Disclaimer: I own nothing. Sadly. I wish I could atleast own Kartik, though.

Something odd and different that I thought up one day. Kinda creepy, but hey, it's something.

Dated at the evening time on a random day. Soon after Gemma bound the magic to herself...and after Kartik ditched the Rakshana to spare Gemma's life. Gemma is back at Spence. Kartik's POV.

Please read on. It would be greatly appreciated if you tell me what you think about this after.

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My eyes flutter briefly. I am lying on a hard floor, the back of my head aching a bit. A shape towers over me, casting a dark shadow. My eyes widen at the familiar dark features.

"Who are you?" I croak. My lips feel heavy, as if held down by invisible fingers.

The painfully familiar lips part to let loose a laugh.

"Can't remember me, hm?"

Remember? Did I know this person before? A part of me says yes, and another part is completely oblivious.

I feel myself shake my head, a slight weight following my action. I catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye. It is red and curly.

Before I can start to wonder about that, the man laughs again, his broad shoulders shaking.

"I am Kartik," he answers casually, a hint of mocking in his voice.

My jaw drops slightly. What? Kartik? I stare at him and take in his face: a strong and straight nose, full lips, dark and thick lashes lining warm brown eyes, a sturdy jawline, high cheekbones, and a mess of unruly curls atop his head. Then who am I? Gemma? I just about laugh out loud.

As if reading my mind, the person who claims to be me, says, "And you are Gemma. Miss Doyle."

"Wha-what?" I can't believe this. Me? I decide that I do like this man who is playing jokes on me.

"You really have lost your memory. That bang on your head must have done something to your brain."

I instinctively feel my head, fingers touching long strands of red and curly hair. I jerk my hands away from the hair and gape at the man.

"Come along, Miss Doyle. We must continue on our way."

I take in the scenery around us for the first time. Trees surround us, the leaves tainted with moonlight. A looming building is in the distance, and I recognize it as Spence Academy for Young Ladies.

So-called-Kartik offers me his hand, but I turn it down. Ha! Am I really so vain? I attempt to stand, but a sharpness jabs at my ribs. I gasp. Kartik wears a look of amusement on his face. I hardly manage to hold back a vicious snarl.

I place my hand on the rough bark of a tree beside me and manage to stand. My feet are lifted on the heel, and I cast a careful glance down. I gawk at my boot-clad feet. Women's boots. With a, possibly, three-inched heel.

"Gemma?" I automatically look around for Gemma's face, but then I remember: I am Gemma.

"Are you alright?" Kartik asks, slowly. All the amusement is gone from his face. Concern shines in his eyes. A feeling of disgust curls my lips in a snarl.

"Quite alright, thank you very much," I growl.

Kartik casts an uncertain glance at me and turns around, his broad back towards me. "Well, then, come along."

I follow him as we make our way between the trees, lacy skirts rustling about my legs. I hold up my hands for inspection. They are as white as porcelain. Delicate-looking fingers glare up at me, mocking. You're a woman now. Well, a girl, rather.

"We're here now, Miss Doyle." Kartik's voice cuts through my disturbing thoughts. I look at the clearing from under my lashes. The lake sits calmly in the center, and the boathouse is submerged completely in shadow.

I am about to give a snarky comment when Kartik speaks. He leans toward me slightly and says in a hushed tone, "We have to wait here hidden. Try not to move about too much, or attract any attention."

I don't reply, and look towards the lake, all of my senses tingling. A crack of a twig alerts the two of us. From the shadows emerge a tall and lean woman. She looks around the clearing, and something tells me she is looking for us.

"Alright," her low and booming voice calls. "You can come out now."

Kartik gestures for me to follow him out into the clearing, out of the shadows. I oblidge wordlessly, eyes trained on the woman before us.

"Ah, Gemma," the woman adresses me casually. "It is nice to meet you, again."

Again? How is it that I am always missing out on things?

Sensing my confusion, the woman says, with the same tone, "I am a member of the Rakshana, the sisterhood society."

If the woman before me was a man, and I also a man, I would have punched her for her insult, though I have left my brotherhood to save Gemma's life. Or rather, my life. And Kartik saving me. I have no idea what I am getting at.

As if the word "Rakshana" held a secret message of "come out and show your pride", a group of women step out from the shadows. For the first time, I notice a pin, with a symbol of two knitting needles crossing to form a "x" and a ball of yarn in the center, pinned to the bodices of the women's dresses. Something screams in my mind. Where have I seen something like this before? A fleeting image of the sword and the skull flashes by in my head. The Rakshana!

"We are all sisters." The women join hands, forming a long line before us.

"And we," A deep voice announces. "Are the Order."

I spin around, alarmed. As if a form of shadow themselves, a group of men step from their hiding places. The Order? Surely there is some mistake.

"We are all brothers." The men also join hands.

My eyes dart between the two parties. Am I of the Order, then, if I am Gemma? But the Order are brothers. Am I of the Rakshana, if I am a woman? Then which group is Kartik of? The Rakshana - no, the Order. I feel my mind becoming more and more clustered. My temper is growing short.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" I let out a snarl.

As I didn't speak at all, the Order and the Rakshana settle their gazes on each other. I catch a hint of loving and a tenderness in the eyes of a man closest to me.

"The Rakshana and the Order are lovers," they all chorus, before gliding towards each other, arms held out to meet halfway in an embrace.

I flit my eyes toward my left, half-expecting to see Gemma, her eyes also shadowed with love and tenderness. Instead, my eyes land on Kartik. My stomach churns violently, threatening to reject its meager contents.

"Gemma," he whispers. A shiver climbs up my spine. "Lovers..." Kartik takes a step towards me, love and longing strong in his eyes.

Right then and there, I knew I was going to vomit, secretly hoping to choke on it.

"Kartik."

Too sick to think, I answer, "Yes?"

"Kartik...Kartik...Kartik..."

Kartik steps towards me, and says, "Kartik."

I swing my clenched fists up into the air.

"What the bloody hell do you want?"

A warmth on my shoulders widen my eyes. I catch sight of striking green eyes before I blink. "Gemma?"

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Yep. So, would anyone want to talk to me about this? Anyone have anything to say? Tell me if I should continue this. I do have the second chapter up my sleeve, but only if you readers want to read more about this.

Please review!