Chapter 1: Davina's lost memories

Davina's summer felt like a big dream. Like it had come to her in her sleep or maybe she was just dreading the start of her junior year.

Her guardian, Marcel was cooking pumpkin pancakes to brighten her up for her first day of school.

"Come down Davina! Your favorite!"

Davina felt uneasy and off, passing the rails on her way down the stairs felt foreign.

She walked into the tiny kitchen of her apartment and took her pancakes.

"Thank you! I'm late!" Davina was out the door.

She heard Marcel's voice in the distance, "Have a good day!"

At least Marcel and his pancakes felt the same, like home.

She was greeted by strangers, people she remembers hanging out with during the summer, but she forgot what they were like.

Who are these people?

Her confusion but acceptance to all who greeted her was stopped when she heard a familiar voice. Sweet with a hint of obnoxiousness. Josh.

"Hey, how are you? First day sucks, huh?"

The enthused girl gave her friend a big hug. He seemed to get even bigger over summer.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you in a while!"

"Oh, you know spent the summer working out, hooking up with studs online. By the way, never again, got chlamydia and thought it was forever."

Davina was both impressed and grossed out.

"Why the fuck can't I see her? She's my girlfriend!" The brick walls in the office seemed to get smaller, the louder Kai yelled at Alaric.

"Kai, it's better this way for her. Revealing yourself may ruin the whole thing. Please, understand."

The first 2 months of the fall semester were long and boring. Josh by her side made everything better, life was simple. By no time it was October, fall time. Davina's favorite time of the year. She was back at the apartment with Marcel and Josh.

"So what are you two going to be?" Marcel asked with his usual smiling eyes.

"I'm not sure…something scary." Davina hadn't thought about what she was going to be, Halloween was in 2 weeks. The flyers at school about the Halloween dance didn't seem to entice her enough for her to search for a costume.

"Something scary huh…thank God I won't be seeing any inappropriate mouse/lingerie costumes around here." Marcel put up hyphenated fingers when he said costumes.

Davina scrunched her nose, "Shut up!"

Josh butted in, "Be a..." A long pause later and he finished with, "…. witch." He was quickly elbowed by Marcel's big arm.

Davina could see the awkward tension between the two important men in her life.

"What's wrong with a witch? I think it's a great idea." She was pleased with her decision. Josh really was her best friend.

Davina couldn't see Marcel's face turn red as Josh mouthed sorry to him.

The night of the Halloween dance had finally come. Davina was dressed in an all-black outfit. Lacey short dress, sheer tights, leather platforms and a big cliché pointy hat. Josh had suggested a blonde wig to spice up the look.

"We need those three back here in the Neverlands, this was a mistake." Jo pleaded to Alaric.

"Yeah clearly, we should have spent this time trying to get her memory back, not sending her off to Earth." Kai confessed.

Alaric had his hand to his face, "I realize this may have been a huge error. What was a thinking sending two of my best students—"

On the speaker: "A loud explosion on the east wing of the school has occurred, please enter the main sorcerer hall this instance… with caution."

"Tell Marcellus we need them back right now!" Jo tilts her head and gestures the phone to Alaric.

Back at the apartment Marcel receives a phone call.

"Hello?"

"Marcellus. It's urgent."

"What happened?"

"The three of us aren't strong enough to hold the school together."

"Are you suggesting we come back Alaric? You send me here with Josh for almost 3 months to protect her and now you want us back?" Marcel's tone was sarcasm mixed with rage.

"I understand your frustration, but ever since Elijah was defeated, I haven't made the best calls. Are they…there with you, I'll have Kai transport you back here."

"No, they're-" Marcel was interrupted by the quick transportation back to the Neverlands.

He was holding half of the telephone to his ear, half of it had stayed in the apartment.

"That's funny." Kai chuckles.

Marcel continues his sentence, "They're at the dance."

Davina and Josh had spent the evening dancing their hearts away at the school's dance. The neon strobe lights dizzied Davina, she wasn't sure if the spiked punch had any effect on her churning head as well.

"Josh?" Davina called out but he was nowhere to be found. She got lost in the crowd.

She stumbled her way into the ladies room. Her head pounding. Definitely from the alcohol now.

"Davina, are you in there?" It was Josh knocking on the door. She opens it and sees her distraught friend.

"Okay, just know whatever happens in the next few minutes. I did what they told me because I had no choice…"

What.

"Just hold my hand"

"Josh, what's going on?"

The two were magically transported to the Neverlands. Davina found herself staring up at a pink sky that seemed to be splattered with red. They were transported in front of the boarding school which seemed like a giant castle from Harry Potter.

"What the hell?" Davina's heart started to race but she wasn't scared. She sees Marcel come out of a giant door along with two figures behind him.

"Davina, my dear witch. I know you must have a million questions but welcome back to the Neverlands."

She's taking my costume seriously? Welcome back? Davina was speechless in front of Jo. The brunette woman had hypnotizing blue eyes.

Davina looks over at Marcel. "Marcel, what's going on? It's just a costume!"

Alaric stops her from asking anymore questions and suggests they go inside. Davina was surprise to see other girls and boys, all dressed in private school-like uniform attire, were just beyond the door. All eyes hooked into hers and mouths gossiping. She felt ridiculous in her witch costume, she wanted to pull her wig off.

"Is this a school?" Davina thinks out loud.

"Yes." Josh whispers. The two continue to follow Marcel, Jo, and Alaric to what seems like the longest walk of shame to Alaric's office.

Davina entered the doors. To her surprise, there was another student waiting. He looked much older. The overwhelming familiarity of where she was placed started to sicken her stomach.

"Leave us." Jo tells Alaric, Marcel, and Josh to go.

Davina turns her head to see the door magically shuts itself close.

The boy waiting, had some sort of right to stay but her best friend Josh couldn't?

"Please, I just want to go home."

Davina's sad request results in a chuckle from the strange boy. He had his back glued to the brick wall. Davina watched as Jo looked at the boy like he oversaw this whole situation. The boy nodded his head in disapproval.

"Davina…" Jo starts, "This is home."

She could feel the boy studying her puzzled reaction, his eyes gleaming at the sight of her.

Jo continues, "Pay attention, clearly dear. You are a witch Davina. You belong here with the other girls and boys. This place is known as the Bennet Boarding School for Young Witches and Warlocks. This place, so different from Earth, is called the Neverlands."

"I'm sorry there must be a mistake..."

"No mistake Davina." Jo was firm with her response. Davina could feel the woman was sympathetic towards her.

"My name is Jo, I am head of the witches and Alaric, who you met earlier, head of the warlocks. Marcel is your guardian. He was the one who found you and took you here when you were just a small child. Josh, your loyal friend, he is a warlock and a student here. Just like you. And this right here, Kai. He's-"

Davina watches as the mysterious boy cuts off Jo; ungluing himself from the wall.

"No Jo, I'm not ready." He finally speaks. Davina observes as the handsome warlock turns his head over to her and holds his right hand out. She grabs it, entranced by his smile.

"My name's Kai, I'll let you two finish up. I'll see you around."

Davina could sense agony from his words. His voice and husky scent were familiar. He quickly heads for the door before she could say anything back. She's left in the room with an even sadder Jo.

"I know this is a lot, but we need your help to fight-"

"Why can't I remember? I can feel the memory, but I can't remember in my head."

"It's because before you were sent to Earth you had fought a great battle resulting in your memories being wiped. She was very powerful Davina. Unfortunately, Kai had killed her as soon as she put a curse on you."

"Unfortunately?"

"A curse that wiped your memories for all time. He didn't realize killing the original witch meant your memories lost forever."

Davina, gripping onto her chair, starts to feel her heart coming out of her chest. "You mean, I will never get my memories back? All I remember is living on Earth with Marcel, you're telling me those weren't real?"

"Davina, I'm so sorry. Your wiped memories couldn't be restored so Alaric made the call to just send you to Earth along with new memories of a human summer. He wanted to protect you from the original witches' sister, so he had Marcel and Josh go along."

Davina couldn't believe the realities revealed to her but at the same time it all started to make sense. The reason her first day of school was so off, it was really her first day on Earth. She found herself rising from her chair and sprinting towards the door.