Victoria Davis was not coping well. She felt empty without her powers. Her hair seemed duller, her lips less full, and her skin seemed paler. Food didn't seem to taste the same. Everything seemed numb and watered down.

Victoria had spent a period of time after her powers had been removed in deep depression. At first, she had blamed herself and had felt a deep shame. The shame had turned to resentment. Victoria felt her heart harden against her brother and his love for Mary Frost. The Frost family. They had always been a thorn in her side. That's how her father had always felt. Victoria now had that same hatred brewing in her soul. When Jacob moved into his apartment after his graduation Victoria had been relieved. She wouldn't have to look at one of the people who had condemned her to walk as a human every day.

Victoria had spent the summer reconnecting with some of her friends and making new ones. Victoria normally spent her summers at Camp Green but without her powers if was pointless to attend. She had been wondering the mall not truly looking at the items. Her depression was heavy on her that day. That's when she had met Amanda. Amanda was a powerful influence that Victoria quickly recruited into her fold. Victoria had began to feel more of herself when focusing her energy on her popularity. The depression seemed to slowly fall away as Victoria found herself at the top of the popularity food chain. She would be the queen bee of her sophomore class. The power she had with it was intoxicating. Victoria finally felt some control.

Victoria walked into Geometry in August to find Marissa Frost sitting in the room. Victoria's stomach had churned. A strong dislike bubbled up in her. She felt a bile burning her throat. Marissa looked a lot like her sister only more toned and athletic. Victoria couldn't deny she had gotten prettier. This made her blood boil more. Her hair was still a frizzed mess and she couldn't put makeup on to save her life. Victoria took solace in that fact.

Victoria had chosen to ignore Marissa's existence at first... but then Cory had came. Victoria had instantly coveted him. He was athletic and gorgeous. His stunning blue eyes had mesmerized her. Amanda had also been taken by him. Victoria was confused that he had picked to sit with Marissa over them. This was unacceptable. She was the queen bee. She and her friends were not to be ignored. Something had to be done.

Amanda had been the one to plant the seed.

"It's like she hypnotized him or something," Amanda complained as they left Geometry. Victoria's eyes followed Amanda's to see Cory laughing with Marissa at her locker.

"I mean, for real, it doesn't make sense that he would talk to her," Victoria had responded. She pushed her hair back gracefully. Eyes followed them in the hallways. Victoria ate it up.

"It's some voodoo, upside down world shit that he gives her so much attention," Amanda had said. Victoria smiled an evil smile. A light bulb illuminated in her brain.

"You know, I have always thought that family was weird. It doesn't make any sense that my brother would talk to Mary and now Marissa with Cory... maybe they are doing some kind of witchcraft," Victoria said seriously. Her drones listened intently. They nodded in agreement.

"We should save him so he doesn't end up like your brother," Kamryn said nodding towards Cory.

"I don't want to get cursed or anything. I'm being totally serious. I think they are witches or something. I've even seen Mary draw weird symbols on her arms," Victoria said running with the idea. The drones looked at her with wide eyes.

"O-M-G, are you serious?" Amanda said in a hushed voice.

"I'm not even joking," Victoria said holding up a hand as though she was saying an oath.

"That's super freaky," Kamryn said looking darkly over in Cory's direction.

"Don't say anything though, promise? I don't want it getting back to Jacob. He would totally freak out on me. But maybe Cory isn't too far gone," Victoria told them. They nodded and murmured promises.

"This is totally crazy," Amanda murmured as they glanced over at Cory who had a stunning white smile plastered across his face.

"Let's just keep a look out, alright?" Victoria ordered. The drones of course complied.

Making the voodoo doll had been easy. Google was such a great resource to DIY projects.

Victoria came early and planted the doll in Marissa's bag as the volleyball team practiced in the auxiliary gym. She left it poking out perfectly askew. The ice blue eyes against the dark thread made it even more noticeable. Victoria looked around at the surrounding bags. One name stood out to her-monogrammed waiting to be seen. Angel. Victoria moved Angel's bag over next to Marissa's. Perfect. Everyone loved Angel.

Victoria stalked the team in the out of order stall in the locker room. To her delight Angel and a girl named Lynlee were the first to finish their lap around the gym to end the practice.

"I thought I put my bag over here," Angel frowned looking around at the spot Victoria had moved it from.

"It's over there," Lynlee said pointing over to the left.

"These early practices are making me lose it," Angel mumbled.

Angel gave a little gasp.

"What the hell?" she said quietly.

"What's wrong?" Lynlee asked. Victoria was out of range to see them and didn't want to move too much in the stall. She listened intently.

"It's like a weird little doll... It was in Marissa's bag," Angel said with confusion.

"That looks just like Cory," Lynlee gasped. Victoria smiled triumphantly to herself.

"Should we just put it back?" Angel said carefully.

"I mean... I guess..." Lynlee said as the locker room door opened again.

"Ew, the hell is that?" another girl said.

Victoria tried to peep through the stall to see the new voice.

"It's like a voodoo doll," Angel said in a puzzled voice.

"Looks like that new Cory guy," the new voice said.

"That's what I said!" Lynlee exclaimed.

"Where did you get it?" the voice asked. Victoria finally saw the voice belonged to a girl named Natalie.

"Angel saw it in Marissa's bag," Lynlee told her.

"That's weird..."Natalie said with her voice trailing off.

"Just put it back before she gets in here!" Angel said sounding worried.

"I think you should keep it and give it to a teacher or show Cory," Natalie said with a bit of authority.

"And say what?" Angel asked.

"I don't know... I just worry that-" Natalie began to say. What Natalie was worried about Victoria didn't know because the locker door opened as several girls spilled into the space. Victoria saw Natalie grab the doll from Lynlee and shoved it into her own bag.

Now all Victoria had to do was plant the seed into Cory's brain that Marissa was some sort of witch. Amanda would be sure to help with that if she hadn't already...

Victoria watched as the seed grew into a full fledged problem for Marissa. The satisfaction of ruining Marissa's little love interest was overwhelmingly pleasing. Victoria might not have her magical abilities but this was the next best thing. Victoria felt alive again. The numbness of the summer seemed to be melting away. Marissa had looked broken in the hallway.

Victoria wasn't done with her yet though.

That was only phase one.