I told Egypt about my vision, but since I had about zero to go on, there wasn't much she could do. She told the other House of Night schools to keep an eye out for a girl named 'Mel' who had a gold mark, and they said they would, but we hadn't found her yet.

"Don't worry about it," Egypt said reassuringly. "We'll find her when she gets marked. We just don't know when your vision takes place, so we're a little lost."

Brooke soon became my best friend. She was the only one I told about my vision besides Egypt. She was shocked. "Goddess," she said. "You mean they just threw her out for getting marked? I so don't envy her."

"Yeah," I said, upset. "And you know, AFTER THAT, I talked to Nyx, and she told me that," and here I dropped my voice to a whisper, "she's LIKE me." Brooke looked puzzled and said, "You mean she has a spirit affinity too?" Obviously Brooke had forgotten my weirdo mark.

"No," I clarified. "She has a mark like mine. Nyx called us 'golden fledglings'."

Brooke gasped. "Are you, like, serious?" I nodded excitedly. "That's so awesome! I wonder who she is?"

I shook my head. "That's the thing. We don't know how far in the future it is, or where it is, or anything. For all we know, I could be seeing a girl twenty years from now."

"No," Brooke disagreed. "That can't be right. Nyx wouldn't gift two people like that, tell you she was your ally, and make you wait twenty years to meet her. The Goddess is willing you two to meet, and you will. Very soon."

I wished I had Brooke's confidence that, because Nyx gifted me, everything I did would work out.

"Come on," Brooke said, tugging me by the arm. "We have breakfast and then class. I've got Art, what about you?" I glanced at my schedule and said, dully, "Lit 101."

I followed Brooke out, only to see her get attacked by a white ball of fluff. I shrieked, stepping back. "What IS that?"

Brooke was cuddling the kitten. "She's a SHE not a THAT," she corrected me. "And her name is Pearly." I studied the kitten closely. It was small and white, and had crystal clear blue eyes.

I smiled, reaching for it. The kitten watched me warily as I stroked her head, but finally relaxed. "She's pretty cute," I said. "She doesn't look two years old or whatever."

"She's not," Brooke said, puzzled. "She's eight months. Anna told me. She has an affinity for cats. It's really cool."

"But, you came here a year ago. Your parents brought her as a birthday present for you?" I asked, very confused.

"No," Brooke said. "At the House of Night, there are just cats all over. They're sacred to Nyx or something. Then if they like you they'll adopt you. Pearly loved me the second I met her."

"Oh," I said. I was about to say something else, but something hit me in the chest, causing me to bend over and cough. The 'something' that had hit me in the chest was a kitten, I found out as I lifted the 'something' I had caught.

The kitten was tiny, so small it fit in my hand. I had a feeling it would NOT grow up to be a large cat. It was gray in color, with dark eyes. "Aww, aren't you adorable?" I asked it. "You are so cute!"

The kitten contently snuggled up against my chest, and started purring so hard it was vibrating. I giggled, petting it absentmindedly.

At breakfast, everybody fawned over the new kitten, and Anna confirmed that she had 'adopted' me. Everybody seemed to have a kitten in his or her lap, something I hadn't noticed yesterday.

"The guys aren't here," I noted to Zara. She nodded at me, and explained, "They don't usually sit here, 'cause we're usually too girly for them, but they wanted to meet the—" Zara broke off, and I could fill in the sentence for her. The fledgling with the freaky mark and the weird hair and the unknown affinity. "The new girl," she finished instead.

"So they usually aren't here?" I asked. Zara replied, "No, not unless something is happening, like you—the new girl—showing up out of who knows where with the cool hair and mark yesterday."

"Oh," I said, and went back to stroking my kitten and surveying the other's cats. Zara took it upon herself to introduce everybody's cats.

"Pearly is Brooke's, you know that already," she began. "The Siamese cat that's eating Leila's cereal is Leila's, as you may have guessed. Her name is Persia. The orange tabby that is climbing on the cereal boxes is Summer's. Her name is California. The fluffy brown cat/kitten napping on Joan's plate is Pie. The kitten on Opal's shoulder trying to climb on her head is Lucky—don't ask. The one curled up in Alissa's lap is, obviously, Alissa's, Cocoa. The one drinking Anna's leftover cereal milk is Diamond, and this is my cat Charra." I blinked, trying to take in all the cats.

"That's—that's—" I stammered. "That's a lot of cats," I finished lamely. I seized a different conversation topic. "What do you think I should name my new kitten?" I asked, trying to save myself from looking like an idiot.

"I don't know," Zara said. She reached to pet my kitty, but the cat, scared, retreated into my arms. Anna, who was sitting to my right, reached and touched my cat.

"She's so adorable," she said. Cocoa playfully batted at my cat, but my cat climbed up onto my head. I giggled, reaching to try to take the cat down, but she just jumped up and down, freaking out. Anna carefully untangled her from my hair and handed her to me.

"Class," she said. "We better go."

Alissa had the same class as me, Lit 101, so we walked to class together. She held Cocoa in her arms, and when she went "me-ow-a" I realized that MY CAT was gone. I turned around and saw she was hiding in my shadow.

"That's what I'll call you!" I exclaimed, Alissa giving me a funny look. "Roo! Your name will be Roo!"

"What?" Alissa said. "Where do you get 'Roo' from?"

"Hunger Games," I explained. "You know, Rue is explained as a shadow by Peeta, while they're training?" Alissa continued with the blank look, and I said, "Just trust me. This is the right name. I know it. See, even Roo likes it." Roo was purring contently as she clawed her way up my skirt (or tried to, she didn't have very sharp claws) and into my arms. "She's like a little motor boat."

I hesitated outside of the class, and Alissa, knowing what I was thinking, said, "Don't worry, cats are allowed in class. As if anyone could stop a cat." I was totally confused, but brought Roo inside with me anyways.

The teacher, Prof. Elizabeth, was pretty cool. She had long red hair and was medium tall. She handed me a neat, blank notebook, and told me to go grab a novels from the back. "It's October now, so you won't have to rush to catch up much. You have from now until February you'll be writing n alternate ending of two classics."

I went to the back and chose 'Les Miserables.' It had been my favorite story since I'd read it in ninth grade, two years ago. I sat down next to Alissa and Cocoa, and Roo pounced into my lap.

"What are you doing?" Alissa asked, leaning over to see my book. "Oh, cool," she added when she saw it. "I'm doing 'Little Women.' I read it in eighth grade and I guess it's the classic I like best."

I glanced around the room, nervously. It was a fifth former classroom, so everybody there was eighteen or nineteen. I felt young.

"Today we'll be brainstorming," Prof. Elizabeth said to the class. "Just loosely figure out what's going to happen. Tonight's homework is to figure out what the flow of your story will be."

I opened my notebook to the first page and wrote, "Les Miserables Modern Day Rewrite" then sat, stumped, as everybody else scribbled away.

The bell rang and I checked my schedule. Fourth/Sixth year drama, I read, and sighed in relief, a little confused. But drama… That couldn't be TOO hard, could it? I gathered my books in one arm and scooped up Roo with my free hand, and followed the rest of the class out the door.

The drama classroom was large, with at least fifty kids in it. The room was huge,

Summer and Leo were both in my drama class, and I headed over to them. The teacher, Prof. John, intercepted me. "You just missed the monologue unit, but that's not a big deal. You have nothing to make up. Here," he said, and handed me (another) blank notebook.

I sat down at the empty desk between Leo and Summer as Prof. John took his spot at the front of the room. "Our next unit is Romeo and Juliet," he announced. "Each fourth year class will audition and end up performing two versions, by two different groups of students. Today you'll just look over your parts and fill out this form. When I call your name, come up front and we'll schedule a time to do your audition. The form is your homework, hand it in when you audition."

He called up a fourth year named Lucy to pass out copies of the book, and instructed us to skim it and look for a part we were interested in. "Memorize a scene to audition with, and I'll also ask you to read something."

I glanced over the book, wondering what I should do. I discreetly checked my schedule and saw that I had a free period and then lunch. Great. I could stop by the art classroom to ask what she thought I should do.

"Ivory Labastria!" Prof. John exclaimed, and I walked up front, clutching my schedule and script. "Have a seat, Ivory," he said, looking at a schedule. "When are you available?"

I glanced at my schedule. "I have a free period after this, after the class after lunch, and just after dinner there's no classes, right?"

Prof. John nodded. "That's right. I think that would work best." I agreed and walked back to my seat. There was a sheet of paper folded into quarters sitting there, and I unfolded it. Written in untidy black scrawl was,

"Hey,

Would you mind helping me during my audition? I'm auditioning for Romeo, would you mind being my Juliet in the balcony scene?

-Leo"

I looked over at Leo, who had his head bent over the book. I thought, "Sure, why not?" and he glanced up at me, and mouthed, "Thanks. When can we meet and practice? I'm auditioning tomorrow right after breakfast." Well, there's no way I could've gotten all that from reading his lips, and there's no way that I could've said that without realizing it. Was I—the idea was so ridiculous—psychic?

Just to see, I thought, "I'm free after this and after lunch. Auditioning after dinner. Just think your answer. I want to check something." Leo gave me a confused look, and I concentrated on him, and heard, in my head, in his voice, "OK. Can we do both? What are you checking? This is getting stupid." I giggled, and said back, "I think I'm psychic. I'll meet you after class. Have to read over this book."

Of course, I didn't read the book. I tried out my new power. I concentrated on Summer and could hear her thoughts swirling around her head. "I hope I get the part…I'm so nervous…I wonder which scene I should do…" I deduced that she was auditioning for Juliet, and then shut her out. I looked at Prof. John, and his mind was full of boring Romeo and Juliet stuff, so I shut him out as well.

Finally the bell rang. I tapped Leo on the shoulder, and he gave a start, grinning when he saw me. "Come on, I know the perfect place to practice." He grabbed my hand, leading me out of the class. I glanced back at Summer, who was still absorbed in the book. "Professor John gave me permission to borrow a copy of this to practice with," he added, holding up two copies.

We soon were in a stone room, sort of like a small auditorium. I had no idea what it was for, but I saw there was a balcony for extra seating, kind of low down with a ladder attached. "Go up," Leo said, still smiling. He took out his phone and I saw him open a new text message to Brooke, Leila, Opal, and Joan, asking them to come watch. "You don't mind, do you?" he asked.

I shook my head and climbed up. He threw a copy up at me and I skimmed the lines I'd have to read. Once I saw the four girls arrive and take their seats, I retreated out of sight until I heard my cue, which was Leo, saying, "He jests at scars that never felt a wound."

I stepped forward, and watched Leo continue. I waited for him to finish his little speech, and said my two words, "Ay me!" watching as the girls' heads swiveled up to me. As Leo talked about angels, I stood, captivated in his ability. "O Romeo, Romeo!" I cried out. "Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

I let Leo speak his line, then continued, "Tis not thy name that is my enemy: thou art thyself, though not a Montague." Blah, blah, blah. At the end of the scene I pretended my nurse was calling, and said, "Stay but a little, I will come again." Then, I departed back through the curtains and went down the stairs, hearing the clapping of the girls' in my ears.

I laugh, walking out. "I have to go," I told them. "I'll meet you after the class after lunch, okay, Leo?" He nodded and I quickly ran out, to the art classroom. There were large wooden cabinets lining the back wall, which was something I'd noticed in every room.

"Oh, Ivory, hello," Egypt said pleasantly. "I forgot to tell you before, but in your homeroom class, which you weren't here for, which is totally my fault, you have a locker." She opened one of the cabinets and gestured for me to put my books there. "How are you settling in to life here?"

"It's great," I said truthfully. "I love it here. I was just coming to ask you about what part you think I should play for Romeo and Juliet. Definitely not leads like Juliet, but I don't want too small of a part. I want a name, at least, but not too many lines or anything."

Egypt glanced at me. "When I was in House of Night doing Romeo and Juliet, only about a hundred years ago, I was Rosalyn. I was a great deal like you."

I grinned, liking the idea immediately. "Yes! Thank you, Egypt! You rock!" I hugged her. She smiled, returning the embrace, and said, "You are welcome, Ivory. But now I believe you have lunch."

I practically skipped to the dining hall, Roo trotting (and sometimes tumbling) behind me. Then I realized I had forgotten to talk to Egypt about the new 'psychic' powers it seemed I had. Oh well.

I paused in the courtyard outside, remembering what Nyx said about 'Mel.' I wondered if my psychic powers could help me find her. I walked off to the side, standing behind a tree so people wouldn't see me. I closed my eyes and thought, let me see Mel. Then it was like I was rushing through air. I closed my eyes against the wind and when I reopened them I was at a different House of Night.

I looked around and saw Mel checking in. Apparently she had just gotten there. I wondered what had taken her so long. I glanced around the room she was in, distracted. She was alone with a dark skinned woman with long, curly black hair. I walked towards the window and watched the people. I was jerked out of my reverie when she said, loudly, "I want my name to be Happy Will!" I let myself giggle freely at this, since nobody could hear me.

I zoned out in my vision and back into the present. I skipped lunch, going back to the dorm instead. Joan Gloss was sitting on Brooke's bed. I cleared my throat, and she looked up at me, saying, "Oh, hi. Ivory, right? For a few seconds I was flattered she remembered my name, then I realized everybody probably knew it, my hair and my mark and my act at lunch before.

"Yeah," I replied. Joan nodded. "So what's up? You hanging with Brooke?"

Joan flushed a little, and coughed, then quickly said, "Yeah! But, um, now she's at class. I've got a free period, though." I said I did too. "Cool," Joan repeated. "You want to go shopping? We're allowed."

Pie and Roo started playing, batting their paws at each other. I shrugged. "Sure." I reached for my bag to grab my wallet, but Joan shook her head. "I'll pay. My family's rich, but they hate vampyres. They gave me an unlimited credit card in exchange for never coming near them again."

"I'm sorry," I said, shocked. "Is that, um, common?" Joan shrugged, leading the way out of the dormitory, the two of us leaving the two kittens behind.

"The Spring Formal is in nine days," Joan said conversationally. "I already went shopping with Summer, she's my BFF and my roommate, but I love shopping for other people. We have to go dress shopping. And shoe shopping. And jewelry shopping. And accessory shopping. And—"

To interrupt her from her list, I asked her, "Are you going with anyone?"

Joan shrugged. "I don't know. Derek is probably going to ask me."

"Oh," I said, beginning to smear make-up over my mark. "Do you like Derek?"

Joan replied as we left the campus, "He's alright. Kind of a player, but pretty good-looking. I think Summer likes him, but he's just messing with her."

"What about the other girls?" was my next question. "Do they have dates?"

Joan thought for a second as she started driving. Her car was a fancy Mercedes. "Tyler and Leila, definitely. They've been dating for a month and a half. Like I said, Derek will probably ask me. Zara's going with Jon. Anna's going with…Jordan, Alissa's going with Martin, Summer's going with Eddie, Opal's going with Louis, and Brooke is going with Jake, I think."

I didn't know the names of most of the guys she was talking about. It registered instantly that she had left someone out. Trying to be nonchalant about it, I asked, "What about Leo? Who's he going with?"

Joan grinned, obviously seeing right through my act. "Nobody, yet. But of course he'll ask you. Haven't you seen him staring at you? Plus, I saw you two. Romeo and Juliet, indeed!"

I flushed. "That's just," I stammered. "We're not…whatever. Look, we're here!" Joan chuckled at my 'enthusiasm' at seeing the dress shop.

"We're all wearing gold," Joan informed me. "So you have to, too. I mean, even though guys are taking us, we're going in a group. The guys, by the way, are wearing black. Okay, so, gold gold gold…"

She tossed a gold minidress at me, ordering me to try it on. I did, reluctantly. I got out and Joan did an exaggerated cringe. "No!" And tossed a gold ballgown at me. After an hour, we found the perfect dress for me.

It was a pale gold, shimmering lightly. It was made of silk, so smooth and slippery I almost dropped it. The bodice clung to me, showing my figure nicely. It was long sleeved, too, which was perfect. The edges of the sleeves and the neckline and the bottom of the skirt had a white satin ribbon wrapped around. The bodice ended with three white ribbons braided and wrapped around, flawlessly beautiful. The skirt flared when I spun, swirling around me like a golden cloud and settling back down, reaching to my knees. The silk was cool and luxurious against my skin. The price was so high I couldn't believe I was allowed to try it on.

"Goddess," said Joan when she saw me, her eyes wide. She was sitting outside the dressing room, texting while waiting for me to finish changing. "It's perfect. Just perfect."

The lady rang it up, and my eyes widened when I saw the price, again, 249.99. Then Joan drove us to this fancy shoe place. She was careful choosing shoes for me. She looked critically at my silvery long hair, and then at my dress. She found golden shoes with inch high heels. They were sort of like sandals, but instead of being laced with leather or something, they were laced with ribbons that went all the way to my knees. The slim heels were surprisingly sturdy beneath my feet.

Joan bought them and then we went to the jewelry store. I was starting to get tired. Luckily, we quickly found a golden chain the color of my dress looped around a crystal, and matching earrings. Joan decided I should leave my wrists and ankles bare. Next was the accessories store, which, thankfully, was second on our list.

Joan got me white silken translucent tights, and a golden barrette set with tiny crystals, then we left, Joan explaining she already had the perfect accessories. Make-up was last on her list.

Joan picked out eye shadow such a pale gold it was almost white, and a blush the color of pale pink roses, and deep sunset colored lip-gloss. Dark, dark golden eyeliner and thinly applied black mascara was added.

"Perfect," Joan declared, and we headed back to the school. Then I remembered I was supposed to meet Leo. I groaned. "Oh, crap."

I thought at Leo, focusing on an image of him in my mind, "Sorry. I missed rehearsing with you. I forgot and ended up shopping for the Spring Formal."

The answer took a minute or so to come back. "That's okay, but I'm holding you accountable if I don't get it." I grinned without meaning to, and responded positively. Leo's response was, "I hope dress shopping was worth it. I don't have a date yet. Want to go together? As friends, you know?" My spirits, which had soared when he asked, crashed at his last sentence.

I quickly summarized to Joan, who said, "Just say yes. He's probably just saying that so if you reject him, he won't feel too bad."

I said yes to Leo, and then tuned out, daydreaming about the dance, when Nyx appeared in my mind. She smiled at me kindly. "I'm happy for you, Ivory," she said. "You're happy. But don't get too off guard with this dance coming up. Trouble is brewing, and you must watch for it. You have to help the other golden fledgling, though neither you nor her know her name."

"I know it," I said, confused. "She's Happy Will, right?" I choked on my laughter as I said her name, and the corners of Nyx's mouth twitched upwards as well.

"That's the name she chose for herself," the goddess explained. "But that is not her true name. She did not have me to guide her as much as I guide you. You are spirit. You must have a proper connection to your goddess. On the other hand, Happy Will, so far, is nothing but a fledgling with an odd mark."

Then Nyx faded out, leaving me to puzzle alone.