a/n: don't own GOT. I'm not Marianne Curley

"If you can't convince them, confuse them."

-Harry S. Truman

Isabel

"Matt, you're going to school." Jimmy crosses his arms and tries to look very commanding. It's hard for him because he's such a laid-back guy normally, though.

My brother raises his eyebrows. "Why?"

I can see his point. He's an immortal. High school can't really be the biggest thrill.

"Nobody wants their leader to be stupid!" Jimmy isn't giving up on this one though.

"Too late," I point out sweetly, putting my dishes in the sink. Matt glares at me, but I see Jimmy hide a smile.

"Besides," I continue, going for the kill now. "Neriah will be there."

And that's all it takes. Four little words and I can see that Matt's convinced.

Jimmy raises his eyebrows and nods his gratitude. I just shrug and wink. My brother is so whipped.

I actually get to history early today, to see who the new teacher is. Mr. Carter is dead (Lesson learned: Ethan is always right).

Dillon arrives with a new girl on his arm. She's in my year, but looks and acts like a twenty-five year old. I roll my eyes at him, but he just shrugs and sends me a sheepish grin.

Idiot.

Matt and Neriah slip in next. Neriah is giggling at something he's said, and Matt's grinning down at her like a love-struck idiot.

Which, let's face it, he is. A whipped one.

I don't bother to block this last part of my thoughts, causing my Truthseer brother to roll his eyes. But he can't be mad, because he's around Neriah, who's laughing and blushing.

Rochelle comes in, laughing, because she has obviously has heard my thoughts too. It's still a shock to see her alive. She was dead. I saw it, in my vision, and it happened. Still, Arkarian said that we never knew what happens when immortals died, and now we know. They get one free raising-from-the-dead.

Ethan walks in, and I swear his whole face lights up when he sees Rochelle. I look around to see if any of my classmates has picked up on this new development. Apparently Chloe Campbell has, since she scowls and sends a death glare towards Rochelle, probably some pretty evil thoughts too. I stifle a grin as Neriah flinches away from the girl. Matt is just laughing openly at Chloe's ire.

Rochelle is too busy smiling at Ethan, who produces a rose from his sleeve. Everyone else thinks it's just slip-of-the-hand, but I know better. Ethan's used his powers of illusion to create the blood-red, full blooming rose. And Rochelle blushes! Rochelle Thallimar blushes like a little girl.

Matt rolls his eyes at Ethan's blatant defiance of the rules. The bell rings, and I pull Ethan down into his seat, between me and Rochelle. "That was quite a display," I tease with a grin. "What, are you two like a thing now?"

"Yes," he grins, and I can't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "I love her."

All of this mush is definitely making me feel the absence of Arkarian, who's not in high school. He graduated about 600 years ago.

"Alright, class," Mr. Trevale walks in, leading a mousy-looking woman. "Settle down! This is Ms. Margolis. She'll be teaching for awhile due to Mr. Carter's disappearance."

Disappearance? Oh, right. They didn't see him fall into the demon pit.

"Ethan finally drove him off, eh?" someone mutters from the back of the room, drawing snickers. Ethan barely even manages a cocky grin. He doesn't like to be reminded of the man who was the traitorous brother of the monster that killed Ethan's sister slash Rochelle's old master slash Lathenia's lover slash threatened me slash stabbed his father slash tried to kill Ethan, and accidentally got Rochelle slash my wrists if I ever hear this story again.

"Mr. Carter will turn up eventually. Meanwhile, I expect you all to be on your best behavior for Ms. Margolis here. I will be checking in."

What a lie. Carter's replacement looks scared to death, but manages to bid Mr. Trevale goodbye. Dillon, it's obvious, didn't take Mr. Trevale's threat to behave seriously. As soon as the vice-principal is out the door, he starts wiggling in his desk. I kick him as a warning, taking pity for the new teacher. We all know that Carter's never coming back, so she'll be around for a very long time.

Finally the bell rings and I head towards the door. "Isabel, where are you going?" Matt calls. "You have biology next, don't you?"

"Yes, but I'm not going." I reply calmly. I'm going to see Arkarian. Matt can tell from my face and doesn't like it one bit.

"Listen, Isabel, I'm coming with you-"

"Matt!" Neriah comes up with a secret wink at me. She whispers something in his ear. He smiles and nods, heading off towards the science labs, towing his girlfriend.

"I owe you!" I whisper to Neriah.

"No, you don't," she replies. "Distracting Matt is fun."

I pretend to gag, but it's cute. And now, I have my own soul mate to see. Using my new wings (Matt granted them to Rochelle and me after the battle, 5 days ago-they aren't nearly as hard as Ethan made them look).

I land upright and successfully right outside his chambers. No one can use their wings to go in them. Surprisingly, the secret door is open, and I walk in. It's dark and somewhat scary. My ability to see in darkness doesn't take away from the room's eerie emptiness.

"Arkarian?" I call in a whisper and with my mind. "Arkarian? Where are y-AHHHH!" Hands clamp down on my shoulders as I scream and whirl, driving an elbow into my attacker's side.

"Ouch! Isabel?" The lights come back on and I can see an eighteen-year-old boy with bright blue hair and mysterious purple eyes on the ground behind me. He's laughing though, and I know that I haven't actually hurt him.

Humph. Too bad.

"Isabel…"he is still laughing. "Don't be mad."

I'm not really. How can I be? Those violet eyes capture mine and don't look away. They can see into my soul, and I don't ever want to be without them. Or the rest of the body, either for that matter.

"Come here," he says, pulling me closer and kissing me.

Oh no. Definitely not angry.

We kiss for a long time, since no one's here to interrupt us (coughMattcough).

"Arkarian…" I hate to interrupt, but I have to ask. "What are we going to do now that Lathenia's gone?"

"Well," he says after a minute. "I was thinking of leaving-"

Immediately my heart stops and falls to my knees. I can feel my eyes widen as I grab his arms. "Arkarian! You can't go! What about me? What'll I do? What…" And that's then the twinkle in his eyes lets me know that he's joking.

"You were making fun of me!" I accuse and punch his arm. He's prepared this time though, and catches the fist, using it to pull me to him and kiss me again.

"Of you? Never. The welled-up eyes were very reassuring though."

"They weren't-" I start to protest, but realize that he's no longer listening. Instead, his attention has fixed on something behind me. "What?"

I turn and see the Atlantean sphere slowing its spin. "How…?"

But it's obvious that he has no idea either. After all, Lathenia is dead. Killed by her brother. And, according to Rochelle, sorry about everything. She can't control the rifts anymore. As we watch, it finally comes to a stop.

Oh, hell.

"Looks like it's not quite over," Arkarian comments, relatively calmly I think. Except that Arkarian is always calm. I look again to where the sphere has stopped.

Who's controlling these rifts?

hey guys thanks for bearing with me. Life gets tough sometimes. as always, PLEASE REVIEW! you have no idea how much it warms my heart to see that my email inbox has a new message from one of you. I'm off to spend the night in a movie theater with my whole school...silly teachers to think they can control us next chapter'll be up soon (don't make me make a review requirement! i hate those!) thanks to:

Agate16

Dancergirl51

eleven-jewel 18-you made me laugh so hard!

Elledreamer

-HaLo