Tris was awakened the next morning by the realization that the floor was under her and the mattress off her bed was on top of her. Before becoming fully awake the thought crossed her mind that everything seemed to be upside down. Once she was fully awake one word echoed in her mind that explained everything, Semirah.

Tris heaved the mattress off her back and stood up angrily, but was so tangled up in the sheets that she fell over as soon as she was on her feet.

Semirah was sitting calmly on the bed frame, her legs tucked underneath her body and she was leaning forward expectantly. "I was beginning to think the mattress had crushed you to death."

As an answer Tris summoned a gust of wind to pick up the mattress and was getting ready to put it back on the bed when Semirah said, "Does having magic make everybody lazy? Do you get so depended on your magic you would die without it?"

Tris changed her mind about putting the mattress on the bed and aimed it instead at Semirah who jumped gracefully and landed cat-like on the dresser in front of the mirror. Also on the dresser top were Tris' glasses and other breakable items.

Frustrated, Tris set the mattress on the bed and began putting the sheet back on. Semirah slid some of the stuff on the dresser over so she could sit comfortably.

"So, do you always sleep this late?" she asked innocently.

"No , I—" at that moment Tris realized that only the very beginnings of light was in the sky, and most of the stars could still clearly be seen. "Hey! What time is it!"

"The large clock struck four about half an hour ago." Semirah said with fake confusion. Gypsies always got up hours before the sun and she knew that the residents of Discipline didn't rise until the sun was all the way above the horizon (except for Rosethorn on some occasions).

"FOUR!" Tris cried and would have zapped Semirah with lightning if it hadn't off been for the dresser.

"Okay, you said you would tell me about Niko now."

Tris looked like she was seriously considering hurting Semirah now, dresser or no dresser.

"Come on, I have a right to know about him too."

"He's a mage, very powerful. He can see into the future and often comes to Discipline during his time at Winding Circle. He doesn't usually stay for very long."

"What about when he's not here, where does he go?"

Tris shrugged. "He's a mage, the Dedicates here have enough problems trying to keep track of all the trainees without trying to keep track of a mage."

"Maybe they should." Semirah whispered to herself. Tris seemed not to hear and lay back down on her bed.

"I'm going to get some more sleep before we're supposed to wake up!" she snapped and pulled the covers over her head.

Semirah slipped quietly out the window and down the side of the cottage. She wandered around Winding Circle for a while without really caring about where she was going when she found herself facing a large glass building.

Inside the building were several plants of all sorts, many Semirah knew where not in season.

Finding the door unlocked (cough cough) Semirah was soon walking through the rows of plants, fruits, and vegetables. She heard another door open and ducked behind several unusually large blueberry bush (helping herself to a handful of blueberries while she was at it).

She heard the long robes of the Dedicate's robes as they trailed over the dirt paths. Hushed voices wafted through the air and Semirah leaned forward, trying to catch everything said.

"How many?" asked an astonished voice.

"Nearly fifteen." another answered.

"What do you suppose is causing it?"

"No one knows, the only thing we know about the virus is that it is magic-born."

"Magic born!"

"Yes." replied the second one solemnly.

The two were now close enough that Semirah could make out what they looked like. The taller one was defiantly Dedicate Crane, she would recognize that face anywhere (even if she had only seen it once before) and the other, shorter that Dedicate Crane, Semirah had never laid eyes on before.

"Has anyone found a cure for it yet?" the shorter one asked, it was his voice Semirah heard first.

Dedicate Crane turned to face the other, the look on his face (which normally wasn't very pleasing) had an even more sour look than ever. "Of course not!" he snapped. "It only started yesterday!"

"Do you suppose the Gypsy could be the cause of it?" (Semirah was barley able to stifle a gasp of indignation. How dare he think she was the cause!) "She was the only new student yesterday."

"How could one Gypsy be the cause of already nearly thirty deaths?" Crane asked.

"Maybe she's not a Gypsy. Maybe she's a…" the man trailed off and Crane looked incredulous.

"A Spectre!" he cried, "Impossible!" but a brief look of apprehension passed over his face.

"I've heard they can take the appearance of anything and anybody."

"No." Crane said suddenly. "She was tested. She's not a Spectre."

"Maybe…" the short man thought hard for a moment, unwilling to give up the one lead he had. "Maybe she's possessed by a Spectre…"

Dedicate Crane looked at the man in almost admiration. "We shall have her tested."

The two continued on and walked out of the glass house. Semirah quickly left though the other door and was back at Discipline before anyone knew she had left.

Thanks to all you who commented last time! I got a question that I'm kinda stuck on, how old is Semirah? I don't want her to be too much older than the others… does anybody have any suggestions?