So far a month had gone by and despite it being that long Frida still hadn't of gotten used to being a spirit or being surrounded by creatures that she had been so sure didn't exist at first. Nir had she fully learned to control her spiritual powers and put them to good use. But she would get the hang of it eventually. To be honest she preferred learning how to use her powers and helping people than doing school work.

"Ahhh!" She heard screaming coming from the girl's bathroom. By the sound of it, it would seem that there was something in there that was scaring the girls.

"It's either a pervert or Manny come to nag me about my 'responsibilites as a spirit." Frida grabbed a broom from the janitor's closet and walked toward the bathroom. "Please let it be a pervert."

When she went into the restroom she found all the girls standing on top of the toilets and sinks clutching their skirts while screaming.

"Frida! Help us!" One girl shrieked.

"There's a snake in the corner!" Another screamed while pointing in the left corner.

Frida looked over in the direction of where she was pointing and saw that hiding in the left corner was a little green snake. It looked like a regular garden snake. From what she knew garden snakes are relatively no threat.

"Kill it!" All the girls screamed.

"It's just a little garden snake. They're harmless." She picked up the snake, it wrapped it's body around her arm but it didn't coil. She walked over toward the window, opened it, and gently put the snake on the ground. "You better get out of here, high school is no place for a little guy like you."

She thought that she saw the snake smile at her before it slithered away into the bushes. Looking down she saw that the snake had left a strange mark on her arm. She tried to wash it off in the sink but it wouldn't go away. She figured that it was a rash and some ointment should get rid of it. When she got home and Manny saw the mark he became worried.

"Where did this come from?" He asked examining her arm.

"I picked up a garden snake in bathroom today and I guess that I'm allergic."

"Oh you thoughtless girl! Why did you have to go and do a stupid thing like that?"

"What? What did I do?"

"That wasn't a garden sanke! And this isn't an allergic reaction! It was a vision serpent and this is it's mark of favor!"

"Mark of favor? What does that mean?"

"It means that he's chosen you to be his wife."

"What?!"

"I guess that would explain his reason for hiding in the girl's bathroom. Sounds like a perverted little reptile. No doubt he will be coming for you soon."

"Wait?! Coming for me?!"

"Correct, your headlessness has resulted in your betrothal to a snake."

"But I can't marry a snake! Oh God that sounds like all sorts of wrong!"

"Don't worry I won't allow anyone to lay a finger or scale on you."

Manny knew how crafty and sneaky vision serpents were. They were extremely fast, could blend in with almost any surrounding, grow or shrink, they could take on human form, and their most dangerous and clever move of all. Their visions. The vision serpent earned it's name because with one look they could project any vision or image that could frighten anyone so much that they couldn't move allowing them to be easily defeated. Luckily feline naguals like Manny were immune due to their cat like eyes that could reflect light and allow them to see through any vision. But humans like Frida stood no chance against it.

Suspecting that the serpent would strike when she was away from the safety of their house, Manny decided to attend school with Frida under the disguse of a regular, human, teenager. So the nexrday he changed back into the t-shirt, leather jacket, jeans, and tennis shoes he wore the last time, made his tail disappear, and made his tiger ears look like human ears.

"Are you sure you need to go to school with me?" Frida asked him as they walked to school.

"Positive." He said.

"Look I appreciate the concern but I think I can handle a little snake."

"This is not a little snake we're dealing with. It's mystic serpent that can grow to the size of a dragon or make itself look like a regular human. So don't leave my side today alright?" He said holding her hand. "I don't know what I would do if you were taken."

"Oh...Okay." she said feeling flustered.

"Good because when a serpent wants something it refuses to rest until it has captured it's target. Though why out of all the much better looking women he chose a chubby thing like you to be his bride is beyond me."

BAM! Frida smacked him right across his face with her hand bag.

"Jerk!"

At first the school board rejected Manny attending Leone High School due to him failing to provide a valid birth certificate and school records but Manny was able to convince them after offering them a very large amount of cash. One of the perks of being a spirit was that you were entitled to endless wealth. Tonio was one the richest spirits in Miracle City so it was only natural that Manny would have plenty of money to offer.

"Class I would like to introduce our newest student Manny Rivera." The teacher introduced as Manny stood in front of the class.

While some of the students were skeptical about him most of the girls immediately took a liking to him and found him attractive.

"That's the guy who brought Frida her lunch a month ago right?" One girl whispered.

"Oh my God he's so hot." Another said.

"Yeah but he looks so serious."

"You think he has a girlfriend?"

"Now then let's find you a seat." The teacher said.

"That one." Manny said pointing to the empty desk next to Frida.

As he walked down toward his new seat the girls continued to whisper about.

"No fair! Why does the cute guy want to sit next to Suarez?"

"You think he has a crush on her?"

"OMG you think he's her boyfriend?"

"She's so lucky."

Frida face palmed and shook her head in embarrassment.

"What's wrong with you?" Manny asked her.

"Nothing." She sighed.

Usually school days were rather quiet unless Aaron was around other wise the class was filled screaming and adoring girl fans. Aaron was absent today so you would think that class would be pretty boring but no. The girls could help but become extremely interested in Manny. He just ignored their staring and focused on making sure that no harm would come to Frida.

"So Manny where are you from?" One girl asked him.

"I'd rather not say toots." He responded barely paying her any mind.

"How old are you?"

"I am physically eighteen years of age."

"Are you Frida's boyfriend?"

"Frida is my mistress-"

"Ahh! Manny don't say that!" Frida said as she frantically dragged him into the hallway.

"What? What did I say?"

"Manny you can't say that you're my manservant to regular people."

"Manservant? I'm your familiar not your manservant!"

"Same difference. Point is no talking about this...Mistress stuff. All they need to know is you're room mate and all you do is help me pay the rent okay?"

"Hey Frida." A cheerful voice called from down the hallway. Frida recognized her as Eileen Larkin, a sweet and cheerful girl with ginger curls that would bounce whenever she moved. Despite being only seventeen most people thought she was younger due to being skinny and flat chested. "Listen the teacher is asking for you and your friend to come back to class."

"Okay tell him that we're coming."

"Alright and by the way I know it's late but thanks for saving me back with that ostrich incident."

"No problem."

The rest of the day was pretty mellow with nothing exciting happening at all. In fact the rest of the day was so calm and uneventful that by the end of class Manny had fallen asleep. Frida smiled when she saw him sleeping at his desk. She had to admit she liked having him at school today, she hoped that he would keep attending with her.

"Oh I forgot to get my homework assignment from Mr. Posada."

She got up from her seat and went to look for her teacher. As she walked toward his office she had the feeling that someone was watching her. She checked behind and around herself several times but saw no one and nothing. Finally just when she thought nothing was wrong and that she was only imagining things she heard a voice say.

"Miss Frida." She turned in the direction of the voice and saw a young man standing behind her smiling. He looked kind of akward. Who was this guy? And how did he know her name? "So nice to see you again, shall we go?"

"Go? Go where? Who are you anyway?"

He only gave her a chuckle and looked at her. Suddenly she felt an intense fear grip her heart and a chill run up her spine. There was something about this guy that she didn't like and she wanted to get away from him but she found herself unable to move. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she move? What was happening? And that was her last thought before she blacked out.

"Frida!" Manny instantly woke up when he sensed that she was in danger. When he saw that she was gone he got up and began to frantically search for her while following her scent but she was no where to be seen. The only trace of her he found was her hand bag that layed on the floor. He picked up the bag and sniffed it. The handbag wreaked of reptile, supernatural reptile.

"Damn snake!" He growled. "When I find you I shall slice you into picadillo and use your skin to make a belt!"

...

When Frida awoke she found herself lying on the floor of an unfamiliar place. She seemed to be in some house but something about it didn't seem right.

"Good morning Frida did you sleep well?"

She looked up to see the man she had seen from last night standing at the door of the room.

"You again!"

"I see you remember me, how nice."

"Wait a minute what's going on here? Where am I? And who the heck are you?"

"I am Nigel a vision serpent and divine familiar to Chiquita the spirit of the east who is taking a nap in the next room." He pointed over to a closed bedroom.

"Why have you brought me here?"

"You'll have to speak up I'm a little hard at hearing."

"Why have you brought me here?" She asked in a louder tone.

"Oh do you not know? I brought here because I have chosen you to be my bride."

"Oh crap! I forgot about that! This is not good!"

"Don't worry my dear I shall be a dutiful husband and you shall be very happy here and Chiquita has already blessed our marriage."

"Are you crazy?! I'm not marrying you!"

"Oh? Perhaps you are confused, the mark on your arm signifies our engagement."

"But I never agreed to this! And besides you wouldn't want me for a wife anyway."

"Why ever not?"

"Well I can't cook or clean so there's no way I can play the role of house wife, I can't lay eggs so offspring is out of the question, and I'm not really that much of a looker so you'll only be disappointed."

"Don't be silly my dear I shall handle all the cooking and cleaning, I do not need offspring when I have you, and you are quite beautiful. In fact I've never seen a human with beauty like yours, had I not smelt your human blood I would've mistaken you for a niad."

"Oh thank you, that's very swee- Wait a minute! Flattery won't work pal! I'm not getting married to anyone and I'm going home right now!"

He just chuckled.

"What?"

"You're a very pretty but very silly girl. You can't leave this place."

"Oh yeah? Watch me."

She went to the door that lead out of the house and began searching for a road or something that might lead her back home. It was very dark outside and a little hard to see, due to it she ended up tripping and falling down a few times and she thought that she gotten lost once or twice until at last she saw a light. But was horrified to discover that it was the same place she had just left.

"Did you have a nice walk my dear?" Nigel asked.

"What? But how?"

"Come again?"

"How? Maybe I took a wrong turn."

"No matter what route you take or what direction you take it will bring you right back here."

"You mean...I can't ever leave?"

"No but don't worry soon you won't want to leave."

"Fat chance of that happening."

"You seem tense, would you like to go to bed?"

"Go to bed with you! Ick! You keep your scaly self away from me you perv!"

"Relax I'm not gonna try anything I promise. Here let me show you to your quarters."

He led her to a bedroom.

"Try to get some rest, you'll need your strength for the wedding feast."

"Listen you little weirdo you won't keep me here for long because eventually my familiar Manny is going to come find me and I don't think he'll be very happy about you kidnapping me."

"I hate to disappoint you but he'll never find this place and I don't expect him to try. In fact I expect him to be relieved and overjoyed that you're gone."

"Why on earth do you think that?"

"Well he hates humans and I doubt he ever liked the idea of being a human's familiar and if you stay here and marry me he won't have to serve you and will be free to do whatever he wants."

"You're wrong! He'll come find me! And then you'll be sorry!"

He only chuckled and shut the door leaving her alone in the room.

"You'll see. He'll find me...I hope." She sighed,

She sat on the bed in her room and wrapped her arms around her legs while resting her head on her knees. Deep down she couldn't help but worry that maybe he was right. Manny wasn't thrilled in the least when he became her familiar. In fact he had made a huge fuss about humiliating and horrible it was to be serving someone like her. What if he didn't come? What if he was happy that she was gone? What if she spent the rest of her life here married to a snake? Oh God what was she going to do?

Not sure what to do at the moment she decided to do whatever she did whenever she was scared or sad. She sang a song that her mother used to sing to her and her sisters before bed every night. Singing always made her feel better when things looked bleak. In a way it gave her hope when things looked hopeless.

"A fine bluejay flew by in May and sang for his lady day.

Then summer's sun called the spun and he took himself away.

Don't cry for me while I be gone thought it an eternity seems.

While we are apart I'll follow my heart and come to you, come to you, come to you in your dreams."

And she just continued to sing that song fearing that Manny had abandoned her and was enjoying her missing presence. Little did she know that it was just the opposite. He was worried out of his mind and desperately searching for her with Tia and Pablo.

"Oh how terrible! Frida has been abducted!" Pablo cried.

"She has been taken from us to be the bride of a serpent! We are done for!" Tia shrieked.

"Shut up you're making my head swell!" He snapped.

He was very sick with worry. He still couldn't believe that he had failed to protect her. He had let her out of his sight for one moment and just like that she was gone. He could just imagine how scared she was and it frightened him to think that she might be hurt.

"Damn it! Where could she be?" He thought. "I'be tracked down nearly every vision serpent in the area and not one of them has her. It might be a lost cause but I will find her, no matter what."

"What if we never find her?" Tia said.

"What if she is lost to us forever?" Pablo said.

Hearing the two aluxes say things like that didn't help Manny's worry lessen. He didn't understand whyour it was so hard to find her. He had incredible sight yet for some reason his eyes couldn't see her anywhere. He tried sniffing out her scent but couldn't pick it up no matter how hard he sniffed. How could he find her if he couldn't see or smell her? Then his hearing caught hold of a faint sound. A voice.

"Be quiet you two! I think I hear something!"

He used his strong hearing to tune out any sound except for that voice. It was a young woman's voice and it was singing.

"One day in spring she heard him sing a song to her delight.

And back again came her friend to warm her summer night.

Don't cry for me while I be gone thought it an eternity seems.

While we are apart I'll follow my heart and come to you, come to you, come to you in your dreams."

It was beautiful and sad and familiar. That was her. That was Frida's voice he was sure of it. True he believed that he had never heard her sing before but he had no doubt in his mind that it was her voice. He'd bet his life on it. Something inside him just told him that was her. He quickly perked up his ears and began to follow the singing. Following he realized that she was being held in a barrier that wouldn't allow anyone or anything to be seen or smelt and yet it allowed them to be heard. All at once he knew exactly who had her. It turns out Nigel was very hard of hearing and due to that he would often forget that others could hear better than him so he never bothered to make his barrier sound proof.

"So that's where you're keeping her you sneaky deaf reptile! Just wait til I get my claws on you!"

Back at the house Frida had gotten hungry and began searching for something to eat. As she searched she stumbled on to Chiquita's bedroom. Come to think of it why hadn't this spirit shown herself yet? Was she still asleep? No...No something wasn't right. She went to the bedroom and opened the door. There was no one in that room. There was no spirit.

"What are you doing in there?" Nigel asked. "You musn't disturb Chiquita!"

"Cut the act dude! There's no one in there! There is no spirit is there?"

Nigel sighed and began to look very sad. Like he had just lost someone he loved very much.

"Chiquita used to live here but one day...She had to move on."

"Move on?"

"Sometimes when spirits are not needed they move on to join nature. It was fifty years ago when Chiquita moved on, she told me not to be sad but I couldn't help but cry because she was like a mother to me and now that she's gone I'm all alone."

Frida tried to be irritated and angry with him but seeing him looking so sad and glum made it hard and before she knew it she found herself feeling pity for him.

"I'm sorry about your spirit being gone and I can understand how lonely you must be." She comforted. "I kind of know what that's like and I think Manny does too. No one should be alone."

"Then you do understand, you'll make a wonderful wife."

"Now wait a minute that doesn't mean I want to marry you. I'm sorry but I can't stay here, I have to go home."

"No please! Please love me!" He grabbed her waist and lower area.

"Ahhh!" Frida screamed and started kicking him. "Get off me! What's wrong with you?! You said that you weren't going to try anything with me!"

"I know but we are closer now." He replied with a lustful grin.

He then grabbed her arm and pinned her down while hovering over her. Frida struggled to get away from him but he was too strong.

"No wait! Please don't! Help me! Manny!" She screamed fearfully.

And just before Nigel could do anything a tiger roar was heard and a flame broke down the door. Standing at the door's remains much to Frida's relief was Manny and when he saw what Nigel was about to do to her he looked like he was about to explode with a great rage.

"You dare to lay a hand on my lady and mistress?!" He growled. "I hope you are prepared to pay severely for you have done!"

"You found me." Frida said with joy and relief.

"Step away from her!" He demanded throwing a flame at Nigel scaring him off of her. He then threw his arms around her and held her protectively. He was beyond relieved that he had finally found her and nor a moment too soon. Had he been any later Nigel could've hurt her in one of the most gruesome ways imaginable. "You're safe now, thank goodness."

She was surprised by how he was acting toward her. He was holding her as if he let go she would be gone forever. She couldn't remember the last time anyone held her. His arms felt so safe and warm, she found herself becoming overwhelmed and began to form tears.

"You're late." She said hugging him and laying her head on his shoulder.

"How did you find this place?" Nigel asked. "I had it safely hidden under a strong barrier do could you have possibly found this place?"

"Well I must admit I had a lot of trpuble finding this place considering that your barrier prevents anything under it from being seen or smelt but you didn't exactly make this place sound proof. Hearing Frida's lovely singing was all I needed for me to find your exact location and now you scaly thief the time has come for you to pay for stealing my lady and mistress."

Waves of green fire shot out from his finger nails and began to burn down the house. Nigel tried to put out the fire with his powers but it was no use, the fire was too strong.

"You know if you never gave me a reason to find you here you'd still have your home loss 1, I am taking Frida back with me so you've lost your bride loss 2, loss three shall be your life." He threw another flame which Nigel dodged. He fled from the fires only for Manny to chase him until he had him cornered. "Now let's see how shall I kill you? What kind of death would suit a sneaky, perverted, and thieving serpent like you?"

Nigel looked at Manny with fear in his eyes while Manny gave him a look of pure ruthlessness with no mercy. Not sure what else to do he fell on his knees and began to weep.

"Please! I meant no harm I just...I've been alone for so long. Ever since Chiquita moved on it's just been me by myself! I couldn't bear to alone any longer! You can understand that right Manny?"

Manny seemed to calm down.

"Believe me I can understand exactly how that feels...But that doesn't excuse your crimes! I have decided that you shall be burned into ashes!"

Manny made the biggest fire he could and aimed it right at him. Tears were running down Nigel's cheeks as he shielded his eyes and prepared himself for his hot, burning, seething, death.

"Manny that's enough." Frida ordered.

"What?"

"That's enough. Put it away."

Manny grumbled then snuffed out the flame in his hand. Frida then walked over toward Nigel and gave him a gentle smile.

"Listen Nigel I can't stay with you. I have to go home now but I promise I'll come see you whenever you get too lonely okay?"

Nigel nodded then smiled back. After that she left with Manny who she noticed looked pretty upset.

"What's wrong with you?" She asked.

"Nothing."

"You're not upset because I promised to see Nigel are you?"

"No. Why would I be upset about that? Because you promised to see him again right in front of me? Even though he kidnapped and assaulted you? No of course not!"

"Hey don't worry I gave him a good bash on the head for that."

"Why would you want to see him again?"

"Because I feel sorry for him. I mean he's all alone that's terrible. You wouldn't want that to happen to you would you? What if I were to die and you were left all alone? I'd be heartbroken."

Manny flinched then noticed the bleeding scrape on her knee.

"You're hurt?"

"Oh yeah I tripped earlier but it's no big deal."

It was to Manny. She merely trips and she bleeds, he hated to think of what would happen to her if she were to fall from a tree, get hit by a car, shot by a gun, or worse. She was such a delicate and fragile thing. If he failed to keep her safe he wasn't sure what he would do.

"Manny?" Frida said interrupting his thoughts.

"What?" He looked up to see her smiling at him.

"You came for me, thank you."

He blushed and looked away from her.

"Whatever let's go home."