'This was it,' I thought to myself as I glanced around the room, 'time to see what is going on here in the clubhouse!' flipping over a couch cushion, I was greeted to two small coins and some pocket lint.

I smiled. Money was always a nice surprise, even if I had no opportunity to spend it. Glancing at my star, still floating by my shoulder, I pointed to under the couch and said, "mind seeing if there's anything interesting under there?"

The star seemed to bob in agreement before diving under the couch to light the way. A book was underneath. Reaching down to grab it, the star flickered before returning to full brightness. If it was alive, I'd say it was in amusement, but it was hard to tell what exactly it was.

Still, it helped me find a book labeled Eda Clawthorn. 'Was this a diary?' I thought to myself before opening the first page. One page would be enough to let me know. Then if it was, I could put it back, but snooping around fixed a desire I never could shake. I'd be beside myself, thinking about it nonstop if I didn't know what it was. I craved information, always and forever. It was my achilles heel.

When I opened the book, however, I jumped back in surprise. A firework seemed to shoot off from the inside, releasing a sparkle that read 'Nice Try, Sister' and a purple goo started to seep from the pages and onto the floor. Slamming the book shut, I slid it back under the couch and turned to face the star. "That's enough nosing for today."

Grabbing a towel from the bathroom to clean up the mess, I did not hear the door to the clubhouse open. Nor did I hear the bespectacled girl, Lilith sneak her way inside until I returned to see her, glancing under the couch.

"Looking for something?" I raised my voice, hoping not to startle her too much.

"Oh," she sat up, and I noticed her frizzy hair sticking up in messy swirls, "I, um, dropped my key." It was dreadfully obvious she was lying.

"So you weren't looking for a certain book?" I smirked. I loved catching a fellow snoop in the act.

"Oh, um. . ." Lilith turned beet red in embarrassment, her fair skin and red hair making her look almost like a bright red cloud. It was adorable.

"Look," I raised my hands up, a gesture of peace "I'm not judging, but that book is booby trapped. I'm cleaning up the mess it made right now. I won't tell, if you don't tell."

"Deal," Lilith jumped at my offer before looking to the cloth in my hand, "But you're not going to clean ectoplasm with a rag."

I nodded, "Sorry. New to this whole magic thing," I placed down the rag and began to fiddle with the star on my shoulder.

"You're the one Raine was bringing in. You're human?" she pointed to my ears, too polite to grab them as Eda did.

"Yep, name's Marlow. Look what I made!" I grinned and held out the star.

"Interesting," the girl examined the star, "This is a super-charged light spell. This is bound to last another week, but how could you-"

"I read about it in a book, and tried" I pointed to the star, "I can't make magic, just claim what's already there." I looked back to the puddle of goo seeping into the wooden floor boards.

Nodding, Lilith summoned a small flame and began to scorch off the ectoplasm. I glanced at the girl, and noticed her long hair getting dangerously close to the flame and slime. Pulling the waistband from my pajama bottoms, I stepped behind and tied up her hair. She seemed surprised.

"I'd hate for a new friend to have their hair go up in smoke," I laughed, "Especially since she's cleaning up my mess. By the way, why were you looking for that book?"

Lilith's face darkened at that. Her mouth stretched across her face as if in some sad attempt to smile. Still, no words came, even as she opened her mouth to speak, silence.

"Hey," I placed my hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, "If it's that big a deal, its okay. Just let me know when you're ready." Stepping back, I smiled, "You can make it up to me by visiting! Until I learn enough to venture out here, or find a portal back to my world, I'm stuck!"

Blinking at that statement, Lilith gave a slight smirk, "I can't help you with getting to the human realm, but how would you like a little field trip?"

Perking up at the idea, I nodded in excitement, before looking at my outfit. "Let me get ready."

Throwing on a cloak, I poked Hooty awake and let him know I would be out.

I had never ridden on a bike before, let alone a flying one, yet there I was clinging onto Lilith for dear life in the dead of night as she flew us to the roof of the library. Perched on the uneven slope, Lilith parked her bike and sat down as the sun began creeping over the horizon. I joined.

"Never struck me as a watch the sunrise kind of gal," I laughed.

"I'm not, but its too late to go to the bakery, and watching you trying to find a way out made me sad, so. . . ta-da."

"Bakery, huh?"

"Best place in town for Fairy Pie!" Lilith smiled, "It's my favorite."

"I used to be a baker," I nodded, "Worked with this wonderful woman, Charlotte. Ever the romantic she was."

"Ew. . . Romance," Lilith shuddered at that.

"Not one for hearts and fluff, huh?" I sighed, "She was a bit much. We parted ways a few years back. She wanted to keep baking, and I saw life was more than that. Man, do I miss her, though."

We sat in silence for a good 20 minutes, the sun slowly rising, "This is kind of boring," Lilith admitted, pulling out a book from a pouch on her bicycle.

"Yeah. The thought was nice, though," I said, moving the star to rest over Lilith's shoulder, " Do you have another one in there?"

Lilith smiled and pulled out a book on potions, giving it a quick once over before handing it to me.

"Maybe next time we could just hang out in the library," Lilith smiled before she began reading. I soon joined her.