I'm having deja vu from the time I punched Penelope. This is my second week and I've gotten into big troubles. I mean, it's just two weeks, I'm sure my mom would be proud of the young lady I've become since all she ever wanted from me is to be a proper person. The difference from my time with the Headmaster about Penelope situation and now is I know what happened isn't my fault.

"... detention." Spoke too soon, seems like the headmaster is punishing me for it after all.

I get from my seat, wearing a shock expression. “Detention, why? I lost control, you saw.” Nate assured me that he wouldn't punish me for losing control, it's not like I deliberately released the birds to harm people. I have no idea how the birds got there, all I said was the spell the headmaster gave me for control, and all hell broke lose.

Why am I getting a detention?

“You were in control, you admitted it,” Roman counters from the accent chair he's sitting on. I’m not sure what relationship Roman and the headmaster share, but I don't appreciate him being here when I'm having a serious talk with the headmaster.

They should cut me some slack. I controlled myself on the bus after hearing everything the students and even teachers were saying. Apparently I’m not too cool for West High and too much of a freak for The Vale.

I turn and glare at him. "Shut the fuck up. No one asked you anything." I reply him.

I'm trying to find a way out of detention and he's sabotaging it. I thought he of all people would understand what I'm going through giving the whole coven connection and shit. He was there the night of my nightmare for fuck sake, he knows I have no control over anything in my life.

He stands up and give me a look that rivals the one I'm currently wearing. "Really? Why don’t you go shove your words down your throat.” He snaps and I am not having it.

I let out a fake laugh. “Oh fantasizing about my throat already. It's too early for that.” I mock as I place my hand on my hip.

He rolls his eyes. “You fucking wish.”

I blink my eyes and shake my head. There is not the point in prolonging this conversation. Roman is clearly looking for a way to rile me up and it's working. I better put a stop to it before I get into more trouble.

“This is the part where you tell us to keep quiet.” I tilt my head in the Headmaster's direction. He is looking at us like we are some sort of show for his amusement.

“Right." He clears his throat and blinks before continuing. "I was waiting for you to realize whose presence you are in and stop talking on your own terms. You are serving the detention with Roman and Penelope."

I guess that final. No point trying to talk because it'll only make things worse.

“What are they in for?” I ask curiously, I might as well know since I’ll be the one stuck with them. Roman and Penelope though?

“None of your business.” Roman mutters beside me.

I groan and respond. “I wasn’t talking to you, Roman. Can you tell him that?” I turn to the headmaster.

He sighs and shakes his head. “Get out of my office, both of you!”

Now will be the perfect time to ask him about the spell.

"Actually," I move forward and raise my hand up as if I want ask a question. "Can I stay? I want to ask you something."

"What?!" Roman barks.

When is he going to learn that not everything is his business? I liked it better when he ignored me, at least then I didn't have to deal with his sour ass.

"None of your business Rommy boy. Now do as the headmaster says and get out."

I don't bother looking at him when he calls the headmaster for rescue. "Headmaster Wallace?"

"Go, Roman, I will deal with this." I hide my grin as the headmaster speaks. He thought he was special, I guess he wasn't.

I wait until Roman drags his feet outside and close the office door. Before I can open my mouth to say anything, the headmaster asks, "What do you want, Camille?"

"It's Cami, and I want to know why your spell made me do what I did." There, I said it.

His frown slips from his face a moment for his laughter but we both know that laugh is just for show because it reeks of no humor. "My spell didn't do anything." He answers.

"Oh but it did because I uttered it and bang everything went south with me losing control. What the hell does that spell means?" I demand, can't believe I'm using that tone with the headmaster but I'm so confused at the moment and I need answer.

"You literally said you were in control." He says, swaying off the real topic.

"Headmaster–"

"Camille!" The tone he begins with tells me the conversation is over. "I think you've drain yourself and I'll suggest you go to sleep."

"But–"

"Out, now!" He points his hand to the direction of the door.

"Argh!”

I don’t have to be told twice. I walk out of his office and slams his door in a way to show I don't like the way we ended that conversation. I need answers and I thought he would be willing to give me since he was the one that told me the spell in the first place. That wasn't the first time I'd pissed and if it was left to me I would have just commanded the birds to teach whoever it was that pissed me off, but it has never happened before. I'm sure it has everything to do with his spell and he would even tell me anything about it.

After the headmaster dismisses me, I go straight to my room to freshen up and go to the library to do some reading and research about my newfound powers that clearly has something to do with birds.

The headmaster wears his neutral expression all the time and there are some times when it slips, I have seen it dropped three times and each time it was anger. I know he knows something, he's just not telling me. He said he wasn't a witch and he knew the exact spell that brought me back from the magic state. His tone was defensive when I asked about the spell, he might be old and wiser, but I'm young and I've been through every stages of lies and deception. I know when someone is lying or telling half the truth because I used to do it all the time with my parents. Dean Wallace is lying about something and I'm going to find out what it is, starting from the meaning of that spell.

The library is silent when I entered, well, the whole school is quiet because everyone is indoors resting. The magic the used to wipe everyone's memories was strong and it drained them. I feel guilty about it though but no one will ever hear me admit to it. If I could take that moment back, I would.

I have never been inside the library before except when Ari and Brie are showing me around. I don't know where anything is.

“So... what am I looking for?” I ask no one in particular. It would have been easier if I knew what I'm looking for.

Okay, I want to know the meaning of a spell, which means I'll need a spell book or book of spells and symbols. I need the headmaster’s Hexcraft, and I know he won't give it to me. I'm going to have to steal it.

I begin to walk around the library to see if I can find anything that says magic. “Starting from...” I look around the bookshelves. Nothing says magic but a particular shelf catches my eyes,  it's is at the extreme end of the library, and something about the arrangement of the book is weird.

I'm going to check it out.

“Going somewhere, Missy?” a familiar voice asks behind, startling me.

Fuck! He almost gave me a heart attack. I didn't know anyone was around.

I turn around nervously to see the librarian, all changed from the school’s jersey to a plain shirt and pants. I don’t know why I am nervous, I’m not doing anything wrong.

“Hey! Mr Groff. How are you doing today?” I ask in a cheerful tone to try and brighten the sour mood. Everyone has been a little on edge since my power breakout.

He places his hands in his pockets and smiles. “I’m doing great, thank you, Cami. What are you doing in the restricted area?” he asks curiously.

Restricted area? Since when do high school library have those?

I look around. I don’t see any yellow tags or a 'do not' cross sign on the shelf. That shelf, I knew there was something up with it.

“I didn’t know it was restricted. Why is it restricted?” I ask curiously. 

He sighs as he gazes upon the books on the shelves. “We filled this section with romance novels,” he answers.

My mouth drops open at the revelation. Romance novels? Not in a million guesses would I have picked picked romance novel.

“And it’s restricted because...?” I don’t really see the use of the restrictions, it’s just romance right?

“Books like this is not for kids under eighteen.” He informs me like I don’t know, I have never followed a single rule in my life, especially if they have age restrictions. It just makes me want to read those books.

“Then why do you have them in a school full of kids?” I ask. Almost all the students in The Vale are under eighteen. Why place a romantic book in a library full of kids?

I can tell Mr Groff isn’t telling the truth. I lie all the time, and I know a very skilled liar maintains eye contact in order to be convincing. Something is wrong here, and I will figure it out.

“I have never thought about that. Thank you, Camille Stark, off you go now,” he shoos me away.

And he is trying to get rid of me so fast, like they don’t want me there. He is not settled, I can tell from the way he keeps tapping the floor with his feet impatiently that he’s nervous.

“You guys just had a big game, aren’t you tired?” I ask, not because I am curious, I need a reason to stop this awful conversation.

He shrugs. “No, not at all. I saw what happened at the game. Want to talk about it?”

I shake my head. “Nope.” I don’t have time for pep talk, all I need to know is everything else.

“Goodbye, Camille Stark.”

I hum and nod my head. “Goodbye, Mr. Groff. And it’s Cami.”

Since Mr. Groff won’t help me. I decide to go see Miss Mulligan, the school counselor. Supposedly, the woman is powerful and knowledgeable; she knows everything and can answer my question.

***

I sit in front of her on a grey couch in her little office. Her office isn’t like the Headmaster's, it's so boring. There is a desk and a chair at the end of the room, a bookshelf beside the wall and that’s it, no decorations or fancy stuff on her table except the frost glass that wears her name ‘M. Mulligan’.

“What can I do for you, Camille?” She asks in a cool tone, I’m glad she’s not asking about my outbreak.

I shrug. “Nothing much, and it’s Cami.” I correct her, I don’t understand why people can’t just call me Cami.

She chuckles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Cami, what can I do for you?” she tries again.

“I have been seeing some strange stuff ever since I got here. Signs and symbol that I can't explain.” I tell her. “I don’t know, maybe it’s just my mind playing tricks on me.”

“What kind of sign?” She asks curiously as she leans forward.

I show her my palm; she raises her eyebrows in question. “I see a burning bird on my palm and a symbol under that bird that I can't describe. I noticed that they only appear whenever I do magic."

All I need is for someone to tell me I'm not going crazy. Maybe explain and make sense of everything to me. Everything started to go wrong the moment I stepped foot inside this school.

I notice her tense as I await her answer. I look at my palm and then at her. I wave my hand to get her attention; she seems to be lost in thought.

“Miss Mulligan, what is it?”

Does she knows what it means? It's like she knows something.

She snaps out of her thoughts and swallows. “Nothing, it’s nothing.” she shakes her head. “I have never seen it before, you probably saw it in a movie or something. I am not familiar with it."

And she's lying. I don’t know what gave her away, but I know she is lying to me. They are all lying to me.

What the fuck?

I nod and get up from the couch. “Okay, thanks.” thanks for nothing.

Nobody will help me, I guess I am just going to figure it out on my own. Why do I feel bad about this?