Chapter Ten

Two week had passed since I visited the Nightmare Realm, and I had gotten many more injuries, such as burns, patches of darkened skin from dark magic, more dissolved skin from light magic, and bruises from rocks. As I sat bored in Secrets of Water Magic, where the lesson today was oceans around the world, I recalled my first visit to the Dark Cave. I felt so bad about hurting Harry when he didn't hurt me very much.

"Wisteria, what is the ocean of the coast of New York and Maine?" Mrs. Jones asked me.

I almost snorted. This question was too easy, considering I lived near Long Island most of my life. "The Atlantic." I answered.

"Correct." Mrs. Jones nodded, and went on with the boring lesson. I yawned and slipped into sleep, half expecting to be in the Dark Cave. I didn't end up there, apparently that only worked at night.

The bell suddenly rang. I jerked awake, grabbed my stuff, and ran out the door to the courtyard for Mythical Creatures. As soon as I was outside, I saw Ben playing with a red and black lynx.

"Hey!" I walked over to where he was and sat down next to him in the grass. I released Ember so she and the lynx could play.

"Hi, Wisty! Who's this?" He gestured to Ember. "The lynx is mine. His name is Lynk."

"Oh, this is my tiger, Ember." I looked at my pet, who was still a baby.

"So, what's up?" He asked.

"Not much," I answered awkwardly. This wasn't really much of conversation. I was super relieved when Terra and Max came from behind us, Diamond and Blue following them.

"Hey, Blue. Hey, Diamond." Ben greeted them.

"Hi!" Diamond panted. "Wow, they're fast! Maybe we should have waited until we got here to let them loose."

"Agreed!" Blue puffed.

"Hey guys, what's going on? Animal party?" Caleb joked as he and Alex walked over. Caleb had his pet, Coen, a fox made of fire. Alex had his pet, Vera, a falcon.

"Snook, wait up!" I heard Luna's frustrated voice come from the school. Snook darted away from his owner, playing chase, as Luna turned into a wolf again and leaped after him. She landed on his back, flipped Snook over and gave him a look before jumping off him again.

"Hey, Luna," Ben said as soon as she walked over, Snook trailing behind her happily.

"Hi, Ben." She slipped her hand in his. I still thought it was weird, seeing them engaged at fourteen years old, but I guess I just had to get used to it.

"Welcome to Mythical Creatures!" Mrs. Clare grinned. This was how she started every class, and it got annoying after about three days. "Today, it's Free Day Friday. You get to just hang out and play with your animals! Now remember the rules..." She tried add, but after the word 'animals,' people cut loose. It got very loud, especially since every kid in the their first, second and third years were there.

"Look what I trained Snook to do!" Luna grinned. She balled her hand into a fist and made a half circle motion with it. Snook jumped up and flipped over in the air, landing on his two hind paws and dropped his front paws.

"Wow! Good job!" Diamond smiled. Snook purred in return.

"It was hard to teach him that, but Ben helped." Luna looked at Ben and they both smiled at each other. The rest of the class was spent goofing off with each other and our animals, and, all too soon, it was time to leave. I put Ember in dormant form and walked with Luna, Ben, Diamond, Blue, Caleb and Alex back into the school.

"I hope that happens every Friday!" Blue said.

"Same," Alex agreed. "I bet it won't happen every time, though."

"Probably not." Ben said, nodding. "Well, this is the way to the boy's dorms. I'll see you guys later." He and Luna hugged and Ben left.

"Bye." Caleb waved to me.

"See you later!" I smiled and waved back.

Alex and Diamond hugged goodbye, and the all of the guys had left.

"So, do you guys want to play Truth or Dare again in our dorm?" Diamond invited.

"Sure!" Blue nodded happily.

"Okay, let's go. I'll race all of you. And win." Luna challenged.

"It's on!" I bolted up the stairs. Luna changed into a wolf yet again and bounded past me and Diamond, who were matched in speed, and Blue, who was in front of us.

"No fair," Blue panted as Luna sat atop the stairs in human form, with her black wolf ears and tail.

"What took you so long?" She smiled smugly.

"Cheater," I grumbled. "Well, whatever, let's just go." Laughing, Luna followed me into the dorm. Diamond and Blue exchanged looks, rolled their eyes, and followed me too.

"Truth or dare?" Diamond asked me once we had all settled in.

"Truth," I answered.

"Okay..." Diamond hesitated, thinking, and then grinning mischievously, "Is it true that you like Caleb?"

"C'mon, we all know the answer to that one." Blue had the same smile on her face as Diamond.

"It's obvious." Luna agreed, catching the contagious smile as well.

I blushed. "Well, I... Uh..."

"The game's called TRUTH or dare!" Blue teased, shoving me a bit with her shoulder.

"Fine. Yes... I have a bit of a crush on Caleb." I admitted.

"I knew it!" Diamond exclaimed. Realizing she was loud she added, "Sorry."

I laughed. "It's okay."

"Okay, Luna, truth or dare?" Blue asked her roommate.

"Umm, dare! I'm up for anything!" Luna answered.

"I dare you to...to... Prank call Selena!" Blue giggled.

"Really? That's all? Fine." Luna picked up the nearest phone, which was the room phone, and dialed Selena's number. She put it on speaker somehow.

"Hello?" Selena's voice came from the other end.

"Hello," Luna said in a stupid voice. "Is... Is James there?"

"Who's James?" I whispered.

"The guy Selena's getting married to." Luna whispered back.

"Um, no, he's at his place." Selena answered. "Wait. Who is this?"

"My name is Fred." Luna kept her stupid voice up.

"Fred? How did you get this number?" Selena snarled.

"Yeah, sorry, I gotta go, but it was nice talking to you." Luna said in her regular voice.

"Wha-? Luna?!" Selena sounded surprised and angry.

"Bye!" Luna chirped, and put down the phone.

"That was hilarious. Her reaction..." I laughed. "'How did you get this number?!'" I said in a mocking voice.

"Good dare!" Diamond giggled.

"Thanks," Blue was laughing too, and so was Luna.

"Okay. Diamond! Truth or dare?" Luna asked.

"Truth, please, I don't want any dares from you." Diamond teased.

"Okay. Is it true that you've lived in Neria all of your life? I know it's kinda lame but I couldn't come up with anything else." Luna shrugged.

"Actually, no. I used to live in central Australia, near Sydney. But when my mom found out Alex was magic, we moved here."

"Oh. Cool!" I answered.

Suddenly, the phone rang again. Hopefully it isn't Selena, I thought. I picked it up.

"Hello," Headmaster Hart said. I breathed a sigh of relief. "This is a school wide call. Curfew is now at ten o'clock, and you must be in your own dorms by then. It is now seven o'clock. Good night, students!"

I put down the phone. "Ten o'clock curfew." I said to my friends.

"Oh, good. I was afraid it would be Selena." Diamond said.

"Me too," Blue agreed.

"Why? What could she do to you?" Luna asked, rolling her eyes. "I mean, she isn't queen yet.

"I know, but still." Blue tried to defend herself.

"I'm tired. This week seemed to drag on forever!" I yawned.

"Same," Diamond agreed.

"Well, we're going to let you guys rest. C'mon, Blue. Let's go," Luna waved to us and Blue said goodbye as she and Luna left our dorm.

"Bye!" We called after them.

I laid down in my bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin. My hand slipped and I punched myself in the face. I groaned.

"Good night, Wisty!" Diamond rolled over, not hearing or seeing me fail at the easiest thing to do since breathing.

"Night, Diamond." I drifted off to sleep, skipping the Nightmare Realm tonight.