Chapter 2

Life went on peacefully and normally, the Sackville-Baggs had adjusted quite well to modern day life. Anna had memorized every song on the Frozen soundtrack and sang them all day long, much to Gregory's annoyance, Rudolph had mastered Nintendo and Tony was doing much better at school now that he had his friends there with him. Sera and Gregory were enjoying having a regular relationship and regular friends. Gregory even enjoyed school, especially history class when he'd irritate Mr. Ferguson with his much more advanced take on history than the poor old man. As much as Sera enjoyed watching Gregory torment the man she had asked him to tone it down since every time they saw the teacher it seemed like he had more and more grey hair.

Winter break came and went and soon the five kids were back in school.

"I miss vacation." Gregory mumbled, still half asleep, leaning against the lockers as Sera got out her books.

"I don't mind school so much. I haven't stayed in one place for such a long period of time since I was eight. It's nice." She shut her locker and threw her backpack over her shoulder.

"I have to get to math, good luck in chemistry." She said giving him a peck on the mouth.

"I still don't see the point in learning that stuff. When will we ever need it?"

"Unless you become a doctor or a scientist. . . never. I'll see you later."

vVv vVv vVv

The only good thing about chemistry for Gregory was that he sat next to Bree, who was amazing at science. Their table was in the back and she'd already gotten to her seat, playing with her long wavy side ponytail. Bree was always a bit bubbly but today she looked tired and seriously worried. Maybe something had happened over break? They hadn't seen much of her.

"Hey Bree." Gregory greeted as he sat beside her.

"Oh, hey." She murmured only half paying attention as she scribbled in her notebook. Professor Murray began writing equations on the chalkboard explaining to her students the experiment she had planned today.

"Alright, today I'm going to give each group a few grams of specific elements on the periodic table and your going to record how they react to extreme heat –"

Professor Murray stopped her instructions when a bunsen burner lit –seemingly by itself – on the desk housing the supplies. Their teacher, however, didn't seem too startled.

"Oh, this old equipment, it's always on the fritz."

When she went to turn it off the flame stayed lit, she'd turned the gas nozzle off completely but the flame was not only still there, it grew. Professor Murray kept twisting hoses and turning knobs while she muttered to herself about the science program being underfunded. Out of the corner of his eye Gregory saw Bree intently staring at the flame.

"Bree?" he whispered but she didn't seem to hear him, if anything her gaze only became more intense. He looked back and forth between Bree and the growing flickering flame.

"Bree." He shook her shoulder this time. That seemed to snap her out of it, she flinched, blinked a few times then turned to him with her eyes wide with fear.

"What just happened?"

He looked toward the burner, the flame had died the second Bree had come out of her trance. She looked shocked, putting two and two together.

"Did I do that?" she whispered horrified.

"I think so."

"Nobody else saw, did they?" she turned to him asking urgently.

He shook his head.

"Please don't tell anybody." Her voice shook.

"Of course." He nodded.

"Not even Sera."

He paused, could he keep a secret from the person he cared for most? Bree grabbed his wrist that was lying on the table, her eyes were silently pleading with him. He took a deep breath, whether he could or not was irrelevant, he had to, she was his friend. If Sera found out she'd understand, they each had kept their own secrets in the past after all.

"I promise."

vVv vVv vVv

Mr. Ferguson was at the board writing down the main topics they would be discussing this semester.

"Welcome back, students." He said turning to the class. "Let's turn our brains back on, and start with the founding of our great country. From the arrival of the Roman Empire in the first century to the end of the eighth century when the Viking invasions began. These invasions caused the people to unite despite differences, like paganism versus Christianity, that had kept them apart for centuries and this formed the Kingdom of Scotland. But the Wars of Scottish Independence began in the late thirteenth/early fourteenth centuries and Scotland's rule was passed back and forth between royal houses. These houses were Alpin, Dunkeld, Balliol, Bruce and Stewart –"

"What about the McAshtons?"

Sera froze in the middle of taking notes, she knew that voice, she'd know it anywhere. Gregory had looked up to the doorway, his eyes flashing with hatred. Mr. Ferguson had also turned. The person standing in the doorway was thinner than Sera remembered, but still fit. He had the same smug smirk on his lips and the same look in his eye that said he was better than everyone else. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, like he was enjoying every moment. Sera could feel her heart beating quicker in her chest, she tried taking deep breaths to relax herself but it wasn't working. Gregory had his pencil gripped so tight his knuckles were turning white and you could see the yellow paint cracking as the wood began splintering in his firm grip.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Theodore McAshton, I'm new."

"I didn't receive any word from the principal about any new students."

"Well, I've been mostly homeschooled, but my parents thought I could benefit from spending time with people my own age." He walked in arrogantly and took a seat at a desk up front between two cheerleaders. "And besides, history's my favorite subject."