a polite smile and bob of the head. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same here.” He nodded, then leaned in. “You a first year too?”
“Yeah. Still just… trying to wrap my head around everything, you know?”
He laughed. “Don’t worry. I know it seems like a lot at first, but it gets better.” He reached for his drink, only to pause as a faint spark crackled across your fingertips as you adjusted your napkin.
Isaac blinked, bewildered. “Was that-” he sputtered. “Did you just..?”
Francoise shot an apologetic look. “Oh… Um. I might have forgotten to mention-”
“I’m a Spark,” you admitted quickly. You could feel the heat rising in your cheeks. “It’s… complicated.”
Isaac froze for a heartbeat, then his whole face lit with awe. “That’s amazing! Do you realize the applications? Conductivity, kinetic storage-” He cut himself off, pressing his lips together. “Sorry. I ramble.” He cleared his throat. “It is… a very interesting ability, though.”
Francoise elbowed him. “See? Brainiac.”
You laughed, tension ebbing away from your shoulders. “Better than boring, right?”
His smile softened. “Exactly.” He paused, then, and it was as if you could feel the gears of his mind turning. “So… how does it work? Do you generate the electricity yourself, or is it more like channeling an ambient current?”
You blinked, trying to find the right answers. You didn’t want to disappoint your new friends. “It’s.. I suppose it just happens. I’m not sure of all the details just yet.”
“Just happens,” Isaac echoed, leaning forward with his chin in his hand. “Fascinating.” He leaned back in his seat, lost in thought for a second. “What’s the largest surge you’ve ever managed?”
These questions- they were starting to feel more personal. But, you pressed on… despite the heat that crept up your neck. “I… blew out our entire neighborhood this summer.”
Francoise's eyes widened as she sputtered on her water, laughing. “An entire neighborhood? Remind me not to get on your bad side!” She dabbed at her chin with a napkin.
Isaac, however.. wasn’t laughing. He was now staring so intently at you, smiling directly at you. All the attention only made you feel more bashful.
You shrunk back slightly in your seat, eyes averting as you found your fork - only for that lightning to zap out. The metal went flying through the air, clanging off the ground nearby. You froze - face now red with embarrassment.
Isaac shot from his seat, going to retrieve the fork as he muttered something about distance and voltage to himself. And then? He went to get a clean one.
When he returned, he grinned. “Four feet.” He sat the new fork before you. “Your powers are truly.. astonishing.” He sat back across from you, those dark eyes shimmering with something unspoken..
But was it interest for you, or for your powers?
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After about a week, you fell into motions at Nevermore Academy. You had your classes all lined up, you knew where each took place, you had a spot at the lunch table with Francoise and Isaac in the commissary, and overall - you felt like you were just starting to get comfortable.
The Night siblings might have had something to do with that. For all her kindness, Francoise had made a lot of new friends in the first week - and even picked up some extra curricular activity. Fencing! A part of you wished you could have joined the team, but maybe flinging around pointy metal with your brand of powers wasn’t a good idea.
Instead, you threw yourself into studying. Afternoons were often spent in the library, reading up on any information you could find on Sparks - their abilities, their origin. You wanted to be able to control that power, to be able to get flustered without letting a few sparks fly.
You sat in a quiet corner, situated behind a few of the larger book cases. A small reading lamp was on while you sat with the tome in your lap.
There were others in the library space, but they were all doing their own things. Reading, studying, or trying to find somewhere to hide and make out with their significant other (ew).
You flipped idly through the pages before a familiar voice caught your attention.
“I didn’t expect you to be here,” Isaac looked down at you, a stack of books in his arms. “Studying?”
“Doing my best,” you offered a meek smile.
“The greatest minds didn’t sharpen overnight, you know.” He didn’t ask for permission as he took a seat next to you on the small settee. “Have you learned anything?” Isaac placed his stack of books at his feet, lifting a smaller one into his right hand.
“The energy we make comes from within, almost like we are some sort of walking lightning storm.” You tried your best to keep your gaze down on the book in your lap, but it proved to be difficult - considering how close Isaac now sat.
“Just as I suspected.” He hummed to himself, opening his book and scanning the page. “You’re special, you know.”
Oh boy, there went your cheeks again. “I’m just a Spark. There are other Sparks here at the school.”
“Oh yes, I’m aware. One of my best friends is a Spark, though he’s a bit cocky about his powers. But you? You keep to yourself. You’re humble.” Now he was looking over at you. “Ralph W. Sockman once said: True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves.” A smile.
Was that a compliment? You really weren’t sure - but the way his eyes seemed to soften when he looked at you only served to make you think that yes, it was.
Isaac had become a constant in your life here at Nevermore - even if it was only because you were around his sister. You were grateful for the companionship.
And it didn’t hurt that he was nice to look at.
His curly hair was always disheveled, and he usually wore that crooked grin of his. But.. it was the eyes that mattered most. When you met Francoise, it was one of the first things you noticed. Those dark Night eyes. Hers were brighter, kinder. But Isaac’s? They were always sharper - calculating.
Though, with his gaze on you now? It felt like something else you couldn’t quite name.
You realized too late that you were staring. Quickly blinking, you nodded, the flush on your cheeks deepening. “Thank you, Isaac.”
He laughed, a little sound - but so rich. “You’re welcome.”
As you two continued reading, you couldn’t help but notice as Isaac seemed to edge a little closer. The settee was small, and the DaVinci boy liked to shift to reposition. You could feel the heat of him at this rate. God, what would Francoise say? Seeing the two of you together like this.
You tried not to think too hard about it. The both of you were just studying, nothing more.
But then you inhaled. Soap with a warm, woodsy bite, edged by the faint tang of metal that clung to his skin. No, don’t notice it. Absolutely DO NOT notice it. But your brain betrayed you anyway, pulling you from the page and straight into the image of Isaac in his element - bent over experiments, welding metal to metal, muttering to himself over a notepad splotched in messy ink. The same ink that smudged his hands, his jaw… as he focused.
No.
No no.
This was your friend’s BROTHER!
A hitched breath left you, and you choked on a cough, breaking the silence that previously blanketed you both.
Isaac sat upright, a hand at your back. Not quite touching, but hovering just in case. “Are you alright?”
A quick nod of your head was followed by the choked sound. “Yup! Just fine-“ Slender hands moved to your books, scooping them up. “I just remembered I have to water my plants.” You didn’t have any plants.
“Are you sure—“
“Bye!” With all the smoothness of a North American Dodo bird, you leapt from the seat and scurried out of the library. All the while, you wrestled with the uncertain emotions that now zipped along your spine
Wrangling with new powers was one thing, but trying to balance the delicate emotions of a schoolgirl’s crush, too?
An impossible task.