Vlad and Magdalene's Love Story

Magdalene and her parents were occupied with assisting in getting Mag settled into her new dorm-room at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was a private Lutheran university. The largest private university in the state, the institution derives its name from the Confessio Augustana.

Augustana University offered 53 majors, 34 minors, and 15 pre-professional programs. The top five most popular majors are nursing, biology, business administration, elementary education, and psychology.

The university's curriculum was based on a calendar divided into two 15-week semesters. Separated by an interim period of four weeks during January, as well as an optional summer term of eight weeks. Classes may be taken during January. The school offers a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio

Graduation requires completion of 124 total credit hours, 59 of which are general education courses, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. "The Augustana Plan," the name of the 59 credit core curriculum, is "designed to develop articulate communicators, competent writers, creative thinkers, skilled problem solvers, and ethically minded, responsible citizens of the world.

Mag electing to come to this particular educational institution had involved several motivators. One big reason she had wanted to come here? She'd yearned-for a change of scenery. More importantly, she craved for a chance to meet brand-new people.

Another rational motive? She genuinely desired independence from her parents. The last reason for going to an educational institution so far from home? She longed-for a genuine adventure.

The family's small hoarded wealth that their ancestors had made in gold and precious gems had long ago been put into a special trust fund. It was quite a bit of money. The exact amount was unknown to Magdalene at this time though she was conscious of the fact that the trust fund had a multitude of rules for when and what you could use it for.

One rule all-important rule was that before using it, a family meeting had to be held. Then everyone had to agree that the monetary fund could be accessed. Next, they had to have convincing evidence that this was what they were using the money for.

Most significantly, there were specific requirements for what it was to be used for. The money was to be used primarily for three things. Medical emergencies, paying for school, and finally, matters related to helping the family keep their home. It was never under any circumstances to be used for self-serving desires. It was to remain divided up within reason and equally with the family.

Thus some of the trust had been utilized to pay for Mag's education. She was also permitted an 'allowance' per month. She was to use her allowance exclusively to support herself so far from home.

"Are you sure you are gonna be all right, sweetie?" Lorelei implored her daughter for the millionth time since they got here.

"Mom!" Mag spoke sharply as she turned to face her mother. She looked exasperated with her mother but attempted to talk civilly with her mother.

Taking a few deep breaths, Mag tried once more to get her mother to cease fretting. "I'm not helpless or an invalid in any shape or form, you know that! I'll be all right!"

Shaking her pretty head, she let out an exasperated sigh and gazed at her mother imploring. "Look, Mom, you got to let me grow up eventually. I promise to write home once a week! Plus, I'll call you guys whenever I can.

But all the same, Mom let me grow up! I'm perfectly capable of being on my own! Nothing terrible is going to happen!" Magdalene emphasized to her mother in an aggravated tone of voice.

"I"m just concerned about you is all sweetheart," Lorelei replied to her daughter. She then gripped her daughter's shoulders and, again, in an apprehensive voice, instantly asked her. " Do you have your prescriptions? Along with your vitamins and iron pills? Did you check in with the university medical practitioner? I don't know..."

"Lorelei, she not a bird to be kept in a gilded cage," her husband promptly responded to stop his wife worrywarts in their tracks. She looked at her generous husband, and he carried on.

" I know this is going to be tough on the both of us, but I'm positive Magdalene will be fine. Just have a little faith in our little girl. Or should I say the young woman she now is?" Roland told his wife, attempting to calm down her anxiety.

"Okay, I'll be okay in a few moments. It's just hard to let my baby go!" she lamented as teardrops tumbled from her indigo eyes.

"Mom, I'll always be your baby, but I'm also an adult now, so let me, please be an adult, okay?" Mag attempt to appease her, which seemed to have some effect on her mother.

"Okay. But if anything should happen, please contact us right away," her mother demanded of her to which Mag nodded.

"Will do. Now, if we got all that out of the way? I've got to get ready for the first day of the rest of my life!"

Mag never thought her parents leave, but they eventually left, and she was alone and on her own for the first time in her life. It was an especially exhilarating sensation, and she was in truth looking forward to her first day of school the next day.

She wasn't genuinely confident in what she sought to major in at school. Consequently, she'd resolved to take an assortment of courses until she found her nitch. She was at least grateful that she had a room to herself.

Though as thrilled as she was to be on her own, she couldn't help but also feel depressive about how the next day wasn't just her first day of classes. Tomorrow would be a year to the day of putting her cat Eleanor to sleep.

The beloved pet that she'd for half her life had gotten kidney disease, and therefore to be kind to her; they'd put her to sleep. The veterinarian was friendly enough to give her a key chain, Rainbow Bridge poem with a photo of her cat. They also had a plaster heart with her paw print, and her ashes, which she had brought with her kept in a beautiful wooden box. Therefore it was as much as she was excited about her first day of school she knew she also is grieving for her beloved feline.

Magdalene, before long, discovered that a college student's life was not an effortless one. Requiring to balance schoolwork, socializing, and making sure one got adequate sleep wasn't an easy thing to accomplish.

High school had been a cakewalk to the demands of college. The subjects are twice as hard, and the school assignments are double that of high school. Then it was just comprehending the lessons themselves because you'd to take excellent notes given the professor wasn't inclined to repeat themselves. Then like any institution, there were your schoolmates: many different backgrounds and just as many various personalities. Fitting in was never the easiest thing to do.

Even though Mag was an extremely likable person, she wasn't doing incredibly well in the friendship department. A majority of the kids at the college had lived in South Dakota their whole lives. Therefore a majority of the student body had long-standing histories with each other. She was one of the very few, not from South Dakota. Also, as she wasn't much of a partier and didn't partake in alcoholic beverages or narcotics, thus she wasn't invited to many parties.

Thus she was pretty much an outcast from the start. Also, despite the excellent weather conditions of South Dakota, it wasn't working out as she hoped for her welfare. It appeared that her health problems, instead of improving, were, in reality, getting more critical, which she couldn't figure out why, but that what was happening.

Magdalene concentrated on her education while staying in contact with her parents and her best friend, Leta. Leta had chosen to go to school in Wisconsin. She hadn't determined what she desired to study either, but all the same, need a college diploma to get anywhere in life.

It was about midway through her third year or so that things started occurring throughout campus that began to cause trouble for students and staff alike. Throughout the winter months, more and more vehicles were being broken into. A few were even stolen for joyrides and then left abandoned. By the time some of the teacher's automobiles were found, they'd been stripped of anything valuable.

By the spring semester, it was now the dorm room being broken into. Again it seemed left, and right people were robbed blindly, and no-one could figure out who was doing it and why they not been captured.

Magdalene kept praying nothing would happen to her, but even the Lord couldn't protect her. One day she was returning late from class and found her door room had been broken into.

It looked like a war zone in her room. She hoped the criminals hadn't found the secret place she kept her checks from her monthly allowance. But no such luck. All the checks she hadn't cashed were gone! That was well over a thousand dollars they made off with! Not only that, but the burglars who must have been looking for a high also stole her prescriptions, iron pills, and vitamins. They were plausible misreading the latter two.

Like so many other students, she filed a report and demanded the dean do something about the situation. But of course, nothing was done about it, and Mag barely was able to get by.

It wasn't until about three months until she was to graduate that the school ultimately figured out who the thieves were. And it was a shock. To everyone shock, two long term teachers of the school had recruited the most valuable and few honor students as well to assist them in robbing both the pupils and employees blind.

The two teachers had had a hidden gambling addiction. Consequently, they'd started to embezzle some money, and when they're getting close to being caught, they formed a plan B. Using their handpicked students, they helped them rob everyone blind. They'd promised the students everything from passing them in class to providing them with hard liqueur and narcotics.

It was quite the scandal, and the school didn't know how they ever recover from having its reputation so damaged in such a vile and immoral way. Not to mention, many of the victims would never be able to recover.

Magdalene was one of the victims who would not be able to recover. She only had enough money left after graduating for a bus ticket, although it was attempting to decide where to go when she got to the bus station that was the problem.

She could take the bus and go back home to her parents and hometown. Or she could take the bus and crash with Leta. Typically Mag would've done the sensible thing and call her parents and go home. Except she hadn't notified them at all regarding the scandal at her university. Mag didn't want to go back and face her parents. She could already hear her mother lecturing.

Resolving not to go home crying to mommy and daddy, she bought a bus ticket and headed off to look up Leta in Wisconsin. The bus ride was rather long, and the whole time she felt sicker and weaker but stayed on the bus until she reached Wisconsin. When she arrived, she was disappointed that Leta wasn't around to greet her or take her back to her place. She wondered if Leta hadn't gotten her message as she had been incapable of calling her.

Finding the most inexpensive motel, Mag went to sleep. Not knowing her life was about to change permanently. The next morning when the maids came to clean the room, they found the young woman unconscious and quite sickly. Her breathing was erratic, she was all clammy, and her naturally tan skin was ashen. Consequently, the manager of the motel called 911 and rushed the ailing woman to the nearest hospital.

However, other traumas were going on that the moment and virtually all the rooms full because of it. Therefore they put the unconscious woman in the only available place.

A room Vlad Masters was currently in for his mysterious ailment of 'ecto-acne." Which of course, the physicians had no idea how to counteract or heal. So it would seem Vlad be stuck for a long time in the hospital.

When his periodic painkillers wore off, he was subsequently conscious enough to notice that he was now sharing the room with the most gorgeous woman he'd ever seen. Her beauty even transcended that of Maddie. The doctors were extremely occupied with taking vitals and doing all kinds of tests to try and figure out what was wrong with the young woman.

It wasn't until twilight the young lady finally woke up. Naturally, she was bewildered as to where she was and what was going on. But then she heard someone tell to calm down and it'd be okay.

"What? Who there? Where am I? Who are you?" she asked frantically.

"Calm down, please. I know waking up in the hospital is very scary, but your in a good place," said a young man voice to her left.

"Hospital? What am I doing in a hospital? And again, who are you?" she turned to look at her roommate. She could tell it was a young man likely around her age. But he didn't want to show her his face since he had drawn the pinkish curtain closed. So they couldn't see each other appropriately. They had no problem hearing one another but couldn't see each other at the moment.

"Um, my name is Vlad Masters. I arrived the day before you," the voice stuttered a bit, answering one of her questions.

"And when did I ended up here in this room?" she questioned him. Her mind was going a mile a minute, and she was scared.

"About nine-thirty this morning. It woke me up even on the strong painkillers I'm on. The doctors should be in soon to explain things," the voice of Vlad answered her. He seemed to be decompressing some as he wasn't stuttering anymore. That calmed her down a lot.

"Well, at least I've some good company while I'm here," she said in a cheerful voice and heard him chuckle. Smiling, she said in a cheery voice, "My name Magdalene by the way. Magdalene Faith Fen, but you can call me Mag for short if you want."

"Nice to meet you, Magdalene."

"Um, it'd be more delightful to meet you if I could see your face. Why don't you want to show me your face? I mean, all I can see between us is a curtain and make out your outline," she said In a slightly disappointed tone.

"Trust me. You wouldn't want to see my face. No one would ever want to see my face again. I doubt my mother could love the face I have now," he said bitterly.

Mag frowned at how sharp her unseen roommate sounded. Curious, she asked as tactfully as she could. "What could be so offensive you believe your mother wouldn't love you? Did you get in a car accident, burns, or something?"

"Well, I was in an accident, but not a car crash," Vlad replied honestly as he shifted to get more comfortable in his bed. He could tell Mag was also trying to get more comfortable. She managed to sit up and looked at the curtain intensely.

"Well, what kind of accident then?" she asked curiously. She ordinarily wouldn't have pried, but she was alone and frightened. Also, she had nothing better to do at the moment. She heard the young man let out a loud sigh before he answered her question. It sound from his tone he wanted someone to vent his troubles too. So he didn't seem to find her offensive, just a convenient person to talk also.

"Nothing in the realm of normalcy," he answered before taking another deep breath and revealed what occurred to him. " All I know its was my ex-best friend Jack Fenton's fault! I'll kill him for this! I swear it! I swear it in the name of my mother and sister, one day he'll pay for this!" he growled like a beast as he said that.

"Now that is a bit harsh, Vlad. Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end," Mag replied thoughtfully.

"Where did you hear that, Mag?" he asked, annoyed.

"It's Proverbs 29:11. And speaking of Proverbs here another one. Proverbs 19:11 "A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense."

"You are quoting the bible?" he realized what she was talking about.

"Well, yes. In my family, religion is critical to us. I have got an excellent memory. And when you read the Bible for three hours three days out of the week, it tends to get stuck in your head," he couldn't see it because of the curtain, but she was blushing.

"My mother was a bit more spiritual then my father. But then my father didn't care about anyone or anything other then himself. My mother was the one to raise me and my older sister Nayda."

"Tell me more about your family. I'll tell you something about me, and you tell me something about you," Mag proposed kindly.

"Okay, tell me about your parents. What were they like?"

"My father Roland is well-known for his movie-star good looks, being the best real estate agent in my home town of Meridian, Idaho. My dad was also a track and field star in high school."

"What about your mom?"

"My mom Lorelei is a well-renowned of the Meridian Sympathy Orchestra. She's exceptionally musically talented. Whether its playing an instrument or singing, she's the best. She was a distinguished swimming champion in high school. Both she and my father were the most popular and best-looking couple when they're in high school.

Now tell me about your parents?"

"My parents were born in Russia and wedded quite young. Only two months after they got married, they resettled to the United States. My mother was named after the last royal family of Russia. After the famous Anastasia and her mother, while my father's middle name is that of Anastasia's father. My older sister's middle name is one of Anastasia's sisters, and my middle name is after the last prince of Russia."

"That quite special. I love names and symbolism that a favorite topic of mine. I'm well versed in the language of flowers. My mom is constantly saying I could regrow Eden if I tried," she chuckled amusingly at the thought, and so did he. Then he replied in a softer but still pleasant voice.

"Well, no one in my family got a green thumb or is musically inclined. My sister is an art prodigy, and my mother, a professor of philosophy. She has always been particularly keen about her children getting the best education possible."

"What about your dad? You mentioned he wasn't exactly nice? Why? What he do?" hoping this wasn't too sensitive of a topic.

"We don't talk about my father anymore. Not after what he did," came the short but abrupt answer.

"Did he do something terrible? You can say yes or no," she asked, seeking again not to agitate him too much.

"My father was an abuser who was also a drug addict. He loved heron more then us. Unless he was abusing us, he seemed to relish causing harm to his family."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she paused for a moment then said, "Heal me O Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise," Jeremiah 17: 14.

"Somehow, that makes me feel a bit better."

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17: 22."

"You really can't break that habit, can you?"

"No, not really. I feel compelled to speak scripture if I feel the situation calls for it."

"What else you like to do besides bible study?"

"Well, again, I'm a gifted horticulturist. I'm also a piano prodigy. I appreciate reading, as well. Oh, and I love cats."

"Well, again its my sister who got most of the talent in the family. But that doesn't mean I'm not intelligent as well. Just not gifted in the arts."

"Well, maybe that not where your talents lie. What do you like? Furthermore, do you like animals?"

"Well, being born and raised in Wisconsin, I'm particularly fond of badgers. My sister used it as a childhood nickname. For my fourth birthday, she sewed me a stuffed badger. I named him Packy after the Green Bay Packers, which are my most favorite thing in the world."

"Well, can't say I'm a football fan, but to each his own. That's sweet what your sister did. The closest person I've to a sibling is my best friend, Leta."

"What Leta like?"

"Well, she's drop-dead gorgeous. She's also biracial, her father is African-American, and her mother is white and of Jewish descent. Whenever it was the holidays, we would celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all together. My parents threw the best Christmas parties. And of course, Leta celebrates both Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. It was always fun to go to her parent's parties."

"That must be nice to be so culturally diverse."

"It is. Her heritage was significant to her. But no one knows more regarding magic and myths then Leta! She loved to learn all about alternative lifestyles along with magic and myths."

"Sounds like she's a fascinating person. Again my sister Nayda is gifted at sewing and fine arts. Though she and my mother both need B12 shots every day."

"They have Pernicious anemia?"

"How did you know that?" he asked, surprised.

"Well, I was born with a weakened immune system, and I'm chronically anemic myself. Leta has diabetes. So we spent our fair share at doctor offices and hospitals. You learn a lot when you're sick about other people being sick. Though it feels if you are in one hospital, you've been in them all."

"Thankfully, I do not have pernicious anemia. I've always been extremely healthy other then what's landed me in the hospital right now."

"And what exactly has landed you in the hospital?"

Sighing, he decided to tell her the truth. "I've only had two friends outside my sister, who has been my best friend my whole life. When I got to college, I struck up a friendship with my roommate, an over-sized man-child named Jack Fenton. My only other friend was a young girl named Maddie Wells.

A brilliant young woman and quite compassionate as well. I had a massive crush on her from the moment I saw her. But she unquestionably into Jack though why she loves someone who an absolute nincompoop, I couldn't figure out."

"The heart wants what the heart wants. A woman's heart is a mystery all it's own. And as my mother always said, you don't find love, it finds you and when you least expect it."

"Well, anyway, my two friends had a bit of an obsession with ghosts."

"So, they want to be paranormal investigators?"

"No, they wanted to be more like Ghostbusters. You should see the contraptions they've come up with all of it looks like it came out of a sci-fi movie.

Anyway, they had this dumb idea to build what they called a Ghost Portal. Insisting it would as Jack put it, "Bust a hole into the ghost dimension." he scoffed, and Mag replied in an anxious voice.

"My friend Leta would tell them that it is a dangerous idea. You don't want to open portals of any kind. You never know what is going to come through. She's studied books on the paranormal and knows quite a few things you should and shouldn't do when it comes to ghosts. One big thing you should NEVER do is mess with a spirit board.

Because you NEVER know what you are summoning with one and again, you may open a door that shouldn't be opened. Also, don't mess with witchcraft. That only leads to bad things. Also, never have mirrors facing each other because this also can lead to a portal opening. And most importantly, NEVER give a ghost or demon permission to come into your home. Never do that!"

"You seemed to know a lot on the subject."

"Again, my friend Leta has studied magic, myths, and all things supernatural. She also knows about holistic healing and Eastern Medicine. Consequently, she's very well versed in those areas."

"Well, this man-made portal of Jack and Maddie shot some peculiar energy in my face and well..."

"Can I please see what you look like, Vlad? I won't judge."

There were a few minutes of silence then he pulled the curtain away so she could see him correctly. He looked humiliated about how his face looked at the moment. Mag only smiled and said, "You know beauty in the eye of the beholder. And I see a wonderful soul when I look into your eyes."

"Thanks, but who knows when they will be gone?"

"Well, it's a long shot, but if they let me contact my friend Leta I'm sure she could figure out something to treat you if she can persuade the doctors. I'll bet they'll be asking about me any time now."

Three hours later, the doctors did show up now that Mag was awake and started asking her questions. She answered them all, and they said they'd have to contact her parents but also said they'd try and reach her friend Leta for moral support.

Leta was there by the subsequent morning. Vlad was sleeping at the time, but Mag and Leta were having a serious talk. Mag was asking Leta what the best gemstone for acne was, and she said rose quartz, though a few others that might help were tourmaline, lapis lazuli, jade, garnet, turquoise, and amethyst. There were the best crystals when it came to anything to do with skin problems.

Then Mag asked her if she could get those and also bring her some fresh sunflowers, roses, witch hazel, lavender, and rosemary. She knew from her encyclopedia knowledge of flowers that they're good for healing and acne. She also asked her to pick up fresh carrots, blueberries, and spinach. Again as they were all good for your skin as well. The fresher the ingredients the better.

Mag knew the doctors weren't going to cure Vlad of his unusual acne. But between them, they had a much better chance. The doctors and most people would laugh at them and call it a hair-brained ludicrous idea. But in the end, she and Leta would have the last laugh. After all, it'd be a few days before her test results came in, or her parents manage to book flights out here.

So Leta said she would be back by the end of the day with a potion made up of all the things they needed. Mag felt extremely confident that this potion that she asked Leta to whip up would cure Vlad of his acne. While they waited for Leta to come back and in-between the doctors and nurse running test Vlad and Mag become closer as they got to know each other. It was an hour before visiting hours were over that Leta returned with the potion. Smiling, she turns to Vlad. "Vlad, you awake?"

"Yes, god, I hate needles! I've been poked enough times already!"

"Well, hopefully, they won't have to poke you anymore after we apply this potion Leta and I concocted."

"What? A potion? Are you out of your mind? You said witchcraft was a bad idea, remember?"

"Don't be so angry, Vlad. Perhaps the medical community doesn't think things like crystal healing or flowers and herbs can do as many wonders as modern medicine. But trust me, this potion will cure your acne. By tomorrow your acne will be fading, and by the end of the week, you'll be acne-free!"

"How do I know this won't make things worse?"

"Do you trust me, Vlad?"

"Yes."

"The trust me when I say this will work. You have supernatural acne. Therefore modern medicine won't have any effect. You need a more magical cure. Trust me. I wouldn't have asked Leta to brew this up if I didn't believe it would work."

"Okay, I trust you, but do it quickly before the doctors, and their needles come back!" he finally said.

"Okay, stay still as I apply the potion," as Leta went over and started to rub the potion contents over Vlad's infected face. He had to admit this felt good, and the good feeling lasted for the rest of the night. The next morning he picked up the mirror next to him and couldn't believe it! The acne was going away, and his skin looked better then ever! After that, Leta made sure to apply it twice a day on his face, and by the end of the week, Vlad's acne had completely gone!

Now, if only Mag had as good news for her health. The doctors determined she was extremely ill and would need a bone marrow transplant if she wishes to recover this time.

By this time, her parents had arrived and were tested right away. But as expected, her parents weren't a match. Given it was siblings who were the best chance for a bone marrow transplant. Leta also got herself tested, but she wasn't a match. And also, the donor register then didn't have a match either. It surprised everyone when Vlad asked to be tested. The doctors weren't sure he should be tested as he was still a patient, and even if they didn't know how he recovered, they didn't want to take chances.

But when Mag begged them to test him as she didn't have a lot of time, they agreed. Then to everyone's shock and surprise, Vlad WAS A MATCH. The day after, he tested as the match they did the transplant. Now finally, both Mag and Vlad were on their way to recover. However, they both had yet to realize just how much their lives had been changed. How Vlad's accident and him donating his marrow to Mag had changed them both in ways, they couldn't foresee at the moment.

Life has many unexpected twists and turns. And its very true that you don't find love it finds you and when you least expect it. It's also true that truth is stranger then fiction. After two long months in the hospital, they're finally leaving together. Mag and Vlad had become quite close during the past two months in the hospital together.

They're ready to start their lives together by putting the past behind them. However, there were a few things they needed to take care of first. Namely was achieving their goals in life while also dealing with the new reality of what they were.

Thanks to Vlad's accident, it had rendered him half-ghost. And when he donated his bone marrow to Mag, her DNA had also been changed — making her half-ghost as well.

They'd discovered their change the night after the bone marrow transplant. An extraordinary young lady named Lilith had come to see them. She explained to them what they'd become and the world they're now apart of.

She'd promised she, along with her husband, would help them learn to control their powers. Also, the rest of the "Ancients" and other ghosts of the Ghost Zone would help them learn and adapted to the whole new world.

It was a lot to take in, but they were more then ready for it. And who knew now that they're both healthy and half-ghosts who knew what other exciting opportunities lay they are waiting for them? One thing was for sure the adventure of a lifetime just begun!