Theoretically, Professor Harklone's history class should be interesting; Scarlett thought. For any school that catered to Witches, Warlocks, Vampires and Unidentified Species, history class meant learning where different spells originate from in order to be able to use them properly. So what history really meant, was an opportunity to practice sorcery. Students where often expected to develop their talents on their own and history provided a rare opportunity to ask questions and seek help.
That's why, at 10pm (the beginning of first period), on her second week at Raven's Boarding School, Scarlett Connor found herself actually attending a lesson. By now she should have been introduced to the school and shown around by the head teacher, had more than a few lessons and spoken to the other students. She had done none of these; her presence had been similar to that of a ghost. However, she knew one of the only ways to achieve what she really wanted was to practice her magic. This had meant making a collective decision to show up to history and spending all of the weekend preparing herself. This meant she had avoided taking her medication so her abilities were not dulled. It had been not so much of a struggle without her drugs, but more of a crippling awareness that she was conscious and unable to crawl into a ball and sleep the days away. Now, she was standing at the bottom of the staircase that led to the novice dorms, leaning against the banister and standing opposite the door to Harklone's classroom. She was waiting for the bell, determined not to be the first one there. Students were milling around the second floor corridor, grumbling to one another about how early it was, about what lessons they had that day. Towards the end of the corridor, the one that led to the main staircase, a girl caught Scarlett's eye. She wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary; she just wasn't doing what the other students were. She stood staring out one of the large white panelled windows, deep in thought as she soaked up the moonlight. She was pale and even her long blond hair couldn't hide the pixie ears peeping out of her waves. Not many Warlocks these days had features or marks that singled them out as so.
"Staring at Amelia?"
Scarlett jerked to her left, seeing that Samuel had snuck up behind her.
"I wasn't staring;" she mumbled defensively.
"You're wasting your time."
"What?"
"She won't date you."
Scarlett rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm. "You males have such a one track mind."
"Not always;" Samuel shrugged, "sometimes I think about food and oblivion and-"
"Oh please" Scarlett begged, a hint of a smile on her face, "Stop talking."
Samuel gave her an innocent look but nodded; "So what are you doing here?" he asked, "I was beginning to think one of the vampires had murdered you and stashed the body."
She didn't respond.
"If you do get murdered, promise to come back and haunt me?" he prodded her with his finger.
"Promise," she said weakly.
The bell rang and the girl- Amelia- disappeared down the corridor. Scarlett turned back to Samuel who was walking towards Harklone's classroom, the door now open.
He gawked at her, his face expectant; "Coming?"
Scarlett considered him; "How did you know I was waiting for history?"
"Because you were supposed to be my new partner for the year according to Harklone;" he said, in an accusing tone; "my last partner…wasn't cut out for it." His brown eyes glistened mischievously. Scarlett was starting to think his eyes were less brown and more black. It was hard to tell where his pupils began. It should've been unnerving, but it wasn't. If anything, it was endearing.
She let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding, and followed him into the classroom.
Independent study period was Floria's favourite time of day. Mostly she spent it by herself, rushing downstairs after history class to get outside. She had double history today and it was long and tedious and claustrophobic. She much preferred the outdoors. She'd always found the grounds of Raven's School to be interesting, surrounded by fields and grass around the east and north of the building and a grand forest to the west. The forest stretched on for miles and Floria was often curious as to how long it went on for. She knew that the amount of forest that was on school land ended after about nine miles where there was an enchanted wire fence. Beyond that, she did not know. Often during independent study, she'd go for long walks deep into the forest and find a tree to sit and read under or practice her magic.
But today was different.
First period she'd been in history. She was sure she had been. One moment she was there, listening to Harklone take the register with the other Witch and Warlock novices, the next, she was here.
There was no explaining it.
Her watch said it was 12pm, independent study. As if she'd moved two hours into the future, or into the past for that matter.
It was 12pm.
She had found herself in the forest.
When, she didn't know.
Samuel couldn't explain what had just happened. He'd entered the classroom, just like he had done every Monday since he'd been assigned to Harklone's class, and showed Scarlett to the seat next to him. She'd been subdued and occasionally contributed an irritated comment, like always. They'd sat down two rows from the front, and he'd casually spread his arm over the table behind them; saving the table for Mark and Daniel, like always. They were just behind and to the left of Floria Railshade, like always.
He'd never given much consideration to Floria, she was quiet, although he got the impression she had a group of friends elsewhere, and always got on with her work. She'd always seemed interesting enough, her jet black hair was tied up in a messy bun, she wore long earrings and hippy dresses, but he'd had no reason to consider her. It was only just after the start of class he even glanced her way. Professor Harklone took the register, only once glancing up to give Scarlett a surprised look when she answered her name in the register. He didn't comment though. When they'd both answered their names, Scarlett leant over and whispered in his ear.
"That girl-"
He turned to her, slightly distracted by her close proximity. She smelt like laundry detergent and a type of bitter perfume. He shook his head.
"What girl?"
Scarlett gestured discreetly; "The one over there, with the tattoo."
He knew immediately who she meant; she was very petite, which made it stand out even more that she had two angel wings tattooed all the way down her back and the back of her arms and shoulders. One was detailed and shaded, whereas the one on the right was just an outline. Due to her size, the first time Samuel had seen her, when she was just fourteen and the only child he knew with a tattoo, he'd thought it looked like the wings were larger than she was, consuming her entire body.
"I know;" he said, with the same tone as when he'd told her off on the first day; "It's distracting isn't it?"
Scarlett waved her hand impatiently; "Not that;" she shook her head, "Look at her."
Samuel saw it then, the way Floria was gripping her table, shoulder's hunched and eyes squeezed shut. At first he'd thought she was trying to do a spell, but on second glance, he saw it was like she was moving so fast she was vibrating; like she was holding on.
Scarlett and Samuel just had time to exchange a glance before Floria Railshade disappeared into thin air.