After yet another day in St. Clara Catholic Private Academy I said my goodbyes to my friends and headed over to piano lessons. My parents weren't rich but we weren't average either, that's why they had me in a private school, though catholic is the last thing I am I respect all religions (but that is a story for another time). I don't like to brag or to dress expensive but something my mother always fussed about was my hair –it always had to be good, shiny and straight (my natural hair is curly). I arrived at my piano lessons and was immediately received by the teacher, she most probably heard me several yards away. I absolutely detested playing the piano but my parents had persisted and I had complied. This only meant another hour of my life wasted on learning something I didn't want to.

"Good morning, Miss. Moonlight. Happy Birthday and Happy New Year!" she replied in her sophisticated French accented voice.

First, my name is Sarytza Moonlight, how rude not introducing myself. Second, today is my 16th birthday October 31st. Three, you are probably wondering why she told me happy new year… easy, I am Wiccan (and I have no shame on it though as I say I respect all religions) today –Oct. 31st –is Samhain or our new years. Lastly, my teacher, Mrs. Velandre, is a vampire. As Mrs. Velandre had told me, she was nearly twelve decades old yet she didn't look a day older that twenty. Her auburn wavy hair, that held not one grey hair, cascaded beautifully down to her waist and she had the most piercing sea green eyes that one could imagine. Her eyes made contrast with her vampire pale skin but she never lost the glowing complexion.

"Thank you, Mrs. Velandre, that's really kind of you," I replied politely smiling.

"My dear I have a present for you," she offered kindly after closing the door.

Mrs. Velandre glided over to the grand piano, her movements as graceful as a swan ad her black gown flowing behind her. Her house –where I took my lessons –was Victorian styled, definitely fit for her as it complemented her on her ancient looking beauty. She beckoned me to follow, and I, being anything but graceful, threw my books at a corner taking off my shoes and socks and school vest then ran to the piano. There she sat with a box on her hands. It was wrapped in a silver paper with a black ribbon –very appropriate for whom it was giving it to me. To me vampires always showed who they were in the things they had, the things they did or better how they did them. Mrs. Velandre ushered me to open it and I did. Inside was a beautiful necklace made of silver, with a wide charm at the end. It had a purple gem the size of a quarter in the center with two smaller green ones attached by two snakes that bit into it on its sides two wings with intricate designs.

"It is a vampiric charm. I highly doubt any human has one of this but you are like a daughter to me; I have seen you grow and mature and now I give this to you, to protect you. A young witch as you will make good use of it," Mrs. Velandre half explained because I still couldn't see what it was for, so I asked, "Simple, we use it when we fight other vampires. If any vampire or human try to harm you it will protect you. Though, it has many other uses that one is its main, all others you will find by yourself. And now my dear, let us begin our class."

An hour later, I was out. After thanking her and bidding my farewells I headed to my next stop –the Botanical Shop. Ever since little I had the ability to foretell the future, sometimes in dreams other times in trance writing, now I took tarot lessons to polish my abilities and pin point it to a specific item. On my way, I noticed the lack of people outside and the fact that my mother had yet to call me to ask me where I was.

I arrived fairly fast, considering I was walking. Maureen was waiting for me as usual. The Botanic was decorated in orange, gold, black and other Samhain colors. Maureen, or as I call her Mau, hugged me happy birthday and new years and dragged me inside. I was assaulted by the smell of mint and Starless, Mau's black kitty, jumping me over. The store had different cauldrons, Book of Shadows, candles, incense and many other things necessary for a witch. I loved it here; I felt secure, at home and relaxed. At the back, behind a gold curtain was a round table waiting for us, here I took my classes. It could not be seen by any who enter the shop, not that there were many though. That's correct, Maureen almost never had costumers, most of them she knew as old friends or family of those friends that practiced the craft and sometime a passerby would stop too curious to continue. I quickly took my seat, eager to get started, today would be the first time I did it by myself and try to remember everything I saw. That was the only problem with my Tarot, I could never remember what I saw to the future, and Mau always had to write it down. I brought out my deck of Faery Tarot ready to get started.

"Well Sary, throw them out. I've already told you how to concentrate correctly," Mau ordered me.

I closed my eyes and shuffled my deck, feeling the energies course through the different cards –something I did always. Instantly, I knew that whatever the cards held in secret was nothing good. I pulled out the first card but I no longer saw the cards but the meanings within them. My future sight clouded my normal one and my mouth began to speak words I barely registered,

"The tides will change course."

I drew the next one and spoke without knowing I had pulled the "Wheel of Fortune upside down,

"The future brings pain for both humans and vampires alike."

The next card,

"A balance will be broken and all hell will break loose."

This continued for several minutes, Maureen writing every seemingly meaningless phrase coming out of my lips as my clouded hazel eyes stared at the different cards. By the end, I had pulled most of the Major Arcana, which was most strange. Maureen handed me a cup of mint tea to relax me; that reading had certainly drained out my energy. I felt drained, slightly dizzy and sleepy.

"So, let us see. Do you remember what you saw? The cards you drew?" asked Mau eager to know how my try had gone.

"Well, I only remember one card," I threw her a cheap look but her expression worried me, her eyes were wide and her mouth slightly agape.

- "Tell me, tell me! That card is the key, that card is important for you…"

"It was the "Lovers."

- "A man in your future, Sary?"

"I'm not sure that's what it meant… Well, I know what I saw and it worries me, Mau. This wasn't supposed to be this way," I whispered wanting it to go away.

Mau sensing the distress in my voice, got up and sat next to me giving me a one arm hug,

"What is it Luna? What did you see? I only got phrases no one can say it like you can."

"The pact between humans and vampires is soon to be dissevered. A race will be slave to the other for years to come, and when it ends, the Goddess will make the balance and the race that was slave will become reign. I see no end to the quarrel."

"Are you sure Luna? Where do the "Lovers" fit in there? Is Price Charming going to save you?"

I shook my head no. Mau and her silliness over men. I, sincerely, had no idea why the Lovers had been drawn but I still held it in my hands.