I woke up to have a nightmare of a day.

No, seriously.

The ghost of a girl was leaning against the window of Mrs. Alexander classroom. She was sad, dress in some long old fashion skirt and white blouse. She had curly hair and a round face, square shape glasses. I already seen how she died the moment I stepped into the classroom. Back in the fifties the most popular guy in school knocked her up. He was a player and wasn't looking for anything serious. She tried to make him understand and he embarrassed her in the hallway after class one time. She killed herself by hanging herself in this room.

“Jaycee.” Mrs. Alexander said and my eyes snapped to her. “You hat sweetheart. You can't wear them in classroom.”

“But it's just a beanie.” I said.

She shrugged, “School rules.”

I huffed heavily and looked around. Everyone in class eyes were on me and I scoffed, reaching up and took the hat off. My hair fell out from the slouchy beanie and the thick part of gray hair fell in my face. I heard students whispering and I lowered in my seat.

Mrs. Alexander hushed the class but I could still hear them gossiping. Jessica gave me a curious look from across the room and I sighed heavily. I heard stress does make your hair turn gray and it sucked. Worse, my skin has been getting so dry. I rubbed my hands together on my lap, pulling my sweater sleeves down.

After class, I packed my things and walked out of class with Jessica. She told me she had to go see Mr. Roche about her History test. I walked over to my locker and gathered my stuff for my next class. I looked at the mirror in my locker and frowned. I wasn't my happy self I’m normally am today. Female’s wolves have very light periods and get it only a few times out of the year. So why did I look like PMSing? My hair was dull and frizzy looking. My skin was usually a lightly tan but it was pale today.

I don't know why I’m seeing ghost. I woke up this morning feeling this dread feeling and when I got out of bed, this guy was behind me. Seeing this is so many horror movies, I grabbed my mom curling iron, turned around, and started beating. It took me a moment before I realized I was hitting nothing but air. Still freaking out, the man was just looking at me. He was in some War World 1 uniform and that's when I saw his past. He was having a hard time dealing with life after the war so he got dressed in his uniform and shot himself in the head. I tried talking to him, but he didn't answer but he was looking at me.

The only time I ever been around ghost was at that old Victorian house Hermes took me to and I didn't want to go inside but I was pushed inside because I made a rude joke. I still remember the little girl Emilia and how happy she was when I grow flowers because she liked them.

But unlike them, the ghosts I’ve been seeing today wouldn't go away. While I walked to school I saw about twenty-three ghost and it was crazy. My eyes were hurting from them for some reason and every few of them they would show me their deaths for some odd reason. And then school wasn't helpful escape since more ghost were here and most of them didn't even die here—hmm, I wonder if they put that like to share that with the student that other students died here in the past—but they followed me.

I closed my locker when I saw Hermes coming over. I leaned against my locker and gave him a hard look when he stood in front of me, “I see you're still here.”

“Jaycee, you didn't answer my calls all last night. And you weren't home?” he asked. “I was worried.”

“I was out running.” I said. “You use to get on me about not spending enough time as a wolf, but now I'm spending time doing that, is that becoming a problem now?”

He scoffed, “Don't be cold, Jaycee.”

I scoffed this time, “Me? Mr I'm-So-Controlling.”

His face was hard for a moment before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he opened his eyes. He smiled charmingly down at me and I arched an eyebrows, curious to what he's doing. He bopped his head down the hallway, “Let’s get out of here.”

“And go where?” I asked him.

“You'll like it.” he said.

He reached out and took my hand, but I snatched it back, “Carmina said I should be cautious of you.”

He chuckled, “Cautious?”

“Yes, she said you'll try to do something to me.” I said, lifting my chin in the air to show my authority. “And my magic.”

He chuckled again, “Jaycee, come on.” He grin lowered then and he frowned, “Don't let her break us up, is that what you want? Her to break us up because that's what she's trying to do.”

My mouth opened to speak but nothing came out. I saw the hurtful look on his face and I felt guilty suddenly. I have been neglecting Hermes lately and I felt bad about that. “Of course I don't want that, Hermes.” I told him.

“I thought I was your mate, I thought we could trust each other.” he said. “I guess you trust Carmina more than me though.”

As he started to turn away, a part of me felt like it broke off. I grabbed Hermes arm and pulled him back, “Hermes, don’t say that.”

He took my hand in his, pulling me close to him “Come with me then.” he said.

“I—“ I looked away, not able to look at him in the eyes and to refuse. “Carmina. . .”

“It’s me, Jaycee, you’re mate.” he said as he pulled me so close we were touching and he lowered his head down towards me, kissing the side of my head. I couldn’t help but smile since Hermes hasn’t been this sweet and affection for a while. How could I refuse?

+

“I never liked the smell, but I’m going to dye it.” I said to Hermes I twirled the two inch thick strain of hair. “I swear, it’s making me look older than I am.”

“You should stop stressing yourself out.” Hermes said.

I scoffed, but smiled at him, “I’m not stressed, Hermes. Life has never been better.” I said. I laid back on the ground and looked up at the sky threw the trees. The wind blew around the dying leaves on the trees and I brushed my hair away from my face since some strains flew in my face. “Tomorrow we’re meeting Emily Rolfe, you’re coming right?”

“Do you want me to?” he asked as he laid back next to me.

“I would.” I said, smiling at him. “It’ll be at my grandpa place, they live right next to the woods with allot of land so it’ll be a perfect place for a picnic. It’s pretty exciting meeting relatives you never knew you had and meeting for the first time.”

“I’m sure it is.” he said. “I use to think you wolves were monsters, but now I can you’re all amazing creatures. Wicca Spirits probably favor you creatures more than us, why else would they continue to let you be like this?”

“Promise nothing will ever tare us apart?” I asked.

“I don’t know, can you promise the same thing?” he asked and I stared at him for a moment before nodding. He propped himself up on his arm, facing me and put his hand behind my neck as he leaned down, kissing me. I ran my hands threw his blonde hair as I kissed him back.

I couldn’t help but smile threw the kissing since it felt like forever since the last time. Nothing was a problem anymore, it seemed so perfect and not worrying about anyone ruining the moment. I brought Hermes closer to me, wrapping my arms around his back. I hadn’t realized my fingers were digging into his back until he hissed, lifting himself up.

My eyes widen as I took a sharp breath and I brought my hand up to my mouth, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s uh—alright.” he said, making me so glad he didn’t start some argument about me being dangerous. He leaned down again and he kissed me. He kissed me passionately on the mouth.

I heard a crack, like someone stepping on a branch and it was right next to my ear. I gasped, my head trashing to the right to see if anyone was there but all I saw was a squirrel running across the woods, a few other branches breaking as he ran. I felt Hermes lips touch my throat and my eyes widen a little. I never been kissed on the throat.

I closed my eyes, my hand running up and down his arms. I heard a hawking sounds and my eyes snapped open to see a raven flying across the sky. Goosebumps ran down my arms and it wasn’t because of Hermes wasn’t kissing and sucking on my neck. No, it was a dread feeling inside of me I was feeling.

I felt this heavy amount of pressure, like large heavy books weighing down on my head. I never get scared of noises around me since I was already use to it since my hearing was heighten when I turned fourteen but why is so—frightening this time?

“Hermes.” I said as I looked around.

Sacrifices

A small gasp escaped my lips as Carmina voices was heard. Hermes didn’t seem to hear it though and he brought his mouth back onto mine. I tried to ignore the hearing voices, making my eyes squeeze.

Sacrifices. Sacrifices. Small sacrifice.

I wanted to scream for the voices inside of my head to stop it. I was bothering me, it’s like she was speaking right next to me to my ear and it was terrible with this dreadful feeling.

You’re mine! You do as I say, you mean nothing. You are what keep me beautiful, we all have to make sacrifices.

“No! No! No!” I yelled as I pressed my hands against Hermes chest to lift him off me and I sat up, breathing heavily. I looked around, expecting to see Carmina around or something but we were all alone in the wood. The dreading feeling went away, the anxious feeling gone. Why did I hear that? That wasn’t true, right? It’s just in my head, Carmina would never say that because it’s not true.

I felt Hermes hand on my shoulder and he turned me to look at him, “What did you hear?”

My mouth opened but I realized quickly what he meant by that. He didn’t look concern at all me freaking out, but curious with a hard look on his face.

“Jaycee!”

“You put them there?” I asked.

“It’s the truth, it’s all the lies she’s hiding from you.” he said. “She is using you, Jaycee—wait!” he said when I stood up to leave and he got up, grabbing my arm to stop me. I glared at him as he turned me to face him, “Jaycee, its true. She is using you, I went to her house yesterday and she admitted it to me. She is using your sanity, soul, and beauty to keep herself young and alive.”

“She wouldn’t do that—“

“You don’t know her!” he yelled. “She’s a narcissistic bitch who is using you. This gray streak?” he said as he touched my hair. “It’s her Jaycee! Don’t be in denial.” He put his hands on my waist, pulling me closer to him as my eyes stung with tears and dropped my head, “Jaycee,” he said more softly. “I didn’t make it up, it was her. I was just showing you the truth about her. She isn’t help you, she’s taking advantage of you.”

“Why?” I asked as I looked up at him, tears sliding down my face. “Why would she be so horrible? I thought she was helping me, Hermes.”

“When you use magic, she takes that energy from you.” he said. “She’s getting younger because of you. She isn’t helping you, it’s all fake. Your energy is what she planted in your head to make you think.”

I shook my head as I lowered my face, “I don’t want to believe that. She’s good.”

“She may look innocent, but she isn’t.” he said. “It’s alright, Jaycee. She had us both fooled.”

“What am I supposed to do now?” I asked. “I’m—I’m just like Lucinda.”

“No you’re not.” He said. “Carmina shouldn’t have done this, it’s her fault.”

“I’m losing my mind, aren’t I?” I asked. “Don’t sugar coat it, Hermes.”

“Yes.” he said.

“And the spell I did on Lucinda was to strong just for me to do.” I said as Hermes brought me closer to him and pressed me against him. I placed my hand on his chest, closing my eyes. “I guess I’m not as strong as I thought I was.”

+

I wasn’t sure if this was going to work, but dropped a few dropped of essential oils of lemon, raspberries, roses, rosemary, and frankincense in a black bowl. He placed four pink candles in cardinal directions and a white candle was in front of me. Troy let the sage up and blew it out, smoke flying as he got up and waved the smoke around the room.

Hermes went in front of me and dipped two of his fingers in the bowl. He brought his two fingers that were dipped in the bowl up to my forehead and in the middle drew a circle. “Are you sure this is going to work?” I asked him.

“If you say it, it should since the magic will be stronger.” he said. “White magic can be much stronger then Dark if done right.”

“I just hope it keeps her out of my mind.” I said. “I feel so stupid Herm—“

“Don’t talk about it, we’re trying to get rid of the negativity. Not increase it.” he said and handed me the matches. “Light each candle.”

I did as he said and I could feel the pressure return on my head. I shook my head, knowing that feeling of someone trying to get inside of there. If I try not to think of, she’ll have a harder time not getting in there. I sat down in front of the white candle with a picture of me leaning against it and I looked at Hermes. He held out his hand so I placed mine in his and placed my other hand in Troy.

“You have to say it right.” Troy said.

I nodded, “I know.” I cleared my throat and took a deep breath, concentrating hard on the candle to build the energy up, “I invoked thee Spirit of Protection; Guide me to the right path and lead the negativity out; now and forever. Thank you.”

I don’t know why since I sort of expect it, but the four pink candles blew out and I jumped. It always seemed to surprise me no matter what when I have done something. The flame on the white candle though grew much brighter. Since the room lights were dimmed now, I could see a glow around the flame. The flame moved, as if it was dancing and it was kind of hypnotizing.

Then it went out and it was quiet.

“Did it work?” I asked.

“I hope so.” Hermes said.