When I came home from MASON, my dad was waiting in the kitchen. He didn't seem worried that I had gone hours without messaging. That seemed unusual right? He didn't seem concerned at all. We both went into the living room, and he put it on his golfing channel, he was watching the episode he had recorded earlier.
Finally, I had enough of it, "Dad, weren't you worried about me?" I asked, casually.
"No? You just got back from your walk, you had only been gone an hour."
My mind was exploding, an hour. I was gone for more than an hour.
"Oh, well nevermind then."
Dad stopped watching the tv and stared at me. I didn't like it. He glanced my way briefly, but within that brief of a moment. He knew something was up with me.
After the almost spilled incident with my Dad, I headed up to my room. I got ready for bed, ready to go to school tomorrow. I just didn't know which one I would go too. I kept thinking about all the different classes there. The students, oh my, there are so many different people there. Well, not people, but in a sense they are. I couldn't wait to go there again. I was more than thrilled.
Then, a plan was set in motion. I needed to go back, I had to go back. It thrilled me more than being in my boring regular life. It was this constant need now. I felt the power I radiated back within the school. I needed to feel that power again, the need to consume something so entirely out of this world. I stopped myself for a moment. Wow. Powers. I have freaking powers. I wondered what else I was capable of? I mean there had to be more to it right?
I went to bed that night, thinking. I kept thinking about all the different teachers, and the different species there.. I wondered what each one of them was capable of too. How they would train themselves. They needed too in order to survive. If you can't control your powers, you're this form of abomination waiting to go off. I am sure they have some secret code about keeping the species a secret.
I just couldn't shut off my mind. It was like an exploding volcano. It just kept erupting, no stop to the amounts of lava coming out. I finally fell asleep for what felt like forever. When I woke up, the sun was beaming through my window. Ew. Another day. I was too tired to go to regular school. I rolled over, time to put my plan in action.
I ran to the bathroom and put hot water on my cheeks, making them red. Then, I blow dried my face to give a heat texture temperature. I knew my dad would be in at any moment, because I was never late for school, unless I was sick. I smiled at myself in the mirror. The grin playing wildly on my face. I looked into my eyes, a fire there. A fire I had longed for. I took my brush, and made my hair even more ratty looking. I could hear my dad's footsteps heading to my room. I ran and dove into the sheets on my bed.
Mustering the most disgusting cough I could. My dad opened the door. "Hey, kiddo, you do know you go to school right?"
I glanced up at him, giving him a yawn, then a ugly coughing noise, "Dad, I just don't feel good today."
Dad looked worried, ouch, I never played sick before, much less lied to the man. He came over to me, feeling the temperature on my forehead. He jumped back at it.
"Cassie, you're burning up!"
Another fake cough, "I told you I don't feel good."
With worried eyes still, "Just stay home today Cas. I'll go grab you the medicine bottle, and the thermometer. Strip down your clothes when I leave, if you're running a fever you don't need too much on. Change into some shorts and a tank. Something."
Dad hurried out of the room, practically sprinting down the hallway. I felt so bad for doing this to him. I needed to figure out who I was, this new part of me. It was eating me from the inside out to not tell him about it. I just don't know if he would understand where I am coming from. What if he knew, and never told me. That would mean he lied to me my whole life. What about my mother? Was this her doing? Her part of the family?
Cassie didn't know, maybe she was adopted. Either way, she needed to find out about herself, and how the hell this happened. Her dad knocked on her door.
"Cas. it's me, are you covered up?"
"Yeah, come on dad." My dad carefully opened the door, peeking in. He let out a relieved sound of me still covered in my blanket. I laughed a little.
"Ok, I found the ibuprofen bottle, and here is the thermometer." He said, handing them to me from a slight distance. With the fake cough, I took the thermometer and placed it right before my lips.
"Dad, I think it's well established that I don't feel good. I can take care of myself."
He tilted his hand, then ran his hand through his hair. "I know, but you are still my little girl. It is my job to take care of you."
"Go to work dad, I'll be fine. I have the ibuprofen, and I'll just sleep whatever this is off." I said, glancing down to the thermometer that I held in my hands.
He let out a huff, "Ok, but if anything, and I mean if anything happens, you immediately call 911. Then, you have them get in contact with me. I'll have Jessie, our neighbor, come over and check on you in a few hours."
Great. He was basically a babysitter.
"Okay Dad, go, bye love ya, don't die."
"Love you too Cas, see you later, feel better."
With that my dad left me in my room. I stayed there, acting like I was going to sleep. Waiting for the door to hit, letting me know my dad left the house. Once I heard the door shut, up and out of bed I went. I ran over to my dresser, finding a pair of leggings. I went over to my closet, throwing on a cute plain mustard yellow blouse. Along with my necklace that had a "C" on it, and a pair of hoop earrings. I looked at myself in the bathroom.
Oh my gosh. My hair. The mess I created. I quickly brushed it down, and threw some mousse in it, hopefully it'll make it wavy, and not that noticeable. I sucked in a deep breath. I quietly made my way downstairs. Why was I sneaking out? My dad just left, and we don't even have security cameras, nor one of those ring bell door things people have.
After this, my dad might just invest in one. I grabbed my house key, and started to debate if I wanted to go out the front or the back. If I went out the front, our neighbor Jessie, who lives just across the street would see me. I didn't need her reporting back to my dad that I had left cutely while sick. I decided to go out the back door.. As far as I was aware, none of our neighbors had cameras, unless you were farther down the street.
I was noticing how unsafe the neighborhood was. I mean if somebody got murdered, there would be no camera proof of it. Luckily, we didn't own a fence. So, there was no climbing today. I made my way over to the Mason's Mansion, unnoticed, because I am that good. I just wanted to think that for a moment. I went inside, still just as creep in the daytime.
The door had creaked open for me. Shudders escaping my body. This place, the stories, it just doesn't feel right. Now, knowing there are witches, and everything exists, it brings new terrifying thoughts within me. I shut the door, I didn't need anyone being curious, or finding me here. I made my way to the staircase we were at yesterday. Where Kat used her hands to open the portal.
On one note, I couldn't exactly remember if she only used her hands, or started muttering. I was hoping I could recreate her hand movements, and the portal would just open for me. Yeah, I know, wishful thinking. I am still going to try it either way. I started moving my hands. Nothing. Absolutely nothing was happening. I attempted to close my eyes, feel everything around me.
The only thing I felt was a sudden rush of wind. Not the feeling I was looking for, still I had one eye open, hoping I had opened the portal. Nope. No vomiting green looking at me. Great. How was I supposed to get to the other world?
Then, a thought occurred, Kat! I looked at the time. She would be in study hall by now, fantastic. I'll just shoot her a quick message. When I opened it up, I had a few messages from her, and Damian both.
Cassie, where are you? Why aren't you at school? Xoxo - Kat
Hello? Xoxo - Kat
Cassie I swear if you don't answer me, I'll put a hex on you. Xoxo - Kat
Girl. Xoxo - Kat
hey Kat, i told my dad i wasn't feeling good.
Finally, I was beginning to think that I might have to actually put a hex on you Xoxo- Kat
What's wrong? Xoxo - Kat
nothing, i couldn't sleep last night. i'm at the Mason's Mansion though. I am trying to open the portal.
Cas. Opening portals is really hard, I mean we had teachers opening them at certain times for students. Xoxo - Kat
enlighten me Kat, how do I open one up?
Cassie, it's really hard to do. It takes a lot of practicing. Here let me message Damian. Xoxo - Kat
i don't need Damian's help, Kat, i just need to open it.
Don't say I didn't warn you. Xoxo - Kat
Kat.
Think about what you are doing here. The hands, the mind, even your words. They all have an affect, even your emotions. You want to be concentrated, focused. Xoxo - Kat
Looking away from my phone, I sucked in a deep breath. Facing the stairwell, I held my hands out in front of me. Calling upon my powers, clearing out my mind. Something started to tickle in the back of my mind. I heard my phone buzz off.
And when you're ready, you'll know it too. You will want to say these words. Ruthajahbaroo. Xoxo - Kat.
thanks Kat.
With my hands still out in front of me, my mind began tickling. I could feel it, coursing through me, the power. The mind consuming fire within me. The one where it wanted to tear everything down. I felt it. Tickling me, waiting for me to use it. I licked my tongue.
"Ruthajahbaroo." I opened my eyes, and for a split moment, I saw the crack of green, then it kept changing colors. Like it couldn't decide. . I did it, somewhat. As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared.. How was I supposed to get there now? Behind me, I heard clapping, I slowly turned around.
There he was, in all his glory, with his eyes glowing red, and the pitch black wavy hair. He was wearing jeans and a thin black shirt, you could see all the muscles constructing behind his shirt. I looked up at his eyes.
"Damian. What are you doing here?"
He smiled, tilting his head to the side, "Kat said you might need some help."
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Dragging out my words, and spinning around to face the staircase again.
Concentrating my thoughts, I needed to feel that fire again, going through my veins to my heart. It was like a drug to me, I craved it to my core. I thought about how much I wanted to get to the academy. I could feel it tugging, that needy feeling in me. For a moment, I could feel it, then it vanished. I didn't even look up to see the disappointment on my own face.
I sucked in a breath, I opened my eyes and looked at Damian. A smirk on his face, as he stepped forward. His hair falling into his face, using his hand to push it out of the way. I watched his hands, huge with his veins bulging out, as he waved a motion into the nothingness.
"You see Cas, when you go to make a portal, it's all about concentration. Where you want to get too, how you are getting there, and most importantly what is on your mind. You need to be clear about your intentions, or you might end up somewhere worse."
With that, Damian moved his hand sideways, and like a fairy pointing, the portal appeared. This time, however, it was an orange color. Interesting.
"Wait, Damian, why is it orange?" I asked, curiosity peeping out of me.
He chuckled lightly, "Well Cas, it depends on the person. The portal gives off your aura in a sense. It can be about your personality, or what creature you are. Hell, it can even be what you're thinking as you are about to pass through it."
"Will it be a different color every time?" Wondering what the orange meant for him.
"Not usually, once you get a color it sticks with you. But the first time you open the portal, it determines everything about you, your past, present, and future."
"So, I should be careful when I open my own portal?"
"Exactly. Now come on, little witch." He mentioned, with the smirk returning to his face.
I gave him the side eye, "Don't call me little witch." I uttered back.
It only made him grin wider, "Whatever you say," he paused, "little witch." As I turned to go through the portal, I shook my head, a smile on my face.
No sooner had I reached the Nothingness, Damian was right behind me. Wow. It takes my breath everytime. Just the beauty of the buildings itself, it's something you would see in Greece almost. Everytime I see the main building, I always think of Athens Parthenon. The way the building was made, with the columns, and the design overall. The dragons jumped out at her again.
"Well what do you want to do little witch?" Damian asked, deeply.
"First, I told you not to call me a little witch. Second, I just want to explore, maybe use my powers more?"
Danian smiled, "I've got an idea, follow me."
Cassie watched as Damian began walking in front of her. She watched as he went. The way his muscles arched in his back. She could feel herself chewing on her lip. Cassie started to follow him before he turned around, and caught her staring at him. It would've been embarrassing, especially since they were just friends.
Cassie watched as Damian led her to what appeared to be a fight. However, the teacher there was watching them. It confused her, the teachers at her high school could've stopped this before it got out of hand. She was tempted to move forward, stopping it herself, but Damian held up his hand.
One of the fighters, a guy, and he was bulk. I mean the side of his upper arm was the size of my head alone, was running. When he got halfway to the other guy, he transformed into a whole ass werewolf. My mouth gaped open. Damian started laughing, he took his hand, and pushed my jaw up. I stared at him, those icy blue eyes piercing through my soul. He lifted my chin up to close my mouth. I gulped.
My focus returned to the fighting scene in front of me. I was very aware of Damian now though. I felt pricks along my skin, almost like goosebumps. The other guy held out his hands, within his hands were balls of fire. It was so hot, the fire, that you could feel the heat from where we were from. We were a good distance from the fight itself, matter of fact, we were right next to the rest of the class.
"That's Rory, he is a hybrid, half dragon."
"What's the other half?" I asked, looking up at Damian. He grinned at me. "Vampire.."
"What about the other guy, he is obviously a werewolf?"
"That's Mike, he's only a werewolf."
"How is that fair?" Cassie asked, concerning filling her voice.
"This world isn't fair Cassie. If we don't know how best to defend ourselves from each other, how will you survive?"
"I don't know." I hesitantly replied, glancing down at my shoes.
"To make it in this world Cas, we must learn to defend ourselves, and control ourselves." Damian said, looking at me.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"You need to learn to control yourself before your powers. You want to control your powers, learn to control yourself around others first."
Cassie kept looking down, she only looked up to watch the fight continue between the two guys. Werewolf versus the dragon, vampire hybrid. How the skill sets were unfair in her eyes. The werewolf, Mike, the dude kept shapeshifting between his werewolf form, and his human form.
Everytime Rory would hurt him, Mike would regenerate his skin, healing himself from within. It was the coolest thing I could have ever witnessed. They both had incredible strength, the amounts of force being used between the two were absolutely brutal. I would not want to be either of them.
The speed, they both were fast filled punches at each other. Not to mention, Rory kept shapeshifting into his own form, which was the dragon. His breathing, it was made out of fire, everytime he took a breath towards Mike, out came the fire. It was the most beautifully awful thing you could watch.
It almost felt like a dance rather than a fight. Showing off who could pull the best moves. I learned they both had telepathy. So, as they were fighting they were mentally yelling at each other. It explained why some of the class was laughing out loud, when nothing was being said. I thought they were having an episode of sorts.
Eventually, the battle ended with Rory using his telekinesis, and mind control on Mike. In which, he tapped out and let Rory take the win. I thought it was an unfair fight from the get go. In what world, do hybrids need to exist? Power comes with a cost. I wondered if their parents even remotely seen shows, with having too much power. What that could do to a person alone in general. I thought about my own. How it consumed me, and for a fleeting moment I was terrified of myself.
After the fight was over, the rest of the class paired off. Damian and I were put together, since we weren't technically in this class. At first, he was taking it easy on me. The slight swinging of his fists. Missing me entirely, and letting me punch him in the stomach. Then, I saw a fire get in his eyes, when I swept him off his feet. Uh oh. No sooner was I flat on my back.
I glared at Damian, but damn my mind went back to my back. It hurt, I slowly got up and walked away. Trying to shake off the feeling. I needed to do that. He followed in behind me.
"Are you ok Cas? I am sorry." Damian said, holding in his smirk.
With another glare thrown at him, I replied with clenched teeth, "I am perfectly fine Damian. I just need a moment."
"Good, wouldn't want anything to happen to you, pretty little witch." He said, his eyes beaming.
I stared at him, "How many times have I told you not to call me little witch? Why do you still do it?" I replied, slightly angrily.
Damian lightly poked my side, "Because little witch, it's my pet name for you, and I know that you secretly love it."
"Well I don't." I said, teasingly angry.
Truth be told, I don't know how I really feel about the pet name. It names me out, gives me a brand, I don't like brands. With him, it's different, I couldn't entirely explain it to you, even if I tried. It was almost instinctively, primal, deep within my body, soul, and mind. I liked it when he did it, but I hated it at the same time too.
Damian led me over to the main building. The beauty of it, striking me once more. I don't think I'll ever get used to it. Finding amazement every time I see it. Damian walked over to the lady we met yesterday. The lady who I had learned was a dragon, her hairs still bursting with pink and red flames. My mind wondered if she brushed her head? She had on the same style dress, today her dress looked like blue scales.
I wondered if she changes out scales, or if it's based on her moods. A mood changing scale outfit. That would be super cool. I kind of wanted that now. Then, my mind went back to her being possibly naked, and the thought of that power quickly vanished.
"What are you doing in here now Damian. Does the Headmistress need to see you again?" The lady asked, sarcastically. I looked over the counter, and read her name plate. Mrs. Blabsoki, it read, it sounded like a right fit for her.
"No ma'am, I was good today." Damian replied back to her, a forced smile on his face.
"Then, what are you here for?" Mrs. Blabsoki grouchy said.
"We're here to sort out Miss Brooks' schedule, since she is a witch after all." Damian watched as Mrs. Blabsoki went to type back on her computer.
It was my turn, "Mrs.," I looked at her name plate again, then back at her, "Blabsoki, we want to get out of your hair," I looked at her flames," but we can't do that if you don't help us out." I said, in an almost pleading voice.
Mrs. Blabsoki looked up from her computer, glaring at us. She was giving, resting bitch face. I didn't like it, and I certainly didn't start to like her personality either.
"I'll set you up with our counselor, Mr. Rogers."
"Thank you," I said, looking around.
She went typing to her computer again, with both Damian and I still standing there.
"You two can go sit down. I will call you back when he is ready for you." Mrs. Blabsoki mentioned, with a slight growl on the end of it.
Damian and I made our way over to the benches we sat at yesterday. I looked up at him, "You know I don't hate little witch. I just don't get why you started calling me to begin with." I mentally replayed our conversation earlier, I felt guilty about how I reacted to it.
"It's ok Cassie, I understand, if you truly don't want me to call you little witch I won't. I respect you. However, I did call you little witch, because you are learning everything. It just happened, I couldn't really explain where it came from though."
"That makes sense I guess. I do like it, I just don't like how it defines me. I am only a witch. I am so much more than that Damian. I was a human before all of this." I said, waving my hands around, gesturing at the building, and people.
"I know," He said, almost upset in a way.
I lowered my voice to a whisper, "I know you do. I just have feelings, everything has been overwhelming. I am excited but also kind of afraid Damian. What if I do something to my dad?" Gazing up into his eyes. I felt my heart skipping.
Without skipping a beat, Damian said, "Cassie, that's what you are here for. To train. To understand yourself. To make sure you can be safely around your dad, you're not a danger yet. As long as you learn to control your powers everything will be okay."
"Will it though?" I asked, hesitantly.
Damian placed his finger underneath my chin, our eyes meeting for a fleeting second, "I promise you, I won't let anything happen to you or your dad."
"Miss Brooks, Mr. Rogers is ready to see you."
Damian and mine eyes darted to Mrs. Blabsoki.
"Will you go with me?" I asked him, getting up, and straightening out my outfit.
"Only if you want me too." He said, getting up too, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"Of course I want you too."
"Then, I will."
"Lead the way," I replied, watching him again as he moved.
I caught Mrs. Blabsoki's stare, and for a moment we both smiled at each other. I was in deep shit with this one. We made our way down the hall, across from Headmistress Aofnx. We entered the room, and there he was. Mr. Rogers, sitting in his chair, with his face buried in a book. What surprised me first was that the book was the first thing I noticed. The second thing I noticed was the huge wings he had. They were a gray color, with speckles of white throughout the feathers. What in the world was he? I was racking my brain for an answer.
Mr. Rogers noticed us, and motioned for us to take a seat down across from him. "Hello there," Mr. Rogers said, gently.
I kept staring in amazement at his wings. My eyes bulged out of my skull. I could feel Damian elbowing me. Right, I was staring at the man. However, Mr. Roger only laughed at me.
"It's neat isn't it?" Mr. Rogers asked, chuckling.
"W=what is?" I asked, stammering my words along the way.
"My wings of course."
"Oh, um, yeah they are. I haven't ever met anyone with um wings before."
"I would hope so, we try to keep to ourselves, how do you kids say? We keep ourselves on the downlow, that way humans don't know we exist."
I was still staring at him, "I am sorry, this is going to sound incredibly rude, but I must ask it. What are you?"
Damian glared at me, "Cassie!"
"It's alright, Mr. Hayes, I am a fairy Miss Brooks."
"A fairy?"
"I would hope so." Mr. Rogers said, chuckling once more.
I raised my eyebrow at him, "What do fairies do exactly?" Damian nudged me again, I raised my eyebrows at him. "What? I need to know."
"Yeah, but you don't have to be so rude about it Cas."
"Damian, I don't know how else to ask it."
Mr. Rogers was waving his hands at us, "It's really alright, it blows new students minds always."
"Mr. R, she shouldn't be so rude about it though."
"She is just curious Mr. Hayes," Damian rolled his eyes at me. I rolled my eyes back at him, mockingly, I can play this childish game too.
"Seriously though, Mr. Rogers didn't answer my question."
Mr. Rogers laughed once more, "Fairies are very resourceful and skillful magical creatures. Most love the nature of plants, specifically herbs. We also love studying stones, even making them sometimes. Not to mention, we are able to fly, we have telepathy, and most importantly we have a power with words."
It was a lot to take in at the moment. "Telepathy?" I cautiously asked.
"Yes, we can communicate through our minds, sometimes even read other peoples minds." Damn it, I wanted that ability. I haven't even figured out what all I could do. It just made me more excited to get my schedule ready.
"I guess we should start on my schedule right?"
"Right, of course, I already took the liberty of making it for you."
"Oh, I thought I had options for classes like the human world?"
Mr. Rogers laughed, "Well, usually, yes, but you have a lot to catch up on. Most of these kids have been here since they were young. These classes will help to not only catch you up, but help you be with students your own age." Mr. Rogers printed out a piece of paper, then, he handed it to me.
I looked down at it, which my schedule now included:
Magic History for beginners: Runes and ConjuringUse of Magical Objects: Plants, Herbs, and CrystalsIncantations and SpellsCraft: Potions, healing, and energiesManifestation, Transfiguration, Interpretation: (future dreams): MITThe Power of Knowledge: Mindfulness, Telekinesis, and flying: (mind reading)How To Use Your Powers 101: Telepathy, Astral Projection, Teleportation (TAT)
My first thought was that witches can do astral projection. I wondered if Bonnie Bennett from the Vampire Diaries could do astral projection. I quickly pulled out my phone to google it, from what I could gather, she did. I could be the next fucking Bonnie Bennett, but in real life.
I was brought back to the present. Mr. Rogers and Damian were staring at me. "This looks good," I said to Mr. Rogers.
He clapped his hands together, then looked down at his watch. "I made your first class for later, I made note of your regular school time. You will get here as soon as you get in from that."
"How did you -" I was cut off by Damian, "I wouldn't question it." He gave me a small smile. Something was up with him. I know I wasn't that rude with Mr. Rogers, but Damian thought I was.
"I think there is one place here that you would appreciate the most." Damian said with a smile. We both got up and waved goodbye to Mr. Rogers.
I was still following Damian around like a dog. He led me to another building connected to the main one. Inside it appeared to be a library. I started beaming at all the books around me. You know that moment in the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. The part where Belle goes into this huge ass library only filled with books. Now, imagine that room, however, somehow bigger. Endless hallways of books.
I looked up at him, "Kat mentioned you worked at a library in the other world."
"I do. However, it doesn't necessarily mean I love books." I said, with a bland face. I watched as panic coursed through him. Then, I laughed, "I am kidding. Only book nerds work in the library, who else would love and take care of them properly."
I visibly watched Damian sigh with relief. I only laughed harder at him, causing him to glare at me, then, give me a cheeky smile. Damian let me roam the different isles of the books, while keeping me at eye distance. He was my tour guide, and he knew that I could get lost.
I wondered until I found the historical genre isle. I slowly walked down it. I felt as if I was being called over here. I put my hands on the books, letting it guide me. Touching, feeling the brims of the book. That was until my hand caught on something, no, more so a feeling. My body physically jerked forward at it.
I pulled the book out from the shelf. When I looked down to read the title, it read, "The Historical Artifacts and Prophecies of M.A.S.O.N." Interesting, why would I need to look at this? My mind knew something I didn't. I had a feeling I wasn't going to like it either.
I flipped through the book, there was a picture of the Headmistress, and a man with a french looking mustache. He was tall, and had a top hat on. It looks like his style was from the 19th century. I looked down at the date the picture was taken, 1790. I did some mental math in my head, that would make the Headmistress roughly around 253 years old. Wow.
The book started to flip by itself. Freaky. It reminded me of the scene from Hocus Pocus in a sense. It was flipping, fast too. What the actual heck was happening here. I didn't feel my powers, so I knew it wasn't my doing. It kept flipping, I glanced briefly when it reached the prophecy part of the book.
It finally stopped, I looked down at the page. I began to read it, silently to myself.
A chosen crossbred, born of the creation of betrayal
With the blood of a night crawler
The immortality of the entity
The bewitching of magic
Unleashing the Trials of thou Heavens and thou Hells
A chosen crossbred, born from the nature of humanity
Battling for the lovers
Betrayal comes to harm of the crossbred
Unleashing the powers given of thou Heavens and thou Hells
Crossbred, what the hell was a crossbred. I kept rereading it over, and over again until I had it memorized in my head. Then, I took out my phone and quickly took a picture of it. I'l have proof, and if it somehow disappears at least it'll be in my head. It was starting to freak me out. The book appealed to me for a reason. The reason was unknown yet.
I put it back into place, making a mental note of where I had found it. Just in case, I mentally said to myself. Yeah, in case I get curious, or need to show Kat and Damian. While I had my phone out, I checked the time. It was still the same time from when I had left the human world. Weird. It was like time had no effect here.
I found Damian up by the front desk. He held what appeared to be a spellbook in his hand. I smiled at him as I walked up, "I almost forgot, do I need any supplies for my classes?"
He grinned, "Most of them should be provided for you. Everything you need will be within the school grounds, however, you might need to come back to the library to check out a book or two."
I laughed, clapping my hands together, "I would be fine with that. I would like to look at their books here, I just know they are completely different from the human world."
Damian raised an eyebrow, "I think so, considering we have different magical and mythical creatures living here." With that, we left the library. Damian walked me to my first class for the day, Magic History for beginners: Runes and Conjuring.
"Here you go," He said, stopping just before this huge wooden door.
It had carved bears and snakes on the front, and a golden line across the door. The door looked like it had been built during medieval times. I felt the need to knock it, but I could feel Damian staring at my back.
"It won't bite you." He said with a slight chuckle.
I huffed and turned around, with a glare I said, "I know that." Turning my back towards him again.
"Who is the teacher here?" I asked casually, staring at the door still.
"Mr. Flabberbuster, he is a troll."
"Right."
"Just go in Cassie, open it"
With that I gave the door a slight push forwards. Suddenly, I was in the next room, I almost fell on my face though. It was like I had gone directly through the door, it was a mirage of sorts. Walking in I noticed the tables surrounding us. They were made out of mushrooms. That has now been one of the weirdest things I have ever seen. Mushrooms for tables? What the actual heck.
Towards the front of the room, the teacher's desk was made out of bricks, piled on top of each other. Coming out from underneath the desk, was a very short man. He had long flowing dark hair down to the floor. Not to mention, he wore these light colored speckles around his neck. His outfit was already out of the ordinary. Mr. Flabberbuster had on a robe that was red, highlighting his orange skin. His eyes had a slight glow to them, not as strong as Damian's glow though.
It was more relaxing, I wasn't terrified or scared of him. I wasn't scared of Damian either, but his gave more of an eerily feeling than Mr. Flabberbuster's.
"Come in childrens," Mr. Flabberbuster said, waving us in with his hands. We all gathered in different seats. When I looked over to my right, there he sat, Rory, the guy from earlier today. The one who was fighting the werewolf. Of course, my luck, he wasn't paying me any attention though. He was fumbling with his notebook. I noticed the notebook, oh crap, I didn't have a notebook. I pulled my phone out. I would just use the notes app on it.
Until I figure out a whole other setup to take with me here. As I was beginning to take out my phone, I noticed a notebook of my own sitting at the corner side of the end of the table. I quickly grabbed it, along with the ball point pen next to it.
There were history books in the middle of the table. Reading the front cover of it, the book said, Magical History for beginners. I looked over at Rory, for someone being so powerful, he needed a class for beginners. He caught me staring at him this time, and gave me a small smile.
Then, in a high pitched voice, "Hi I'm Rory," putting his hand out for me to shake it.
I did, "Cassie." I was still staring at him.
He looked… human. From the beast I had seen shapeshift earlier, to the color of his skin. I didn't notice any sparkles, or a need to be in the dark either. I didn't notice any immediate jewelry on him either. My own vampire knowledge from the human world is lacking entirely. I did notice the small scar just above his upper lip though.
Everytime he smiled at me, it reached upwards. He kept smiling more since I was staring at his lips. Awkward. I coughed and looked down at my notebook. I grabbed one of the textbooks, and opened it up.
"It's okay, you know." He said to me, looking at his own book.
I coughed, "Um what?" Caught off guard.
"To stare. Everyone does it, so I am used to it." He replied nonchalantly.
"I am sorry. I wasn't staring on purpose. I just saw you fight earlier, and you just look so human to me."
That caught his attention, "But I am not human."
"I know that, it's just been an adjustment from thinking I was a human my whole life, to finding out I was a witch. Let alone there were different mythical magical creatures out there too."
Rory was shaking his head at me, his bed of red curls falling into his hazel eyes. We made eye contact. Flutter. Crap. I glanced back down at my book. When was this class supposed to start again? The last student came trailing in, and the windows that were present in the room were darkened.
Mr. Flabberbuster wobbled his way to the center of the room, getting a platform so he could see all of us. Behind him seemed to be a projection.
"Magic is one of the fascinating things we study here at MASON. Do you know what else is just as fascinating to study here?" Mr. Flabberbuster asked the class, waving what appeared to be a stick of sorts. It wasn't a wand, it reminded me what those band directors carry.
A student raised their hand, he had flaming blue hair, "Runes and Conjuring?" He asked, the class started to laugh.
"Right, you are Mr. Hamblebean." That caused the class to erupt into more laughter. I couldn't figure out if it was from the dude's name, or the dad joke the teacher just made.
"Before we can even begin to even look at Runes and Conjuring, we must dive into the dangers of it first. Can anyone give me an example of what could happen if I did not properly know the dangers?"
I raised my hand, and Mr. Flabberbuster called on me, "Death." That seemed to be my go to answer here. It seemed safe as a new student.
"Yes, one of them, can anyone give me a more descriptive example?"
The blue-haired dude raised his hand again, "Cursing or bewitching."
"Correct, and why would cursing and bewitching be a bad thing?" Mr. Flabberbuster asked.
I said, "You could hurt the wrong person." Mr. Flabberbuster stared at me.
"Yes, that could be the case. Not knowing what you are doing before you do it can be a dangerous thing. Especially, with runes and conjuring, which have been here since the beginning. Ignorance can be a bliss, but ignorance can also be dangerous when given the opportunity." With that, Mr. Flabberbuster went onto conjuring.
The class gave each other looks, light mumbling was happening around the room.
"That's kind of scary," I whispered to Rory.
"I know," he muttered back to me.
"Can anyone give me a brief description of what conjuring is?"
A girl with pale blue skin raised her hand, "Conjuring is when you think or use magic with your hands and mind to bring things to life. Sometimes you can even use spells, or objects of significance."
"Would anyone like to add onto that?" Mr. Flabberbuster asked the class.
Nobody said anything, everyone just looked at him. Pointing to the projection, "Conjuring is one of the most difficult things you could do in magic. It usually involves dark magic, and for those of you who don't know what dark magic is, well like I said ignorance is bliss until it becomes dangerous. Dark magic usually involves a sacrifice of some kind. Conjuring is mainly used to cast dark spells, and put curses."
Rory and I gave each other a quick glance, then he raised his hand, "Then, why are we learning how to do dark magic?"
Mr. Flabberbuster whipped around to him, "We are not learning dark magic here. We are learning how to stay away from it. Just because something is used for evil, doesn't mean it isn't entirely bad. Conjuring was used for good, until a dark powerful witch used it for more. Taking what they wanted."
He then clasped his hand over his mouth, like he had said too much. Weird. He began showing us pictures of different runes, giving a brief description of each, and what their functions do. Meaning, when he stopped at a rune that had an "F" look, which somehow meant ash. I tried to focus the best I could, but he kept going fast. He told us we could take the textbooks with us along with the notebooks. However, we would need to give back the textbooks at the end of the year.
I had another class after that one. I learned that Kat and I had a majority of our classes together. We both had Incantations and Spells, Craft: Potions, healing and energies, and Manifestations, Transfiguration, Interpretation (future dreams) for short MIT. I mentally laughed at that, I was pretty sure there was a school with that name too.
By my last class I was ready to get home. I tried to open the portal again, this time with both Damian and Kat there. I didn't have much luck, but the different sparks of color remained. They both told me it was, because I had yet to enter through to make a portal of my own.
The look on their faces said otherwise though. Kat opened up the portal and we went through.
"Back to the other world." Damian huffed sadly, sucking in a breath.
"No, back to the human world." I replied back, and we stepped through the portal. Finding ourselves back at the staircase of the Mason's Mansion.
I checked my phone, still at the same time as I left. We began walking out the door, "Hey, how come my time hasn't changed?"
"That's because time doesn't exist at M.A.S.O.N." Kat replied, casually. We were walking on the sidewalk, all heading towards my street.
"So, when I leave is the exact same time I get back?" I asked them.
Damian nodded his head, "Basically, I mean you might leave one minute after you get back to the portal. Time starts back when you enter the portal, and come back to this world."
I shook my head, "Why?" I asked them.
Kat and Damian exchanged a look, "Why?" Kat asked herself.
"Yeah, why doesn't time have any effect there?"
Damian glanced around, "I really don't know how to answer that one. It just has always been that way from what I can remember." He shrugged his shoulders and pointed at my house.
"We're here." He stated, glancing up and down the street. He seemed to be on edge.
"Cassie, I'll see you at school tomorrow. You need to keep your appearances up at school too, you know." Kat said to me, giving me a tight hug.
My brain was still processing the whole time thing, "So, I wouldn't lose sleep right?" I asked.
Kat just gave a low laugh, "No, you wouldn't lose any sleep. The school exists in nothing, where nothing can affect it in any way. We get to go to two different schools, and still get all the hours of sleep we want."
"That sounds like a dream," I said, glancing up into her eyes. Kat's hair falling into her face.
I never noticed how beautiful her hair was. I was quickly brought back to the present, remembering it was still early in the morning, where Jessie the neighbor was supposed to come check on me being sick.
I turned towards Kat, "Did you skip school too?"
"Kind of," Kat waved goodbye to me.
"Damian, how does it make sense that I was able to go to class, and yet be back here? I mean, wouldn't my classes be later?"
"Yes, but class starts when you get there. No matter what time you get there, everyone will always be on time for that class."
"How?" I asked, "I don't try to understand Cas, it just gives you a headache." I just shook my head, and made my way inside the house.
No sooner had I got home, I got a knock on the front door. A smiling Jessie was looking at me, her crinkled eyes, glancing at my eyeball. I have to remember she doesn't know. She stepped into the house.
"How are you feeling? Your dad just called me." Jessie mentioned, glancing around the house.
"A little bit better. I wanted to get ready, not look sick anymore. I was hoping it would help me get over it." I replied, making my way into the kitchen, grabbing some milk out of the fridge, and pouring me a glass.
"Right, what about the boy I just saw. Plus, that girl, you didn't skip school did you?"
I glanced up, glaring at her, "I am sorry Jessie are you accusing me of something here?"
Jessie raised her eyebrows, "Sure seems like it, don't you think."
I sat the glass down, roughly, "I went out for a walk to get some fresh breath. I didn't want to be in my room all day. My friends were coming to check on me, they saw me out and about on their way to school. They were running late."
I stated, still glaring at her. "Both of them happen to be running late?" She asked, accusatory still in her tone.
"Like I said, they were both coming to check on me before heading to school." Jessie kept her eyebrows raised.
"I think you should go. I'll let my dad tell you."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay? I would love to talk to your dad when he gets here."
I stared at her, I looked her up and down. I noticed the way she kept looking at the picture of my mom and dad when they were younger. Then, it hit me, she was only doing this out of the interest in my dad.
"No thanks. I'll follow you out." I said, walking towards the front food. Jessie at my heels, "Are you sure? I really don't mind."
"I'll be fine." I said, nonchalantly, opening the front door and waving her out.
She turned around to face me, "Thanks for being so thoughtful to me Jessie," I sarcastically said, shutting the door in her face.
I went up to my room. I decided that I needed to take a shower. My day has been rough. After I got out I took a nap. Might as well. I woke up later right after school just got out. I heard a knock on the door. I was praying that it wasn't Jessie again.
When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Max standing there. I looked over his shoulder to see if Phoebe came with him. I couldn't stand her for a second. Max could move on, that's fine, Phoebe is just a horrible person in general.
I heard Max laugh, "She's not with me today," I glanced up at him. I opened the door up, signaling for him to come inside the house.
"What are you doing here Max?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"I noticed you weren't at school today. Then, Kat told me you were sick. You don't look sick." He said, looking me up and down.
I felt uncomfortable by how his eyes roamed. "I feel better."
"I just wanted to come by and check on you." I looked up at the ceiling, the lights started to flicker.
"Well, I am fine." I said, stepping back from him.
Which only prompted Max to step forward towards me. "Clearly, you aren't Cas. You can tell me what's going on, you know." Worry filling his eyes, he sat a hand gently on my shoulder.
I stared at it for a split second before shaking it off, "I don't have to tell you anything. For all I know, words could get back to Phoebe." I said, squinting my eyes at him. \
Max took in a deep breath, looking me in the eyes, "I promise you whatever was said between us, or will be said, will only be between the two of us, no one else." He looked down at my hands. They were tainted brown from the potions class earlier.
He took my hands and examined my hands. Flutter. No Cassie, no you don't, don't to feel that way. "I still wouldn't tell you a lick of a thing." I said, glancing away guilty.
Max caught onto it. He knew when I was hiding something. I knew he knew. I also knew that he knew I knew he knew. Our eyes caught for a moment. He dropped my hands, slinging to the side of my body. I looked away from him.
"Cassie, whatever is going on, I will figure it out. Eventually. Just tell me now, so I don't have to worry about our dads." That caught my attention, I jerked my head towards him, "First of all, it's nobody's concern but my own. For two, it's no longer your business."
"Like hell it is Cas. We grew up together. We dated." Max stopped in his tracks, gulping.
"That. Doesn't. Mean. Anything." I said, angrily, stepping up to him, with each word pointing into his chest.
I looked up into his eyes, "What we had is over with, I understand that. I don't need you to try being in my life, when I clearly don't want you too anymore. Our dads are best friends, that's fine, it doesn't mean we have to be too."
I watched as Max looked at me, his eyebrows furrowing together, "I don't know you anymore Cassie." He said, his voice having a rough etch in it.
"I never knew you at all." Cassie stated, turning around, walking back up to her room, she stopped and looked, "You know where the door is." She trailed back up to her room.
Cassie heard Max slam the door behind him. She was already in her room by then. Cas walked over to the window, moving the curtains back a little.. She watched as Max stood there for a moment. He looked back at the door, and then up to her window. In which, she quickly flew down to the ground.
She crept back up to peek, Max was making his way over to the jeep angrily. He got in it and left, without so much as a thought. Her and Max used to have fights when they were little, but not a fight like this.
Something was up with her, but she needed him to be as far from her as possible. It hurt Cassie to think like that, but it was her only way of protecting him. She remembered what Mr. Flabberbuster had said, "Ignorance can be a bliss, or a dangerous thing."
She hoped that Max's ignorance to her whole ordeal, her keeping him at arms length would protect him. He would be in his own ignorant bliss, not a worry for her anymore. She hated how she had to seem like she hated him. When, in reality, that wasn't true. Cassie already accepted everything, shit happens, however, she couldn't let Max get dragged into her new found world.
It was too risky, Cassie remembered the fight she had witnessed earlier. Even if it was only training, the thought of Max being a part of that absolutely terrified her. He knew the old Cassie though, the human one. In some state of mind, she was human, but now she was more. She was a witch, with a consuming power gnawing at her insides to be unleashed.
"I made the right choice," Cassie whispered into the thin air.
She made her way over to her bed, grabbing out her school laptop, and beginning to catch up on the work she had missed. Tomorrow will be a brand new day. Cassie was different now, and everything was changing all around her.
Cassie, later, heard her dad come into the house. She made her way downstairs to greet him. Her dad came in, sat his keys down, and made his way over to the couch. He turned on the tv, switching the channels until it was on his favorite golfing show. Cassie watched as he went into the kitchen. She came into the living room, and propped herself onto the recliner.
Her dad came in, "Hey Cas how are you feeling?" She looked up at him.
With a smile, "Better. How about you dad?"
He chuckled at her, "Better. Jessie told me she stopped by."
I sat up in the recliner, ready for the lecture waiting for me. "Yeah, she did, by the way, Damian and Kat came to see me. They were checking in."
"I heard, I also heard that Max came by too." My dad was looking at me now. Max said something to them. I just know it.
"Yeah, he did," I said nonchalantly, suddenly finding the tv interesting.
"It was funny, he came in and said he needed to talk to Billy."
"Yeah?" I said, still looking at the tv.
My dad's voice kept edging, he was in the kitchen peeling potatoes, "Yeah, after Max left Billy started to talk to me."
That earned my dad a look. He raised his hands up defensively. "I just want to make sure you are alright Cas, and not just the sick kind too kiddo."
Without looking at my dad, "I am fine dad. I don't know what Max said. Just because you and Billy are best friends, doesn't mean me and Max need to be too." I uttered, pulling out my phone.
"Cas, that's not what I meant, you and Max have always been so close."
I looked up at my dad, still in the kitchen cutting potatoes, "People change dad. I really don't want to talk about this anymore."
My dad frowned, he was done cutting the potatoes and went to the sink to wash them. I looked down at my phone, I had a message from Kat.
Cas, I am so glad I don't have to keep this secret anymore. Xoxo - Kat
me too.
I never wanted to lie to you ever. I hope you know that. Xoxo - Kat
i figured it was important if you did it. i understand Kat.
I just felt guilty about everything, and just wanted to make sure you knew. Xoxo - Kat
i know. i need to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.
Goodnight, Cassie! Xoxo - Kat
night.
I plugged my phone up to be charged. I headed downstairs to eat dinner with my dad. He didn't bring up our conversation from earlier, or anything about Max thankfully. I asked about his work, and he told me about his day.
Again, excluding the whole Max ordeal. I knew tomorrow was going to be horrible. Considering Phoebe, and now with Max and I in a fight. After I ate I headed to my room for the night. I tried going to sleep, to turn my brain off. It was almost a restless sleep.
Almost. Until I fell asleep. I woke up to my alarm clock going off for my regular human school life. Great. I got ready, I remembered what Kat said about keeping up appearances. I needed to do that. I got dressed for school, grabbed my keys, and had a quick breakfast to eat on the way to school. I made sure I had everything in my backpack. Making a note to stop by the office, and grab extra school supplies.
On my way to school, I kept thinking about my job. I worked as a librarian aid at our local library. I was off for the past two days, luckily, it was like the universe knew I needed it. However, I knew after school today, I would need to go to it. I remembered Damian mentioning my classes, how I won't ever be later. Not truly that is.
I finally made it to school. Kat and Damian were waiting for me by the entrance. They told me what time they were planning on heading to the Mansion. I told them what time I got off work too.
I was still working on opening the portal. We would go early, that way I could get some practice in. My day was normal, of course, especially with the Phoebe stares. Max and I didn't talk or make any eye contact with each other. It felt like we didn't even know each other.
At this moment in time, we didn't, we were strangers once more. After the school day ended, I headed to my job. I was disappointed to find it was just a regular library like I remembered. The one at M.A.S.O.N. really brought out some expectations I didn't know I needed.
I excitedly showed students to different isles, and helped out what they were looking for. I knew the library like it was a part of my mind.. In some ways, it really was. After my shift ended, I headed to the Mansion, where Kat and Damian were waiting for me.
I walked in, still the creepy noise of the door following my entrance. I watched as they were hush talking by the staircase. They were whispering to each other, in hushed tones, why? I made my way to them, both stopping and looking at me.
"What's going on here?" I asked them, glancing between the two.
"We are trying to come up with a plan for you to open your portal." Kat stated, looking down at her feet. Her lying sign, I can play this game.
"Oh, really?" I asked, eyebrows raising.
"It shouldn't take someone this long to figure out a portal," Damian uttered, scratching his head.
"Kat literally told me it was hard to do, and I didn't figure out I was a witch up until a few days ago."
Both Kat and Damian glanced between the two. "I mean yeah it is hard, but it is one of the first things we learn."
"And we both have been trying to teach you how to do it." Damian said, catching my eye.
I glared at them both, "Fine," I uttered. Stretching out my fingers, I walked in front of the staircase.
Damian kept glancing over to the window. "Concentrate." He said, his eyes never leaving it.
I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath. I focused my thoughts and my feelings all around my surroundings. I could feel my power buzzing inside me. The first creeping out of me, like lava out of a volcano. It coursed through my brain, through my soul. I felt a whisper tugging at the back of my mind, "power," it echoed.
When I opened my eyes, there was the portal, instead of color, it remained sparks of the rainbow. I looked at Damian and Kat, a smirk playing on my face. I waved my hands at them.
"See, I just needed time."
Kat rolled her eyes, "Yeah, come on Sherlock."
I smirked, "Don't mind if I do." Before I stepped through the portal, Damian spoke up, "Remember to be careful when you go through little witch."
I looked at him, right, the thoughts thing. I nodded my head at him, and went through. No sooner had Kat and Damian follow through. We were at the Academy, and we're walking.
However, just before the portal closed, Max slipped through it. Unnoticed by Kat and Cassie, however Damian, glanced, smiling at him.