Did I mean to do it? Your guess is as good as mine. On the one hand, I truly blamed Katif for Edric's death. I know my mother was the one who killed him, and trust me I blamed her too, but if Katif would've kept his mouth shut we may have had more time until mom found out. He snitched and Edric died for it.

Yet, I'd been in this sort of daze since my brother's funeral. A majority of the witches who showed up hardly knew him. They were only there to support the rest of the family. He didn't have many friends, which was also mom's fault, but that fact still irked me even a week later.

I was one of the few people to speak, but I couldn't finish what I was going to say. I hate to say it, but I hadn't hurt that bad since the day he died in my arms, because in that moment the goodbye I knew that had already happened became real to me. It was the moment it came out of my mouth.

Katif knew how badly I was hurting, yet he pushed me anyway. It was as if he was literally asking for it.

All I had to do to be put on edge was see him. He was walking his illusionist friend to class when we crossed paths. I tried to sneak past him, hoping that he'd either not see me or that he would just ignore me. Unfortunately, neither happened.

"Hey, Blight". I already wanted to punch him, and he'd barely said anything. "I can't believe they let you come back".

I just kept walking. I didn't want to get trapped into that conversation. It wouldn't end well for either of us.

"I mean you did kill your brother, didn't you?" he chuckled as he followed close behind me.

That made me stop in my tracks. My breath hitched as my mouth gaped open in shock. He had no clue how my brother died, only that he'd been poisoned. He didn't know that the draught of poison was meant for me, and yet he somehow did. He could just sense my regret.

"Katif," I said after a long deep breath out. "I suggest you shut your mouth, so you don't get hurt".

"That sounds like something a killer would say".

"Piss off, Katif" I growled. "I know you think this is funny, but you need to stop!".

"Why? Because Edric's not here to stop you from snapping?".

"And whose fault is that!".

"Yours".

Without another word, I slammed my elbow into the construction kid's face. He reared backwards as he instinctually brought his hands up to his now bloody nose. As he did so I leapt forwards and grabbed his face.

I didn't feel his blood dripping onto my hand, or hear his angry shouting, or notice the crowd of students that gathered around us. My vervant emotions had taken control of all of my senses.

I then threw Katif to the ground like he was trash, my flash of anger fading away. His already broken nose bashed into the tile floor beneath us, his teasing temporarily stopped by the sharp pain it caused.

"Emira Blight!" a teacher yowled after pushing her way through the crowd. "What have you done?!".

"She's a psychopath!" Katif snarled before I could answer.

"I warned you" I hissed. "Edric is a tough subject right now and you're bragging about his death!".

Part of the teacher's anger shifted away from me and over to Katif. Unlike the majority of her co-workers, Miss Larabee was willing to give a witch a bit of sympathy. She couldn't excuse what I'd done but she was willing to acknowledge that Katif instigated.

"Both of you go to the principal's office, this instant!".

"Both of us? But she attacked me! Shouldn't I see a healer?!".

Miss Larabee didn't respond. She just summoned a wad of tissues and glared at the student until he began walking to Bump's office. I joined him, my gaze just as icy. I silently prayed to the titan that he would keep his mouth shut for once.

When we approached the door, the voice on the other side stuck out to me.

"I guess the oracle track would be my best bet, since I'm familiar with it and all. Besides, I'll get to study all day with the best student ever".

Luz and Amity were both choosing to study oracle magic? Made sense to me, but principal Bump was completely baffled by the idea.

"But your talent in abominations is well defined. It would be a crime not to continue it".

"I don't see why she can't do both" I jumped in after opening the door.

"What are you doing?!" Katif whispered.

"Giving a shit about someone other than myself. You should try it sometime".

I strode up to the principal's desk, a defensive feeling overshadowing my anger at Katif. Mittens took her abomination classes very seriously and oracle classes could benefit her.

"Miss Blight" Bump welcomed in surprise. "You…you are aware you're covered in blood, correct?".

"It's not mine" I rushed before getting right back on topic. "Amity isn't a normal student anymore. She's not going to join a coven; she can't do that anymore. So can't we make one tiny exception to the single-track rule just this once".

"I'm sorry, Emira. I understand the circumstances but–".

"Do you? You realize you kinda owe Amity, right?" I scoffed. The principal's remorse shifted into surprise.

"I owe her? What do you mean by that?".

"Okay. I hate to bring this up, but you leave me no choice" I sighed. "Who was the witch who handed Amity a knife?".

"That wasn't anyone's fault, Miss Blight!" Bump shouted, slightly defensive. "That was a freak accident".

"That you were supposed to prevent as the adult. Pretending to cut Luz open was YOUR idea and that idea got one of your students KILLED! So the least you can do is bend the rules a little bit to help her out".

I not only stunned principal Bump, but the rest of the room too. Both Amity and Luz shrunk back at the mention of the accident. It reopened some nasty wounds that were in the middle of healing. But Bump needed to hear this! I was so sick and tired of everyone blaming anyone but the man responsible for Amity's safety.

"Maybe we should get the P.C.A involved" I threatened as a last resort. "I'm sure dad has a few things to say about this".

Once I was done speaking, I internally shivered. I swear I heard my mother's voice at that moment instead of mine. But it worked. Principal Bump's incredulity chilled into fear, causing him to back down.

"I'll design a unique schedule that includes some of the beginner oracle classes. Does that sound alright to you, Amity". He stressed my little sister's name. That's the only witch he wanted to respond.

"Of course, principal Bump," she replied. "Thank you".

"Now that that's settled. Why are you in my office, Emira? And why are you covered in blood?".

I didn't hear his question. I didn't hear anything. The expression I noticed on my younger sister's face made the world go silent. I knew that look way too well. A raw dread, pure panic.

It was as if Amity was looking at mom instead of at me.

I didn't get the chance to say anything about it. Once she knew principal Bump had moved on to my issue, both her and Luz left. I wasn't sure either knew which class they were going to, but they were more than eager to give me and Katif our space.

"She broke my nose!" the latter snapped while joining me at the principal's desk. Bump was appalled by the news, and I didn't blame him. Katif wanted a fight. I should've never given it to him.

"You attacked another student?!". My ears folded in shame.

"It's like Katif said. Edric wasn't here to stop me".

Something clicked in the older witch's mind. All it took was one mention of my late brother for him to connect all the dots.

"Tell me what happened, Emira, from the very beginning".

"She's just going to lie to you" Katif groaned impatiently.

"I'll be the judge of that" the principal grumbled back.

"Katif found me near my locker and asked me why I was at school today. I tried to walk away from him but then he accused me of Edric's murder. I snapped and you know the rest".

"I didn't accuse you of murder! I just asked you what happened to your brother".

"Katif" principal Bump warned. "I've been the headmaster of this school for too long to fall for that. You provoked her, didn't you?".

"No!" Katif argued while feigning desperation "She just went nuts, like she did at the marketplace".

"You said Amity deserved to die!".

"I was just telling my–".

"That's enough, the both of you! Katif, you were clearly trying to make Emira angry and she gave you what you deserved. But hurting one of you peers like this is still inexcusable regardless. If you weren't emotionally ready to come back, you should have stayed home".

And what was I supposed to do there? Just sit in bed and sulk, or watch dad work as I tried to forget how much the family had lost in the past month? I needed a distraction, but apparently school was not the place to get it.

"I would love to just send you home, miss Blight, but you need to be punished for what you've done". Principal Bump instantly turned towards Katif. "And so do you. I'm putting you both in the detention track for the rest of the week".

"That's it?" the witchling beside me gnarled. "She breaks my nose and all she gets is detention?".

"You should be glad you're not being expelled, Mr. Aziz, for inciting a fight on school grounds". The principal rose to his feet and made his way to the door. As he ushered us to the detention room (the detention pit was being repaired) he made sure Katif and I were on opposite sides of him.

When we both walked in, the teacher in the front of the room rolled all six of his eyes.

"Wow. A Blight kid. What a surprise".

"Yeah, a surprise she's not dead yet" Katif snickered under his breath. I felt principal Bump touch my shoulder, ready to hold me back.

"Mr. Bolinger, keep your eyes on these two. And keep them separated" he ordered before turning around and walking away.

"You heard him" our new jailer sneered after a few moments. "Sit down and shut up".

I sat down at a table in the back, while Katif took the corner in the front. We weren't the only witches there. Three other students from my year were also there, Viney, Jerbo, and Barkus. They were all regulars.

The former two were at Edric's funeral. They weren't too close to him, but they were the closest thing to friends my brother and I had. While Mr. Bolinger looked away, Viney gave me a quick sad glance.

I began to ache. It felt so weird being by myself. I'd never spent detention on my own before. I usually had Edric sitting beside me, carving stupid things into the table.

"He should be sitting next to me".

There went my chance at a distraction. Now I was forced to just sit there and stew in my thoughts. I had no clue where he had gone after mom died. I had no clue how he was doing, if he was feeling okay. The very idea that he was forced to fly around the isles non-stop made my sisterly instincts go haywire.

I rested my head in my arms. A small tear spilled from my eye and ran down my face. I tried to slow my mind down, but my worry wouldn't leave. I was just stuck there.

And then the classroom door opened, and Hexides only human was thrown through it.

"Wha–What is this place?" she stammered.

"This is where I'm hiding all you troublemakers while actual detention is being fixed" principal Bump explained from the other side. "This is where you'll be staying until you can try for a new track next year".

"But I'll be back home by then!".

"Then maybe it's best if you stick to your human school. You might do better there".

The door shut, right in Luz's face. The poor human was left stunned for a second, then she turned towards the rest of us and looked around the room. Her eyes were instantly drawn to me.

"Hey, Emira," she sighed while settling down next to me. "What landed you in the slammer?".

Slammer? Must be some weird human word, probably for detention or a conformitorium.

"Hey!" Mr. Bolinger snapped. "You keep quiet or you're all scrubbing this classroom top to bottom!".

"Don–". I silenced Luz by putting my arm in front of her. I gave her a silent warning with a flick of my ear. That's when my peer noticed my eyes were glistening.

She wanted to say something so badly, I could tell, but she didn't want to get all of us in trouble. So instead, she pulled out a small notebook and started writing. Then she discreetly began to slide it across the table over to me.

It only made it halfway before the many-eyed witch spotted it.

"You're passing notes, eh? Get up here". Fortunately, the human didn't try to argue with him. "Now, read it out loud".

"It says something in Spanish. "No olvides los buenos momentos". And then I wrote a little translation below it. "Don't forget the good times". It's something my mom tells me every time I start thinking about dad. Even though he left, the good memories I have of him are still good. So, I just focus on those, and I feel better".

Another tear in my eye broke free as I faintly smiled. Her words melted my heart, if just for a moment. Seeing her open up about something like that, just to make me feel better…I was starting to see why my little sister liked her so much.

"You're thinking about Edric, right?" she asked softly, guilt and shame radiating off of her.

"Yeah," I answered through the grief lumped in my throat. "He'd probably think it's pretty funny we both got detention our first day back".

"Okay. I told you to read the note not to have a conversation". As the teacher spoke a sudden chill ran up my side. My quiet sniveling turned into laughter. Speak of the demon.

"What's so funny, Blight?!" Mr. Bolinger demanded. Before I could answer, a gust of wind squeezed through the window. With it were a swarm of…Titan, were those fire bees?

The flurry of insects instantly found their way to the cranky old witch. Without saying anything, he shot through the door and down the hallway, crying like a scared little witchling. Luckily for us, all the bees followed him.

"Thank titan he's gone!" Viney cheered, finally able to break her silence. "Is it just me or was he extra-unbearable today?".

"No kidding," Jerbo replied. Barkus ruffed something that made his friend bashfully chuckle. "I'm not telling everyone that!".

"Woah" Luz gasped. "You guys talk?".

"Only when Mr. Boling-jerk isn't around". Viney rose from her seat and stretched. The brunette flicked her ear towards me to ask me for my attention. "How'd you do that? Fire bees are usually hard to handle".

"I didn't get those fire bees. That was all Ed". I did some stretching of my own. Those chairs weren't kind to witches' backs.

"Ed?". Jerbo's ear perked as he tilted his head in confusion. "But isn't he…like…you know?".

Viney's olive eyes widened in realization. Pity made her jaw slightly open.

"Yeah. Mom exercised him" I said while letting out the breath stuck in my chest. "But at least he's kept his spirits up" I joked with a roll of my eyes.

My heart filled with nostalgia. That joke was stupid, I know. But so was Edric, and I was positive that's what he would've said.

Barkus loudly woofed and pointed to the table next to the window. There was only an empty chair there, but it was pushed out like someone, like some little shit, was supposed to be sitting there.

"Where's Katif?" Jerbo asked, though when he saw the fire in my eyes, he regretted it.

I took a second to calm myself. I was in too good of a mood to be angry at Katif.

"I'll find him," I announced. Luz grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the doorway. By the horror stained on her face, I could tell she knew why I was in principal Bump's office earlier.

"It's alright, Luz" I smirked. "I just want to piss him off by getting him in trouble".

I knew where Katif was headed. There was really only one place he could go. So as swiftly as I could, I rushed to the front of the school.

He nearly made it to the nearest exit but had stopped to duck behind a corner. This was my chance to catch him off guard. I crept up behind him, as quiet as a snake in the grass, and grabbed both of his arms.

"If I've got to be in detention, so do you".

"Shut it!" Katif snapped while spinning around. He shrunk as his fear weighed down on him.

"Afraid a teacher will…". My taunting drawled into silence. Something was wrong. I could feel it.

"He's afraid of ME!".

I only had time to push Katif away and summon a spell circle before a bulk of scales and fangs careened towards me. A magical rope twisted around the snake-like beast's maw, tying it shut. I hung onto it for dear life.

I glanced over at Katif to find the gray witch frozen in terror. All he could do was stare at the two of us.

"Run, you idiot!" I hollered. "Just go!". That was enough to break the younger witch from his daze and launch him in the other direction.

I was flung upwards, the rope snapping in two. The beast followed and grabbed me mid-air. I felt a rush of pain surge through my shoulder. Blood trickled down the front of me to the snake's mouth.

My attacker dropped me into its coiled body and wrapped its tail around my body. It licked its chop, letting my blood soak on her tongue.

"Your blood is delicious, but I bet your magic is tastier".

I couldn't fight back. I couldn't move! The creature's hold was too tight, my fresh wounds way too tender! All I could do was fall limp as it sucked every drop of magic out from me.

I needed that magic! My body needed it to function, and my gashes needed it to heal! If I didn't get back soon…This couldn't have been the end! I couldn't die now!

To literally add insult to injury, the beast dropped me onto the cold hard ground and left as if I never existed. The pain was unbearable, but my existential fear hurt much worse. I had people who needed me here in the demon realm. I couldn't just leave them! Dad and Amity had already lost so much, they couldn't lose me!

But I couldn't do anything about it. I just had to wait until it was all over. I thought back to when Edric was dying, as awful as it was, and took Mittens' advice. I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. All the pain in my shoulder, my heart, would disappear. For one beautiful moment I would feel perfectly peaceful.

That moment never came.

"Emira?". My eyes flew open to find six of them staring down at me. A blue, gray-haired witch worriedly hung over me, trying his hardest to get me to wake up. "Emira?".

"Mr. Bolinger?" I croaked. I went to sit up, a lot of my energy having returned, but a stabbing pain pushed me back to the floor. "What's going on?".

"A basilisk attacked the school. The human and the rest of the detent…multi-trackers took care of it, but then Katif said you'd been bitten by it".

That was a lot to take in. Luz actually fought that thing and won?! And "Multi-trackers". Did that mean that Luz got to study everything like she wanted to? And the rest of the detention track could go back to their studies?

It was about time Bump stopped being so stubborn.

And weirdest of all, Katif saved me. Instead of escaping like he planned, he told a teacher I was hurt. He risked getting in trouble to save the life of a Blight.

For once, I got to think about Katif rationally. He said some horrible shit about my brother and sister, and he got the former killed by blabbing about Amity to our mother. And now, I owed that witch my life.

I could think about all that later. Now I needed a healer, and I needed one fast.

Mr. Bolinger, as delicately as he could, lifted me onto a stretcher behind us. Another couple witches had arrived while we talked, these ones being from the healing coven.

They hauled me outside where I was spotted by my baby sister and the new basilisk wrangler.

"Emira!" Amity called while floating up to me. "Are you okay?".

Despite everything, I was able to give Amity the answer she wanted.

"I'm okay…". But I couldn't help but add a "for now" afterwards.