Christine's eyes flew open and her hands darted for her head. Her fingers worked in small circles into her temple, trying to relieve herself of the throbbing sensation that grasped her. Beads of sweat rolled beneath the mass of curls that tumbled down her face and soaked through her nightgown. She sat up slowly, trying to recall the images of her nightmare. There was fire, lots of fire and…was that a man that stood in the flames? It was a large, shadowy man that bored into her very soul with piercing, amber eyes. She had been staring into them, unable to look away when suddenly, the ground veined beneath her feet and the earth split open. She had been falling… then a great, dark figure was racing toward her from the sky. She thought it had been a bird, then an arm extended out and a glimmer of something hard was on its face…
"CHRISTINE!"
Christine spun around to see her father racing toward her. He flung his arms around her.
"Darling, are you okay?!" His eyes were rounded in terror. "You were… you were screaming!"
"Papa," Christine groaned. "I'm sorry, I—"
"Nonsense, Christine." He said shakily. He was staring at her intently, his face aghast. "Dear, maybe you should stay home. You shouldn't compete today! Let me make some breakfast—"
"BREAKFAST?!" Christine shouted, falling out of her bed. She rushed over to her window and flung her curtains open. The morning light momentarily blinded her. "Papa- what time is it!?"
"It's eight thirty dear, but that is hardly beside the point!" He scoffed.
"Oh no! I'm LATE!" Christine rushed by her father, nearly knocking the poor man off his feet. She raced into her closet and began to immediately dress. She could hear her father exit her room, grumbling with disapproval. As soon as she had dressed, she raced down the stairs in panic and attempted to race out the door before a gruff hand jerked her back.
"WAIT A SECOND!" Christine's father was staring at her in wild confusion.
"Papa! I'm sorry!" Christine groaned. "I REALLY must be going!"
"Christine-"
"Love you!" She pecked him sharply on the cheek and flew out the door, leaving her poor father behind, staring in bewilderment.
Christine raced down the street as fast as she could. What had she been thinking staying up as late as she did? She had been bored and ended up combing through her deck of tarot cards when suddenly… she pulled out a card she had never seen before. It was a frightening card, unlike any she had ever seen. It depicted a beautiful castle covered in orange flames as the most peculiar… were those- angels?- circled overhead. As her eyes traced over the card, they halted on a dark figure standing in the middle of the fire. It was an immense figure that was half covered in shadow. But what had stopped Christine's breath was the other, visible half. A beautiful, god-like man with the most piercing eyes she had ever seen stared into Christine's own. She was unable to look away from those eyes for several moments until…she suddenly fell into a deep slumber. Then that horrible dream…
"CHRISTINE!"
Christine's thoughts were jolted back into reality as blurred figure raced towards her.
"Christine- oh thank goodness!" A tall girl halted to a stop before grabbing Christine's arm. " I thought-"
"Relax, Sabine!" Christine gasped. "I wouldn't miss today for the world!"
"Well you almost did!" Sabine nearly shouted. "Christine- hurry! We need to get you warmed up!"
The two girls raced up the steps of the college, unaware someone had been watching their every move.