Tarnheim Academy Pt 1

Tarnheim Academy, Part One

My name is Heather Gringsworth, and this is my story.

I was raised by my parents in Essex, in the very lap of luxury. I lacked for nothing, and enjoyed all the privileges of wealth and status. My parents indulged my every whim, which only served to embolden me to demand ever more. I attended an elite private school in which my social circle was composed of other young girls of similar means and disposition. We were a clique, and looked with disdain upon those beneath us. We took pleasure in teasing and tormenting other girls, those of lesser station than ourselves. I took particular delight in flirting with boys, none of whom I would ever give a real chance. At the age of sixteen I had become a genuine spoiled bitch, and lived that role to the hilt.

All of that was to change.

One evening at dinner Mummy and Daddy announced that I was being sent to a boarding school.

“What? Oh, no, you are not doing this. I have all of my friends here, and I’m not going off to some silly boarding school.”

Daddy was adamant. “Young lady, your mother and I have discussed this, and we have made our decision. We have chosen the Tarnheim Academy; it is an extremely exclusive school, one that we believe will be uniquely suited to your needs.”

“Tarnheim? Is that in Lancaster?”

“No,” Daddy answered with a smile. “It’s in Austria. Your mother and I have reviewed their curriculum, and there’s no better school on earth to instruct you properly. The arrangements have already been made. You leave in the morning.”

I was taken aback by all of this, but Mummy and Daddy would hear none of my complaints. I went to bed thinking of ways to punish them for being so unreasonable. Still, I thought, it would be something new, and if I found it too stuffy I was sure that I could cajole my parents into returning me home.

In the morning I packed my things and Daddy had our driver take me to the airport. The plane ride was unexceptional, and the drive from the airport in Salzburg was a tad bumpy. The Academy was some distance from Salzburg, up in the mountains and fairly remote. The entrance seemed rather imposing, a gate of iron and stone topped with wicked looking spikes. The Academy itself had something of the look of a medieval castle, all of gray stone.

The driver held the door for me as I exited the vehicle. I left him to deal with my luggage and proceeded towards the main door. A rather intimidating woman awaited me. She was very tall, perhaps six feet, and strikingly beautiful. Her blond hair was tied back in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, and her blue eyes seemed to pierce right through me. I noted that she wore a tight outfit of dark leather with the Academy crest over her heart. The leather hugged her curves in a most provocative way, and she was quite imposing.

“You must be Miss Gringsworth,” she spoke curtly. “I am Helen Krieger, and I run this Academy. You will refer to me as Headmistress.”

“Yes, of course,” I replied with a dismissive wave. “Where is my room?”

Her eyebrow rose at the question. “The driver will see to your things, Miss Gringsworth. You, on the other hand, must come with me to my office at once.”

I shook my head. “Oh, no, I’m much too tired now, Miss Krieger. It’s been a long flight and even longer drive. Perhaps later this afternoon.”

“At once!” she repeated sharply.

I was taken aback by her boldness, but sighed and cooperated. She marched on five inch heels down the hallway, and I saw girls in school uniforms scramble to get out of her way. I walked behind, thinking that I’d have to straighten her out about a few things; after all, it was Daddy’s money that was paying for all of this.

We arrived at her office, and she opened the door and gestured for me to enter before her.