Ahhhhhh French orals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hate French hate it hate it! This (as you may have guessed) is the reason I haven't updated fast. But I'll try harder even though I have GCSE exams in 3 MONTHS!! Which really isn't a long time if ya think about it. But I will do my best. Okay? Well here is chapter 8 for you. Enjoy, (I live for feedback!)

Thanks to Wiggy for reviewing my story, hate maths so much! Keep reading! Glad you are enjoying

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin

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Dahlia practised s much as she could in her cramped room. It was barely dawn and faint touches of pink and grey touched the horizon outside her window, her room facing east. She was looking in the mirror trying to lengthen her hair. It was hard work and after 10 minutes she was extremely hot and tired.

Maybe I should start smaller than this. Changing myself, as a living organism is hard, perhaps I should try an inert object.

She looked at her dressing table, which was sparse holding only her schoolbooks and pencils. Picking up a red coloured English exercise book, she concentrated hard on it willing it to change colour. Gradually the red colour grew lighter and softened; it resembled a peach or pale orange. Finally it grew ashen then white. Emboldened by her success, albeit a minor one, she experimented with a pencil. Although quite weary she forced herself to think of only one thought, to transform the pencil into a pen.

She was sweating and breathing hard by the time she had changed the pencil in the form of a pen. It was not completely symmetrical with rather sketchy lines as if it had been drawn, but it was a pen nonetheless. She attempted to write with it only to discover that it still wrote in pencil. Her vampire blood had given her a diluted form of their power to change the perception of others and make them see what was not really there. She was inspired by her small achievement and resolved to practise more that night after dinner.

Once she had taken a shower she pulled on her blue trousers and white shirt, which was her school, uniform, then descended down the stairs for early morning meditation. She found Samoya and Faye and sat down next to them. Samoya was deep in contemplation but Faye seemed restless. As complete silence was required for meditation she could not speak in the main hall but as soon as she rounded the corner at the edge of the building outside she asked Faye what was on her mind.

'Nothing I just was a little tired after last night. I keep having these nightmares in my sleep and they're distracting.'

'Visions perhaps,' Dahlia suggested, 'because when you are conscious your mind is unskilled at foreseeing the future so your gift is working overtime during the night time.' Faye nodded dubiously, 'maybe, but I have a feeling that this future is not mine, I don't recognise any of the people in it and anyone I think is familiar, slips from my mind never letting me retrieve it. It's so frustrating! I dunno what to think.'

'Just keep working at it, I know you'll get it in the end.' Dahlia tried to sound encouraging and supportive but in her mind she doubted her words. Yeah that's my answer to everything isn't it? Work harder and you'll be able to succeed. But it didn't work for me did it?

All the uncertainties and misgivings that had haunted her the past few weeks had returned. Her optimistic start to the day was over and doubt had begun to settle in as what ifs crowded her mind. What if I don't manage to work around my problem, what if I'm not good enough. What do I do with my life if I'm not?

Faye sensed her friend's discomposure, invisible on her face but obvious through Faye's understanding of Dahlia. She nudged her and jolted Dahlia out of her thoughts.

'What did the elders speak to you about last night?' Dahlia remained silent for a while then replied,

'They were discussing my prospects of training to be a complete druid. I start today.' Faye smiled broadly and answered with joyful words,

'Dahlia that's wonderful! Why aren't you more pleased?' she inquired puzzled by Dahlia's lack of anticipation.

Trying to bluff her friend she said, 'I am pleased. You just can't see it.' Faye didn't buy it.

'Don't try to tell me that. I can see through your clumsy efforts to shield your feelings. I know you and you are not happy. What's wrong? If you lie to me I will find out for myself, even if it is against the rules.' Dahlia didn't feel like talking though. So she put off Faye until later. She just had too many thoughts to sort out, too many of them containing Dain.

'I'll talk to you later, but I must go to school. I hope you sort out your dreams. Bye Faye.' She hurried off onto the path with her school bag leaving Faye behind shaking her head at her friend's manoeuvrable tactics. She would have to weasel it out from her somehow.

Dahlia walked down the familiar path to her school. She stared straight ahead but was still aware of all the beauty around her. The bronze coloured leaves and the crisp blue sky. She drew her strength from nature and now her surroundings gave her calm and cool thoughts, not allaying her doubts but over-riding them for a brief time. Soon she became aware of someone near her. Whoever it was, they were very quiet and walked almost without a sound. She turned to see …no one. Her imagination? No there was someone behind her but seeing as she had bigger problems, she decided to dismiss the faceless stranger. Anyway, it's not like he or she could hurt her.

Sitting down in her seat awaiting the Biology teacher she lost herself in her own thoughts. Planning what she was going to practise and have done by the time rejuvenation festival would take place in 5 months. She had to have mastered her skills as a druid and as a vampire by then. She considered what she would focus on as her main ability. She was just choosing between changes in perception and shape shifting herself into another living animal, when she noticed someone sitting next to her. Usually a mousy haired boy who was too shy to make friends sat next to her and he was happy with their companionable silence. The person sitting next to her was a different smell, different to her lab partner Jude, but strangely familiar. She turned to see…Dain. An explosion of thoughts erupted in her mind.

What's HE doing here? Did he follow me? Of course he did. Why? What's wrong with him? He's supposed to know the rules! Dahlia lost her legendary cool and blew up to the unsuspecting boy next to her.

'What are you doing here? If you're going to be training at the centre you'll have to learn the rules and follow them! You can't just-' she was cut off by Dain's next words,

'Excuse me, but I am supposed to be here and perhaps you are the one who is uninformed. Didn't anyone tell you I'm to be a druid?' Dain spoke these words in a calm controlled tone of voice without any hint of outrage or distress.

Dahlia was speechless. Worse, she was ashamed and appalled at herself. Several of the other students looked at her in wonder. She had never spoken words with such feeling as she had done now. At school she was known for her monotonous tone and detached attitude to all of her peers and teachers. She had never shown any sort of emotions and they were astounded at her sudden outburst.

All those years of training and I just lost my temper without any real reason! I don't understand it! I always think before speaking, why not now??

I should have known he was the new candidate that the elders were talking about! Great! Just great! The one person who makes me lose any sort of control I have is about to be studying with me very closely! How the hell am I going to concentrate with this guy who, for some reason I intend to find out, plays hell with my nervous system.

Breaking out of her thoughts with some effort she replied, cool and detached once more, 'I apologise, they did not inform me of your acceptance.' With this said she turned to her textbook as the door opened and her teacher came in, resolving to ignore him or speak very little with him the entire lesson.

Throughout the lesson she struggled to give her attention to the lesson, but she was agitated and distracted although she took care to make sure it did not show on her face. She could feel him, like a direct link with his body and mind. She was taking care not to touch him for fear of what happened last time. She was…she didn't know. Couldn't understand it. She had felt completely lost, like falling into a bottomless pit.

He was human, she shouldn't have been able to hear his thoughts, but she had. She had felt his confusion but there had been no fear in him. He had accepted the link, even tried to encourage it. Why?

I'll have to ask Takeno. He'll know what this is. Until then I just have to keep out of Dain's way and make sure he doesn't touch me.

Her double Biology period had ended and she had barely heard a word the teacher said; not that she really needed the information, she knew it already, but the fact that she wasn't able to focus bothered her.

She felt Dain's eyes on her back as the class filed out of the room; she didn't turn but walked straight ahead not once looking back.

Dain was not in any more of her classes and she was silently relieved. She had more or less gained complete control of her mind and thoughts by the end of the day, able to focus or not as she pleased. Her spirits rose lightly and she allowed herself to believe she had conquered this particular problem.

Walking out of the school, she began the familiar trail home when she sensed someone behind her. She knew it must be Dain. The courteous this to do for a new recruit is to at least make some form of conversation and walk home with them. But she did not allow herself to turn around and be friendly; she walked ahead with a determined manner and ignored his presence completely. She would have continued the whole route in this way if Dain had not hurried to catch up with her.

'Wait!' he cried as she ignored him. He caught up with her and walked beside her their steps strangely matching as if they were fitted together. Staring straight-ahead Dahlia did not even look at him.

'Do you enjoy shutting people out of your life?' he asked casually as if commenting on the weather. Dahlia stopped dead and stared at him, quickly composing herself she replied,

'I barely know you and do not presume to think you have the right to ask such a personal question.' Dain was undeterred by her cold words and continued,

'You know we are training towards the same goal. Master Takeno suggested you might help me in certain aspects of the lore. I'm not very adept at translating the druid scriptures and he said you may help me.' Dahlia continued walking and responded with a formal,

'If I am instructed to assist you I shall,' secretly thinking that she wasn't so wonderful at translation herself. Dain smiled at her and continued to walk with her.

He has a lovely smile, she thought abstractedly oh no not this again! I must focus, I do not enjoy this persons company more than any other, and I will not form an attachment.

Attachment? Another part of herself argued, this is more than attachment this is serious; it's more than a weakness of the mind, this is something else.

Well whatever it is I won't let it distract me, she thought not realising that he already was distracting her. She decided to talk to him about it, something she seldom if ever did. Dahlia rarely opened up to anyone, a few exceptions like Faye and Nagini, but here she was about to talk to a boy she met the day before!

'I just wanted-'

'I'd like to clear-'

They said simultaneously. He grinned as she inwardly smiled. 'You first' she offered.

'I wanted to clear up what happened, you know…back in the hall. If you don't know what it was then…um, well I was hoping you knew what it was.' Not very concise for a druid trainee, he reproached himself. I wonder what she's thinking.

Dahlia was not thinking straight at all, she was barely able to keep her face clear.

'I don't have a clue what happened back there. But I fully intend to find out from the elders. Whatever it is I'm sure it can be fixed, we don't need to worry about it, I'm sure it's just a reaction thing.' Dahlia was hoping it would go away.

'I don't think so,' said Dain, dubiously, 'it felt like something beyond mine or your power.'

'It isn't beyond my power! It's just a…minor problem. It can be fixed.' Oh great I'm losing control again breathe! Calm down. Think of nothing.

Dain continued to walk in silence and they covered the distance to the centre shortly. They entered together and got ready for ninja training with Master Nagini.

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So? What do you think? I kinda get the feeling that this story is going really slowly. I'll try to speed it up a bit. Suggestions are appreciated. I'm working on chapter 9 so just keep reading!