(Author's Note: I am not promoting Wiccan or Satanic Rituals. They can get you in serious trouble, it is highly likely that Vampira's Spell could work but that doesn't mean you should use it! There is no one who can help you if it goes wrong!)
Miri wondered if she had upset Salem. He'd seemed really shy around her, why? She thought back to her recurring dreams. Last night she hadn't had the dream. It was strange how she'd been having the dream every night for months, then when she got to know who was in the dream, she stopped having it.
She'd walked home alone. Salem had disappeared and Jinxes and Mraya had been long gone. She thought a lot while walking. When she'd stroke Kaptra, Salem's reaction had been to shiver, as though he himself had felt it...
When she'd got back Mraya had been in bed, but she wasn't asleep. She'd been waiting for Miri to come home so they could talk.
"Well? Did you hit it off?" Mraya asked. Miri looked startled. Why would she want to? Salem didn't seem the type to go for girls.
"No! Did you and Jinxes?" Miri retorted. Mraya soon shut up. Instead their talk went to other things to do with their new found friends.
"Okay, okay," Miri said after Mraya had asked her what her first impressions of them were. "Jinxes is kinda fit, but way too immature! Victory is clever, a little full of himself and overly mature. And Salem is-is distant..." They both went into a fit of giggles which tired them out. They fell asleep...
Miri had woken early and was now getting dressed. She brushed her hair, deciding whether to keep her hair down or put it up. She didn't bother with make-up, it wasn't practical for schooling, as mascara tended to run down your face too often. Lipstick smudged, and made you look like Coco the Clown, and blusher made you look like you'd been slapped. Natural was best for school.
She was dressed in the Academy uniform, which was a white blouse, a thin ribbon thing that tied in a loose bow at the top button and a blue skirt. It wasn't compulsary but socks that came up to your knees were fashionable. Miri looked at herself in the mirror. She'd never had to wear anything like this before, she'd had private tutors. I wonder what it's like to learn in a class? She thought.
At that moment Mraya walked into the bathroom.
"Out," She said, not nastily but as a sort of, I-can't-be-bothered-to-be-polite voice.
"I'm going," said Miri walking out. She sat down on her bed, and waited. It was eight-thirty by the time Mraya was ready. They decided to walk down to the Cafeteria to get some breakfast.
Salem had got up early. For the first night in a long time he hadn't dreamed about the cliff or the mountain. He counted himself lucky. He was first up and crept silently to the door when he heard Jinxes start to talk to himself.
"Pink bunnies! Mummy please don't let the pink bunny rabbits get me! Please! NO! NO! NOT THE PINK BUNNY RABBITS!" Jinxes began to shout. Victory shot up out of bed. He looked around, shocked.
"Who's killing him?" He asked. Salem shrugged and began to shake Jinxes awake. Jinxes opened a bleary eye. He looked around.
"Phew, just a dream!" He said and went back to sleep. Only when his alarm clock went off five minutes later did he actually sit up.
"This better not be a common occurance!" Victory snapped, going to the bathroom.
"Why need your beauty sleep?" Jinxes replied. Very witty, Salem thought. Annoying the most popular guy in school. Salem however sat down and checked that his special present from Lady Kristel was still there.
"Wotcha doin'?" Jinxes asked, walking over to Salem's bed.
"Checking my presents safe," Salem said. He picked up a sheath. It was leather, entwined with gold vines reaching up to the handle. He hadn't really had a chance to examine it properly. He drew the blade it's self and saw it was more a ceremonial blade than a fighting one.
It was made from two types of metal, one a redish color, the other blue steel. It was asthough Lady Kristel had known that Salem knew how to use a sword, the handle was just the right length, the blade was just the right weight. The hilt had two stones one it, one a saphirre, the other a chunk of amber.
"WOW! Who bought you that?" Jinxes asked. Salem wondered if he should tell Jinxes but then again Jinxes would tell everyone, then hundreds of peole would want gifts off Lady Kristel.
"A friend," Salem replied. Jinxes winked and walked over to his bed. He pulled out a case, in it was a golden feather. Jinxes pulled it out and touched the tip, he wrote a symbol in the air. It hung there, shimmering gold for a second, then Jinxes disappeared.
"Yeah, a friend gave me this as well. It's a Rune Feather. So you can do rune magic without having to summon up elementals," Jinxes rematerialised. "We might just have the same friend!"
Salem smiled. At that moment Victory walked out of the bathroom. Victory saw the dawn sunlight glinting on the steel on Salem's blade.
"Ah, A water/fire ceremonial blade! Very expensive and very hard to make! Almost as hard to make as a Light Blade. You're very lucky," Victory started to get his bag ready. Salem ran to the bathroom before the idea even came over Jinxes, leaving his blade underneath his bed.
An hour later Salem was in the cafeteria and munching away on a peace of toast. He saw Victory sitting at the other end of the Hall, trying to hide from his little fan club. Jinxes sat next to him, stuffing as much as he could in his mouth. His mouth was full, so that his cheeks bulged, when Mraya and Miri walked in. Jinxes hurriedly swallowed and bagan to choke.
Salem started to pat him on the back. He ended up doing the heimlic maneuver, to get the food out of his throat. Jinxes and Salem were both a drk shade of magneta by the time Jinxes coughed out his food. Mraya and Miri were in hysterics from the cafeteria counter. Jinxes and Salem just wanted to disappear.
The girls came over. Salem didn't really want to talk to Miri, not after what had happened last night. Mraya sat next to Jinxes which meant that a space was left where Miri would sit next to Salem. He stood up as though he'd sat on a porcupine.
"I'm going to the Shrine, I need to ask for some guidence about a dream I keep having," He stood up when the Princess stood up as well.
"About a mountain, right?" She said. Salem felt ice drop into his stomach. How could she know?
"Y-Yeah. How? How could you know?" Salem asked. Jinxes and Mraya looked puzzled for a moment, then realised what was going on.
"I've been having the same dream for months. I figure I could get an answer here. I couldn't understand the answer but I got one," The Princess steered him away from Jinxes and Mraya and towards the Water Gardens. Only when she was in the Dreams Temple would she talk.
"Lady Kristel said my dream isn't a premonition, it is a message. Thunder on the mountainside, trouble here. You falling, a sign that-that-," She bit her lip. Salem decided that he'd finish her sentence for her.
"That I'll fall?" Salem asked. Miri nodded. He didn't even know her, why were they having the same dream? Miri sighed and threw her arms around him. Salem was so taken aback that it took him a while to react. He put his arms around her. She broke away.
"Let's be friends," She said. Salem smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that," He replied. Miri walked out of the temple, the bell went, to signal the start of lessons. Miri sighed and ran to meet Mraya in the hall, and collect her bag from their rooms.
Lady Kristel sighed. Sally had been in the temple at the same time as Salem and Miri. Sally had told her of the dreams she had been sending them. Lady Kristel was a little annoyed with her, for not saying, but she was more interested in another Guardian at the moment.
Cingo, the Guardian of Five, needed to find a way back through the Gateway. He had been trapped there over two thousand years ago, and now he was needed. Lady Kristel had tried a complex summoning charm, a barrier breaking charm and a astro-projection charm. Nothing had worked. Cingo was needed though, as soon he would have five Chosen to look after.
Vampira was going to find some other ways to get her through. Lady Kristel was against Black Magic, even though it had to be taught students, but it was Vampira's specialty. She was researching Wiccan and Satanic spells at the moment. Lady Kristel shivered at the thought of actually taking part it one. Many times she had refused, and this time she wouldn't have a single student in the school.
Many times Lady Kristel had had problems, but now, she was finding it more difficult to cope...
Salem's first lesson that day was PSE, with Miss Eden. She started the lesson by writing a question on the blackboard. It read 'Magic Racists'. Salem wondered what his was about. He'd never heard of it.
"Magic Racists are people who, even though are in touch with the magical world, dispise the people of it. As some are to different skin colors and religeons, these people pick on someone who is different to them and decide that they are lesser beings," Salem listened. He found that Eden had a way of ignoring everything else while she was teaching. Jinxes, who sat next to him, was passing notes in the form of love hearts to a girl at the back of the class.
"She digs me!" He whispered. Salem shook his head.
"What about Mraya?" Salem whispered back. Jinxes shrugged. The note returned, Salem read it over Jinxes shoulder.
Jinxes:'Hi'
Sarla: 'Hi'
Jinxes: 'Wanna go on a date?'
Sarla: 'I'd rather go with your cute new friend thanks!'
Salem looked away. Jinxes drew a big zig zag line down the heart and threw it across the classroom. This time Eden saw it and put out her hand. It zoomed to it.
"Okay, Jinxes, Sarla and Jinxes's "cute new friend" can stay behind at the end of class," Eden said. The whole class laughed, Salem found himself feeling embarrassed again. God, why did Jinxes always have to show him up?
The lesson crawled on it felt like forever. Finally the bell went. Jinxes packed away his things and nodded his head in the direction of Eden's desk.
"Each of you will do a three page essay on Magical Racism to be on my desk this time next week. Understood?" Each of them nodded. Once outside Salem realised that, yet again, someone had said he was cute. When would girls realise he wasn't interested?
Jinxes was in a different class during lesson two but he told Salem where to go. Jinxes had History next, with Guardian Trinity. Trinity always had to teach two classes, so she was really strict. Salem had Art with Guardian Solange, he had heard from Jinxes that she was a laid back teacher, who let you get on with it, as long as you weren't breaking rules.
When Salem got to the Art rooms the class was waiting outside. It appeared the teacher was late. Salem scanned the crowd for a familiar face. He saw Victory at the end, he wore a face like a stormy weekend. Salem decided to chance it and talk to him.
"Hello," Salem said. A few girls at the back squealed. Salem ignored them, it seemed that Victory had got used to them being there.
"Hello. I suppose I'm the only face you know here, so you decided to come over and talk to me?" Victory drawled. Salem felt guilty but instead of telling the truth, he decided that a lie might be the best thing for it.
"Actually, I wanna be your friend. I'm your room-mate, so I think it's practical that we get to know each other better," Salem saw the girls begin to chitter. They're like chipmunks, he thought.
"You just think you're a good rival and want to try your luck," Victory said. Salem sighed. Why did everyone think he was some kind of ladies man?
"I'm not here to steal girls. I've only ever had one girlfriend. I'm not likely to go girl crazy all of a sudden. But if you wanna be like that fine, have it your way!" Salem turned and was about to walk away when Victory replied.
"I apologise. I know you're just being friendly. I'm afraid that your breath is wasted with me though. It would be easier to get to know a brick wall," Salem saw the girls eyes go all dreamy and turn to him. There were three now, moving towards Salem in a pack.
"Victory, some help here would be nice..." Salem began to sweat. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! "VICTORY!" Salem turned and ran, the girls not far behind him. He heard Victory laugh and shout.
"Hey, girls? Leave him alone! He's not interested okay?" For all the good it did he might as well not have bothered.
Salem was half way across the playground when the girls stopped chasing him. Salem looked back but carried on running. He ran straight into Guardian Solange. She had been carrying a mug of coffee, which deposited itself onto Salem's head. Solange managed to stay clean but Salem was soaked.
"Good Goddess! Are you alright?" Solange was about as tall as Salem, which was about five foot ten inches. She stooped down.
"Are they still chasing me?" Salem asked her. Solange giggled. "No, they are running away. Go to the Hospital Wing and wash your hair. Oh and while you're there can you give this to Psyche or Ethan?" Solange handed him a brown paper envelope, which wasn't sealed properly.
"Yes miss," Salem said, standing up. He walked towards the Hospital Wing, but as soon as he was rounf the corner he opened the envelope. It was a letter. Salem choked as he read it.
'Dear Salem,
This is Lady Kristel, I suppose this has finally reached you. It was written immediatly after the concert. You may or may not know who attacked you.
Her name is Baroness Tami and she is an old adversary. I have beaten her before but she has returned. I would keep your sword hidden and show no one but the people listed at the bottom of the letter.
Keep your eyes open, for she may decide to appear when you least expect it.
You may be asked for your element in some classes. Your element is a joint one, both fire and water. It is a powerful element, I'm sure you will use your powers wisely.
Jinxes, Miri, Victory, Mraya
I know these are your friends here.
Good luck!
Lady Kristel
Salem carried on up to the Hospital Wing, it would be best to get the coffee out of his hair.
Miri had had RE first. It had been a good chance to think. They were studying Paganism and the connectios it had with other religeons. Miri had always scorned the Wiccan traditions but she'd found that the Goddess was actually from the religeon. Miri found the subject most interesting and was glad they would be studying it for a while.
Half way through the lesson another Guardian walked in. She introduced herself to the class as Guardian Soleil and asked if she could have a silent word with Miri and Mraya.
Miri found herself being dragged outside the classroom, with Mraya not far behind. Soleil handed them each a plain brown envelope, it wasn't addressed to anyone, but Soleil told them to open it. She then went downstairs out of the way.
The letter read:
'Dear Miri,
You may have already known your attacker last night. I am afraid at the moment I cannot say why she attacked you or Salem. I shall search for an answer. The flute I gave you, since you had to leave your old one behind, is very expensive, I do wish it to be looked after. Don't show many people, as it may be stolen. Music=Magic. You may show it to the names listed below.
Your feelings of friendship toward your friends are admireable, but they are clouding your judgement, ever so slightly. Never jump to conclusions. Beware promises and follow your heart.
Salem, Jinxes, Mraya, Victory
Lady Kristel
Mraya's letter was much the same. Why had Lady Kristel written them? Best to destroy them. Mraya held one letter in each hand and both were destroyed. Earth and Air were Mraya's elements and she used them well to destroy the two letters.
Miri went back into class and started her work again. Her mind full of worries and pains of a long forgotten past...
By the time the lesson had finished Miri was almost crying. She managed to keep them back but only because there were lots of people. She had History next, Mraya had Art but Solange had asked her to do something, whilst she had been in the cafeteria, so she was going to be late.
Miri's lesson was in the building next to the Arts classrooms. She was standing outside her lesson when she saw Salem running as fast as he could, three girls were chasing him. She didn't realise that Jinxes was watching her.
"You so have a crush on him," He said making her jump.
"I do not! You must have a crush on Mraya then!" Miri retorted. Jinxes shrugged.
"Yeah I do. But that doesn't mean she likes me! But he really likes you!" Miri glared at Jinxes and he cowered. Her stare was like daggers. She was imagining hundreds of tiny needles going into his skin.
Miri began to change. Her head became furry and brown. She shrunk and before Jinxes realised it, she was a porcupine, firing needles everywhere. A few people screamed, but none were aimed at them. Jinxes knew she wasn't in control of her power. He raised his palms to his shoulders and muttered something. A shield went up. He forced the shield onto Miri and she slowly turned back into a human.
"Jinxes I'm so sorry!" She apologised. She looked really sad. Trinity came round the corner and saw all the porcupine spikes. She knew there had been a fight, and that it had been a shapeshifter. By the looks of things it had been between Jinxes and the new student. Jinxes looked a bit like a cactus.
"Both of you, Hospital Wing now! I'll give you extra work later!" They both trudged off to the Hospital Wing.
There were three lessons in a day. The last lesson being a two hour, completely magical one. In the evening the students would have one hour of another subject, and at midnight, some students would have astrology. It was planned like this so that the students would work hard in the morning and think about the days lessons in the afternoon, before having another lesson in the evening.
The third lesson was with Guardian Elia. She was as cold as ice but she wasn't strict. She didn't careless, which meant that the students always listened to her. She wouldn't react if they stood on the tables and started to piss on the floor.
Salem had washed the coffee out of his hair and was heading towards Elia's classroom. He didn't know what he was going to learn but he was sure it would be interesting. Mraya had been in his last lesson so he walked over with her, and the three girls wo and chased him, although they were unwanted. Victory walked away from them, only slightly, so it might look like he was walking with them.
They met Jinxes and Miri there. Elia was already in the classroom.
"Sit down," She said. "Close the door." Miri closed the door behind her. They went to occupy the five seats at the back, Salem sat in between Jinxes and Miri.
"You are here today to learn how to focus your elements. I heard there was an incident earlier, in which a girl accidently turned into a porcupine and fired spikes at someone. In battle this could mean you're dead."
Miri looked really uncomfortable. Jinxes ripped a page out of his notebook and wrote "It was Miri, I felt like a porcupine myself after she'd finished!" Salem ripped the message from Jinxes off the top and wrote. "Was it really you?" Miri replied "Yes" and Salem decided to leave it.
Elia went into ways of blocking attacks, then summoning elements, then stopping yourself from using attacks. Salem scribbled away, trying to write everything down. When he was satisfied he'd got down everything he looked up to see Elia was standing above him.
"You're the student Lady Kristel was so interested about? I saved you from that snow leopard, though I suppose you were half dead anyway. I shall watch your magical growth with interest!" Elia turned around to look at omeone elses notes. Jinxes was amazed.
"That's the most emotion I've ever seen her show! Well done Salem!" Miri however sighed and went back to her notes.
At the end of the lesson, Elia announced written tests in two days time, and then the practical exam would take place as each student was notified. Miri didn't want to have to do lots of exams. She wanted to learn, then hae examinations. Perhaps Mraya would help her study? Jinxes didn't seem like the type to study, in fact neither did Mraya.
"So, I want you all to get 75% or more. If you get below this test mark, I'm afraid you will have to come back to the classroom and redo all this work. Dismissed," Elia waved her hand at them. The bell rang and everyone crowded the door, eager to get out to lunch.
The group walked across the playground, each buried in their own thoughts...
Salem seems so shy. Why does he act like that?
Miri is obviously a princess, why doesn't she act like one?
I wonder if she really likes me?
I wonder how they'll cope in the test?
They got to the cafeteria and each helped themselves to pizza and chips. Jinxes piled way too much on his plate and had to leave half of his. Mraya and Miri were talking quietly and Salem thought.
Why does Lady Kristel have an interest in me? What have I done? Why do all the girls like me? How did she know that I'd open the letter? The questions whizzed around in Salem's mind, but the answers illuded him. Whatever they were, they weren't going to reveal themselves yet.
"I'm gonna go for a walk around the grounds," Salem announced. Mraya smiled.
"Yeah, they've been expanded, it could take a good while, would you like us to comw with you?" Mraya asked. Salem shook his head.
"No, it's okay, I'd like to go with Kaptra, we haven't really spoken much since last night," Salem went up to his room. He wasn't planning to walk as such, more like practise. He had learnt a little bit of swordplay when he was ten, but he needed to know if he could still remember it.
"Kaptra? You wanna come?" Kaptra, who had been asleep on the bed, opened one eye.
"Does it involve excercise?" He asked. Salem shook his head, laughing.
"No, it involves you just checking to see if anyone is coming," Salem said. Kaptra got up and both leopard and boy ran down into the grounds...
