Chapter 1:  The Handsome Boy

The sun shone brightly in Dali's face as she woke. The sun poured in through the window just above her little blue bed. The red walls looked like blood in the morning light and the white silken curtains didn't keep any light out. The window was slightly open fluttering those white curtains. Dali got up and looked to the left. Pel was still sleeping. Hruumph. Just like an Elf to sleep in! Dali stood and stretched. She folded the pink sheets and had made sure her bed was perfect. She changed out of her green nightgown and into her school uniform. Umoleth Girls Academy. Academy of witchcraft. The uniform was 3 pieces. The skirt was long and black. The shirt was a white button down. They wore different colored robes depending on their year. The 1st year age 14 it was a sickly pink. 2nd year age 15: royal purple. 3rd year age 16: emerald green. 4th year age 17: sapphire blue. 5th and final year age 18: blood red. Dali's robe: Sapphire blue. She finished changing and looked over at Pel. She was still sleeping. In fact, Dali would have been surprised if Pel had been awake. It was the same every morning. Get up, make bed, get dressed...Wake Pel, dress Pel, feed Pel. Dali stalked over to Pel's side and placed her hand on her forehead  Her face was smooth and a marble white. Her ears were small and slightly pointed. Dali peeled Pel's eyes open. "Morning!"
Pel's silvery purple eyes were open and staring, but Pel was anything but awake. "MORNING!!"
Pel jumped and smacked her head against Dali's. She groggily slumped back down on her pillow. "Must you do this every morning? Really Dali. You know just how delicate my skin is, and bumping it against your rough forehead is just going to make my skin peel." She placed a delicate white hand on her forehead acting as if it was going to slide off.
"Pel, you've smacked my head with yours every morning for 4 years and it's still there. And STILL fine."
Pel pursed her lips. "Yea, yea. I'm up."
Dali made Pel's bed as she dressed in her own blue robes.

	The two made their way to the breakfast hall. Other students brushed past the two of them.    "Dali, are you going to see your brothers today?  Yukii is so gorgeous. Can I go with you?"
Dali looked a little sick. Yukii... That past was a little strange. And she rather didn't want to think about it. Even Pel had no idea about that one. But Rumilerit, Rumi, was a different story.  Rumi's 13th birthday was today. Their mom had died giving birth to Rumi. The three sibling were left alone in the world helping each other survive. Their father? Who knew. No one knew what happened to him. He disappeared right before Rumi was born. Rumor had it he was alive, and living in the Obsidian City. It took a minute before Dali realized Pel hadn't stopped talking. 
"...that long red hair. Oh when it's just a little messy from being blown by the wind. He's the best swordsman I've ever seen. And those muscles..."
Dalia's head spun. "Pel, will you PLEASE stop talking about my brother like that?" Yukii was a year older than Dali. They actually had the same birthday.  "Lady Wisteria gave me permission to go over and visit. She didn't give you..." Dali stared blankly at the sheet Pel held in front of her. 
"Permission to visit." She gave a victory sign.
  
	Umoleth Boy's Academy. A.k.a. The Academy of the Fine Art of Death. Sword fighting, archery, just about every way for a boy to learn how to kill. The boys had the same uniforms as the girls, except the robe. The color of their shirts displayed the year they were. Yukii had a blood red shirt, the same color as his hair. Pel swooned at the sight of him across the field. It didn't help that his hair was a little wind ruffled, his shirt a little sloppy, Pel was likely to keel over. Dali shook her head with disgust. Pel wasn't the only one though. Everyone at school had a thing for her brother. Even Lady Wisteria would go on for hours about how cute he was. "Lady, you're MARRIED!!" Dali would cry. Nonetheless, Lady Wisteria still thought him a fine looking man. 
"Help this maiden, Guardian of Umoleth, Keeper of Keys." Pel kept making eyes at Yukii. Dali thought she'd vomit.
"YUKII! YUKII REFLERASE!!!!" Dali screamed at the top of her lungs. "YUKII! OVER HERE!" Dali waved to him. She saw him look and wave back and he started jogging towards her. Pel's eyes were bugging out of her porcelain head.  "Why??" Pel groaned and tried to regain control of herself as Yukii came up to them. 
"Ready to go see Rumi?" Dali asked.
Yukii gave a slight look of distress. "I'm sorry Dal, but Kalothei wouldn't give me permission."
"What?? But it's Rumi's birthday! We've never missed one."
"Dal, I'm sorry. Really." Yukii kissed Dali's forehead. She shivered and sighed. "Oh hi Pelegrath." He grabbed Pel's hand and kissed the back of it. She turned a bright pink. Yukii winked at Dali.
"Pel, let's go. Yukii, promise you'll at least get him a card." He smiled, and turned to leave. Dali dragged an almost comatose Pel away from her brother. "Pel, snap out of it. It's not what you think anyway. He's teasing. Like every other girl he teases. You're no different." Her face blazed red.
Pel looked slightly smug. "If I didn't know better, Dal, I'd think you were j-e-a-l-o-u-s."
Pel didn't know better. Dali was jealous. She hated people ogling her brother. Dali licked her lip. "I'm FINE." Emphasis on  FINE. 

As the two of them were walking to the Private Children's Academy the next lot over Dali stopped dead. Him. In my dream. It was him. Her eyes were wide.
He was wearing the colors of the Umoleth Boy's Academy. 5th year. His shirt was red. He had long black hair and faintly purple eyes. Maybe he was part Elf? He had a tall and slender build. She could see his fingers were long and delicate. He moved gracefully across the lot. Dali watched him walk by her. The world around her blurred and she only saw him. He had to be the most handsome boy she'd ever seen. 
She followed where he was going. He turned and looked right in her eyes. He looked a little surprised. She could see him mouth move. Saying?...I've seen you?...
Pel grabbed Dali. "Dalia!" Pel looked disturbed. And the boy turned and kept walking.
"Dalia, what were you doing?" 
"That boy, in my dream..."
"That BOY is Vehasheo Velon. The one they call Vey. They say he practices the dark arts. The dark arts Dali! Don't get any ideas off that one."  
Dali let Pel drag her off to the Children's Academy. 
	Rumi was outside waiting for his brother and sister to get there. It was his 13th birthday. They'd never missed a birthday yet. He saw two people walking towards him. He jumped up and waved. He could see that one girl was Dali and the other one was Dali's friend Pel. The two girls made their way to Rumi. Rumi's brown eyes glittered in the sun. His hair was the same auburn color as Dali's. It was cut short, and the slight breeze ruffled it. He was a thin boy, but Dali knew he'd look a lot like Yukii when he was older. Dali smiled as she ran to Rumi. She grabbed him in a tight hug.
"Rumi! You look taller, but aren't they feeding you enough?"
"Sisi, please, you're squishing me."
"Oh!" Dali released Rumi. "Are you sure you're just not embarrassed to be seen with me?" Dali gave a little laugh. Pel came up to Rumi. 
"Happy Birthday Rumi. I got you something." She handed him a small package. He took it and smiled.
"Birthday?? Oh Rumi! I totally forgot that today was your birthday. I didn't even get you anything." Dali looked sincere.
Rumi started laughing. "That's O.K. Your pretty friend gave me something."
Dali looked shocked. "I guess I'll have to give you something then." She produced a small package also. Rumi sat down on the bench and opened his presents. The gift from Pel was smaller and he opened it first. A small ruby amulet was inside. It was a dazzling red and had an inscription. "Dasr to vet melcha coro nam asta RUMI."  Pel spoke the inscription. "It's elfish. It means: This amulet will protect the loved Rumi forever." Pel smiled. "Keep it with you and you no evil will befall you. I engraved the protection spell just for you Rumi. Oh and there's a little black bag for you to keep it in." Rumi pulled the bag out and placed the amulet inside. "Thank you Pel." Pel smiled. Now he opened Dali's present. Her presents were always good. He pulled out a long silver chain, and attached to the chain, a silver watch. It was a beautiful watch. There were long silver spires carved on the outside and inside were golden spires as the hands. Small blue jewels marked the hours. Rumi was shocked. "Rumi, this watch belonged to dad. I trust that you're old enough to take care of it." Dali smiled weakly. "It's the only thing we have. Take good care of it." 
Rumi nodded almost mechanically. Father's... He clutched the watch to his chest. "I'll never let go of this. Never Dali. I swear!" He jumped up and hugged his sister. It took him a few minutes to realize that Yukii was nowhere. He let go of Dali and scanned the area. "Dali," he looked up "where is Yukii?" He was a little confused. 
Dali shook her head. "Yukii couldn't come. He said the headmaster wouldn't give him permission."
"But he's come every other year!" Rumi argued.
"I know, but he didn't tell me anything either."
Rumi was stunned. His brother never missed a birthday. Not one in 13 years. Why now?
Dali knew the heartbreak Rumi felt. "Rumi...come on." The sun was high and it was getting very hot. They knew that the pass was only a half day pass to visit. Dali looked up and she knew they'd have to leave. "I'm sorry Rumi. We have to go too."
Rumi looked at her. "I know Sisi. Thank you for the watch. Thank you for the amulet Pel." Rumi again hugged Dali with all his might. He went over and gave Pel a hug too. The girls waved to Rumi as they walked back to the Girl's Academy.

	They passed the Boy's Academy again and Dali scanned the area for that boy she'd seen earlier. She looked over at Pel and noticed she was doing the same for Yukii.
Pel noticed Dali looking at her and quickly looked down. Dali tried to look as if she wasn't looking for anyone either. She stole some glances over the field. They passed the building and she gave one more glance back. She saw him. He was standing there staring at her, leaning against the marble wall. She drew a sharp breath. His eyes followed her across the lawn. She and Pel picked up pace but she couldn't help looking back to him, but he was gone. Shocked she hurried to the school with her heart pounding. The girls got back to the building. Dali immediately ran up to her room. She plopped down the bed and sat with her back to the door. Pel followed her. "Dali, what's wrong? You seemed scared out there."
"That guy again. He was watching me..."
"Who? Vey? I didn't see him."
"He WAS there! I'm sure of it." Dali was confused. "I'm sure of it." She repeated.