Spoilers Ahead! This story follows the Luca Plotline, LOOSELY, and will contain spoilers.

Dragon's Touch Series Book 1

The Tower of Sorrow

Chapter 3.

The next day, after Practical Magic with Schuyler, Katarina made her way to the Magical Pharmaceutics classroom. She saw Luca leaning against the door frame of the classroom and stopped in surprise, "Luca? Are you actually coming to class?"

Luca smiled at her, "Thought I'd check out the new teach. Should be interesting, don't you think?"

"You're not planning anything, are you, Luca?" Elias asked from behind Katarina.

"Me? I am the model student today," Luca smirked.

Elias frowned at him, "Come on, Katarina. Just ignore him today, he'll probably just sleep anyway." Elias moved between them and into the room.

Luca brought a hand to his chest, "You wound me, Prince Elias." He turned his gaze back to Katarina and smiled charmingly, "Shall we?" He mock bowed and let her in first.

Katarina moved around him and sat down in her usual seat. Unsurprisingly, Luca took the seat next to her and Raine hopped over to his desk. He petted her and smiled when she ruffled her feathers and nudged harder into his hand. Katarina couldn't help but stare at his child-like grin. It was so cute, she couldn't help the smile threatening her own lips.

Just then the door opened and professor Merkulova entered with a gentle smile. The bell rang almost instantly and Merkulova moved to stand at his desk, "Good morning, students. Welcome to Magical Pharmaceutics. I'm..." he stopped and stared at Luca who had his hand raised. "Yes? Mr…?"

"Orlem, Luca Orlem," he replied putting his hand down. "So what happened to Professor Petterson?"

Merkulova blinked before answering, "I was told she would be taking a leave of absence for her health. Now let me introduce myself. I'm Loran Merkulova and I'll be..."

"Petterson was only thirty. What health issue did she have?" Luca pressed. Raine jumped into his lap and snuggled up there.

"I'm sure I don't know. I was not informed of what the diagnosis was."

"Diagnosis? You make her sound deathly ill. Was it a serious sickness?" Luca continued. Katarina saw Elias glaring at him.

"Mr. Orlem," Merkulova said kindly. "I wish I had the answers to your questions, but unfortunately I do not. Professor Petterson should return next semester. Until that time, I will be your teacher. I ask that you kindly take any more concerns over Professor Petterson to Headmaster Randolph. I'm sure he has more knowledge on the matter than I do."

Luca stood up, making Raine fly up to his shoulder where she nuzzled his neck. "You're right. I should take my concerns to the headmaster," Luca moved around his desk and to the door.

Merkulova looked stunned before he finally said, "Mr. Orlem, we are just beginning class."

"Yeah, that's okay. I'll catch up on what I missed," Luca opened the door and stepped out.

"Mr. Orlem..." Merkulova called to him but Luca ignored it and shut the door behind himself. Merkulova stood there in silence staring at the door for a few moments before clearing his throat and adjusting his tie. "Well, then, let us continue."

Katarina was still staring at the door. Luca had just walked out with Raine.

Katarina frantically walked up and down the halls barely suppressing her panic. Luca had not returned to any class that day and Raine hadn't showed up either. Katarina knew Luca wouldn't hurt the Pygmy Owl, but Raine was her familiar. She was more than just a pet, and Katarina was worried about her. So worried, that Amelia and Elias were both searching other parts of the school for her as well. They could have been doing a number of other things, but instead they were helping her.

She bit her lip thinking where he could have gone just as a magic note floated down to her. Holding out a hand, she grabbed the note when it landed in her palm. One word was scribbled on the paper in beautiful cursive, Archives.

Crumpling the paper she ran through the school and didn't stop until she reached the door of the Archives. Throwing it open, she moved through the rows of junk until she reached the window where Luca had slept the day before. There she found him petting Raine. When they noticed Katarina standing there panting heavily, Raine flew over and nuzzled her neck.

"Why didn't you come back to me?" Katarina said sinking to the floor and trying to catch her breath.

"I fell asleep on his shoulder. He's so warm."

"You fell asleep? Raine, I was so worried!"

"I'm sorry, Katarina. I didn't think he wouldn't bring me back to you."

"You didn't think? Raine, he skips classes all the time. Of course he wouldn't bring you right back," Katarina hugged the owl tightly to her.

"Don't squeeze so tight," Raine hooted a laugh.

"I'll squeeze as tight as I want. I'm so glad you're back."

Luca stood and looked down at Katarina in surprise, "You can talk to animals?"

Looking up in shock, she'd honestly forgotten Luca was there, she answered, "Yes."

Luca blinked. "That's… quite a talent. Not many wizards can do that."

"Um… yeah, I know. Thanks." Katarina stood up and grabbed some paper. Scribbling their names and a quick message, she enchanted the papers to find Elias and Amelia and let them know she'd found Raine.

Luca watched as the papers flew out of the room, immensely curious about the quiet girl who could talk to animals. "So, what, it's a secret? You're family likes its secrets, don't they?"

"Excuse me?" Katarina turned on him. Seeing the anger in her eyes shocked Luca. He'd never known Katarina to be angry. She spoke in an irritated voice, "I don't think you have any right to comment on my family after stealing Raine. Besides, nobody knows anything about your family, Luca. So if anyone is keeping secrets, it's you."

Luca's shock slowly turned into a suggestive smirk, "Wanna know my secrets, Little Kitty?" Luca moved close to her and placed a hand behind her elbow.

"N-no. I'm fine," Katarina stepped away and looked anywhere but at him. Raine sat comfortably on her shoulder. "I'm going, now."

"What, no thank you for watching your familiar?"

Katarina shot him a glare before leaving the archives behind.

It was about two weeks later that Katarina finally got tired of his shenanigans. Luca would show up every day to Merkulova's class just to irritate the man. He would barrage him with stupid questions and comments throughout the entire class. Katarina was always impressed how calmly Merkulova would take the verbal beating and smile kindly when he would finally ask Luca to leave. This part she could deal with. It was the constant abduction of Raine that ticked her off more than anything. Luca would take the owl at the start of class and leave with her when he got kicked out. Katarina always found him in the archives, where she would stay with him for hours. She admitted that she enjoyed spending time with him, her small crush growing into something she didn't understand. They would talk about anything and when he laughed, her heart skipped beats. She adored when Luca smiled, when he really smiled, but his actions were becoming unacceptable.

She'd had enough.

Katarina slammed open the door to the archives and stomped through the room to Luca's usual spot. Luca was sound asleep with Raine resting on his chest. "Luca!" Katarina yelled and Luca jumped awake, almost falling out of the seat.

"Katarina? I've never heard you yell before," he smiled as if that were his intended goal from the beginning.

Katarina took Raine and placed her on her shoulder, "Stop taking Raine. I mean it, Luca." She didn't give him time to answer, but spun on her heel and left.

The next day, Luca didn't come to Magical Pharmaceutics.

"I see Mr. Orlem has decided not to join us today," Merkulova said. "Maybe we will be able to get through a lecture uninterrupted then." Some of the students chuckled, mostly the girls. Merkulova had become quite popular with them. He was handsome, kind, and mature, so it was no surprise he was a favorite.

At the end of the class he stopped Katarina before she could leave, "I see you have Mr. Orlem's familiar with you today. Was he using her to attend class while sick?"

"Oh, no, Sir. Raine is my familiar, not Luca's," Katarina petted the owl.

Surprise crossed Merkulova's face momentarily before he continued, "That's surprising. I only saw Luca with her during class."

"Yes, she likes Luca for some reason. I told him yesterday he needed to stop taking her from me so I'm afraid his absence is my fault. I think I upset him," Katarina looked away sadly. She really did need to apologize for being so angry yesterday.

Merkulova smiled kindly, "Don't look so sad. A pretty young lady like you should smile, not frown. I'm sure Mr. Orlem prefers you to smile, doesn't he?"

Surprised by the compliment, Katarina looked back, "Luca? Why would Luca care if I smile?"

Merkulova tilted his head questioningly, "Aren't you two involved? Or did I misread your reactions towards each other entirely?"

Blushing, Katarina stammered, "N-no, we aren't anything. Just classmates."

"I see. Well then, Ms. Pagano, best get on to your next class. And please let Mr. Orlem know he is welcome to class as long as he can stay focused." Merkulova smiled and took a seat behind his desk. Katarina smiled at the professor, he always gave off a very welcoming atmosphere and it calmed her, "Thank you, Sir. Raine wants you to know she's happy you aren't mad at him."

Merkulova smiled almost teasingly and cocked his head to one side, "Tell you that, did she?"

"Oh, um, yes, she did. I can talk with animals, Sir."

For just a moment, Merkulova's expression changed to surprise, but it quickly left, replaced by a smile, "You'd better get going, or you'll be late for your next class."

"Yes, thank you!" Katarina left feeling a little more upbeat than before.