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  “A Looking Stone? What’s that?” Oh please don’t tell me it’s a crystal ball.

  Ana got up and walked over to the round table in the middle of the room. She tapped it three times with her finger and a block of opaque crystal rose from its center. “Come here,” she instructed. “I’ll show you.”

  The milky slab on the table looked like a large chunk of steaming dry ice. At first it was cloudy and grayish, but when Ana ran her hands over the top it suddenly turned clear—the bottom shone fluorescent purple.

  “This is the Looking Stone. When a witch is looking for something or someone she has a powerful connection to, the Stone will show her where to find them. Every day I looked here for Gabby, and every day it was blank—until about three years ago when I got a hazy picture. Too hazy to see what or who it was.” She gave me a small smile.

  “So I kept looking, tuning my senses into the energy spot until the picture eventually became clearer. Finally, after all this time, I had found you. Your father received my letter ‘special delivery’ later that same day.”

  She turned to me, her eyes serious, but a tiny grin still on her lips. She grasped my hand and led me back to the couch. “I knew you were coming into your powers, and if I was able to find you, others would, too. I got you here as quickly and as safely as possible.”

  She picked up the amulet, letting it dangle from her fingertips as she held it out to me.

  “Now you know everything; our family’s sad past and the threats you face. But as I told you before, you are strong. And powerful. I know you will become a fine witch and an even better person. I will make sure that you have whatever tools are necessary to make you feel safe and protected at all times.”

  I took the necklace from her and stared at it appraisingly. It was heavy and elegantly crafted. The stone shimmered in the light, its many facets giving it the reflective quality of a tangerine diamond.

  “Please, allow me,” Ana said as she took the necklace from my hand and gently clasped it around my neck.

  Maybe it was all in my mind from what Ana had told me this afternoon, but as soon as the amulet locked into place I did feel safer. Stronger. I turned and smiled at her.

  “That’s better,” she said. “Best to keep it hidden; wear it under your clothes. And never, ever take it off.”

  It was so pretty and unique…and the first piece of jewelry I’d ever owned. I didn’t want to keep it hidden away, but perhaps Ana was right. It would certainly attract attention.

  I tucked it under the neckline of my dress, and felt the warm stone fall on my breast.

  “Thank you,” I whispered to her.

  She smiled, and I felt her earlier tension disappear almost completely. “Now, it is heavily enchanted so you must be careful. Never take it off, even here. Will you promise me that?”

  I nodded. “I promise.”

  *****

  I float toward the pulsating warmth of the light summoning me from across the starry, nighttime sky. I am not alone; the Other has found me again. In a timeless moment I am there… absorbing the nourishment of his love and strength. I grow bigger, stronger. I feel him, imagine him, as in my mind I create the masterpiece of my love…

  I begin to see his face, slowly forming into the shape of my desires. His electric eyes connect with mine. Our lips touch…inflaming my senses, igniting my soul’s passion. At this moment I feel my absolute power. This is my world. He is my destiny. I know who I am.

  I know who he is.

  We are becoming.

  We have always been.

  We will always be.

  One.

  ***

  I opened my eyes and closed them again. With my fingertips, I gently touched my mouth, still feeling the fiery tingle where I’d just been kissed. I pressed my head down on the soft pillow, my heart racing, my breath shallow. In vain I tried to hold on to the rapidly fading memory.

  I lay in the darkness several long minutes, trying to recapture the euphoria of that magical kiss. Who was he? Who was kissing me with that much passion and that much love?

  No one, that’s who. It’s all in my head. That’s why it’s called a ‘dream’.

  The sun’s rays were creeping in the edges of the widow, and I flicked my fingers absently to open the heavy drapes. The bright sunshine told me it was later than I’d first thought, and when I put on my glasses and saw the clock, I knew my time for dreaming was over.

  Today was my first day of school.

  Nervously, I fingered the amulet resting on my chest. The pulsating warmth of its power surrounded me like a magical barrier. Ana had promised it would protect me from Hunters who may wish to do me harm.

  But would it provide me any protection from regular teenagers who could be the cruelest monsters of all?

  Chapter 9. Friends

  St. Morgan’s Preparatory Academy sat high on a hillside in the neighboring town of Diamond Falls. The drive there took less than twenty minutes, and Ana had insisted, with my father’s approval, that Henri drive me.

  Henri’s chatter was doing little to distract me from the violent bees in my stomach. If only this day would be over already! It was bad enough having to be the ‘new girl’, but being new after the school year had already started, and at a small school where everyone knew everyone…

  Nervously I smoothed down my crisp white, button-down shirt. It had the St. Morgan crest stitched in shiny gold thread on the left breast pocket. A blue cardigan sweater with an identical design lay folded neatly in my lap. Of all the luck, now that I actually had some nice clothes of my own, I was going to a school that required uniforms.

  I sighed and stared out at the whizzing scenery. The twenty minutes felt more like two when Henri maneuvered the car down the circular driveway in front of the main entrance. Some students in the cars in front of us were being dropped off by their parents; older students emerged from the student lot.

  A group of girls caught my eye. Three of them, all strikingly beautiful. They didn’t walk; they strutted like fashion models across the parking lot as if it were their own personal runway. A tall, blonde girl walked in front. Just behind on either side of her, the two brunettes seemed almost like bodyguards, except they were as lithe and feminine as the girl walking point. All of them exuded an air of arrogance and superiority – their heads held high, shoulders thrown back, and looks of bored disdain on their otherwise exquisite faces.

  “Here we are,” Henri announced as he pulled up in front. “I’ll pick you up from this spot at 3:15. You know where to go, no?”

  I nodded. Ana had given me clear instructions on how to get to the administrative building, where I was to meet a Mrs. Marks. She’d take care of me from there.

  “Okay, then, have a good first day!” he cheered, an impish smile lighting his face.

  I put my head down and walked past the small groups of gathering students, some of whom were turning to look at me. Ignoring the curious glances sent my way, I headed directly to the main building at the other end of the breezeway.

  Inside the office, a woman wiped frantically at a coffee spot on her creamy white blouse. “Oh dear…oh drat,” she muttered as I walked in the room. She looked up and saw me, and a huge smile replaced her annoyed scowl. “Wonderful! Perfect timing! Come here,” she whispered conspiratorially, and motioned for me to go with her into a smaller office behind her huge desk.

  I followed, perplexed by the woman’s strange behavior. She shut the door behind us and looked around nervously, even though we were alone. “Please, if you don’t mind…I’d really appreciate it…” She pointed at the dark stain with an embarrassed smile.

  “Please…what?”

  She looked slightly guilty at my confusion. “I know, I know.” She sighed. “Ana wants you to be careful with your magics. But this is so small, no one will ever know. I promise. I’d do it myself, but my talents are limited to potion making and spirit channeling. Not very useful for someone as clumsy as me, I’m afraid.”

  My heart s
tarted beating faster. “You know Ana? You know who…I…am?”

  “Why yes, of course. OH!” She slapped her hand on her forehead. “How rude of me! We haven’t actually met yet have we? My name is Edna Marks.” She extended her plump hand to shake mine. “I have known Anastasia for almost fifty years. We grew up together.” She smiled at me warmly. “I’ve been dreaming of you so clearly the past week I already thought us to be old friends!” She giggled like a young girl, even though she was probably closer to sixty.

  As if this should clear up any concerns I had, she again pointed to her stain and cleared her throat. “Quickly, dear, before anyone else comes looking for me.”

  I hesitated, but felt I could trust this bubbly woman. She knew Ana – and she knew about our secret.

  “Um, okay, I’ll try to help you, but I’m not sure what I can do…,” I said uncertainly. I’d never tried to remove a coffee stain by using magic before. I wasn’t sure what she was expecting.

  “You have the Touch…Ana told me. Just place your hand on the spot and imagine the stain gone – how the shirt should be.”

  “All right, I’ll try, but please don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work…I’ve never done this before.”

  She didn’t say anything, just waved her hands for me to begin. I gently placed my hand below her collarbone, covering the brown mark. I closed my eyes and pictured the stain shrinking into nothingness…the alabaster blouse clean and unmarred. There was a light tickle, like an ant or small bug had trickled across my palm.

  When I pulled my hand away and opened my eyes, the blouse was as good as new. Any trace of the previous stain was gone.

  Edna glanced down as if this was exactly the outcome she’d expected. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she said, opening the door to the main office. “Now, let’s get you your schedule and map of the school.”

  *****

  English, math, biology, history, health, phys. ed., and one elective—I’d chosen photography. Standard high school classes, except I was placed in an advanced math group where the other students would be mostly seniors.

  By the time I’d finished going over my new schedule with Edna and filled out the necessary forms, classes had already started and the hallways were empty. She’d offered to escort me to my first class, English with Mr. Bowers, but I declined. I didn’t need a babysitter, and her presence would do nothing to settle the waves of nausea threatening to rid me of my breakfast.

  I looked down at the piece of paper that had a map of the school. It was crumpled and moist. Building C, second floor, room 213. I paused outside the door and took a deep breath, fighting to remain calm and upright as my head spun in circles.

  You can do this, Callie. You can do this. Breathe. Just breathe.

  A tall man wearing a brown tweed jacket was speaking to the class as I walked in. He stopped midsentence and looked at me, as did everyone else. Instantly, a tsunami of all the feelings I’d been dreading crashed over me.

  I took another deep breath, my cheeks growing warm as I approached the teacher. He greeted me with a welcome smile.

  “You must be our new addition, Calista McCoy,” he said.

  I nodded silently and handed him the pink paper Edna had given me to have each of my teachers sign. He took it and said, “Welcome. Why don’t you take a seat in the back, next to Sophie Daniels; Sophie, please raise your hand.”

  I glanced up and saw a pretty blonde girl with bouncing curls waving her arm in the back row. Grateful my moment in the spotlight was over for now, I headed toward the rear of the class where the sunny girl smiled expectantly.

  “Hi,” she leaned over and whispered as I sat down. “I’m so happy you’re here! We’ve been waiting for you.”

  I wanted to ask her who was ‘waiting’ for me, but Mr. Bowers had resumed his lecture, and I didn’t want to get into trouble for talking during class, especially on my first day.

  Overwhelming excitement radiated from Sophie’s seat as I tried to focus on taking good notes, and the unexpected exuberance was making me uncomfortable. When the bell rang signaling the end of class, she turned to me.

  “What’s your next class?”

  I consulted my list. “History. Mrs. Stevens in Building A.”

  “Great, me too. We can walk together,” she said as she gathered her belongings. “I told Edna to put us in as many classes as possible, but you know Edna…sweet, but kinda spacey sometimes.”

  I nodded as if I knew this to be true.

  “Lily will be there, so you’ll get to meet her, too. We’ve both been really excited about you coming here, ever since we found out.” Her sweet face positively glowed.

  “How did you know I was coming?” I asked. And why do you care so much?

  “My aunt Cleo was at your house the other day. She…um...made you something. I have one, too.” She patted her chest. “So does Lily. We all wear them.” Her voice was more subdued as we wandered the hall in clear earshot of other students.

  Some looked at me curiously, but it didn’t bother me as much as it had earlier. I didn’t feel any hostility, only quick acceptance from everyone. I supposed walking with Sophie helped. People seemed to really like her, and she smiled and waved at several students as we passed.

  “So, you…you’re one, too?” I whispered, amazed. I didn’t know why it hadn’t crossed my mind there’d be other girls like me here.

  “Yes,” she whispered back, her eyes cautious. “Me and Lily. And now you. But now isn’t the best time to talk about it; wait ‘till school gets out…I’ve been dying to see Ana’s place. I hear it’s fabulous! You are sooo lucky to get to live there!” She sighed dramatically. “I mean our place is okay, but Ana’s is like on a whole other level! So I hear…”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing,” I agreed.

  Sophie stopped to chat briefly with a small group gathered outside our next class. They were all very friendly when she introduced me, like I was one of them. The knots in my stomach gradually loosened. Maybe this was what it felt like to be normal, not an unwanted outcast.

  “Oh look, there’s Lily!” she exclaimed, and pulled me away from the small gathering. “We still have a few minutes. Let’s go talk to her.”

  The tall, slender girl floating toward us was the complete opposite of Sophie. While Sophie was blonde, blue-eyed, and bubbly – the quintessential “California girl,” Lily was exotic and sleek. Long, onyx hair framed her olive-toned skin in a straight sheet of silk, and her almond-shaped eyes resembled pools of liquid amber. Her features were straight and proud; she looked like royalty and carried herself with the dignity of a queen. I was beginning to think there must be something in the water out here…so many of these girls were absolutely stunning.

  “Lily! This is her!” Sophie gushed when the bronzed beauty drew nearer.

  Lily approached us and smiled at me coolly. “Calista. I am Liliana Davenport. We are so glad to know you.” She placed a perfectly manicured hand on my shoulder. “I know we will be wonderful friends.”

  Compared to Sophie’s overt geniality, Lily’s formal greeting seemed almost aloof. But I felt her warmth and genuine delight at meeting me. She just kept it closely to herself.

  “It’s nice to meet you, too,” I responded.

  “Come on, we don’t want to be late. Callie, I’ll make sure to save a seat for you, okay? And if Mrs. Stevens wants to seat you somewhere else, well, I’ll take care of that, too,” Sophie said with a mischievous smile. Lily shot her a look but said nothing.

  I handed Mrs. Stevens my pink paper, and she told me to find an open seat anywhere I liked. I headed toward the back of the class and almost laughed at Sophie’s smug smile and Lily’s disapproving expression. They seemed so much like sisters, despite their polarized looks.

  The rest of the day went by smoothly. The three of us had health class right after history, and Lily and I had biology together after that. It was lunchtime when we met up with Sophie again on the patio in the quad.

  It felt so
natural and easy being with Sophie and Lily. They seemed like a perfect balance. Sophie was lighthearted, open, and funny. Lily was calm, quiet, and more reserved. Yet they connected in a special place that allowed each of them to be exactly who they were, with no judgment or condemnation from the other. It was nice.

  Sophie twirled her spoon in her frozen yogurt, while Lily nibbled on a spinach salad. “Who are they?” I asked, as the group of girls I’d noticed earlier in the parking lot stalked by us, their noses in the air.

  “Oh, them,” Sophie scoffed. “Trust me; they’re not nearly as important as they think they are. The tall one in front, the blonde with the nose job and tacky highlights, that’s Savannah Banyan. Her dad owns practically half the state, so she thinks that makes her special.” She rolled her eyes.

  Lily smirked and Sophie continued talking. “The two girls standing next to her are Mia Rogers and Zoe Preston. Mia wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t always around the others. She grew up next door to me. We used to be friends – that is, before she started worshipping the high and mighty Savannah. Zoe has never had an original thought in her head her entire life. She’d walk into oncoming traffic if Savannah told her it was a good idea.”

  Lily shook her head. “Every school has them…you know, the girls who think they own the place? Well, those are ours.”

  “Are they mean?”

  “Well, you certainly don’t want to get on Savannah’s bad side,” Sophie said. “She has a way of getting people to gang up on other people. She’s kind of a ring-leader of sorts. The others aren’t so bad – individually—but they stick behind her no matter what. It’s best just to stay out of her way and let her go about her royal duties as queen of the school.”