No one knows someone as well as they think they do. There will always be a secret, a shame, a pang of guilt and a desire that is too much to share. Too much to risk.

Only you know yourself as you truly are because you are the shadow that follows you around, the heart that keeps beating because you want more than this second, the lips that curl or snarl at things said and done.

You can grow up with as much love and hatred and still come out different from everyone's expectations. But that's only natural because what they remember watching happen as you grow is not the same as to what you remember experiencing. What they think they know, is not the truth of what happened. Only you know your story.

And only I know mine.

Or at least the one that counts. The first life.

* * *

New Moonscream: October 27, 1806

"Stop running, mama said lady's don't run in dresses!" I screamed at Niveha , grabbing the bottom of my dress and lifting it so it wouldn't get dirty and torn at the loose branches.

Oh man, mama was going to be mad if we tore our dresses, especially since we hadn't even worn them twice this month. And who was going to get in trouble? Me! Why? Because I was the oldest. It was completely unfair.

"She also said ladies don't scream, so I guess that makes you a brute!" My sister giggled at her come back, running faster as she threw her hands over her head and gave out a wicked scream of pleasure. She sounded more like a wild goat.

"Put your hands down before you get the sleeves caught on some-" The sound of something tearing off echoed in the forest. My heart sped up as I looked around as if mama would pop out. "I told you! I told you! Now look what you did!" The words were coming out like a wail as I felt dread build up.

Thankfully Niveha stopped and looked down at her dress, inspecting it. That gave me enough time to catch up to her and take hold of her small shoulders, as I began to shake her like the little brute she was.

When we had left the house earlier her chin-length curls had been nicely curled and pinned around her head, away from her face to show her young and rounded features. Two years younger than me her cheeks were still rounded, her large dark eyes doe-like as they shone brightly, the crinkles at the corner more prominent as she squinted at me. Unlike me she had skin everyone called 'unblemished', her skin was an even blend between me and mama but I was slightly darker. Her rounded face bearly reached the bottom half of my lip.

"Why couldn't you have waited until after the ceremony to get dirty!" I muttered annoyed.

"I'm not that dirty." My sister huffed out, puffing out her face.

Looking down I sighed at the sight of her. The curls that had been pinned remained down, but the running had caused perfectly styled wild curls to dry in a windswept style. She looked like a frumpy doll with crazed hair. Looking down at her yellow sundress I frowned at the grimy bottom. Even her shoes were muddy. I didn't even want to look down at my own.

"Where is it?" I asked, twisting her this way and that. "Where's the tear?"

Niveha tilted her head to the side and looked down my dress before a snicker left her.

"It's on your dress Lala."

I froze at her words, staring at her in wide-eyed horror.

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No. It's not."

"Yes. It is."

"You're lying."

"You're the liar," She looked down pointedly where I refused to acknowledge even existed. "that's probably why your dress tore and not mine." She turned with a stomp of her foot and walked off in front of me.

With my hands frozen at the level of where her shoulders used to be I took a breath and looked down.

There was nothing.

"YOU ROTTEN LIAR-COME HERE!" I roared.

There was a snickering sound before the sound of my footsteps made her yelp and then she took off with a scream.

In hindsight, I should have remembered that we were on the way to an important event and that my parents had trusted me to get Niveha and myself there in a ladylike manner. Not bursting through the forest like wild animals with twigs in our hair and rage in our eyes as we hit each other.

I could hear people approaching us and shouting out in alarm as we rolled on the ground but even the arms trying to pull us off of each other didn't register. In the back of my mind, I recognized Papa's voice but ignored it.

"Now, I know I'm getting old, but I know I'm not looking at no child of mine fighting. Right, girls?"

At once both of us froze on each other, the soft words snapping us out of our meaningless anger. At the same time, both Niveha and I looked right to find mama looking down at us with a smile.

The smile.

The little amount of hair she allowed on her head was curled in a very pretty way I always liked, her long face peered down with tight lips that were more teeth than lips. She wore a dark blue dress with flowers on it that almost reached her ankles, showing her white shoes with the heels. Her full figure shadowed us both even though she was smaller than almost everyone around us. Her slightly slanted eyes were darker around the edges, her wide nose flared with what I recognized as anger.

Here was the thing about mama. She didn't really have a name in the coven officially but she outranked almost anyone who wasn't important because she was the peacekeeper and when things got bad, the one who ended fights. Janice Debrouhs was the covens first and last resort. She had the power to subjugate people but she called it 'humbling'. I've been humbled quite a few times and I could personally say it was not the right label.

And her kids were on the ground fighting in front of all the new members of the coven.

That smile meant she was not happy. Not at all.

I could almost faintly feel her signature of magic hovering over the back of my neck. It always reminded me of grabbing a kitten by the scruff.

"Right mama," Niveha said quickly, detangling her fingers out of my hair. I was quick to follow suit and stood up.

There was a sting behind my ear and a numb spot of the back of my head, but the rest of me felt pretty slapped about. Niveha was small but she had childlike hands. Fat and heavy. Glancing over I saw she had more loose strands and a few scratches under her chin, but other than that I didn't hit her as hard as I could have. I still loved her. Even if she deserved a fist full of dirt to the face.

Feeling me eye her she turned to look at me and narrowed her eyes.

"Hey," Papa called out, nudging my shoulder with his hand. I quickly realized he had one of his arms wrapped around my waist and that I wasn't technically touching the ground. "Quit it."

"What do you say when you fight someone?" My mama asked us, crossing her arms over her chest as papa slide me down until I touched the rough grass. Where was my shoe?

"I'm sorry for not using my words to express the amount of anger you caused me. I should have walked away to think about why the alphabet was born." My sister and I spoke in unison with a resigned tone.

Around us, I caught sight of some parents shaking there head, but small smiles on their face. I caught sight of my friends grinning at me. I threw them a nasty look which caused them to go off in giggles that were quickly hushed by their own parents.

"And?" I huffed before continuing, looking down at the ground. I think I saw my shoe behind Mr and Mrs.Naston.

"And next time I'll write you a letter because if I won't challenge you to a spell off it's not that important that we had to fight."

"That's right." Clapping her hands to get everyone's attention she pointed down the hill at the stone building covered in moss and vines. "Everyone, please make your way to the  Haunted Hall. It's time to start the welcoming ceremony." 

With a last glance, adults and kids walked down, but not before shaking their heads with a small smile. Soon that just left Niveha, Papa and me.  When the field was almost empty Papa walked from behind me and stood in front of us, hands on his hips. Looming over us his dark eyes flickered between us two, brows pushed up to his hairline as he took in the mess we were in and no doubt looked apart of. Brown slacks and black shoes matched with his white shirt, a red handkerchief in his pocket. Maurice Debrouhs was a soft man, with no harsh facial features, his laugh lines were prominent just like the softening of his mouth even when he was unhappy. At the corner of his left eye, he had a beauty mark that I found funny. Why would it be called a beauty mark when it was a dot?

"You two sure know how to make an entrance." Leaning down he put his hands on his knees to look at us at eye level. "But we don't have time to talk about this right now, your mother expects you two to be on even better behavior now."

"Lala can't take a joke." I glared at Niveha, feeling anger boil in my stomach. Out of both of us, I was in more trouble, just because I was older. Why was she complaining?

"Young lady." My dad reprimanded softly. "Your sister knows how to take a joke, but sometimes what you might funny might not be to her." He looked over at me and winked. Immediately I felt calmer.  

"Can you clean us up now before mama thinks we've made a run for it?" I pleaded, looking over at the Haunted Hall, the windows were shimmering meaning the meeting was about to start.

"Alright, arms out and eyes closed."  He said stepping back. I caught sight of my sister doing as he said before I too closed my eyes. With a few murmured words and what I knew was a wave of his hand, I felt the magic do was it was commanded as my hair fell around my shoulders like when I had left the house, my fighting scrapes and pains going away, the dress stiffening before feeling properly fit. My foot lifted up by force as my shoe made it's way back to its proper place. 

Opening my eyes I looked down and saw that I was no longer covered in leaves and dirt, looking over I caught my sister grinning at me, reluctantly I grinned back. Moving to stand in-between us Papa took our hands.

"Now that my two princesses are ready, let us go party." He began a quick walk down the hill with us following closely behind. 

The Haunted Hall wasn't actually haunted as I had learned a few years ago, it was full of ghosts sure, but they were all old coven members who chose to stay behind to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible. While some of them couldn't leave the building, some could walk around it, so everyone knew they were more like coven advisors then leaders. They were dead after all, their time had already passed and it was time for the new old people to run things. Slipping into the large room was slightly embarrassing as some heads turned to look at us over their shoulders. Unlike outside the walls were a dark redwood-covered in tapestry from various members who were good at it, historic artifacts also hung on the wall however they were encased in an invisible case that burned on contact. I knew that from the first experience when I tried to take the cursed doll of Madness. A doll is a doll.   

Quickly walking us over to where Mama was sitting we all made ourselves swift and quiet, she took a glance at us, nodded and looked forward so I did too. Despite all the benches for families to sit on some of the ghosts made their own and sat above us and watched with shiny eyes. I watched a flicker dance though Miss Louve. In front of us, my friend Sillve stood with her parents on the slightly elevated platform with four new families standing behind them stiffly. One had a lot of kids in it, moving from side to side and putting their hands in their pockets, fidgeting, I think it was called. I wanted to talk to the other new kids and ask where they were from, maybe Jenny could get her mom to make us a picknick and we could all have lunch together.

Sillve's dad took a step forward, the only thing he had to do to get any and all noise to stop, attention completely his. He raised a finger and put it to his throat, immediately the tip of his finger where it met skin turned bright white, flickering almost like a flame. He had bright yellow hair and bushy gray brows that curled up funnily at the end. He always wore the same green alligator coat that almost dragged on the ground, every now and then you could see the gator's tail twitch and switch, the claws on his sleeves curling around his wrist before relaxing. Sillve had told me that it was passed down in the family to the males to protect them from a curse of a young death, something about wearing the alligator that made a home under the house. Must work because her dad was pretty old. 

"Hello, fellow members." His voice boomed over everyone, reaching every nook and cranny, the hairs on my arms stood on end. "I am the leader of the Moonscream coven, Ban Dulson and I am pleased to announce that after months of the wait we can finally welcome our new families to our esteemed coven."   

"On our right is my daughter Sillveanna and my wife Mari." Sillve made a small curtsy, her soft yellow hair swinging behind her head in her twin ponytails, her mother gave a small tight-lipped smile,  brown hair pulled back tightly. "Will the Council official please step forward?" Mr.Dulson asked, looking around.

A small shaped figure came from behind the families, out of the shadows and quietly made their way beside Mr.Dulson who gave out a small chuckle. The person was covered from head to toe in a red hood, their face covered by a spell of shadows, it was obvious by the darkness that spilled out of the place where their face should have been, some trindle of shadow disappearing before they touched the ground. 

"As always, watching in the shadows. Very Council like." A few people laughed at the joke but I saw how the council officials shoulders didn't shake with laughter. "As we all know all and any transfers must be registered by an official to make sure that no one accidentally takes in another fugitive. We do not need a repeat of  what happened thirty years ago."

"Hey, I did my time!" Someone shouted out from the back.

"Yes you did Grendal," Mr.Dulson agreed, beside me, Mama shook her head but there was a small smile on her face. "after you had everyone else on the coven held in time suspension by the council while the investigation went on. We all had prison time thanks to that swell idea."

"I still think crossing over the border make's me innocent. I was practically a new man."

"Don't we know it." Muttered Papa. With a shake of his head, Mr.Dulson got back on point and began to explain the rules and process to the new families. I had heard this so many times that I knew them by memory. 

Moonscream Coven Rules and Regulations:

1.  Anyone and everyone are welcome, regardless of magical background.

2.  Those who can not perform magic to the normal standard will be treated like family.

3. Fighting within the coven is not allowed unless it is a spell off, consent of all parties is needed.

5. Haunted Hall ghost members are advisors, elders but no longer members who can tell you what to do.

6. Anyone caught playing with necromancy magic will be killed and raised as an example of ill morality. UNLESS: That is your gift. See the leader immediately. 

7. Coven secrets and spells are to remain in the coven. If you expose our secrets you will be removed from the earth.

8. Do NOT fraternize with the forest faes.

9. All members are expected to contribute something to the coven in guidance with the protection and community that is provided.

10. If the Council asks something of you, you must comply. Regardless of what.

11. No one is allowed to materialize apples out of the community tree anymore. No one.

12. Grimoires are to be kept protected and spelled to have a second owner.

13. The Moonscrem coven is exempt from providing help to other covens with the condition that they remain in their own ground. If they are caught practicing magic outside of their lands they will be arrested and executed. 

Sometimes being the coven with the most gifts made it tricky to take a family vacation. There was a reason why a council official had to be at every Moonscream welcoming. For some reason, we had the most people born with not only natural witch abilities to cast spells but some of us even had gifts to do more than the normal, like mama. Or even Niveha, she was still getting a hang out it but she had the gift of making the ground shake when she stomped her feet. Which is not a gift she gets to practice often. Our neighbor had the gift of screaming so loud it was quiet and you wouldn't know you were on the ground until he stood over you and you couldn't move. I didn't know if I would get a gift but if I didn't that was fine with me as long as I got to practice medicinal magic with Papa. We were what Papa called a "tranquil" coven, but a lot of strong people liked to join the coven every now and then and which meant a lot of Council visits. 

Pretty soon all of the families had signed their names in blood into the records book which would tell the council where these new families were staying and after three months in which they would all be checked up on, if things were still going good, they could stay.

I didn't really pay attention to the introduction but rather squirmed in my sweat knowing we were close to finishing the welcoming ceremony. I would get to know the new kids as soon as this was over, I could ask them their names then. As soon as the red-hooded figure disappeared back into the shadows we all lifted our hands in the air, clapped twice and pointed out or hands at the new families. 

"From the earth to the moon may our magic scream in the ears of those which cause us chaos." We all said in unison, the air began to shimmer as our collective magic made its way to, I wiggled my fingers at the feeling of the covens magic dancing over my skin in powerful waves until it coated the new members in our protective power.

"Thank you for welcoming our new members," Mr.Dulson said to us and then turned to face the new families. "and thank you for joining us. Now feel free to mingle with everyone, this is a welcoming event." Removing his finger from his throat, the brightness of the tip lessoned until with a sad flicker it disappeared entirely. Our leader's gift was the ability to amplify anything he wanted, magic or something from himself.

As soon as everyone stood up and began wandering around to talk to each other I looked over for Jenny, she stood beside her two siblings and my only other friends. Jenny and I were the same age, but her two older brothers were only older by three and four years, but they still hung out with us. Then again they were also the reason no one could materialize apples from the community tree. Who knew putting a full apple in someone's stomach would cause such stomach pains? We certainly did, now. 

Jenny was the first to see me coming, a wide grin came over a smile, flashing her crooked teeth and messy black hair, her rounded face covered in feckless darker than her pale skin. Next to her, both redhaired brothers turned to look over, their dark skin flushing as they started laughing.

"Look who it is, the jungle cat!" Stefan crackled, whipping at the tears streaming down his face, small eyes looking smaller as he squinted at me. I stuck my tongue at him but said nothing else. Even though he was older, he had to be the dumbest out of all of us, he was always laughing.

"So how in trouble are you?" Stevan asked, chuckling softly as he looked down at me, crossing his arms over his chest. 

"More than Niveha." I shrugged carefully, I rather not think about it right now. It almost felt like mama was staring at me. She probably was.

"Your baby sister was winning." Jenny taunted in a singing voice. My composure broke as I looked around my friends.

"She only looked like she was winning because I didn't want to really hurt her!"

"Sure you did."

"Uh-huh."

"Right."

"I was letting her win!" I growled out angrily, closing my hands into fists beside me, feeling my face grow hot and angry tears sting my eyes. Jenny took one look at my face and yelped, she linked her arms into my stiff ones.

"Oh, you now we were teasing Lala." She pecked me on the cheek and began to pull me towards the platform. "Come on, let us go meet the new kids. Maybe we can make friends with the new boys."

"What boys?" Stevan or Stefan snapped out, no longer laughing behind us.

Looking forward I saw that a lot of the other kids must have had the same idea since there were more kids on the platform than adults and everyone was standing in a large circle, some off on the side and other huddled. So maybe not a circle, but like a circle. Stepping up we quickly caught sight of Sillve talking to some a kid off on the side. The closer we got the more I realized that the other kids weren't just introducing themselves to one another, but staring at the kid in awe or strange expressions.

"Hi, Sillve," Jenny said cheerfully pulling me up beside her. "Who's this?"

Sillve turned her head, ponytails flying fast behind her movement. Her cheeks were red but her face was tight like she was smiling but not. 

"This is Devon Ecco." She said softly, shuffling over to us and linking her arm with my free one. "The council chose to place his family with us because Devon is a prodigy." 

Devon was dark like me, but more so, he had a pretty face for a boy, wide eyes framed in dark lashes, and unlike most boys, his face wasn't rounded or full. He was on the thin side, but because he was tall and had wide shoulders, it seemed to work. He stood still in front of us, his hands clasped behind his back. There was something, not about his face or even the aura around him that made me tense up. I think it was the curl of his lips, the way he looked down on us from his nose or maybe the darkness that swirled in his eyes that was simply off. I had never had a reaction to someone like that before.

"A prodigy? Isn't that someone who is very good at something?" Jenny asked, her excitement making her forget herself for a moment as she leaned forward and squeezed my arm tightly. All she was missing was a squeal. 

"It is," Sillve answered.

"And who are they Sillveanna?" Devon asked, his voice coming out deeper than I had suspected, but his tone clear.

"This is Jenny and her two older brothers are behind her, Stefan and Stevan. This here is Mykela." 

"Hello," I said on instinct. "nice to know you."

"Hello, Devon," Jenny said with a small curtsy, pulling me down with her halfway. Behind us, her bothers grumbled their hellos. "A pleasure to meet you." Looking us over, from head to toe Devon nodded slowly as if he were thinking really hard about something. 

"My name is Devon Ecco and I hope to get to know each and every one of your talents during my stay here."

Was I the only one who found his words strange? Looking around I caught Sillve's eyes, behind me I saw both Stevan and Stefan look on with grimaces and suspicious looks but beside me, Jenny seemed star-eyed.

* * *

It's funny how one encounter can stray and erase a path in life we never knew we had lost before we could lay our eyes on it. Or how one name could be the end to something that had never gotten to blossom.

I hadn't realized it yet, but I had just met my first taste of power, the first time I would fight and the first crack in my soul that would be irrevocable. 

* * *

New Moonscream: May 13, 1814

The day was a bit too perfect for me today, clear blue skies, not a cloud in sight. All around me people were bustling about with baskets of good food or what was no doubt needed for ingredients in something no one would want to eat. Since walking from out of the medicinal hall I had noted that a few of the office building where serious meetings happened had begun to shimmer in a faint glow of blue and red. Apparently the artist had a new spell in the work. 

Making sure that my concentration was firm I looked around for my sister, it would drain me of my energy levitating all ten books on the walk home, but it was a good way to build my magic muscle. I arranged them to hover above me in an arch, the books covered in a thin transparent gloss that was my magic. Looking around I spotted Niveha waiting for me across the street by the fountain. I smiled as I caught sight of my little sister with her wild frizzy hair and loosely tied hat. Looking down I held back a giggle at the way her dress was stuck or rather, stuffed into her boots to keep it from reaching her ankles. Wild child was what she was. Looking both ways I called her name as I got closer.

"Look what someone threw in the fountain!" Was the first thing she exclaimed once she saw me, motioning for me to lean towards the fountain and look down.

"Well hello to you too sister," I muttered but did as she asked. Looking down I first paid attention to our reflection in the water, ignoring the crystals and random things thrown in. My face had slimmed down over the years I grew taller than most girls my age, my wide brown eyes stared back at me, the happy smile on my face not quite as large as my sisters ecstatic one. Most of my curly hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail so some of the shorter stands flew around my face with the wind, looking over at my sister I caught the similarities between us right away. We both had Mama's wide nose but Papa's straight nose made ours more pointed than round because Niveha still retained her childhood roundness she looked no older than eleven much to her annoyance.

Blinking to refocus I stared down at the water trying to find what would have grained her attention, but couldn't find it. At least not without help. Apparently frustrated by my lack of excitement and noticing my wandering gaze with a huff she pointed in front of her towards the center of the fountain where the most crystals sat. Knowing there was more to that I paid closer attention until I found what she was really pointing too.

"Is that," I trailed off not being able to finish my sentence as I stared gapped mouth at the sight of the large rusted coin that sat on top of a flat moonstone. For a moment I lost concentration and the books above me began to quiver until I refocused. "Who in the world mistook a coin for a wishing crystal and how are we going to liberate it?" 

"That's exactly what I was wondering." Niveha snickered, looking down with gleaming eyes. "I know we can't exactly reach in, but maybe we can for the coin, I mean it's not a wishing stone so we wouldn't really be removing anyone wishes right?"

"I wonder if they wished on the coin?"

"If they did then we can't get it out!" She groaned in dismay. 

I understood her disappointment, like all wishing fountains, anything tossed in had to remain until the persons wish came true. Most people tossed in crystals that would be tied to their wish, something to link them to the power of the fountain, but it was the first I've ever seen a coin being used. Anyone who tried to pluck a crystal that hadn't fulfilled its purpose wouldn't be able to leave the water of the fountain and whoever had reached in would get a curse of bad luck that would last a week. We've all fallen victim to a pretty rock in the wishing fountain despite the warnings and we've all paid for it with a week of terrible luck. No one wise enough ever went for it twice but I wouldn't put it past my sister to be the first.

"Who knows, maybe they wished for money?"  I watched as the water rippled across the coin in an almost taunting manner as if it were caressing the coin as if to say 'look what I can do that you can not'. Niveha snorted in an unladylike manner.

"Oh yes, because everyone knows that in order to receive more money you must spend it pointlessly." She turned to give me a jaded look. "You sure know how it's done Lala, no wonder we are so rich." 

"Alright Princess poor, let's go home before you dive in and give everyone a show they will never forget." I took a step back and began walking home knowing she would follow soon, even if t was reluctant. I was proven right when after a few minutes I could hear her running after me. A few people nearby threw her disapproving stares but almost everyone was used to Niveha's unruly state and if they ever tried to lecture her on how a lady was to behave properly she usually stomped her foot once or twice to rattle them. Literally.

She put her hands on her head as she walked beside, I put my own in the pockets of my dress so she wouldn't see how they were shaking. Already I knew by the grimace on my face I wasn't going to make it very far before I had to drop the books. Frustration ate at me for how little I could hold a spell for, it hadn't even been thirty minutes and already I could feel exhaustion wrapping over me. It was truly sad how bad I was at maintaining a spell, any spell for a matter. I didn't have a gift like Niveha but what worried me was that I was partially lacking in spell crafting, it was as if I didn't enough energy to fuel myself and for someone practicing to be a medicinal healer...I was doomed to fail in my exams.

"That bad?" I looked over to catch my sister peering at me with a small frown, her brows were furrowed in concern.

"I'm no good at the magical portion of the exam. I can't mend wounds together because I get tired halfway, which is dangerous when saving someone." I confessed with a sigh. I didn't mind confessing my weaknesses to my sister, she wouldn't judge me on my shortcomings. She also wouldn't pity me.

"So what? You can name any and every plant or spell needed when it comes to that stuff. Even if you can't do what they need from you maybe you should become a teacher?" 

"I would need to be able to show the students what they need to do and be able to step in if something goes wrong," I explained softly, feeling like I was shutting myself down rather than explaining why that wouldn't work to her. After a moments pause, she shrugged.

"Well, you need to practice your magic first so that you do pass your test. If it doesn't work we'll figure something out." She reasoned. I smiled at her positivity and nodded.

Soon we came up to the familiar street of our house and made our way up to the nicely sized red house with white linings. As soon as I unlocked the front door I heard my little brother wailing about some lost dog, Aunt Fuz trying to explain to Mama why something was a bad idea and my cousins leaning over the kitchen table over a large book with bold words that I just knew said something along the lines of 'Forbidden'.

"Hello everyone," I said, to which no one replied back. I huffed, only family. Niveha walked past me, petted Eve and Lucas on the head and took our brother out of Mama's hands. Keon's face was wet with tears as his big watery eyes peered around the room, his pudgy little hands reaching us to place themselves on her face.

"Dooog!" He wailed. Mama snapped her fingers, not taking her eyes away from Aunt Fuz who was moving her hands around like crazy, instantly the familiar yellow stuffed animal appeared between Niveha's chest and Keon's hands. He looked down, hiccupped shakily and laughed.

I had begun to drop all of my books on the brown couch when they all bounced back up and neatly arranged themselves back into my arms.

"Mamahhh!"

"Not on my couch!" She stated, nodding at something Aunt Fuz said.

"Fine." I groaned as my arms protested, I turned to look around the living room looking for a safe place to place them, noting that Papa's own stack was missing I figured it was best to make the walk up the stairs so I could throw them wherever I pleased. 

Making it up the stairs I wanted to yell when I realized I couldn't open the door so instead, I kicked it. I yelped when the door flung open and two heads poked out. I stared wide-eyed.

"Mykela! Your friends are in your room!" Mama yelled out too late.

Both Jenny and Sillve began laughing at the expression on my face. I was still shell shocked but after my mothers later warning I couldn't tell what expression my face was stuck on, but whatever it was must have been a hell of a sight.

Sillve had begun to wear her bright yellow hair down now that it had gotten colder weather-wise, but she refused to wear thickly coated sweaters because she claimed it made her shoulders look wider. Today she wore a cream silk dress with white black lacing that truly made her look magnificent. Jenny, on the other hand, had begun to dress to a fashion she said would be popular soon. For some reason, she had begun to add small shimmering jewels to her white dress collar while keeping the best of her dress plain. Her hair she kept pulled behind her ears and loose.

Grumbling I pushed past both girls and dumped my books on the floor and flung myself on the bed feeling the heaviness of my body. And then, of course, it got heavier as the two people who called themselves my best friends flung themselves on top of me.

"Aww did we scare you?" Sillve cooed softly.

"Is that your heart? Wow." Jenny asked something poked me in the rib.

"Of course you did, you two-headed monsters!" I roared. "Now get off of me!"

"Well someone's in a hex."

Finally being liberated from their weight I pushed up on my weary arms and looked behind me to catch them looking away from each other, my gaze narrowed at the innocent looks they both wore.

"Whatever it is, my answer is no." I stated firmly, knowing I would not be swayed.

"Forbidden study." Jenny sang, wiggling her brows.

"Tonight." Sillve added, widening her eyes as her hands came together.

"Deadmans Bed." Jenny informed, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Sefan will be coming of course."

Ohh. Forbidden studies weren't something that happened often in the coven because it was more of an unofficial event that happened once or twice a year where all of the women and men from all spellcrafting schools came together to check in on one another, there was always an adult present of course. We were all apart of the same coven but didn't get to hang out with one another as we grew older because of our time focusing on what we wanted to master for our part of the coven's future. It always ended up being more of a large group study as everyone debated the best spells to cast, how to defeat centars and even theories on what the council was really up to. I hadn't realized it was time for Forbidden studies.

I looked down at the bedspread beneath me and traced a finger on the bedding as I began to ponder over their words while they looked on in silence.

Well, I have been studying by myself all this time and haven't gotten very far on the magic wise. Sefan was the best person to practice with when it came to magical development since he was studying magical theories on witch developments. He would get to study me while I studied him-I meanwhile I studied.

"Forbidden studies," Sillve whispered I ignored the amusement that bled through her voice.

"With Sefan." Jenny continued. I huffed.

"Why do you sound like a ghost?"

"I'm the ghost of regret!" Jenny said standing up quickly on my bed, raising her arms over her head. "If you do not come tonight you will miss the chance to learn new things! And Stefan will fall for someone else! Ohhhh!" She booed horribly before a fit of laughter caused her to plop back down making us all laugh.

It was no secret to the girls that I liked Stefan, especially not to Sillve who was smitten about Stevan and visa versa.

"Well, if its forbidden studies-"

"With Stefan." Sillve added suggestively.

"Then I guess I should go." I gave in not so reluctantly but definitely bashfully.

They both squealed and tackled me causing us to tip over the small bed and hit the ground with an awfully loud thud. We all groaned together.

"Who's bright idea was this?"

"You hugged me first."

"I blame Lala for the size of this bed."

"What! It was given to me, how is this my fault-"

"For a giant, you have a small bed."

"For a blonde, you're quite yellow!" Sillve gasped dramatically which caused both Jenny and I to crackle like mad women.

"I'll go ask your mother if you can stay over mine tonight." Sillve stood up, dusting herself off and going out of the door, closing it behind her softly.

"Oh yes, hell forbid I ask you to a sleepover with me." Jenny wiggled her brows. "Who knows who's bed you might slip in-"

"Jenive!" My mouth dropped as I looked at her wide-eyed, feeling warmth begin to climb up from my chest and to my face. I put my head into my hands and shook my head roughly. "Why are you like this?"

"What?" She asked. "Then Stefan will have to marry you, it would be the moral thing to do-"

"We're witches, we don't care much for moral, remember?" I peaked from between my fingers at her.

"Oh yeah. Well then, it would be the gentleman-"

"Didn't Stefan hex you to scream every time someone said 'eyes, earth' and 'hello' last week?" She flinched at each word and then glared at me. It was amusing for everyone who knew what was going on and confusing for her whole earth potions class. Most people forgot just how much oddities went into a potion. All types of eyes in that soup.

"Your right, he's a brute with no moral. You'll get ravished and ruined." She said bluntly before closing her eyes and tossing an arm over her forehead dramatically.  "Oh, the scandal!"

By the time she had finished her ridiculous notion I had grabbed a pillow from my bed and begun to hit her with it, she laughed evilly as I did so and then snatched it from my hands and begun to beat me with it. I threw my hands over my head and tried to wiggle away from her.

"I wasn't even gone for that long." I heard from the door. Jenny paused her assault to question Sillve, long enough for me to crawl away from her. "She said you could as long as you take Niveha."

"Oh, this will be her first Forbidden studies group," I said excitedly, missing the look they shot each other.

"Yes. It will be her first."

"No doubt about that." Jenny said from behind me. Looking between both of them I narrowed my eyes. 

"What?"

"What what?" Jenny repeated.

"What?" Sillve asked, her brows coming together.

"Wait what what?" Jenny asked again, her lips curling.

"Oh never mind." I rolled my eyes at her. 

* * *

"This is a Forbidden study?" Niveha squealed with excitement. 

She took in the bright floating flowers that colored the forest in red, blue and green shades as the flowers twirled and remained air born. The various people dressed nicely, but nice enough that they would return home as they were dressed now, watched as they laughed and did ridiculous things that most certainly were not allowed to be done in public. I grimaced at the sight of the fairy brew being made in the tub sized container. Oh hell, just looking at it made my throat burn and embarrassing memories resurface. A lot of people stood around Star, who's hypnotizing voice I realized was the source of the soft but in-depth voice that traveled all around. Beside her stood other people I couldn't recall, all holding instruments.

"No," I answered sourly, looking at my two friends who stood before me with matching grins. "this, is not."

"It's a forbidden party, so that has to count for something right?" Sillve asked with a shrug.

"How did this all even-"

"Devon." Jenny confessed with a grimace, my face harded at his name.

"But what about the adults-" I tried again.

"Devon."

"...the sound-" 

"Devon." Sillve whispered, a small smile on her face.

"We all hate Devon." I pointed out calmly.

"Yes, we do." Jenny agreed fiercely. "but, a party is a party.

Devon Ecco was the rock in my shoes and the spell that never did as it was supposed to in my life. Everywhere I went he was, everywhere I wasn't he was the topic of conversation. Be it the g women talking about his good looks or the men discussing his perfect spellmanship or incredibly wit. To the adults, he was the prodigy the council had blessed this coven with nearly eight years ago who could build the perfect counterspell without a grimoire, the young man with the gift of mind compulsion.

But for those of us who had been around him when he didn't have to impress anyone knew what he really was. A bully. Coward. He wasn't allowed to use his gift without adult supervision and even then it was only if to practice or when the council pulled him out for their nefarious business. Of course, that didn't stop him from threatening all of us to do his bidding willingly or else. We had long ago stopped trying to warn the adults of the evil that was their master prince, but in their eyes, he was the perfect coven member and an even better spellcaster. Unfortunately, Jenny had learned the hardest that true love and power don't hold the same sway for Devon. No, as soon as he saw someone with power potential or a hint of a rival to his own standards he did one of two things. Befriended them and then crushed some part of them to keep them small and desolate or court them and tarnish their reputation. All within an acceptable standard of course. The bastard was slick like that.

No form of hex or plot of revenge stuck long on him, it was like he knew excatly when we would be out to get him or he simply always had a countermeasure that hurt more than what he had planned. I had long ago decided that if we steered clear we would manage a more tranquil life. Of course, that didn't stop him from parading in front of everyone, but it was easier to remain quiet then fight sometimes. I didn't have the power to take him on and I wouldn't risk dagging my friends into trouble I couldn't get them out. 

"This is a bad idea," I sighed. "when we get caught I'm pinning the blame on you two for dragging me."

"Oh come on, we aren't going to get caught." I gave her a look.

"Someone always takes things too far with magic." Niveha walked back over to us and stood beside me with a knowing look.

"Fine. We'll make a run for it at the first sign of trouble." Sillve promised. We all grimaced and gave her a look to which made her look around at all of us in confusion.

"What?"

"Even for me, that's a little too early. At the second sign of trouble, we'll make a run for it."  I fixed, nodding at the new compromise. Better than three and definitely not before one. Two was practically perfect.

Once we agreed on the time and place to meet in case no trouble showed and then the place to meet in case trouble did show we all began to slowly mingle in with the crowd. For once I was glad Niveha's tendency to do reckless things meant that what everyone found dangerous she found boring. She walked right past the fairy brew and straight for the games. I knew my sister, she didn't need to be intoxicated to a super to have bad aim and even worse advice. Knowing where she would be for most of the night I enjoyed my conversation with people I hadn't seen in a while.

It's always when my guards down that I have the worst luck. Making sure Niveha was still in the same spot I began to look around for my other friends, so when I found Jenny I began to make my way to her. I didn't think much of joining the group of people she was with until I tapped her on the shoulders and she turned, once she caught sight of me her expression changed. It was a mixture of glee and deviousness. Even in the ever-changing lighting, I could see the glint in her eyes.

"What's with you?"

"Hey! It's Lala." A familiar voice made me look over her shoulder to catch familiar brown eyes smiling my way. The smile was on my face before his name had even finished morphing in my mind.

Stefan's red curly hair sat on his shoulders as he peered down at me, his rich complexion seeming more earthly against the white open shirt he wore loosely. Around his neck, I caught sight of a golden chain, but whatever dangled from its end was hidden beneath his shirt. Trying not to seem love-struck by staring I made sure to take a quick look around the group before finally opening my mouth.

"Hi, Stefan." Oh, why did I sound so meager?

"How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while, you're always tucked away in the research hall." He asked, a playful glint in his eyes as he walked towards me and enveloped me in a warm hug, shaking me side to side. 

Hex me now his chest was firm! Taking a breath I knew was less for oxygen and more for his familiar spicy scent the laugh that came out of me was far too high pitched for my own ears. Doing something completely unlike myself I put my hand on his chest and looked up with a small smile. 

"It takes two to meet. From what I hear you don't leave your own hall very much either." I pointed out. "And since you're older than me that means you've had more years and opportunities to break out of the hibernation mentality. I'm still new to the cave of wonders."

He threw his head back and laughed whole-heartedly, for a moment I felt like time slowed as I stared up at him. There was a pang in my chest. It felt light and hopeful. When he looked back down at me his large smile was still in place, he shook his head and released me from the close hug but kept one arm casually around me.

"You are completely right. I forgot how honest you are."  He chuckled before speaking again. "It's just easy to get lost in books sometimes."

"Oh, believe me, I know," I promised with a shake of my head. 

"Yeah, I bet you do." His voice softened a smidge. "So, how did my sister manage to drag this little book worm out of her 'cave of wonders'?" He put dramatic emphasis on the last part making me pinch my lips together to keep from grinning like an idiot.

"I told her it was a Forbidden study." Jenny said from beside me with a snort.

"Ha! Of course, that worked." 

Feeling a tad bit defensive for myself I crossed my hands over my chest and looked at him with a calculating gaze. It was difficult with his attention focused back on me but I held my false bravo like an enchanted bubble

"Well than master of the cave of wonders, how did you manage to come out for the party?" I asked sarcastically.

"My sister promised to bring you if I did." He confessed in a low voice, a slight deepness to it that made goosebumps travel from my neck down to my arms.

Pop.

"Oh." I blinked at him unsure of what to say. I wasn't even sure if my heart was still beating in my chest of it had taken off.

"Aren't you glad I dragged you to the party now?" I wasn't sure who Jenny was speaking too, but we both answered her smug voice.

"Yes."

Removing his arm from around my shoulder he let it travel down the small of my back before reaching out and taking hold of my left hand. Bringing it up to his lips he kissed my knuckles.

"Take a walk with me, will you, Mykela?" 

I didn't know if I had drunk the fairy brew or if I had been hexed and I didn't care. Nodding I began to walk off with him, but not before calling over my shoulder.

"Keep an eye on Niveha for me!"

"Of course!"

Leading me by the hand we made out way past a lot of people dancing, swaying or simply conversing when we finally made it to a spot he must have deemed private enough he stopped us. I could still hear the music and see the flowers illuminating, but conversations were more muted and there were definitely less eye on us now. Leaning down on a nearby log Stefan put both hands behind him and stared at me softly.

"I have to confess that I fancy you Mykela Debrouhs." His words came out strong and steady as he looked at me. I felt my mouth drop as I looked at him in wonder and fear. I had to be dreaming. Or at least drunk. My insides felt tight as something fluttered like crazy in my chest.

"Out of the safety of my heart, I have to ask, have you had any fairy brew tonight?" I asked carefully, fearful and excited to hear his answer. Could a heart be made and break all in a moment?

"That humor of yours is certainly something." He shook his head with a small smile. "But no, I can promise you I have not."

The answer is yes. With newfound courage and clammy hands, I took a breath and let the words out in one air. If he could confess then so could I. But did it had to be so devilishly hard!

"Well then, in that case, I'll have you know that I too fancy you." Feeling weak-kneed I ignored his eyes as I sat beside him and looked down at the soft dirt underneath my feet. We were all barefoot, forest rules. "Why me?" 

He hummed for a moment, looking away from me before looking back. I knew because from the corner of my eyes I could see him tilt his head sideways, his red curls tumbling down like a small wave. His hair was a lighter shade than Sevan's.

"Why do we look upon the sky when the moon is bright? Why walk barefooted into the forest when we have shoes? Why play with magic when we know of the consequences?" From the corner of my eyes, I saw his hand make it's way closer to my face until his fingers took hold of my chin and turned me to face him. "Because the moon is as enchanting as it is tranquil, because at every contact we feel the connection that is purer than any desire and because sometimes we can not help what we are attracted to. That is why Mykela, that is why."

The longer we gazed at one another, the more his words filled my mind and heart, the more apparent it became to me that the boy I had grown up with had grown to become a man with a dangerous mouth. Dangerous because the words that left his lips wrapped around me, leaving a sensation of such happiness and awe that I was frightened of such feelings. Whatever he saw on my face made his own soften, dropping his hand he put both on his lap and looked around the forest.

"I do not want to push you, forgive me if I've startled you with the intensity of my emotions. I just feel so at ease and myself with you that it's hard to be something else."

"I'm glad you feel that way." The words came from out of me without thought. "I mean both ways as well, the first and second. I-I'm just not sure how to respond is all."

"We've known each other for a long time,  I don't want you to worry about the perfect response. Why don't you tell me what you've been doing lately? "

I hesitated at first, was it right to shift the conversation to something so off-topic? But seeing the encouragement and even the interest in his eyes sparked my own sense and easily I began to talk of the new practices I had been studying, the fascination I had with not the reactions herbs created on the body but the body itself and how no one reacted the same to one thing. I was hesitant to tell him of my failures when it came to applying my interest, but once he asked me about my magic I found myself being honest.

"I've excelled in memorizing the spells to use in certain situations, I can even name most herb usages but when it comes to the application-" I cut my self off with a grimace, pursing my lips with displeasure. "I have not had the best of luck."

He looked confused for a moment before understanding took over. As he said, we had all grown up together and it was no secret that I fell behind when it came to showing tremendous or even minimal amount of power. Whereas everyone around me had surpassed the basic fundamentals of magic, I still struggled not to drop a spell halfway into completion.

Sometimes I felt void, if not for the little magic I had I would have dared to call myself human. The thought made shutter.

I guess I was still lucky for the little magic I could perform or hell forbid I had been born on the other earth's. Mama had once told me that the humans fought over land, not for love of nature and its life, but to exploit and destroy it. Not to mention their apprentice hatred for those of their same species who did not look alike. I was surprised to hear that, but I could not say that it was completely strange. Not all covens accepted witches, some flat out refused to be associated with the magicless. My world was not free from problems, but at least in New Moonscream, every witch was welcome. But then again, only witches were welcome.

"Still having trouble magic wise?" He asked crossing ankles over one another. "I have to admit that your lack of tolerance for spellcasting would be worrisome if your mind wasn't as brilliant as it is."

I threw him a look.

"Are you saying my powers would be vast if I was simple-minded?"

"You said it not me." He tossed his hand up.

"Well what about you, have you finally cracked why our coven has more gifts than other covens?"

He gave me a startled look which caused me to start laughing maniacally. I would have felt embarrassed if not for the fact that I knew I had done far more embarrassing things in front if his family before.

"I can not believe she told you." He whispered horrified.

"I simply had to know what you had done your first year of studies to be put on probation. Imagine my shock to learn that you went around the whole town asking everyone to contribute their daily routines, eating habits and a sample of their magic and then as if that wasn't bad enough-" His hand went over my mouth while the other went behind my head to hold me still. His eyes flickered over my face as his expression became appalled.

"Please. Do not say it." He said through clenched teeth, a forced smile making it's way up his face. Although he covered my mouth, my muffled laughter still slipped through as my shoulders shook with repressed laughter. After a moment he removed his hands and put his head down between his legs.

"Then I shall not bring up the fact that you," He groaned. "asked all of the parents with gifted children what consummation positions they chose."

"My professor was horrified when I turned in my reports for the study." He sighed. "My mother even more so."

"I can not fathom the mindset you must have been in ti think that was going to go well." My chuckle made him turn his head to look over his shoulder at me. A real smile on his face this time.

"I was young. I wanted to prove I knew where to start when it came to finding undiscovered findings."

"And what did you really find?" I questioned smugly, crossing my arms over my chest. He brought a hand to cup the back of his neck as he sat back up.

"That age makes no difference when you have embarrassed your mother." He shook his head. "I still can't remember what spell she threw at me. All I know for certain is that when someone hits pots together I can't help but get the urge to run."

Jenny hadn't been lying when she told me her mother had gotten creative with his punishment.  We continued to talk for what felt like hours, teasing and taunting one another with things we had done in the past and wanted to do in the future.

Which is exactly why, perhaps, our present was interrupted by something that would follow me into the future.

In the middle of talking, I think we both suddenly realized something very important. It had gotten quiet. Too quiet.

Blinking at one another we both looked over to where the flowers still glowed, while I could see people standing around together I couldn't hear a sound being made from them, no conversations, no singing, and no wild calls. But I could clearly still hear the leaves rustling, the owl calls, and crickets.

"Somethings wrong," Stefan said standing up slowly, all pleasantness from our previous conversations as worry took over. I followed suit and stood up.

"Why do you say that? Maybe they're doing something." I reasoned.

"Intoxicated people tend not to stay quiet for long." He said off-hand squinting as if he was looking for something. Where was everyone?

Feeling worried about my friends and Niveha I began walking back to the oddly quiet party. The closer we got to the lights the more I realized no one around. Spinning around in a circle I gave Stefan a fearful look.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, knowing he would know just as much as I would.

Instead of answering he looked down and crouched. For a moment his hands brushed the damp earth before he stood back up and looked over my shoulder.

"There's only one place so many people could have gone while out here." He motioned with his head. "Deadman's Bed."

Turning around I didn't even wait for him when I took off towards the one place in town known to claim more lives than a spell gone wrong. Deadmans Bed. Twigs and rocks poked at my feet, my hands coming out to slap branches and the rare vine out of my way, my shoulders bumping into rough tress with my hurried pace. The further away we got from the flower lights the darker the forest got, but every person here knew the way to Deadmans Bed by heart, if only to avoid accidentally going. Stefan was proven correct when a crowd of people appeared at the end of the forest where the haunted meadow began.

People stood spread out throughout the meadow, but they all stood where the shadows of the forest could protect them. Huddled together people looked on with various expressions of excitement and worry, some looked too intoxicated to care while others looked around nervously.  The majority of them had their backs to us, or stood off to the side, with weary steps I too entered the safety of the shadows and slipped in between people looking for the girls.  Large fingers wrapped around my wrist and made me stop, turning around I found myself being dragged by Stefan who walked on confidently. The bright red hair was all I needed to see to know he had found Stevan. Tucked under his brother's arm was Sillve whose face was a mask of panic, her eyes widened as soon as they caught mine. 

"What is everyone doing here?" Stefan asked as soon as they were within hearing distance. I rushed over to Sillve, putting my hands on her shoulders I looked around with growing concern.

"Sillve where is Jenny? Where's Niveha?" My voice shook a bit as I noted that neither was nearby.

"It's the men, they got rowdy and began to play around," Stevan said looking me over with a pitying look that chilled me. "Then someone suggested finding and controlling a wraith."

"What?" Stefan choked out, taking a step back from shock. I felt my throat tighten up but forced the words out.

"Niveha?"  The last I had seen her she had been playing with the men. I shouldn't have left her. I shouldn't have walked away. I should have left as soon as I realized what this was. I should have and could have done thousands of things differently, but right now I knew that all that mattered was finding my sister. Sillve turned away from me and looked towards where the crowd was thickets, at the very edge of where the forest shadows could not reach.

"We stayed behind to look for you two while Jenny tried to reason with Devon." Was all she needed to say for me to understand the real issue at hand.

"Mykela!" I ran towards the front of the crowd, not knowing what I was going to find. I shoved and pushed people, ignoring their shouts and crude words, even the elbows that jabbed at me. 

"-know that we will all get caught if you let this happen! Think about it-" a female's frantic voice could be heard shouting thought all of the crowds murmuring. Through bodies, I think I caught a flicker of color in the dead of the night. 

"And like everything else, I will take care of it." The arrogant and snide, the deep voice would always grind on my nerves. I knew the owner of that voice.  

"Just let her go, she doesn't want to participate, Devon, you know you aren't allowed to-"

"Don't think you can tell me what I can and can not do."  He responded in a snappish tone, amusement gone. "Now shut your trap or I will do it for you and we both know the next time it will open will be never." 

When I finally broke through I felt the breath leave my lungs, filled with dread and panic I felt my eyes sting. I blinked as if to clear away the image before me. Jenny stood a few meters from my left, her hands held out in an almost pleading manner that broke my heart because I knew how much she must have had to swallow her pride to ask anything of the man who broke her heart for sport. The monster in question stood outside of the protection of the shadows a few inches away from her, his hands in the pants of his pockets as he looked down at her with a haunting tilt of his face, teeth bright against his dark complexion and the darkness of the night. But there was another source that illuminated his face and it wasn't the moons glow so bright in the sky.

No.

His eyes, the familiarly taunting dark pools of black that were his eyes were outlined in his powers identifiable orange tint, the flickers of gold floating in the transparent tint that covered his eyes.  I knew what that meant. Everyone who had grow with him knew what that color signified. Devon was using his powers. Devon was playing. 

Flickering my eyes away from them I looked out to the horror that was Deadman's Bed. Lined up like toy soldiers five men stood a few feet from each other spread out in a line in front of us. Fourth in counting stood my sister. Their faces were all blank, devoid of emotion, arms by their sides. Their eyes all coated in a dull orange tint and I knew from personal experience that had I stood face to face I would see a single fleck of gold in their eyes. In front of them was the entrance to Deadmans Bed, the graveyard of the condemned, where the lost wondered and where no soul could leave once they were in. It was the covens only prison and one that did not get many visitors. I walked over to where Jenny was, not taking my eyes off of my sister in fear that she would move. Devon saw me first, his expression turning from annoyance to amusement as he followed my eyes.

"Your sister is quite brave." He praised, almost congratulating. "Of course that quickly vanished once she caught sight of the gates, but not to worry, I'll make sure to give her the right push." He laughed as if his words had been funny. Anger burned and churned in my stomach until it felt as if I were tasting acid. I looked at Devon.

"Let her be Devon." I inched towards the edge of the shadows were an almost palpable shield of protection could be felt pushing back against my body, warning me to go no further or risk being exposed to the dangers on the other side.

"Or what?" He tisked. "You can't touch me. I may be part of this coven but the council owns me. No one can touch me." My breaths came to me to quickly as what felt like anxiety began to clog at my throat, cold air chilling me and yet I could feel sweat trickling down my nape.

"We could all touch you, Devon." A rough voice spoke behind me. "But if we do we would have to kill you to make sure your trap stays closed. Our parents wouldn't let them punish all of us and the council would be crazy to try to take on the whole coven."  

Devon's expression chilled and turned blank as he looked behind me. A small cold hand took hold of mine, Jenny, her eyes filled with unnecessary guilt.

"I'm sorry when I realized she was gone it was too late." She whispered, her voice cracking. I shook my head as she spoke.

"If it's anyone fault it's his," I said fiercely. I felt guilty as well, but I had guilt for allowing her to stay.

"Have you ever killed Stevan? No, I think not. And since you are the only one who has threatened me, seems as if you could be the only one that cares. I think everyone here wants to see what's going to happen." Devon began to turn away from us. "Best not say things that will anger me or else you might find yourself our seventh contestant."

"Please, stop!" I pleaded, panic bubbling in m chest as an almost crazed like fear took over my body. " Niveha's done nothing to you!"

"She doesn't have to do anything to him for him to use her." Someone said from behind me, but their words just made me feel worse.

"We have to do something, if he opens the gate, they'll be sucked into the cage and anything could latch onto them," Sillve said in a shaky voice. 

Voices behind me grew louder as they began to plan and talk of things to do but all I knew was that with every step that I watched him take a sinking sensation took place. No one had tried to cross over the satey of the border, fearing for their own soul. No one had seriously tried to stop Devon before. Everyone either feared his power or going past the barrier. I had to think them all cowards or the fact that the people I had grown up with not doing anything to stop this madness would crush me and everything I had grown up believing. Devon couldn't control someone, not completely, but his compulsion was strong enough that they would do almost anything. 

"A party simply can not end without a memorable event! What could be better than seeing who out of our brave contestants can control a wraith." Devon began, turning again to face us, his hands out, arms spread as he spoke. No one said anything as he spoke, there was a mixture of unease and a morbid sort of excitement in the air.  "Fear not, I won't make them enter the gate of hell, I do like my head on my shoulders, but I think it's time to see who here is our best when it comes to possession." 

It was small, the comfort to know he wouldn't make them step into the gate, but not by far. Wraiths were hard to control and pulling one from a graveyard of tainted spells and evil was promising a doomed finish before anything could get set into motion. Devon walked to the first person in line, shoulder-length black hair and a slim and sunken form I recognized. Looking over all of the guys I soon realized that they were all people Devon associated with, could even possibly call friends. And yet here he was controlling them. I thought they had volunteered?

"I would put my money on our dear Healix, the man, the slave master, the only necromancer here in town." Devon roughly patted Healix on the back, it was like a veil had been lifted as he blinked, looked around and bared his teeth.

"Then there's our fierce Dominic who specializes in spells of confinement, so who knows he might collar our little wraith before it even gets a taste of freedom." Stretching his arm out he put his hand on the shoulder next to him and just like Healix, Dominique dark blue eyes blinked into focus. It was as if Devon was jumping from contestant to contestant, waking them and trying to stir the crowd, but we all knew by the orange glow that still illuminated their eyes that they weren't free. Rowdy and as dangerous as him no doubt, but their minds weren't their own.

"Then we have the small but fast Jeremy, I'm sure you ladies will cheer on for the spellcaster with the best looks." Moving in-between him and my sister he placed his hand on Jeremy's back and the bastard then had the nerve to look over at me while he spoke next, my fists clenched into fists.

"Of course there is no competition without the underdog. I am all for our young but brave Niveha, I say we let her shake things up a bit." With a smile my way he placed his hand on her lower back, she blinked and looked around. Unlike the others, my sister didn't look as excited to be there but she also didn't seem in a rush to walk away. 

As he talked on the last two contestant I stared at my little sister and made up my mind. I lifted my hands and met the invisible barrier, goosebumps rasing along y skin as a chill that was undoubtedly from the death that lingered on the other side began to seep through. I took a breath and pushed all of my weight forward, digging into my being and held onto the center of my magic, knowing I would need beyond human strength to make it trough.  

"If I can get to Niveha, I need you to hold her here," I said in a voice that portrayed a calmness I didn't feel. "if you have to, knock her unconscious."

I didn't wait to see if they had heard me or not because in the next second I fell to the floor as I slipped through the protective barrier. Immediately I heard their voices go quiet before they took on a new tone. Risking my time I looked behind me to see my friends looking down at me with various expressions on their faces. Jennys tear-stained worry. Sille's pale fright. Stevan's mixture of concern and anger. Stefan's sickly frozen eyes.

"Mykela! Mykela stop!"

"Oh hell!"

"How did she get through?" Jenny put her hands on the barrier and began to push, a rainbow-colored shine reflecting her attempt to push through.

Pushing myself up shaky arms I walked on the uneven grass field and ran toward my sister. Devon stopped whatever he was saying and threw his head back to laugh, clapping his hands. When I stood in front of my sister I took both of her hands into mine and scanned her face. Physically I knew she was alright, for now, but I was worried about what had been done to her mind. What could have been suggested she do.

"Can you walk?" I demanded. She nodded her head but when I began to tug at her she did nothing to move with me. Her eyes widened and then blinked in confusion.

"I can not move that way." She rasped out, her voice trembling as her eyes began to gloss over with unshed tears.

"If you wanted to join us, you should have just said so Mykela. " A voice said, startlingly close. "The more the marrier." Before I could turn before I could open my mouth Devon was in touching my mind.

It was akin to feeling something warm and slimy drip down your arm slowly but in my mind or rather on the outside, touching the walls that kept me protected from creeps like him. I could feel him everywhere and not really anywhere. Like a shark. There was no focal point, but I just knew he was there. In me, in the safety of my mind. My body became rigid as my mind became distracted at the presence of something foreign within me, searching. For a moment I felt something, not Devon, but something else lurking within me. Quiet and eager, but raging and hungry.

'You are going to play nice and participate. You want to catch the wraith. It will be fun.'

Devon was in my mind. Devon was trying to control me. The thought was so shocking it was infuriating, maddening to the point where I thought I could feel something within me spark and something crack. I was so inraged that Devon took my silence as obedience as he turned and motioned to Healix.

"Why don't you call out a wraith for us my friend,"  Devon commanded with glee.

At once both of Healix's hands took aflame in a bright blue coating as he turned and raised his hands towards the gate. Uneasy murmurs filled the air, people backing away. As if nature could tell that something amiss was going on the wind took up, the branches creaking in protest, the iron gates rattling against their pillars as the chains that kept the gate closed took on the same hint of blue of Healix's magic.

"No." The word that came from my throat was too guttural and animalistic to be mine, but I knew with certainty that it was mine. It was mine just as the blood that filled my veins was hot or how the body that I possessed was mine. I was no one's plaything.

He whirled around so fast I heard something snap, wide dark eyes hidden behind a tint of orange looked down in disbelief as I glared at him.

"Impossible." He breathed out.

'I command you to remain still and silent.'

Something snapped, broke, and something clicked. I didn't know if it was the wind which tossed my hair around in violent motion, or the adrenaline-filled anger pumping through my body, but I suddenly felt so much more within my body.  As if almost losing control of it made me more aware of everything within it.

"I control my body, not you." I took a step towards him. "I am the master of my choice's, not you." and another "You have no say as to what I will or will not say. Not you or anyone else." With each step that I took Devon began to back away from me, feeling violence the likes of which I had never felt and knowing Devon was trying to get away from me made me strike out faster than he could move.

I struck Devon Ecco in the face. 

The sound of my act was enough to startle multiple people, but my attention was on the man who stood with his head turned to the left. He raised his hand to his face and blinked. I ignored the tingles that shot up both hands and raced up my arms and then seemed to spread throughout my body. Devon turned his face, anger morphing his face as he opened his mouth to say something and then his face went blank, mouth wide open, still from whatever was going to come from out of his mouth. 

Whatever it was I knew I wouldn't want to hear it from him. I felt my mind brush up against something warm and feeble, still dealing with the anger and disgust of feeling something in my mind I assumed it was Devon's mind attempting to control me again and I recoiled from it, but not before screaming into his mind.

'Why don't you do everyone a favor and die!'

Turning around I marched over to my sister and took hold of her hands again, ignoring her wide-eyed and fear-filled eyes I tugged at her, willing her to walk with me. I let out a sigh of relief when she stumbled forward as if freed from her compulsion. Maybe knowing I couldn't be controlled and striking him in the face had spooked him enough to lose his composure, I thought with savage pleasure. Sparing another look to the contestants, his perhaps not all willing friends, my brows came together when I realized they all had odd looks on their faces. Healix's had stopped messing with the gate but his gaze was not focused on my shoulder, a strange gleam to his eys. It was almost disturbingly wicked.

Shaking my head I turned and began to walk toward my friends, but the closer I got the more my steps slowed as I took in their faces. Horror, shock, and uncertainty. Their eyes. Every pair of eyes I looked on reflected off an eerily familiar orange glow. Looking at other people I slowly turned to face what those who weren't looking at me were staring at with such absorbed attention. Dropping Niveha's cold hand I clenched my hands into fists, apprehension heavy on my shoulders as a horrible suspicion began to form.

There on the ground with that same blank stare, open mouth expression was Devon.

"Why are her eyes just like his?"

"He isn't moving!"

"Her eyes, look at them."

"Is he dead? Hells hex, I don't see his chest moving."

"Did she take his power and kill him?"

"I have to get out of here!"

From the corner of my eyes, I saw flickers of blue. His words were softer than all the whisepres that were beginning to reach my ears, but what he said made me flinch.

"Well, that's one bastard I won't raise." 

"Mykela..." I heard my sister whisper behind me, but I couldn't turn, I couldn't look away from him. It was... I was...

"Look at her eyes-"

"Mykela..."

"What has she done?"

"Mykela.."

"...eyes..."

"Mykela!"

"-killed him."

"Mykela!"

I wasn't sure when I hit the ground, but all I knew what that in the darkness there were no whispers, no accusations and most importantly, there were no eyes. Curling within myself I found a sliver of what I knew used to be my magic or what I had thought was my magic. What it had really been was the spill of my magic as it fell from over the wall I must have built at some point. Throwing it away from me I watched as it dissolved into nothingness.

I didn't want to wake up. I knew the world would be different when I did.  I was scared. But when my consciousness rose tot he surface I opened my eyes and awoke in chains.

Chains that would fall in some places and remain in others.

/  /  / Authors Note / / /

Happy Friday the 13 (can a bad luck day be lucky?)

So here we have some background on the mysterious Mykela Debrouhs ( I swear I be forgetting how to spell my own characters names, yall don't know how many times I damn near wrote Debroughs, Donuts, De Brah) who likes to keep most things to herself and in her mind.

I apologize for any small canoes I set sail only to point out that your small ship was more like bucket that wouldn't make it very far for obvious reasons. *Snaps fingers awkwardly* My bad.

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Sooo, anyone else watches that last Miraculous Ladybug episode? *Sips Adrian Aggressive tea* No? Just me? Ok. 

Lol, laters.