Secret Lives by Gabriella Poole

This document contains excerpts from "Secret Lives" by Gabriella Poole, the first book in "The Darke Academy series," published in 2009. The narrative follows Cassie Bell, a scholarship student who feels like an outsider at the elite, globally nomadic Darke Academy. She quickly becomes entangled with a mysterious group of students known as The Few, discovering that the Academy harbors dark secrets and ancient rituals, leading to her being unwillingly imbued with a spirit that requires her to "feed" on others' life force. The excerpts highlight Cassie's struggles with her new powers, the disappearance of a fellow student named Jessica, and the enigmatic behavior of her peers, including Ranjit, Jake, Isabella, and the manipulative Katerina, all while she navigates a treacherous social hierarchy and confronts her own evolving identity within this supernatural world.