1"Isabella? Are you all right? Isabella?" I heard Aglaia's voice, but I couldn't find her.

Oh my Goddess, is she alright? She said she wasn't shocked anymore...she seemed fine! How could this have happened? The thoughts drifted through my mind, and I could tell they weren't my own. What was happening to me? Where was Aglaia? Where had she gone when I fainted, and why could I hear her still?

I was no longer in control of my actions, I felt my spirit moving closer toward my unmoving body.

My hands reached out to shake my shoulders and –

These aren't my hands I thought. I peered down at my body.

I was inside Aglaia's head.

I was hearing Aglaia's thoughts and seeing through her eyes. Well hell, why couldn't I have figured that out before? Man, I'm slow, I'll have to work on that.

Only one problem now: How the HELL do I get out of my High Priestess's head? I thought for a minute what I should do, and when nothing came to me, I silently prayed to Nyx for Aglaia to understand, and to help me with this...little problem.

While I remained inside Aglaia's head, I could feel her calming a bit. Thanking Nyx for sending my message along, I began to calm down as well.

Isabella, I could feel her smiling You have been greatly gifted by the Goddess, Nyx. Now tell me, what did you do to trigger this? She asked

I didn't mean to, Aglaia, I heard a whispering and I kinda sorta...focused on you and then...This happened. This time I was directly focusing my thoughts to her.

I heard her giggling to herself.

This isn't something to giggle at! I'm dead on the floor in your office while my soul is stuck inside your head, if someone were to walk in and see you giggling, do you have any clue how that would look? I laughed to myself. What if someone did come in? Help me get out of this, Aglaia, please! I silently pled to her to think of a way for me to get back into my own head.

Try focusing on your own image. Picture yourself and concentrate. You can do it, Isabella. She thought reassuringly. I pictured myself and focused hard.

I blinked my eyes and looked up into my High Priestess's flawless face. It had worked!

"You have, indeed, been gifted by the Goddess, Eris is lucky to have such a beloved child of Nyx to mentor." She said. She obviously didn't mind that I'd just intruded into the most personal of spaces – her mind – uninvited. "You will have to practice and work on your affinity with Eris, she'll be delighted to help you."

"Thank you," I said. "Now about my room..." I said, a little shyly

"Well, as I said before you...er...fainted, I had chosen a room for you, but you said you were here visiting a friend, yes? What is her name? I might be able to arrange it so that the two of you can be roommates." Her words made me so happy, but also a little frightened. What if Lyrissa didn't forgive me for what I'd done to her? What if she'd invited me over so she could have the satisfaction of throwing things at me?

Aglaia went back behind her desk and typed in something else to her computer. "Hm, it seems Lyrissa already has a roommate. In that case, you'll be taking the room originally chosen for you." This information was kind of sad, but it was also a good thing. At least now, if Rissa didn't forgive me, I wouldn't have to sleep in the same room with her every night, and at least when the fighting was over I could go into my own room and cry myself to sleep, and I wouldn't have to deal with the humiliation of it the next day.

"So...where will I be staying?" I asked, still trying to determine whether or not it was a good thing Lyrissa and I be separated.

"We've assigned you to room 213. I can have Eris come and speak to you now, if you like." She said. I was really excited to meet my new mentor. I loved horses, I really hoped she was nice.

* * *

I stood outside a polished oak door. On the door in gold letters were the words:

Room 213

Isabella Arless

Gee, I wonder where my room is. I looked at Eris, wondering what to do next.

"Oh right, sorry, Bella, Forgot the key." She smiled at me and reached into her pocket, pulling out a room key and handing it to me. "You'll find the walls plain white...standard color, sorry. You've got permission to re-do anything you like. Your things should have arrived already, and you can rearrange them in whatever way you want...you don't have a roommate yet...sorry...but you can do whatever you want for the night, I suggest some sleep. You're excused from tonight's lessons. Here's your schedule," She handed me a red envelope. "If you need anything call me! You start tomorrow...er...night. Sorry, it's kind of confusing. You get used to things around here, don't worry." She smiled at me and walked away, waving. I waved back and turned to the door.

Eris was really nice, and super cool. She didn't seem like a teacher, she was completely awesome. We were going to be working on controlling my affinity after classes every day at the stables. She said she wanted me to be able to completely control my abilities quickly, in case I should need them. I didn't know what that meant, but I figured she did, so I let her continue. She also said that she wanted me to test my abilities on her. Afterward, she said she wanted to test it's strength and its limits. She wanted to know if it would work on animals or trees or anything living, or only people. She was really creative and straightforward. I had a feeling she was going to be my favorite teacher here.

I opened the door and walked inside.